Thursday Night College Football Best Bets – Oct. 16
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Swinging Johnson
- October 16, 2025
Thursday night college football features one game, and we’ve isolated one side as our best bet for tonight. But to see what the oddsmakers have on all the college football games this week, just click right here.
The ESPN-televised game will feature the Tulsa Golden Hurricane invading East Carolina at 7:30 PM ET. Tulsa has dropped their last two games, including a 45-7 blowout at the hands of Memphis nearly two weeks ago in their last appearance, leading to their 2-4 record.
Their opponents, East Carolina, are also trying to rebound from a loss in their last appearance when they bowed, 26-19, to Tulane. The Pirates have a 3-3 mark on the season, and this American Conference clash is a pivotal game for both teams.
Tulsa Golden Hurricanes vs. East Carolina Pirates (-16 ½)
Tonight’s NCAAF picks include the towering favorite, East Carolina, in which the line has moved a full point from -15 ½ as the opener to where it now stands at -17 at most of the best online sportsbooks. However, BetOnline has the best number out there at -16 ½, which is a critical number, as we are getting a hook below the two touchdowns and a field goal.
East Carolina will shut down this anemic Tulsa offense that is currently 120th in the nation in scoring, averaging just 18.7 points per game. The Hurricanes’ rushing attack averages 152 yards per game (76th) with an aerial attack averaging 216.3 passing yards per game (82nd).
The Pirates rank 20th in passing, averaging 292.5 passing yards per game, and this is primarily why the game will get out of hand. On the flip side, how are the Golden Hurricanes supposed to score against an East Carolina defense that surrenders only 15.5 points per game, which ranks 15th in the nation?
Lastly, Tulsa is switching quarterbacks, benching sophomore Kirk Francis in favor of freshman Baylor Hayes. The primary issue that Tulsa is having lies with a porous offensive line that is expected to be ravaged by ECU this weekend. Whether it is Francis or Hayes, I don’t suspect the results will be any different.
Tulsa head coach Tre Lamb talked about the switch under center and said of Hayes, “He has that Baker Mayfield about him. He is very competitive and talks smack. He is a young stud, and I think he will be a great player. He knows my offense, and he knows what we do well. I will not put as much volume on him, and we need to make sure he is protected. He brings some athleticism to the position that Kirk doesn’t have.”
We should also note that the total seems a bit high, considering that tonight’s NCAAF odds show the total in this one at 54. I believe Tulsa will score well below their season average of 18 points per game, while ECU will eventually protect their big lead and move the chains on the ground. This will chew up the clock and give us under the posted total.
Bet ECU -16 ½ and under 54 flat, or put them in a parlay… or do both!
Expert Pick: East Carolina -16 ½ (-115) at BetOnline
Expert Pick: Under 54 (-108) at Heritage Sports
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*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
