This article is part of our College Football DFS: Night Slate series.
With the cancellation of the GT/PITT game due to COVID concerns, the sites are fielding six similar games, with FanDuel adding an outlier game that we'll also cover at the end of today's article.
SLATE OVERVIEW
SMU @ Tulsa (+0.5) O/U: 64.5
Arkansas @ Florida (-17.5) O/U: 60.5
Oregon @ Washington State (+10.5) O/U: 56.5
Florida State @ N.C. State (-10.5) O/U: 59.5
Wisconsin @ Michigan (+5.5) O/U: 52.5
South Carolina @ Mississippi (-13) O/U: 71
Temple @ Central Florida (-26) O/U: 76 (FANDUEL ONLY)
The Big Ten grudge match between Wisconsin and Michigan is the real-world highlight of the evening slate, but according to Vegas, it's the least attractive DFS target of the night with a 52.5 O/U total. Conversely, the oddsmakers put the South Carolina-Mississipi contest has the highest total among the shared games. For my money, the best game to target tonight is the SMU-Tulsa matchup, which is currently a toss-up at several sportsbooks and sports a high O/U total.
KEY INJURIES
WR Kyle Pitts, Florida (concussion) QUESTIONABLE
If Pitts sits, I will give Kyle Trask a slight downgrade. The red-hot duo has the potential to be one of the best QB-WR stacks on the slate if Pitts clears protocol, but we won't know his status until kickoff. In lineups where you're fielding Trask, target a suitable receiver in the 6k range that you can late swap for Pitts at game-time.
Florida State Quarterbacks
With James Blackman opting out and Jordan Travis questionable with an undisclosed
With the cancellation of the GT/PITT game due to COVID concerns, the sites are fielding six similar games, with FanDuel adding an outlier game that we'll also cover at the end of today's article.
SLATE OVERVIEW
SMU @ Tulsa (+0.5) O/U: 64.5
Arkansas @ Florida (-17.5) O/U: 60.5
Oregon @ Washington State (+10.5) O/U: 56.5
Florida State @ N.C. State (-10.5) O/U: 59.5
Wisconsin @ Michigan (+5.5) O/U: 52.5
South Carolina @ Mississippi (-13) O/U: 71
Temple @ Central Florida (-26) O/U: 76 (FANDUEL ONLY)
The Big Ten grudge match between Wisconsin and Michigan is the real-world highlight of the evening slate, but according to Vegas, it's the least attractive DFS target of the night with a 52.5 O/U total. Conversely, the oddsmakers put the South Carolina-Mississipi contest has the highest total among the shared games. For my money, the best game to target tonight is the SMU-Tulsa matchup, which is currently a toss-up at several sportsbooks and sports a high O/U total.
KEY INJURIES
WR Kyle Pitts, Florida (concussion) QUESTIONABLE
If Pitts sits, I will give Kyle Trask a slight downgrade. The red-hot duo has the potential to be one of the best QB-WR stacks on the slate if Pitts clears protocol, but we won't know his status until kickoff. In lineups where you're fielding Trask, target a suitable receiver in the 6k range that you can late swap for Pitts at game-time.
Florida State Quarterbacks
With James Blackman opting out and Jordan Travis questionable with an undisclosed injury, the quarterback duties could go to Chubba Purdy if Travis isn't cleared. Purdy is 0-for-9 passing in limited action, so you have to downgrade FSU receivers if Purdy starts.
QUARTERBACK
Matt Corral, Mississippi (DK $9,800, FD $10,500) vs. South Carolina
Corral costs a pretty penny, but this isn't a slate where you want to get too cute at quarterback. There's an argument against Corral due to the lopsided spread, but his 412-yard, six-touchdown game against Vandy is enough evidence that he'll stick around for four quarters, even in a blowout. You'll have to aim for value at receiver to afford him, but his salary is priced well relative to the potential output.
