Free College Football Picks Week 2 Part 3-9/7/2024
Central Michigan vs. FIU College Football Pick Prediction 9/7/2024
Central Michigan at FIU 6PMET—Central Michigan is 1-0 after their 66-10 home win to Central Connecticut St. the Chippewas finished at 5-7 last season for head coach Jim McElwain who is in his sixth season. The team returns seven starters on offense with six to the defense. They put up just 21.2 points per game last year with 4.2 yards per run. They the passing game sat in the bottom quartile of college football. On defense they surrendered 30.1 points and 395 yards per game. Teams rushed for 4.7 yards a carry against them with 225 yards passing with 8 yards per pass attempt. Many of their playmakers return. Senior quarterback Joe Labas is under center. He last saw action in the Iowa bowl game in the 2022 season hitting 14 of 24 for 139 yards and three touchdowns. He had a big performance in their win against an FCS foe. FIU is 0-1 after their 31-7 road defeat to Indiana. The Panthers gained 182 yards with just 1.8 yards per run. They allowed 414 yards to the Hoosiers with 234 rushing for 5.9 yards per carry. Keyone Jenkins completed 20 of 29 passes for 129 yards with a touchdown and pick. The sophomore started last year as a true freshman.
The Pick:
FIU quarterback play remains inefficient under Jenkins. A bigger test for Labbas who couldn’t win the starters job at Iowa now heading to a road game trying to improve a poor passing game from last year. Play Central Michigan and FIU under 51.5.
East Carolina vs. Old Dominion College Football Pick Prediction 9/7/2024
East Carolina at Old Dominion 6PM ET—East Carolina is 1-0 after their 42-3 home win against FCS Norfolk St. The Pirates finished at 2-10 for head coach Mike Houston. The team returns seven starters on offense with seven to the defense. They averaged 14.9 points per game in 2023 with 269 yards. A poor run game with a passing game that sat near the bottom of college football. Defensively they held foes to 24.5 points per game with only 3.5 yards per run. They did allow 8 yards per pass completion. The defense picks up five transfers to help fill holes. Miami transfer Jake Garcia starts at quarterback. At Miami he completed 61.2% of his passes with 7.4 yards per pass attempt. He put up good numbers against an FCS school last week but threw three picks. Old Dominion drops to 23-19 with their 23-19 road defeat to South Carolina. The Monarchs put up 305 yards with 108 rushing for 3.2 yards a carry. They turned it over four times. On defense they held the Gamecocks to 288 yards with 174 rushing for 3.1 yards a carry. Grant Wilson completed 22 of 38 for 197 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He lost two fumbles.
The Pick:
East Carolina passing is the major concern here after being a near bottom performer last season. Garcia’s three picks against Norfolk St is not a good sign. Wilson is an experienced quarterback for the Monarchs. ODU defense deserved a better fate by holding South Carolina to under 300 yards. Play Old Dominion -1.
South Alabama vs. Ohio College Football Pick Prediction 9/7/2024
South Alabama at Ohio 6PM ET—South Alabama is 0-1 following their 52-38 home defeat to North Texas. The Jaguars gained 582 yards with 150 rushing for 4.5 yards per run. On defense they surrendered 550 yards to the Mean Green with 446 passing for 10.6 yards per pass attempt. Sophomore quarterback Gio Lopez completed 26 of 49 for 432 yards with three touchdowns. He rushed for 52 yards and a touchdown. Ohio is 0-1 after their 38-22 road defeat to Syracuse. The Bobcats put up 436 yards with 255 rushing for 6.5 yards per run. On defense they allowed 480 yards to the Orange with 354 yards passing for 8.9 yards per pass attempt. Parker Navarro hit 18 of 30 for 181 yards.
The Pick:
Ohio rushing numbers were impressive against a power conference team in Syracuse. Giving up 550 yards to the North Texas offense is a concern here laying points. Play Ohio +2.
Sam Houston St vs. UCF College Football Pick Prediction 9/7/2024
Sam Houston St at UCF 6:30PM ET—Sam Houston St is 1-0 following their 34-14 road win at Rice. The Bearkats put up 407 yards with 178 rushing for 3.9 yards per carry. On defense they limited the Owls to 274 yards with 47 on the ground for 2.6 yards per carry. The team had a +2-turnover margin. Hunter Watson completed 16 of 27 for 229 yards and two touchdowns. It was the junior first ever action. UCF is 1-0 following their 57-3 home win to FCS New Hampshire. The Knights finished at 6-7 last year. They return six starters on offense with eight on defense. UCF put up 29.9 points per game in 2023 with 477 yards. The team rushed for 5.7 yards per carry with efficient passing numbers. Defensively they allowed 26.8 points a game with 405 yards. Opponents rushed for five yards a carry on them, but they did defend the pass well. Arkansas transfer KJ Jefferson is at quarterback. Last season, he completed 64.2% of his passes with 7.1 yards per attempt. He is a threat to run but averaged only 2.8 yards a carry in 2023. He completed only half of his passes against his FCS foe last week.
The Pick:
UCF brought in a new defensive coordinator Ted Roof to improve this unit. Hunter Watson first assignment against a Power Conference team and it is a back-to-back road spot. KJ Jefferson dual threat matched up with Malzahn a good match. Play UCF -21.5.
