NCAA 2024 Week 3 picks

 Thursday Sept 12

#9 Arizona State Sun Devils at Texas State Bobcats : The Bobcats showed lots of power and talent this weekend, but they can't compare to the Sun Devils.  ARIZONA STATE by lots

Friday Sept 13

#22 UNLV Running Rebels at Kansas Jayhawks : The Kansas QB showed some carelessness in the game against Illinois.  UNLV doesn't have that level of defense, but that carelessness, if repeated, could still be detrimental to the Jayhawks.  UNLV by four

#17 Arizona Wildcats at Kansas State Wildcats : Both Kansas teams host Friday night games, and this one is a cat fight!  Of course, I pick the Wildcats; the VISITING Wildcats.  Kansas State should not have won their game last week (thus they were not allowed on my rankings).  They were the beneficiaries of a highly questionable (and possibly inspired by something NOT on the filed) call, and Arizona will prove that K State doesn't belong.  ARIZONA by 12

Saturday Sept 14

Top 25

UTSA Roadrunners at #1 Texas Longhorns : This battle of Texas won't be competitive for too long.  TEXAS by lots

#3 Alabama Crimson Tide at #16 Wisconsin Badgers : The Badgers defense will keep this close, but then the Tide will find themselves again in the fourth quarter.  ALABAMA by 20

#4 Georgia Bulldogs at Kentucky Wildcats : Hmm, doesn't look like its a good weekend for home team Wildcats.  GEORGIA by 24

#5 Ole Miss Rebels at Wake Forest Demon Deacons : Wake Forest has a good team this year, but they face one of the fastest offenses in the league.  OLE MISS by 23

Tulane Green Wave at #6 Oklahoma Sooners : Tulane wants to make up for the conspiratorial call, but they face too strong an opponent.  Maybe next week.  OKLAHOMA by lots

Boston College Eagles at #8 Missouri Tigers : The Eagles are a good squad, but the Tigers are just too strong.  MISSOURI by 23

Kent State Golden Flashes at #10 Tennessee Volunteers : No contest.  TENN by lots

LSU Tigers at #11 South Carolina Gamevocks : The Tigers have started slow.  If they find their rhythm, they could win this game.  I'll reserve my judgement, though, and stay with the proven power.  SOUTH CAROLINA by ten

Washington State Cougars at #12 Washington Huskies : A little early in the year for the Apple Cup, isn't it?  Wont' make a difference to the Huskies, who should win fairly easily.  WASHINGTON by 24

Northern Iowa Panthers at #13 Nebraska Cornhuskers : Easy win.  NEBRASKA by lots

#14 Oregon Ducks at Oregon State Beavers : The Beavers can be tricky, and play their in-state rival especially hard, but the Ducks survived a threat from Boise State, and the Beavers aren't that good.  DUCKS by 16

Ball State Cardinals at #15 Miami Hurricanes : Another easy pick.  MIAMI by lots

VMI Keydets at #20 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets : What's a "keydet"/  Maybe someone couldn't spell "cadet".  Won't matter, they don't stand a chance.  GEORGIA TECH by lots

North Carolina Central Eagles at #21 North Carolina Tar Heels : This in-state battle will be over easy.  NORTH CAROLINA by lots

#25 Coastal Carolina Chanticleers at Temple Owls : The Chanticleers defend their early entry on the rankings with a good scrubbing of Owls.  COASTAL CAROLINA by 26

Big Ten

Arkansas State Red Wolves at Michigan Wolverines : The Texas game exposed some vulnerabilities for the Wolverines to work on.  They'd better work fast, as the Red Wolves are good at exploiting opponents' vulnerabilities.  This game could be an upset.  MICHIGAN by six

Central Michigan Chippewas at Illinois Fighting Illini : After Kansas, this game will be a breeze.  ILLINOIS by lots

Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Purdue Boilermakers : Fresh off an upset, the Irish will fight to prevent another one.  Purdue often plays them tough, so that might be a tough result, but I think they'll prevail, although not as easily as they might hope.  NOTRE DAME by eight

Prairie View A&M Panthers at Michigan State Spartans : Great game for the Spartans to hone their improving offense.  MICHIGAN STATE by lots

Nevada Wolfpack at Minnesota Golden Gophers : Minnesota gave North Carolina all they could handle.  Nevada won't be a challenge.  MINNESOTA by 26

Troy Trojans at Iowa Hawkeyes : Iowa's defense will keep them in the game, and this will be a good chance to improve that offense.  IOWA by 16

Indiana Hoosiers at UCLA Bruins : Both teams rested last week to prepare for this game.  Based on Week 1 performances, Indiana looks better packed for the season.  INDIANA by eight

Eastern Illinois Panthers at Northwestern Wildcats : After getting trounced by Illinois two weeks ago, the Panthers travel to Evanston for another shot at a Big Ten team.  This game will likely be closer, but still no win for Eastern.  NORTHWESTERN by 24

Maryland Terrapins at Virginia Cavaliers : Maryland should bounce back from their loss to the Spartans.  MARYLAND by 18

Other Games of Interest

Memphis Tigers at Florida State Seminoles : Florida State is really having a tough season.  If they can't right their ship, they'll struggle.  I'm not sure they have it figured out yet.  MEMPHIS in an upset

UAB Blazers at Arkansas Razorbacks : Arkansas is a strong team this year.  They could be Top 25 material.  ARKANSAS by lots

UCF Golden Knights at TCU Horned Frogs : This game features two other teams who are potential for the Top 25.  The loser may find that a very difficult goal, so this will be a very hard-fought battle.  Defense often makes a difference in those, and that gives the advantage to UCF.  UCF by four