Preview and picks for Week 3 of the College Football season
Week 3 of the 2026 college football season begins with a new team at No. 1 in the AP and Coaches Poll after No. 4 Texas stunned No. 1 Ohio State with an improbable comeback in Austin to escape with a 24-23 win. The Buckeye's and Oregon Ducks from the Big Ten drop down after Oregon also suffered a stunning loss as a 24-point road favorite at Oklahoma State. Key games in the Top 25 again headline the college football Week 3 schedule with more big games in the weeks ahead.
Texas is now No. 1 followed by fellow SEC team Georgia at No. 2. Notre Dame, Indiana and Miami round out the top 5 with all receiving at least one first place vote along with No. 7 LSU.
The No. 7 ranked LSU Tigers and coach Lane Kiffin headlined the Week 3 schedule as they hit the road to tackle the No. 8 Ole Miss Rebels and Kiffin's former team. What a college football theatre, environment and scene that will be this week in Oxford, Mississippi.
A marquee matchup in the Big 12 is on Friday with No. 22 Houston at No. 13 Texas Tech. This week BYU moved up to No. 11 in the AP Poll as the highest-rated team from the Big 12.
Top 25 Games and Week 3 Odds
Betting lines and college football odds from BetOnline and top online sportsbooks refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. Point spread on favorites plus game totals. All times ET.
Check back by Friday each week and my updates on X as Fairways Forecast adds Picks and Opinions with select analysis, stats and information you can bet on.
Fri, Sept. 18
- No. 5 Miami (-21) at Wake Forest, total 56 | 7:30 pm | ESPN
- No. 22 Houston at No. 13 Texas Tech (-7.5), 53 | 8 pm | FOX
- Portland State at No. 21 Oregon (NL) | 8 pm | BTN
Sat, Sept. 19
- Texas San Antonio at No. 1 Texas (-30), total 58 | 8 pm | ABC
- No. 2 Georgia (-25.5) at Arkansas, 54 | 12 pm | ABC
- Michigan State at No. 3 Notre Dame (-29), 52.5 | 7:30 pm | NBC
- Western Kentucky at No. 4 Indiana (-44), 60 | 4 pm | NBCSN
- Kent State at No. 6 Ohio State (-52.5) 60 | 12 pm | FOX
- No. 7 LSU (-3) at No. 8 Ole Miss, 59 | 7:30 pm. | ABC
- Kentucky at No. 9 Texas A&M (-17), 50 | 3:30 pm | ESPN
- Florida State at No. 10 Alabama (-20.5), 49.5 | 3:30 pm | ABC
- No. 11 BYU (-18) at Colorado State, 52.5 | 7:30 pm | CBS Online
- No. 12 USC (-24) at Rutgers, 59.5 | 3:30 pm | CBS
- Buffalo at No. 14 Penn State (-39.5), 48 | 12 pm | BTN
- Kennesaw State at No. 15 Tennessee (NL) | 7:45 pm | SECN
- No. 16 SMU at No. 23 Louisville (-1.5), 59.5 | 3:30 pm | ESPN2
- Utah State at No. 17 Utah (-28 ), 57 | 3:30 pm | FOX
- Northern Iowa at No. 18 Iowa (NL) | : pm | FS1
- UTEP at No. 19 Michigan (-35), 48 | 3:30 pm | BTN
- Troy at No. 20 Missouri (-27), 50 | 4 pm | SECN
- New Mexico at No. 24 Oklahoma (-21.5), 46.5 | 7:30 pm | ESPN2
- West Virginia vs No. 25 Virginia (-10), 53.5 (Charlotte) | 7:30 pm | ACCN
Others receiving votes: Washington 172, Florida 83, Boise State 57, Oklahoma State 36, Western Michigan 35, Tulsa, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, UCLA, James Madison, Arizona, North Dakota State, Pittsburgh, Kansas State
Notable line and total adjustments from opener
- Miami -22.5 to -21
- Texas Tech -8.5 to -7.5
- Penn State -38.5 to -39.5
Other games of interest
- Florida (-2.5) at Auburn, 53.5 (up from 52.5)
- North Carolina at Clemson (-3.5), 44.5
- Mississippi State at South Carolina (-4), 59.5
- NC State at Vanderbilt (-3.5), 51 (down from 53)
- Colorado at Northwestern (-4), 49
- Virginia Tech (-3) at Maryland, 53.5
- Arizona State (-6) at Kansas, 52 (up from -5)
- Stanford at Duke (-9.5), 51
- Purdue at UCLA (-15.5), 53
- Miami, Ohio at Cincinnati (-14.5), 50.5
- North Texas at Texas State (-3), 63.5
- James Madison at San Diego State (-2), 46.5
- Fresno State (-6.5) at San Jose State (50.5)
- Ohio at South Alabama (-4.5), 51
- East Carolina at Old Dominion (-3), 49
- Florida Int'l at Florida Atlantic (-6.5), 63
Stats, Strategies and ATS Notes
More stats, ATS and matchup updates with information you can bet on provided by Friday.
