Free College Football Picks For Today 8/26/2019
More College Football Picks Predictions Previews
UCLA vs. Cincinnati Pick Prediction 8/29/2019
UCLA vs. Cincinnati—College football pick is Cincinnati Bearcats -3. Cincinnati is coming off an impressive 11-2 record a season ago in head coach Luke Fickell’s second year with the team. Bearcats were an outstanding defensive team holding teams to 17.2 points per game. They did pick up a bowl win to Virginia Tech. Cincinnati returns seven starters back on offense and to a defense that beat UCLA on the road in the opener last year 26-17. Team returns starting quarterback Desmond Ridder and his starting running back with many of his playmakers in the passing game. Bearcats on defense very experienced in their back seven. Bruins an experienced team but coming off a 3-9 record as Chip Kelly enters his second season with the team. UCLA was a poor defensive team last year giving up 34 points and 445 yards per game. On offense, Bruins ran for only 4.1 yards per run and threw for 59.3% of their passes. UCLA has lost 14 of 15 on the road. Bruins have failed to cover 10 of their past 12 non-conference games. Play Cincinnati -3.
Georgia Tech vs. Clemson Pick Prediction 8/29/2019
Georgia Tech at Clemson—College football free pick is Clemson Tigers -35 ½ points. Georgia Tech is going through major changes. Gone is former head coach Paul Johnson who ran a triple option offense. Geoff Collins enters his first year with the school and will take time to make this drastic change to make the Yellow Jackets more modern with their offensive approach. They return five starters on offense and four to the defense. Team is rebuilding and expect to line up Lucas Johnson under center a first year starter. On two starters return on the offensive line and will be challenged against the good Clemson defense. Clemson returns many of their playmakers back on offense including starting quarterback Trevor Lawrence and NFL prospect but is still a sophomore. Team has their running back returning in Travis Etienne as well as many playmakers in the passing game. Tigers posted 44.3 points and 527 yards per game. Yellow Jackets will struggle extending drives and scoring points. Tigers put up 49 points on Georgia Tech on the road last year. Play Clemson -35.5.
FIU vs. Tulane Pick Prediction 8/29/2019
FIU at Tulane—Free pick is Florida International Golden Panthers +2. Butch Davis a very good head coach enters his third year after leading the team to a 9-4 record last season. They beat a good Toledo team in their bowl game. Team is experienced returning eight starters on offense and eight to the defense. Senior James Morgan returns as the starting quarterback and has his senior running back and many of his playmakers back. FIU has five seniors on the team including quarterback and center. This is an FIU team experience at every level on defense. Team moved the football for 422 yards and 34.6 points per game. Defensively held opponents to 25.2 points. Tulane returns only five starters on offense. This was not an efficient offense as the team produced only 26.8 points and completed 50.3% of their passes last season. They failed to cover their past four at home. Teams last met in 2017 with FIU posting the 23-10 home win. Green Wave lacks experience on the offensive line with three first year starters including their right and left tackles. Golden Panthers have covered their past six on the road. Play FIU +2.
Texas St vs. Texas A&M Pick Prediction 8/29/2019
Texas St vs. Texas A&M—College football pick is Texas A&M Aggies -33. Tough to back this Bobcats team with the points in this spot. Texas St has not won more than three games the past four seasons. This is an offensively challenged program that produced only 19.8 points per game and less than 20 points per game average the past three seasons. Texas A&M returns starting quarterback Kevin Mond and will have many of his playmakers in the passing game. Aggies produced 36 points and 472 yards per game. They looked great in their bowl game with a 52-13 win to NC State. They pounded their two non-conference opponents from the smaller schools last year 59-7 and 48-10 at home. Aggies have covered eight straight in the non-conference which speaks volumes about facing SEC competition every year. Play Texas A&M Aggies -33.
