Week 3 of the College Football season is here, and we get plenty of SEC matchups on the docket. Mizzou hosts Louisiana prior to their conference opener vs South Carolina, but College Gameday is heading to Knoxville for No. 6 Georgia at No. 15 Tennessee. No. 6 Texas A&M at No. 18 Notre Dame is another ranked contest, plus other conference games highlight the Saturday slate.
Let’s make some picks (with the odds presented by our partners over at FanDuel Sportsbook).
But first, a standings recap after
Week 2.
Stava: 8-6 ATS (11-3 SU)
Deck: 4-5 ATS (7-2 SU)
Hurst: 3-2 ATS (3-2 SU)
No. 25 Missouri Tigers (-27.5) vs Louisiana Ragin Cajuns (3:00 p.m. CST on SEC Network+)
Sammy Stava: This game sandwiched between the Border War and Mizzou’s opener spells a trap game, but Louisiana is starting a freshman QB. Knowing that Drinkwitz coached in the Sun Belt before, he’ll have the boys ready for this one. Mizzou wins comfortably 35-7 and the Ragin’ Cajuns get a late TD to avoid the shutout.
Josh Matejka: I might’ve been a little more worried about the spread if the Cajuns weren’t rolling out a true freshman at QB. But Mizzou has started with business-like precision this year, and I can’t see this being close at any point. 42-10, Tigers.
Nathan Hurst: I’m going to take Mizzou to cover here but just barely. I think it’s going to be a low possession game with both teams looking to run the ball and the clock. Mizzou will get a four-touchdown lead and hold the Cajuns at arm’s length. Tigers 34-6.
True Deck: I’m done picking against Mizzou’s spread until proven wrong. I think the Tigers look really good, and without their starter, the Ragin’ Cajuns fail to find any offense. Not the mention how good Missouri has looked at home… I’ll take a Tiger landslide, 38-3.
No. 6 Georgia Bulldogs (-4.5) at No 15 Tennessee Volunteers (2:30 p.m. CST on ABC)
Sammy Stava: I’m not sold on Joey Aguilar yet, and Georgia is still Georgia. Gunner Stockton has the better QB play and Kirby Smart outcoaches Josh Heupel despite it being a tough environment in Knoxville. 27-21, Dawgs.
Josh Matejka: Look, man, going on the road in the SEC is tough. I don’t care who you are, it is brutal. If there was an SEC program I’d trust to handle business on the road, it would be Georgia but… I don’t know this feels like one of those early season matchups that reorients how the CFP field in a big way. I’ll take the Vols straight up in a nail-biter, 21-20.
Nathan Hurst: This is a really tough game to pick, but history says to go with Kirby Smart over Josh Heupel, even in Knoxville. Who am I to go against history? Give me the Bulldogs to cover 28-20.
True Deck: This should be a fun College Gameday. After a not so impressive win by Georgia, in a game where they were 70 point favorites, I think the Bulldogs will struggle once again. I’m not sold on Gunner Stockton, who only has two touchdown passes through two games against Marshall and Austin Peay. I’ll take Vols straight up, 28-20.
Arkansas Razorbacks at No. 17 Ole Miss Rebels (-7.5) (6:00 p.m. CST on ESPN)
Sammy Stava: Arkansas will be a force to be reckoned with this season, but on the road vs Ole Miss at night is quite the challenge. Rebels weren’t exactly sharp last week in the win at Kentucky, so Lane Kiffin’s squad will put up a better performance. 37-28, Ole Miss.
Josh Matejka: Has Sam Pittman started packing his bags yet? Maybe we need to wait a little longer, but Ole Miss is going to want a better performance after almost pissing the bed against Kentucky. I’m looking at one of those gritty, bounce-back performances from the Rebs, something along the lines of 31-27
Nathan Hurst: Arkansas has looked pretty good so far this season, but they also haven’t played a team with a pulse. Ole Miss has a pulse and is eager to show that their troubles against Kentucky don’t mean anything when playing against other SEC bottom dwellers. I’ll take Ole Miss convincingly 38-17.
True Deck: Even though Arkansas might have the best QB in the SEC, I see the Rebels making a statement win that might kill Arkansas’ vibe ahead of the SEC schedule. I’ll take the Rebels to win and cover, 42-14.
No. 6 Texas A&M Aggies at No. 18 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-6.5) (6:30 p.m. CST on ABC)
Sammy Stava: I like Texas A&M as my upset pick here. Pressure is on for Notre Dame after losing Week 1 and I don’t think they’ll recover from it. Mike Elko is the right guy for the Aggies and Marcel Reed has a big day in South Bend. TAMU wins on a game-winning field goal, 27-24.
Josh Matejka: Notre Dame had a tough beat in week one, and they’ve had quite a bit of time to stew on it. Meanwhile, A&M has given up 22+ points two games in a row to, erm, inferior opponents. Fighting Irish get some respite and the Aggies suffer an early season set back. Notre Dame wins 30-24.
Nathan Hurst: Marcel Reed is a bit banged up and the game is in South Bend. The Aggie offense couldn’t do a g-d thing last season at home against Notre Dame and I’m not sure why to expect they’ll be any better this year. I’ll take the Irish 27-17.
True Deck: I think Notre Dame is a very solid team, but I see the Aggies as one of the best teams in the country. A&M is definitely a game that Tigers fans need to mark on their schedule because Marcel Reed and the Aggies are no joke. I’ll take A&M in a nail-bitter, 17-14.
Vanderbilt Commodores at No. 11 South Carolina Gamecocks (-4.5) (6:45 p.m. CST on SEC Network)
Sammy Stava: LaNorris Sellers and South Carolina take care of business at home under the lights. Diego Pavia and the Commodores make it interesting in the 4th quarter, but the Gamecocks will pull away late. 31-23, USC.
Josh Matejka: This is definitely a potential trap game for Cocky ahead of the Mayor’s Cup next week. Vanderbilt isn’t rolling over for anyone so long as Pavia is around, but LarNorris Sellers is the real deal. Typically, those guys don’t let games like this go south. 34-23, Gamecocks.
Nathan Hurst: This one should be a lot of fun and will give us our first real look at two of Mizzou’s upcoming SEC opponents. If this game was in Nashville I’d pick Vanderbilt to win outright. It’s in the lesser Columbia though, so give me South Carolina to cover (barely) 28-21.
True Deck: Similar to what Nathan said, this should be a good scouting report game for the Tigers. And if the Gamecocks win there is a serious chance that College Gameday comes to Columbia for the Mayor Cup. I think Sellers is going to prove to everybody why he was a Heisman candidate coming into the season and take the Commodores out. 35-14, Gamecocks.
