Free College Football Picks For Today 8/29/2023
Ball St vs. Kentucky College Football Pick Prediction 9/2/2023
Ball St at Kentucky 12PM ET—Mark Stoops is in his 11th year as head coach. The team finished at 7-6 and fell 22-0 to Iowa in the Music City bowl. Ten starters on back on offense with five to the defense. They lose their top running back Christopher Rodriguez who ran for 934 yards and 5.2 yards per rush in 2022.
Gone is their starting quarterback Will Levis from a year ago. NC State transfer Devin Leary is scheduled to start at quarterback. All but one starter is back on the offensive line. On defense the secondary has only one starter back.
The Wildcats were a strong defensive team last year holding foes to 19.2 points a game. The offense saw -12 points of scoring per game from a season ago. They averaged 325 yards per game which was 100 fewer yards than in 2022. Ball St head coach Mike New returns for his eighth year after a 5-7 record.
Seven starts return on offense and defense. The offense struggled posting just 23.3 points a game but defensively limited foes to 26.9. Their top running back Carson Steele exits and gained 1583 yards last year with 5.4 yards per run. Texas St transfer Layne Hatcher will start at quarterback. All four starters exit in the secondary.
Hatcher was a high-volume passer at Texas St who averaged only 6 yards per pass attempt. He is not a run threat. Leary gives the Wildcats a downfield passing threat. The loss of Steele is huge for the Cardinals.
Kentucky has been good early in the season to the spread covering 11of 14 in the first half of the season the past few seasons. Play Kentucky -26.5.
Arkansas St vs. Oklahoma College Football Pick Prediction 9/2/2023
Arkansas St at Oklahoma 12PM ET–—Butch Jones is in his third year as head coach with the program. Five starters return on offense with six to the defense. Arkansas St finished at 3-9. Three of the top run producers exit the program. Four of their five top receivers exit as well.
Starting quarterback in 2022 James Blackman exits. Colorado transfer JT Shrout expected starter for the Red Wolves. The offensive line returns three starters. Only one starter returns to the defensive line. Red Wolves defense surrendered 405 yards and 31.4 points per game which was an improvement from the previous season.
Poor offensive season for the Red Wolves by averaging 25 points and 315 yards per game. They ran for just 2.8 yards per carry the past two seasons. Brent Venables returns for his second season as head coach for Oklahoma. The team went 6-7 and returned seven on offense with six on the offense
. Point production fell to 32.8 points per game in 2022. Defensively they allowed 30 points and 461 yards which were both significantly higher than in 2021. Top running back Eric Gray exits after rushing for 1383 yards and averaging 6.4 yards per carry. The top two receivers leave the program.
Junior quarterback Dillon Gabriel is back under center with four starters back on the offensive line. Shrout completed just 44.3% in his nine games with Colorado last season and only 6 yards per pass attempt. Gabriel averaged 8.6 yards per pass attempt last year and ran for 315 yards.
The Sooners drop off in 2022 is too concerning to lay five touchdowns here. Factor the rolling clock on first down man mean 5-7 fewer plays per game. Play Arkansas St +35.
Louisiana Tech vs. SMU College Football Pick Prediction 9/2/2023
Louisiana Tech at SMU 12PM ET—Louisiana Tech is 1-0 after their 22-17 home win to FIU failing to cover as a -12.5 favorite. The Bulldogs needed a late fourth quarter touchdown to secure the victory. After allowing fourteen first quarter points the Bulldogs held FIU to just three points the rest of the way.
Boise St transfer Hank Bachmeier was 34 of 44 for 333 yards with a touchdown and interception. The run game generated less than three yards per attempt. They held the Golden Panthers to 5 of 14 passing for four yards but nearly six yards per rush attempt. Only four returns on defense for the Bulldogs.
SMU head coach Rhett Lashlee is back for this second season with the team. The Mustangs went 7-6 last year and return eight starters on offense as well as defense. They stayed on track offensively last year with an average of 37.2 points and 473 yards per game.
On defense the Mustangs allowed 34 points and 431 yards per game with 4.9 yards per rush against. Their top three rushers return as do two of their top three receivers. Tanner Mordecai exits as the starting quarterback. Sophomore Preston Stone takes over under center and was a Lashlee recruit as a true freshman last year.
Four starters return to the offensive line with experience in the front seven and secondary defensively. Bulldogs are 7-0 to the over when they allow 500 or more yards per game.
