College Football Picks Today: Best Bets for Week 3 CFB (Sep 19)
By Blair Johnson in College Football
Published:
- My college football picks today cover three Saturday games in the SEC and Utah rivalry
- The Week 3 best bets compare two BetMGM spreads with a Kalshi margin contract
- Read below for how recent scoring, third-down results and quarterback availability shape Saturday’s selections
Saturday’s college football schedule offers three matchups worth a closer look: Georgia at Arkansas, Utah State at Utah and Kentucky at Texas A&M. Each has a large favorite, but the reasons for considering those spreads are different.
Georgia’s early passing production, Utah’s defensive start and Kentucky’s difficulty sustaining drives give us specific evidence to work with. The latest score alone does not tell the whole story, particularly in Texas A&M’s win last week.
My college football picks today focus on one wager from each game. The Week 3 best bets are listed below, followed by the reasoning behind each selection.
College Football Picks Today
All three selections ask a favorite to win comfortably, but the prices are not asking the same thing. Georgia at -111 is the cleanest number of the three, while the -120 on Texas A&M reflects a market that has already priced in last week’s blowout margin. The Utah contract is the one to understand before betting: at 53¢ it needs a 28-point win, not simply a Utah victory.
Prices from BetMGM and Kalshi. See the BetMGM promo code and college football betting apps guide.
College Football Picks Today #1: Georgia -24.5
Georgia has scored 133 points and allowed 23 through two games, including an 84-9 advantage in first halves. Gunner Stockton has completed 28 of 32 passes for 436 yards and eight touchdowns without an interception. That efficiency gives the Bulldogs a strong starting point for their first SEC road test.
Arkansas just lost 43-10 to Utah, and Georgia has shown it can establish a lead without waiting for a late breakthrough. The Razorbacks need to keep Stockton from turning early possessions into touchdowns. Falling behind quickly would make a difficult matchup even harder to manage.
The opening opponents matter, and I am not treating Georgia’s scoring average as a guaranteed result against an SEC team. The better evidence is how consistently Stockton has converted his passing opportunities. Georgia can create separation through its offense without requiring defensive touchdowns to reach a big margin.
Laying 24.5 still asks for a decisive performance. A late Arkansas score could matter to the spread even if the winner is settled. I’m backing Georgia’s ability to build enough of an early advantage to absorb that risk rather than adding a separate total bet.
- Pick: Georgia -24.5 (-111 at BetMGM)
College Football Picks Today #2: Utah by Over 27.5
Utah has outscored its opponents 109-24 and held them to a 42.3% completion rate so far in 2026. The Utes have also scored 13 red-zone touchdowns through two games. That combination of defensive stops and finishing drives supports a large winning margin.
Utah State is 0-2 after a 16-14 loss to Washington. The Aggies have seven giveaways and no takeaways through two games, leaving little room for an offense trying to keep pace with Utah. Avoiding another possession deficit is essential if they want to stay within this number.
Grady Brosterhous started last week under center in place of the injured McCae Hillstead. It’s still unclear who will start Saturday, so the final quarterback update is yet to be determined. My pick is based on Utah’s performance on both sides of the ball rather than an assumption that a particular Aggies quarterback is unavailable.
This Kalshi contract needs Utah to win by at least 28 points. A winning Yes share pays $1, producing 47¢ profit before fees at the listed 53¢ purchase price. It is a margin bet, not simply a pick for Utah to win.
- Pick: Utah to win by over 27.5 points, Yes at 53¢ on Kalshi
College Football Picks Today #3: Texas A&M -16.5
Texas A&M’s 48-20 victory over Arizona State was still 24-20 after three quarters. Two fourth-quarter interception returns for touchdowns helped turn it into a rout. I would not credit all 48 points to the Aggies’ offense or assume that defensive scoring repeats.
Kentucky’s inability to sustain drives is the stronger reason for this pick. The Wildcats have converted four of 22 third downs this season. They managed only 62 second-half yards while Alabama turned a 17-13 halftime deficit into a 45-17 victory.
Texas A&M can take advantage by forcing Kentucky to repeatedly earn first downs instead of gifting short scoring chances. The Aggies do not need another pair of defensive touchdowns to control possession and create a useful lead. Their offense does, however, need to contribute more consistently than the final Arizona State score suggests.
I’m backing the home favorite to win by at least 17. Kentucky’s second-half collapse and season-long third-down results offer a clearer case for the spread than treating last week’s combined score as proof of another high-scoring game.
- Pick: Texas A&M -16.5 (-120 at BetMGM)
Sports Writer
Blair Johnson is a veteran journalist and seasoned sports content creator. He has been writing and producing content as long as he can remember, with such familiar names as CNN, NFL Media and Yahoo. Blair currently lives and works in the greater Los Angeles area.
