Friday Night College Football Picks: Expert Predictions for Oct. 4

• Friday night college football features four enticing matchups
• Jacksonville State looks primed to cover against struggling Kennesaw State
• Check out our predictions for these Friday night college football games below

Friday night lights are back, and college football bettors have no shortage of options for Oct. 4. We’ve got four juicy matchups to dive into, and I believe three of these games hold solid betting value.

Jacksonville State takes on Kennesaw State to kick off the night, while Houston battles TCU. In the latecap, Syracuse hosts UNLV while Oregon aims to keep rolling against Michigan State. The Ducks are the heaviest favorites on the board in their clash with the Spartans.

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

Friday College Football Odds

Odds as of Oct. 4 from ESPN Bet. Grab the ESPN Bet promo code to back these picks.

Now, let’s break down our Friday college football predictions for each game.

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Jacksonville State vs Kennesaw State Prediction

The Gamecocks are riding high after their dominant 44-7 win over Southern Miss, with an extra week to prepare. That spells trouble for a Kennesaw State team still seeking its first FBS victory.

Jacksonville State QB Tyler Huff has been spectacular, throwing for 880 yards and five TDs while leading the team in rushing. Kennesaw State’s defense, ranking 110th against the pass, looks ill-equipped to slow him down.

Tyler Huff shines for @JSUGamecocksFB 🔥

344 total yards and 3 TDs today. An outstanding performance. pic.twitter.com/XYmnKjL8Zt

— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) September 23, 2024

The trends favor Jacksonville State too. They’re 5-2 ATS after a bye week in the last two seasons, while Kennesaw State is 0-2 ATS as home underdogs this year. With Jacksonville State’s balanced attack and extra preparation time, I expect them to win this one comfortably and cover the 16.5-point spread.

• Pick: Jacksonville State -16.5 (-110 at ESPN Bet)

UNLV vs Syracuse Prediction

While both teams can light up the scoreboard, I’m eyeing the under here. UNLV’s defense has been stellar, ranking 11th nationally by allowing just 13.7 points per game. They’ve been particularly strong against the run, which could limit Syracuse’s ground game.

UNLV’s offensive philosophy is also worth noting. They’ve rushed 197 times compared to just 67 pass attempts this season. This run-heavy strategy could lead to a slower-paced game and fewer points on the board.

UNLV’s defense continues to impress 🔒

Allowing just 13.7 PPG, ranking 11th in the nation. #BEaREBEL 🙌 pic.twitter.com/XYmnKjL8Zt

— UNLV Football (@unlvfootball) October 1, 2024

The betting trends also support the under. In Syracuse’s games this year, the under is 3-1. With UNLV’s defensive prowess and run-first mentality, I expect this trend to continue under the lights.

• Pick: Under 57.5 (-110 at ESPN Bet)

Oregon vs Michigan State Prediction

Oregon has started rolling this season, averaging over 36 points and 454 yards per game. QB Dillon Gabriel is completing nearly 77% of his passes, leading an offense that’s converting over 50% of third downs and 76% of red zone chances.

Michigan State, meanwhile, is coming off a brutal 38-7 loss to Ohio State. The Spartans’ offense looked out of sync, managing just 246 total yards. Now they face the challenge of keeping pace with Oregon’s high-octane attack.

Dillon Gabriel is COOKING for @oregonfootball 🔥

280 yards per game and a 77% completion rate. This offense is ROLLING. pic.twitter.com/XYmnKjL8Zt

— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) October 1, 2024

The Ducks’ defense has also rounded into form, allowing just 27 total points over their last two games. They should be able to contain a Michigan State offense that’s turned the ball over 13 times already this season.

Given Oregon’s home dominance (10 straight wins at Autzen Stadium), offensive firepower, and Michigan State’s recent struggles, I’m taking the Ducks to cover the first half-spread. It’s sitting at the perfect number of -13.5, so we can grab it before it crosses two scores.

• Pick: Oregon 1H -13.5 (-120 at ESPN Bet)