Category: Week 8

Southern Miss (1-3) vs Liberty (5-0) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Southern Miss Will Win

The passing game is rocking.

The Golden Eagles not only threw well against North Texas a few weeks ago, but it showed off the best balance it has all season long with its first 200-yard rushing day. However, it’s all about the passing attack – Liberty hasn’t dealt with one yet. It’s going to get hit with at least 250 yards, but for the Golden Eagles, they have to slow down the run to win.

Tulane was able to use its style to rip through for 414 yards, but everyone else has been kept in relative check. However …

Why Liberty Will Win

The Golden Eagle defensive front has been a problem. The run defense hasn’t been a wall, and there haven’t been enough plays behind the line.

The Flame ground attack continues to be special. It hit 200 yards or more in every game including 338 last week against Syracuse.

Liberty’s pass defense has been exceptional so far, but again, that’s partly because it hasn’t faced anyone great through the air. The pass rush, though, is strong enough to keep the pressure on.

What’s Going To Happen

Southern Miss interim head coach Scotty Walden testing positive for COVID-19 – he’s reportedly fine – doesn’t help a team that hasn’t played for a few weeks thanks to virus issues.

The 5-0 Flames will keep on rumbling. The ground game has been all but unstoppable, the defense will be active enough to overcome a solid passing day from USM’s Jack Abraham, and it shouldn’t be much of a problem controlling the clock.

Liberty vs Southern Miss Prediction, Line

Liberty 37, Southern Miss 24
Bet on Liberty vs Southern Miss with BetMGM
Liberty -11, o/u: 63
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 2

5: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
1: Hubie Halloween

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Louisiana vs UAB Prediction, Game Preview

Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns vs UAB Blazers prediction and game preview.

Louisiana vs UAB prediction and game preview.

Louisiana vs UAB Broadcast

Date: Friday, October 23
Game Time: 8:00 ET
Venue: Legion Field, Birmingham, AL
Network: CBS Sports Network

[jwplayer VimTQj8F]

Louisiana (3-1) vs UAB (4-1) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Louisiana Will Win

The Louisiana running game has the potential to roll through a UAB defensive front that faced one team that can run – Miami.

The Hurricanes tore off 337 yards on the ground.

It’s a bit much to compare Levi Lewis to Miami’s D’Eriq King, but the veteran Ragin’ Cajun quarterback can move, he has the backs to take control of the tempo, and the offensive line is as good as the Blazers have seen since early September. However …

Why UAB Will Win

Louisiana can run, but UAB is better at it.

Spencer Brown was held to 22 yards by WKU, but the offense managed 217 yards on the ground for its third 200-yard day of the season. One of the others was a 190-yard performance in a win over South Alabama.

Louisiana has a fantastic offense that moves fast, strikes quickly, and plays with a tremendous pace. However, it doesn’t do much to go on long marches. UAB dominates the time of possession battle and should have the ball for close to 35 minutes. And then there’s the problem of …

What’s Going To Happen

The UAB pass rush should take over when it needs to.

The defense will give up passing yards, but no one other than King has been able to it the 50% mark over the last month on a secondary that’s limiting everyone’s attack to a whole lot of dinks and dunks.

This is a massive test for a Blazer team that has the wins, but hasn’t beaten anyone good enough to chirp about. Louisiana is used to playing in close, tight games, but UAB’s defense will come up with two big fourth quarter stops to survive.

This is like a strong mid-December bowl game. It’ll be a good one.

Louisiana vs UAB Prediction, Line

UAB 27, Louisiana 23
Bet on Louisiana vs UAB with BetMGM
Louisiana -1, o/u: 49.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1.5

Must See Rating: 3

5: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
1: Hubie Halloween

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

FIU vs Jacksonville State Prediction, Game Preview

FIU vs Jacksonville State prediction and game preview. FIU vs Jacksonville State Broadcast Date: Friday, October 23 Game Time: 7:00 ET Venue: Riccardo Silva Stadium, Miami, FL Network: ESPN3 – All of the CFN Fearless Predictions FIU (0-2) vs …

FIU vs Jacksonville State prediction and game preview.

