PatrickPu
Welcome to Week 3 of the 2019 Football season and PU Predicts. The great thing about Week 3 is that most of the stupid non conference wipeout games will be finished after Saturday.
There are no truly exciting contests this week. Clemson and Syracuse may have been a good game, until Maryland trounced them last week.
So, let’s get to the fun!
No. 1 Clemson (-26) at Syracuse
Clemson disposed of Texas A&M last week in a match-up of top ranked teams. From the very beginning, the contest was never in doubt.
Syracuse went to Maryland where the Terps handed them a crushing defeat. Now Syracuse gets Clemson in a home game.
Clemson Quarterback Trevor Lawrence continues to roll, building up credits for a Heisman run next year.
Syracuse played Clemson close last year, and won the year before. This year, Syracuse is not so lucky. Clemson wins and COVERS the spread.
No. 2 Alabama (-25.5) at South Carolina
South Carolina has begun the season with two wins, performing better than was expected. Alabama has kept the “Roll Tide Roll” chant alive, with impressive wins two weeks in a row.
Tua Tagovailoa continues to roll up impressive stats, but needs to play more than a half to keep up with other Heisman candidates.
Bama rolls and COVERS the spread.
No. 3 Georgia (-33) vs. Arkansas State
Georgia goes to Arkansas to take on a 1-1 team that does not have the firepower to keep up with the Georgia offense, whether defensively or offensively.
Jake Fromm continues his strong performances in an attempt to be considered as a Heisman finalist.
Georgia wins and COVERS the spread.
No. 4 LSU (-51.5) vs. Northwestern State
This week, LSU comes in at #4, swapping places with Oklahoma, after an impressive victory over Texas. Ohio State QB transfer Joe Burrow has made a name for himself and is now a serious Heisman contender.
The Tigers revamped offense has now been tested, and is for real. For this game, the only suspense will be what the final margin of victory will be.
LSU wins but DOES NOT COVER because the second team will get plenty of playing time.
No. 5 Oklahoma (-21) at UCLA
Oklahoma travels to sunny Southern California to take on UCLA, a team which has shown little talent and will be lucky to win 5 games this season.
Jaylen Hurts, the former Bama quarterback, has enjoyed two very good games, making his case for the Heisman. Against UCLA, he continues to rack up impressive statistics chasing a third straight Heisman for OU quarterbacks.
Oklahoma wins easily and COVERS the spread.
No. 6 Ohio State (-14) at Indiana
Ohio State is on the road this week, going to Indiana. Indiana is 2-0 this season with “notable” wins against powerhouses Ball State and Eastern Illinios.
Ohio State goes into this game 2-0 after dismantling what was thought to be a good Cincinnati team last week. Now they are “shaking in their booties” fearing an Indiana team.
A 14 point spread seems far too low for this game. THE Ohio State wins and easily COVERS the spread.
No. 7 Notre Dame (-37) vs. New Mexico
The great news about this game is that with Week 3 passing, the “Slaughter’s of the Week” games will be played out.
New Mexico State entertains Notre Dame after having 2 weeks off to rest since their opening game against Sam Houston State, which they won by 8. The rest will not help, the game is still a slaughter.
Notre Dame is creeping up the rankings, but has only played a down Louisville team. New Mexico State will provide about the same type of threat as Louisville.
Notre Dame wins, but the spread is a bit much. The Fighting Irish DO NOT COVER the spread.
No. 8 Auburn (-35) vs. Kent State
Like Notre Dame, Auburn is climbing up the rankings. The difference is that Auburn has played one quality opponent, the Oregon Ducks, which they defeated.
Even with the win over Oregon, it is still not really possible to say how good Auburn is. Kent State will not provide any answers either.
Auburn wins and COVERS the spread.
No. 9 Florida (-8.5) at Kentucky
Florida began the season with a “tight” win over their rival Miami. Neither the defense or offense distinguished themselves in a positive manner. Against UT Martin last week in a 45-0 win, it was another throw away game telling us nothing about Florida.
Kentucky begins their SEC play after meaningless 2-0 wins against second rate opponents. This game, we begin to see how the SEC will shake out.
Florida gets its act together, wins, and COVERS the spread.
No. 10 Michigan: OFF
No. 11 Utah (-36.5) vs. Idaho State
This is the Utes final “tune-up” game before starting their PAC 12 title campaign. They play the Big Sky’s Idaho State.
Like most other games this weekend, the Utah game will allow for some serious nap taking without missing much.
The Utes win easily while preparing for PAC 12 play. Utes COVER the spread.
No. 12 Texas (-30.5) vs. Rice
Last Saturday, Texas came up against a strong LSU team that knocked them off in a tough fought battle. Texas was left reeling, with hopes for a CFP game pretty much dashed. In fact, their hopes to win the conference are now in doubt.
Rice has lost both games it has played this year, but one, against Army, was a close matchup. Against a resurgent Texas team hurting after last week’s loss, Rice is not expected to match up at all.
Texas and Sam Erhlinger get back into the win column with a trouncing of Rice. Texas COVERS the spread.
