10 Best College Football Picks Against the Spread for Week 3: The Weekend of Blowouts

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Is this a great week of legendary college football showdowns that will change the world? Not really. Does that mean there won’t be any fun? Absolutely not. Are there lots of massive point spreads and crazy point totals to play around with? Absolutely yes.

It’s Week 3 of the college football season. For a few days, no doomscrolling about apocalyptic robots or worrying about saving college sports.

Let’s have some fun.

Results So Far: 18-17
– CFN Week 3 Expert Picks
– Week 3 Schedule, Picks

One quick note before we get going. I didn’t go with it because I’m sick of waiting for Oregon to look like they want to play college football this season, but I can’t shake it because I saw it. The last time Oregon played Portland State, the final score was 81-7. I’ll just leave it there.

10. Buffalo at Penn State


Line: Point Total 49.5
ATS Pick: Over

– Game Prediction and Preview

Penn State needs to keep tuning. For most good teams, this is the week to chill out and try not to get anyone hurt before Wisconsin comes to town, but the Nittany Lions need to figure out their running game that averaged fewer than four yards per carry after playing Marshall and Temple.

Penn State won’t empty the tank here, but it’ll likely get up fast and start pounding away for the rest of the game – there will be a few home runs. It’s not crazy to think the Nittany Lions will handle the 49.5 by themselves, but Buffalo will chip in a few points to help.

8. and 9. UTEP at Michigan


Line: Point Total 48.5, Michigan -34.5
ATS Pick: Over, Michigan
– Game Prediction and Preview

I despise “feel” plays, but early in the season, my gut is doing better than my brain.

I also despise the idea of “vibes,” but after something called the FBS Oversight Committee made the whole end of the Western Michigan-Michigan game brouhaha worse by suggesting that the replay system screwed up, and with the Michigan offense sputtering over the first two games, this feels like an explosion is coming.

If I’ve come this far with my dopey rationale, I might as well jump all the way in. The same Oklahoma team that just lost to the Wolverines went 51-0 on UTEP, and it was being nice about it – the scoring stopped with over 12 minutes to play.

7. Florida State at Alabama

Line: Point Total 48.5
ATS Pick: Over
– Game Prediction and Preview

I know, I KNOW. I’m Mr. Point Total this week – there’s more coming – and I’m really, really hoping I’m reading all of them right.

The Alabama offense didn’t work when these two opened up the season last year. The game was played in overcast conditions that were a tad swampy, and the Crimson Tide tackling was optional in the 31-17 Florida State win. On Saturday in the middle of the afternoon, it’s expected to be about 95 degrees and all kinds of sunny and Tuscaloosa in Tuscaloosa.

Florida State’s offense will carry a little of the point total weight, and here come the defensive breakdowns in the heat against an explosive Alabama offense that scored 48 in the opener against East Carolina and 45 against Kentucky.

6. Northern Illinois at Arizona


Line: Arizona -33.5
ATS Pick: Arizona

Northern Illinois is in a weird spot – and, no, I don’t mean DeKalb.

It’s in a transition period with the coaching staff, it’s part of the Mountain West now, and … let me cut to the chase here. Iowa scored 40 on the Huskies, and it even hit some downfield passes. Illinois State from the FCS beat NIU 28-24.

The NIU offense is averaging just 214 yards per game – third-worst in the country – and an Arizona team that hasn’t broken out yet offensively will have a fun day against a defense that can’t generate a third down stop.

5. LSU at Ole Miss


Line: LSU -2.5 (or -3, depending on Sam Leavitt’s status)
ATS Pick: LSU
– Game Prediction and Preview

1) I don’t believe in superstition, but it was in this spot last week that I said Ohio State would beat Texas, it didn’t, and who cares because the Buckeyes covered the 1.5. 2) LSU was my No. 1 pick last week and, in the end, I lost because of a 100-yard pick-six. 3) I’m assuming Sam Leavitt will go. 4) I still believe this Tiger team is seriously that good.

As hard as I’ve gone with this LSU team over the last few months, I can’t weenie out now. Speaking of getting hosed …

4. USC at Rutgers


Line: Point Total 57.5
ATS Pick: Over
– Game Preview and Prediction

I’m picking again out of spite, so factor that into the equation as you need to.

I loved USC last week against Louisiana, and that became an easy football win for USC, but the defense took a break when it came to holding up late, like it did in the opener against San Jose State. I initially loved USC -21.5, but I’m 0-for-2 on the Trojans ATS, so …

The total went down from 59.5 to 57.5. The Rutgers defense has been worthless so far against midrange passing attacks, and no one is in more command of a midrange passing game at the moment than Jayden Maiava running the USC attack.

The concern is that the USC defense goes full bore like it did in the 39-0 win over Fresno State, but Rutgers should put up a few points at home, and USC should take care of the rest.

3. Western Kentucky vs Indiana


Line: Point Total 59.5
ATS Pick: Over
– Game Preview and Prediction

This one is simple football-wise. Whether or not this actually works with the point total depends on Mr. Cignetti’s whims.

Indiana scored 52 on North Texas and 55 on Howard. It needs to work on the running game a little bit, and Western Kentucky is miserable at stopping the run – bad things are about to happen.

That, and Nevada opened the season by scoring 49 against the Hilltoppers, and Georgia yawned and put up 70 last week.

2. North Carolina at Clemson

Line: Point Total 44.5
ATS Pick: Under
– Game Preview and Prediction

North Carolina is the new Iowa. If Bill Belichick could win games 1-0, he would.

This year’s Tar Heel defense is going to be a problem each and every week. Making things better is an offense that will sputter and cough far too often, and it’ll do it in this, too – UNC only beat East Tennessee State 35-3.

Clemson’s offense was awful against LSU, only beat Georgia Southern 22-7 last week, and now Belichick gets to train his defense on Clemson true freshman quarterback Tait Reynolds.

1. Tulane at Kansas State


Line: Kansas State -20.5
ATS Pick: Kansas State
– Game Preview and Prediction

I wouldn’t have felt right not closing this out with an actual pick against the spread – even if it’s in the sinkhole of prediction spots as the No. 1 call (for those new to the program, I have a painful habit of missing my top picks in spectacular fashion).

Tulane isn’t that good, Kansas State is wonderful. There, need more?

Kansas State has been ultra-efficient under new head coach Collin Klein at simply putting points on the board. It got up 17-0 on Washington State before putting it into cruise control in the 34-7 win.

There might be some sweating in the fourth quarter to hang on to the 20.5, but I’m overdue for nice things out of the No. 1 spot.

Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.

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