The 2026 college football regular season continues today, and the American Conference battle between Memphis and South Florida might be better than the Thursday Night NFL game between the Washington Commanders and New York Giants. We also have a rivalry game as Louisiana travels to take on UL Monroe at 9:00 p.m. ET. Let’s build our bankroll with our best college football picks & predictions for Thursday.
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Thursday’s Best College Football Picks & Predictions (Week 11)
Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook | All bets are for 1 unit
Memphis Tigers (-188) at South Florida Bulls (+155) | O/U 49.5 (-110/-110)
Memphis (7-2) meets South Florida (6-3) at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa for an American Conference clash on ESPN. The Tigers are still in the mix for a regular-season conference title if North Texas falls, while South Florida has three conference losses and no title hopes.
The Tigers head into this game as expected. Memphis always seems to have a high-octane offense, regardless of the coaching staff, and this season is no different. The Tigers have managed 38+ points in five of their last six games, but this Memphis team plays some semblance of defense, too. It has allowed 31+ points in two of the past three games, sure, but it ranks 61st in defense, allowing 23.6 points per game (PPG), and 32nd in yards per game (189.1). If you’re going to get the Tigers, it’s on the ground, where Memphis gives up a dismal 187.9 yards per game, 119th in the land.
South Florida is decent on the ground but not great, averaging 148.2 yards per game, and it is middling on offense (25.9 PPG), while ranking near the bottom in the country in total yards (316.2) and passing yards (168) per game. Defensively, the Bulls are tremendous, though, and Memphis should have a tough time solving them, as they allow just 15.1 points and 312.7 total yards per game.
South Florida lost 20-17 to East Carolina last time out, and it is just 2-3 straight up (SU) in the past five games, and 2-4 against the spread (ATS) in the past six. The under is 3-0 in the past three games, and 5-1 in the past six outings.
Memphis is all gas, no brakes, hitting the over in two straight and six of the past eight outings, while it is just 3-4 ATS in the past seven games and 1-2 ATS in its past three road contests.
We’ll take Memphis laying the points on the alt line, paying up to go down to 2.5 in a potentially tight game, while we also go low on the total.
Picks: Memphis -2.5 Alt Spread (-166) & Under 49.5 Points (-110)
Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns (-430) at UL Monroe Warhawks (+330) | O/U 47.5 (-110/-110)
Louisiana (6-3) hits the road to battle UL Monroe (2-7) in a rivalry game. It’ll be fun down in Monroe at 9:00 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
The Ragin’ Cajuns have won three in a row in the series, but last season the Warhawks stepped up as an 11.5-point underdog in Lafayette and nearly pulled off the upset. UL Monroe held on 30-27 in overtime, but it goes to show that despite the records, you just never know in this series. The over (47.5) cashed in last season’s game, and it is now 3-0 in the past three installments.
Louisiana earned a 28-26 win over South Alabama at home last week, but it failed to cover as a 7.5-point favorite, and the under (57.5) held on. They’re just 2-2 SU in the past four games, and the Ragin’ Cajuns are 2-3 ATS in the past five outings, while the under has a 5-2 edge.
UL Monroe isn’t going bowling this season, but it isn’t quitting, either. That was evident last week, when it topped Arkansas State on the road, 19-17, as a 14.5-point underdog. It has won two of the past three games outright as a 13.5-point or larger underdog, so the Warhawks shouldn’t be taken lightly.
We’ll take UL Monroe with the points, and let’s go under on the total, too, as the Warhawks’ defense has been decent, allowing 24 or fewer points in three of the past four outings.
Picks: UL Monroe +10.5 (-110) & Under 47.5 Points (-110)
Joe Williams is a featured writer at BettingPros. For more from Joe, check out his archive and follow him @winwithjoe