Friday Night College Football Picks: Expert Predictions for Oct. 11

• Friday night college football serves up four enticing matchups
• Northwestern looks primed to cover against Maryland as double-digit underdogs
• Check out our predictions for these Friday night college football games below

Friday night lights are back, and college football bettors have four games feast their eyes on tonight (October 11). While each Friday night CFB game has compelling storylines, two matchups stick out from a betting perspective.

Northwestern aims to play spoiler against Maryland as hefty underdogs, while UNLV and Utah State are set to light up the scoreboard in what could be an offensive fireworks show.

Let’s dive into the Friday Night CFB schedule and provide our expert predictions for tonight’s action.

Friday College Football Odds

Odds as of Oct. 11 from ESPN Bet. Grab the ESPN Bet promo code to back these picks.

Now, let’s break down our Friday college football predictions for the games with serious betting value.

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Northwestern vs Maryland Prediction

Don’t let Northwestern’s 2-3 record fool you – these Wildcats have some bite. They’ve been hanging tough against Power Five opponents, with their defense allowing just 5.5 yards per play. That’s enough to make us take a long look at that 10.5-point spread against Maryland.

The X-factor here? Redshirt freshman QB Jack Lausch, who’s injecting new life into the Wildcats’ offense. In last weekend’s game vs Indiana, the young pivot aired it out for 243 yards and two touchdowns without a single pick. Lausch is the type of dual-threat QB who could give the Terrapins fits.

Fire us up, @jack_lausch 🔥⬆️ pic.twitter.com/5dCRMQqoWd

— Northwestern Football (@NUFBFamily) September 9, 2023

Here’s where it gets interesting: Maryland has been a mess against the spread lately, stumbling to a 2-8 ATS record in their last 10 games as home favorites. Even worse? They’re 0-6 ATS in their last six October games.

Don’t overlook the low total of 48.5 points, either. This suggests a slower-paced game with fewer possessions, which tends to favor the underdog. Throw in Northwestern’s recent dominance in this series (4-0 ATS in the last four meetings), and you’ve got a recipe for a nail-biter that could see the Wildcats cover the number.

• Pick: Northwestern +10.5 (-110 at ESPN Bet)

UNLV vs Utah State Prediction

Defense might be an afterthought in this Mountain West showdown. UNLV’s offense has been on fire, putting up 44 points per game (9th nationally). The team hasn’t missed a beat since star QB Hajj-Malik Williams took over, as the dual-threat senior has accounted for 581 total yards and 8 TDs in his two starts.

But don’t sleep on the Aggies’ ability to put up points. They’ve cracked the 21-point barrier in four of their five games this season.  Utah State QB Spencer Petras is coming off an impressive 372-yard, 3-TD performance last week.

Both signal-callers are playing at a high level, and the defenses leave plenty to be desired. Factor in the Aggies’ porous rush defense that’s getting gashed for 238.5 yards per game, and we could be in for a Friday night shootout.

The CFB betting trends back up the over, too. It’s hit in 12 of UNLV’s last 19 games and 12 of Utah State’s last 18. When these two square off? It’s been points galore, with the over cashing in eight of their last 11 meetings.

The total for this game opened at 64.5 but has since ticked up to 66.5 at most sportsbooks. This indicates that sharp bettors and respected money are expecting a high-scoring affair on Friday night. This one’s got all the ingredients for a Friday night shootout that’ll have you cashing those over tickets.

• Pick: Over 66.5 (-110 at ESPN Bet)