Week 3 of the college football season brings some big matchups with plenty of betting action. Hopefully, you’re as excited about these matchups as we are. There's even a good chance that you're even as excited for these college football picks too!
From SEC showdowns to Big 12 battles, here are the biggest games to keep an eye on, complete with picks and prop bets you might want to get in on.
Missouri has been rolling this season, scoring two blowout victories without giving up a single point. Led by QB Brady Cook and star WR Luther Burden, the Tigers’ offense is one of the most dangerous in the SEC. Boston College, however, could present more of a challenge than Missouri bargains for, thanks to a solid running game and an offensive line getting a boost with Logan Taylor back in the lineup.
BC will look to control the clock. While they might keep it close for a while, Missouri’s firepower is too much to handle in the end. Expect Missouri to pull away late, but BC has enough to cover the spread.
Pick: Boston College +16.5, Over 54.5
Prop Bet: Luther Burden Anytime TD at -125
LSU’s season has been a bit shaky so far, with an early loss to USC and a closer-than-expected win over Nicholls. But they’re still ranked, and apparently, the AP still loves them. They face a confident South Carolina team, fresh off a dominant 31-6 victory over Kentucky. South Carolina has the edge of playing at home, but LSU easily has the superior talent.
This game should be a close one. Look for LSU to grind out a win but not cover the 6.5-point spread in a game that could see plenty of back-and-forth action. Take the Gamecocks on this one.
Pick: South Carolina +6.5, Over 48.5
Prop Bet: LaNorris Sellers Over 1.5 touchdown passes
Kansas State and Arizona meet in one of Week 3’s biggest games as it’s only one of two ranked matchups going on this week — the other being BC at Mizzou, as we mentioned earlier.
Kansas State’s defense will be tasked with slowing down Arizona’s extremely high-powered offense, led by QB Noah Fifita. Arizona has struggled to find its rhythm so far, and Kansas State’s home-field advantage should play a big role.
Many analysts are favoring Kansas State by around 9.5 points, and they’re expected to easily cover the spread of 7.5. The Wildcats' defense should hold up, and the total could go over, given Arizona’s big-play potential.
Pick: Kansas State -7.5, Over 59.5
Prop Bet: Noah Fifita Under 275.5 passing yards
Utah comes into this in-state rivalry as 18.5-point favorites, and it’s hard to argue against them. Their defense has been absolutely lights-out, allowing just six points per game so far. Utah State, on the other hand, is coming off a disastrous 48-0 loss to USC and hasn’t shown any signs of improvement on offense. We would love to see a closer game, but it’s doubtful. We just like in-state rivalry games, as the atmosphere is generally electric.
This game likely won’t be close, and Utah should comfortably cover the spread. With Utah State struggling to score, the under on 44.5 points also seems like a solid bet.
Pick: Utah -18.5, Under 44.5
Prop Bet: Utah to win by 25-30 points (+550)
In Week 3, expect some underdogs to hang tough, but the favorites should come out on top in most of these matchups. For the most part, the bookmakers got the college football betting lines for this week right.
Missouri’s offense looks too strong for Boston College, LSU may struggle to pull away from South Carolina, Kansas State should cover against Arizona, and Utah will dominate Utah State. Those are the best bets and picks for college football this week.