10 Best College Football Predictions Against The Spread Week 3

10 best predictions for the big weekend of college football. Best bets and picks for Week 3’s Saturday games.

10 best predictions for the big Saturday of college football. What games appear to be the best bets and best picks for Week 3’s games?


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I somehow survived last week and all the craziness.

Did I take Alabama to roll past Texas? Yup.

Did I misfire all over the place on the picks for the site’s game previews? Compared to Week 1 and Week 0, big time.

Was I lazy to just assume Kansas would keep being Kansas against the spread? Oh yeah.

But I still went 70%, so as I tell you all of the time after a solid streak, pick a lane – either I’m totally on my game in a blind-squirrel-finds-nut sort of way, or FADE HARD NOW because I’m way overdue for a whiff.

With that said, be careful with some of these – like No. 5 on this list. Let’s ease into it with …

Results So Far: 22-8-1

Click on each game for the preview

10. Arkansas Pine-Bluff at Oklahoma State

LINE Oklahoma State -57.5
ATS PICK Arkansas Pine-Bluff

If you’re a regular reading this, you know how it rolls.

You know that over the long haul, if you lead a good, clean life and do things the right way – pay your fair share of taxes, drive the speed limit, put the toilet seat down, and ALWAYS take the underdog when getting 50 or more – you’ll come out ahead.

Last week, you walked into Michigan Stadium up 52-0.

Michigan 56, Hawaii 10.

Even when Mike Gundy and Oklahoma State kept going against SE Louisiana to start the 2016 season the final score of 61-7 wasn’t covering the 57.5.

Even when the Cowboys took out Lamar 59-3 in 2013 they didn’t get to the line set for UAPB.

Of course Oklahoma State could win this 83-0. Of course it’s silly to invest in any sort of FCS vs FBS game.

But you – along with the Golden Lions – are about to walk into Boone Pickens effectively up 58-0.

You thank the gods for the opportunity, and you go about your day.

Speaking of Michigan …

9. UConn at Michigan

LINE Michigan -47.5
ATS PICK UConn

I will totally admit that I got squeamish over the Hawaii call over Michigan ATS, but it worked.

I’m buckling a little bit on this one, too – 47.5 ain’t 50 – but there seems to be a limit to how much the Wolverines like to thrash teams.

It put up 51 on Colorado State, and it hung 56 on Hawaii, but in both games the machine slowed down.

The question here is whether or not UConn is going to put any points on the board. All you’re looking for is one score, and that might be enough.

Head coach Jim Mora Jr. is doing an okay job so far – there’s a running game, and last week in the 48-14 loss to Syracuse, the passing attack actually worked.

Michigan will win easily, but again, you’re just looking for ONE UConn score – even something like 52-6 gets this for you.

8. Colorado at Minnesota

POINT TOTAL 46.5
ATS PICK Over

It’s the tried and true belief when it comes to relatively low college overs.

Can one side take care of it all by itself? In this case, maybe.

Colorado has been absolutely miserable so far giving up 38 at home to TCU and 41 up the road at Air Force. In both games the two teams easily got past 47 points.

The concern is that Minnesota slams the door shut on the Buffs – like the 30-0 win last year – and coming up with just 38 points against New Mexico State is a tad concerning. However, the Gophers should get to at least 30 here, and closer to 40.

The Gopher D has been great against two bad teams – Colorado should be able to put a few points on the board to help the cause. There’s a shot you might not need them.

On the opposite end is …

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7. Nevada at Iowa

POINT TOTAL 39.5
ATS PICK Under

This is totally obscene.

You don’t go under on 39.5. OF COURSE YOU DON’T. However, until Iowa proves it can score, you keep riding this train until it stops.

If the Hawkeyes figure it out and hang 55 on the board, you tip your cap and go on your way. However, considering their two games so far have combined to see a total of 27 points, you’re insane to not give this one more try.

Nevada’s offense was fine against New Mexico State, Texas State, and Incarnate Word, but there’s a strong chance it doesn’t score against the Hawkeye D – or, it at least doesn’t do a whole lot more than 10ish or so.

6. Tulane at Kansas State

LINE Kansas State -14
ATS PICK Kansas State

Wow did this drop like a rock.

It started out with Kansas State -19 and then the world hammered the hell out of the Green Wave.

Here’s the issue. Tulane has looked fantastic so far, but that’s partly because it played UMass and Alcorn State. The team was bad in 2021, and now it’s all of a sudden back to being potentially bowl worthy?

Maybe, but Kansas State has been too sharp and too fabulous so far at home, beating South Dakota and Missouri by a combined score of 74-12. The running game should work fine against the Green Wave front that gave up 200 rushing yards to UMass.

There Wildcats were good enough to beat Mizzou by 28 …

NEXT: College Football Pick Against the Spread No. 5: FCSapalooza

UCF vs Florida Atlantic Prediction, Game Preview

UCF vs Florida Atlantic game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Week 3 game on Saturday, September 17

UCF vs Florida Atlantic prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 3, Saturday, September 17


UCF vs Florida Atlantic How To Watch

Date: Saturday, September 17
Game Time: 7:30 ET
Venue: FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, FL
How To Watch: CBS Sports Network
Record: UCF (1-1), Florida Atlantic (2-1)
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UCF vs Florida Atlantic Game Preview

Why Florida Atlantic Will Win

Can the Owls bring the passing game to keep up the pace?

The defense isn’t going to be able to do much to stop UCF through the air – more on that in a moment – but N’Kosi Perry has been fantastic so far, the big plays should be there, and the offense should be able to keep everything moving.

Now the turnovers have to stop.

UCF hasn’t done much so far to take the ball away – the FAU defense hasn’t been great at that, either, with only two takeaways in three games. The two fumbles against Ohio proved costly, and the two picks against SE Louisiana were … okay, so the interceptions didn’t matter.

FAU can’t get away with losing the turnover battle in this.

CFN Expert Picks, Week 3

Why UCF Will Win

The Florida Atlantic pass defense needs to be sharper.

It wasn’t awful in the two wins, but it wasn’t a rock. Ohio was able to wing it around for 345 yards and completed 80% of the throws – everything worked on drive after drive.

John Rhys Plumlee hasn’t been all that accurate so far, but this is when he has to air it out a bit when FAU loads up against the run.

The Knights should be able to hit 200 yards on the ground, If Plumlee can connect on 60% of his throws, the offense should move at will.

Week 3 Schedule, Predictions, Game Preview

What’s Going To Happen

UCF will get strong enough defensive play on third downs to get the FAU offense off the field, the offensive backfield will keep everything moving, and everything will go just fine … except for the penalties.

The flags – 21 in two games – will be just enough to kill the UCF momentum, but the offense will overcome it all with over 450 yards to go along with points off of two takeaways.

CFN Week 3 Predictions

UCF vs Florida Atlantic Prediction, Line

UCF 38, Florida Atlantic 20
Line: UCF -8, o/u: 62
ATS Confidence out of 5: 4
UCF vs Florida Atlantic Must See Rating (out of 5): 2.5

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