Kent St vs. Arizona St Pick Prediction 8/29/2019
Kent St vs. Arizona St—College football free pick is Arizona St Sun Devils -25. Kent St struggled last year finishing with a 2-10 record. They are inexperienced on defense with only six starters back and three first year starters on the defensive line. Golden Flashes were pounded on the road last year by 53 at Penn St, 21 at Ole Miss, 28 at Ball St, 25 at Miami Ohio and 34 at Buffalo. I was a fan of the Herm Edwards hire at Arizona St. I knew once the show business character on TV worn off the football coach would re-appear. The college game suits him fine. They are experienced on offense with eight starters on offense. They have an experienced offensive line blocking against an inexperienced mid major defensive line in the heat of the desert. On defense ASU has experience in the back seven. Freshman Jayden Daniels starts at quarterback. He is a highly touted dual threat quarterback coming out of high school in Southern California. The experience and physical strength of ASU wears down Kent St in a hot Tempe. Play Arizona St -25.
Utah vs. BYU Pick Prediction 8/29/2019
Utah vs. BYU—Free pick is BYU Cougars +5.5. BYU is an experienced team returning nine starters on offense and eight to the defense. They gave the Utes a major scare late last season as the Cougars dropped a 35-27 road decision at Utah but covered in that loss. Cougars saw major improvement in 2018 scoring 10 points and gaining 40 more yards than the previous season. Zach Wilson returns as starter in his sophomore season so look for the bump up in production following his freshman campaign. All his receivers return as does his tight end and four starters on the offensive line. Defensively the Cougars did improve holding teams to 21.4 points and 324 yards per game. Cougars are focused to break their eight game losing streak against the Utes. There is a lot of hype entering this season for Utah but remember they were a five loss team last season and dropped a 31-20 decision to Northwestern in their bowl game. Only two starters back on the offensive line for the Utes and are inexperienced at linebacker. Play BYU +5.5.
Rice vs. Army Pick Prediction 8/30/2019
Rice at Army—College football pick is Army Black Knights -23.5. Rice is coming off a disappointing 2-11 season. They return only six starters on offense and six to the defense. The Owls are inexperienced on the offensive and defensive line which will be an issue facing this Army team. Head coach Jeff Monken turned this Army team around. They finished 11-2 overall a season ago. They return seven starters back on offense including quarterback Kelvin Hopkins. They averaged nearly 33 points and 393 yards per game a season ago. They have been in a bowl game now for three straight seasons. Army was a stout defensive team holding opponents to 17.7 points and 296 yards per game. They forced Oklahoma into overtime on the road in a seven point loss. Rice defense struggled allowing 446 yards and 36 points per game. They struggled in run defense. They faced Army at home in 2017 and got pounded 49-12. Play Army -23.5.
Wisconsin vs. South Florida Pick Prediction 8/30/2019
Wisconsin vs. South Florida—College football free pick is South Florida Bulls +13.5. South Florida has an experienced offense returning nine starters. Included are their starting quarterback, running back and four offensive linemen. Running back Jordan Cronkite is very good as he ran for 1148 yards last year for 6.1 yards per run. USF is experienced on their defensive line. Wisconsin returns only six on offense and to the defense. They break in a first year starting quarterback along with four new starters on the offensive line. Jack Coan starts at quarterback for the Badgers who were a five loss team last year. The defense gave up nine points per game and 82 yards greater than the previous season. Badgers are inexperienced at the linebacker position. Weather will be an issue for Wisconsin playing in Tampa Bay in late August with the heat and humidity. Badgers wear down in the second half to allow for the USF cover here with late scores. Play South Florida +13.5.
Tulsa vs. Michigan St Pick Prediction 8/30/2019
Tulsa vs. Michigan St—Free pick is Michigan St Spartans -22.5 points. Tulsa coming off a poor season at 3-9 a year ago. They had a hard time defending the run giving up 233 yards per game for 5 yards per carry average. The offense averaged only 24 points per game. Team returns only six starters on offense and is inexperienced on the offensive line. Michigan St is experienced returning nine starters on offense and eight to their defense. Senior quarterback Brian Lewerke returns and when healthy has been an effective quarterback. He fought through injuries last season and after shoulder surgery has returned heathy. This is a Spartan offensive line that returns five starters and many of their play makers in the passing game. Spartans entire defensive line returns as does six starters on their front seven. Michigan St was an elite defense last season allowing only 17.2 points and 301 yards per game. Play Michigan St -22.5.
