College Football Picks for Thursday, Oct. 24
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 7 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAF Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Thursday nights are for football.
Along with the NFL's Vikings vs. Rams matchup, we have two games in the college football world: Georgia Southern vs. Old Dominion in the Sun Belt and Syracuse vs. Pitt in the ACC.
Our college football writers came through with a pick for each game, so let's make the most of all of the football action while we still can.
Continue reading for Thursday college football odds, picks and predictions — and be sure to check back tomorrow for even more Friday college football betting coverage.
Georgia Southern vs. Old Dominion Picks
By John Feltman
It's a massive Sun Belt showdown Thursday evening, as the Georgia Southern Eagles (5-2, 3-0 Sun Belt) travel to Norfolk, Virginia, to take on the Old Dominion Monarchs (3-4, 2-1).
The Monarchs have surprised many folks, entering this matchup 2-1 in Sun Belt play.
The Eagles are coming off a massive home win as 10-point underdogs to James Madison and are now short 2.5-point underdogs in this matchup. The Monarchs are also entering the game off a big win, stunning the Texas State Bobcats as 10-point underdogs.
Oddsmakers have set the total for this one at 54.5.
Let's dive into my Georgia Southern vs. Old Dominion predictions and college football picks for Thursday, Oct. 24.
Georgia Southern Eagles
The Eagles are an impressive 5-2, and their big win last week against James Madison was a massive statement for the rest of the season. Despite the big win, the Eagles enter Thursday's contest just 128th in strength of schedule.
Thursday night presents an intriguing matchup for the Eagles, given that both teams are coming off significant upset victories.
As much as I thought I would be all over the Eagles in the matchup, they have many questionable metrics that leave me concerned.
The most significant discrepancy in the matchup is the Eagles' rush defense. They sit near the bottom of FBS in Rush Success Rate allowed. The Monarchs' rushing offense is not the most potent, but they run it at a 57% clip, so the Eagles defense could be on the field for extended periods.
Georgia Southern ranks 105th in Defensive Line Yards and 91st in Havoc, so it's safe to say its defensive front has been incredibly soft thus far. That's especially alarming considering the Eagles have had such a weak schedule.
Offensively, they have a tough draw against a stingy Old Dominion defense. The rushing attack has done well but will struggle against the Monarchs' defensive front.
The Eagles are also 127th in Offensive Line Yards, while the Monarchs are 24th on the defensive side. The offensive line will provide little to no push, which will be a massive problem for the ground attack.
I am fond of quarterback JC French, as he's put up solid numbers through seven games. However, he could be under heavy duress for most of the contest.
As good as I thought Georgia Southern was, it could be in for a rude awakening against a strong Old Dominion defense.
Old Dominion Monarchs
I was foolish enough to fade the Monarchs before the season began and took their win total under, but they've proven countless times that they're an above-average football team. They own a 3-4 overall record but are 2-1 in conference play.
Old Dominion's defense is the story, as it has been elite in multiple metrics. The Monarchs ramk top-25 in Rush Success Rate allowed and Line Yards allowed.
The defensive front has been a significant contributor against the run, and I expect that to continue against a bad Georgia Southern offensive front. This team is also 55th or better in Havoc, Defensive Finishing Drives and Quality Drives allowed.
Since quarterback Grant Wilson went down, backup Colton Joseph has done a fine job replacing him. Joseph has four touchdowns to one interception, two rushing touchdowns and averages over eight yards per carry.
The offensive metrics could be prettier, but Old Dominion ranks 21st in Offensive Finishing Drives. It's done a great job scoring touchdowns when reaching opposing territory.
Running back Devin Roche has claimed the starting tailback job, averaging over six yards per carry in limited opportunities thus far in 2024. The Monarchs love to run the ball, so we should see many different faces out of the backfield.
I have far more faith in the Old Dominion rushing attack and its defensive front to dominate Georgia Southern. Never in a million years would I have thought I'd be saying this before the season began.
Georgia Southern vs. Old Dominion Predictions
I initially thought I would want to take the underdog with a better record, but I refuse to fall into the trap.
The Monarchs defense and rushing attack are going to make a huge difference, and I expect the Eagles to struggle. What's also nice is that both teams are coming off upset victories, so the letdown aspect offsets itself.
