Week 3 College Football Best Bets, Predictions and Picks from Wes Reynolds:
Here are my Week 3 college football best bets:
South Carolina -3.5 vs. Mississippi State
Both the Bulldogs and Gamecocks are off to 2-0 starts, and this game could set the tone for both teams for the rest of the season.
Mississippi State went on the road and dominated Minnesota, 38-13. South Carolina has dominated subpar competition with wins over Kent State and Towson.
While the Sam Leavitt (assuming that Lane Kiffin is likely playing games with his injury status) vs. Trinidad Chambliss battle in the LSU-Ole Miss game is certainly the SEC main event of the week, Kamario Taylor (Mississippi State) and Lanorris Sellers (South Carolina) are a worthy matchup on the undercard.
The Kendal Briles hire at offensive coordinator has reinvigorated what was a stagnant Gamecocks offense last season under the departed Mike Shula. Both teams actually rank in the top 10 for tempo offensively.
South Carolina gets some great news this week as LT Jacarrius Peak and Edge rusher and potential top-10 NFL Draft pick Dylan Stewart make their season debuts this week.
Shane Beamer is 9-3 SU and ATS as a favorite of seven or fewer points.
Rice +9.5 vs. Western Michigan
Rice was shut out 52-0 at Notre Dame last week, and it could have been worse if the Fighting Irish starters hadn’t been pulled early in the third quarter. Meanwhile, Western Michigan turned the page from having a victory taken away from them at Michigan and mauled FCS Monmouth, 49-14.
On the surface, this looks like an easy spot for Western Michigan, who the betting public recognizes as the team that got jobbed in Ann Arbor and is “on a mission.” However, this Broncos offense is not the most explosive unit. In fact, they have been outgained in both games.
There is never really a bright spot when you get beat 52-0, but Rice did hold Notre Dame to just 118 yards on 32 carries, and Western Michigan is a rush-based attack that has run the ball 78 times in two games as opposed to just 46 passes. Rice could force WMU QB Broc Lowry to make plays through the air.
Western Michigan could struggle in the Houston heat as it will be 90 and humid for kickoff.
The Broncos also have Boise State visiting Waldo Stadium in Kalamazoo next week for a rare home game against a name opponent in the non-conference. This should be a shaky spot for Western Michigan.
UTSA +30.5 at Texas
The Longhorns came back from a 23-3 deficit in the fourth quarter to knock off Ohio State and take the No. 1 spot in the polls from the Buckeyes.
Next week, Texas has a trip to Tennessee for its SEC opener, but first things first, as the UTSA Roadrunners (Meep Meep) come to Austin.
UTSA head coach Jeff Traylor has basically coached his entire career in the Lone Star State and was on the Longhorns staff under Charlie Strong in 2015 and 2016. Traylor has taken UTSA into Austin twice during his tenure – a respectable 41-20 loss in 2022 and a blowout 56-7 loss in 2024.
The Roadrunners are capable of hanging in the number with three-year starting QB Owen McCown against a likely flat Texas team.
BEST OF THE REST
Texas Tech -7 -120 vs. Houston
Arkansas +25 vs. Georgia
Texas State -140 ML vs. North Texas
UTEP +35.5 at Michigan
Troy/Missouri OVER 50
LSU/Ole Miss OVER 58
For more college football Week 3 best bets and analysis, visit the College Football Week 3 hub, exclusively on VSiN.
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