College football Week 3 picks + viewing guide

It’s certainly an atypical Week 3 of the college football season, with only one matchup between ranked teams. But that doesn’t mean there isn’t something worth watching and wagering on.

After six months of doubt about the feasibility of games this fall, intrastate and regional matchups, like Tulsa vs. Oklahoma State, on a sunny Saturday morning still offer plenty of intrigue.

Let’s take a look at three of the more appealing games on this weekend’s card.

Tulsa vs. Oklahoma State

All rankings this year must come with an asterisk due to the absence of so many teams, but Oklahoma State comes in ranked 11th and appears poised to be one of the primary challengers to Oklahoma’s conference dominance.

OSU returns 10 starters on defense and has talented, but inconsistent quarterback Spencer Sanders back to lead the offense. Rather shockingly, star running back Chuba Hubbard and wide receiver Tylan Wallace also return, and the offensive line has 60 starts between them.

Baylor transfer QB Zach Smith leads Tulsa, and while he’s got the talent to spread it around and open things up through the air, Oklahoma State looks to have too much firepower.

Pick: Oklahoma State -21.5

Appalachian State vs. Marshall

Appalachian State has been the pride of the Sun Belt for many years now, but Marshall has been a consistently competitive team in Conference USA for years, as well.

In this cross-conference matchup, App State enters as four-point favorites. Both teams are 1-0 on the season, as Marshall kicked things off in Week 1 with a commanding 59-0 victory over Eastern Kentucky, while App State defeated Charlotte 35-20 in Week 2.

The Thundering Herd preferred to run in 2019, but in their season opener, QB Grant Wells went 16-of-23 passing for 307 yards and four touchdowns.

While App State is clearly a step up in competition, it has to be encouraging to see Marshall have such success through the air. More impressively, five Herd receivers caught for at least 40 yards, which indicates they have depth and big-play potential.

I like the Herd to hang tough at home.

Pick: Marshall +4

Texas State vs. Louisiana Monroe

Sure, this isn’t going to make ABC prime time, but for bettors there will still be a winner and a loser out of this matchup.

Texas State is 0-2 straight up, while ULM is 0-1 straight up. Neither team is very good, and Texas State has played a QB shuffle through the first two weeks due to COVID. Normal starter and shifty playmaker Brady McBride started Week 1, then was a last-minute scratch to backup Tyler Vitt in Week 2.

In Week 3, Texas State opened as 1.5-point favorites and has quickly jumped to four-point favorites.

While McBride sat out the second game because of COVID protocols, it appears it was due to precautionary measures and not because he had tested positive for the coronavirus. Expect him to play and lead Texas State to a shootout victory in this battle.

Reverse line movement suggests Texas State is the only play to make in this game.

Pick: Texas State -4

NCAAF betting trends

Tulsa is 5-15-1 ATS in its last 21 games against the Big 12 conference.

Tulsa is 0-4 ATS in its last four vs. Oklahoma State.

Oklahoma State has won 24 straight home openers.

Appalachian State is 1-5 ATS in its last six games on artificial turf.

ULM is 4-11 ATS in its last 15 games.

Road team is 4-0 ATS the last 4 games between Texas State and ULM.

Head to BetAmerica for the latest NCAAF odds!