College Football Predictions & Best Bets For Week 3

Week 2 of the 2024 college football season is in the books, and it’s still a very successful start here at my weekly picks column. Official bets are now 11-3!

I like my chances to keep that momentum going as Week 3 approaches. 

As always, the BetMGM online sportsbook has all the college football odds needed to enjoy this weekend and beyond. Bookmark this page and make sure you check back throughout the week, as I may add more bets to my card.

College Football Best Bets (Week 3)

Arkansas State at Michigan Prediction

Spread: Michigan -22.5; Total: 45.5

Michigan is depleted from last year, 0-2 ATS, and just got absolutely walloped by Texas at home.

That has suppressed the market appetite to bet Michigan, which opens up a buy-low opportunity. 

While I’ve been on low on the Wolverines all offseasAlon, this weekend’s game against Arkansas State presents an excellent bounce-back opportunity against an Arkansas State team that might be pretty bad. The Red Wolves barely got past Tulsa last week; in Week 1, they needed an incorrectly officiated touchdown in the final five seconds of the game to squeeze past FCS Central Arkansas.

Michigan should run the ball down Arkansas State’s throat this week with Donovan Edwards, rolling to a cover.

Prediction: Michigan -22.5

Alabama at Wisconsin Prediction

Spread: Alabama -15.5; Total: 51.5

I’ve watched all 120 minutes of Wisconsin football so far this year. Overall, I’m a believer in Luke Fickell, but the Badgers just aren’t that good.  

That means Alabama is yet another SEC favorite that I’m actually pretty comfortable laying points with this week – especially early on in the week, so that I know I can get a decent number before the market is priced out. 

Prediction: Alabama -15.5

Boston College at Missouri Prediction

Spread: Missouri -16.5; Total: 54

Boston College has cracked the AP Top 25, and the market expects a semi-competitive game at Missouri this week. The Eagles’ crowning achievement? Dogging Florida State in Tallahassee in Week 1. 

OK, but … what if Florida State sucks? Doesn’t that seem pretty possible?

Missouri has yet to allow any points this year and is a legitimate top 10 team. Brady Cook runs a strong offense. I will lay the number. 

Prediction: Missouri -16.5

Oregon at Oregon State Prediction

Spread: Oregon -16.5; Total: 50.5

Here’s an intense rivalry game for Week 3, which makes the dog side interesting right from the jump. At a valuable number like +16.5, Oregon State is indeed a tasty side.

But the top reason I like this dog? Oregon seems tremendously overvalued right now in both the college football spreads market and the futures market, too. 

After competitive games with both FCS Idaho and Boise State, I’m very skeptical of Oregon as a double-digit road favorite – especially in a rivalry scenario. 

Prediction: Oregon State +16.5

Ole Miss at Wake Forest Prediction

Spread: Ole Miss -23.5; Total: 63.5

Pretty simple handicap here, folks. The Ole Miss offense is absolutely blasting people, and Wake Forest just lost to a UVA team that isn’t terribly good. 

This one might get ugly, so I’m grabbing the lowest, earliest number I can find. 

Prediction: Ole Miss -23.5

Air Force at Baylor Prediction

Spread: Baylor -15.5; Total: 41.5

I’m eyeballing the total here, which is curiously priced. It’s easy to tell the market is expecting a low-scoring game between Air Force and Baylor in part because the total is priced on the short side of a key number like 42.

Air Force was quite good last year, but the Falcons lost a ton of talent from the 2023 team. The result is that this year’s team is in major rebuild mode. Air Force found the end zone just three times against FCS Merrimack in Week 1 and scored just seven points at home last Saturday.

Baylor is far from a Big 12 juggernaut, but Dave Aranda still cuts his teeth on defense, and defending against a service academy offense is all about run fits and discipline. I think the Air Force offense will be mostly contained in this trip to Waco, opening the path to an under as the clock quickly drains out.

Prediction: Air Force/Baylor Under 41.5

Indiana at UCLA Prediction

Spread: Indiana -3; Total: 46.5

This ain’t your daddy’s Indiana squad. Curt Cignetti has the Hoosiers rolling early, and UCLA is in a rebuild under Deshaun Foster.

This line’s early open was at Indiana +1, but it’s been quickly bet to Indiana -3 by sharps hitting the market early. The current -3 line is probably my final buy point.

Prediction: Indiana -3

Georgia at Kentucky Prediction

Spread: Georgia -23.5; Total: 45.5

Again, this isn’t much of a handicap. Kentucky does not in any way have the athletes to keep up with this Georgia roster, which dominated Clemson in Week 1. The Tigers turned around and waxed a pretty good App State team in Week 2. And the Mountaineers might even end up in the playoff!

Georgia has been tough to bet as a big favorite in years past because the offense wasn’t as dynamic as other top contenders. But with Carson Beck running the offense, Georgia’s offense has been highly productive and can likely cover this number with ease. This is yet another SEC team I’m willing to lay the points with. 

Prediction: Georgia -23.5