Week 3 College Football Predictions – See Our Early Picks

• Week 3 of the College Football season begins Thursday, featuring three matchups between ranked programs
• Arkansas is 6-1 ATS as a road underdog since 2023
• See my favorite Week 3 College Football predictions, and the best early picks to make

The goal of my early Week 3 college football predictions is to find value before the lines are efficiently bet into place. Mission accomplished on a Monday morning, as three games jump off the page as must bets right now.

College Football Week 3 Picks

Odds as of Sept. 8 at DraftKings and FanDuel. Check out the top college football betting apps for Week 3.

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My best early Week 3 college football prediction is Arkansas +9.5 vs #17 Ole Miss. The opening college football Week 3 odds listed the Razorbacks at +10, but early money is all over Arkansas. That’s forced some online sportsbooks to drop the line to -8.5, so shop around to get the best odds.

Next up, I’m still buying #18 South Florida as a big dog versus a third straight ranked opponent, and I’ll round up my card by taking #8 Notre Dame -6.5 over #16 Texas A&M.

Arkansas vs Ole Miss Prediction

I expect an explosive track meet when the Razorbacks meet the Rebels on Saturday. Both teams enter averaging 46+ points through two games, and neither has shown much of a pulse defensively.

Arkansas has struggled to generate pressure and stuffs, while Ole Miss ranks 132nd in defensive line yards and has forced only a single turnover.

Arkansas Offensive Stats

Razorbacks QB Taylen Green has already tossed 10 TD passes, leading his team to two 50+ point outbursts. Rebels QB Anthony Simmons has a sky-high ceiling, but I can’t trust him to help cover a big number given how mistake-prone he is. Simmons has already thrown four picks, and posted five turnover-worthy plays.

Arkansas is 6-1 against the spread as a road underdog in the last two seasons, covering three times in that scenario away from home versus a ranked opponent.

• Arkansas +9.5 (-115 at DraftKings)

South Florida vs Miami Pick

We were on the Bulls last week against Florida as a big ‘dog, and not only did they cover, they won outright again versus a ranked opponent. Saturday, a third date with a top-25 program awaits, but I believe #5 Miami is a tad overrated.

Yes, Carson Beck has looked like a Heisman Trophy odds candidate, but we’ve seen him crater against good defenses before. South Florida has been exceptional defensively so far, ranking 22nd in scoring defense, and 23rd in opponent red zone conversion rate.

Offensively, the Bulls’ rushing attack presents a formidable challenge, led by dual-threat QB Byrum Brown. The senior QB is 4-2 ATS versus ranked opponents as a starter, and has a 65% completion rate and 110 rushing yards so far this season without a turnover.

The Canes may be a legit college football playoff odds contender, but this is too many points to lay versus a dangerous South Florida team.

• South Florida +16.5 (-105 at FanDuel)

Texas A&M vs Notre Dame Best Bet

Last, but not least, I’m buying a bounce-back spot for Notre Dame versus the Aggies. The Irish have had a week off to prepare for this matchup, and can expose a weak Texas A&M rush defense. Notre Dame boasts one of the top offensive lines in the country, and the Aggies just coughed up over 200 yards on the ground to UTSA.

Texas A&M has yielded 22+ points to both UTSA and Utah State, and doesn’t pose a significant threat to Irish freshman QB CJ Carr. The 20-year-old threw for 2 TD and rushed for another in a heartbreaking 3-point defeat to Miami, but showed excellent poise and decision-making.

Notre Dame went into College Station and pounded the Aggies last season, and I expect them to win and cover in what’s basically a must-win game for them early on.

• Notre Dame -6.5 (-108 at DraftKings)