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There's something special about college football being played under the lights, and that's exactly what we have tonight with a three-game Power 4 slate.
Our staff came through with three bets for Pitt vs. Florida State, UCLA vs. Illinois and Colorado vs. Houston.
With so much action to get to, let's dive into our Friday college football picks and NCAAF best bets for this big slate of games on Friday, November 13.
Be sure to download the Action Network app for more expert picks and analysis!
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. | |
  | 9 p.m. | |
  | 10:15 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. | ||
Pitt vs. Florida State Pick
By Doug Ziefel
The matchup points to a controlled start. Florida State's best path to points is the run, and the Seminoles are walking into a defense that has held opponents to 2.2 yards per carry.
If early downs go nowhere, FSU is left with quarterback Ashton Daniels in third-and-long, which means sacks, tipped balls and the turnovers that have defined its season.
Pitt's opponents convert only 35.4% of their third downs, and a team that cannot stay on schedule does not score quickly in the first quarter.
On the other side, Pitt's offense is not built to hit big plays in a hurry.
The Panthers want to run running back Damon Ferguson Jr., win the time of possession and take field goals when the drive stalls, and a Holden Geriner-led passing attack against a Florida State defense that allows 28.3 points a game is more likely to move the chains than to strike for 40-yard touchdowns.
That is how you get a quarter that ends 3-0, 7-3, or 7-0.
The market backs up our read. Pitt has been a 3.5-point favorite all week, and the spread has not budged from the opener, with Florida State +3.5 at -105 early and -110 now and Pitt -3.5 moving only from -107 to -106.
The total has sat on 53.5 since it opened, with roughly even ticket counts on the over and under.
The only meaningful movement has been on the moneyline, where Florida State has gone from +120 to as high as +142 while Pitt's price has eased from -176 to around -166 to -170.
That tells me some money likes Florida State to hang around, and a tight, grinding game is the kind where the opening 15 minutes tend to be quiet.
I also like the weather. Temperatures are in the 30s and low 40s for a Friday night game in Pittsburgh, which adds a little to the case for a conservative script to start the game.
Pick: 1Q Under 10.5 (-114 · FanDuel)
| | |
UCLA vs. Illinois Pick
By RoadToCFB
UCLA opened as a -12.5 favorite, a number that fell all the way down to -8.5 early in the week. Since then, -10 has been a battleground for both sides but has ultimately settled at UCLA -10.
The point total took a brief dip from 47.5 to 45.5 but has since returned to its opening mark and even crossed 48 for a point.
West Coast games have not been kind to Illinois, regardless of kickoff time.
The Illini are 0-2 ATS when playing on the West Coast, failing to cover by eight points (2024, +21 at Oregon, lost 38-9) and 13.5 points (2025, +3.5 at Washington, lost 42-25).
This is the first late kickoff for Illinois, as the last two were played at 2:30 p.m. CT.
Aside from a pair of games against San Diego State and Nevada — games head coach Bob Chesney clearly didn't want to show anything on film — UCLA has built early leads and used its dynamic defense to squeeze the air out of opponents in the second half.
This boa constrictor approach doesn't result in many flashy point margins, but it's a consistent and clearly effective one.
Chesney was known for some occasionally slow starts at James Madison, and it's clear that has been a point of emphasis in his transition to UCLA.
Illinois, meanwhile, has gotten off to a few slow starts this year, including last week, when it dragged Nebraska into a 7-7 first-half stalemate.
Funky start times, particularly with our traditional Big Ten teams heading out west, have led to some funky results. Illinois has already shown twice that westbound travel isn't its forte, and this time, it's at a late internal kickoff.
Illinois offensive coordinator Barry Lunney Jr. is terrific at in-game adjustments, and head coach Bret Bielema has recently spoken on the coaching staff's ability to adjust on the fly.
So, I'm looking to UCLA in the first half to come out with a superior game plan and avoid a late-game cover by one of the best-adjusting staffs in the business
Pick: UCLA 1H -6.5 or Better
| | |
Colorado vs. Houston Pick
By John Feltman
This total opened around 47.5 before getting bet toward 50.5 and 51.5, and I'm willing to play over 50.5. The biggest mismatch is Houston's offense against Colorado's defense.
The Cougars' offensive efficiency and passing advantages give Houston quarterback Conner Weigman multiple ways to attack the Buffaloes.
The pace is another important factor.
Houston averages nearly 70 offensive plays per game, while Colorado averages more than 68, for a projection of approximately 134 combined snaps.
That's slightly above the national average. The main concern is Colorado's offensive inconsistency, but Houston's defensive EPA profile suggests the Buffaloes could have opportunities through the air.
Colorado's turnover margin of approximately -1.4 per game also introduces the possibility of short fields. Houston's defense has forced 13 turnovers, which could create additional scoring opportunities for Weigman and Co.
The biggest counterargument is that Houston has allowed 30 points just once this season. However, this over doesn't necessarily require Colorado to score 30.
If Houston reaches the mid-30s, Colorado needs only a couple of touchdowns and a field goal to make this interesting.
I'll trust Houston's offensive advantages and the potential for additional possessions to get some cheap scores for the Buffs.
Pick: Over 50.5 (-128)
