2024 college football Week 3 picks against the spread, odds, lines, key trends: Vegas expert reveals picks

Legendary Vegas handicapper Bruce Marshall has studied the trends and found the best betting values during the Week 3 college football schedule

By CBS Sports Staff

Sep 14, 2024 at 7:57 am ET • 3 min read

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There's just one ranked contest on Saturday's Week 3 college football schedule as No. 6 Missouri takes on No. 24 Boston College. But that doesn't mean there is any less excitement with the matchups on tap. Fierce rivalries will take place such as West Virginia vs. Pittsburgh (+1.5), Cincinnati vs. Miami (OH) (+3), Utah vs. Utah State (+17.5) and Maryland vs. Virginia (+1.5). As for that Missouri vs. Boston College matchup, the Tigers are favored by 14.5 points in the latest Week 3 college football odds via SportsLine consensus.

Tennessee vs. Kent State isn't a rivalry game, but it is a contest with the largest of the Week 3 college football spreads. The seventh-ranked Vols are massive 49.5-point favorites over the Golden Flashes, after the latter lost to an FCS program last week. Huge spreads like this always attract lots of interest, but it wouldn't hurt to have some CFB betting advice if unfamiliar with Kent State. Before locking in any Week 3 college football picks on those games or others, be sure to see the college football betting guide from legendary Vegas handicapper Bruce Marshall.

For years Vegas-based Marshall was synonymous with The Gold Sheet, the famed sports betting newsletter. With a background in play-by-play work and sports information while in college, Marshall joined TGS in 1981 when hired by the legendary Mort Olshan and served as executive editor for many years.

An in-demand guest on numerous sports talk radio and TV shows across the country, Bruce's vast array of editorial work has been featured in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the New York Post and many other outlets. He has won various handicapping titles and also is working on several book projects.

Now, using his Tech Corner technique that evaluates all the trends and the latest college football odds, Marshall has turned his attention to college football betting for Week 3 and revealed picks for each matchup. Head here to see every pick.

Top college football predictions for Week 3

One of the top college football picks Marshall is recommending for Week 3: He's backing No. 4 Alabama (-16.5) against the spread as the Tide go on the road to take on Wisconsin. He also likes the Over 48.5 in that matchup.

The Badgers are 1-9 in their last 10 versus top-5 opponents, while Bama has won an absurd 53 straight games versus unranked non-conference opponents. That's the longest streak by any school since Miami had 62 in a row (1985-96). The Tide have also won eight of their last 10 against Big Ten foes, and all 10 of those were ranked teams, so they should easily be able to handle an unranked Wisconsin.

The Badgers have started the season 0-2 ATS, and they have covered just twice over their last seven home games. They struggled last week at home against an FCS opponent, needing a mid-fourth quarter touchdown to win by two scores over South Dakota. Thus, they should have even more issues with the fourth-ranked team in the nation, which has Marshall leaning Bama (-16.5). With the Over 4-1 for the Tide since 2023 when the away team, Marshall also likes Over 48.5 to hit. See which other picks to make here.

How to make college football picks for Week 3

Marshall has evaluated every other matchup and he's found an alarming 20-3 betting trend you need to know in one of the week's biggest games. Get betting analysis for each matchup at SportsLine.

So what college football picks can you make with confidence, and what alarming trend do you need to know about in one of the week's biggest games? Check out the latest college football odds below, then visit SportsLine to see which teams to back, all from the legendary Vegas expert who has won multiple handicapping titles, and find out.