Massachusetts vs. Rutgers Pick Prediction 8/30/2019
Massachusetts at Rutgers—College football pick is Massachusetts +15.5. UMASS was able to notch four wins last season while the Scarlet Knights went 1-11. Walt Bell enters his first season as head coach coming over as the former offensive coordinator at Florida St. When the Minutemen have shown is the ability to score points. Rutgers have not as they were held to just 13.5 points and 266 yards per game. In the non-conference they lost at Kansas by 41 and home to Buffalo by 29. Only five starters back on defense. Unable to lay these many points with the Scarlet Knights. Play Massachusetts +15.5.
Utah St vs. Wake Forest Pick Prediction 8/30/2019
Utah St at Wake Forest—College football free pick is Utah St and Wake Forest to play under the total of 63.5 points. Utah St has only two starters return to their offense. Only returning is quarter Jordan Love for his junior season and the left tackle. Nine first year first starters hit the road in their seas on opener. Utah St was a very good defensive team holding opponents to 22.2 points per game a season ago. Wake Forest did have their struggles last year against good defenses in loses to Clemson, Florida St and Pittsburgh where they were held to 17 points or fewer. Utah St is a balanced offense but expect to see a conservative game plan in this opener which will limit scoring as the team will lean to their defense to stay in this game. Play Utah St and Wake Forest under the total of 63.5 points.
Purdue vs. Nevada Pick Prediction 8/30/2019
Purdue at Nevada—Free pick is Nevada Wolf Pack +10 points. Purdue is not experienced on offense as the team returns only three on offense with a first year starting quarterback and play makers. Purdue got worse on defense last season allowing 30 points and 453 yards per game. Boilermakers allowed an average of 285 passing yards. Nevada will start freshman Carson Strong who won the job in camp. He beat out a touted Florida St transfer in Malik Henry. Strong did show accuracy on deep throws in camp. Returning is the starting running back with wide receivers. Wolf Pack improved as the season wore on. They hosted Boise St and were competitive in a 31-27 defeat. Play Nevada +10.
Colorado St vs. Colorado Pick Prediction 8/30/2019
Colorado St vs. Colorado—College football pick is Colorado Buffaloes -13. Game played on neutral field in Denver. Buffaloes return seven starters on offense including quarterback Steven Montez. He has had big games against Colorado St in his career. Montez has his receiving corps all returning including NFL prospect Laviska Shenault who put up great numbers last season and against the Rams. The past three seasons against Colorado, the Rams scored no greater than 13 points and a total of 23 points. Colorado St suffered through a 3-9 season last year. They produced only an average of 22.8 points per game while surrendering 37 points and 452 yards per game. CSU run defense was poor allowing 5.3 yards per carry. Rams return only five starters on offense and is inexperienced in the wide receiver position. Buffaloes have covered three straight against the Rams. Play Colorado -13.
Oklahoma St vs. Oregon St Pick Prediction 8/30/2019
Oklahoma St vs. Oregon St—College football free pick is Oklahoma St Cowboys -15. Oklahoma St returns seven starters on offense and is experienced on the offensive line. There is a battle for the starting quarterback between redshirt freshman Spencer Sanders and Hawaii transfer Dru Brown. Both have looked well in summer camp. Head coach Mike Gundy enters his fifteenth season with the Cowboys. His offenses have been outstanding at the school. Oklahoma St is experienced in their secondary. Oregon St is coming off a 2-10 season. This has been a bad defensive team for two seasons giving up 45.7 points per game last year and 43 points in 2017. Last year Oregon St surrendered 537 yards per game. Beavers allowed 42 point or greater in six of their final eight games. They lost every game last year at home against the PAC 12 by 17 point or greater. Play Oklahoma St -15.