The Week 3 college football schedule is a bit of an anomaly with no ranked matchups taking place. Thus, the teams that ranked are, for the most part, massive favorites per the Week 3 college football odds. No team is a bigger favorite than No. 2 Michigan as it hosts Bowling Green at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Wolverines are 40.5-point favorites over the Falcons, despite Michigan still being without suspended head coach Jim Harbaugh.
The reigning Big Ten champs have easily defeated their first two opponents, who, like Bowling Green, were Group of Five programs. However, Michigan failed to cover in either, and this large Week 3 college football spread makes this one of the most intriguing games of the weekend from a betting standpoint. Before locking in any college football picks for Week 3 of the 2023 season, be sure to see the college football betting guide from legendary Vegas handicapper Bruce Marshall.
For years Vegas-based Marshall was synonymous with The Gold Sheet, the famed sports betting newsletter. With a background in play-by-play work and sports information while in college, Marshall joined TGS in 1981 when hired by the legendary Mort Olshan and served as executive editor for many years. He now supplies his unique and colorful brand of football and basketball analysis to SportsLine members.
An in-demand guest on numerous sports talk radio and TV shows across the country, Bruce’s vast array of editorial work has been featured in the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the New York Post and many other outlets. He has won various handicapping titles and also is working on several book projects.
Now, using his Tech Corner technique, Marshall has turned his attention to the latest college football odds for Week 3 and evaluated each matchup. Head here to see every pick.
Top college football predictions for Week 3
One of the top college football picks Marshall is recommending for Week 3: South Carolina keeps it within the 27.5-point spread when it travels to top-ranked Georgia at 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday on CBS. The Bulldogs tend to get a little lackadaisical at home by starting games slowly before turning things up a notch. That’s evident in their ATS home record as they’ve covered in just three of their last 11 home games, dating back to the 2021 season.
South Carolina has enough offensive firepower to keep this game competitive, and it has one of the best receivers in the country. Xavier Legette leads the SEC and ranks fourth nationally with 296 receiving yards, a year after he ranked third in the NCAA in kick return average. He’s a big-play threat anytime he touches the ball, and he’s paired with an experienced QB in Spencer Rattler who leads the SEC in completion percentage.
With Georgia’s ATS home struggles and Carolina’s offensive talent, Marshall expects this one to be much closer than the line as he has South Carolina staying within the spread. See which other picks to make here.
How to make college football picks for Week 3
Marshall has evaluated every other matchup and he’s found an alarming 13-2 spread trend that makes one side a huge value on Saturday. Get betting analysis for each matchup at SportsLine.
So what college football picks can you make with confidence, and what alarming 13-2 trend gives one side an edge in a huge game? Check out the latest college football odds below, then visit SportsLine to see which teams to back, all from the legendary Vegas expert who has won multiple handicapping titles, and find out.
College football odds for Week 3
See full Week 3 college football picks at SportsLine.
Thursday, Sept. 14
Navy at Memphis (-14, 47)
Friday, Sept. 15
Virginia at Maryland (-14.5, 48)
Army at UTSA (-8.5, 44)
Utah State at Air Force (-9.5, 46.5)
Saturday, Sept. 16
Florida State at Boston College (+27.5, 55)
Louisville at Indiana (+10, 54)
Penn State at Illinois (+14, 48.5)
LSU at Mississippi State (+10, 53)
Kansas State at Missouri (+5.5, 46)
South Carolina at Georgia (-27, 55)
Minnesota at North Carolina (-7.5, 49)
Washington at Michigan State (+16, 58)
Tennessee at Florida (+7, 57.5)
BYU at Arkansas (-10, 52)
TCU at Houston (+7.5, 62)
Colorado State at Colorado (-22.5, 59)