FIU vs Jacksonville State Broadcast

Date: Friday, October 23
Game Time: 7:00 ET
Venue: Riccardo Silva Stadium, Miami, FL
Network: ESPN3

[jwplayer VimTQj8F]

FIU (0-2) vs Jacksonville State (2-1) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Jacksonville State Will Win

The Gamecocks haven’t been bad so far, beating Mercer and North Alabama and pushing Florida State way, way too hard in a 41-24 loss – the Seminoles had to roar back in the second half.

QB Zerrick Cooper is a dangerous all-around playmaker who might not be bombing away, but he’s a veteran who knows how to keep things moving. JSU is running well enough, it’s taking advantage of almost every opportunity, and it doesn’t have to worry about a FIU offense that doesn’t have enough of a passing game.

Why FIU Will Win

Here comes the FIU pass rush.

There might not be enough happening offensively to get excited, but against the JSU offensive front, the defensive front should live behind the line. The Gamecocks have found ways to win, but they’re not dominating the clock, they’re not explosive enough, and they pass protection isn’t great.

FIU might have lost, but it got the ground game going to Middle Tennessee with 270 yards. It’s not going to do anything crazy. It’s going to run, and run, and run some more.

What’s Going To Happen

Jacksonville State will provide enough of a push for FIU to worry – Cooper is accurate enough to keep the passing game working – but the Golden Panthers will run well enough to pull this off.

It’ll be way too close, though.

FIU vs Jacksonville State Prediction, Line

FIU 34. Jacksonville State 23
Bet on FIU vs Jacksonville State with BetMGM
FIU -10, o/u: 59.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1.5

Must See Rating: 1.5

5: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
1: Hubie Halloween

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Arkansas State vs Appalachian State Prediction, Game Preview

Arkansas State Red Wolves vs Appalachian State Mountaineers prediction and game preview.

Arkansas State vs Appalachian State prediction and game preview.

Arkansas State vs Appalachian State Broadcast

Date: Thursday, October 22nd
Game Time: 7:30 ET
Venue: Kidd Brewer Stadium Boone, NC
Network: ESPN

[jwplayer VimTQj8F]

Arkansas State (3-2) vs Appalachian State (2-1) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Arkansas State Will Win

The passing game is clicking.

The Red Wolves might have had problems against Coastal Carolina a few weeks ago, but the air show went off on Georgia State for 551 yards for the Sun Belt’s No. 1 offense.

The defense has been a bit of a rumor over the last few weeks, but but it’s been great at getting into the backfield, it’s forcing mistakes, and it’s at least in a bit of a routine. Appalachian State hasn’t played since late September, and it hasn’t played anyone good since losing to Marshall.

The Mountaineer pass defense hasn’t seen a high-octane offense like this. But …

Why Appalachian State Will Win

The ASU defense has been fantastic over the first three games.

Forget about the win over Campbell – that’s Campbell.

The defense was able keep Marshall’s passing game in check, but it had problems against the run – that’s not an issue against Arkansas State. The pass rush has been okay, but against this offense, the goal is to keep it off the field.

The Mountaineers are blasting away with the running game, hitting Charlotte for over 300 yards and Campbell for over 400. The Red Wolves gave up over 200 rushing yards to the Memphis ground game, and lost. The same went for the loss to Coastal Carolina, allowing 217 yards. Georgia State ran for 269 yards, and almost pulled off the win.

Appalachian State might have had time off, but it’s rested. The offensive line will come out roaring.

What’s Going To Happen

The Arkansas State passing game will be good enough to make Appalachian State press and have to keep scoring, but that’s where the ground game kicks in. The Mountaineers will be a wee bit stronger on the lines.

Arkansas State vs Appalachian State Prediction, Line

Appalachian State 37, Arkansas State 23
Bet on Arkansas State vs App State with BetMGM
Appalachian State -13, o/u: 68
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1.5

Must See Rating: 3

5: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
1: Hubie Halloween

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Big 12 Predictions, Schedule, Game Previews, Lines, TV: Week 8

Big 12 college football predictions, schedule, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 8 of the season.

Big 12 college football predictions, schedule, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 8 of the season.

