The best college football bets for Week 3, as of September 8, 2026: 8 picks across the week's slate, each one our own number against the bookmaker's price.
On Saturday 12 September 2026,
Oklahoma State Cowboys host
Oregon Ducks in college football. The bet we are looking at is Under 47.5 Total Points. This wins if the two sides score fewer than 47.5 points between them. This is one of the bookmaker's alternate lines, not the main one, so the price is different. It was priced at +293 when we wrote this, so a $10 bet returns $39.30 if it lands. That price was showing at DraftKings. Our model likes this one a lot. Prices move, so check the price at your bookmaker before you back it. And if this one does not feel right to you, skipping it is a perfectly good move. On Saturday 12 September 2026,
Minnesota Golden Gophers host Mississippi State Bulldogs in college football. The bet we are looking at is Minnesota Golden Gophers -7.5 Point Spread. On this line Minnesota Golden Gophers give up 7.5 points before the game starts, so they have to win by more than 7.5. This is one of the bookmaker's alternate lines, not the main one, so the price is different. It was priced at +387 when we wrote this, so a $10 bet returns $48.70 if it lands. That price was showing at DraftKings. Our model leans this way, without being sure. Prices move, so check the price at your bookmaker before you back it. And if this one does not feel right to you, skipping it is a perfectly good move. On Saturday 12 September 2026, Temple Owls host
Penn State Nittany Lions in college football. The bet we are looking at is Temple Owls 13.5 Point Spread. On this line Temple Owls start with 13.5 points in hand, so they can lose by less than that and this still wins. This is one of the bookmaker's alternate lines, not the main one, so the price is different. It was priced at +250 when we wrote this, so a $10 bet returns $35 if it lands. That price was showing at DraftKings. Our model likes this one a lot. Prices move, so check the price at your bookmaker before you back it. And if this one does not feel right to you, skipping it is a perfectly good move. On Saturday 12 September 2026,
Kentucky Wildcats host
Alabama Crimson Tide in college football. The bet we are looking at is Kentucky Wildcats 2.5 Point Spread. On this line Kentucky Wildcats start with 2.5 points in hand, so they can lose by less than that and this still wins. This is one of the bookmaker's alternate lines, not the main one, so the price is different. It was priced at +235 when we wrote this, so a $10 bet returns $33.50 if it lands. That price was showing at DraftKings. Our model leans this way, without being sure. Prices move, so check the price at your bookmaker before you back it. And if this one does not feel right to you, skipping it is a perfectly good move. On Saturday 12 September 2026,
Pittsburgh Panthers host
UCF Knights in college football. The bet we are looking at is Under 50.5 Total Points. This wins if the two sides score fewer than 50.5 points between them. This is one of the bookmaker's alternate lines, not the main one, so the price is different. It was priced at +181 when we wrote this, so a $10 bet returns $28.10 if it lands. That price was showing at DraftKings. Our model likes this one a lot. Prices move, so check the price at your bookmaker before you back it. And if this one does not feel right to you, skipping it is a perfectly good move. On Saturday 12 September 2026, Michigan Wolverines host
Oklahoma Sooners in college football. The bet we are looking at is Michigan Wolverines 2.5 Point Spread. On this line Michigan Wolverines start with 2.5 points in hand, so they can lose by less than that and this still wins. This is one of the bookmaker's alternate lines, not the main one, so the price is different. It was priced at +152 when we wrote this, so a $10 bet returns $25.20 if it lands. That price was showing at DraftKings. Our model likes this one a lot. Prices move, so check the price at your bookmaker before you back it. And if this one does not feel right to you, skipping it is a perfectly good move. On Saturday 12 September 2026,
Texas State Bobcats host UTSA Roadrunners in college football. The bet we are looking at is Under 63 Total Points. This wins if the two sides score fewer than 63 points between them. This is one of the bookmaker's alternate lines, not the main one, so the price is different. It was priced at +110 when we wrote this, so a $10 bet returns $21 if it lands. That price was showing at Bovada. Our model likes this one a lot. Prices move, so check the price at your bookmaker before you back it. And if this one does not feel right to you, skipping it is a perfectly good move. On Friday 11 September 2026,
Louisville Cardinals host
Villanova Wildcats in college football. The bet we are looking at is Louisville Cardinals -36.5 Point Spread. On this line Louisville Cardinals give up 36.5 points before the game starts, so they have to win by more than 36.5. It was priced at -110 when we wrote this, so a $10 bet returns $19.09 if it lands. That price was showing at FanDuel. Our model likes this one a lot. Prices move, so check the price at your bookmaker before you back it. And if this one does not feel right to you, skipping it is a perfectly good move.