Best Duke vs. California Player Prop Picks for Week 6: Favorable Passing Landscape for JKS

My best Duke vs. California player props see a productive night in store for freshman QB Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele against Duke’s soft secondary. Duke is a 2.5-point betting favorite ahead of the action from California Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, Calif., at 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN).

Our college football picks for this matchup also identify a peculiar trend against the Golden Bears that could bode favorably for the Blue Devils’ top receiving option. And I keep my college football predictions for Week 6 rolling with an anytime TD scorer prop for one of Cal’s running backs, given the porous nature of Duke’s scoring defense on the ground.

🏈 Duke vs. California player props

College football player prop bets for Week 6; odds subject to change.

• Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele Over 262.5 passing yards (-114 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
• Cooper Barkate Over 65.5 receiving yards (-114 via FanDuel) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
• LJ Johnson Jr. anytime TD scorer (+165 via DraftKings) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

💰 Best Duke vs. California player prop picks

Our college football player prop odds tool shows the best odds for every market across legal sportsbooks in your area.

⬆️  Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele Over 262.5 passing yards (-114) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele is the exciting freshman quarterback making his mark for California, but as true freshmen tend to experience, he’s had his ups and downs early in this season.

A 34-0 loss at San Diego State saw JKS throw for a season-low yardage total (208) with two interceptions and no touchdowns. But the Aztecs rank 30th in FBS in pass defense, the best he’s seen all year.

Duke’s pass defense ranks 125th in FBS, allowing 289.8 yards per game through the air, providing Sagapolutele a favorable environment to clear a 262.5-yard passing line for the third time in his sixth game. It's a play that our Isaiah Sirois backs in his Duke vs. California prediction.

FanDuel offers this line with -114 odds. The implied probability at those odds is 53.27%. A winning $10 wager on this prop would profit $8.77.

⬆️  Cooper Barkate Over 65.5 receiving yards (-114) ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

California has allowed a respectable 209.8 pass yards per game (52nd in FBS). But opposing No. 1 wide receivers are averaging 8.75 receptions and 118.25 yards per game against them in FBS play.

A massive 56.4% of the passing production against Cal filters through its opponent's top receiving option. For Duke, we’re betting on Cooper Barkate to be the beneficiary of this trend. He leads the team with 409 receiving yards, logging 65 or more in five straight games to start the year.

FanDuel offers this line with -114 odds. The implied probability at those odds is 53.27%. A winning $10 wager on this prop would profit $8.77.

🔥  LJ Johnson Jr. anytime TD scorer (+165) ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Although 9 of California’s 15 offensive touchdowns have come through the air, there could be a solid opportunity for rushing scores in this matchup, as 12 of the 17 touchdowns allowed by Duke’s defense this season (70.6%) have come on the ground.

Only two Cal running backs have plowed in for more than one rushing touchdown on the season: Kendrick Raphael and LJ Johnson Jr., who carries an extra 15 pounds over the listed weight of Raphael.

Both rushers have two touchdowns on the year, but Johnson Jr. holds far juicier anytime TD scorer odds at +165 from DraftKings, compared to Raphael at -130 from BetMGM.

The DraftKings odds come with an implied probability of 37.74%. A winning $10 bet on this prop would profit $16.50.

📊 Duke vs. California odds

Latest college football odds updated live in real time.

📺 How to watch Duke vs. California: Week 6

• Date: Saturday, Oct. 4
• Kickoff: 10:30 p.m .ET
• Where: California Memorial Stadium (Berkeley, Calif.)
• TV: ESPN