As we get into Week 3 of the 2023 college football season, we’ll know which teams came into 2023 way overrated, and we’ll know which teams we shouldn’t have slept on. Some conferences will already have started play, which means that we’ll start getting some sweet matchups.
Let’s take a look at a few games from Week 3 that you should have on your college football betting radar.
Complete Football Betting Guide for Week 3
South Carolina Gamecocks at Georgia Bulldogs
Saturday, September 16
3:30 pm ET, CBS
The Gamecocks start 2023 with two winnable games – North Carolina up in Charlotte and Furman. However, Week 3 will get real in a hurry, as they head to Georgia to take on the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs do have a lot of players to replace, as quarterback Stetson Bennett, linebacker Nolan Smith and defensive tackle Jalen Carter are just three of the biggest names that won’t be dressing in red, black and white.
Shane Beamer has brought improvement to South Carolina, though. The year before Shane Beamer took over the coaching job, the Gamecocks won exactly two games. Two seasons ago, they boosted that to seven, and last year they won eight. They have a schedule in 2023 that is considered the toughest in the nation, and if they have any chance against Georgia, they have to limit what the Bulldogs can do on offense. We still don’t know who the Bulldogs will replace Bennett with, and Georgia has brought back Mike Bobo as their offensive coordinator once again. Tailbacks Kendall Milton and Roderick Robinson are players the Gamecocks must stop.
Spencer Rattler returns at quarterback for South Carolina, and the Gamecocks have a new offensive coordinator of their own in Dowell Loggains. Expect the point spread to tilt heavily against South Carolina, which means that there may be some imbalance you can take advantage of. Remember that this is a rivalry game and that South Carolina can be a difficult road environment.
Washington Huskies at Michigan State Spartans
Saturday, September 16
5:00 pm ET, CBS
After starting with Central Michigan and Richmond, Michigan State is upping the degree of difficulty in Week 3. A year ago, Michigan State went to Washington and lost, but this time around they should be ready to bounce back from a 5-7 season last year. Noah Kim steps in at quarterback after Payton Thorne decided to transfer to Auburn; Kim had already pushed Thorne hard for the starting job during the spring, and Thorne decided to get out after the competition. The Spartans’ O-line should be better, as center Nick Samac and left guard J.D. Duplain return to provide experience; last year, the Spartans allowed 18 sacks, fourth-best in the Big Ten.
Washington had a terrific season last year, and Michael Penix Jr returns to lead the offense once again. The Huskies’ defense gave up way too much last year, which is how they missed out on a shot at a CFP slot. The front and linebackers should be shored up, which means it’s time for the secondary to buy in and stop plays down the field. If you add in the fact that wide receiver Germie Bernard transferred from Michigan State to Washington, you add a bit of the personal into the motivation, perhaps for both teams.
Tennessee Volunteers at Florida Gators
Saturday, September 16
7:00 pm ET, CBS
Last year, Tennessee hit double digits in wins for the first time in 15 years. This year, they have to replace quarterback Hendon Hooker, and Nico Iamaleava or Joe Milton will have huge shoes to fill. At wide receiver, Squirrel White and Bru McCoy look ready to step in for Jalin Hyatt and Cedric Tillman. The Volunteers led the country with 525.5 offensive yards per game, and Milton (64.6% completion percentage, 971 yards and 10 TD) has the arm and the accuracy to get the job done. He looked terrific against Clemson in the Orange Bowl.
Florida lost quarterback Anthony Richardson to the NFL, and lineman O’Cyrus Torrence has moved on as well. The defense last year was near the basement in the SEC. So on offense, the team will look to develop Graham Mertz, the Wisconsin quarterback who transferred south. On defense, the team can only get better after giving up 30 or more points in each of six losses and allowing a 49.1% third-down conversion, the worst in the conference. Up front, Cam Jackson transferred in from Memphis, one of seven new players in the front of the defense.
College Football Betting Odds
Love betting NCAA football? | Xbet Sportsbook offers up to date college football lines
