5 Player Prop Picks for the Capital One Orange Bowl

The Capital One Orange Bowl matchup between Notre Dame Fighting Irish and Penn State Nittany Lions is absolutely loaded with huge player prop opportunities. With two of the best CFB teams going head to head in the College Football Playoff semifinals, there’s plenty of value to be found — and we think we’ve got just what you’re looking for.

We’ve put together the best prop bets for the Notre Dame vs Penn State game and you’re going to want to load these up on your bet slip.

Drew Allar Over 200 Passing Yards

• Player Prop Odds: +120

Drew Allar has been a consistent force for Penn State as he’s averaging 222.6 passing yards per game this season and looking like fire.

While Notre Dame boasts a solid defense, they’ve shown some vulnerability against teams with balanced offensive attacks. Allar’s ability to spread the ball to playmakers for chunk plays like Tyler Warren and Harrison Wallace III should give him plenty of opportunities to hit this number with no problem at all.

At plus money, we think this line has excellent value. Penn State is likely to lean on Allar in big passing situations, and his big arm can stretch the field against a secondary that has been tested — but not dominant. That’s Notre Dame. We expect Allar to go over 200 yards as Penn State tries to establish a rhythm early in the game.

Riley Leonard Over 48 Rushing Yards

• Player Prop Odds: -110

Notre Dame’s dual-threat QB, Riley Leonard, is also a problem for opposing defenses. He’s already racked up 721 rushing yards and 14 TDs this season and averages 5.8 yards per carry. Those are running back numbers.

Against a Penn State front 7 that will undoubtedly bring the pressure, Leonard’s ability to escape the pocket and create yards on the ground should be on full display in this Thursday night game.

Penn State has struggled to contain mobile QBs all season which gives Leonard a great shot to exploit this matchup. With the stakes as high as they get, we expect Leonard to use his legs early and often ultimately clearing this modest total.

Tyler Warren Over 70 Receiving Yards

• Player Prop Odds: +100

Tyler Warren has been a key weapon for Penn State and the Orange Bowl will be no different. He led the team with 1,062 receiving yards and 6 touchdowns. He might not get the red zone looks, but we want the yardage and that’s what he’s providing. He’s averaging a remarkable 121.1 yards per game and has proven to be Drew Allar’s #1 target in big plays.

Notre Dame’s secondary will of course have its hands full, especially with Warren’s size and ability to win contested catches at 10+ yards. The Fighting Irish have allowed big yardage to top receivers in critical matchups like this, and Warren is in a great spot to keep that trend alive. We’re thinking that hitting 70 yards seems well within his reach, especially at even money.

Nicholas Singleton Anytime Touchdown Scorer

• Player Prop Odds: -105

Nicholas Singleton has been a touchdown machine for Penn State as he has scored 7 times on the ground this season while averaging a whopping 6.4 yards per carry. Sure, Notre Dame’s defense is as solid as they get, but Singleton’s explosiveness makes him a threat to find the end zone on any given play. He’s like a bulldozer on the field.

Penn State has relied pretty heavily on Singleton in the red zone, and with his knack for finishing drives, we think it’s hard to bet against him getting at least one touchdown — if not a couple.

Whether it’s a short-yardage run or even a big-play score, Singleton should get plenty of opportunities to make an impact in this game and grab 6 points for the Nittany Lions.

Mitchell Evans Under 25 Receiving Yards

• Player Prop Odds: -120

Mitchell Evans has been one of the more reliable options for Notre Dame, but we’re thinking that this matchup could limit his production.

With Penn State’s linebackers excelling in coverage, Evans just might find it too tough to break loose for any significant yardage.

Notre Dame’s offense is likely to focus more on their dynamic rushing attack, which means much fewer targets for Evans. He’s been held under 25 yards in several games this season, and this will most likely be another one where his role is more as a blocker than a receiving threat. We like the under as a smart play here.

The CFP is in Full Swing and So Are the Prop Bets!

This Orange Bowl showdown is shaping up to be quite a thriller. As with any big bowl game, there are plenty of game bets and even more player prop bets. 

Fortunately for you, these player props give you plenty of ways to get in on the action.

From Drew Allar’s dominant arm to Riley Leonard’s iron-clad legs, there’s value all over the board heading into the CFP Orange Bowl.

Make sure to grab some plus-money bets for your bet slip like Tyler Warren and Drew Allar’s passing yards for even bigger payouts.