Five Friday night games, and the big one is in Champaign. Everybody’s jumped off Nebraska after three straight losses, and the line has dropped two full points since it opened. I’m going the other way. Huskers.
Nebraska at Illinois, 8:00 PM ET, FOX
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- The line is running from Nebraska. The Huskers opened as 6.5-point favorites. They’re 4.5 now.
- The three losses were all one-score games. 20-17 to Indiana, 17-14 at Oregon, 17-10 to Washington. That’s a team that can’t finish drives, not a team getting pushed around.
- Illinois is winning on a coin flip. Three straight wins, by one, by 11 and by three. Katin Houser is back from a broken hand, but he was shaky in his return at Maryland.
We have Nebraska by about six, in Champaign, and that’s before you account for an Illinois defense that gave up 42 to Ohio State and 31 to Duke. What scares me: Anthony Colandrea has two touchdowns and five interceptions in his last three games. If he gives this one away, I’ll own it. Go Big Red.
Virginia Tech at SMU, 7:00 PM ET, ESPN
SMU is 5-0 at Ford Stadium, beating Virginia 23-13 and Cal 59-20 along the way. Virginia Tech is 6-2 and just won at Clemson, 20-16, but it also lost at home to Pitt and at Cal. Grab six, not six and a half. Pony Up.
South Florida at East Carolina, 7:30 PM ET, ESPN2
My favorite play of the night. South Florida is 6-2 and has given up 12 points total in its last two games, 29-2 over Kent State and 30-10 over UAB. East Carolina is 4-4 and lost by 38 at Alabama. The Bulls are the better team, and they’re getting points.
Update: Michael Van Buren Jr. is out, per the conference availability report, so it’s Luke Kromenhoek. All he did off the bench last week was run for 92 yards on 15 carries. That defense travels either way. What scares me: it’s his first start for USF, on the road in Greenville with the place rocking. Bulls, and I think they win it outright.
#22 New Mexico at Nevada, 9:00 PM ET, CBS Sports Network
New Mexico is 7-1 and has won five straight. But look at how: 21-10 at Hawaii, 21-16 over North Dakota State, 21-16 at San Jose State. The Lobos win ugly. Nevada is 3-5, got shut out at UCLA and is rolling out backup AJ Bianco on a bum ankle. I know, I know. Ten and a half in a game with a 38.5 total is a lot to lay for a team that won its last two by five each. Wolf Pack with the points.
TCU at #24 Arizona, 10:15 PM ET, ESPN
Arizona is 4-0 at home this season and has outscored those four teams 150-34, including 34-7 over Cincinnati and 39-3 over Iowa State. TCU is 4-4, has scored 22 points or fewer in all six games against Power Four teams and lost at home to West Virginia. Late night in the desert. Bear Down.
Game Day Parlay
Two of tonight’s Leans on one ticket: the Huskers in Champaign and Arizona at home.
The angleNebraska and Arizona both cover.
Build it at FanDuel →FanDuel prices same-game parlays in its own builder, so there is no price here. Build the legs there and check the number before you place it.
Est. price: about +265 at these numbers (the legs multiplied). Your book sets the real price. No player props; we don’t post college player props.
These are Leans, and win or lose, each one lands on the receipts page. Parlays aren’t tracked there. We don’t post college player props.
Lines as of Thursday night, rechecked Friday at 6 PM ET. Several have moved since we posted, so confirm the number at your book before kickoff.
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Picks are opinion and analysis, not financial advice. Odds move; confirm at the book.