Week 3 is where pretenders melt and contenders harden. We’ve got brand-name bullies laying big numbers, injury buzz that could swing lines, and a classic SEC fistfight in Knoxville that will shake the top 10. Buckle up—odds, TV windows, and fresh player news point to a Saturday that pays off from brunch to last call.
Summary: Expect chalk to eat in several blowouts (Oregon, Texas, Ohio State), while a few live dogs lurk with injury leverage (South Alabama at Auburn, USF at Miami). The headliner? Georgia at Tennessee—where a razor-thin line meets Neyland noise and championship stakes.
Indiana State at No. 22 Indiana (Fri 6:30 pm BTN)
Indiana’s tune-up in Bloomington sets the table for a stress-free Friday start. Depth advantage across the board; Hoosiers should rotate liberally after halftime.
Prediction: Indiana 45, Indiana State 10
No. 13 Oklahoma at Temple (Sat 12:00 pm ESPN2)
OU’s speed should travel. With the spread down to -23.5, Sooners have room for a late cover against an Owls offense that’ll struggle to hit explosives.
Prediction: Oklahoma 41, Temple 13 (OU covers -23.5)
Central Michigan at No. 23 Michigan (Sat 12:00 pm BTN)
Wolverines rebound spot at home. Michigan’s fronts control the day and methodically stretch a lead; late ground-and-pound ices it.
Prediction: Michigan 38, Central Michigan 10 (Michigan covers -27.5)
No. 12 Clemson at Georgia Tech (Sat 12:00 pm ESPN)
Injury watch: Clemson WR Antonio Williams remains questionable (hamstring). Even so, Tigers’ defense and run game give them the narrow edge in a grinder.
Prediction: Clemson 27, Georgia Tech 20 (Clemson covers -3.5)
Wisconsin at No. 19 Alabama (Sat 12:00 pm ABC)
Tide optimism: RB Jam Miller has a chance to go, per Kalen DeBoer. Wisconsin QB Billy Edwards is inching back but not fully. Bama’s balance and depth should separate by the third.
Prediction: Alabama 34, Wisconsin 10 (Alabama covers -21)
No. 4 Oregon at Northwestern (Sat 12:00 pm FOX)
Northwestern loses bell-cow RB Cam Porter (season-ending), elevating Joseph Himon II/Caleb Komolafe. That’s bad timing against Oregon’s top-5 buzzsaw.
Prediction: Oregon 45, Northwestern 10 (Oregon covers -28.5)
Houston Christian at Nebraska (Sat 12:00 pm FS1)
Mismatch city in Lincoln. Huskers roll behind a swarming defense and a steady run game.
Prediction: Nebraska 52, Houston Christian 7
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South Alabama at No. 24 Auburn (Sat 12:45 pm SECN)
Auburn RB room is banged up: Damari Alston (shoulder) game-time, Durell Robinson out “for a while.” That caps the blowout ceiling and opens a backdoor for the Jags.
Prediction: Auburn 34, South Alabama 17 (South Alabama covers +24.5)
No. 6 Georgia at No. 15 Tennessee (Sat 3:30 pm ABC)
Hot Game to Watch. Neyland will be deafening, but Georgia’s defense and situational polish tilt the coin flip. Line drifted to UGA –3.5—numbers say take the champs in a one-score finish.
Prediction: Georgia 31, Tennessee 27 (Georgia covers -3.5)
Norfolk State at Rutgers (Sat 3:30 pm BTN)
Talent gap and trench control favor the Scarlet Knights. Clean and comfortable.
Prediction: Rutgers 41, Norfolk State 7
Villanova at No. 2 Penn State (Sat 3:30 pm FS1)
Beaver Stadium bullies an FCS visitor. Expect PSU to get the twos and threes long fourth-quarter work.
Prediction: Penn State 49, Villanova 10
Youngstown State at Michigan State (Sat 3:30 pm BTN)
Spartans’ run game sets the tone; defense squeezes the middle quarters.
Prediction: Michigan State 34, Youngstown State 13
Oregon State at No. 21 Texas Tech (Sat 3:30 pm FOX)
Headlines heat: OSU’s coach blasted special teams after a calamitous punt last week. Lubbock is unforgiving, and Tech’s offense can snowball mistakes.
Prediction: Texas Tech 38, Oregon State 14 (Tech covers -23.5)
No. 14 Iowa State at Arkansas State (Sat 4:00 pm ESPN2)
Cyclones travel as three-score favorites and should own the LOS. Matt Campbell’s crew sits in the driver’s seat for a steady cover.
