We asked our Props analyst, Justin Bales, to come up with his best CFB ladder bet for Week 2’s Saturday slate. If you’re not familiar with this kind of bet, don’t worry, we’ll break it down.
A ladder bet is essentially betting on a prop at multiple lines with the odds getting progressively larger the further up the ladder you go.
We’ve done the research for you here and below we’ll dive into all of the rationale for this best CFB ladder bet for Week 2.
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Dylan Sampson Rushing Yards Ladder
Sampson’s had an elite college career at this point, but he’s never been the lead running back for Tennessee. He posted 388 yards on only 58 carries as a freshman in 2022 before adding 605 yards on 107 carries last season.
In his career, Sampson’s recorded 10+ carries in only nine games. He posted 100+ rushing yards in four of those nine games. He also recorded 124 yards on only 12 carries in Tennessee’s first game of the 2024 season.
Sampson’s consistently been an efficient runner, averaging 6.3 yards per carry throughout his career. He’s taking on a bigger role as the lead back for Tennessee this season, and he played 13 of the 20 rushing snaps Nico Iamaleava was in on last week.
It’s important to note that Sampson wasn’t needed after scoring 3 touchdowns early against Chattanooga, so I’m not overly concerned with his overall volume.
Sampson gets somewhat of a more appealing matchup against NC State this weekend. NC State’s defense is obviously drastically better than Chattanooga’s, but that means the star running back will get full snaps.
NC State was expected to be a high-end defense, but we didn’t see that in their first game. Western Carolina’s backfield combined to run for 128 yards on 17 carries. They averaged 7.5 yards per carry, although their quarterbacks combined for 96 yards on 8 carries.
This isn’t as much a bet against NC State as it is a bet on Sampson. He’s elite in several aspects of the game. Against Chattanooga, he posted 57 yards after contact, forced four missed tackles, and recorded 73 breakaway yards on only 12 carries.
Sampson is a player who can create his own yards with his power and speed. NC State will have to respect Iamaleava’s legs, adding to the upside of those around him. The running back comes with elite upside with every touch, and I’m comfortable laddering him through his highest total.
Where to Bet: Dylan Sampson 70+ rushing yards (-110) through 120+ rushing yards (+700) | DraftKings Sportsbook