Bet on college Football at one of these top rated sportsbooks!
Select Week 3 Top 25 Matchups and Picks
Week 3 College Football Picks
- Louisville (-1.5)
- LSU/Ole Miss - Over 58.5
NCAA Football Opinions
- Houston (+8) and Under 52.5
- West Virginia (+10.5 / 11), in Charlotte
- Colorado State (+17.5)
Non-Top 25
Opinions
- NC State (+3.5)
- Florida (-2)
- Kansas State (-20.5)
- Purdue (+14.5)
Houston at Texas Tech
Texas Tech's rise to power and run to last season's College Football Playoff overshadowed Houston's 10 win season. Now two Big 12 leaders and Top 25 teams collide in a major watch and wager Friday night showdown in Lubbock. 
This line has dropped a full TD from preseason spreads, and the Red Raiders had to rally in the 4Q last week in a look ahead spot to win at Oregon State 35-24 as a 26' point favorite while getting out-gained by the Beavers. The Cougars are also 2-0 having also won 33-20 over Oregon State in Week 1 but more dominant statiscially while -2 in turnovers. Houston leads the nation in third-down conversion rate (71%), and this is an experienced Cougar's team with a veteran quarterback and a solid run defense led by "Novocain" disciplined coach Willie Fritz. Tech's run and pass defense is talented, but not yet performing to expectations, and the Cougars can claw and hang tough with less scoring than expected.
LSU at Ole Miss
One of the most anticipated games of the season, in a most hostile environment for visiting LSU. Ole Miss is also on a 23-1 straight up run at home. Plenty of pace and plays in this key SEC showdown, and shootout.
SMU at Louisville
A key contest in the ACC is more meaningful as neither of these league challengers play top team Miami this season. More attention and accolades given to SMU senior QB Kevin Jennings. But Louisville QB Lincoln Kienholz has been brilliant so far while passing for 639 yards, 4 TD's and rushing for 3 more touchdowns behind a stronger offensive line in this matchup. Louisville has also been more challenged in a close, Week 1 loss vs. Mississippi. Louisville has not turned the ball over yet this season, and we prefer the Cardinals and their superior coaching and preparation with more questions for SMU's DL and overall defense.
West Virginia vs. Virginia - Riding Rich Rod's Mountaineers as a double-digit 'Dog and downgrading to an Opinion in this Duke's Mayo Classic on a neutral field in Charlotte where the Mountaineer fans will give the team a home-field vibe. 
First meeting since a 2002 bowl game, and this is West Virginia's chance to become nationally relevant, just as Virginia did last season when they broke through on the national scene with their best season in school history. Sure there are concerns with the Mountaineers defense having allowed eight pass plays of 20+ yards in two games vs. inferior opponents. But players and teams improve with more reps, chemistry and cohesion. That includes on offense with WVU RB Cam Cook and dual-threat QB Michael Hawkins Jr. providing more pound the ground through motion and quick hit hitches. The Mountaineers have rushed for nearly 300 yards per game in two contests vs. inferior foes. The Cavaliers have proven they have the edge on defense, but Rich Rod's heavy-run scheme and tempo is a more challenging task and will not allow Virginia to swap its personnel on defense.
Check back Saturday for any additions, stats, analysis and information you can bet on.
You can bet on it.
FairwayJay is a leading sports betting industry analyst, handicapper, content creator, reporter and credentialed media member based in Las Vegas. He's been covering major sports including college football and NFL plus golf from a betting perspective for more than two decades. FairwayJay is also on the scene for NHL and major sports and poker events plus industry conferences and college football media days. Follow @FairwayJay on X and OSGA for more betting insight and information you can bet on.
