College Football Predictions Today: 3 Picks and Best Bets for Friday (Oct. 9)

Friday’s Best College Football Picks in Summary

• Florida State +3.5 (-105)
• Iowa Moneyline (+128)
• BYU -10.5 (+100)

Friday night brings a small but interesting college football slate, with several conference matchups carrying both betting appeal and postseason implications.

Florida State visits Louisville in an ACC clash, Iowa heads to Washington for a physical Big Ten matchup, and unbeaten BYU hosts Iowa State in the late window. With a mix of tight spreads, low totals and contrasting styles, there are a few spots worth targeting before Saturday’s full slate gets underway.

All college football odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Lines may change after this article is published.

Today’s Best College Football Picks and Predictions (Friday)

Florida State +3.5 (-105)

Florida State at Louisville, 7 p.m. ET

The Florida State Seminoles are coming off their best performance of the season, and I like the Seminoles to keep things close Friday night against the Louisville Cardinals.

FSU dominated Virginia 38-7 last week, holding the Cavaliers to just 205 total yards and 37 rushing yards while piling up 10 sacks. Quarterback Ashton Daniels was the centerpiece offensively, throwing for 183 yards and adding 136 rushing yards with five touchdowns on the ground.

That dual-threat element could create problems for a Louisville defense that has struggled badly. The Cardinals are allowing 423.0 total yards per game, including 266.8 through the air, ranking 125th nationally in total defense and 130th in passing defense. They've also allowed at least 27 points in every game against a Power Four opponent this season.

Louisville's offense is dangerous, with quarterback Lincoln Kienholz throwing for 1,394 yards, nine touchdowns and only one interception, so I'm hesitant to call for an outright FSU win. But the Cardinals have lost three games by exactly three points apiece, and this looks like another matchup that could come down to the final possession.

Iowa Moneyline (+128)

Iowa at Washington, 9 p.m. ET

The Iowa Hawkeyes are coming off their first loss of the season, but I'm willing to take the points with the Hawkeyes in Seattle.

The biggest reason is Iowa's defense. The Hawkeyes rank eighth nationally in scoring defense at 12.6 points allowed per game, and they're giving up only 288.6 total yards per contest. They're also holding opponents to 102.2 rushing yards per game.

That's a difficult matchup for a Washington Huskies offense that hasn't exactly been rolling. The Huskies converted just 1 of 12 third downs in last week's 25-21 loss to USC and finished with 319 total yards.

Washington's defense has been good enough to keep games close, so I'm not expecting Iowa to have an easy time moving the ball, either. But a lower-scoring game suits the Hawkeyes just fine.

Iowa already owns a 20-19 road win at Michigan this season, and the Hawkeyes’ defense can help them spring another upset.

BYU -10.5 (+100)

Iowa State at BYU, 10:15 p.m. ET

The Brigham Young Cougars‘ offense wasn't at its best in a rain-soaked 17-10 win at TCU last week, but I'm willing to back the Cougars at home against the Iowa State Cyclones.

Through four games, BYU is averaging 37.3 points and 415.3 total yards per game. The Cougars have been especially dangerous on the ground, generating 235.5 rushing yards per game at an excellent 6.1 yards per carry.

That rushing attack gives BYU a chance to control this matchup, even if standout running back LJ Martin isn't operating at full strength. Quarterback Bear Bachmeier showed against TCU that he can contribute with his legs, running for 66 yards and two touchdowns in the victory.

Iowa State is coming off a wild 45-42 win over West Virginia in which Aiden Flora erupted for 212 rushing yards, but the Cyclones haven't fared nearly as well in their two toughest games. They lost 16-13 at Iowa and 31-17 at home to Utah.

This will also be Iowa State's first game outside the state of Iowa this season, and LaVell Edwards Stadium is a tough place for any road team.

With BYU's rushing efficiency, home-field advantage and stronger overall profile, I like the Cougars to create separation and cover this spread.

College Football Betting FAQ

What is a point spread in college football betting?

The point spread is designed to account for the expected difference between two teams. The favorite must win by more than the listed spread for a bet on that team to cover while the underdog can cover by winning outright or losing by fewer points than the spread.

What is a college football moneyline bet?

A moneyline wager is simply a bet on which team will win the game. Favorites typically have shorter odds and smaller potential payouts while underdogs generally offer larger potential returns.

What does over/under mean in college football?

An over/under, also known as the game total, is a wager on the combined number of points scored by both teams. Bettors can choose whether the final combined score will finish over or under the set total.

What are college football player props?

College football player props are wagers based on an individual player's performance rather than the final outcome of the game. Depending on availability, common markets can include passing yards, rushing yards, receiving yards, touchdowns, and other statistical categories.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.