Prediction: Iowa State 35, Arkansas State 14 (ISU covers -20.5)
Louisiana at No. 25 Missouri (Sat 4:00 pm SEC+)
Drinkwitz has a top-25 defense humming; Tigers create short fields and hit explosives off play-action.
Prediction: Missouri 42, Louisiana 13 (Mizzou covers -27.5)
UTEP at No. 7 Texas (Sat 4:15 pm SECN)
Even with RB Tre Wisner doubtful, Texas is stacked—this is a name-your-score game in Austin. Depth carries the late cover.
Prediction: Texas 52, UTEP 7 (Texas covers -41.5)
No. 18 USF at No. 5 Miami (Sat 4:30 pm CW)
Canes have the higher ceiling, but rivalry juice is real. Expect a focused Miami win—just not a blowout. Lean Bulls with the points.
Prediction: Miami 31, USF 20 (USF covers +17.5)
Arkansas at No. 17 Ole Miss (Sat 7:00 pm ESPN)
Lane Kiffin expects TE Luke Hasz to play—big for red-zone sequencing. Rebs’ tempo and perimeter talent stress the Hogs over four quarters.
Prediction: Ole Miss 34, Arkansas 24 (Ole Miss covers -8)
Ohio at No. 1 Ohio State (Sat 7:00 pm Peacock)
Title-favorite Buckeyes smell blood. Explosives through the air plus a rotating pass rush overwhelm the Bobcats.
Prediction: Ohio State 49, Ohio 10 (OSU covers -31.5)
Western Michigan at No. 9 Illinois (Sat 7:00 pm FS1)
Illini offense has enough juice to clear the number and the defense should feast on passing downs.
Prediction: Illinois 41, Western Michigan 13 (Illinois covers -27.5)
Florida at No. 3 LSU (Sat 7:30 pm ABC)
Off-field swirl: Steve Spurrier blasted a Gators player for a spitting incident—a distraction as Baton Rouge awaits. LSU’s CFP/Heisman buzz holds; monitor TE Trey’Dez Green (MCL, questionable).
Prediction: LSU 30, Florida 20 (LSU covers -8.5)
No. 16 Texas A&M at No. 8 Notre Dame (Sat 7:30 pm NBC)
Top-10 atmosphere in South Bend. Irish have the sturdier defense and better late-down answers. Numbers point ND -7; we see separation late.
Prediction: Notre Dame 31, Texas A&M 23 (ND covers -7)
UMass at Iowa (Sat 7:30 pm BTN)
Kinnick at night favors the Hawkeyes, but laying 35.5 with Iowa’s pace is dicey. Methodical, not monstrous.
Prediction: Iowa 38, UMass 7 (UMass covers +35.5)
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Vanderbilt at No. 11 South Carolina (Sat 7:45 pm SECN)
Gamecocks’ defense and crowd noise tilt the field. Vandy hangs early; SC pulls away in the fourth.
Prediction: South Carolina 28, Vanderbilt 20 (SC covers -5.5)
No. 20 Utah at Wyoming (Sat 8:00 pm CBSSN)
Utes’ physicality travels to Laramie. Depth and defense squeeze the Cowboys after halftime.
Prediction: Utah 37, Wyoming 10 (Utah covers -23.5)
Air Force at Utah State (Sat 9:45 pm FS1)
Falcons’ option efficiency vs. Aggies’ volatility. With AFA laying -4, possession advantage is the edge.
Prediction: Air Force 27, Utah State 21 (Air Force covers -4)
Kansas State at Arizona (Fri 9:00 pm FOX)
Wildcats’ injuries matter: WR Jerand Bradley out for a few weeks; RB Dylan Edwards questionable. In Tucson, that’s just enough to swing a nail-biter.
Prediction: Arizona 27, Kansas State 24 (Arizona +1.5 wins outright)
New Mexico at UCLA (Fri 10:00 pm BTN)
Bruins have the speed edge everywhere and the number (-15.5) is reachable with a fast start. Lobos lack the explosive counterpunch.
Prediction: UCLA 34, New Mexico 13 (UCLA covers -15.5)
Colorado at Houston (Fri 7:30 pm ESPN)
QB watch in Boulder: reports toggled between Kaidon Salter and Ryan Staub as starter; WR Omarion Miller (hamstring) trends doubtful. Houston’s continuity and home field carry the day.
Prediction: Houston 31, Colorado 24 (Houston covers -6)
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