College Football Picks & Predictions: Thursday (11/5)
Some great college football games are on deck this weekend, but fans don’t have to wait to get in on the action. We've got two games scheduled for tonight. Let's talk about the best college football picks for these games.
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Thursday’s Best College Football Picks (Week 10)
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
UTSA Roadrunners at Florida Atlantic Owls
Florida Atlantic has the No. 5 passing game in the country. Quarterback Caden Veltkamp is averaging 300+ passing yards per game, and the team is averaging 37.8 points per game (No. 14). However, they don't play much defense, giving up 468 total yards (No. 136), 255.1 rushing yards (No. 137) and 35.8 points per game (No. 132).
UTSA's defense is not bad against the pass (207.9 yards per game allowed) but struggles against the run (183.6 yards per game allowed). Offensively, they aren't as dynamic as Florida Atlantic but have more balance (184.9 yards rushing and 224.4 yards passing per game).
Both teams have high-powered offenses that happen to be really good at what the other struggles to defend. This scenario screams to bet the over, and you should. If you want to bet on a winner, I'm leaning toward UTSA, but whoever has the ball last could win this high-scoring game.
Pick: Over 72.5 Points (-115)
James Madison Dukes at Southern Miss Golden Eagles
James Madison has taken a balanced approach on offense (202.1 yards rushing and 248.8 yards per game passing) and averages 39.1 points per game (No. 10). Their defense is solid against the run (116.8 yards per game allowed). But it’s less effective against the pass (235.4 yards per game). As for Southern Miss, the Golden Eagles have a decent offense (No. 55 in total yards; No. 77 in scoring).
Their defense, by contrast, struggles to stop the run (223.4 yards per game allowed, No. 136) and gives up 31 points per game (No. 118).
A couple of weeks ago, I wouldn't have hesitated to say take James Madison and lay the points. But the last two weeks have changed that. Their defense failed in the fourth quarter against App State. The offense stalled out against Troy. Southern Miss, however, ended a five-game losing streak. They’ve won two in a row behind a powerful run game.
James Madison has played solid run defense. However, it will have to shut down a powerful Southern Miss run game (easier said than done). As long as the Golden Eagles don't abandon the run, they'll make this game more exciting than expected. They will not win, but they will not lose by more than two touchdowns either.
Pick: Southern Miss +14.5 (-112)