College Football Free Picks
San Jose St. at COLORADO ST. (55')
By Chris Jordan, Featured Handicapper
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My complimentary winner for Saturday is San Jose State and Colorado State to go over the posted number.
With a pair of top-notch receivers on hand in this one, I expect a high-scoring game thanks to both passing games.
Colorado State just got involved in a double-overtime game in Corvallis, where the Rams fell to Oregon State 39-31.
Now home against the Spartans, you can expect Colorado State to respond, looking to avenge the loss and get back on track. Colorado State wide receiver Tory Horton comes in as one of two FBS players since 1996 to have at least 3,500 receiving yards and 150 passing yards.
Horton had nine catches for 158 yards and a touchdown in the loss to Oregon State. The 100-yard game was the 13th of his career. With 3,540 career receiving yards, he is just 32 back of fifth in Mountain West history, while his 27 career TD catches are just two back from entering the top five.
Then there's San José State, which is 4-1 thanks to the sixth-best pass attack in the nation.
Spartans wideout Nick Nash leads all FBS players in receptions (55), receptions per game (11.0) and receiving touchdowns (nine). He ranks second in receiving yards (712) and receiving yards per game (142.4).
Look for this one to go into the 60s.
1* OVER
Oregon State (-4) at NEVADA
By Jackson Reyes, Featured Handicapper
My free winner for Saturday is the Oregon State Beavers against the Nevada Wolfpack.
Sitting at 4-1, the Beavers are coming in after outlasting the Colorado State Rams in double-overtime, a 39-31 win. They have the sixth-best rushing offense, accumulating 264.4 yards per game, and that'll help in Reno.
With a ball-control offense, the Beavers will be able to keep the ball out of Nevada's hands. Oregon State ranks No. 1 in the nation in time of possession, with an average hold time of 36:37.
And if the Pack can't get anything going on offense, it certainly won't be able to keep up with a Beavers team averaging 30.0 points per game.
Nevada is 2-4 already, and it's only two wins came against Troy and Eastern Washington. It's lost to SMU, Georgia Southern, Minnesota and San Jose State. This is an undisciplined bunch that ranks near the bottom in penalties, and that doesn't help its cause against this Beavers team.
Lay the small number on the road.
1* OREGON STATE