College Football Predictions Friday: 3 Picks and Best Bets for Tomorrow's Slate

Friday College Football Picks in Summary

• San Jose State Moneyline (+126)
• Indiana State-Purdue Under 56.5 (-108)
• Michigan State -10.5 (-105)

College football offers plenty of betting opportunities each week — with spreads, moneylines, totals, and player props available across the biggest games on the schedule.

Whether you’re looking for college football picks, predictions, or betting analysis, breaking down the latest odds, matchups, and key trends can help identify the best bets to consider.

Let’s get you ready for this week by looking at our best bets.

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

College Football Picks and Predictions

San Jose State at Eastern Michigan (6:30 p.m. ET)

San Jose State Moneyline (+126)

The San Jose State Spartans opened their season with a 42-26 loss at USC, but the final score doesn't tell the whole story.

The Spartans were massive 37.5-point underdogs and were competitive enough offensively to finish with 336 total yards and 26 points. They scored 23 points in the fourth quarter, and their ability to generate offense against a ranked Big Ten opponent makes this clash with the Eastern Michigan Eagles a much more manageable assignment.

Eastern Michigan is also coming off an encouraging opener, beating Sacramento State 28-17, but the Eagles managed only 69 rushing yards on 30 attempts. That's something San Jose State should be able to take advantage of if it can force EMU into obvious passing situations.

I’m backing the an San Jose State team that has already been tested against one of the better offenses in the country.

Indiana State vs. Purdue (7 p.m. ET)

Under 56.5 Points (-108)

The Purdue Boilermakers should be able to control this matchup, but I'm not sure that translates into enough points to push this game over 56.5.

Indiana State opened its season with a 23-21 loss to Southeast Missouri State, and the Sycamores now face a sizable jump in competition. Purdue is favored by 36.5, so there's a realistic scenario in which Indiana State contributes very little to the total.

We've seen that story before in this matchup. Purdue beat Indiana State 49-0 in 2024 and 56-0 in 2022.

The Boilermakers aren't exactly an offense I'm eager to back to score 50-plus on their own, either. Purdue ranked 103rd nationally in rushing offense last season. This is an ideal spot for the Boilermakers to establish the ground game, build a comfortable lead and shorten the second half.

If Indiana State struggles to reach double-digit points, Purdue could win comfortably without this game threatening the over.

Toledo vs. Michigan State

Michigan State -10.5 (-105)

Both programs are entering new eras. Pat Fitzgerald takes over the Michigan State Spartans while Mike Jacobs is in his first season with the Toledo Rockets, but there is a meaningful experience difference between the two rosters.

Michigan State brings back 12 starters from an FBS program, compared to six for Toledo, and the Spartans rank 60th in 247Sports' team composite rating, compared to 109th for the Rockets.

That's notable because Michigan State badly needs to start the Fitzgerald era on a high note following a 4-8 season.

Fitzgerald's Northwestern teams generally made their living with physical defense and a productive ground game, and that formula should translate well against a Group of Six opponent in East Lansing. While expecting a big turnaround overall this season at Michigan State is probably asking too much, this is a favorable opening matchup.

Toledo went 8-5 last season, so the Rockets aren't a pushover. But the combination of home-field advantage and Michigan State's superior overall talent makes a single-digit spread appealing.

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.