Joe Jensen

TCU vs Arizona pick: No. 24 Wildcats -8.5, total 42.5. The Big 12’s best defense heads to Tucson, and the number looks a touch too big for this matchup.

New Mexico vs Nevada pick: No. 22 Lobos -9.5, total 38.5. A record-setting defense meets a Wolf Pack offense that can’t find a healthy quarterback.

A quarterback question flipped the line on South Florida at East Carolina. Our USF vs ECU prediction weighs the Bulls’ defense against a shaky Pirates offense.

Our Nebraska vs Illinois prediction: Huskers -4.5 with a 49.5 total. Two defenses on a heater and two offenses with questions make the total the play on Friday.

The line on Virginia Tech at SMU has dropped from 7.5 to 6 since opening. Here’s why we think the market got this Friday night ACC game backward.

James Madison lost two straight in overtime and the market still lays two touchdowns in Hattiesburg. Our JMU vs Southern Miss pick and full breakdown.

Our UTSA vs Florida Atlantic prediction is built on one mismatch: a top-10 rushing attack against the softest run defense in FBS. UTSA -7, total 72.5.

Central Michigan vs Eastern Michigan prediction: EMU is a 1.5-point favorite at Ford Field, and two leaky defenses point us to the total with a 44.5 number.

Toledo vs Sacramento State prediction: a rested Rockets team flies west as a 25.5-point favorite against an offense that ranks near the bottom of the FBS.

Ball State vs UMass prediction: the Minutemen lay 3.5 in Amherst, and the return of their QB changes how this four-game skid should be read.