Week 2 gave College Football fans 5 upsets inside the Top-25 with USC and Texas claiming the biggest choke jobs. Week 3 has three separate ranked vs. ranked matchups but there are several games flying under the radar with point spreads linger around and below 7 points for the underdogs. So the βAgainst The Spreadβ scenarios across the Week 3 landscape are plentiful.Β Β
#1 Alabama vs. #11 Florida: The returning national champs Bama got a hell of run last year from Florida. Both teams lost key players but one can assume the Crimson Tide has replenished their talent more than the Gators who are still trying to put the building blocks together to become an elite program. QB Kyle Trask and TE Kyle Pitts among others were studs last year itβs yet to be seen if this yearβs unit can produce the juggernaut numbers the Florida offense put up. Gator QBβs Emory Jones/Anthony Richardson (if healthy) and the O-Line will have their hands full with Alabamaβs defense making things even more difficult is their edge rushers. Alabama is currently on a 16-game winning streak and 31 straight over SEC East foes. This will be a 2nd half game itβs just a matter of how deep into the half with Florida be close enough to win.Β Β Β Β
Β
#10 Penn State vs. #22 Auburn: Penn State was able to grind out a hard-earned victory over Wisconsin in Week 1 and now they set their sights on the SEC. QB Bo Ryan is very well known on campus because of his father but itβs time for the son to step out of his shadow. Auburnβs backfield of Tank Bigsby and Jarquez Hunter will need to carry the load to play ball control and keep the βwhite-outβ crowd in happy-valley contained as much as possible. The issue in Penn Stateβs 0-5 start a year ago came down to turnovers so if they can limit those it will obviously pay dividends. The Big Ten hasnβt always faired-well in SEC matchups over the last decade will this be a continuation? This podcaster believes the outcome will be undecided heading into the 4th quarter and thatβs where Nittany Lions do-it-all special teamer Jordan Stout will make his imprint.Β
Β
Β
#19 Arizona vs. #23 BYU: This matchup up right here fits in nicely with the PAC-12 βafter darkβ theme for great games that go late into the night and yes I know BYU is not in that conference. The quarterback matchup will no doubt make for a drama filled scrap with true dual-threats in ASU Jayden Daniels and BYU Jaren Hall. The Cougars have a knack for keeping things close so look for this non-conference feud to come down to the 4th quarter. Is Herm Edwards Sun Devils ready to win in a tough spot on the road? They did it in 2019 at Michigan State but the Spartans loss 6 games that year with 0 wins over a ranked opponent. This is a flip of the coin which lends itself to leaning with the home club.Β Β Β Β
Β
Saturday Upset SpecialΒ
Memphis defends their home field with a minor upsetting of Mississippi State.
Minnesota may get back their #1 WR if so the Gophers win on the road at Colorado as a slight dog.Β
(Honorable Mention #13 UCLA performed strongly against LSU but they could face a letdown versus a tricky Fresno State squad.)Β
Β
Β
#8 Cincinnati vs. Indiana: The Hoosiers have too many returning starters to look as bad as they did Week 1. The Bearcats want to make a statement in the non-conference making for the perfect ingredients for a barnburner.Β Β Β
Β
#24 Miami vs. Michigan State: The Canes havenβt performed up to their talent thus far while it seems the Spartans may be ahead of schedule which should give us something to cheer for deep into the 4th.Β
Β
Β
Arkansas State can hang around enough to lose to Washington by less than 16 points.
Β
San Diego State covers as a 9-point underdog to Utah.
Β
(Honorable Mention: Fresno State losses but not by the 11.5 points Las Vegas has #11 UCLA as the favorite.)Β Β
Β
Central Florida beats Louisville as the 6.5-point favorite.
-Oregon RB CJ Verdell averaged 8.1 rushing yards per carry against the Buckeyes lackluster defense in a 35-28 win.Β
Β
-Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud threw for 472 yards and 3 touchdowns in a losing effort.Β
Β
-Michigan outrushed Washington 343 yards to 50 in a walk over win 31-10.
Β
-Florida Stateβs shocking loss to Jacksonville State is the first loss in school history to a team not in the FBS since William & Mary in 1959.
Β
-Virginia QB Brennan Armstrong put up 405 passing yards to go along with 5 TDβs in a victory over Illinois.Β
Β
-BYU QB Jaren Hall stood out in a victory over Utah throwing for 3 TDβs and rushing for 93 yards. Jarenβs father Max Hall was the last BYU QB under center to beat Utah. Max attended BYU from 2006-2009.
Β
-8 FCS programs have somehow managed to defeat FBS teams thru just two weeks.Β
Β
Written by Chris Carlson Host of The College Ball Show Podcast available atΒ blogtalkradio.com/ropeadoperadioΒ andΒ TheGruelingTruth.Net
Follow on Twitter @RopeADopeRadio
If you enjoy hearing from the legends of pro sports, then be sure to tune into βThe Grueling Truthβ sports shows, βWhere the legends speakβ
Contact us: [email protected]
Players must be 21 years of age or older or reach the minimum age for gambling in their respective state and located in jurisdictions where online gambling is legal. Please play responsibly. Bet with your head, not over it. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, and wants help, call or visit: (a) the Council on Compulsive Gambling of New Jersey at 1-800-Gambler or www.800gambler.org; or (b) Gamblers Anonymous at 855-2-CALL-GA or www.gamblersanonymous.org.
This site is using Cloudflare and adheres to the Google Safe Browsing Program. We adapted Google's Privacy Guidelines to keep your data safe at all times.