The Friday college football slate features five games, but only two are FBS vs. FBS matchups, as Louisville, Virginia, and NC State all take on FCS teams.
Still, there's a must-watch game to close the night, and my Week 2 Friday night football picks and college football picks expect it to be one of the best games of the week — and no, I'm not talking about Rutgers vs. Boston College.
Friday night college football picks for Week 2
| Matchup | Pick |  Probability |
|---|---|---|
 Villanovavs  Louisville |
+35.5 |
47% |
 Norfolk Statevs  Virginia |
⬇️ u55.5 | 52% |
 Richmondvs  NC State |
+33.5 |
52% |
 Rutgersvs  Boston College |
+3.5 |
52% |
 Missourivs  Kansas |
+5.5 |
51% |
Percentages courtesy of Kalshi, one of the best prediction market apps.
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CFB Friday night picks this week
Villanova vs Louisville: Villanova +35.5
Although Louisville covered against Mississippi on Sunday and only lost on a walk-off field goal, the Cardinals might have a tough time blowing out Villanova this week. As I wrote in my college football Top 25 predictions, during head coach Mark Ferrante's nine years as the Wildcats' head coach, they've played FBS programs relatively tough.
Ferrante is 70-37 at Villanova, and in seven games against FBS programs, his Wildcats have gone 5-2 ATS. This is one of the better FCS programs out there, having won 10+ games in four of the last five seasons, and it's even ranked ahead of several FBS programs by SP+ (151st).
Villanova quarterback Pat McQuaide was Top 20 in the FCS in big-time throw rate last season (6.4%), and if he can lead two scoring drives, the Cats can cover against a Louisville team that's coming off a heartbreaking loss on a short week.
However, I wouldn't take Nova to cover at anything shorter than +35.5.
Norfolk State vs Virginia: ⬇️ Under 55.5
Virginia proved in Week 0 that it's ready to run through the face of any front seven in the country with its veteran offensive line, deep room of running backs, and dual-threat QB Beau Pribula. The Cavaliers ran for 258 yards against NC State, then got a bye week before facing a struggling FCS team.
Norfolk State won't be able to stop this dominant offensive line from moving it around — the Spartans are ranked 206th on offense by SP+ — but Virginia's run-first approach will keep the clock moving. The Cavaliers threw the ball just 11 times against the Wolfpack, opting to run the ball 57 times.
Virginia's defense, which ranks Top 10 in havoc rate (25.5%), also held NC State to 168 total yards, so I don't expect Norfolk State to put more than three points on the board.
I have Virginia winning, 48-0.
Richmond vs NC State: Richmond +33.5
NC State's rough Week 0 outing against Virginia was one of the most disappointing opening games that any team has had this season. The Wolfpack couldn't move the ball or stop the run (they were outgained by 245 yards and lost the time-of-possession battle by more than 16 minutes).
Richmond is a quality FCS opponent with a defense that's ranked 125th by SP+ (better than plenty of Group of Six programs), so if CJ Bailey has a few hiccups this week — as he did in Week 0 — NC State won't score enough to cover.
Bailey all but killed his draft buzz with how indecisive and inaccurate he was against Virginia (57.1% adjusted completion rate, two turnover-worthy plays).
The Spiders' head coach Russ Heusman has had more than a few solid performances against Power Four teams, covering in three of Richmond's last six games against the P4.
Rutgers vs Boston College: Rutgers +3.5
Did Rutgers lose to UMass as a 29.5-point favorite last week? The Scarlet Knights sure did, but UMass is also coached by Joe Harasymiak, Greg Schiano's former defensive coordinator at Rutgers, who had all offseason to prepare and teach his team about his former employer.
Meanwhile, Boston College is coached by Bill O'Brien, who will not be coaching in Chestnut Hill this time next year.
UMass also has Pop Watson at QB; Boston College does not. BC lost by 19 last week to Cincinnati, with new starting QB Mason McKenzie completing 51.4% of his passes, racking up three turnover-worthy plays, and averaging 3.26 seconds to throw (one of the highest in the country... which led to him being pressured 21 times).
Rutgers also has two NFL-level talents in wide receiver KJ Duff and running back Antwan Raymond to lean on to help QB AJ Surace. Duff and Raymond can make enough plays to keep this close, and I'd even consider taking Rutgers moneyline.
Missouri vs Kansas: Kansas +5.5
For the second straight season, the Border War is being played after a hiatus that lasted more than a decade. It's by far the best game on Friday, and although Missouri won the rivalry game last season at home, our college football picks against the spread and college football moneyline picks are backing Kansas this year in Lawrence.
As our Geoff Clark noted in his Missouri vs. Kansas prediction, Kansas is 6-0 ATS as a home underdog since 2023, and the Tigers won't even have their best player against the Jayhawks. All-American running back Ahmad Hardy is still out, and that should help Kansas keep this close at home.
This is also just the second road start of Missouri QB Austin Simmons' career. If he's turnover-prone (as he was in his last road start with two interceptions), it will open the door for Kansas dual-threat QB Isaiah Marshall and this Jayhawks offense.
I like Kansas at +3.5 or better.
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
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