2018 NCAA Football Week 3 Straight Up Picks

Ready for the third week of the 2018 college football season? Some teams are already in panic mode, as Michigan State saw their playoff hopes take a big hit when they lost at Arizona State last week. Some teams are glad to have survived Week 2, like Clemson, who went to Texas A&M and almost became a victim of the 12th Man. There are also teams who still have some issues to figure out, such as the offensive woes that are plaguing Michigan, even with the arrival of Shea Patterson. We’ve put together three NCAA Football Week 3 betting suggestions for some straight up picks for you to consider from the college game. As always, home teams are in all caps.

2018 NCAA Football Week 3 Straight Up Picks

Here they are… Athlon’s College Football Top 25 Rankings (After Week 2) https://t.co/OOdeqjo1kS

— Athlon Sports (@AthlonSports) September 9, 2018

Saturday, September 16

Alabama (-21.5) over OLE MISS (7:00pm ET, ESPN)

That’s an immense line for an SEC West rivalry game, especially given how closely Ole Miss has played Alabama historically. So if you’re betting against the spread, Ole Miss seems like a no-brainer, especially when you remember that Alabama has failed to cover the spread in four straight SEC contets. However, from a straight-up perspective, Ole Miss is still intriguing. They hung 76 points on Southern Illinois a week ago, a game that was close at the half until the Rebels took off after the intermission. Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu went off for 448 yards and five scores, and tailback Scottie Phillips picked up 107 yards and a pair of scores. While Ole Miss did get a pair of defensive touchdowns last week, though, the fact that they permitted 41 points to Southern Illinois at home shows that they have some issues. Alabama is also 2-0 thanks to a 57-7 shellacking of Arkansas State. Tua Tagovailoa cemented his position as starting quarterback, going 13 for 19 for 228 yards and four scores, and Najee Harris rumbled for 135 yards and a score. Salvion Smith delivered a pick-six for the Tide in that win, and if Ole Miss isn’t careful, the Crimson Tide could put up points on both sides of the ball again. NCAA Football Week 3 Prediction: Alabama 30, Ole Miss 20

Ohio State (-13.5) over TCU (8:00pm ET, ABC)

TCU came out sluggishly against SMU last Friday night, trailing 9-0 during the first quarter and leading just 14-12 at the half before rolling to a 42-12 final score. Shawn Robinson threw for just 146 yards with a score and a pick, but it was a rainy night, and he picked up 67 yards on the ground, needing just eight attempts. The Horned Frogs average 48.5 points per game so far, and Robinson has been a major factor in TCU’s early success. However, they enter AT&T Stadium looking at an Ohio State team that is much better than the teams they have played so far. Ohio State opened Big Ten play with a 52-3 rout of Rutgers, making the game a laugher in the first half as they went into the locker room with a 35-7 advantage. They outgained the Scarlet Knights 579-134, thanks to 233 yards through the air (and four scores) from quarterback Dwayne Haskins. The Buckeyes have scored 129 points in their first two wins, and Haskins has been spreading the ball around, as 15 different Ohio State players have catches this season. On defense, they have been solid as well, so TCU will have their work cut out for them. This is a huge line, and while TCU could stay closer than two touchdowns, I don’t see them winning. NCAA Football Week 3 Prediction: Ohio State 31, TCU 20

USC (+3.5) over TEXAS (8:00pm ET, FOX)

USC heads to Austin looking to bounce back after a 17-3 loss to Stanford last week. The Trojans’ defense was fairly stout but could not move the ball at all once they got into Cardinal territory. Aca’Cedric Ware has led the Trojans with 80 yards per game on the ground, and quarterback J.T. Daniels is going through some growing pains, as he has thrown just one touchdown against a pair of interceptions. If the Trojans are going to beat Texas, they have to find their way through the Longhorn defense. Texas is also 1-1, following up a shocking loss at Maryland with a close win over AAC foe Tulsa last week, 28-21. Sam Ehlinger rebounded from a tough game at Maryland by going 21 for 27 for 237 yards and a pair of scores, and he also ran for 51 yards and another touchdown. Given the problems that Texas had fending off an unranked opponent from the Group of Five, it’s hard to see them beating USC. NCAA Football Week 3 Prediction: USC 24, Texas 20