College Football Picks: Week 3

Week 3 overview of NCAAF. the top few teams have held straight but we’ve seen some of the others with loses (some from fellow top 25 teams, some from unranked teams) including Michigan State, Washington, Wisconsin, Auburn and TCU.

FAU at #16 UCF

I trust FAU’s passing game slightly more but UCF has a much better pass and rush defense (they have allowed 8 points per game so far this season to FAU’s 47). The Robison vs. Milton QB vs. QB should be a good back and forth. The only test for either team was FAU losing 63-14 to Oklahoma the first week of this season.

Washington State at USC

On paper Washington State looks better but they have played EWU, San Jose State and Wyoming. At least USC played Stanford and Texas. I’m expecting the Trojans to come out hungry after the tough loss to Texas and win this one. Prediction: USC QB JT Daniels will throw for at least 3 TDs.

#8 Notre Dame at Wake Forest

Notre Dame beat what should be a solid Michigan program. Wake Forest lost to what is a solid BC program. The rest of the matchups (Vanderbilt, Ball State, Towson and Tulane) don’t tell us a whole lot. Notre Dame should be the stronger team here almost across the board.

Nebraska at #19 Michigan

Scott Frost REALLY doesn’t want to start out 0-3 and yet that’s probably going to happen. Both of these programs really need a win but one is going to be much stronger than the other. Shea Patterson is better than Andrew Bunch at QB and Karan Higdon will outduel Greg Bell running the ball, finally Harbough distinguishes himself with his strong defense.

#23 Boston College @ Purdue

If you haven’t been paying attention, BC has a very good program this year and might crack the top 15 in the next few weeks. Purdue has lost to Missouri, Eastern Michigan and Northwestern. Anthony Brown is much better than David Blough and to be honest I’m highlighting this game to advertise that I think the Eagles will be a sneaky threat down the stretch in the ACC.

Northern Illinois at Florida State

Eek, FSU got runover by Syracuse last week. They also were crushed by Virginia Tech in week one, the Seminoles team of old is long gone. With that said so is the Huskies team that was once upon a time competitive. They have lost to Utah and Iowa so far with their sole win being over Central Michigan by one possession. I saw Florida State gets to .500 behind Deondre Francois having a great game.

Texas A&M at #1 Alabama

I know that ever Alabama looks unbeatable until they are one game but I see no reason not to keep picking them every week.

South Carolina at Vanderbilt

This one could get ugly. Both loses that each team has is to a top 10 team, both have one quasi-respectable win and both have strong QBs in Jake Bentley and Kyle Shurmu. It’s in the Commodores defense that I’m trusting to create the difference.

#17 TCU at Texas

Texas won a close one at USC after another rough loss to Maryland earlier this year. TCU, even in a loss, looked REALLY good vs. Ohio State last week, take the Horned Frogs.

Texas Tech at #15 Oklahoma State

I’m not sure if the offense of Taylor Cornelius throwing to Justice Hill is more frightening or the defense which has limited opponents to an average of 17 points that’s more intimidating with the Cowboys. I think Texas Tech puts up a good fight but it’s ultimately not enough.

#14 Mississippi St at Kentucky

Upset Alert! Home field plus Benny Snell help carry the Wildcats to a win in what I think will be a low scoring affair. Both the Bulldogs and Wildcats have admirable defenses which will test the opposing offenses in this matchup. This will also likely be the Bulldogs real first test of the year.

Florida at Tennessee

Florida pulled off the win last year in a tight game, one that the Volunteers spent a year waiting for a rematch. Each team has been tested (Florida vs. Kentucky & Tennessee vs. West Virginia) and both failed. Feleipe Franks will be tested against a tough Vols defense and the outcome of that matchup will dictate the winner here.

#24 Michigan State at Indiana

I still believe in Michigan State to turn this around. A lot was said about this being one of the best Spartan teams in a while Brian Lewerke outduels Peyton Ramsey here, especially with the help of LJ Scott

#7 Stanford at #20 Oregon

Stanford took down USC and looks the part. Justin Herbert has been lights out but he will not penetrate the Stanford defense who has averged less than 8 points against per game.

#18 Wisconsin at Iowa

Sorry Iowa but you have one really pissed off team coming your way after their embarrassing loss to BYU last week.