What a thrilling first two weeks it’s been in college football. Week two brought us even more spectacular upsets, highlighted by the Longhorns’ massive win over third-ranked Alabama on the road. Unfortunately, this week’s slate of games doesn’t feature any blockbuster ranked matchups, but it’s still filled with some sneaky-good contests. Here are your top five college football matchups for week three.
5. No. 8 Washington (2-0) at Michigan State (2-0)
When: Saturday, 5:00 pm ET
Where: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, MI
Where to watch: Peacock
Spread: Washington (-16)
This will be an even more interesting game in the wake of coach Mel Tucker‘s dismissal. Tucker, one of the highest-paid head coaches in college football, was fired last week over accusations of sexual misconduct. With interim head coach Haroln Barnett now at the helm, the Spartans will host one of the hottest offenses in the nation. Washington quarterback Michael Penix has a combined 859 passing yards and eight touchdowns with only one interception in his first two games. It will be interesting to see how the Spartans respond after everything that’s happened.
4. No. 14 LSU (2-0) at Mississippi State (2-0)
When: Saturday, 12:00 pm ET
Where: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, MS
Where to watch: ESPN
Spread: LSU (-9.5)
LSU and Mississippi State will begin SEC play this weekend at noon. The Bulldogs have somewhat fallen under the radar in the SEC after getting off to a 2-0 start. Their backfield duo of Will Rodgers and Jo’Quavious Marks are dangerous and can put up points in a hurry. Defensively, they’ve been living off of turnovers with four interceptions and two fumble recoveries in their first two games. LSU will be coming in off the heels of a 72-10 blowout over Grambling. The Tigers are in win-now mode with their playoff hopes already on the line after falling to FSU in week one.
3. No. 15 Kansas State (2-0) at Missouri (2-0)
When: Saturday, 12:00 pm ET
Where: Memorial Stadium, Columbia, MO
Where to watch: SEC Network
Spread: Kansas State (-4.5)
It’s always good to see a rivalry renewed. Missouri and Kansas State played each other nearly every year from 1909 to 2010, but after conference realignment, the two teams didn’t play again until now. Missouri owns the all time series lead, 60-33-5. The Wildcats have been electric to start the season, scoring over 40 points against their first two opponents. Their defense has been just as impressive, holding a great Troy offense to just one touchdown. The Tigers haven’t exactly impressed in their 2-0 start after barely scraping by Middle Tennessee last weekend, but have a chance to make a statement here.
2. Minnesota (2-0) at No. 20 North Carolina (2-0)
When: Saturday, 3:30 pm ET
Where: Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill, NC
Where to watch: ESPN
Spread: North Carolina (-7.5)
After North Carolina’s thrilling double-overtime victory over Appalachian State, they’ll have to battle a tough Gophers defense that’s only allowed one touchdown so far. It will be the first-ever matchup between these two teams.
1. No. 11 Tennessee (2-0) at Florida (1-1)
When: Saturday, 7:00 pm ET
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, FL
Where to watch: ESPN
Spread: Tennessee (-6.5)
There is no love lost between these two squads. This rivalry game always has no shortage of physical play and thrilling moments. Florida had dominated this series since 2005, winning all but one game. But last year things changed, as the Vols beat Florida at home 38-35. Now they’ll have to travel to The Swamp, where they have not won a game since 2003. Both teams will be starting different quarterbacks from last year. The Vols lead the nation in sacks and tackles for loss, while Florida has one of the strongest rushing attacks in the SEC. I’m expecting a very evenly matched game that goes down to the wire.
Honorable Mentions:
Colorado State (0-1) at Colorado (2-0)
South Carolina (1-1) at No. 1 Georgia (2-0)
Georgia Tech (1-1) at No. 17 Ole Miss (2-0)
All odds provided by DraftKings Sportsbook
TL//DR: Top Five College Football Matchups – Week Three
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