Week 3 college football thread: It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad, Madison World

Games I like this week:
• Arizona State -1.5 at Texas State (Thursday) — Arizona State had a nice run as a spunky underdog last season. I think they’re actually pretty good this year — good enough to finish with a winning record, at least, and good enough to cover a small line on the road.

• Arizona +7 at Kansas State (Friday) — Feels like a one-score game between two evenly-matched Top 25 teams, so give me the team getting the points.

• UNLV ML at Kansas (Friday) — UNLV was another spunky underdog in 2023 who actually looks good so far in 2024. Bit of a flyer here, but that’s why it’s called gambling, right?

• Texas A&M -4.5 at Florida — Oh hell yes. Until furtner notice, or until Billy Napier is fired, any time Florida is getting less than a touchdown I am on board.

• Oregon State +16 vs. Oregon — Oregon hasn’t shown anything yet to show me they deserve to be 16-point favorites. Let alone in a rivalry game, against a motivated opponent, on the road.

• Nevada +16.5 at Minnesota — Nevada has played three games decided by a total of 10 points. They’re probably overmatched here, but I’ll roll the dice and hope they keep it close.

• Memphis +6.5 at Florida State — Seriously, look at that clip I posted earlier.

• New Mexico +28.5 at Auburn — I’m getting on board with New Mexico as one of this year’s “Spunky underdogs who constantly get 20+ points for some reason.” I love those teams.

• BYU -10.5/O39.5 at Wyoming — After getting blown out by Arizona State and beaten at home by Idaho, Wyoming is officially terrible. I think BYU wins this and covers the total themselves.

• Texas -35.5 vs. UTSA — UTSA got its doors blown off by Texas State last week. What do you think regular Texas is going to do to them?

And some games I wanted to like, but can’t:
• Louisiana Tech +22 at North Carolina State — North Carolina State is not great, but I just don’t know if Louisiana Tech has this one in them. Maybe if they were getting another touchdown.

• Arkansas -24.5 vs. UAB — This line opened at 21 and swelled to 24.5 by the time I got to it. I like Arkansas to roll, but a gut feeling is telling me to stay away at that price. There are enough good options on the board that I’ll listen to my gut.

• Kentucky +24.5 vs. Georgia — Kentucky often gives Georgia some trouble. But after they passed for 44 yards against South Carolina, how on Earth can you trust them against Georgia?

• Tennessee -49.5 vs. Kent State — Another game where I really like the favorite to win easily, but that spread is just too much to chew on. A regrettable pass.

 

Also weird to see WSU-UW in week 3. Or actually not seeing the Apple Cup at all, because it’s on Peacock.

Should be a good matchup, too … the Cougs have a shot at winning, and will have a boulder sized chip on their shoulders.

 

Is anyone else having problems getting Youtube links on this site to run? Every one I try to play errors out. Just started a few days ago.

 

The local yokels and fanboys out this way are saying Lanning is "saving stuff" for the Big 10 season to explain the underwhelming wins.

 

What in the wide wide world of sports is Arizona State doing playing at Texas State for?

 

either to give the 22 Texans on the roster a game closer to home or to help continue recruiting Texas with what they think is a gimme game?

 

Backyard Brawl is Saturday, not that you'd really notice it. Much more important to promote LSU versus South Carolina and whatnot.

 

This could be a Southwest Airlines commercial.

 

Narrator: They did not, in fact, roll their asses.

 

If Texas State winds up being a playoff team, I demand Kathy Ireland be the guest picker on Gameday.

 

I had no idea Texas State was coached by Jon Rahm.

 

I've demanded a lot of things of Kathy Ireland. None have come to fruition.