We have a stellar slate of Friday night football ahead of us.
For our Friday night best bets, we're focusing on the three Power 4 games, which includes two ranked matchups in the ACC and Big Ten:
- Louisville vs. No. 2 Miami
- No. 25 Nebraska vs. Minnesota
- North Carolina vs. Cal
So, whether you're looking to back Bill Belichick in Berkeley or fade a relatively inexperienced Big Ten signal-caller, we have you covered.
Without further ado, let's take a look at our college football best bets and NCAAF picks for Friday, October 17.
College Football Best Bets, Picks
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 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 p.m. | ||
8 p.m. | ||
8 p.m. | ||
10:30 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. |
Louisville vs Miami Pick
I have long maintained (since before the season started) that this Miami defense is one of the best in the country.
It got a very bad rap last season because its secondary couldn't tackle, but it addressed that in the offseason, and it's looking great. The defensive line is just as strong as it was last season, and the secondary is bolstered.
Louisville's defense has been strong as well. The Cardinals rank sixth in Success Rate allowed and leads the nation in EPA allowed.
The pace is average for these teams, so I think the defenses will reign supreme.
Pick: Under 50.5
Want more picks? Click here for an EXCLUSIVE discount! Get $50 off your first month of ScoresAndOdds Premium!
Nebraska vs Minnesota Pick
These teams are pretty evenly matched in regard to their stats.
Minnesota has had a slightly tougher schedule, according to PFF (40th vs. Nebraska's 79th).
The Golden Gophers defense is strong enough to keep it in this game, and if their offense can play up to its potential, there's no reason Minnesota can't win.
Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey has been impressive, while Nebraska's Dylan Raiola has been a tad underwhelming. Minnesota ekes out a win in this Big Ten matchup.
Pick: Minnesota +7.5
Nebraska vs Minnesota Best Bet
By Doug Ziefel
Don't look now, but the Nebraska Cornhuskers have the best secondary in the nation statistically. They lead the nation in yards per pass allowed and rank ninth in opponent completion percentage.
It's clear that this matchup will be trouble for Minnesota quarterback Drake Lindsey.
Lindsey has shown flashes and helped change the dynamic of the Golden Gophers offense, but staying consistent against elite competition is what sticks out. That's what we'll see in this matchup.
The Gophers' signal-caller ranks just 107th in completion percentage and 104th in yards per pass.
The Cornhuskers have contained the likes of Cincinnati's Brendan Sorsby, Michigan State's Aidan Chiles and Michigan's Bryce Underwood. Nebraska should undoubtedly be able to shut down the Gophers' passing attack and keep Lindsey under this total.
Pick: Drake Lindsey Under 219.5 Passing Yards
North Carolina vs Cal Pick
By Bet Labs
Friday night's UNC vs. Cal ACC clash fits a historically profitable betting system called "Fade Home Favorites in Conference With Bad Recent ATS Record" from our Bet Labs database.
In both regular season and postseason college football, home favorites in conference play that have performed poorly against the spread in recent games are often overvalued.
A string of ATS losses signals that market expectations have consistently outpaced on-field results, yet public perception and home-field bias can still inflate the line.
Conference opponents, familiar with schemes and tendencies, are well-positioned to exploit these weaknesses. This creates an environment where fading the struggling home favorite offers consistent value.
This system owns an all-time record of 313-237-10, good for a 56.9% winning percentage and a 10.3% ROI. In 2025 alone, it has cashed at an 83% clip and with a 51% ROI.
Pick: North Carolina +9