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Friday Night Lights.
There's something special about college football being played under the lights, and that's exactly what we have with a four-game slate tonight.
From Purdue vs. Washington in the Big Ten to Penn vs. Columbia in the Ivy League, we have you covered with picks and analysis for each game.
With so much action to get to, let's take a look at our Friday college football picks and NCAAF predictions for the games on Friday, Oct. 16.
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Friday College Football 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. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
  | 8 p.m. | |
  | 8 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. | ||
Penn vs. Columbia Pick
By Joshua Nunn
This line opened with Penn listed as a 6.5-point favorite with a total of 46.5. I like the over in this matchup.
Penn has found something with backup quarterback Karson Siqueiros-Lasky, who led two scoring drives in the fourth quarter to help Penn come back and defeat Howard last week.
KSL completed 19-of-29 passes for 226 yards and looked poised in the pocket despite heavy blitz pressure. You can argue the offense is in better hands with Siqueiros-Lasky, and I expect it to look more dynamic in this matchup against Columbia.
The Lions defense was shredded up and down the field against Marist last week, and the Red Foxes probably should have scored a couple more touchdowns than they did.
Columbia is giving up 352 yards per game and six yards per play on defense, and the last two weeks have been especially concerning. Penn will get red-zone opportunities, and I expect the Quakers to convert better than they have all season.
The Lions' passing offense has been strong this season, so they should throw the ball here. Wide receivers Bryce Coleman, Hutch Crow and Beckett Robinson are explosive, and this will be the best passing attack Penn has faced all season.
Columbia quarterback Chase Goodwin has thrown multiple touchdowns in three of the Lions' four games this season.
In the game where Columbia scored just seven points against Princeton, the Lions racked up 422 offensive yards but scored on just 1-of-5 red-zone trips.
This group will move the ball, making red-zone conversions a key for Columbia to stay in this game.
We have a great quarterback matchup, and both teams should move the ball.
I think Penn is getting too much credit for its defense against poor offenses, and Columbia’s defense will keep being a liability, which should show up against a rejuvenated Penn offense.
Strap in for a fun Friday night Ivy League bout in which I expect points.
Pick: Over 46.
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Tulane vs. Memphis Pick
By RoadToCFB
This is a spread that's teetering on -7. The number hasn't climbed above -7, and any -6.5 numbers that flash get bought up quickly. An initial point total of 54.5 was bet down to 52.5 — that was bet way up to 55.5, where it sits now.
Tulane is simply overvalued, even here at home.
Its record doesn't truly show it — there's plenty of hand-waving around losses to Duke and Kansas State — but it's a team worse than its market rating suggests.
The Green Wave allowed Duke's Nate Sheppard to run loose for 227 yards and Kansas State quarterback Avery Johnson to run for 152 yards. Though Marcus Stokes takes the headlines here, Memphis fields a top-30 run game nationally.
Memphis has a decisive advantage in the trenches on both sides. The Tigers should dominate the defensive trenches as Tulane has surrendered a 9.5% sack rate (112th). Both tackles, Reese Baker and Darion Reed, have struggled this season.
Even on the road, I expect Memphis to come out and roll Tulane with advantages at both lines, at quarterback, and decisively at coaching.
Pick: Memphis -7
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Purdue vs. Washington Pick
By Ryan Minion
We're in for a great matchup on Friday night, as two teams in desperate need of a victory will duke it out for a chance to exit Week 7 with a record over .500.
While Purdue has relied heavily on its offense over the first six weeks of the season, the Boilermaker defense has proven to be extremely vulnerable, which could be problematic after seeing Washington backup quarterback Brown carve up an impressive Iowa defense last week.
The Huskies rank 15th in the FBS with a +5 turnover margin, while Purdue’s defense conversely rarely forces turnovers. That could result in Washington winning the turnover battle.
Despite Purdue being in far superior form and holding a slight home-field edge at Ross-Ade Stadium, I think betting markets are slightly overvaluing the Boilermakers coming off two straight victories.
Washington is undoubtedly the more well-rounded team, and I expect that to ultimately be the difference in a spot where I expect Brown to pick apart a Purdue secondary that has struggled all year.
I favor backing the road 'dog on Friday night catching 3.5 points in what is undoubtedly a must-win game for Washington after dropping three in a row.
Pick: Washington +3.5
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Coastal Carolina vs. Appalachian State Pick
By Joshua Nunn
This game opened with App State listed as a short 1.5-point favorite, and the line has hovered there and at -1 most of the week. The total comes in at 48.5, and I like the over in this matchup.
Coastal Carolina’s defense has been shredded this season, and the defense has had to defend its own red zone 14 times over the last three weeks.
It has given up only six touchdowns and the turnover luck has been on the Chants' side, but that's eventually going to change.
App State is going to move the football, and I anticipate the rushing attack to find success here. Coastal has allowed 217 yards per game on the ground on six yards per carry over its last three contests.
The Mountaineers' defensive metrics are aided by playing three poor offenses in Maine, Charlotte and Old Dominion.
This defense has given up points and yardage against competent offenses, and I expect a game where Coastal Carolina connects on some deep shots while having 3-4 opportunities in the red zone.
This Chants offense connected on big plays against Liberty a couple of weeks ago in a game that saw 51 combined points. It was Liberty that fumbled twice in the red zone, leaving more points on the field.
At home against Georgia Southern the following week, Coastal fumbled on the goal line heading in for touchdowns not once but twice in a game that ended 31-24.
Last week against Marshall, those teams combined to have four drives end with “goal-to-go” situations that resulted in zero points in a game that ended 27-21.
Coastal games have had a tremendous amount of activity in the red zone and numerous scoring chances that have floundered. I think that gives us some value on the total.
I expect these teams to cash in while in the red zone and for points to light up the scoreboard.
Pick: Over 48.5
