Friday College Football Picks: Best Bets & Predictions (Oct. 16)
By Chris Amberley in College Football
Published:
- Friday college football features Memphis–Tulane, Appalachian State–Coastal Carolina and Washington–Purdue.
- My best bets combine a spread pick with two outright winners on Kalshi.
- Read below for my Friday college football picks, best bets and predictions for the Oct. 16 slate
Week 7 of the college football season brings a compact but compelling Friday card. While the top ranked powerhouses command heavy action, I know the real value often lies off the beaten path, and navigating market overreactions is how we build a sustainable bankroll.
Memphis hits the road as a favorite against Tulane in an explosive matchup, Appalachian State travels as a favorite to Coastal Carolina, and Purdue defends its home turf against Washington in a fascinating cross-country clash.
I am attacking this slate using traditional college football betting apps and prediction market apps to find the best number. Below, I break down my Friday college football picks, best bets and predictions for the Oct. 16 slate.
Friday College Football Picks
Memphis is the strongest favorite on the card, with a 71¢ price implying a 71% chance to win outright. Appalachian State at 53¢ is close to a coin flip, which matches its tight spread, while Washington +3.5 gets us past a field goal with the road underdog.
Claim the Kalshi promo code to get in on the action. Odds from Kalshi and BetMGM.
Friday College Football Best Bets and Predictions
My card starts in the AAC where Memphis is a 7-point favoirte vs Tulane in the college football odds. Traditional sportsbooks have the Tigers moneyline priced at -270, but Kalshi is offering a much more favorable price at 71-cents, which is the equivalent of -245 odds.
Friday CFB Pick #1: Memphis Tigers to Win (71¢ on Kalshi)
- Pick: Memphis to win (71¢ on Kalshi)
Memphis features a potent, improving offense generating 38.5 points and 516.7 total yards per game. That elite level of production significantly outclasses Tulane’s stable but modest 18.4 points and 333.4 yards per contest. The Tigers control the field position battle and sustain drives with a phenomenal 49.3 percent third down conversion rate. When a team moves the chains that consistently, opposing defensive schemes simply break down late in the game.
Backing Memphis to win outright on the road makes perfect sense when you look at the crucial turnover differential. They hold a brilliant plus five turnover margin, while Tulane sits at negative two. At this price point, you are fading a heavily outmatched roster.
With Memphis bringing a high scoring offense to drive the pace, taking them on the prediction markets is my preferred route for this Memphis vs. Tulane prediction. The 71¢ price is my preferred way to back the Tigers before the 7:30 p.m. ET kickoff.
Friday CFB Pick #2: Appalachian State to Win (53¢ on Kalshi)
- Pick: Appalachian State to win (53¢ on Kalshi)
Both programs show improving offensive trends, but Appalachian State boasts a distinct statistical edge. They average 28.4 points and 402.8 yards per game, paired with an exceptional 90.5 percent red zone efficiency. Coastal Carolina counters with a respectable 25.2 points and 373.3 yards per game, but they lack that same finishing punch inside the 20 yard line.
Protecting the football is paramount for road teams, and Appalachian State handles that assignment beautifully. They hold a plus four turnover margin on the season, while Coastal Carolina sits at a solid plus two. This sets up a clean, back and forth shootout.
At just 53 cents for an outright victory, taking the road team offers tremendous value. Appalachian State is a one-point favorite in the latest Appalachian State vs. Coastal Carolina odds, highlighting just how tight the books expect this matchup to be. Instead of sweating a tiny point spread, simply grab this outright share ahead of the 8:00 p.m. ET start.
Friday CFB Pick #3: Washington +3.5
- Pick: Washington +3.5 (-115 at BetMGM)
The Washington vs Purdue spread gives the Huskies 3.5 points at BetMGM.
Use a BetMGM promo code to back the Huskies in this 8:00 p.m. ET kickoff.
Purdue averages an impressive 31.8 points per game with an elite 93.3 percent red zone efficiency. Washington averages a steady 25.8 points per game and holds a massive advantage in turnover differential at plus five. Purdue currently sits at an even zero in the turnover department.
Washington’s positive turnover margin is a reason to like the Huskies getting more than a field goal. Taking the points with the live road underdog is my Washington vs. Purdue prediction to round out our Friday card.
Sports Writer
As SBD's resident Swiss Army Knife, Chris covers virtually every sport including NFL, PGA, NBA, MLB, NCAAB, NCAAF and the Olympics. A true grinder, he'd rather pick off small edges in the player props market than swing for the fences with a 5-leg parlay.
