College Football Week 3 Look-Ahead Lines: Alabama At Wisconsin, Apple Cup, Civil War

Week 3 of the college football season offers a packed slate filled with rivalries. Sportsbooks released college football look-ahead lines for big games like Alabama at Wisconsin, West Virginia at Pitt, and Memphis at Florida State. This weekend also offers some of the sport’s biggest rivalries, like West Virginia at Pitt (The Backyard Brawl), Washington State vs. Washington (Apple Cup), Oregon at Oregon State (Platypus Cup), and Colorado at Colorado State (Rocky Mountain Showdown). For those entrenched in the tradition and pageantry of college football, this is your week.

Here are the best available opening odds across several betting apps.

College Football Week 3 Look-Ahead Lines

No. 20 Arizona at No. 17 Kansas State, Friday (8:00 p.m. ET, FOX)

Kansas State opened as a -6.5 home favorite over Arizona in what’s likely to be a top-25 showdown. Despite these teams now sharing a league, this game does not count toward the Big 12 standings. Rather, the two schools agreed to keep it a non-conference game, as it was originally scheduled to be. K-State visits Tulane in Week 2 – a game Avery Johnson & Co. are favored by -9 in, but presents a difficult challenge. Arizona hosts in-state FCS foe Northern Arizona and is favored by 40 points.

The biggest movement for this game comes if Kansas State falters or struggles with the Green Wave. Notably, Tulane upset Kansas State in Manhattan in 2022.

No. 4 Alabama at Wisconsin, Saturday (12:00 p.m. ET, FOX)

Alabama visits Wisconsin for the first time since 1928. The Crimson Tide are lined as -15.5 road favorites over the Badgers in their third game under Kalen DeBoer. Alabama thrashed Western Kentucky, 63-0, in Week 1 and hosts USF in Week 2. Wisconsin, conversely, continued to struggle with the Air Raid transition and escaped 28-14 against Western Michigan in Week 1. Wisconsin hosts FCS South Dakota (far from a pushover) in Week 2.

Another game in which the Tide crushes their opponent could move this line in their favor. DeBoer’s crew posted the second-best net success rate of Week 1. Head coach Luke Fickell is 4-1 ATS as a home underdog in his career, both at Cincinnati at Wisconsin. The Badgers are 0-4 against current non-conference Power teams since 2018. They lost outright as -5, -6, -17, and -22 favorites.

Memphis at Florida State, Saturday (12:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Florida State opened as a -5.5 home favorite over Memphis for Week 3. That number likely varies drastically should this have been lined as a Game of the Year before Week 0 kicked off. FSU started its season 0-2, losing as -13.5 and -16.5 favorites to Georgia Tech and Boston College, respectively. The ‘Noles get a much-needed bye week ahead of Memphis, who hosts Troy as -19 favorites in Week 3.

This game features a reunion between Mike Norvell and Memphis, whom he headed before taking over in Tallahassee. At Florida State, Norvell is a ghastly 4-11 ATS coming off a loss – a testament to how FSU reels after losses.

Week 3 Rivalry Games

Washington State vs. Washington, Saturday (3:30 p.m., Peacock)

Once thought to be a victim of conference realignment, the Apple Cup lives! Washington State and Washington play at Lumen Field in Seattle, a “neutral site” venue that hosts the Seattle Seahawks. The Huskies opened as -7 favorites over the rival Cougars. Washington struggled at times to run the football against what should have been an overmatched FCS foe in Weber State. UW took the 35-3 victory, but the box score didn’t tell all the causes for concern. Washington State hung 70 in its opening weekend over Portland State.

In Week 2, Washington (-28.5) plays another buy-game in Eastern Michigan. Washington State, conversely, hosts Texas Tech as slim -2 favorites. Wazzu’s outcome could swing this point spread, should Week 1 appear to be anomalous (or if they confirm that result with another offensive avalanche). Barring Washington struggling with EMU, its power rating won’t change by much.

Washington has won 12 of the last 14 rivalry games against Washington State. The Huskies are also 10-4 ATS in those games.

Oregon at Oregon State, Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX)

Another rivalry thought to be defunct revives for another season. In the game formerly known as the Civil War, Oregon opened as a -20 road favorite at Oregon State despite an apparent struggle in Week 1. The Ducks escaped with a 24-14 win over FCS Idaho, but that final is a bit misleading. Oregon out-gained Idaho, 487-217, and won the turnover battle (+1). Oregon State took care of business against FCS Idaho State, 38-15.

This week, both teams play a tricky Mountain West foe. Oregon hosts a dangerous Boise State team that features RB Ashton Jeanty, who just rushed for 267 yards and six touchdowns at Georgia Southern. Oregon State visits San Diego State as a part of its MWC scheduling alliance slate. Week 2 will surely affect this line in a serious way – should a bettor already have their convictions about the Platypus Cup, it’s likely worth betting the line now.

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West Virginia at Pitt, Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN or ESPN2)

The Backyard Brawl installs another chapter in its history in Week 3. West Virginia opened a -4.5 road favorite over Pitt despite the home team winning each of the last three matchups. Pitt holds a 62-41-2 edge as this rivalry plays its 107th game this year.

In Week 1, Pitt took care of business against Kent State while WVU was bullied and beaten once again by Penn State. A closer result in that game likely opens this line more in favor of WVU. The Mountaineers play a get-right game in Week 2 against Albany while Pitt visits Cincinnati. Cincy is a much better gauge for what Pitt in 2024 might look like and that game likely affects this line. Conversely, WVU’s game against Albany likely has little effect, barring the Mountaineers struggling to win.

Those looking to back West Virginia on the road would be wise to do so on the look-ahead line and buy the bump given to Pitt based on WVU’s Week 1 loss.

Colorado at Colorado State, Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, CBS)

The Rocky Mountain Showdown returns to Fort Collins after a contentious matchup last year. Colorado eeked out a 43-35 double-overtime win despite a chippy game. Expect a similar approach from Jay Norvell and Colorado State, who will again be out-talented at home. Colorado is a -10 favorite on the road, just the second time Deion Sanders & Co. are road favorites since the start of his tenure last year.

The Buffs come off a thrilling win over North Dakota State in Week 1 to face Nebraska in Lincoln. Expect that game to move this one significantly, especially if Colorado is soundly beaten (or delivers a sound beating!). Colorado State was decimated, 52-0, by Texas in Week 1 and hosts FCS Northern Colorado for a get-right game. Week 1’s result had much more of an impact on the Rams’ power rating than Week 2 will.

Watch this game for two feature receivers – Travis Hunter and Troy Horton. Both could be first-round NFL Draft picks in April.

Other rivalries on tap this weekend include Oklahoma State at Tulsa, Notre Dame at Purdue, Cincinnati at Miami (OH), Utah at Utah State, FIU at FAU, Virginia Tech at Old Dominion, Rice at Houston, and Western Kentucky at Middle Tennessee.

College Football Week 3 Look-Ahead Lines: Odds COmparison

As more college football look-ahead lines become available at sportsbooks, this odds comparison table will update.

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