Kyle Trask, Florida (DK $8,700, FD $11,200) vs. Arkansas
We've already discussed Trask, but he remains a viable QB target even with Kyle Pitts out. I'm less thrilled with his FanDuel salary, which eclipses Corral and makes the signal-caller mentioned above a better elite target on that site. His 22:3 TD/INT ratio is one of the best on the slate, and if Pitts sits, I will give an extra boost to Kadarius Toney (DK $7,000, FD $9,200), who would emerge as the top target for Florida.
Shane Buechele, SMU (DK $7,900, FD $9,200) @ Tulsa
We want to target this game's explosive potential, and I like Buechele and his receiving corps over Zach Smith in this matchup. Buechele's rattled off 685 yards, six touchdowns and zero interceptions over his past two games, so he's currently hot after a disappointing game against Cincinnati.
RUNNING BACK
CJ Verdell, Oregon (DK $6,900, FD $9,300) @ Washington State
Verdell got the season off on the right foot with 20 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown against Stanford. While Travis Dye (DK $4,400, FD $6,400) will get you a piece of the rushing offense for less, Verdell's output should remain consistent against the Cougars, who allowed Oregon State's Jemar Jefferson rush for 130 yards and three touchdowns last week.
Jerrion Ealy, Mississippi (DK $5,900, FD $8,400) vs. South Carolina
The running back selections for the evening are more scarce than one would expect for a six-game spread, but I like Ealy as an offensive engine, especially in the second half of this game as the Rebels try to control possession. With the exception of his last game against Vanderbilt, Ealy has found the end zone in every game this season.
La'Damian Webb, Florida State (DK $5,000, FD $7,100) @ N.C. State
This is a calculated risk, but I think the Seminoles will need to utilize the running game to get their offense going against the Wolfpack, who give away an average of 182 yards on the ground. The sophomore running back enjoyed a career-best game two weeks ago against UNC and seemed to be the preferred back over JaShaun Corbin in most game situations.
WIDE RECEIVER
Before we begin, a note about Ole Miss wideout Elijah Moore (DK $9,300, FD $10,000). He's the best WR target on this slate, and you risk falling behind the field if he isn't in your lineup. Although this is less of a concern if you are firing off several lineups, you'll have to make some sacrifices to get him in for single-entry contests. For this slate, this means skimping at RB or possibly excluding a QB from your S-Flex positions.
Travell Harris, Washington State (DK $6,500, FD $9,700) vs. Oregon
While you shouldn't expect Harris to replicate his 43 FP game last week, he'll be Jayden De Laura's primary target in a game where they'll need to air it out in the second half. A true freshman, De Laura faces a challenging task against the Ducks, and it will be interesting to see if he shows the same composure he had against Oregon State. It's too soon to make him a bonafide DFS target, but he's got an excellent target in Harris.
Tyler Page, SMU (DK $5,700, FD $7,300) @ Tulsa
Shane Buechele has a wide array of targets to choose from, but the senior wideout came out of nowhere with a huge game against Temple. This high-octane matchup should provide output for all of the Mustangs' wideouts, but after two touchdowns and 11 catches, he deserves to be more involved in the passing game against Tulsa.
Emeka Emezie, North Carolina State (DK $5,600, FD $7,600) vs. Florida State
The Wolfpack offense has shifted back into more of a pass-first offense as Bailey Hockman gets accustomed to his starting role with Devin Leary sidelined. It's good news for Emezie, who's formed some synergy with the backup over the past two weeks. In Hockman's two starts, Emezie's notched eight catches for 179 yards and a touchdown.
FANDUEL-ONLY: TEMPLE @ CENTRAL FLORIDA
This game's inclusion significantly increases the quality of available targets for FanDuel players, led by a quality QB in Dillon Gabriel ($10,800). His synergy with Marlon Williams ($9,500) and Jaylon Robinson ($9,300) is unparalleled on the slate, and the Central Florida stack earns a massive endorsement. I also think UCF's Otis Anderson ($8,000) deserves attention in a lopsided game where the Knights may lean on the run in the second half. I would limit my Temple exposure due to starting QB Anthony Russo's potential absence.