[jwplayer ySsShMIV]

Results So Far
SU: 13-10, ATS: 11-8-1, Point Total: 9-6

Click on each game for game preview & prediction

Saturday, October 24

Kansas at Kansas State

12:00 FS1
Line: Kansas State -19.5, o/u: 50.5
– Bet on this at BetMGM

Oklahoma at TCU

12:00 ABC
Line: Oklahoma -7, o/u: 62
– Bet on this at BetMGM

Iowa State at Oklahoma State

3:30 FOX
Line: Oklahoma State -3.5, o/u: 54
– Bet on this at BetMGM

[lawrence-related id=521172]

Baylor at Texas

3:30 ESPN
Line: Texas -8.5, o/u: 61.5
– Bet on this at BetMGM

West Virginia at Texas Tech

5:30 ESPN2
Line: West Virginia -3.5, o/u: 55.5
– Bet on this at BetMGM

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

West Virginia vs Texas Tech Prediction, Game Preview

West Virginia Mountaineers vs Texas Tech Red Raiders prediction and game preview.

West Virginia vs Texas Tech prediction and game preview.

West Virginia vs Texas Tech Broadcast

Date: Saturday, October 24
Game Time: 5:30 ET
Venue: Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, TX
Network: ESPN2

[jwplayer VimTQj8F]

West Virginia (3-1) vs Texas Tech (1-3) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why West Virginia Will Win

Not everything has been perfect, and there’s a loss to Oklahoma State on the record, but the team is 3-1 and playing far better overall than it did in Year One under head coach Neal Brown.

It helps that there’s an offense.

The pass rush has been fantastic, the run defense has been a rock, and the D is one of the best in the nation at coming up with third down stops. That’s all great, but can the team handle big-time passing games?

It hasn’t faced anything like Texas Tech’s air show yet, but the pass rush is strong enough to at least hurry things up a little bit. Texas Tech – by its style and very nature – doesn’t allow a whole slew of sacks, but it helps to hurry things up a bit.

Why Texas Tech Will Win

Alright Henry Colombi, let’s see what you can do.

The junior quarterback from Florida started out his career with Texas Tech head coach Matt Wells at Utah State, and transferred over to the Red Raiders after not seeing a whole lot of work last year with the Aggies.

With Alan Bowman banged up, Columbi has been able to step in and make the O go, hitting 74% of his passes for 359 yards and three scores, and he adds a little bit of a rushing element to the mix.

No matter who’s been at quarterback, the offense has worked, turnovers haven’t been a huge problem, and the team was one key defensive stop away from being 2-2 with a win over Texas. However …

What’s Going To Happen

The Texas Tech defense has been awful.

How do you want to move the ball? Give it a shot, and it’ll probably work.

West Virginia’s ground game is good enough to take over right away – it at least has to give it a shot – but Jarret Doege and the passing attack have been good, too. Unlike last year, the Mountaineers are better equipped to keep up.

Texas Tech desperately needs the home win, but West Virginia is too good on the defensive front and will be too strong at controlling the clock. The Mountaineers will go on long enough marches to keep Columbi and company on the sidelines.

CFN 1-127 Rankings | Bowl Projections
College Football Playoff Chase, Who’s Alive?

West Virginia vs Texas Tech Prediction, Line

West Virginia 34, Texas Tech 27
Bet on West Virginia vs Texas Tech with BetMGM
West Virginia -3, o/u: 54
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 2.5

5: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
1: Hubie Halloween

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Texas vs Baylor Prediction, Game Preview

Texas Longhorns vs Baylor Bears prediction and game preview.

Texas vs Baylor prediction and game preview.

Texas vs Baylor Broadcast

Date: Saturday, October 24
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Venue: Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, TX
Network: ESPN

[jwplayer VimTQj8F]

Texas (2-2) vs Baylor (1-1) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Baylor Will Win

At the very least, the Bears are rested. They haven’t played since October 3rd, and they’ve had plenty of time to prepare for the Longhorn offense. More importantly, they’ve had time to get ready to attack a defense that’s not stopping anyone.

Want to throw on the Longhorns? Go ahead – it’s allowing enough downfield plays to keep giving it a shot. Want to run the ball? TCU and Oklahoma both rolled for over 200 yards.

It’s been just two games, but the Bears have been able to keep the defensive pressure going from last year – registering 18 tackles for loss and six sacks – and they should keep the pressure on Sam Ehinger and company.

