It turns out I had the wrong double-digit underdog for my Upset of the Week last week. Northern Illinois stunned the college football world when it beat Notre Dame in South Bend, 16-14. The Irish were favored by 28.5 points. The teams barely combined to score that many.
This week features a couple of rivalry games that used to get played at the end of the season. Washington and Washington State face off in the Apple Cup, while Oregon travels to Corvallis to take on Oregon State in the Civil War. One of those games is featured below.
Each week, I will use this space to tell you what I think are a few of the best bets heading into the weekend. I will also throw in an upset of the week, which will be a team that is at least a touchdown underdog that I am picking to win outright.
I will also give you picks on other games involving potential College Football Playoff teams. This early in the season, just about everybody is technically a CFP candidate. For the first few weeks of the season at least, I'll go with the current AP top 12. With the expanded playoff this season, I'll go deeper into the rankings once we get a few games under our belts.
Games against FCS opponents are not considered. We have reached the point of the season when most of those games are gone now. However, there are three teams that will finally play their first FBS opponents of the season: Ball State, Louisiana Tech and Purdue, which hosts what figures to be a pretty angry Fighting Irish.
Odds via SportsLine consensus
Week 3 picks
No. 9 Oregon (-16.5) at Oregon State: The Beavers are half of what remains of the Pac-12, and they are off to a good start. The Ducks figure to be a much tougher test than Idaho State and San Diego State, but maybe not. Oregon has struggled in both of its games but ultimately found a way to win. I expect the Ducks to do so again, but this line is too big. Pick: Oregon State (+16.5)
Arkansas State at No. 17 Michigan (-23.5): Michigan coach Sherron Moore is finally under contract and finally gets an opponent his team should be able to handle easily. The Red Wolves are catching the Wolverines at a bad time. They were dominated last week by Texas and are looking to take it out on somebody. Pick: Michigan (-23.5)
Coastal Carolina (-18.5) at Temple: Temple is off to a rough start in what figures to be a rough season. The Owls have been blown out at Oklahoma and Navy. Now, they get the Chanticleers for their home opener. CCU has already scored 95 points this season, including 55 at Jacksonville State in the opener. It will probably be a long day for Temple. Pick Coastal Carolina (-18.5)
Upset of the Week
No. 16 LSU (-6.5) at South Carolina: South Carolina put up one of the more surprising results of the young season last week with a 31-6 win at Kentucky as 9-point underdogs. The Gamecocks' defense matched the Wildcats' offense by scoring six points of their own. Now, South Carolina looks to go to 2-0 in conference play against the Tigers. LSU bounced back from the loss to the other USC with a win over Nicholls State last week ... but gave up 21 points. I like the Gamecocks at home in a relatively low-scoring affair. Pick: South Carolina (+6.5)
Other CFP candidates
- No. 1 Georgia at Kentucky (O/U 46.5) Pick: Over 45.5
- UTSA at No. 2 Texas (O/U 53.5) Pick: Over 53.5
- No. 4 Alabama (-16) at Wisconsin Pick: Alabama (-16)
- No. 5 Ole Miss (-23.5) at Wake Forest Pick: Ole Miss (-23.5)
- No. 24 Boston College at No. 6 Missouri (-17) Pick: Missouri (-17)
- Kent State at No. 7 Tennessee (O/U 62.5) Pick: Over 62.5
- Ball State at No. 10 Miami (O/U 54.5) Pick: Over 54.5
- No. 12 Utah (-20.5) at Utah State Pick: Utah (-20.5)
Which college football picks can you make with confidence in Week 3? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread -- all from a proven computer model that has returned over $2,000 in profit since its inception -- and find out.