USF vs. Alabama College Football Pick Prediction 9/7/2024
USF at Alabama 7PM ET—USF is 1-0 after their 48-3 home win to FCS Bethune Cookman. South Florida went 7-6 in 2024 for head coach Alex Golesh. The team returns ten starters on offense with eight on defense. They averaged 31.4 points and 461 yards per game last year. Their passing game was efficient. Defensively the Bulls gave up 32.9 points and 436 yards per game. They held foes to 4.3 yards a carry but struggled defending the pass. Byrum Brown last year completed 64.6% of his passes with 7.7 yards per pass attempt. He rushed for 809 yards and 11 touchdowns. His numbers were good in the opener against his FCS opponent. Alabama is 1-0 with their 63-0 home win to Western Kentucky. The Crimson Tide gained 600 yards with 334 rushing for 7.1 yards a carry. Defensively they held the Hilltoppers to 145 yards, 3 of 18 on third down with 42 rushing for 1.6 yards per carry. Jalen Milroe went 7 of 9 for 200 yards and three touchdowns. He rushed for 79 yards and two touchdowns.
The Pick:
USF offense showed improvement last season under Brown. USF was competitive against the Crimson Tide with a 17-3 home defeat. Brown developed well after that early season loss. Play USF +31.
Buffalo vs. Missouri College Football Pick Prediction 9/7/2024
Buffalo at Missouri 7PM ET—Buffalo is 1-0 after their 30-13 home win to FCS Lafayette. The Bulls went 3-9 last year. Pete Lembo is in his first year with the program that returns three starters on offense with seven on defense. They put up 19.5 points and 315 yards per game last year. Buffalo rushed for 4.4 yards per carry with an inefficient passing game. On defense they allowed 26.3 points and 359 yards per game. The team held opponents to 176 yards passing with 6.7 yards per pass attempt. Gone are their starting quarterback with many playmakers. Senior quarterback C.J. Ogbonna is the starting quarterback. He was ineffective in limited work last year with the Bulls and in his two years at Southeast Missouri. He did pass for two touchdowns and 195 yards in the win against their FCS opponents. Missouri is 1-0 after their 51-0 home win to FCS Murray St. The Tigers finished at 11-2 in 2023 for head coach Eli Drinkwitz. Returning are nine starters on offense with five on defense. They put up 32 points and 432 yards per game last year. The team rushed for 4.4 yards a carry and was effective in the passing game. Defensively Missouri held opponents to 21.8 points and 348 yards per game. They held opponents to 4 yards per carry and only 6.9 yards per pass attempt. Senior quarterback Brady Cook returns. Last year he completed 66.5% of his throws with 9 yards per pass attempt. Cook comes off a strong game in their win against their FCS foe.
The Pick:
Missouri offense looks strong again this season. Cook’s efficiency is very good here and a huge discrepancy between these starting quarterbacks. Obonna struggled to complete half of his passes when he quarterbacked in the FCS. Play Missouri -34.5.
Virginia vs. Wake Forest College Football Pick Prediction 9/7/2024
Virginia at Wake Forest 7PM ET—Virginia is 1-0 following their 34-13 home win to FCS Richmond. The Cavaliers finished at 3-9 last season for head coach Tony Elliot. The Cavs return eight starters on offense with eight to the defense. They put up 22.9 points per game in 2023 with 361 yards. Virginia rushed for 2.9 yards a carry with 252 passing with 7.5 yards per pass attempt. On defense they surrendered 35.6 points and 427 yards per game. Opponents rushed for 5.2 yards a carry with 7.3 yards per pass attempt. Anthony Colandrea starts at quarterback. Last year he hit 62.6% of his passes with 8 yards a carry. Colandrea was productive last week in the win against the FCS opponent. Wake Forest is 1-0 with their 45-13 home win to FCS NC A&T. The Demon Deacons finished at 4-9 for head coach Dave Clawson that has seven starters return on offense and seven on defense. The team in 2023 put up only 18.7 points per game with 319 yards. They rushed for only 3.4 yards per carry and were inefficient in the passing game. Defensively the Demon Deacons allowed 28 points and 399 yards per game. Opponents rushed for 4.3 yards per game with 240 yards passing for 8.3 yards per pass attempt. Michael Kern starts at quarterback. Kern is a senior that spent his career at the school seeing limited action. Last year in four games played he completed 62% of his passes with 7 yards per pass attempt. He attempted just eight passes last week in the win against their FCS foe.
The Pick:
The Virginia defense was real bad last season and there is a lot to fix. Kern in the program for four seasons a plus for the Demon Deacons. Play Wake Forest -1.5.
Kansas vs. Illinois College Football Pick Prediction 9/7/2024
Kansas at Illinois 7PM ET—Kansas is 1-0 after their 48-3 home win to FCS Lindenwood. The Jayhawks finished at 9-4 last season for head coach Lance Leipold in his fourth season. Returning are seven starters on offense with six to the defense. They put up 34 points and 440 yards per game in 2024. The team rushed for 5.3 yards per carry and were efficient in the passing game. Jalon Daniels to start at quarterback. He returned from an injury last year. In parts of the past three seasons, he has a career 68.5% completion rate with 8.5 yards per pass attempt. Daniels was efficient in the win last week against his FCS opponent. Illinois is 1-0 following their 45-0 home win to FCS Eastern Illinois. The Fighting Illini went 5-7 last year for head coach Bret Bielema. Returning are six starters on offense with seven to the defense. They put up 24.5 points per game a year ago with 3.8 yards per rush. Illinois had an efficient passing attack. On defense they allowed 29.4 points and 378 yards per game. Opponents rushed for 3.9 yards per carry with 228 yards passing for only 6.9 yards per pass attempt. Luke Altmyer returns at quarterback. Last year with the school he completed 64.8% with 7 yards per pass attempt. He came off a big performance last week facing their FCS home foe.
The Pick:
Altmyer is a run threat that fits the Bielama ground and pound game. His passing was effective. They defended well last season. Play Illinois +5.