What ten games appear to be the best bets and the best point total picks going into the first weekend of Week 3? Here you go. Enjoy.
Week 3 Fearless Predictions, Game Previews
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10 Best Over/Under Point Total Picks So Far: 10-13
Click on each game for the game preview and fearless prediction.
10. Texas Tech at Arizona
LINE: Texas Tech -2.5, o/u: 76.5
POINT TOTAL PICK: Over
And in this week’s episode of Always Take The Over In Late Night Games, Just Because …
Texas Tech really, really, really can’t stop the run, and Arizona is fantastic on the ground.
Arizona really, really, really can’t get into the backfield and stop a crisp passing team, and Texas Tech is still Texas Tech.
Asking for 77 points is a lot, but these two should each be having around in the 40s in a late night shootout.
9. North Texas at Cal
LINE: Cal -13.5, o/u: 50.5
POINT TOTAL PICK: Under
There’s reason to be a wee bit afraid here. North Texas’ first two games combined for 82 and 76 so far, and it has the firepower to open it up a bit. However, you’re hoping for the Cal defense to go all Cal defense an dkeep this low. The UNT offense didn’t show up against SMU last week, and the first two Cal point totals were 40 and 39. Bank on the Bears.
8. Iowa at Iowa State
LINE: Iowa -2.5, o/u: 44.5
POINT TOTAL PICK: Under
These two teams have a whole lot of D, but even so, asking for the under on a 44.5 point total is a tall task. Last year this was a 13-3 Iowa win, but that was before Brock Purdy took over the quarterbacking gig for the Cyclones. Even so, points will be at a premium in an intense battle that should hover around the teens.
7. Washington State vs. Houston
LINE: Washington State -8.5, o/u: 76
POINT TOTAL PICK: Under
Hopefully this turns into a wild and crazy shootout between these two high-octane offenses, but the public brought down the total a bit over the last few days. 65-61 is the hope, but the reality should be a bit more of a fight as the game goes on thanks to the Wazzu D that’s allowed 24 points in the first two games. This can be a fun firefight and still not get to the 76.
6. Hawaii at Washington
LINE: Washington -20.5, o/u: 58.5
POINT TOTAL PICK: Over
It’s a knee-jerk reaction to automatically go with the over on all things Hawaii ….
And go with it here, too, but do it because of Washington. The Hawaii defense allowed 38 points to Arizona and 28 to Oregon State, but on the road, it’s about to have a hard time with the power of a Husky team looking to break out offensively after being bottled up by Cal.
UW came up with 47 in Week One against Eastern Washington, and it should be able to get close to that, if not flirt with getting to 58 on its own.
NEXT: The Top Five
5. Kent State at Auburn
LINE: Auburn -35.5, o/u: 52.5
POINT TOTAL PICK: Under
Will Kent State score?
The Golden Flashes struggled to get 26 points against Kennesaw, and it only managed seven in the opener against Arizona State.
The offense isn’t working, the Auburn defense has been a rock, and you shouldn’t have too many problems or concerns worrying about Kent State piling on too many points. The program managed 17 points or fewer in ten of its last 12 games, and it’s not likely to push past that this time around.
So what’s the problem? Auburn might score more than 50 on its own.
The Tigers have yet to bust out, struggling against Oregon in Week One and only putting up 24 on Tulane’s strong defense last week. Kent State gave up 56 to Clemson to open up the 2018 season, but for all of the program’s issues, that was the only time it allowed 50 or more in the last 36.
You might have to sweat it out, but rely on the Tiger defense to make the under work.
NEXT: We need offense this week, so …
4. Oklahoma State at Tulsa
LINE: Oklahoma State -13.5, o/u: 64.5
POINT TOTAL PICK: Over
Oh yes … you want a piece of this.
The Oklahoma State offense has been sensational so far, putting up 52 points on Oregon State and 56 on McNeese State. Oregon State and McNeese State aren’t good, but they each scored enough to help both game fly past the 65 point mark.
Tulsa’s offense hasn’t shown up yet, but the opener was against the Michigan State defense, and putting up 34 against San Jose State wasn’t awe-inspiring. But in this, you might just need a few points to get this over the 64.5.
Considering seven of the last Oklahoma State games have been shootouts well past 65 points, expect enough offense to get there as the O pours it on or a full four quarter.
NEXT: Is this when the offenses show up …
3. UNLV at Northwestern
LINE: Northwestern -18.5, o/u: 53.5
POINT TOTAL PICK: Under
Northwestern has had two weeks off to rest and relax after the brutally ugly 17-7 loss to Stanford to start the season.
UNLV is coming off a horrible home performance in a 43-17 loss to Arkansas State.
Now you’re hoping for both of those offenses to forget to get on the bus.
It’s more like you’re hoping for the Northwestern defense to show up. The Wildcats beat up and bothered Stanford in the opener, and now it’s a rested group that should be able to handle the limited Rebel offense and it’s mediocre offensive front.
Eight of the last nine Northwestern games have gone under 54 points, with Ohio State’s Big Ten Championship win the only one to go over.
NEXT: Speaking of hoping for the defenses to show up …
2. Florida at Kentucky
LINE: Florida -8.5, o/u: 49.5
POINT TOTAL PICK: Under
Can Kentucky go all Kentucky and keep the score low?
Last year’s Wildcat win in Gainesville finished up with a combined 43 points. The 2015 game was a 14-9 Gator win, and the 2013 battle was a 24-7 UF victory. In all, four of the last six games have seen fewer than 50 points.
You’re also relying on the 2019 Florida defense to continue to be a rock, especially against Kentucky’s backup quarterback. The first two Gator games had a combined 44 and 45 points, but both Kentucky games this season have gone over the 50 points mark.
This week, the Wildcats aren’t going to hit 38 points like they did in their first two games.
New UK starting QB Sawyer Smith is fine, and there is enough offense to be competitive, but expect a tough fight for both sides with each scoring in the 20s.
NEXT: It’s always scary when you’re banking on a theory, but …
1. Oklahoma at UCLA
LINE: Oklahoma -21.5, o/u: 73.5
POINT TOTAL PICK: Under
For the second straight week, UCLA gets into the No. 1 spot as an under.
Last week, it was here in its game with San Diego State with the point total at a paltry 45.5, and the two teams didn’t disappoint in a 23-14 Aztec win.
This time around it’s a little bit tougher to sell the idea on the under with Oklahoma and the nation’s No. 1 offense coming to town.
Eventually the UCLA offense is going to break out and do something snazzy, but it couldn’t generate more than 14 points against two Group of Five programs – Cincinnati and SDSU – looking off and inept in both outings. Oklahoma’s defense is hardly a rock – giving up 31 points to Houston – but getting to 74 points is a tall, tall task considering how bad the Bruins have been.
Oklahoma’s offense has been terrific, but can it hang up 49 on a decent UCLA D? Probably not, but even if it does, the Bruin O that’s failed to get past 28 points ten times in 14 games under Chip Kelly likely won’t hold up its end of the deal.
Week 3 Fearless Predictions, Game Previews
ACC | Big Ten | Big 12 | Pac-12 | SEC
– CFN Fearless Predictions & Game Previews
– Week 3 Expert Picks & Predictions
– Week 3 Final Thoughts, Betting Advice
– 10 Best Predictions Against The Spread
