College Football Picks for Friday: 3 Predictions and Best Bets (Nov. 13)

College Football Picks for Friday in Summary

• Pittsburgh -3.5 (-105)
• UCLA -10.5 (+100)
• Houston -9.5 (-120)

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Friday night's college football slate features three FBS games, highlighted by unbeaten UCLA hosting Illinois and No. 14 Houston traveling to Colorado. Florida State and Pittsburgh will get things started in an ACC matchup before the action shifts west.

With conference races heating up and postseason positioning at stake, let's dive into three college football best bets for Friday, November 13.

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

Friday’s Best College Football Predictions, Picks

Pittsburgh -3.5 (-105)

Florida State vs. Pittsburgh — 7:00 p.m. ET

The biggest reason to back Pittsburgh is its advantage in the trenches, particularly when Florida State has the football.

The Panthers have been outstanding against the run, allowing just 68.1 rushing yards per game and 2.3 yards per carry. Their defensive success rate allowed is 34.5% while their defensive havoc rate sits at 18.4%. That combination makes Pittsburgh difficult to move the ball against consistently.

Those numbers are especially concerning for a Florida State offense averaging 169.8 rushing yards per game. The Seminoles could struggle to maintain their usual efficiency against one of the country’s stingiest run defenses.

The contrast on the other side of the football is appealing, too. Florida State is allowing 4.7 yards per rushing attempt and 412.8 total yards per game, offering Pittsburgh opportunities to sustain drives and control possession.

Pittsburgh’s pass defense has allowed 252.6 passing yards per game, making it a possible weakness. However, the Panthers’ ability to limit rushing production and create disruptive plays should give them an advantage.

With home field on Pitt’s side, I’m backing them to cover on Friday night.

UCLA -10.5 (+100)

Illinois vs. UCLA — 9:00 p.m. ET

UCLA enters Friday’s matchup at 9-0, and its defense has been one of the biggest reasons for the outstanding season.

The Bruins are allowing an opponent success rate of just 33.2%, second nationally among FBS programs in the referenced dataset. They have limited opponents to 5.06 yards per play while producing a 21.2% defensive havoc rate, tops in the Big Ten.

Illinois has been productive offensively, averaging 6.68 yards per play with a 47.2% success rate. However, UCLA represents one of its most challenging defensive opponents of the year.

The Bruins have a favorable matchup on offense, as well. Illinois has allowed a 45.5% defensive success rate and 5.93 yards per play. UCLA, meanwhile, has posted a 45.9% offensive success rate and converted 47.8% of its third-down opportunities.

UCLA runs the ball on slightly more than 57% of its offensive plays, and Illinois’ difficulties getting opponents off the field could prove costly. The Bruins are also 9-0 against the spread, and their defensive efficiency plus home-field advantage make them an attractive choice to win by at least 11 points.

Houston -9.5 (-120)

Houston vs. Colorado — 10:15 p.m. ET

Houston’s offensive efficiency makes the Cougars an enticing spread bet against Colorado, even on the road.

The Cougars are averaging 6.99 yards per play and own a 54.3% offensive success rate. They have also converted 59.8% of their third-down opportunities, showing how effectively they sustain drives.

That is a difficult matchup for a Colorado defense that has given up at least 24 points in four of its past five games, including 57 to OK State.

Colorado’s offense has not been nearly as good as Houston’s, generating a 41.7% success rate, 5.94 yards per play, and a 40.2% third-down conversion rate.

Houston’s defense has been vulnerable at times, allowing 6.14 yards per play and a 44.6% opposing success rate. That is a concern.

Nevertheless, Houston has taken care of the football exceptionally well, with a 0.7% turnover rate compared to Colorado’s 2.6% mark. Efficient offense, third-down execution and ball security give the Cougars a path to a comfortable road victory.

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.

Looking for the latest college football odds? Head over to FanDuel Sportsbook and check out all of the college football betting options.

You can also check out our How to Bet on College Football guide.

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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.