The third full week of the college football season is shaping up to be a good one, featuring a lineup of plenty of interesting matchups. That leads us to our Week 3 CFB best bets! Notably, SMU is set to visit Louisville for an important ACC clash, while Michigan State will face off against the #3 Notre Dame Fighting Irish in South Bend.

Both games are significant for the teams involved, as SMU and Louisville appear to be the front-runners in the ACC, which sets us up for a great game. On the other hand, Michigan State will encounter its first road challenge against a title-contending Notre Dame squad that has played quite well thus far. Let’s dig into our CFB predictions, shall we?

CFB Picks, Predictions & Best Bets: Saturday, 9/19

For this Saturday's CFB best bets, I'm honing in on two games that offer contrasting betting perspectives. Louisville is a slight favorite at home against SMU, suggesting a tightly contested ACC matchup, while Michigan State finds itself as a considerable underdog against Notre Dame.

I’m leaning towards Louisville on the moneyline. The Cardinals should be able to capitalize on their home-field advantage in a matchup where both teams possess comparable talent. In the evening game, my CFB picks are backing Michigan State to stay within 17.5 points in the first half. Although Notre Dame should pull away in the second half, that’s quite a significant margin to give the Spartans before halftime.

 

 

 

#16 SMU vs. #23 Louisville Prediction: Saturday, September 19th

To begin our CFB best bets this week, the #16 Mustangs bring in a 2-0 record as they face off against the #23 Cardinals, who sit at 1-1. With Louisville hosting and both teams showcasing impressive offenses to this point, it feels like the Cardinals will be able to pull this one out.

SMU kicked off its season with a hard-fought 27-24 win against Florida State, despite struggling with four turnovers. Nevertheless, the Mustangs outperformed the Seminoles in total yardage, 585 to 324, and limited them to just 2-of-15 on third downs. They followed this up with a resounding 56-10 victory over UC Davis, racking up 547 total yards and winning the turnover battle 2-0.

But our CFB predictions have to note that Louisville has also demonstrated offensive firepower. The Cardinals nearly staged a comeback against Ole Miss, falling short with a last-second field goal, but quickly rebounded with a dominant 59-13 win over Villanova. They have consistently surpassed 300 passing yards in both games, accumulating 469 yards against Ole Miss and an impressive 635 against Villanova.

Lincoln Kienholz, the new quarterback for the Cardinals, has quickly made his mark on the team. After two seasons as a backup at Ohio State, he’s already amassed 639 passing yards and four touchdowns, along with two rushing touchdowns, all while maintaining a clean slate with no interceptions in his first two games.

Playing at home could give the Cardinals the vital edge they need, especially in a closely contested matchup. With Louisville favored by about -1.5, the betting market suggests a tight game. Our CFB best bets believe Louisville will secure a victory in what promises to be an exciting clash between two solid teams.

Michigan St. vs. #3 Notre Dame Prediction: Saturday, September 19th

Notre Dame has looked dominant through their first two games, while Michigan State, entering as a sizable underdog, remains undefeated. Instead of expecting the Spartans to pull off the upset or even cover a large full-game spread, this portion of CFB picks will be based on their performance in the first half.

Michigan State has kicked off the season with victories against Toledo and Eastern Michigan, bringing their record to 2-0. Their ground game has been particularly effective, with rushing totals of 150 yards in one game and 247 in another. Cam Edwards has been outstanding, amassing 98 and 152 rushing yards in those games, along with three touchdowns.

Quarterback Alessio Miliojevic has also been impressive, completing 70% of his passes for 417 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions. Although the Spartans have yet to face a defense as skilled as Notre Dame's, their early-season performance indicates they have the potential to compete effectively for at least part of the game.

Notre Dame has begun the season with impressive outings, securing two dominant victories, including a 52-0 shutout against Rice after an earlier 28-point win over Wisconsin. Quarterback CJ Carr has led the Fighting Irish’s potent offense, while their defense has been nearly perfect.

For MSU, the primary hurdle will be establishing a strong rushing game against this ND defense, conceding just 65.5 rushing yards per game. The Irish have also excelled at creating turnovers, and Carr has been diligent in protecting the ball. 

However, our CFB predictions believe Notre Dame won't easily dominate this matchup, at least to start. Michigan State has shown promise in their first couple of games, and the first half could provide the Spartans with an opportunity to remain competitive before Notre Dame's depth and talent potentially take over.

With Michigan State receiving a massive +17.5 spread in the first half, they have a comfortable buffer. Our CFB best bets expect the Spartans to stay within that margin during the first 30 minutes.

 

 

 

Best CFB Prop Bets & Other Picks: Saturday, 9/19