2025 Week 3 College Football Best Bets
2025 Week 3 College Football Best Bets
Week 2 of the 2025 college football season delivered. We had upsets with Arizona State losing on the road, and Florida losing in the Swamp. Oklahoma delivered a solid win in a ranked matchup against Michigan. And the Cy-Hawk game was close the entire way.
Week 3 looks like another great weekend for football. Conference play starts for some with a ranked matchup in the SEC. We also have a ranked matchup between Notre Dame and Texas A&M, with the Irish searching for their first win. And the Cinderella of the college football season, South Florida, takes on another state foe in Miami for the third ranked matchup on Saturday. Here are my favorite Week 3 college football plays.
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook. Lines are subject to change. Please gamble responsibly and within your means. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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Week 2: 3-2 (+.67 units)
Year to Date: 6-4 (+1.40 units)
Wisconsin (2-0) vs. #19 Alabama (1-1)
Alabama -21; O/U 46.5
1st Half: Alabama -12.5 (-108)
Home is where the heart is for the Crimson Tide. In the Kalen DeBoer era, the Crimson Tide have outscored opponents 169-31 in the first half of the seven home games. Against the four FBS teams, that margin is 71-25. Last year in Madison, Alabama was ahead 21-3 at halftime. Wisconsin is expected to be without quarterback Billy Edwards Jr. again in this one after exiting in the first half of the home opener against Miami of Ohio. Wisconsin has been off to a slow start offensively in both home contests, leading Miami of Ohio 3-0 at halftime and Middle Tennessee 14-10. This is the same Middle Tennessee team that lost by 20 to FCS Austin Peay the week prior. Now you go on the road to a frustrated Crimson Tide team that was embarrassed the last time they played a Power Four team? Alabama rolls early.
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#6 Georgia (2-0) vs. #15 Tennessee (2-0)
Tennessee +3.5; O/U 50.5
Georgia -3.5 (-110)
Tennessee: Team Total Under 22.5 (-110)
Josh Heupel is in his 5th season as Tennessee’s head coach. In three of his first four seasons in Knoxville, Tennessee has ranked in the top-15 in points per game. However, his kryptonite has come from Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs’ defense. Tennessee has never scored more than 17 points against Georgia, scoring 14.3 PPG. In those four matchups, Georgia has won by at least two scores in each contest.
Joey Aguillar has looked solid as a late replacement to Nico Iamaleava, this is just his fourth start against a Power Four team. The two games prior to this year’s opener against Syracuse came against North Carolina and Clemson. In those three games, Aguillar completed 50% of his 112 attempts for 6.57 YPA. Can this translate against the top of the SEC? I’m not buying it. I believe the game is too big for Aguillar early in his Tennessee career. I think Tennessee fails to clear their team total in the SEC opener.
Ohio (1-1) vs. #1 Ohio State (2-0)
Ohio State -32.5; O/U 52.5
Over 51.5 (-108)
Ohio State: Team Total Over 41.5 (-110)
Under Ryan Day, Ohio State has played a MAC school five times since 2019. Ohio State has averaged 64 PPG, scoring at least 52 in each contest. In 11 games against Group of Six teams, Ohio State is averaging 55 PPG, eclipsing 43 points in nine. The Buckeyes have no look ahead spot with their off week next week, before a trip out to Washington. Even with the backups coming in, Ohio State has plenty of firepower to score late.
We hit last week on Ohio and Parker Navarro upsetting West Virginia. This is the third straight game for the Bobcats against a Power Four team. I would expect them to do their part in clearing the Over for this game.
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Outright Underdogs (.5 units)
Week 2: 2-1 (+1.21 units)
Year to Date: 3-2 (+1.26 units)
Purdue vs. USC +900
Let’s get crazy with this one. USC did not play well last year on the road in Big Ten play, going 1-4. The lone win came against cross town rival UCLA. Purdue has not played anyone of relevance this year, beating a down Ball State and FCS Southern Illinois. But I think Barry Odom’s team can keep this one close going into the second half and give USC a scare.
Arkansas @ #17 Ole Miss +220
Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons sounds like a true game-time decision and is reportedly in a boot. Arkansas’s offense has been humming, and the Razorbacks are 9-3 ATS as an away underdog. This line could continue to move down pending on the news of Simmons’ status. I like Arkansas to pull a possible upset in their SEC opener.
Vanderbilt @ #11 South Carolina +150
Both have a common opponent in Virginia Tech, both took care of business. Diego Pavia is a gamer, going 2-2 on the road last year in SEC play. Both losses were one score games, with one being in overtime. And the #11 team in the country is only a 4.5-point favorite at home to an unranked team? The sportsbooks might be telling us something. I’m on the Commodores for the road upset.
Utah State vs. Air Force +150
Bronco Mendenhall is 6-2 all-time against the triple option. Utah State has been tested this year with games against UTEP and a ranked Texas A&M team. Air Force went 5-7 last year, but won just one of their first eight. This is the first true road game for Air Force quarterback Josh Johnson, and his first game against a FBS program. I like Utah State for an upset in their conference opener.
Cal vs. Minnesota +114
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele has looked great so far for the Golden Bears. Minnesota travels west to play a local 8:30 PM kickoff. This is Drake Lindsley’s first road start for the Golden Gophers. I think Cal gets this win as a home underdog.
What is your favorite 2025 week 3 college football best bets? Let me know on X!
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