Free College Football Picks Week 3 Part 2-9/14/2024
Boston College vs. Missouri College Football Pick Prediction 9/14/2024
Boston College at Missouri 12:45PM ET—Boston College is 2-0 after their 56-0 home win to FCS Duquesne. The Eagles opened their season against Florida St on the road and came away with a 28-13 victory. They rushed for 263 yards with poor passing efficiency. On defense they limited the Seminoles to 21 rushing yards with 272 passing yards on 42 attempts. Thomas Castellanos hit 10 of 16 passes for 106 yards and two touchdowns. Missouri is 2-0 after their 38-0 home win to Buffalo. The Tigers piled up 521 yards offensively with 255 rushing. Brady Cook hit 28 of 36 for 228 yards and an interception.
The Pick:
The running ability for Castellanos gives defenses fits. BC is playing outstanding defense holding opponents to 215 yards per game. This is an experienced Eagles team bringing back 17 starters. BC rushes for 5.8 yards a carry while holding opponents to 1.7 yards per run and 3.8 yards per pass attempt. Play Boston College +17.
Massachusetts vs. Buffalo College Football Pick Prediction 9/14/2024
UMASS at Buffalo 1PM ET—UMASA fell to 0-2 with their 38-23 road defeat at Toledo. The Minutemen put up 84 yards with 125 rushing for under three yards per rush. They limited the Rockets to 258 yards with under four yards per run and 175 passing. Taisun Phommachanh hit 26 of 40 for 259 yards with a touchdown and interception. Buffalo fell to 1-1 with their 38-0 road defeat in Missouri. The Bulls gained 169 yards with 114 rushing for under four yards per rush. Defensively they allowed the Tigers 488 yards with 255 rushing and 263 through the air. C.J. Ogbonna went 6 of 20 for 55 yards and an interception.
The Pick:
This is an inexperienced Bulls team that returned only three starters on offense. The Bulls are struggling in pass defense by allowing 75.3% completions. Phommanchanh has been accurate and increasing his running. UMASS opened against two MAC teams and defended well as they held opponents to 48.1% completions. Play UMASS +4.5.
Coastal Carolina vs. Temple College Football Pick Prediction 9/14/2024
Coastal Carolina at Temple 2PM ET—Coastal Carolina is 2-0 after their 40-21 home win to FCS Williams & Mary. They blew out Jacksonville St on the road 55-27 to open their campaign. They put up 552 yards on the Gamecocks with 294 rushing. They held Jacksonville St to 357 yards with 123 rushing for 4.1 yards per run. Ethan Vasko hit 12 of 19 passes for 249yards and two touchdowns. Temple is 0-2 after their 38-11 road defeat to Navy. The Owls gained 312 yards with 35 rushing for under two yards per carry. On defense they gave up 409 yards to the Midshipmen with 297 rushing on 51 carries. They had a -3-turnover margin. Forrest Brock completed 30 of 46 passes for 277 yards with a touchdown but two interceptions.
The Pick:
The Chanticleers are doing an outstanding job with their running game, averaging 5.8 yards per run. Pass and run defense working. It is a big play passing game early in the season with 9.5 yards per pass attempt. The Owls running attack averages 2 yards a carry. Their run defense is a massive concern as they allow 257 yards with 6.1 yards per rush. Temple is an inexperienced team with five starters returning on both ends of the field. Play Coastal Carolina -17.5.
Texas A&M vs. Florida Football Pick Prediction 9/14/2024
Texas A&M at Florida 3:30PM ET—Texas A&M is 1-1 after their 52-10 home win to FCS McNeese St. They opened the year with a 23-13 home loss to Notre Dame. In defeat they put up only 246 yards with 146 rushing for 3.5 yards per run. They limited the Fighting Irish to 356 yards but 198 on the ground. Conner Weigman went 12 of 30 for 100 yards and two interceptions. His numbers were better the following week against his FCS opponent. Florida is 1-1 with their 45-7 home win to FCS Samford. In their opener it was a 41-17 home defeat to Miami. They generated only 271 yards in the loss with 139 rushing yards. On defense they allowed 539 yards to the Hurricanes with 385 passing on 36 attempts. Graham Mertz hit 11 of 20 for 91 yards and an interception. He is probable returning from a concussion. DJ Lagway started last week putting up great numbers in his debut, but it was against an FCS team.
The Pick:
Lagway’s performance provides some hope for this Gators team. Weigman’s performance at home to Notre Dame is a major concern, especially laying points on the road. The playmakers are experienced for the Gators. The Aggies have lost seven straight on the road. Play Florida +4.5.
Washington St vs. Washington Football Pick Prediction 9/14/2024
Washington St at Washington 3:30PM ET—Game played on neutral field in Seattle. Washington St is 2-0 following their 37-16 home win to Texas Tech. The Cougars put up 416 yards with 301 rushing on 46 attempts. They allowed 491 yards to the Red Raiders with 343 passing on 60 attempts. Washington St had a +3-turnover margin. John Mateer went 9 of 19 for 115 yards with a touchdown and pick. He rushed for 197 yards and a touchdown. Washington is 2-0 with their 30-9 home win to Eastern Michigan. The Huskies moved the football for 501 yards with 185 rushing on 28 attempts. They limited the Eagles to 204 yards with 75 rushing for two yards per run. Will Rogers was 21 of 26 for 261 yards and four touchdowns.
