Week 10 of the College Football season is already here and Thursday night football this week gives fans two undefeated home teams looking to continue their magical seasons against inferior opponents.
The #12 Baylor Bears, who are currently one game up on Oklahoma in the conference, having bigger goals ahead of them as Baylor still has an outside chance of making the College Football Playoff if they go undefeated. The Bears will host the West Virginia Mountaineers on Thursday.
#20 Appalachian State remain undefeated through seven games, but still sit behind two other teams from the Group of Five and are facing an uphill battle at getting to a New Year’s Six Bowl. If App State has any chance at the playoffs they will have to continue winning and winning in style.
Below is my pick for West Virginia at #12 Baylor and Georgia Southern at #20 Appalachian State. All lines are from the FanDuel Sportsbook.
West Virginia at #12 Baylor (-17.5): O/U 56 points (-105/-115)
The West Virginia Mountaineers had a bye last week, but may still be licking their wounds from a 52-14 lashing from then #5 Oklahoma two weeks ago. West Virginia has now lost three games in a row, to then #11 Texas, Iowa State and Oklahoma, and the Mountaineers currently sit at 3-3 this season. WVU has wins over FCS James Madison, North Carolina State and Kansas this season. The ‘eers have lost three straight games against the spread and are currently 2-4-1 ATS in 2019. The over has hit in four of WVU’s seven games this season.
The #12 Baylor Bears also had a bye last week, but before that continued their undefeated season with a 45-27 road win at Oklahoma State. The Bears are now 4-0 in the Big 12, after wins over Iowa State, Kansas State, Texas Tech and Ok State, but are in a prime look ahead spot this week. After the game against WVU the Bears play at TCU, home against current #10 Oklahoma and Texas in three straight weeks. Baylor is 4-3 ATS and the over has hit in four of seven games this season.
Series History: West Virginia now leads the all-time series 5-2 after winning the last three games between the two.
Game Prediction: Baylor looks ahead a little and it will be close through the first half, but the Bears recover in the second half and cover the spread. Back Baylor -17.5.
Georgia Southern at #20 Appalachian State (-15.5): O/U 44.5 points (-110/-110)
4-3 Georgia Southern, winners of three straight games, will look to end Appalachian State’s undefeated season Thursday night in what has become a pretty good rivalry. Georgia Southern started the season 1-3, but have won at South Alabama and at home against Coastal Carolina and New Mexico State to improve to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the Sun Belt. GSU is 3-4 ATS and the over has hit in four of their seven games this season.
#20 App State sits at 7-0 and is currently one of nine remaining unbeaten teams in the nation. The Mountaineers are rolling at the moment having not allowed more than seven points in three straight games and having won six of their seven games by at least 10 points. App State has their eyes set on a New Year’s Six Bowl, but a loss Thursday night could see their Sun Belt championship game chances be greatly hindered. The ‘eers are 5-2 ATS and the under has hit in four of seven games this season.
Series History: Appalachian State leads the all-time series 19-14-1 after Georgia Southern came away with a 34-14 win last season.
Game Prediction: I’m backing App State -15.5 in this one.
YTD College Football Results: 26-23