Friday night is Mountain West night, and the second game from the conference on a four-game slate features the undefeated Air Force Falcons flying into California to take on the 1-3 San Jose State Spartans.
Who emerges victorious? Ahead of the game, we’ve got the latest college football betting odds, DFS picks, and a San Jose State vs. Air Force prediction.
San Jose State vs. Air Force Betting and DFS Preview
All odds from DraftKings Sportsbook and correct as of Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. Want to take advantage of the San Jose State vs. Air Force odds? Visit the College Football Network live college football odds page right here.
- Spread
Air Force -4.5 - Moneyline
Air Force -205, San Jose State +220 - Over/Under
47 points - Game time
10:30 p.m. ET - Location
CEFCU Stadium, San Jose, CA - Predicted Weather at Kick
57 degrees, 5-6 mph winds, mostly cloudy - How to Watch
FuboTV, FS1
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Is Air Force worthy of some of your Ben Franklins? Is San Jose State the stake to make on Friday night? If you’re going to take advantage of the San Jose State vs. Air Force odds, consider some of the following factors before you part with your hard-earned cash.
Although San Jose State was victorious the last time these two teams met in 2020, Air Force holds a 4-2 head-to-head advantage over their Mountain West compatriots. The Falcons are the oddsmaker’s favorite for the clash, and our San Jose State vs. Air Force prediction will go deeper into why that’s the case. Taking the Falcons outright is the play to make.
San Jose State has covered the spread twice as an underdog this season, against Toledo and USC. Meanwhile, Air Force moved to 1-2 against the spread after their comprehensive win over Utah State. The Falcons have been the spread favorite every game this season, but the 4.5-point line is the smallest margin we’ve seen for them this year. They should cover on Friday night.
So, that leaves the points line. The two teams have combined for a 4-3 record, favoring the over. San Jose State has been involved in high-scoring affairs in three of their four, and while this might not match the 84-point total in the Week 0 loss to USC, the two teams should combine for over 47 points.
Top DFS Picks and Fantasy Plays
San Jose State Depth Chart | Air Force Depth Chart
- QB Zac Larrier, Air Force ($8,200)
- QB Chevan Cordeiro, San Jose State ($6,800)
- RB Emmanuel Michel, Air Force ($8,500)
- RB Owen Burk, Air Force ($7,700)
- RB Kairee Robinson, San Jose State ($7,000)
- RB John Lee Eldridge III, Air Force ($5,900)
- RB Quali Conley, San Jose State ($5,300)
- RB Jabari Bates, San Jose State ($4,700)
- RB Aiden Calvert, Air Force ($4,400)
- WR Nick Nash, San Jose State ($8,600)
- WR Charles Ross, San Jose State ($5,700)
- WR Malikhi Miller, San Jose State ($5,400)
- WR Cade Harris, Air Force ($5,500)
- WR Jared Roznos, Air Force ($5,100)
- WR Brandon Engel, Air Force ($4,900)
- WR Isaac Jernagin, San Jose State ($4,700)
- TE Dominick Mazotti, San Jose State ($5,900)
There are four Friday college football games to compile your DFS team from in Week 3. If you’re new to DFS, Fanduel Superflex contests require you to select a quarterback, two running backs, three wide receivers, then a “superflex” that can be any of the above, or you can also select a tight end in the superflex spot.
San Jose State quarterback Chevan Cordeiro is a genuine contender for the QB or superflex role on your DFS lineup this Friday. Only two other players in the Mountain West have more total fantasy points than the Spartans slinger, and while Air Force should win this game, they also gave up three touchdowns and over 200 yards to freshman McCae Hillstead last time out.
Zac Larrier is also a potential contender for the superflex spot this week. The Air Force quarterback isn’t going to blow you away through the air, but he’s yet to throw an interception, and his threat as a dual-threat in the Falcons’ triple-option offense means he’s tallied 51.72 points so far this year. He has a good matchup against a porous Spartans run defense.
Nick Nash has proven to be Cordeiro’s go-to weapon in the San Jose State offense and has more touchdown receptions than the rest of the wide receiver room combined. He’s a good shout to net you a decent haul of points. At running back, it’s tempting to nail your colors to the Air Force mast, but their rotation of backs makes predicting who leads the way a difficult affair.
Prediction for San Jose State vs. Air Force
Okay, so we’ve furnished you with the San Jose State vs. Air Force odds and some DFS picks and it’s time to close this thing out with our San Jose State vs. Air Force prediction. Can the Falcons continue their unbeaten run and further strengthen their Mountain West résumé? Or will the Spartans start the college football weekend with a shock result that kickstarts their season?
The Spartans certainly possess shock potential. Utah State showcased that the Air Force defense isn’t infallible, and San Jose State has more talented playmakers on offense than the Aggies. Cordeiro has the potential to dice up a defense with the best of them, while a strong running back room offers a counterfoil if their preferred method of attack stalls out.
The issue for the Spartans is that, despite Utah State finding a way to get some points on the board late, the Falcons boast one of the better pass defenses in the Mountain West. Notwithstanding that they’ve faced the fewest pass attempts per game against them, they’ve limited opposition quarterbacks to just 5.5 yards per attempt.
Furthermore, the strength of the Air Force offense plays directly into a weak spot in the San Jose State defense. The Falcons are the only remaining service academy remaining true to the triple-option, ramming the ball down the throats of their opponent nearly 60 times a game. The Spartans’ defense isn’t built to withstand that level of assault, and that will prove the difference.
Prediction: San Jose State 23, Air Force 30