If you want more Action Network content, be sure to add us as a preferred source on Google.
There's something special about college football being played under the lights, and that's exactly what we have tonight with a seven-game FBS and FCS slate.
Our staff came through with five best bets for Delaware State vs. NC Central, Virginia vs. Duke, Wyoming vs. Air Force and Stanford vs. NC State.
With so much action to get to, let's dive into our college football picks and NCAAF best bets for this big slate of games on Friday, October 23.
Be sure to download the Action Network app for more expert picks and analysis!
College Football Picks, 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 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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 5 p.m. | |
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 9 p.m. | |
| 9 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. | ||
Delaware State vs. NC Central Pick
By Joshua Nunn
This line opened with Delaware State listed as a 5.5-point favorite with a total set at 55.5. I like the under in this matchup.
Delaware State and NC Central are both calling on backup quarterbacks in this game, and neither team has a proficient passing attack.
NC Central quarterback Cobey Thompkins has completed just 54% of his passes on the season with two passing touchdowns.
On the other side, Delaware State signal-caller Jayden Sauray has completed just 48% and hasn't thrown a touchdown this season. He also struggled last season as the Hornets' backup quarterback.
I expect to see a heavy dose of run action, and despite Delaware State's rushing output last week, neither of these offenses is very explosive. The biggest concern I have is the play of each of these offensive lines, as both have been very poor this season.
NC Central has allowed 27 sacks and 65 tackles for loss this season and regularly sees drives stall out because of ill-timed negative plays. The activity behind the line of scrimmage has resulted in unfavorable down-and-distance on third down, where NC Central is converting just 37%.
The red-zone performance has also been affected, as the Eagles have scored touchdowns on just 13-of-27 trips, settling for nine field goals.
Delaware State has a similar problem, as its offensive line has given up 16 sacks and 39 tackles for loss.
With the backup quarterback, we saw a heavy display of rushing activity last week, and I don't think the Hornets are going to be able to throw the ball against the Eagles, who grade out as the second-best pass coverage unit in the MEAC, per PFF.
This should amount to a sloppy football game with inefficient offensive play. Both of these teams are heavily penalized squads, and the execution in the red zone has been substandard all season.
Expect missed opportunities, negative plays and a lower-scoring game.
Pick: Under 55.5
| | | | |
Virginia vs. Duke Pick
By Doug Ziefel
Middlebrook has locked down Virginia’s lead back job. He has 396 yards on 81 carries (4.9 per carry) and three touchdowns through seven games.
In the four games against Power 4 competition, he ran for 64 against NC State, 75 against West Virginia, 65 at Florida State and 59 at SMU. That works out to about 66 yards a game, so this line sits right at his usual output.
At 4.9 yards a carry, he needs only 13 or 14 touches, and he has handled 14-17 in three of those four games.
The game script supports a steady workload. Virginia is a home favorite by about 2.5 points in a game with a total under 50, where the offense stays on schedule and keeps running.
The Cavaliers already run more than 40 times a game, and Beau Pribula has struggled against Power 4 defenses, completing 14-of-32 passes at Florida State.
The offensive line has also given up 15 sacks over two weeks, which makes the ground game the steadier way to move the chains.
Duke’s run defense is strong on paper, allowing about 108 yards a game, which ranks in the top 25. However, Middlebrook’s per-carry efficiency gives him margin, and Virginia’s best path to winning a tight game is leaning on its lead back.
Pick: Jekail Middlebrook Over 65.5 Rushing Yards (-115)
| | | | |
Wyoming vs. Air Force Pick
By Jourdan Case
No Liam Szarka, no problem for Air Force.
The Falcons have zero interest in throwing the football, and that's not a bad game plan against a Wyoming defense that ranks 129th in EPA/Rush and 133rd in Rushing Success Rate allowed.
Not only has Wyoming not been able to stop the run, but it hasn't been able to stop bad teams from running the ball.
The Cowboys have played one team inside the top 100 in SP+ (North Dakota State), and they gave up 220 yards on the ground and were shut out, 28-0.
Air Force will dominate the time of possession, keep Wyoming's defense on the field for what will feel like hours, and grind the Pokes down in a double-digit win.
Pick: Air Force -5
Want more picks? Click here for an EXCLUSIVE discount! Get $50 off your first month of ScoresAndOdds Premium!
| | | | |
Wyoming vs. Air Force Prediction
The handicap in this Friday night Mountain West showdown comes down to the ability to stop the rush.
Stopping Air Force's option offense can be a brutal assignment because of the run concepts used, including outside zone, power, pull lead and fullback dive.
Wyoming struggled against a similar offense from Central Michigan early this season, led by former Army co-offensive coordinator Matt Drinkall.
Wyoming owns a mid-FBS Success Rate against outside zone but has struggled against teams running power. Air Force not only runs power as its second-most popular run concept but also does so with eight men in the box in 31 personnel.
The Falcons rank eighth in offensive momentum killer, a stat that measures drive-stopping events such as fumbles, missed field goals and 15-yard penalties.
With Wyoming coming in at 133rd in Defensive Line Yards and 127th in Stuff Rate against the 133rd-ranked strength of schedule, there are signs that Air Force will create methodical drives and bust explosives on the ground.
On the other side, Wyoming quarterback Hughes will look to attack an Air Force defense that sits outside the top 100 in Line Yards.
Wyoming ranks in the top 10 nationally in Offensive Line Yards, meaning the offensive line has dominated the trenches throughout the schedule.
The Cowboys thrive on outside zone with two-tight-end sets, posting a 59% Success Rate. Air Force has been fantastic, dominating outside zone at a 63% Success Rate but has yet to see the run concept used with multiple tight ends.
Action Network's Betting Power Ratings project Air Force as a 4.5-point favorite, in line with the current market offering. The difference in this game is the heavy run concepts against defensive trenches that have been incapable of stopping the rush.
The total will likely be brought down thanks to double-digit winds and two offenses averaging more than 30 seconds per play, but neither is a factor for two offenses set to dominate on the ground.
Pick: Over 44.5 or Better
| | | | |
Stanford vs. NC State Pick
By Bet Labs
Saturday's Stanford vs. NC State ACC matchup fits a historically profitable betting system from our Bet Labs database called "Under, Late Night Games."
In both regular-season and postseason college football, late-night games starting after 10 p.m. ET often produce lower scoring than expected.
Travel fatigue, time-zone adjustments and cooler nighttime conditions can slow offensive tempo and reduce explosive plays.
These matchups frequently feature teams from conferences accustomed to different kickoff times, further impacting rhythm.
With both mental and physical factors working against sustained high scoring, the under has historically held value in these late-window contests.
This system boasts an all-time record of 360-293-4, good for a winning percentage of 55.1% and an ROI of 6.1%.
Pick: Under 55.5
