Friday. Night. Lights.
There's something special about the lights shining on the gridiron before a massive Saturday slate that features wall-to-wall action. That's what we have tonight with three FBS games on deck.
We have three FBS games on the docket tonight, and our college football experts came through with three best bets for each matchup.
We'll start with what should be an incredible game with conference title implications in the American between the No. 24 South Florida Bulls and the North Texas Mean Green.
Then, we'll move to the Power 4 level, as the Rutgers Scarlet Knights travel across the country to take on the Washington Huskies in a Big Ten battle in Seattle.
Then, we'll close the night with a Mountain West Matchup in the mountains when the Fresno State Bulldogs take on the Colorado State Rams
So, no matter what you're looking to bet on Friday night, we have you covered.
With so much coming up, let's take a look at our college football best bets and NCAAF picks for the games on Friday, October 10.
College Football Best Bets
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our college football betting staff is targeting from Friday's slate of NCAAF games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 9 p.m. | |
  | 9 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAF Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
USF vs North Texas Pick
The South Florida Bulls take on the North Texas Mean Green in Denton, Texas. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.
USF is favored by one point on the spread with a moneyline of -115. The total is set at 67.5 points.
Here’s my USF vs. North Texas prediction and college football picks for Friday, October 10.
USF vs North Texas Prediction
I have some concerns surrounding Byron Brown, especially on the road.
He can be high variance. His track record on the road hasn’t been super strong — he’s had multiple games where he’s taken too many sacks by holding on to the ball too long.
Defensive coordinator Skyler Cassity has transformed the Mean Green’s defense. The 4-2-5 has looked elite. They lead the nation in PFF’s Tackling grades and rank eighth in PFF’s Coverage grades. Transfers Trey Fields (linebacker) and David Fisher (cornerback) have had massive impacts on the second and third levels.
The Mean Green are playing fast and decisive on defense. It’s a sophisticated scheme with sophisticated, veteran playmakers.
Meanwhile, I trust Drew Mestemaker to protect the football and continue to be efficient in the passing game. Add in a surprisingly effective rushing attack, and the Mean Green are balanced and deadly on offense.
Meanwhile, I’m banking on Brown seeing some regression, especially in a hostile environment.
Pick: North Texas ML -105
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Rutgers vs Washington Pick
By RoadToCFB
The Rutgers Scarlet Knights take on the Washington Huskies in Seattle, Washington, on Friday, Oct. 10. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. ET on FS1.
Washington is favored by 10.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -425. Rutgers, meanwhile, is a +325 underdog on the moneyline. The over/under sits at 59.5 points.
Here’s my Rutgers vs. Washington prediction and college football picks for Friday, October 10.
Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Something fundamentally changed about Rutgers following last year's bye week leading into November 2024.
Since then, the Scarlet Knights have averaged 33.9 points per game against FBS foes, but a porous defense has led to just a 5-4 record in those games.
Quarterback Athan Kaliakmanis improved as a high-volume passer with late-game heroics against Illinois (2024) and Ohio (2025).
His trio of top receivers has been productive this season with Ian Strong, DT Sheffield and KJ Duff combining for over 1,200 yards and multiple touchdowns each.
But gone are the days of the grind-it-out Rutgers defense.
New coordinator Robb Smith has seen diminishing returns, ranking 118th in points per drive allowed and 115th in available yards allowed.
The defense doesn't create enough turnovers or sacks to make up for chunk yards gained by opposing offenses ranging from Ohio to Iowa and everywhere in between.
It should be mentioned that Rutgers defense is suffering from a few absences. Linebacker Moses Walker is out for the season due to an injury sustained in late September, and tackle Doug Blue-Eli was lost before the year started.
The Scarlet Knights' depth is being tested, and it's clear the talent isn't there. However, that's a compounding problem to the fact that Rutgers was defensively deficient to begin with.
Rutgers faces a tough stretch off the bye week. This week, it travels to Washington, then turns around and hosts Oregon. The next two weeks feature back-to-back road games at Illinois and Purdue.
Washington Huskies
Washington returns home at 4-1 after erasing a 20-point deficit at Maryland with 21 points scored in the fourth quarter. The arduous stretch continues, though, with two ranked foes (at Michigan, vs. Illinois) on deck after this week.
The win over Maryland came down to quarterback Demond Williams, who produced over 320 scrimmage yards.
Stud running back Jonah Coleman was held to a season-low 57 yards on the ground, but his 47 receiving yards (on eight receptions!) marks his fourth 100-yard outing from scrimmage this season. The lone game Coleman didn't gain 100 yards came against Ohio State, where he came up four yards short against the country's top defense.
Washington can rely on a sturdy offensive line to move the ball. However, starting left tackle Carver Willis missed the Maryland game due to injury, and his status for this game is unknown.
Without Willis, Williams took three sacks. However, his athleticism can, at times, neutralize the real impacts of missing a key pass blocker, and Rutgers' defensive front isn't the unit to expose the potential absence.
Defensively, there are some concerns.
Star cornerback Tacario Davis, UW's best defensive player, hasn't played since Week 2. EDGE Zach Durfee missed the Maryland game, too.
Late-down woes have made games a bit more interesting for Washington. The Huskies rank 111th in the FBS in late-down Success Rate and in the bottom 10 in late-down EPA per Play.
Late-game swings have been the name of the game for UW.
