Duquesne vs Air Force Prediction 9/5/2026 Today’s College Football Picks

In this article, we will formulate a Duquesne vs Air Force Prediction for this College Football Week 1 matchup on Saturday, September 5th. Let’s take a look at the prediction for this College Football matchup.

Air Force Falcons Preview

Air Force finished last season with a 4-8 overall record (3-5 conference), placing 9th in the Mountain West. They had a 2-4 home record and a 2-4 road record. Offensively, the Falcons scored 29.8 points per game (ranking 48th in the nation). Defensively, Air Force allowed 30.3 points per game (ranking 109th in the nation). They averaged 406.6 total yards per game (261.4 rushing, 145.2 passing) and gave up 423.2 total yards per game (158.5 rushing, 264.7 passing). 

Liam Szarka led the Falcons with 75/120 completed passes and 1,294 total passing yards, throwing 9 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Owen Allen led the team in rushing yards with 750, adding a team-high 5 rushing touchdowns, while Cade Harris had a team-high 35 caught passes for 584 receiving yards and 2 receiving touchdowns. Defensively, Blake Fletcher led the team with 108 total tackles (39 solo), while Isaac Hubert led Air Force in sacks with 5.0.

Duquesne Dukes Preview

Duquesne finished last season with a 7-5 overall record, a 5-2 conference record, and placed 2nd in the NEC. Offensively, the Dukes scored 28.4 points per game last season. Defensively, they allowed 25.2 points per game. Duquesne averaged 370.2 total yards per game last season, with 188.4 average rushing yards and 181.75 average passing yards per game. They allowed 328.5 total yards per game, 133.5 of them rushing and 195 passing yards per game.

Tyler Riddell led the Dukes with 166/293 completed passes and 2,016 total passing yards, throwing 16 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Ness Davis led the team in rushing yards with 898, adding a team-high 7 rushing touchdowns, while Joey Isabella had a team-high 63 caught passes with 839 receiving yards and 7 receiving touchdowns. Defensively, Avery Morris led the team with 51 total tackles (26 solo), while Kevin Kurzinger led Duquesne in sacks with 3.5.

Duquesne Dukes @ Air Force Falcons Betting Trends: Week 1

Why the Air Force Falcons will win

• Air Force has won 23 of its last 26 games against non-conference opponents at Falcon Stadium.
• The favorite has covered the spread in four of Air Force’s last five games.
• Air Force has won the first quarter in each of its last 11 games against non-FBS teams.
• Air Force has won the first half in 10 of its last 12 games against non-conference opponents at Falcon Stadium.

Why the Duquesne Dukes will win

• Air Force has lost each of its last four September games as a favorite.
• The road team has won four of Air Force’s last five games.
• Air Force has failed to cover the spread in each of its last six games in September.
• The road team has covered the spread in nine of Air Force’s last 10 games.
• The road team has won the first quarter in five of Air Force’s last six games.
• Air Force has lost the first half in each of its last five home games.

Total Points Facts

• Each of Air Force’s last four games in September have gone OVER the total points line.

Air Force Falcons Player Prop Facts

• Liam Szarka ranked 1st in the Mountain West Conference for rushing touchdowns (13) last season.

Matchup/League Facts

• Air Force ranked 1st among FBS teams for Q4 points per game last season (11.6).
• Air Force ranked 3rd among FBS teams for rushing yards per game last season (261.4).

Duquesne vs Air Force Prediction

In this Duquesne vs Air Force Prediction, UConn is coming as -28.5 home favorites. Air Force was bad at home last season and below average in covering the spread, with a 5-7 ATS record. They had a weak defense that ranked outside the top-100 of the country and a negative point differential, while Duquesne allowed 4.6 points per game less. I like the guests to keep this one somewhat close and because it is a big number, I will go with Duquesne and the +28.5 points in this one.

Nikos Lagouretos's Pick: Duquesne +28.5