College Football Predictions Today: 3 Picks and Best Bets (Friday, Oct. 16)

Friday’s College Football Picks in Summary

• Memphis -6.5 (-110)
• Purdue -3.5 (-110)
• Appalachian State-Coastal Carolina Under 49.5 (-106)

Friday's college football slate isn't a huge one, but all three FBS games offer intriguing betting angles.

Memphis travels to Tulane for an AAC matchup, Washington heads to Purdue for a Big Ten clash, and Appalachian State visits Coastal Carolina in Sun Belt action. With each matchup offering a fairly tight spread, there should be plenty of competitive football throughout the night.

Let's break down three of the best bets for today’s college football slate.

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

College Football Picks and Predictions for Friday

Memphis -6.5 (-110)

Memphis at Tulane, 7:30 p.m. ET

The Memphis Tigers enter Friday averaging 38.5 points per game while the Tulane Green Wave are producing just 18.4 per contest. The Tigers have also been considerably better against the spread, covering four of six games, compared to two covers in five games for Tulane.

The biggest mismatch comes when Memphis has the ball. The Tigers are averaging 516.7 total yards per game and 7.6 yards per play, with a rushing attack producing 247.0 yards per contest. Tulane, meanwhile, is allowing 407.2 total yards per game and has been especially vulnerable against the run, surrendering 218.6 rushing yards per game and 5.0 yards per attempt.

Memphis has already scored at least 38 points in four of its six games, including 59 against Charlotte and 38 against UAB in its past two outings. The Tigers' ability to create explosive plays and control the game on the ground gives them a strong chance to build separation against a Tulane offense that will likely struggle to keep pace.

Purdue -3.5 (-110)

Washington at Purdue, 8 p.m. ET

The Purdue Boilermakers have started to turn around their season after a rough opening stretch.

The Boilermakers have won consecutive Big Ten games, beating Illinois 24-17 on the road before routing Minnesota 41-13 last week. The Washington Huskies, meanwhile, have dropped three straight games after starting 3-0, most recently falling 41-24 at home to Iowa.

Purdue's offense has averaged 32.2 points per game and is generating 415.5 total yards per contest. Ryan Browne has helped stabilize the offense while Fame Ijeboi erupted for 195 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 31 carries against Minnesota.

There is also some uncertainty surrounding Washington at quarterback. Demond Williams Jr. has been dealing with a rib injury, and Elijah Brown started against Iowa, completing 28 of 39 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns.

With the Boilermakers playing their best football of the season and Washington trending the opposite direction, I like Purdue to cover.

Appalachian State-Coastal Carolina Under 49.5 (-106)

App State at Coastal Carolina, 8 p.m. ET

The final FBS game of the night features an Appalachian State Mountaineers offense trying to bounce back from an ugly performance.

App State managed only three points in last week's 10-3 loss to Old Dominion. Quarterback Malachi Singleton completed just 5 of 23 passes for 72 yards with an interception, and the Mountaineers were unable to generate much on the ground, either.

The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers haven't exactly been an offensive juggernaut. The Chanticleers are averaging 25.2 points and 373.3 total yards per game while App State has allowed just 19.8 points and 335.4 yards per contest. Coastal has also converted only 33.3% of its third downs while Appalachian State's defense has limited opponents to a 35.5% third-down conversion rate.

App State has gone under in three of five games, and only two of its contests have reached 50 combined points. With Appalachian State's defense being the strongest unit in this matchup, this sets up to be another lower-scoring game.

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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.