The Pick:
Washington returned only six starters. Mateer’s run ability is a concern for the Huskies defense. Washington has not been tested facing an FCS and MAC Team. Cougars running ability encouraging here at 7.2 yards a carry. Play Washington St +4.5.
Oregon vs. Oregon St Football Pick Prediction 9/14/2024
Oregon at Oregon St 3:30PM ET—Oregon is 2-0 after their 37-34 home win to Boise St. The Ducks gained 352 yards with 109 rushing on 36 attempts. On defense they allowed 369 yards to the Broncos with 221 rushing on 33 attempts. They had a -2-turnover margin. Dillon Gabriel hit 18 of 21 for 243 yards with two touchdowns. Oregon St is 2-0 following their 21-0 road win at San Diego St. The Beavers produced 410 yards with 237 rushing on 51 attempts. On defense they held the Aztecs to 179 yards with 107 passing on 24 attempts and shut down the run. Gevani McCoy completed 15 of 25 for 160 yards.
The Pick:
The Ducks are getting efficiency from their passing game with 83.1% completions and 8.8 yards per pass attempt. Their defense is giving up 5.1 yards per carry. The Beavers are running for 5.5 yards a carry and getting accuracy at the quarterback position. Play Oregon and Oregon St over 50.
West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh Football Pick Prediction 9/14/2024
West Virginia at Pittsburgh 3:30PM ET—West Virginia is 1-1 after their 49-14 home win to FCS Albany. They opened at home to Penn St and lost 34-12. They put up just 246 yards with 85 rushing for under three yards per run. They surrendered 456 yards to the Nittany Lions with 222 rushing for nearly five yards per run. The Mountaineers had a -2-turnover margin. Garrett Greene hit 15 of 28 for 161 yards in the loss. He rebounded with a solid effort the following week against his FCS opponents. Pittsburgh is 2-0 following their 28-27 road win at Cincinnati. The Panthers rebounded from a 27-3 deficit late in the third quarter. They put up 498 yards with 196 rushing. On defense they allowed 449 yards with 298 passing on 38 attempts. Eli Holstein hit 20 of 35 for 302 yards with three touchdowns and a pick.
The Pick:
Greene’s efficiency was a concern for the Mountaineers who were held to 12 points at home to the Nittany Lions. Pittsburgh was held to three points through nearly three quarters a week ago. Panthers are defending the run and pass well. Holstein is a red shirt freshman in his first conference game here. Play West Virginia and Pittsburgh under 63.5.
Ball St vs. Miami Florida Football Pick Prediction 9/14/2024
Ball St at Miami Florida—Ball St is 1-0 after their 42-34 home win to FCS Missouri St. The Cardinals went 4-8 in 2023 for head coach Mike Neu in his ninth season. They return eight starters on offense with one on defense. They broke in two new coordinators as well. Ball St averaged 15.8 points per game last year while giving up 26. Sophomore Kadin Semonza is under center. He played in four games in 2023 completed 61%, three touchdowns, five picks and 5.9 yards per pass attempt. They rushed for 4.1 yards per carry with ineffective passing game. Defensively they defended the run and passed well. Miami is 2-0 after their 56-9 home win to FCS Florida A&M. The team opened with a 41-17 road win at Florida. The Hurricanes put up 528 yards with 144 rushing. Defensively they limited the Gators to 261 yards with 122 passing in 26 attempts. Cam Ward completed 26 of 35 for 385 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. Ward also had a big game against Florida A&M.
The Pick:
Ball St in total rebuild here. They gave up 34 points to an FCS team in their opener. The Cardinals have two starting receivers questionable. The Hurricanes are rushing for 5.2 yards a carry and getting efficient work out of Ward with 75.4% completions and 10.3 yards per pass attempt. Miami is defending well. Play Miami -36.5.
Tulane vs. Oklahoma Football Pick Prediction 9/14/2024
Tulane at Oklahoma 3:30PM ET—Tulane is 1-1 after their 34-27 home defeat to Kansas St. The Green Wave put up 491 yards with 159 rushing. Defensively they surrendered 396 yards to the Wildcats with 215 rushing for six yards per carry. They had a -2-turnover margin. Darian Mensah hit 19 of 29 passes for 342 yards with two touchdowns and an interception plus a costly fumble that went for a Wildcats touchdown. Oklahoma is 2-0 after their 16-12 home win to Houston. The Sooners gained just 249 yards with 75 rushing for under three yards per run. They held the Cougars with 318 yards with 260 passing on 28 attempts but good run stoppage. Jackson Arnold hit 19 of 32 for 174 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
The Pick:
Tulane offense has been productive with 5.1 yards per run and 12.5 yards per pass attempt with accuracy and high yardage. Concerns about the sophomore Jackson Arnold and his chemistry with his receiving corps. They are averaging only 5.4 yards per pass attempt. Play Tulane +13.5.