College Football Week 3 Picks and Predictions: Plenty of Big Non-Arkansas Games

Well 1/6th of the college football season is over, and while week 2 was full of lackluster matchups the Razorbacks did not disappoint! We got our win, so as far as I’m concerned week 2 was the best week yet!

*All times Saturday and Central Time unless listed*

Saturday Morning

#2 FSU @ #10 Louisville 11 AM

This is a huge game to start of the day. Lamar Jackson has been unstoppable lately, but don’t expect that to continue after Deondre Francois and Dalvin Cook come to town. Louisville is good, but they will get a wakeup call from FSU.

Spread: FSU -2.5

FSU 38 Louisville 20

#25 Miami @ App State 11 AM

App State gave Tennessee all they could handle in week one, and Miami is in the top 25 without having had to play anyone of note. No doubt Miami won’t take App State lightly. I don’t think the Mountaineers have the offense to keep up with Richt’s new team.

Spread: Miami -3.5

Miami 30 App State 14

Afternoon

# 22 Oregon @ Nebraska 2:30 PM

Nebraska has pulled away late in games in week 1 and week 2, while Oregon doesn’t have a defense that can hold onto a lead against a team like the Huskers. This game should be really fun, and really close.

Spread: Nebraska -3

Oregon 27 Nebraska 28

Pitt @ Oklahoma State 2:30 PM

Pitt edged out PSU at home last weekend in what was one of the better games on the slate. Across the country the Pokes were losing on a last second play that never should’ve happened to CMU. I could see Oklahoma state either looking abysmal this Saturday, or like the best team in the Big12 as a response to the controversy of last weekend, but since Mike Gundy is a man, I’m going to give him the benefit of the doubt that he’ll have his squad ready.

Spread: OkSt -6

Pitt 21 Ok State 38

#1 Alabama @ #19 Ole Miss 2:30 PM

This is the most vulnerable Bama has looked in several years, but you can count on Saban having these guys prepared to beat the Rebels. Saban has to be pissed the Tide have dropped 2 straight to Ole Miss, so barring some kind of “kick 6” type fluke play, Alabama should make quick work of the Rebels.

Spread: Bama -10

Bama 33 Ole Miss 24

Primetime

#17 TAMU @ Auburn 6 PM

The Aggies are road favorites against the Tigers which looks odd at first, but Auburn’s offense hasn’t looked potent enough to stand toe to toe with the Aggie’s D. Should be a rather low scoring affair.

Spread: TAMU +4

TAMU 27 Auburn 20

Maryland @ UCF 6 PM

Maryland is favored by 8.5 against the Knights in Orlando. Yes, UCF lost 14-51 against Michigan this weekend, but this looks like Scott Frost’s first “Signature Home Win”. UCF’s defense and rushing attack are enough to top the Terrapins who have only played Howard and FIU so far.

Spread: Maryland -8.5

Maryland 27 UCF 31

#20 LSU V Mississippi State 6 PM

LSU has looked pretty lame to start the season, but the Bulldogs haven’t impressed either. Night game in Death Valley? Ya, that’s a win for the Bayou Bengals.

Spread: LSU -14

LSU 27 MSST 17

#16 Georgia @ MIZZOU 6:30 PM

UGA is trending down, and MIZZOU improved by 50 points between week 1 and week 2. Combine that with UGA being road favorites and you have a pretty perplexing contest. On paper UGA should run away with this one, but that’s why you play the game.

Spread: UGA -6.5

UGA 24 MIZZOU 20

Arkansas V Texas State 6:30 PM

After such an emotional road win last weekend, and with a matchup with TAMU on the horizon, this is the perfect trap game for Arkansas. If they were playing a team slightly better than the Bobcats this would be a disaster weekend, but the skill disparity will be enough to prevent the Hogs from turning this one into a heartbreaker.

Spread: Arkansas -31

Arkansas 30 Texas State 27

#3 Ohio State @ #14 Oklahoma 6:30 PM

This was one of the harder games to pick. So much talent, and such high expectations for both squads. A win for OU means they are right back in the playoff hunt, and Ohio State needs their first win over a ranked opponent. I think being a home dog will have the Sooners fired up for this one and prove to be better than the Buckeyes were expecting.

Spread: OSU -2

OSU 31 OU 35

#12 Michigan State @ #18 Notre Dame 6:30 PM

I have no ties to MSU, but I always find myself pulling for Sparty. If this game was in East Lansing, and if MSU didn’t have a week off, I’d call this a Spartan win, but Deshone Kizer is playing great football right now, and MSU has a lot of question marks after a weak win over Furman. South Bend will be rocking for this matchup that has the potential to get out of hand if MSU can’t keep up on offense.

Spread: ND -8

MSU 27 ND 37

#7 Stanford V USC 7 PM

Christian McCaffrey is my pick for the Heisman this year. He is the best football player in the league right now (neck and neck with Lamar Jackson), and while Stanford looks to be starting slow (like last year) I expect them to start clicking and turn in some tremendous performances (like last year). Don’t expect USC to play like they did in week 1, however.

Spread: Stanford -9

Stanford 35 USC 31

Pac-12 After Dark:

UCLA @ BYU 9:15 PM

BYU hasn’t given anyone any reason to pick them in a close game, and despite what occurred in week 1, I still think UCLA is a good football team. The spread indicates that no one has any ideas here, so give me Rosen!

Spread: UCLA -3

UCLA 27 BYU 23

#11 Texas @ California 9:30 PM

I like Cal to put up at least 42 points on the Longhorns, but I guess that means UT is putting up at least 43, because I think the Horns win this one… somehow.

Spread: Texas -8

Texas 43 Cal 42

BONUS: Hogs Rank on the Rise?

With so many ranked matchups, and teams barely in the top 25 with tough matchups, it looks like there could be a lot of movement in the polls. If Arkansas can win convincingly and a few teams drop out of the polls, I don’t see with the game in Arlington next weekend can’t be a matchup between two 15-20 teams.

Record so far: 22-6