College Football Week 3 Predictions: Tenn/Florida, LSU/Miss.St, Minn/UNC, Pitt/WVA

Week 3

Week 2 belonged to Texas and Miami while Utah & Oregon managed to make lemonade out of lemons with backdoor covers. Week 3 is all about identifying the trap game opportunities due to no ranked versus ranked matchups. Have no fear Week 4 is beyond jammed-packed with marquee matchups. Don’t be alarmed if this mediocre week on paper produces wild stuff, after all College Football has the best regular season of all team sports.

Marquee Matchup

#11 Tennessee vs. Florida: With no significant matchups to speak of this week we’re going with this still meaningful SEC game. In College Football every game means something, whether talking poll position or bragging rights. The Vols made a significant splash on the scene in 2022 and are now faced with living up to all that hype. Last week Tennessee was lackluster to say the least in a meandering win over Austin Peay. The Gators got down early to Utah but never really made it competitive. Both teams lost their starting QB’s to the NFL draft. Joe Milton III is the better of the two but the Vols offense hasn’t shown what it did thru the air in the bowl game to close the year. Florida QB Graham Mertz put up numbers in that loss to the Utes, but neither team was effective on the ground. This football podcaster will chalk up the Vols’ poor outing last week to overlooking the opponent.

The Pick: Tennessee -6

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Prediction: Bet Tennessee -6

• Over/Under: Tennessee vs Florida(58.5)
• Spread: Tennessee -6
• Pick: Bet Tennessee -6

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Under The Radar

#14 LSU vs. Mississippi State: Most assume the Tigers will walk away the victor as does this NCAA Football junkie. However can LSU do it in style is the real question? The air raid is no longer a thing in Bulldog land but running the ball with Jo’Quavious Marks might be exactly what the doctor ordered.

Can LSU be a competent on offense and limit the errors especially in the redzone and on special teams? The Bulldogs started last season very well and closed fairly strong so it will be interesting to see if they carry any of that momentum. Talent wins out in this one besides I just don’t see LSU going 1-2. Plus, Tigers QB Jayden Daniels is fully capable of mimicking the good part of what Arizona QB Jayden de Laura was able to do last week.

The Pick: LSU -9.5 and under the 54.5 over/under number.  

#20 North Carolina vs. Minnesota: UNC should play Appalachian State every single year based off the last two meetings. UNC needed 2 overtime sessions to secure a win and stay on course for some big ACC matchups right around the corner. But don’t underestimate P.J. Fleck’s Golden Gophers as a live dog. UNC has a sizable advantage at quarterback Drake Maye who’s track record on this level is elite. We know Minnesota can run the ball and they will need to win the time of possession, keeping that North Carolina offense on the sidelines. The key will be Gophers QB Athen Kaliakmanis and how many plays with his arm/feet he can make in the red zone and to keep drives alive. UNC’s defense was lights out in Week 1 versus South Carolina but took a step back last week. The uncertainty on offense as far as consistency for Minnesota is a bridge too far to pick them outright.

The Pick: North Carolina -7.5 

Saturday Upset Special

Ragin Cajuns pull off a minor upset as a +2.5 over UAB.

Hardcore Barnburners

#15 Kansas State vs. Missouri: This is a key non-conference game here and to be honest it’s very difficult to guess if the Tigers will show up big. Last week they snuck by Middle Tennessee a team that beat a mixed up roster in Miami last year. The combo of coaching and QB Will Howard lends itself to pick the Wildcats on the road.

The Pick: Kansas State -3.5 

Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia: The Backyard Brawl rivalry was restored in 2022 and it’s safe to say it far exceeded expectations. The Panthers gave up 14 points in the 4th quarter in a losing effort to Cincinnati. Pitt wasn’t able to run and making matters worse got devoured on defense giving up over 200 rushing yards. Which plays well for West Virginia given the Mountaineers want to pound the rock at every chance they can get which makes the perfect ingredients for a hardcore barnburner on Saturday night ABC.

The Pick: West Virginia -2.5

Against The Spread

BYU +8 at Arkansas

Purdue +2.5 versus Syracuse

Old Dominion +14 versus Wake Forest

College Ball Show Podcast Link: College Ball Show: Week 2 Recap! Texas/Miami Back? Week 3 Betting Lines Banter! 09/11 by RopeADopeRadio | Sports (blogtalkradio.com)

Quick Hits Recap

-Texas snapped Alabama’s 21-game home winning streak taking it to the Crimson Tide 34-24.

-Miami QB Tyler Van Dyke threw for 5 TD’s tied for the 2nd most in school history as the Canes dispatched Texas A&M 48-33,

-UNC RB Omarion Hampton rushed for 234 yards adding 3 touchdowns in a double-overtime victory over Appalachian State.

-Central Florida Kicker Colton Boomer hit the game-winning field goal from 40-yards as time expired to defeat Boise State. Boomer boomed 4 for 4, two of those from 50 and 55 yards.

-The Utah Utes scored not one but two touchdowns in the last 2 minutes snaking out a “W” against Baylor and still managed to cover the -6.5.

-Notre Dame defeated North Carolina State 45-24 making it 29 wins in a row over ACC opponents.

-Ole Miss outscored Tulane 27-3 in the second half getting a nice win to the tune of 37-20.

Written by Chris Carlson Host of The College Ball Show Podcast available at blogtalkradio.com/ropeadoperadio &

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