After a slow week 2 at the top of the rankings the season is moving along with what should be some better matchups this weekend. Showcased by a big ranked vs. ranked matchup in the SEC we also get to see the early 2025 season darlings USF travel to Miami and a few other games worth checking out before the Notre Dame night game.
2025 Betting Record
Against the Spread: 7-12
Straight Up: 8-11
Picked the Sooners to win and that’s all that matters.
I hate being under .500 on straight up picks but we’ll get over the hump soon. Last week, I missed on the Sooners covering against visiting Michigan but at least picked the win correctly. We were also treated to this sideline argument between quarterback Bryce Underwood and running back Justice Haynes. Let the good vibes continue!
Week 3 Games to Watch
All times are Eastern. Rankings are from the AP Poll.
#12 Clemson [-2.5] at Georgia Tech
Saturday, September 13, 12:00 PM, ESPN
This is a great game to open the afternoon on Saturday. Clemson comes in licking their wounds from their opener loss and a lackluster effort against Troy last weekend. Georgia Tech is a chaotic good program capable of hanging with many teams, but carrying a brutal 9-game losing streak against Clemson stretching back to 2015. Perhaps this is the game where Clemson wakes up? Or, maybe they just aren’t that good and this is the wrong junkyard dog Georgia Tech to be playing after a shaky start to the season?
“We can’t lose to these nerds.”
Georgia Tech 27
Clemson 24
Wisconsin [+20.5] at #19 Alabama
Saturday, September 13, 12:00 PM, ABC
Alabama looked shaky in 2024 and still went into Madison and won by 32 points last year. Can the Badgers stop the Alabama run game like Florida State did a couple weeks ago? So far, Wisconsin has bottled up Miami (OH) and MTSU for a combined 67 rushing yards on 50 carries. Now the competition steps up. Maybe this is more competitive than last year? Boy, when was the last time Wisconsin had a quality win? They haven’t beaten a ranked team since 2021!
Alabama 32
Wisconsin 17
#6 Georgia [-3.5] at #15 Tennessee
Saturday, September 13, 3:30 PM, ABC
I’ve been keeping my eye on Georgia this season with a thought that they might not be in the elite ranks. The advanced stats still love them, no doubt. Maybe it was the 28 points scored last week against Austin Peay? Perhaps I don’t believe in Gunner Stockton being much of a difference maker? This is the start of a really tough stretch for the Dawgs, including Alabama next week. I can’t say Tennessee fills me with a ton of confidence, either. Perhaps overtime?
Georgia 39
Tennessee 36
Pittsburgh [-6.5] at West Virginia
Saturday, September 13, 3:30 PM, ESPN
This is the 4th straight year of the Backyard Brawl after a shameful 11-year absence. This is always an entertaining rivalry with the vast majority of the games–including the most recent varieties–being quite close. West Virginia is coming off a loss at Ohio (yikes) and lost their starting running back and top wide receiver in the process (double yikes). This line jumped 4 points in favor of Pitt recently. I’m sticking to the underdog Pitt storyline for 2025.
Pittsburgh 29
West Virginia 13
#18 USF [+17.5] at #5 Miami
Saturday, September 13, 4:30 PM, CW Network
The CW Network is owned by NBC and on the big network they’ll be showing Tottenham at West Ham Premier League action until 4:00 PM with the Irish game coming later at night. No one was expecting this ranked vs. ranked matchup in week 3. For the Notre Dame schedule strength of course a solid Hurricanes win is preferred. This is a lot of points to cover, though. I’m guessing USF is going to be pretty worn down after 2 tough games already.
It’s been a dream season for USF so far.
Miami 35
USF 20
Arkansas [+7.5] at #17 Ole Miss
Saturday, September 13, 7:00 PM, ESPN
Now would be a good time to tune into Arkansas before they host Notre Dame–maybe click over to ESPN during commercials of the Irish game. I mentioned quarterback Taylen Green as one of the most underrated players in the country during the off-season and so far he’s tied for the national lead with 10 touchdown passes and his 192 rushing yards are the most in 2025 among power program quarterbacks, too. Now, he gets to play a real team on the road. This will be a great test.
Ole Miss 47
Arkansas 44
Florida [+7.5] at #3 LSU
Saturday, September 13, 7:30 PM, ABC
Man, Florida is facing a tough road ahead. Their schedule was so difficult going into 2025 that a loss to USF last week could very well mean a sub-.500 finish even if they start to play well. They might be on a 5 game losing streak a month from now! It was a weird off-season for the Gators where many expected quarterback DJ Lagway to make a big jump and all of their problems to go away. Well, it hasn’t happened.
Up next for the reeling Gators…
Although, if you’re into chuckling about it this would be a pretty funny situation for Brian Kelly to lose when everyone is shoveling dirt on Florida’s grave. Given their respective situations, 7.5 points does not seem like many points, I bet there are Tiger fans predicting a blowout win.
LSU 30
Florida 20
Vanderbilt [+4.5] at #11 South Carolina
Saturday, September 13, 7:45 PM, SEC Network
These two teams have played a lot in modern times and I was surprised to see the Gamecocks leading the series heavily 30-4 with wins in the last 16 games. Clark Lea has been quite the disruptor in the SEC lately but the last couple against South Carolina have not been close–the Commodores have been outscored 75-13. I’m surprised the line is this close!
South Carolina 31
Vanderbilt 16