Louisiana Tech appears to be a one-dimensional passing team. There should be a lot of passing here and tired defenses late in the game. Play Louisiana Tech and SMU over 65.5.
Virginia vs. Tennessee College Football Pick Prediction 9/2/2023
Virginia vs. Tennessee 12PM ET—Game played in Nashville. Tony Elliot enters his second season with Virginia. The team went 3-7 in 2022 and return five starters on offense with eight to the defense. The offense produced just half the points they posted in 2021.
The Cavaliers put up 17 points a game last year with 344 yards. Defense saw improvement by holding foes to 24 points and 358 yards per game. Their top three receivers and starting quarterback do not return. Monmouth transfer Tony Muskett will be under center. Two starters return on the offense line.
The team is experienced defensively in the front seven. Josh Heupel is back for his third season as head coach with Tennessee. Volunteers were 11-2 in 2023 and return five starters on offense with seven to the defense. Their starting quarterback and lead receiver exit.
The offense produced 46 points per game last year with 526 yards. Defensively they limited opponents to 22.8 points but 405 yards per game. Their top running backs are returning along with three of their four top receivers. Michigan transfer Joe Milton will be under center for Tennessee.
Three starters return on the offense line with only one on the defensive line. Milton had a career high 64.6% completion rate in the eight games he saw action in last year with 11.8 yards per attempt. All were career highs.
Muskett was effective with Monmouth last year with a 64.1% completion rate and nine yards per pass attempt. He does have the ability to run the football. Volunteers defense is the concern with Tennessee and Muskett’s passing ability encouraging here. Play Virginia +28.
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Free College Football Picks For Today 8/29/2023
Bowling Green vs. Liberty College Football Pick Prediction 9/2/2023
Bowling Green at Liberty 12PM ET—Bowling Green head coach Scot Loeffler is back for his fifth season. Team was 6-7 in 2022 and return eight starters on offense and five to the defense. The Falcons struggled offensively with 23.5 points and 335 yards per game.
Defensively Bowling Green surrendered 32 points and 420 yards per game. They return their top two running backs but only one of their top four receivers. Starting quarterback Matt McDonald exits. Missouri/Indiana transfer Connor Bazelak will be at quarterback.
Only two starters return on the offensive line and the defensive is inexperienced in the front seven. Jamey Chadwell is in his first year as head coach for Liberty. He comes over from Coastal Carolina. Flames went 8-5 last season but returned only five starters on offense with three to the defense.
Liberty offense was down last season putting up 27 points and 389 yards per game. Defensively they limited opponents to 24 points and 346 yards per game. Their top two running backs exit as do five of their top seven pass receivers.
Tennessee transfer Kaidon Salter is expected to start at quarterback over last year’s starter Johnathan Bennett. Three starters return to the offensive line with one starter back in the front seven defensively. Camden Orth will co-start with Bazelak.
Orth is a LIU transfer who saw action in nine game last year completing 59.6% with 6.6 yards per attempt. Bazelak saw his numbers drop last year with Indiana as he completed only 55.2% with 5.4 yards per attempt. Salter saw action in the bowl game loss by Liberty to Toledo as they were held to 19 points.
In eight appearances in 2021, Salter completed 58.4% of his throws with 7.3 yards per attempt. Flames, lack of experience and drop in productivity last season a concern. Play Bowling Green +10.
East Carolina vs. Michigan College Football Pick Prediction 9/2/2023
East Carolina at Michigan 12PM ET—Mike Houston enters his fifth season as head coach. The Pirates went 8-5 a year ago and returned four starters on offense with six on defense. The offense was productive in 2023 with ECU averaging 32.5 points and 461 yards per game. The defense surrendered 27 points and 404 yards per game.
Gone is the Pirates leading rusher Keaton Mitchell that ran for 1499 yards and 7.2 yards per rush average. Exiting the program is the starting quarterback Holton Ahlers and the three top receivers. Two starters return to the offensive line with experience defensively in the front four.
Jim Harbaugh returns to Michigan for his ninth year as head coach. The Wolverines were 13-1 in 2022 and return eight starters on offense with seven to the defense. Strong offensively last year as they put up 40.4 points and 459 yards per game.
With only four starters back in 2022, Michigan held opponents to 16.1 points and 202 yards per game which bested the 2021 season. Top running backs and quarterback return for Michigan. J.J. McCarthy returns to under center for his junior year.