Georgia Southern has a better chance of coming out flat here. The Eagles' clear edge of the game is their special teams, but I don't think it will be enough to propel them to a road win.
The strength of schedules is also a tad crooked, as the Eagles have faced far weaker teams than the Monarchs.
Old Dominion should take care of business at home, which would propel it right back into the Sun Belt Conference race.
Pick: Old Dominion -1.5 (Play to -2.5)
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Syracuse vs. Pitt Picks
It’s late October, and the Syracuse Orange (5-1, 2-1 ACC) and Pitt Panthers (6-0, 2-0) are meeting with potential ACC Championship ramifications on the line.
Few would have foreseen such a storyline a couple of months ago, but nonetheless, the teams arrive at this Thursday night matchup with just one total loss between the two programs.
Visiting Syracuse has had an offensive renaissance with transfer quarterback Kyle McCord and new head coach Fran Brown. The Orange have already knocked off a pair of then-top 25 teams this season in UNLV and Georgia Tech.
Pitt is one of only 10 undefeated teams remaining in the FBS. The Panthers have done so with an atypical Pat Narduzzi approach, leaning on their offense to carry them to victory.
Last time out, Pitt fell victim to a backdoor cover by Cal in a 17-15 win. Can the Panthers cover the spread this week? Pitt enters as a -6 favorite with the over/under set at 62.5.
Let's dive into my Syracuse vs. Pitt predictions and college football picks for Friday, Oct. 24.
Syracuse Orange
It may be Year 1 of a new coaching regime in Syracuse, but don’t tell Brown that means this is supposed to be a rebuilding year.
McCord wasn’t “good” enough to retain his starting job at Ohio State, but all the transfer quarterback has done at Syracuse is rank second in the nation with 360 passing yards per game and 19 total touchdowns.
No team likes to pass the ball more frequently than the Orange, who rank 133rd in Rush Rate. McCord has thrown 32 more passes than any other quarterback who has played only six games this season.
That’s good news for the Syracuse offense, which has been otherwise inconsistent when it comes to running the ball. The Orange average just 3.4 yards per carry, only better than Florida State in the ACC.
While the Syracuse pass offense has been lighting up the scoreboards, its pass defense has been its biggest flaw despite not having played any exceptional quarterbacks.
Syracuse ranks 114th in Pass Success allowed and will be tested by Pitt’s talented freshman quarterback.
Pitt Panthers
In one of the most shocking developments of the year, Pitt is undefeated and has one of the most prolific offenses in the country — all with Narduzzi still at the helm.
The Panthers rank 10th nationally in scoring with 40.8 points per game, up over 20 full points from 2023 when they finished the season ranked 116th in scoring.
The biggest reason for that offensive transformation has been the play of Eli Holstein, arguably the freshman quarterback of the year so far.
The Alabama transfer ranks 13th in the country with 283.3 passing yards per game and had thrown three touchdown passes in every game this season until he was shut out against Cal the last time Pitt played two weeks ago.
Holstein hasn’t been the only transfer contributing to the offense’s success.
Western Carolina transfer running back Desmond Reid has 835 yards from scrimmage with eight touchdowns and is just as dangerous a receiving weapon as he is rushing the ball.
Normally known for fielding tough defenses, that hasn’t been the case for Narduzzi in 2024. The Panthers are strong against the run but struggle to stop the pass. Pitt ranks 14th in the ACC, allowing 244.7 yards passing per game.
Generating a consistent rush will be key for the Panthers in throwing McCord off his game. The Panthers have excelled in this area, ranking 19th in Havoc and second in the ACC with eight tackles for loss per game.
Syracuse vs. Pitt Predictions
I could really see this game going either way and ultimately coming down to whichever quarterback has the ball last. One thing for certain, however, is that both passers are likely in for successful days.
The biggest weakness for both Pitt and Syracuse is their pass defenses. These teams average a combined 74.6 points per game, with the total for this game hovering around 63.
I see Pitt looking to collect style points on the Thursday national stage, and Syracuse doing everything in its power to trade offensive blows. Nine touchdowns between these teams isn’t a stretch.
Pick: Over 62.5
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