College Football DFS: Night Slate, Week 3

There's only a one-game differential between the two major sites for this weekend's assortment of evening games. We will focus on the eight games in common and then offer a bit more information on the single native FanDuel game at the conclusion of the article.

SLATE OVERVIEW

South Carolina @ Georgia (-31.5) O/U: 47

Utah (-8) @ San Diego State O/U: 43.5

Central Michigan @ LSU (-19.5) O/U: 61

Virginia @ North Carolina (-8) O/U: 66

Utah State @ Air Force (-9.5) O/U: 54

Auburn @ Penn State (-5) O/U: 53

Stanford (-12.5) @ Vanderbilt O/U: 48.5

Tulane @ Mississippi (-14) O/U: 76.5

Rice @ Texas (-26) O/U: 52 (FANDUEL ONLY)

OF the available contests, the TUL/MISS contest sticks out with a hefty total that we should pay attention to as we start lineup construction. The lines also suggest a shootout in Chapel Hill as the Wahoos pay a visit. Fro cash games, I'll be placing a lot of focus on these two games as I trust those numbers to be a good guide. The AUB/PSU game is arguably the premier game of the evening, but the O/U isn't convincing. The public is betting the Under in this game, and I'm inclined to agree.

QUARTERBACK

Matt Corral, Ole Miss (DK $9,600, FD $11,500 vs. Tulane

We'll steer to the top game total right away with Corral. Tulane boasts a host of offensive tools that should help keep this game competitive, but they are currently yielding an average of 250 yards per game against opposing quarterbacks. The pass-first offense operated by Corral will look to inflict pain early in the first half and should have little trouble racking up a sizeable point total. The signal-caller comes at a hefty price but is absolutely worth the cost.

Sam Howell, UNC (DK $8,600, FD $10,500)

Things didn't go so well for Howell against Virginia Tech, but the team was able to flex its offensive muscle against Georgia State, where Howell exploded for 46.4 FDFP. The Cavaliers are one of the hotter teams in the country and have been rolling over opponents, so this should be an even stiffer test for the Heisman candidate. Still, I like the game total and can put away the numbers against VT with some degree of confidence. They suffered from a lack of inventiveness in their play-calling in Week 1, and even coach Mack Brown has said that he's prioritizing a re-dedication to the pass moving forward.

Brennan Armstrong, Virginia (DK $8,400, FD $9,900) @ UNC

Armstrong is one of the most improved players in the ACC, and his passing and rushing numbers have been first-rate through the first two contests of the season. He currently holds a stellar 7:1 TD/INT ratio as well as two touchdowns on the ground. He's always been able to make plays with his feet, but increased confidence in the pocket behind a much improved offensive line has done wonders for him. I expect both Howell and Armstrong to get close to 40 FP in this contest, and in several lineups, I will fade Corrall and dedicate my QB and S-FLEX positions to this contest.

RUNNING BACK

Noah Cain, Penn State (DK $6,300, FD $7,300) vs. Auburn

I especially like Cain's FanDuel price in a game that should be won and lost on the ground. I would also safely endorse Auburn's Tank Bigsby (DK $5,800, FD $8,000) on the other side of the ball, but it's Auburn's defense that should provide more lanes of opportunity despite allowing few yards against Ball State and Wisconsin. I put both Bigsby and Cain in the same paragraph because their volume is practically interchangeable, but the volume for Cain should win out due to the uncertain performance at the quarterback position.

Jerrion Ealy, Ole Miss (DK $6,800, FD $9,000) vs.Tulane

We'll once again return to Ole Miss' offense in this shootout. At first glance, it doesn't appear that Ealy will do much for you in the running game, but his frequent usage as a wideout makes him a perfect RB stack for Corral if you choose to go in that direction. He's caught five passes for 77 yards so far and has logged one touchdown on the ground. His usage in the slot should up his snap count considerably, and we'll see a lot of the Rebels on offense.

Lew Nichols, Central Michigan (DK $5,300, FD $7,800) @ LSU

The Tigers have proven to be extremely vulnerable this season, snd their rushing offense is as porous as they come. They're ranked 106th in the FBS, allowing 130 yards of rushing offense per game. Nichols should be able to provide the punch necessary to get Jacob Sirmon's engine going, and as the bell-cow back, he'll get a lot of volume if the game stays competitive. 

Also consider: Greg Bell, San Diego State (DK $4,900, FD $9,200), Ty Chandler, UNC (DK $5,900, FD $7,400)

WIDE RECEIVER

Josh Downs, UNC (DK $7,400, FD $8,400) vs. Virginia

Downs has racked up 16 receptions for 196 yards and two touchdowns to begin the season, and he's the most worthwhile WR stack if you're employing Howell at either of the available QB slots. The sophomore has aptly filled in for the departed Dyami Brown as the team's top wideout, and we should expect some explosive numbers from the youngster if the Tar Heels and Sam Howell can get all cylinders humming in the passing game.

Dontario Drummond, Ole Miss (DK $5,900, FD $9,800) vs. Tulane

This is an excellent price on DraftKings for Drummond, who has swiftly become Ole Miss' 2021 answer for Elijah Moore, who they lost to the NFL. While the Rebels have a cornucopia of capable wideouts, Drummond has come out of nowhere with two consecutive 100-yard appearances, accompanied by three touchdowns over the first two games of the season. Jonathan Mingo (DK $6,700, FD $7,900) is his counterpart in the wideout corps and sports a better FanDuel price, and I believe both are great options to accompany Matt Corral in your lineups.

Keytaon Thompson, Virginia (DK (as QB) $6,900, FD (as WR) $6,500) @ UNC

Although he's not a good option on DraftKings, this do-it-all player is stashed conveniently at the wideout position on FanDuel. I wish he had the same designation on DraftKings, but they unfortunately have him slotted as a quarterback. The Mississippi State transfer is hard to find in the player pool, but there isn't much he doesn't do for the Cavaliers. They'll use Thompson in various ways, especially at wideout, where he's grabbed 10 catches for 134 yards over two games.

Brycen Tremayne, Stanford (DK $5,700, FD $8,000) @ Vanderbilt

This paragraph is also a great opportunity to endorse Tanner McKee (DK $6,300, FD $8,900) as an intriguing contrarian QB for your lineups. The Cardinal are likely brimming with confidence after decimating USC, and as a live attendee of this game, I was impressed by the connection between Tremayne and his quarterback. I don't think many people will see this game as a popular home for DFS production, which is precisely why I include him in our arsenal today. The game against the Commodores is an excellent opportunity to see what Stanford has under the hood and if they have the staying power to compete in the Pac-12.

Rice @ Texas (FANDUEL ONLY)

Bijan Robinson ($11,500) is the player that jumps off the page in this matchup right off the bat. His inclusion into FanDuel's slate is a godsend for the RB position, as Robinson has the potential to be the nation's leading running back at season's end. You can always count on the volume to be there, and as Steve Sarkisian continues to tinker with the passing game, Robinson will be the focus of the offense. Despite the questions at quarterback, it appears that Casey Thompson ($11,000) will get the nod at quarterback for the Longhorns, and he'll look to get the ball to playmaker Jordan Whittington ($8,500). There is no one for Rice that I can endorse with much confidence.