No. 13 Penn State (-17) vs. Pitt
Finally, there is a game that might have some fireworks from both teams. Penn State goes to Pitt in a big rivalry game.
Pitt has shown little this season, losing in its opening game to now ranked Virginia, but then losing to lowly Ohio.
Penn State is fighting for a Top 10 position and a trip to a New Year’s Day bowl. But the Pitt rivalry game has a way of mixing things up.
Penn State wins in a hard fought battle. But Penn State DOES NOT COVER the spread.
No. 14 Wisconsin: OFF
No. 15 Oregon (-36) vs. Montana
Oregon goes to Montana still suffering from an Opening Season Game loss to Auburn. They go up against a 2-0 Montana team that has only played nobodies so far this season.
Justin Herbert, qb for the Ducks, has another outstanding performance against Montana.
The Ducks win and COVER the spread.
No. 16 Texas A&M (-43) vs. Lamar
In another Rout of the Week, Texas A&M goes to Lamar. Having suffered a stinging defeat to Clemson last Saturday, the Aggies recoup and take out their frustrations on Rice.
A&M wins and COVERS the spread.
No. 17 UCF (-15) vs. Stanford
UCF travels to the Bay Area to play Stanford, a PAC 12 team that has already had its title hopes dashed by USC in a 45-20 loss, where they also lost their starting quarterback.
UCF goes into the game as they have in other games the last two years….ready to play and a chip on the shoulder from not getting a CFP position.
UCF has a problem at quarterback. Last week, freshman Dillon Gabriel had the start after injuries to both star quarterbacks Darrel Mack and McKenzie Milton. Gabriel showed he was ready to start at qb for UCF.
Mack returns to play against Stanford. But who will start at this time is up in the air, not that it matters much.
UCF wins against Stanford and COVERS the spread.
No. 18 Michigan State (-11) vs. Arizona State
Michigan State and Arizona St both go into this game with identical 2-0 records, but neither team has played a serious foe worthy of their attention. One can only go on the talent of each team for a possible victor.
Watch for the Spartans running back Elijah Collins performance. If he has a good game, then Michigan State wins easily. If he has a mediocre performance, Arizona State could have a chance to win.
Michigan State wins, but DOES NOT COVER the spread.
No. 19 Iowa at Iowa State (-1)
Ah, another fun rivalry game, the battle for the State of Iowa crown.
Iowa goes into this game as the only ranked team. But that means nothing when these two teams meet.
State goes into this game with questions on whether their starting center and their starting running back/kick returner will be healed enough from injuries to play. Without them, State loses badly.
Iowa is favored to win, but are not the team that they were thought to be at the start of the season.
Iowa wins, but barely due to Iowa State injuries. Iowa COVERS, but with 1 point spread, that means nothing.
No. 20 Washington State (-6,5) at Houston
Houston began the season with a loss, 31-49, to Oklahoma. The next week, they won against Prairie View.
Washington State goes into this game behind the strong arm of transfer quarterback Anthony Gordon who passed for 464 yards against Northern Colorado.
Houston proves to be no problem for Washington State. They win on the road and COVER the spread.
No. 21 Maryland (-7) at Temple
Maryland comes into this game on a real high after dismantling favored Syracuse last week, 63-20. Temple beat Bucknell 56-12.
The surprise of the ACC this year, Maryland continues to win defeating Temple easily. Look for Maryland to win and COVER the spread.
No. 22 Boise State (-31) vs. Portland State
Portland State goes into this game having had a terrific win last week, 70-7, against Simon Fraser. ( Yeah, I know……..never heard of them myself.)
Boise State has two wins, one against Florida State and the other Marshall.
Rumor has it that Portland is bringing Antifa members onto the team for this game. Part of their uniforms will be clubs and cement milkshakes. Even then, they still lose.
Boise State wins but DOES NOT COVER the spread because those milkshakes are too filling.
No. 23 Washington (-21) vs. Hawaii
Washington gets a vacation this week in beautiful Hawaii. The weather should be fine and the surf is up. They need it after losing to Cal last week, 20-19.
Hawaii has started the season with close wins against Arizona and Oregon State.
The vacation and the umbrella drinks help Washington to get back in the win column.
Washington wins and covers the spread.
No. 24 Southern California (-4.5) at BYU
USC joins the ranked teams this week at #24 after a win against Stanford. But it has been a tough week with the resignation of Lynn Swann as athletic director.
USC will be relying upon freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis to lead the team this week. He threw for 337 yards last week in relief when the starting Trojan quarterback was injured.
BYU has little to offer in talent against USC. Though they did beat a weak Tennessee team last week, the season opener saw Utah beat them handily.
The Trojans win on the road and COVER the spread.
No. 25 Virginia (-8) vs. Florida State
Virginia returns to the Top 25 this week with a 2-0 record and a big win over Pittsburgh. Florida State has a 1-1 record with a loss to Florida State and a 1 point win over Louisiana Monroe.
Virginia rolls over Florida and COVERS the spread.
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