Our resident NCAAF experts Sam and Matt preview six of this weekend’s big matchups and give their betting tips, focusing on Georgia at South Carolina, BYU at Oregon, Penn State at Auburn, Mississippi State at LSU, Michigan State at Washington and Miami at Texas A&M.
CFB Week 3 Betting Preview: Tips, Odds & Lines Including BYU @ Oregon and Miami @ Texas A&M
September 16, 2022
Georgia(1) @ South Carolina
Saturday 17th September – 12PM EST
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Georgia
Spread: Georgia -25
Over/Under: Under 55
It’s only Week 3, but Georgia seem on a mission to go back-to-back and although it’s early, you wouldn’t bet against them to do so at the moment. Even against a fully healthy South Carolina you’d expect the Bulldogs to take the win on the road, but with several starters out this will be a tough outing for the Gamecocks and could be a similar scoreline to Georgia’s Week 1 rout of Oregon.
Matt’s Pick of the Game
Georgia -25
I love this Georgia team, and think they could easily win the National Championship again this year. This spread is extremely high for an SEC road opener, but the Gamecocks are banged up, with several starters questionable to play this week and LB Mohamed Kaba and DE Jordan Strachan out for the year. Lay the points.
BYU(12) @ Oregon(25)
Saturday 17th September – 3:30PM EST
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: BYU
Spread: BYU +4
Over/Under: Under 58
BYU surprised me last week in their win over Dave Aranda’s Baylor, especially considering their top two receivers Gunner Romney and Parker Nacau were missing (both gametime decisions this week). Whilst QB Bo Nix and Oregon hit 70 against Eastern Washington last weekend, Nix’s record against quality opposition is mixed and we saw the same struggles Week 1 against Georgia we’ve been seeing throughout his career. BYU are being paid a cool $1.1 million to travel to Eugene and will continue the trend set by App State and Marshall last week of leaving a P5 program with a win and a seven-figure sum.
Matt’s Pick of the Game
Oregon -4
The Cougars will be on a high after winning their ranked matchup against Baylor last weekend, but I can’t see them carrying their unbeaten record past this game. Oregon bounced back from their week one destruction at the hands of Georgia by racking up 70 points on Eastern Washington. I’m going with the Ducks to cover.
Penn State(22) @ Auburn
Saturday 17th September – 3:30PM EST
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Penn State
Spread: Penn State -2.5
Over/Under: Under 48
Penn State cover in what won’t be the prettiest of games this weekend. The Nittany Lions are rolling on offence with experienced QB Sean Clifford whilst Auburn and new transfer QB TJ Finley are not – they squeaked past San Jose State 24-16 last week and Finley has a 1:4 TD-Pick ratio.
Matt’s Pick of the Game
Penn State -2.5
Quarterback play is the most important thing in the sport for a reason, and stability at the position is essential. Sean Clifford of the Nittany Lions is in his fourth year as a starter, while TJ Finley has looked poor as Auburn’s starter so far. I’m taking Penn State to cover at the Jordan O’ Hare.
Mississippi State @ LSU
Saturday 17th September – 6PM EST
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: LSU
Spread: LSU +3
Over/Under: Over 52.5
Brian Kelly and LSU pick up a win in their SEC opener this weekend as Mississippi State come to Death Valley. Jayden Daniels is looking settled as QB1 and expect star wideout Kayshon Boutte to hit the ground running sooner rather than later. Will Rogers and the Miss State offense have started hot, but a sunset game in Tiger Stadium is very different to Tucson.
Matt’s Pick of the Game
LSU Moneyline
Brian Kelly has got his first win as the Tigers’ Head Coach, admittedly against FCS school Southern, but there was still plenty to be happy about for LSU fans. Jayden Daniels looked good and went through his progressions, the elite wide receiver room impressed, and the defence looked mean. I’m expecting Death Valley to be loud and rowdy, and the Tigers to win.
Michigan State(11) @ Washington
Saturday 17th September – 7:30PM EST
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Michigan State
Spread: Michigan State +3.5
Over/Under: Under 56.5
Despite being ranked 11th in the country, Michigan State travel to the Pacific Northwest as 3.5 point underdogs to unranked Washington. This is new Head Coach Kalen DeBoer’s first real test and whilst transfer QB Michael Penix Jr has started the season well against inferior opposition, I can see the Spartan’s front seven continuing their trend of getting to the quarterback this year. Vegas seems to be favouring the Huskies off the back of MIchigan State’s poor historical record on the West Coast, but I’m backing the Spartans to right those wrongs this Saturday.
Matt’s Pick of the Game
Washington -3.5
Both teams have looked good so far against weaker opposition on their way to 2-0. I feel like this game is a complete toss up. Big Ten teams historically struggle on the road in cross country games early on in the season, and with injuries to starting linebacker Darius Snow and starting safety Xavier Henderson, I can see Sparty losing here.
Miami(13) @ Texas A&M(24)
Saturday 17th September – 9PM EST
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Texas A&M
Spread: Miami +6
Over/Under: Under 44.5
Former LSU QB and new transfer Max Johnson gets the starting nod this weekend after the embarrassing loss to Appalachian State last week. Johnson can score points, but there are still questions surrounding his decision making and arm (see THAT throw against UCLA as a reference). I think the spread is high but am backing A&M to respond at Kyle Field. If not, things are going to get real interesting with Jimbo Fisher and his future in College Station.
Matt’s Pick of the Game
Miami Moneyline
Hang on, Texas A&M are 6 point favourites a week after losing to App State?! No disrespect to the Mountaineers but that’s a shock to me. The quarterback play for the Aggies so far this season has been really, really poor and I’m expecting Tyler Van Dyke to have too much for A&M’s defence. I’m backing the underdog.