Why Texas Will Win

The Texas defense might have a problem, but the offense has been rolling. A lot of the big plays might be coming in comeback mode, but the passing attack is averaging over 300 yards per game, and when it pounds away, the ground game works, too.

Baylor might have a slew of nice playmakers, but it doesn’t have the machine Texas has. It leads the nation in scoring, and it can move the ball however it wants to.

No, the Longhorn defense hasn’t tackled well and it’s a problem, but it leads the Big 12 in takeaways. The line can generate pressure, too.

What’s Going To Happen

It’s 2020 Texas in the Big 12. It’s going to play to the level of the competition, it’ll be down, it’ll be hopelessly out of it at one point with nothing quite going right, and then Sam Ehlinger will get hot and bring the team right back within range of pulling it off.

Only, Texas won’t have to work as hard as it did in the win over Texas Tech, and it won’t buckle like it did against TCU and Oklahoma.

At least for a little while, the team will be good enough to take the focus off of “The Eyes of Texas” controversy.

CFN 1-127 Rankings | Bowl Projections
College Football Playoff Chase, Who’s Alive?

Texas vs Baylor Prediction, Line

Texas 36, Baylor 30
Bet on Texas vs Baylor with BetMGM
Texas -9, o/u: 61
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 3

5: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
1: Hubie Halloween

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Iowa State vs Oklahoma State Prediction, Game Preview

Iowa State Cyclones vs Oklahoma State Cowboys prediction and game preview.

Iowa State vs Oklahoma State prediction and game preview.

Iowa State vs Oklahoma State Broadcast

Date: Saturday, October 24
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Venue: Boone Pickens Stadium, Stillwater, OK
Network: FOX

[jwplayer VimTQj8F]

Iowa State (3-1) vs Oklahoma State (3-0) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Iowa State Will Win

The offense has found its balance – but better.

It was well-balanced in the opener against Louisiana, but it wasn’t able to hit the 160-yard mark on the ground or through the air in the loss.

However, the offense hit 200 yards in both rushing and receiving against both TCU and Texas Tech, bombed away on Oklahoma, and had just enough of a running game to get by the Sooners.

The Cyclones are getting a good season so far out of the offensive line, Brock Purdy has hit 74% of his passes in two of the last three games, and on the other side, the run defense has been a rock. No one has been able to get to 120 yards on the ground so far – stop the run, stop Oklahoma State.

But …

Why Oklahoma State Will Win

The Oklahoma State rushing attack leads the Big 12, but it has the benefit of the 295-yard day against the Kansas free-space in the mix. Even so, the Cowboys can run.

Best of all, with the easy win a few weeks ago, and with all of the time off, QB Spencer Sanders has had time to heal his injured ankle. At the very least, he’ll be a part of a rotation for an O that should be able to hit the Cyclones in a variety of ways.

Sanders was good in last year’s win over the Cyclones – 249 passing yards, two scores, lots of big plays – and now he gets to step into a tuned up team whose defense has allowed just 27 points in three games.

Oklahoma State leads the nation in third down defensive stops – teams are only converting 17% of their chances – and the team appears ready to bust out with the time off.

What’s Going To Happen

Is this for a spot in the Big 12 Championship?

Iowa State still has to play Texas, but win this, and it’s going to be an odds-on favorite to get in. But Oklahoma State will pitch a gem.

No, the Cowboys haven’t played up to its overall talent level yet – including the layup over Kansas – and it’s about to get hit hard in the secondary by Brock Purdy and the Cyclone passing game, but it starts now.

This is when Oklahoma State starts to really look like the team everyone liked so much this offseason.

CFN 1-127 Rankings | Bowl Projections
College Football Playoff Chase, Who’s Alive?

Iowa State vs Oklahoma State Prediction, Line

Oklahoma State 27, Iowa State 23
Bet on Iowa State vs Oklahoma State with BetMGM
Oklahoma State -3.5, o/u: 52
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 4

5: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
1: Hubie Halloween

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Oklahoma vs TCU Prediction, Game Preview

Oklahoma Sooners vs TCU Horned Frogs prediction and game preview.

Oklahoma vs TCU prediction and game preview.

