The ABC prime-time matchup of Week 3 is No. 4 Ohio State at No. 15 TCU, although those rankings could change in Monday’s new polls. This is the Buckeyes’ only legitimate non-conference test and is played in Arlington, Texas. It’s also the last game where Urban Meyer can’t coach the Buckeyes on game day (he can in practice); some thought he would get a two-game suspension so he could coach this major test.
This was originally going to be a home-and-home with the Frogs, but was changed to a one-off at a neutral site because a home-and-home “wasn’t a good business plan,” according to TCU coach Gary Patterson. Obviously, TCU should have the big advantage in fan support, but AT&T Stadium was the site of two of Ohio State’s biggest wins in recent years. The inaugural College Football Playoff national title game was there in January 2015 and OSU beat Oregon 42-20. Last season, the Buckeyes beat USC 24-7 there in the Cotton Bowl. That was the last college game for both Sam Darnold of the Trojans and Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett.
Ohio State, which certainly will be favored on the college football odds, is 4-1-1 all-time vs. TCU. The schools haven’t played since 1973. On the BoDog
summer line, OSU was -12. That site was just about dead on as OSU has opened at -12.5.
No. 12 LSU (+10) at No. 7 Auburn (-10)
Huge early-season game in the SEC West between Tigers to perhaps tell us which school will be the primary challenger to Alabama. Both already have terrific wins, with Auburn opening with a 21-16 win over Washington in Atlanta in Week 1 before dusting Alabama State in Week 2. LSU upset No. 8 Miami 33-17 in Week 1 and then took care of business against SE Louisiana.
The winner here should start at least 5-0. Auburn is home to Arkansas and Southern Miss next. LSU is home to Louisiana Tech and Ole Miss. Last year, unranked LSU knocked off No. 10 Auburn 27-23 in Baton Rouge. Auburn led 20-0 in the second quarter but was blanked in the second half and held to 64 yards.
Auburn won’t be a 12-point favorite now on the NCAAF odds.
No. 20 Boise State (+3) at Oklahoma State (-3)
If Boise State has any shot of crashing the College Football Playoff, obviously the Broncos will have to go unbeaten – and even that may not be enough. I could easily see Boise doing that should it win in Stillwater. Its toughest Mountain West games appear to be at home, although a trip to Air Force is never easy.
The Pokes, meanwhile, have begun the post-Mason Rudolph era with maybe the easiest first two opponents of any Power 5 school trouncing Missouri State and South Alabama. It’s the first-ever meeting between Boise and OSU and will be a “stripe-out” game for Cowboys fans.
No. 10 Washington (-7.5) at Utah (+7.5)
Washington now has no wiggle room to reach the College Football Playoff after losing Week 1 in Atlanta to Auburn. The Huskies bounced back from that with a win over North Dakota State. Either this or an Oct. 13 trip to Oregon figures to be UW’s toughest Pac-12 road test. Utah opened with an easy win over Weber State before traveling to MAC school Northern Illinois in Week 2.
On paper, this would seem to be a low-scoring game between good defenses, but the past four in the series have gone ‘over’ the total. Last year, UW was a 17.5-point favorite (total of 47) and escaped 33-30 in Seattle. Washington tied it at 30-all on Myles Gaskin’s 2-yard TD run with 58 seconds remaining and won it on Tristan Vizcaino’s 38-yard field goal as time expired. Utah is 3-0 ATS in the past three meetings but is 1-10 SU in the series overall. That win was 2015 in Seattle.
Around the AAC (All Games Saturday Unless Noted)
Georgia State at Memphis (-24.5), Friday, 7 p.m. ET, on ESPN: Memphis was dealt a large blow in losing to Navy to repeat as AAC West champs, but has won 14 straight non-Saturday games. Georgia State is 22-10 ATS on the road in their brief FBS history.
No. 18 UCF (-14.5) at North Carolina, noon ET, on ESPNU: Central Florida brings their 15-game winning streak (8-5-1 ATS) to Chapel Hill to face suspension-ridden North Carolina. The Tar Heels are 16-30 ATS at home games in the first month of the season.
Temple (+16) at Maryland, noon ET, on BTN: Temple was supposed to be a contender in the AAC East but is 0-2 SU and ATS as nonconference favorites. Maryland leads the series all-time with a 7-1 (5-3 ATS) record.
Rhode Island at Connecticut (TBA), noon ET, on ESPN3: Rhode Island is 2-0 to the start the season and is 2-8 against UConn in their most recent meetings. Connecticut was blasted twice by ranked foes and has not covered as a home favorite since 2011. (0-11 ATS)
East Carolina (+29) at No. 13 Virginia Tech, 12:20 a.m. ET, on ACCN: East Carolina got a surprise win over North Carolina last week, but a trip to Blacksburg will not be as easy being 1-9 ATS as a road underdog. These teams have met nine of the past 10 years and Virginia Tech is 6-3 SU and 3-6 ATS.
Tulane (-3.5) at UAB, 1 p.m. ET: First meeting since 2012, but prior to this these southern schools played nine times since 1999. Tulane holds a 5-4 and 6-2-1 ATS margin.
South Florida (-9.5) vs. Illinois, 3:30 p.m. ET, on BTN: This matchup is being played at Soldier Field in Chicago. USF won last year’s contest 47-23 as 16.5 point favorites, rushing for 376 yards. Illinois has started 2-0 for the sixth straight season and is 0-5 SU and 1-4 in Game 3.
Lehigh at Navy (TBA), 3:30 p.m. ET, on CBSSN: Lehigh of the Patriot Conference is 1-1 to 2018 and the last time they faced Navy was 105 years ago. Navy had a great bounce-back win against Memphis but is just 2-6 AATS as home favorites the last two years.
Houston (TBA) at Texas Tech, 4:15 p.m. ET, on Fox: If Houston can win this Lone State showdown, the Cougars will have legitimate shot at being 6-0 heading to the game at Navy. Texas Tech is 6-1 SU and 5-2 ATS since 1992 in this confrontation of old Southwest Conference rivals.
Alabama A&M at Cincinnati (TBA), 7 p.m. ET, on ESPN3: The Bulldogs from the SWAC are 1-1 to start this season and face a Cincinnati team that is a stunning 2-0 SU and ATS. The Bearcats are 0-3 ATS in home openers of late, including a 52-10 win as 45-point favorites versus the same opponent.
Arkansas State at Tulsa (+1), 7 p.m. ET, on CBSSN: After getting ambushed by Alabama, Arkansas State welcomes the step down in class, but is just 1-8 ATS in September the last three years. First meeting since 2003 and Tulsa is 6-3 ATS is just 5-8 ATS in a sandwiched home game since 2014.