Four starters return to the offensive line with experience defensively in the linebacker position. Major challenges for ECU offensively with their lack of experience facing this powerhouse team in Michigan. Harbough will be serving a suspension here. Play East Carolina and Michigan under 51.5.
Utah St vs. Iowa College Football Pick Prediction 9/2/2023
Utah St at Iowa 12PM ET—Blake Anderson is back for his third year as head coach. The Aggies went 6-7 last year and returned only four starters on offense with five to the defense. Both sides of the football regressed. The team put up just 22.2 points and 354 yards per game last year. Run game sputtered with 3.8 yards per rush.
On defense the Aggies allowed 31 points and 399 yards per game. The leading rusher and two of their top three receivers have exited. Junior Cooper Legas returns under center. Only one starter is back on the offensive line with an experienced back seven on defense.
Kirk Ferentz returns for his 25th season as head coach. Hawkeyes finished at 8-5 in 2022 and return nine starters on offense with seven to the defense. The Iowa offense was horrific last season as they put up just 17.7 points and 252 yards per game.
Hawkeyes ran for only 2.9 yards per attempt. The defense improved by allowing 13.3 points and 271 yards per game. Their top two running backs return to Iowa with two of their top three receivers. Quarterback Spencer Petras exits the program.
Michigan transfer Cade McNamara will start at quarterback. All five starting offensive linemen return and the front seven defensively are experienced. Legas last year averaged just 6.8 yards per pass attempt.
Inexperienced offense a major concern for the Aggies facing this strong defensive program. Iowa’s offense is concerning laying this huge number. Play Utah St and Iowa under 45.5.
Northern Illinois vs. Boston College College Football Pick Prediction 9/2/2023
Northern Illinois at Boston College 12PM ET—NIU head coach Thomas Hammock is back for his fifth season as head coach. The Huskies finished a disappointing 3-9 last year and return eight on offense with seven to the defense. The offense declined last year to an average of 27.3 points and 373 yards per game.
Defense has gone south in his four year tenure. Northern Illinois in 2022 surrendered 32.8 points and 396 yards per game. Their leading rusher exits, as do five of their top seven receivers. Four quarterbacks saw work in 2022 with Rocky Lombardi expected to start in his senior year.
Huskies have all five offensive linemen back with the secondary and defensive linemen experienced on defense. Boston College head coach Jeff Hafley is back for his fourth season. The team finished at 3-9 and returned nine starters on offense with six to the defense.
The offense continued their downward slide by averaging 17.8 points and 310 yards per game. The run game produced a miniscule 2.1 yards per carry. The defense spiked downward as well by allowing 30.3 points and 379 yards per game.
The running back position brings experience but leaving are the two top pass catchers. Quarterback Phil Jurkovec has left BC. Sophomore quarterback Emmett Morehead expected to start. He started the last four games for the Eagles in 2022.
The offensive line returns all five starters with experience defensively in the front seven but only one in the secondary returns. Huskies experience on both lines are encouraging and prefer their quarterback. Inexperienced secondary for the Eagles is concerning. Play Northern Illinois +8.5.
Colorado vs. TCU College Football Pick Prediction 9/2/2023
Colorado at TCU 12PM ET—Deion Sanders makes his head coaching debut with Colorado. The team went 1-11 and return six starters on offense and three to the defense. Buffaloes were poor on both sides in 2022 by scoring 15.4 points and putting up 281 yards per game.
Defensively they surrendered 44.5 points and 510 yards per game. Sanders brought in many transfers and completed an overhaul of the team’s roster. Starting quarterback Shedeur Sanders completed 70.5% last year in the FCS with Jackson St. Sonny Dykes returns for his second season as head coach.
Horned Frogs finished at 13-2 and return only three starters on offense with seven to the defense. TCU last year put up 38.8 points and 455 yards per game. On defense they did allow 29 points and 408 yards per game. Horned Frogs lose their starting quarterback, top three rushers and top three receivers from 2022.
Chandler Morris returns under center after missing much of 2022 with a knee injury. He beat out Max Duggan for the starting job last year. Two starters return to the offensive line and the defense is inexperienced on the line.
In his three games last year Morris averaged only 5.4 yards per pass attempt and hasn’t seen much action during his college career. Sanders accuracy can carry with the talent surrounding him. Dykes struggled in his past power conference job with California with the defense. Play Colorado +21.
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