• Friday night college football brings us four exciting Group of Five matchups
• UConn’s red-hot defense looks to shut down a struggling Georgia State squad
• Check out our top picks for tonight’s college football slate below

The Friday night lights are back on, and we’ve got an intriguing slate of Group of Five action to dig into. While we’ve got four games on tap tonight, two betting opportunities really stand out – particularly with a surging UConn team hosting Georgia State.

South Florida makes the trip down to FAU in what should be a ground-and-pound Florida showdown, while UConn aims to continue their defensive dominance against Georgia State. Yale hosts Columbia in Ivy League action, and Boise State caps off the night welcoming San Diego State to the blue turf.

Let’s break down our top plays and predictions for tonight’s college football action.

Friday College Football Odds – Nov 1

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Now, let’s dive into our Friday college football predictions for each game.

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South Florida vs FAU Pick

If you’re looking for offensive fireworks tonight, you might want to look elsewhere. Both offenses have struggled to find their rhythm this season, with South Florida putting up 25.1 points per game while FAU has managed just 24.4. When you dig into the numbers, everything points toward the Under.

The ground game should dominate this one, with South Florida’s rushing attack (217 YPG) matching up against an FAU defense that’s been gashed for 230 rushing yards per game. The Bulls’ backup QB Bryce Archie has completed just 53% of his passes, which means we’ll likely see a heavy dose of the run game.

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South Florida’s defense has been stout against the run, ranking 12th nationally in EPA allowed per rush. That’s bad news for an FAU team that ran the ball 52 times compared to just 26 passes in their last outing against FIU.

Recent trends tell the story here – FAU hasn’t topped 24 points in any of their last three games. With both teams likely to keep it on the ground and control the clock, this one has all the makings of a low-scoring affair.

• Pick: Under 47.5 (-110 at DraftKings)

UConn vs Georgia State Prediction

Don’t look now, but UConn is playing some serious football. Their defense has been nothing short of spectacular, ranking 31st nationally in both scoring and total yards allowed. Even more impressive? They’re getting off the field on third downs at an elite rate, allowing just 25.4% conversions – second-best in the country.

This spells trouble for a Georgia State team that’s struggled mightily to sustain drives, converting just 36.7% of their third downs (101st nationally). The Panthers enter on a four-game skid against Sun Belt opponents and now face a UConn squad that’s hitting its stride.

The Huskies’ red zone defense tells you everything you need to know about this team – they’ve allowed just nine touchdowns on 25 opponent trips. Meanwhile, their balanced attack has produced nine rushing TDs and eight passing TDs over their last five games.

When you combine UConn’s ball-control offense with their suffocating defense, you’ve got a recipe for a cover. Look for the Huskies to wear down the Panthers and pull away in the second half.

• Pick: UConn -7.5 (-110 at DraftKings)

The post Friday Night College Football Picks: Expert Predictions for Nov. 1 appeared first on Sports Betting Dime.