NCAA College Football Betting Week 3 – What an incredible first two weeks of college football games! Ever year, the start of the NCAAF season is amazing, but this year seems to have outdone itself. There are plenty of great teams out there, some favorites which may have started slow and some teams that are treading water. This is the time of year when most of the NCAA football teams make their transition to conference play. That means that these games mean all the more. It’s not far from here to those conference championship games at the end of season.
Of course, you can bet these games all season long right here at our site. We’ll give you everything you need for the best in sports betting on college football games. All the best matchups between all of the best teams – that’s what you’ll find right here. Now is the time for the conference schedule test to begin.
ACC Tilt: Florida State Seminoles at Boston College Golden Eagles
The Seminoles are back. We knew that after one college football game at FSU this year and it was certainly apparent after two. Once they beat the LSU Tigers it was clear that Seminole Nation is ready to compete for not just the Atlantic Coast Conference but very possibly the BCS as well. They get their first conference challenge this week as they head up north to Massachusetts to take on Boston College.
As of this writing, the Noles are a heavy favorite. The point spread is 25.5 points. That is, to put it mildly, one of the bigger spreads we’ve seen so far this season, at least between two traditional D-1 powers. That means that, for Florida State to cover, they would have to win by more than three touchdowns (and two field goals). However, that does mean that, for an underdog bet to payoff for Boston College, they would just have to keep the score within 25 points. If they do that, and you bet on BC, you can absolutely win a lot of money.
How do you see this one going? The predictions sure say that the Noles are going to win. But, the odds show just how unlikely that is for the Eagles to win this one. As of now, the odds say Boston College is +2200 and the Noles are at -15000. So, if you bet $100 on the Eagles and they win this one, you would get a payout of $2200. That can be enticing, but remember, BC is that big an underdog for a reason.
Big 10: Penn State Nittany Lions at Illinois Fighting Illini and More
East of Pittsburgh and west of Philadelphia, one could argue that Penn State is the true “Appalachian State” team. After all, they’re right in the middle of the mountains, a traditional power the first time in a long time, with Drew Millar, have a great quarterback at the helm. Penn State sure gets their number of star players (what a roster of hall of famers in their illustrious history) but they have had a dearth of tremendous QB play. That looks to be over.
That said, they’ll be going on the road in front of fans who are not at Happy Valley. This Big Ten tilt will see the Illini hosting them on Saturday, Sept. 16. There is no point spread on this game yet, but the odds sure say that the Lions are going to be favorites in this one. For example, currently, the experts have set the lines at Illinois +400 and Penn State at -550. So, if you wanted to make a lot of money on this matchup, you’d get $400 for betting $100 on the Illini and they win.
What are your picks for this game? Will the Nittany Lions roll west of Central Pennsylvania? Or, will the Fighting Illini prove to be too tough an opponent for Millar and the Lions?
NCAA College Football Betting Week 3 – Big 12 Big Rivalty: Colorado State at Colorado
It’s hard to overstate just how much Deion Sanders has taken over college football already. In just two weeks, he’s already being put with the top coaches in the game. The Colorado Buffaloes have looked as impressive as any team through their first two games. The results speak for themselves. They managed to squeak by a game TCU team, one that had a list of playres who went on to the show, and was just in the playoffs a year ago. Then, CU beat the Nebraska Cornhuskers decisively, a tough team no matter what who their opponents are.
Now, they get a real rivalry with so much on the line. This is a rivalry that goes back decades, between the Rams and the Buffaloes. This is one of those rivalries that maybe not all of the handicappers are aware of, but plenty of the real fans are.
The bookmakers, for their part, are saying “bet on Coach Prime.” They expect CSU to take a big loss, with a 23 point line favoring Colorado in their stadium. The expert choice is to take CU and to take them big. But, that’s why a sportsbook exists (and it’s why we play the games) – because the scores don’t always match up to the perception.
Does Colorado continue to roll, another big winner in another big game? Or, is this the game where the sport of college football punches back against the Buffaloes, with CSU scoring a massive upset here? You can watch the game on ESPN live, but you can bet it here.
SEC Game of the Week: Tennessee Heads to the Florida Swamp
Of all the games mentioned on this page, this might be the biggest one of the day. Not just Saturday, but also for Thursday, Sept. 14 and Friday, Sept. 15, too – this is the game of the week. It may not be on the SEC Network, but it is a big one in the conference. The Florida Gators host the Tennessee Volunteers.
This is one of those games that the oddsmakers as well as the fans look forward to. Tennessee had their best squad in years last year, but, Hendon Hooker is off to the NFL. Do they have enough to be able to take down a highly-rated Florda squad? Speaking of Florida, they haven’t risen to the heights yet that they were used to under Meyer or Spurrier. Is this the year they come back and return to to glory? Or do the big, orange T score the Victory in the middle of the Florida home game?
The Backyard Brawl: Pitt Panthers in West Virginia
There are power rankings, there are rivalries, and then there are games that go beyond any amount of rankings. With these games, it doesn’t matter what anyone’s record is. That’s just details. All that matters is how much these two schools do not like each other. Typically, this tends to happen during the times when schools are close to each other. That’s exactly the case with the Backyard Brawl, as the Pitt Panthers head south to West Virginia to take on the Mountaineers.
Last year, Pitt scored late interceptions that allowed them to take the lead and beat an above average West Virginia team. This year, folks aren’t sure exactly how to bet the game. It’s in WVU’s place, at the Mountaineer stadium, where their defense has been better than average over the years. To say this will be a hostile environment is something of an understatement.
That said, the line on this has taken a winding route since it was announced. Initially, the line was West Virginia by 1 (after Pitt’s bad loss Saturday night at home in Acrisure Stadium against the Cincinnati Bearcats) but, as of today, the line has moved to Pitt by one. What do you make of that information? How do you see this one going? Will Pitt win this game again? Or, will WVU nation rise up and win by a touchdown (or more or less?)
Don’t Forget All of the NFL and Other Betting Action
NCAA College Football Betting Week 3 – Those are just some of the games that you can bet through this weekend. Yes, that’s just the beginning of the college football action. Remember, there is plenty of MLB and NFL action to bet on as well. You don’t have to wait till Monday night (when the AFC North action heats up as the Cleveland Browns head dahn the turnpike to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers). There are great NFL games to bet on Thursday and Sunday.
The Minnesota Vikings head east to take on the Philadelphia Eagles. Speaking of the AFC North, the Cincinnati Bengals try to get their first win of the season when they take on the Baltimore Ravens in Ohio. The Chicago Bears have to go on the road to take on the suddenly resurgent Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Carolina Panthers are the other Monday Night game, hosting the New Orleans Saints. Game of the weekend just might be the undefeated San Francisco 49ers taking on the Los Angeles Rams in SoCal. You can bet it all right here on the best sports betting website.
Hilbert Mayer
Sports Writer
Hilbert Mayer is a professional sports writer, betting analyst, and content strategist with over 15 years of experience in the sports industry. Before focusing on sports betting analysis and handicapping, Hilbert worked as a sports writer for various news outlets, covering everything from game recaps to in-depth matchup features. Today, he specializes in MLB, NFL, March Madness, and UFC betting, combining his journalistic background with deep statistical expertise and real-world betting insights. His proven track record, sharp reads, and ability to break down complex matchups make him a trusted voice among both casual bettors and seasoned sharps.
Published on: September 12, 2023
Last updated: September 12, 2023