COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICKS (WEEK 9)
Ourlads’ Football Network host Greg DePalma and Athlon managing editor Mitch Light get together each Thursday to analyze top matchups on the week’s college football schedule and make predictions. Catch OFN College Weekly for their full exchange.
* denotes featured play
MIAMI (5-2) at BOSTON COLLEGE (5-2)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Friday. Site: Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Mass.
TV: ESPN. Line: Miami by 3 ½.
Greg: *Boston College. Mitch: Boston College.
Greg says: “I think this is a bad spot for Miami. Their offense is pretty weak; their quarterback is weak. It’s going to be cold. It’s at night. You get (Eagles RB) A.J. Dillon back. This is going to be more representative of the BC team we saw early on in the season. I think BC’s the better football team.”
No.16 TEXAS A&M (5-2) at MISSISSIPPI ST. (4-3)
Kickoff: 7 p.m. Site: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, Miss.
TV: ESPN. Line: Mississippi St. by 1 ½.
Greg: Texas A&M. Mitch: *Texas A&M.
Mitch says: “I think (A&M is) the better team here. Mississippi State has scored three offensive touchdowns so far in four SEC games. I think they scored 26 in 12 games last year. I know they’ve played some good teams, but they’re just not getting it done. They’re kind of like Kentucky, kind of one-dimensional.”
No.21 SOUTH FLORIDA (7-0) at HOUSTON (6-1)
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. Site: TDECU Stadium, Houston.
TV: ABC/ESPN2. Line: South Florida by 7 ½.
Greg: Houston. Mitch: *Houston.
Mitch says: “South Florida is living a lie. They’re undefeated, but they beat Tulsa on a last-second field goal. They barely beat (East Carolina). They’re playing bad teams and barely beating them. I think they’re due to lose and I think Houston is good enough offensively to win this game convincingly.”
PURDUE (4-3) at MICHIGAN ST. (4-3)
Kickoff: Noon. Site: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Mich.
TV: ESPN. Line: Michigan State by 2.
Greg: *Purdue. Mitch: *Purdue.
Greg says: “I love Purdue. I don’t know how I don’t love Purdue. Unless they’re completely just not there because they’re so through the roof with the win (over Ohio State) last week, which is possible. I just think Michigan State … they haven’t gotten healthy in one week. I just can’t imagine Purdue doesn’t win this football game.”
GREG’S BEST BETS
RECORD: 19-13-0
TOTAL: +830
5-star: Boston College (+4) over Miami
4-star: Iowa (+6) over Penn State
3-star: Purdue (+2) over Michigan St.
Upset special: Navy (+24) over Notre Dame (moneyline +1100)
MITCH’S BEST BETS
RECORD: 15-16-1
TOTAL: +360
5-star: Purdue (+2) over Michigan St.
4-star: Texas A&M (+2) over Mississippi St.
3-star: Houston (-7) over South Florida
Upset special: UCLA (+11) over Utah (moneyline +330)