College Football Predictions: 3 Picks and Best Bets for Thursday

College Football Picks for Thursday in Summary

• East Carolina -4.5 (-105)
• Georgia Southern -3.5 (-110)
• Colorado State-Texas State Over 68.5 (-112)

The college football season rolls into Week 7, and Thursday's three-game slate gives bettors several interesting opportunities to target.

The action begins with a pair of 7:30 p.m. ET kickoffs, as East Carolina visits UAB and Georgia Southern travels to Old Dominion. Colorado State and Texas State will then square off in a Pac-12 matchup at 8 p.m. ET.

While Thursday's schedule doesn't feature any ranked teams, there are some intriguing matchups, including a potential shootout between Colorado State and Texas State.

Let's dive into three college football best bets for Thursday's games.

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

Thursday’s Best College Football Picks and Predictions

East Carolina -4.5 (-105)

East Carolina at UAB, 7:30 p.m. ET

The East Carolina Pirates visits the Alabama-Birmingham Blazers on Thursday, and the Pirates' defense gives them a significant advantage in this matchup.

ECU is allowing just 22.6 points per game and has been particularly effective against the pass, surrendering only 172.6 passing yards per contest. The Pirates rank 25th nationally in passing yards allowed, and their defense is coming off an impressive performance against Rice in which it surrendered just 12 points and 69 passing yards.

Meanwhile, UAB has struggled offensively, ranking 119th nationally in EPA per play. The Blazers are also coming off a disappointing 38-13 loss to Memphis, raising questions about their ability to consistently move the ball against quality opponents.

East Carolina's offense hasn't been particularly explosive, averaging 24.8 points per game, but the Pirates rushed for 234 yards in their most recent outing. UAB is surrendering 190.8 rushing yards per game, potentially giving ECU an opportunity to establish the ground game and control possession.

With the Pirates holding the defensive advantage and possessing a favorable rushing matchup, I'll back East Carolina to cover the 4.5-point spread.

Georgia Southern -3.5 (-110)

Georgia Southern at Old Dominion, 7:30 p.m. ET

The Georgia Southern Eagles have struggled to turn competitive performances into victories, but the Eagles have been a much better team against the spread than their overall record suggests.

The Eagles have covered in five of their six games this season, including each of their last three contests. The Old Dominion Monarchs, meanwhile, have covered just once in six games and is averaging only 18.2 points per contest.

Georgia Southern's passing attack could be the difference in this matchup. The Eagles are averaging 275.8 passing yards per game, ranking 23rd nationally, while quarterback Max Johnson is fifth in the FBS with 24.67 completions per contest.

Old Dominion has been respectable defensively, allowing 324.2 total yards per game, but the Monarchs have struggled to generate consistent offense. They rank 130th nationally with just 143.5 passing yards per game and 115th in rushing offense at 122.5 yards per contest.

Georgia Southern's defense is also allowing only 24.3 points per game, giving the Eagles a chance to limit an already underwhelming Old Dominion offense.

The Monarchs have enjoyed success in recent meetings between these teams, but Georgia Southern's superior offensive production makes the Eagles my preferred side at -3.5.

Colorado State-Texas State Over 68.5 (-112)

Thursday's highest-scoring game could come from the Pac-12, where the Colorado State Rams and Texas State Bobcats feature two productive offenses and two defenses that have struggled mightily.

Texas State is averaging 531.6 total yards per game, the third-highest mark in the FBS. The Bobcats have been particularly dominant on the ground, ranking fifth nationally with 263.6 rushing yards per contest, while also averaging 268.0 passing yards.

That balanced offensive attack should create significant problems for Colorado State, which is allowing a whopping 493.2 total yards and 38.6 points per game. The Rams rank 136th nationally in rushing yards allowed (228.6) and 138th in passing yards allowed per attempt (10.6).

However, Colorado State has plenty of offensive firepower of its own.

The Rams are averaging 37.4 points and 448.4 total yards per game, including 273.2 passing yards. That passing attack should have opportunities against a Texas State defense that ranks 138th nationally in passing yards allowed, surrendering 300.4 per contest.

Texas State is allowing 33.2 points per game overall, and four of its five games have finished over the closing total. Colorado State's five games have also all gone over.

With both offenses capable of moving the ball and neither defense showing much resistance, this matchup has the ingredients for a high-scoring affair. I'll take the over at 68.5 points.

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.