Oklahoma vs TCU Broadcast

Date: Saturday, October 24
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, TX
Network: ABC

[jwplayer VimTQj8F]

Oklahoma (2-2) vs TCU (1-2) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Oklahoma Will Win

Can you imagine what would’ve happened if Oklahoma had lost to Texas?

It seemed like it was ten years ago, but the win on October 10th was a game-changer for the Sooners. Had it gacked it away, this would’ve been a rough few weeks after the 1-3 start. Instead, it held on, got the win, and that might be the moment when this uber-talented team finally kicks it in.

For all of the problems the team has had, it’s still the Big 12 leader in passing, in passing efficiency, and best of all for this game, in time of possession.

TCU has done a great job of controlling the tempo and owning the clock. Neither one of those things will likely happen without the pass rush needed to get to Spencer Rattler on a consistent basis.

But …

Why TCU Will Win

TCU does control the clock.

The Oklahoma defense had problems over the first three games against anyone who can throw reasonably well, and now it has to deal with Max Duggan, who’s hitting 69% of his passes with 132 rushing yards in his three games.

TCU is just good enough on third downs to come through in big moments, and it’s decent and not giving the ball away. On the flip side, Rattler and the OU offense have had big problems in the clutch – they have a really, really hard time closing.

Oklahoma has turnover problems, and TCU doesn’t. If the Horned Frogs win the mistake battle and keep Rattler and the OU O on the sidelines, they might just have this.

What’s Going To Happen

Which teams will show up? Will the TCU that was so good late in the win against Texas run on the field, or will it be the one that could never get control of the game in the loss to Kansas State?

Will the Oklahoma that was so confident and good for around 50 minutes in each of the three Big 12 games come to Fort Worth, or will it be the one that has a terrible case of the yips late in the games?

With two weeks off, give TCU head coach Gary Patterson a bit of a nod to have time to prepare, but expect the OU offense to come out hot and hold on.

CFN 1-127 Rankings | Bowl Projections
College Football Playoff Chase, Who’s Alive?

Oklahoma vs TCU Prediction, Line

Oklahoma 38, TCU 27
Bet on Oklahoma vs TCU with BetMGM
Oklahoma -6.5, o/u: 59.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 3.5

5: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
1: Hubie Halloween

[protected-iframe id=”361699434b6d70baf15f631ed2408ac1-97672683-92922408″ info=”https://www.googletagservices.com/tag/js/gpt.js” ]

Kansas vs Kansas State Prediction, Game Preview

Kansas Jayhawks vs Kansas State Wildcats prediction and game preview.

Kansas vs Kansas State prediction and game preview.

Kansas vs Kansas State Broadcast

Date: Saturday, October 24
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Bill Snyder Family Stadium, Manhattan, KS
Network: FS1

[jwplayer VimTQj8F]

Kansas (0-4) vs Kansas State (3-1) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Kansas Will Win

The Jayhawks hung around with West Virginia for a while. It was a 38-17 loss, but at least it was a good step forward.

Overall, the secondary hasn’t been all that bad – it got ripped up a bit by the Mountaineers, and the game still didn’t get out of hand – and there likely won’t be too much to worry about from the Kansas State offense.

With QB Skylar Thompson out, the Wildcat attack struggled to get the passing game going against TCU with just 117 yards. Will Howard only hit 8-of-19 passes for 117 yards and a pick, but ….

Why Kansas State Will Win

Howard ran for 86 yards against the Horned Frogs, and …

Pooka is done.

Kansas star RB Pooka Williams ran for just 196 yards in the first four games, and now he’s gone, opting out on the rest of the season. This isn’t a Kansas team that can afford to lose playmakers.

Everything has to go right to pul the Jayhawks up out of the nosedive, but there’s sign to be a problem with that – they don’t take the ball away, and Kansas State doesn’t give it up.

This isn’t going to be a hard equation for Kansas State. Run the ball, control the clock, control the tempo, don’t make mistakes.

What’s Going To Happen

It’s a rivalry game, so always throw in whatever clichés you see fit. The harsh reality is that Kansas is awful, and there’s nothing that will make the lines any better.

Kansas State isn’t going to take any chances, it’s going to win on the lines, and it’ll hold the ball for well over 35 minutes on the way to a workmanlike win.