Caleb Wilfinger
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After a wild first few weeks of the season, what will college football do for an encore this time around? Last weekend’s games delivered in a big way, and we should have more great action in store for Week 3.
Last Saturday was also a very successful day of handicapping, as I hit all three of my best bets for Week 2, plus our mega parlay at +792 odds. Let’s keep the momentum going this week!
With the NFL taking center stage on Thursday, this week’s action kicks off on Friday and will go deep in Saturday night. While this week’s lines have been on the move since Sunday, there are still some good value bets of which to take advantage.
Let’s take a look at our best bets for Week 3 of the college football season.
We’ve got NCAAF picks for all the big games in Week 3!
Western Kentucky +7 over Indiana (-110)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing
Western Kentucky was a team that I was looking to fade after losing Bailey Zappe to the NFL and offensive coordinator Zack Kittley to Texas Tech. However, my thoughts on the Hilltoppers’ offense changed once they opted to go with Division II transfer Austin Reed at quarterback instead of starting Jarret Doege. So far the results have been promising. While he isn’t Zappe, Reed does have 7 touchdown passes thus far, while leading an offense that is averaging nearly 7 yards per play this season.
This week’s game is a great spot for Western Kentucky, as the Hilltoppers are coming off a bye week to rest and recuperate. On the other side, Indiana has a major look-ahead spot on deck, with a revenge game at Cincinnati set for Tom Allen’s group next week.
Indiana brought in over a dozen new players from the transfer portal, and the Hoosiers are having trouble integrating the pieces. Connor Bazelak is leading an offense that averaged 4.6 yards per play against Illinois and scored 0 points in 2 quarters against Idaho. But the real concern for the Hoosiers is their secondary, as they allowed Idaho to throw for 9 yards per attempt and 3 touchdowns on Saturday. Indiana’s offense is a work in progress and its defense has some glaring holes on the back end.
This matchup was decided by 2 points last year, and that was factoring in Indiana’s much better defense and Michael Penix Jr. at quarterback. Don’t be surprised if Reed and the Hilltoppers make a serious upset bid in Bloomington.
Be sure to check out our full Western Kentucky Hilltoppers vs Indiana Hoosiers predictions
Penn State -2.5 over Auburn (-110)
Odds available at DraftKings Sportsbook at time of publishing
Penn State and Auburn appear to be heading in different directions. The Tigers still can’t find their offense, especially through the air. T.J. Finley had a couple of solid starts a season ago, but his play has been spotty through 2 games this fall. On the other side, the Nittany Lions had to dig deep to win a thriller over Purdue in Week 1. However, Penn State appeared much more comfortable in a dominant victory on Saturday over Ohio. With a difficult road win already under their belt, the Nittany Lions shouldn’t blink in a tough environment. More importantly, James Franklin is 51-34 as a favorite and his team may have just discovered the key element of its offense.
Penn State is 16th in explosiveness on offense this season, and a big catalyst for that is the emergence of Nick Singleton in the running game. The Nittany Lions have had trouble running the football in recent years, but Singleton’s 179-yard breakout game a week ago is a good omen for that to change. Auburn’s defensive front is stout, while the Tigers are more susceptible to giving up explosive plays through the air. If Penn State sees early success on the ground and can force Auburn to respect the run, then the game will open up for Sean Clifford and his bevy of targets on the outside. With Auburn struggling to score, Penn State’s defense shouldn’t have much trouble protecting the lead down the stretch. I like the Nittany Lions to win by a touchdown.
Be sure to check out our full Penn State Nittany Lions vs Auburn Tigers predictions
Ole Miss -16 over Georgia Tech (-110)
Odds available at PointsBet Sportsbook at time of publishing
This line flew up after opening at under 2 touchdowns, but in my eyes it still has value up to 17. The Rebels’ offense has been balanced and efficient through 2 games, averaging about 7 yards per play on the ground and through the air. The results have also been quite solid for the often maligned Ole Miss defense, particularly in the opener against Troy. However, this is more of a bet against Georgia Tech than a play on the Rebels. Jeff Collins is 10-24 against the spread as Georgia Tech’s head coach, and that about sums up the Yellow Jackets’ performance in his tenure. In fact, Georgia Tech is 1-10 ATS in its last 11 games after a win, which is the situation for this week.
Yes, the Yellow Jackets did beat FCS foe Western Carolina a week ago. But even in that win, they were outgained by nearly 50 yards and forced just 3 punts. This team has serious offensive woes, ranking near the bottom of FBS in yards and points per game. Furthermore, the Yellow Jackets have struggled to stop opposing teams from running the football. Georgia Tech ranks 121st in opposing rushing success rate, which is a major strength of this Ole Miss offense. The Rebels are currently top 20 in rushing success rate and rushing yards per game, making them a nightmare matchup for this defense. Look for Ole Miss to ride its running game en route to a blowout victory.
Be sure to check out our full Ole Miss Rebels vs Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets predictions
We offer a wide range of College Football Picks and College Football Predictions each week featuring the Power 5 teams and top matchups. Be sure to check out our College Football Best Bets for those top plays on this week’s schedule.
