College Football Best Bets & Predictions Today: Week 7 Picks For G5 Games

No matter if it’s MACtion or weekday CUSA, Group of Five is usually fun to watch. After all, there’s a ton of great G5 programs this year.

Here’s my predictions for upcoming G5 games.

Louisiana Tech vs. Kennesaw State Prediction

I predict Louisiana Tech will win and cover the six-point spread. I also project the game will go Under 46.5 total points.

Quarterback Blake Baker and Louisiana Tech’s offense will need to step up to the challenge in this contest. Kennesaw State is fourth in Conference USA in scoring defense with 23.2 points per game allowed.

Baker has thrown for 603 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception on a 62% completion rate while rushing for 135 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end Eli Finley is a player to watch in this game, as he leads LA Tech with 231 yards on 14 catches.

The running game is LA Tech’s strength, as Clay Thevenin (230 yards and three TDs) and Omiri Wiggins (158 yards and two TDs) lead the Bulldogs on the ground.

But led by linebacker Kolbe Fields, who has a team-best 39 tackles to go with two sacks and two interceptions, I think LA Tech’s defense will be the reason the Bulldogs win this game. They lead CUSA in scoring defense, allowing just 13.6 points per contest, and are second in total defense with 346.2 yards per game allowed while ranking first in rushing defense with 105.8 yards per game allowed.

I don’t think this is an easy matchup for the Owls. I expect LA Tech to go on the road and win by about 10 points.

East Carolina vs. Tulane Prediction

I predict Tulane will win and cover the 6.5-point spread. I also project the game will go Under 53.5 total points.

With so much on the line, I think this game could get ugly. I anticipate both teams will make some costly mistakes, maybe even some untimely turnovers, and that this will ultimately be close.

But if that is the case, I think the Green Wave will manage to pull off the win, especially since they’re at home.

Tulane’s rushing offense has been strong this season, but I think it’ll especially shine in a matchup like this. Quarterback Jake Retzlaff has rushed for a team-high 368 yards and seven touchdowns while throwing for 820 yards, two touchdowns, and no interceptions on a 54% completion rate. Wide receivers Omari Hayes (18 catches for 254 yards) and Shazz Preston (13 catches for 202 yards) as well as running back Javin Gordon (235 yards and three TDs) have been impressive as well.

But based on what I’ve seen from Tulane, I think this is a matchup where the Green Wave defense will shine. Led by defensive lineman Santana Hopper, linebackers Dickson Agu and Sam Howard, and defensive backs Jack Tchienchou and Bailey Despanie, I expect Tulane’s defense to make things difficult for ECU’s offense.

If it does become more of a shootout, I think East Carolina has a better chance of winning this game. But I believe Tulane’s defense will step up to the occasion and help the Green Wave stay undefeated in league play.

Jacksonville State vs. Sam Houston Prediction

I predict Sam Houston will win and therefore cover the seven-point spread. I also project the game will go Under 54.5 total points.

The Gamecocks have a bit of uncertainty at quarterback right now. Gavin Wimsatt and Caden Creel were listed as co-starters on the team’s depth chart going into this game. Wimsatt has been the team’s primary signal caller and has thrown for 576 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions on a 56% completion rate. Creel saw the field in Jax State’s last game against Southern Miss and completed 9 of 17 passes for 109 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions while leading the team with 161 yards and one touchdown on the ground.

And if Jax State has to depend on the ground game, I think that’s a favorable development for Sam Houston. Despite their issues, the Bearkats are third in CUSA in rushing defense, having allowed 148.4 yards per game on the ground thus far.

And on the other side, I think this is a game where Sam Houston quarterback Hunter Watson will thrive. He’s thrown for 618 yards, one touchdown, and three interceptions on a 59% completion rate and has rushed for 156 yards and two scores. But I don’t think those stats show what he’s capable of.

I think Sam Houston will show improvement on both sides of the ball and that Phil Longo will earn his first victory as the head coach of the Bearkats.

Southern Miss vs. Georgia Southern Prediction

I predict Southern Miss will win and cover the 3.5-point spread. I also project the game will go Over 59.5 total points.

After stumbling against Louisiana Tech – though the Bulldogs are stout defensively this year – I think this Southern Miss team is about to find a rhythm, especially on offense.

The Golden Eagles have scored at least 38 points in three of their last four games. Most recently, at home against Jacksonville State, they put up 42. 

USM quarterback Braylon Braxton has thrown for 1,236 yards, 11 touchdowns, and three interceptions on a 65% completion rate. He’s also rushed for 169 yards and one score. 

Braxton has spread the ball around, as six players have at least 100 yards receiving and six have at least 10 catches. Carl Chester is the leader as he has 224 yards and one TD on 14 catches. 

I like Georgia Southern’s offense, too. I think there’s plenty of talent for the Eagles on that side of the ball. But I am a little worried after they were limited to 10 points at James Madison.

So I think Southern Miss will score plenty of points and that the Golden Eagles will also make some important plays on defense as well en route to staying undefeated in league play.