College football odds, picks, predictions for Week 3, 2026: Computer likes Notre Dame, South Carolina
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SportsLine's model has revealed its 2026 Week 3 college football picks for LSU vs. Ole Miss, SMU vs. Louisville and every other game
• 3 min read
All eyes will be on Oxford, Miss., during the Week 3 college football schedule as Lane Kiffin returns to The Grove. His former team in No. 8 Ole Miss will host Kiffin's new squad in seventh-ranked LSU, as the Tigers are 3-point road favorites per the Week 3 college football odds. This is the lone top 10 matchup one can make college football bets on this week, and each of their last six meetings have been won by the home team. Claim the latest Polymarket promo code CBSSPORTS to get a $50 bonus after $10 in trades:
Elsewhere, there is an eclectic mix of games to target with Week 3 college football bets, including several schools beginning conference play such as No. 2 Georgia vs. Arkansas (+25) and No. 12 USC vs. Rutgers (+24.5). There are also non-conference battles like No. 10 Alabama vs. Florida State (+20.5) and No. 25 Virginia vs. West Virginia (+10), plus the early-season staple of powerhouse programs facing Group of 6 teams like the newly top-ranked Texas Longhorns 30-point favorites over UTSA. Before locking in any Week 3 college football picks, be sure to see the latest college football predictions from SportsLine's proven model.
The model simulates every FBS game 10,000 times. It is on a 33-21 run on top-rated CFB money-line picks on betting sites since the 2024 season, and it has been upgraded for the 2026 season to even better factor in the transfer portal. Anybody following its college football betting picks could have seen strong returns.
Now, it has turned its attention to the latest college football odds for Week 3 and locked in picks for every FBS matchup. Head here to see every pick.
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Top college football predictions for Week 3
One of the top Week 3 college football picks the model is recommending for best betting apps: South Carolina (-3.5, 58.5) covers at home versus Mississippi State at 4:15 p.m. ET in nearly 60% simulations. The Gamecocks have defeated the Bulldogs in eight of their last nine meetings as this is one of the SEC's most lopsided series over recent matchups. SC's LaNorris Sellers has shown off his dual abilities with 270 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air in Week 1, followed by 119 yards and a score on the ground last week. South Carolina's defense has allowed just one touchdown on the year, while Mississippi State's defense has yet to force a turnover. With Norris having less of a deterrence than Bulldogs QB Kamario Taylor, the former is projected to have more total yards and total touchdowns than Taylor. Additionally, the model has the Under hitting over 50% of the time
Another Week 3 prediction: No. 3 Notre Dame (-29.5, 52.5) covers the massive line versus Michigan State at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Irish have won 12 straight games, all coming by double digits, which is the longest streak by any team since 2019. Meanwhile, MSU has lost 12 straight versus AP top-5 teams, with nearly all of them coming in blowout fashion. Each of the last nine of those defeats have been by 22-plus points, as the Spartans' average margin of defeat during these dozen games is 29.3 points. Additionally, Notre Dame is undefeated both straight up (7-0) and against the spread (6-0-1) versus unranked Big Ten squads over the last 10 seasons. The Fighting Irish are forecasted to cover in almost 60% of simulations. See which other picks the model likes here.
How to make college football picks for Week 3
The model has also made the call on who wins and covers in every Week 3 college football game, including an underdog of nearly a touchdown who wins outright in one of the week's biggest games. You can only get every pick for every game at SportsLine.
So what college football picks can you make with confidence, and which underdog pulls off a shocking upset? Check out the latest college football odds below, then visit SportsLine to see which teams win and cover the spread, all from a proven computer model that is on a 33-21 run, and find out.
College football odds for Week 3 notable games
See full Week 3 college football picks, odds, predictions here
(odds subject to change)
Thursday, Sep. 17
Syracuse at Pittsburgh (-10, 51.5)
Friday, Sep. 18
Miami at Wake Forest (+22.5, 55.5)
Houston at Texas Tech (-9.5, 53.5)
Saturday, Sep. 19
North Carolina at Clemson (-3.5, 44.5)
Georgia at Arkansas (+24.5, 54.5)
SMU at Louisville (-1.5, 59.5)
USC at Rutgers (+24.5, 57.5)
Florida State at Alabama (-20.5, 49.5)
Florida at Auburn (+2.5, 52.5)
Michigan State at Notre Dame (-29.5, 52.5)
West Virginia at Virginia (+10, 54.5)
LSU at Ole Miss (+3, 58.5)
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