Week 3 College Football Best Bets from Wes Reynolds:

Let’s take a look at my Week 3 College Football Best Bets.

 

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No. 13 Oklahoma State (-19.5; 62.5) at Tulsa

Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Despite being outgained 648-385, Oklahoma State came back from a 21-7 halftime deficit to defeat Arkansas, 39-31 in double overtime. The Cowboys defeated FCS No. 1 South Dakota State, 44-20, in the opener, where they only outgained the Jackrabbits 394-388. Oklahoma State is +3 through two games in turnover margin and 3-for-4 on fourth down versus their opponent’s mark of 0-for-6.

Meanwhile, Tulsa gave up a 17-7 halftime lead last weekend at Arkansas State, falling 28-24.

While these teams do not meet annually, the programs have faced off 77 times (Oklahoma State 44-28-5 series lead), and Tulsa has not defeated the Cowboys since 1998.

Even though he is an offense guy, Tulsa head coach Kevin Wilson certainly has familiarity with Mike Gundy as Wilson spent nine years at Oklahoma under Bob Stoops.

Oklahoma State is not in the best of spots here with yet another 11 a.m. CT kickoff and having to host Utah and travel to Kansas State for the next two games. It is also fair to wonder how much energy the Cowboys have out of the gate, especially on defense, considering they played 90 snaps and now have to do without edge rusher Collin Oliver, who ranks fourth amongst all edges in FBS for pass rush grade and was second for QB pressures per PFF.

Week 3 College Football Best Bet: Tulsa +19.5; Under 62.5

Central Michigan (+19; 48.5) at Illinois

Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET (PEACOCK)

Illinois ended up being a late add for me at +5 last week and won outright 23-17 over No. 19 Kansas. A late first-half pick-six turned the tide of the game for the Illini, who benefited from four Kansas turnovers, including three INTs from Jalon Daniels.

The fans in Champaign stormed the field for the big win over the ranked opponent. Now Illinois has to come down from the high to face a MAC opponent before traveling to Nebraska next week.

Central Michigan is off a blowout loss (52-16) vs. FIU last week, primarily due to -6 turnovers, including the new starting quarterback, Joe Labas, who threw 5 INTs.

Bret Bielema is just 5-10 ATS as a home favorite in his fourth season in Champaign. On the other hand, Jim McElwain covered at Notre Dame last year and at Oklahoma State and at Penn State in 2022, so he has demonstrated the ability to get his Chippewas up for Power 4 opponents.

Fire Up Chips!

Week 3 College Football Best Bet: Central Michigan +19

Vanderbilt (-10.5; 44.5) at Georgia State

Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ET (ESPN2)

Vandy is 2-0 to start the season including an upset of Virginia Tech in Week 1. Now, the Commodores travel to Atlanta to face Georgia State before their SEC opener at Missouri.

Both teams are led by transfer QBs, with Vandy’s Diego Pavia (New Mexico State) and Georgia State’s Christian Veilleux (Penn State and Pittsburgh).

Vanderbilt has transformed its offense to heavier emphasis on the run game, having run the ball 87 times in two games vs. only 30 passing plays. Pavia has run it 39 times for 155 yards and two touchdowns by himself.

Georgia State is 1-1 and escaped 27-24 over Chattanooga, who began this year ranked No. 9 in FCS. The Panthers lost 35-12 in their opener at Georgia Tech, but the game was closer than the final score indicated, as Georgia State only mustered three points in three separate goal-to-go situations.

GSU started the season a bit behind the eight-ball with former head coach Shawn Elliott resigning in February to take a position on Shane Beamer’s South Carolina staff, so Dell McGee, previously the running backs coach at Georgia, was a late hire.

I’m willing to go against a Vanderbilt team that is not used to the role as road favorite.

Week 3 College Football Best Bet: Georgia State +10.5

Other Week 3 College Football Best Bets:
Wisconsin Under 16.5 TT vs. No. 4 Alabama
Indiana -145 ML at UCLA
Kennesaw State +19.5 at San Jose State

For more College Football Week 3 predictions, visit the exclusive College Football Week 3 Hub at VSiN.com.

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