sep-13-top-picks-for-college-football-during-week-3

Top Picks For College Football During Week 3

Written by on September 13, 2016

If you’re looking to cash in early and often on a handful of Week 3 college football matchups, then you’re going to have a great chance to do just that thanks to the quartet of Week 3 college football expert picks that you’re about to get.

Let’s get stared with Saturday’s matchup between Pittsburgh and Oklahoma State.

Here’s a Closer Look At The Top Picks For College Football During Week 3

 


Pittsburgh Panthers at Oklahoma State Cowboys

When: Saturday, September 17, 2016 at 3:30 PM ET
Where: Boone Pickens Stadium
TV: ESPN
NCAAF Odds: Oklahoma State Cowboys -6.5

Analysis:
I have no idea why Oklahoma State is a 6.5-point favorite against a Pittsburgh team that matches up very well against them. With the Pittsburgh Panthers going 6-2 ATS in their last eight road games and the Cowboys going just 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following a ATS loss and 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall, I like Pittsburgh to cover the spread in a narrow loss, while pushing the Cowboys for the outright win.

Pittsburgh has massive girth on both, their offensive and defensive lines and could give the Oklahoma State’s once-vaunted rushing attack problems in this matchup while James Conner gives Oklahoma State’s defense fits

My Pick: Oklahoma State 31 Pittsburgh 30

Baylor at Rice

When: Friday, September 16, 2016 at 8:00 PM ET
Where: Rice Stadium
TV: ESPN
NCAA Odds: Baylor -30

Analysis:
Rice (0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS) was on the wrong end of a humbling 31-14 loss against Army in Week 2 while never coming close to covering the college football betting line as a 9-point road dog. The Owls kicked off their 2016 campaign with a discouraging 46-14 loss at Western Kentucky.

Baylor (2-0 SU, 0-2 ATS) remained unbeaten by pounding SMU in their commanding 40-13 Week 2 win, though the Bears failed to cover the spread as huge 33-point home favorites. Starting quarterback Seth Russell completed 26 of 47 passes for 261 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another score following a 6-6 halftime tie.

While I’m not real fond of high point spreads, the fact of the matter is that I’ll be completely surprised if this game isn’t over by halftime. I know Baylor has gone 1-4 ATS in its last five games, but the Bears are also 17-4 SU in their last 21 games. With Rice going 1-6 SU and ATS in its last seven games and being completely overmatched in this Week 3 matchup, I say bank on Baylor to win and cover the college football betting line.

My Pick: Baylor 56 Rice 17

No. 1 Alabama at No. 19 Mississippi

When: Saturday, September 17, 2016 at 3:30 PM ET
Where: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium
TV: CBS
NCAAF Odds: Alabama -9.5

Analysis:
True freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts completed 23 of 36 passes for 287 yards and two touchdowns passed for 287 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start to lead No. 1 Alabama (2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS) to a 38-10 smackdown of overmatched Western Kentucky on Saturday.

Ole Miss bounced back from their humbling Week 1 loss to Florida State by beating tiny Wofford 38-13 the last time out as quarterback Chad Kelly threw for 219 yards and three touchdowns to lead Mississippi to victory. Just five days after tossing three interceptions and losing a fumble against Florida State, Kelly was back to his composed self, completing 20 of 27 passes against Wofford.

“We were anxious to get that first win,” Kelly said.

I’ve been saying all summer that Ole Miss would somehow find  way to beat the clearly superior Alabama Crimson Tide for the third straight season and I’m going to stick to my guns, although the Tide have looked really good through two games.

I know Alabama has gone 7-2 ATS in its last nine games and 4-1 ATS in its last five games on the road, but for some reason, Ole Miss coach Hugh Freeze apparently has counterpart Nick Saban’s number down cold. Mississippi has won 10 of its last 11 home games and is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 home dates. More importantly, if Chad Kelly can light up an Alabama defense last season that was better than the current version, what makes anyone think he can’t do it again?

My Pick: Ole Miss 30 Alabama 28

Houston at Cincinnati

When: Thursday, September 15, 2016 at 7:30 PM ET
Where: Nippert Stadium
TV: ESPN
NCAAF Odds: Houston -7.5

Analysis:
Houston (2-0 SU, 1-1 ATS) rolled all over Lamar in their 42-0 Week 2 shutout despite playing in inclement weather that caused a 3 1/2 hour delay. Cincinnati (2-0 SU, 1-1 ATS) rolled to a convincing 38-20 win against Purdue the last time out to cover the spread as a 4-point favorite as Houston got the super narrow 33-30 win at home last season after losing to the Bearcats in each of the previous two seasons and I think the Cougars are the pick to make it two straight, although I’m going with Cincinnati to cover the spread in another thriller.

I know Houston has gone 4-1 ATS in its last five games and a near-perfect 5-1 ATS in its last six road games while Cincinnati has compiled a discouraging 2-4 ATS mark in its last six games, but I think the Bearcats are going to bring their collective ‘A’ game because this is a conference matchup, combined with the fact that they’re playing at home.

Houston wins, but the ATS cover goes to Cincinnati!

My Pick: Houston 35 Cincinnati 31