Week 3 is here and we are rolling! Last week, we were very right about a few and veerrrryyy wrong about another.
Thanks to Texas putting Michigan back in its place, Baylor keeping it close with Utah, and Tennessee thoroughly taking care of N.C. State, we came out on top. Iowa lost the second CyHawk in three years and Clemson absolutely demolished Appalachian State, so we finished 3-2.
On the season thus far, we are 9-6.
College Football Week 3 Game Spread Best Bets
UNLV (+8.5) at Kansas
Four of our five highlighted matchups feature Group of 5 vs. Power 4 matchups and the first is an underrated game between UNLV and Kansas.
Through two weeks, the Rebels are 2-0 thanks to wins over Houston and Utah Tech (FCS). Last week, even if it was against an FCS team, UNLV looked great. This is a running team and they have plenty of guys to run the ball. The Rebels have four different players with at least 14 carries and over 100 yards, led by quarterback Matthew Sluka. Despite being run-first, keep an eye on Ricky White and his seven catches for 122 yards and three touchdowns in two games.
Kansas comes into this one fresh off a disappointing loss to Illinois, 23-17. The Jayhawks allowed 10 fourth-quarter points to drop this Big 12 v Big Ten matchup. The duo of Jalon Daniels and Devin Neal will be one to watch in this one because the Rebels have allowed a total of 105 yards on the ground over their two games.
UNLV just might take this one outright but giving us 8.5 points seems too good to be true. Kansas did win the Guaranteed Rate Bowl after last year, so this should be a good one.
Memphis (+6.5) at Florida State
Oh boy. We have a matchup of one of the top Group of 5 programs in the nation in Memphis taking on the most disappointing program in the country, Florida State.
The Seminoles come into this one 0-2 and have looked ROUGH.
Honestly, let’s say this is the last time we pick a game featuring FSU. Just chalk them down to lose ATS each week.
Cincinnati at Miami (OH) (+3.5)
As of now, only this year’s matchup at Yagar Stadium and next year’s at Paycor Stadium are left of college football’s oldest non-conference rivalry. Which is a travesty.
Cincinnati comes into this one 1-1 after blowing a 27-6 lead late in the third quarter. Guys like Corey Kiner and Brendan Sorsby have been playing well enough but year two under Scott Satterfield is off to a rough start.
Miami (OH) won the MAC last year and was close to taking down Northwestern. Sure, Northwestern is not a top-end Big Ten team but it would have been impressive nonetheless. However, Blake Gabbert will need to play better if the Redhawks want to defend their title.
Miami (OH) won the Victory Bell last year for the first time since 2005. If they win again this year, it’ll be the first back-to-back win over Cincinnati since it won three in a row from 2001-2003. The Redhawks are just 3.5-point underdogs in this one. They should be able to cover at the very least.
Tulane (+13.5) at (15)Oklahoma
This will be the third time Tulane and Oklahoma will face off and the Sooners own a 2-0 lead with wins in 2017 and 2021.
Tulane is a popular pick to make the College Football Playoff as the Group of 5 representative. Last week, the Green Wave lost to Kansas State thanks to the Wildcats’ 24-7 run in the second half and was ultimately won by a scoop-and-score. Quarterback Darian Mensah threw for 342 yards and two touchdowns in that loss and running back Makhi Hughes added 128 yards and a score.
The Sooners are led by impressive sophomore Jackson Arnold. Arnold has six passing touchdowns, three of which went to Deion Burks. While Oklahoma hasn’t been quite what they were in the Lincoln Riley era, the Sooners look like they will at least be able to tread water in the SEC.
However, Tulane is actually good. Giving them two touchdowns is interesting. Ride the Green Wave in this one.
(5)Ole Miss (-22.5) at Wake Forest
We had to find a favorite that we liked because we noticed we kept picking underdogs.
Ole Miss looks like they’re on a mission and Wake Forest is still Wake Forest, unfortunately. The Rebels might cover this spread by half.
Bonus Week 3 Picks: Toledo (+12.5), Tennessee (-49.5)