In Week 1, the Huskies were knotted at 14 with Colorado State (ranked 112th in FBS), covered its track against Washington State with 28 fourth-quarter points, and won thanks to the 21 points in the fourth this past week. Even its loss to Ohio State was tied 10-10 going into the fourth quarter.
Those browsing final scores may not fully realize the struggles Washington has had so far this year.
Rutgers vs Washington Prediction
Washington opened as a -10 home favorite over Rutgers.
Two trends make Rutgers an interesting consideration:
- Rutgers is 8-0-1 against the spread coming off its last nine bye weeks (all under Greg Schiano)
- Rutgers is 36-22-3 ATS as a road 'dog under Schiano
Add in the bye week for the Scarlet Knights and the fact that Washington travels back across the country, and you're looking at a compelling argument to back Rutgers.
A look-ahead factor is unlikely for the Huskies, who survived a scare last week at Maryland, but this is Washington's third straight opponent with a rest advantage (and it gets one more in two weeks).
I'd rather back Washington's ability to finish games strong with a lethal offense against a bad defense. Rather than bank on a hot start for a team that has yet to get off to a hot start against an FBS team, I'm looking to back Washington in the second half.
Williams has a deep cast of weapons at his disposal.
That depth goes far beyond what Rutgers fields and isn't limited to NFL prospect Denzel Boston and electric slotman Omari Evans; Coleman is a threat in the receiving game, and Dezmen Roebuck is an emerging freshman talent.
There's a chance for precipitation Friday night, but early-week forecasts suggest the chance tapers off into the night. East Coast teams tend not to play well late into the night, while West Coast teams do the opposite early in the day. This is an example of the former.
Give me the Huskies to pull away late.
Pick: Washington 2H -5.5 (-110)
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Fresno State vs Colorado State Pick
By John Feltman
The Fresno State Bulldogs take on the Colorado State Rams in Fort Collins, Colorado, on Friday, Oct. 10. Kickoff is set for 9 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network.
Fresno State is favored by -6.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -250. Colorado State, meanwhile, comes in as a +6.5 underdog and is +205 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 48.5 points.
Here’s my Fresno State vs. Colorado State prediction and college football picks for Friday, October 10.
Fresno State Bulldogs
Fresno’s passing efficiency has been solid in the aggregate, and the Bulldogs typically start with favorable field position, averaging a start on their own 33.
That supports a steady diet of early play-action and quick-game concepts.
The soft spot for Fresno is on the ground. Well, Colorado State's defense is constructed to squeeze rushing efficiency (EPA/Rush Allowed of -0.20, 9th) and reduce available yards (36.9% allowed, 33rd).
The Rams are stout on early downs, which are where Fresno likes to set its rhythm. If CSU consistently wins the early downs, Fresno is nudged into obvious passing situations where the Rams can cover with depth and heat.
CSU’s defensive strength has come from limiting its opponents to short-yardage situations, which shrinks playsheets in those circumstances. The Bulldogs must avoid late downs and distances to move the chains throughout the contest consistently.
The recent injury report shows that the Bulldogs are thin in key spots up front and at tight end. Offensive lineman Brayden Walton was ruled out vs. Nevada and remains a question for this week, and tight end Brock Lium is out.
If Fresno’s line isn't at full strength in altitude, early-down efficiency becomes harder to sustain. The Bulldogs defeated Nevada last week, but their offense fell asleep at the wheel in the second half.
Colorado State Rams
Colorado State’s profile is the inverse of Fresno State's.
The Rams generate their best offense on the ground and need that run threat to stay ahead of schedule.
Their passing efficiency has lagged, ranking 104th in EPA/Pass. It's been so bad to the point of multi-year starting quarterback Brayden Fowler-Nicolosi getting benched for Jackson Brousseau.
The key is to avoid third-and-long entirely, which is something they can do if the early-down run efficiency holds up and the quick passing game complements it. The offense must get ahead of the chains and capitalize whenever it gets into scoring position.
Fresno State’s defense is engineered to break that plan.
The Bulldogs are elite against the run, ranking ninth in EPA/Rush Allowed, and stingy on early downs, forcing opponents into predictable passing downs where Fresno can sit on routes and rally.
Therefore, the opening CSU script should feature perimeter RPOs, screens and light box runs to lighten the front, then take selective downfield shots.
Fresno’s pass defense has been a much softer unit, ranking 96th in EPA/Pass allowed.
It's important to note that CSU has had its fair share of injuries on the defensive line and the secondary. It could be regaining some players this week, but there's no official word yet.
Fresno State vs Colorado State Prediction
Fresno State is priced like a full-score favorite on the road despite several matchups pointing toward a game that compresses margins.
CSU’s top-10 run defense, Fresno’s middling run offense, and both defenses' impressive early-down numbers make me believe we'll have a much closer contest than the market expects.
In Fort Collins at 5,000-plus feet, thin front-seven depth often shows up late. Fresno’s recent offensive line and tight end injuries are not ideal. Colorado State’s defensive strengths match up directly with Fresno State’s offensive weaknesses.
On the other side, the Rams don’t need an explosive offense; they need enough early-down success to keep Fresno’s run defense honest and to target the Bulldogs’ softer secondary.
They've looked atrocious lately, but I'm buying low on the Rams and selling the Bulldogs high.
Pick: Colorado State +6.5 (Play to +6)
