Welcome to Week 3 of the college football season.
Each week, our VSiN experts will combine to give their best bets on select games.
It was a 5-5 showing for Week 2, but we're dusting ourselves off and we're back at it for Week 3. Odds are from DraftKings (unless noted) as of Wednesday night.
Season record: 6-11-1
Oklahoma (-11, 66.5) at Nebraska
Danny Burke: The buildup to this game would’ve been a lot more exciting if Nebraska hadn’t pulled a Nebraska. I’m kicking myself because I should’ve put more stock in taking the points with Georgia Southern last week. The Huskers had looked bad, the Eagles had been competitive and, most importantly, it was a major lookahead game for Nebraska with Oklahoma on the horizon.
Well, here are the Sooners for ya. And they’re ready to go. They’ve been nothing short of dominant thus far. Granted, their two matchups have come against UTEP and Kent State. So let’s not get too crazy.
Even before the season, I liked the idea of taking the points with the Huskers in this matchup. They opened as low as 2-point underdogs in some spots and rose to as high as 14.5-point dogs after the recent debacles. The reason I liked them is because we knew they had this game circled. Plus, it was assumed that Oklahoma’s roster would be worse this year considering all of the turnover from the coaching staff and beyond. And, let’s not forget, Nebraska stormed into Norman last year and almost beat that better Sooners team, with what many would consider a weaker Huskers roster.
But enough of all of that. Things have changed vastly in Lincoln, and for the better (signed, a pissed-off alum). It seemed as if Scott Frost was doing everything in his power to prevent this team from winning. I mean, seriously, from lousy play-calling to lack of aggression on fourth-and-shorts to, oh, let’s not forget, an onside kick with a double-digit lead. It was an absolute clown show and he’ll go down as one of the biggest letdowns of my entire sports fandom.
Mickey Joseph is an intelligent, organized adult who the players love and respect. He was able to bring a lot of these top recruits to Lincoln, so the boys will be ready to rally around him. Teams always seem to get an extra boost in the game after a coach is fired. Plus, Memorial Stadium will be rocking with a sense of excitement knowing it can’t (hopefully) get much worse. And we’re getting almost a double-digit difference from the opening number on a Nebraska team that should’ve been, and still could be, in a prime spot for an upset.
Nebraska should be 3-0 right now, and Saturday is a chance for a reset.
Play: Nebraska + 11
Vanderbilt at Northern Illinois (-2.5, 58.5)
Jeff Parles: You can throw out the records when the SEC goes on the road to MAC country! Obviously, I’m kidding. It’s very rare for an opponent from the best conference in the country (even if it is Vandy) to take a trip such as this one.
The Huskies struggled to put away Eastern Illinois in Week 1 and covered in a tight loss last week on the road at Tulsa. Michigan State transfer Rocky Lombardi was much better in the second half last week than he was in Week 1.
Vanderbilt was very impressive in their Week 0 thumping of Hawaii and a no-sweat victory over Elon in Week 1 before Wake Forest dominated the Commodores in Week 2. Mike Wright will start after being benched for AJ Swann against the Demon Deacons.
Neither defensive unit in this matchup is any good. Northern Illinois has given up over six yards per play in each game they have played. Vanderbilt, after a solid performance against Hawaii, is giving up an average of 6.6 yards per play the last two weeks.
I like the Commodores on the road. I expect Wright to bounce back with a big game against a soft defense. Vanderbilt’s defense gets enough stops in the end to cover and win the game outright against Northern Illinois.
Pick: Vanderbilt + 2.5 (sprinkle on ML + 120)
Colorado State at Washington State (-17, 54)
Adam Burke: It was a jubilant flight home for the Cougars, who had a long trip back from Madison, Wisconsin, but it came as winners over a Top 25 team. It was a huge, signature win for Jake Dickert and the Cougs, but it was also another sluggish offensive performance. Wazzu ranks 90th in the nation in yards per play and has only run 126 plays in two games, which ranks near the bottom.
Colorado State has run even fewer plays (123), but the Rams have only managed 3.78 yards per play. A blowout at the hands of Michigan in the first game was to be expected, but getting held to 3.84 YPP by Middle Tennessee was an awful look for Mike Norvell and Matt Mumme. The Rams are transitioning to an Air Raid offense and have mustered just 72 rushing yards through two games, including a -10 effort last week against the Blue Raiders.