Gross Bombs: NFL Props for Week 16
Josh Gross
It was a tough week for college football props last week, as we went 1-2 overall. Kaleb Johnson remains an absolute beast, but Malachi Fields and Darian Mensah were busts. Week 4 is here, and we jump back into it with several solid opportunities to get to the window. Let’s get right into it.
Abu Sama (Iowa State) 80+ Rushing Yards
(+120, DraftKings Sportsbook)
Sama and the Cyclones ground game haven’t gotten going yet this season, but a matchup with Arkansas State should change that. The Red Wolves are giving up 233 YPG on the ground so far to opposing backs.
Michigan’s Kalel Mullings racked up 153 yards on 15 carries while Donovan Edwards toted the rock 17 times for 82 yards. ShunDerrick Powell of Central Arkansas went for 176 yards on 15 carries back in week 1 in this matchup. The stars are aligning for Sama to obliterate this number. I will be sprinkling 120-plus rushing yards at +600 as well.
Kyle Monangai (Rutgers) 120+ Rushing Yards
(+115, DraftKings Sportsbook)
Monangai would be near the top of most Heisman rankings if he was on a team that wasn’t Rutgers. He broke last year on a mediocre team and rushed for a career best 1,262 yards on 242 carries. Most thought he was a solid bet to reach the 1k mark again this year, but nobody could have expected him to be completely unstoppable in 2024.
It should be noted that they’ve faced two subpar opponents so far, but that often leads to less production as coaches tend to sit their stars early in blowouts. That hasn’t been the case with Monangai and Rutgers though. He was given 19 carries against Howard in week 1 and turned that into 165 yards. He then ripped off 208 yards on a whopping 27 carries against Akron.
He is a decisive and almost violent runner in the same mold as Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson. Virginia Tech’s defense has struggled against the run and they’re giving up almost 200 YPG on the ground through three games. This is an elite spot and I’m all in on the lead back from Rutgers this weekend.
