Best Bets for Week 3 of the College Football Season

Here at NFL Mocks, we are going to start dabbling into the betting side of things, with the primary focus being on draft-eligible college prospects and rookies in the NFL. This edition will cover our favorite bets for week three of the college football season.

Be sure to check out our affiliate, BetSided, for a more expansive look at the betting landscape. Most of the odds used in this article come from FanDuel, with the others coming from WynnBET. Without further ado, let’s make some money!

College Football Team Betting Lines

•BYU +3.5 (-108) @Oregon

I’ll keep this one relatively short, but you’re giving me the BYU Cougars and three-and-a-half points??? Lock it in!

Oregon got going in week two against the Eastern Washington Eagles, after suffering one of the most lopsided losses in program history against the defending National Champions — the Georgia Bulldogs.

BYU is coming off of a double-overtime victory against the then No. 9 ranked Baylor Bears. Quarterback Jaren Hall has been a steady presence for the Cougars through two games this season and will enter Eugene with a full head of steam.

Oregon is never an easy win when they’re playing in front of their home crowd, but I believe that BYU is the superior team and this will show. Their Moneyline is something I’d look into, but let’s play it safe with the +3.5.

•Miami +5.5 (-110) @Texas A&M

I am a firm believer that the U is BACK! Mario Cristobal still has some demons to exercise when it comes to winning the big games, but there’s zero debate when it comes to how effective he is at accumulating talent.

If that sounds familiar, that’s because Jimbo Fisher has dealt with the same thing during his time in College Station. Fisher won the National Championship with Florida State in 2013, but since signing on with Texas A&M, the results have been mixed, to say the least.

No one denies the talent currently on the Aggies roster, but the fact that they dropped a home game to the underrated Appalachian State Mountaineers is something that should never happen to a team of highly-touted recruits.

This all sets the stage for Miami quarterback Tyler Van Dyke to head to the Lone Star State and showcase why he’s one of the top candidates to rise up the draft board in April. TVD possesses the ideal size for an NFL quarterback and can make every throw necessary to succeed.

Take Miami and the five-and-a-half points that Vegas is giving you. In college football, lean towards the team with the more talented quarterback. The Hurricane defense is nothing to scoff at either.

•Fresno State @USC O73.5 (-114)

One of the boldest picks in this article comes here with the over for Fresno State vs. USC. The number screams trap, but after going through the All-22 for each of the Trojan’s first two games, there’s a strong chance they can cover 50 of those 73.5 points by themselves.

As good as the duo of Caleb Williams and Jordan Addison has been, their defense has shown signs of being susceptible to big gains and quick scores. This sets up well for one of the biggest sleepers of the 2022 NFL Draft, Fresno State quarterback Jake Haener.

Haener attempted 87 passes in his first two games, completing nearly 75% of them and recording 737 passing yards with three touchdowns in the process. The Bulldogs scored at least 32 points in each game and I’d be surprised if they didn’t continue this trend Saturday.

It’s always sketchy to take the over when the line is as juiced as this one, but as a wise man once said, “life is too short to bet the under!”

•Texas Tech +10.5 (-122) @NC State

I came close to taking the Red Raiders to win outright for a few different reasons.

First and foremost, even though he makes some incredibly boneheaded decisions, Donovan Smith is an absolute spectacle to watch on the tv screen. He packs a lot of talent into his right arm and typically flourishes when given the chance to create with his legs.

On the other side of the coin, the NC State Wolfpack has not impressed me so far in 2022. The team survived their opening week showdown with East Carolina, thanks in large part to a missed field goal and missed extra point by the Pirate’s kicker in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Devin Leary gained tons of fans due to his superb play in 2021, but he’s gotten off to a slow start in 2022. His completion percentage sits south of 57% through two games, which is inexcusable for a guy with first-round aspirations.

There’s a chance that he bounces back at home against a Big 12 defense, but the Red Raider’s firepower should keep the game within the 10.5 points range.

•Georgia Southern ML (+365) @UAB

Here is my shot of the week: the Georgia Southern Eagles upset UAB at home.

The Eagles sent shockwaves across the nation by defeating Nebraska in their second game of the new season. The team dropped 45 on the Cornhuskers, and this performance is a leading reason why Scott Frost was fired soon after the conclusion of the game.

Georgia Southern flexed their muscles on lower-level competition the game prior, scoring 59 points against the little-known Morgan State Bears. If there’s anything to take away from these beatdowns, it’s that Clay Helton (yes that Clay Helton) has an offense that can put up points with anyone.

UAB, on the other hand, is coming off of a 21-14 defeat at the hands of the Liberty Flames. Malik Willis is no longer roaming the gridiron for the Flames, so many expected the Blazers to handle business. Alas, this did not come to fruition.

UAB’s defense is a stout group, but against Clay Helton and his Georgia Southern Eagles, it could be a long day for Bryant Vincent and Co. It’s still quite the upset with the GSU Moneyline sitting at +365.