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Here Are Our Top Five College Football Picks of the Week

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Independent desk. Figures are traced to named sources and corrections are logged — see the editorial policy.

NY Sports Express Desk · Originally published September 16, 2020

It’s already Week 3 of the 2020 college football season and it sure feels like it’s just flying by. The good news is there’s still plenty of season left and plenty of chances for players to get their college football bets in throughout the fall.

The better news is there are a ton of quality games slated for each week, and this weekend’s schedule is no different.

We went through and picked our top five games for players to bet against the spread, and we’ve given our predictions for each below.

No. 17 Miami at No. 18 Louisville

Odds: Louisville -2.5

This is one of those games that could see a shift in the odds every day during the week because of how close this matchup is going to be. It’s going to be a quarterback showcase, and it’s going to be about as tight as football games get. These two AP-ranked squads will be keeping it close, but Louisville has just enough magic to win this game, 37-33, and will cover the spread (and the over, which is currently at 64.5).

No. 18 Louisiana at Georgia State

Odds: Louisiana -17

That big win over Iowa State last week has Louisiana riding high. Who wouldn’t be after an upset like that, and an AP Poll ranking to go with it? Georgia State doesn’t have the best history against this week’s foe, having never won a contest in the four times the teams have faced one another. Georgia State has the ability to slow the Ragin’ Cajuns down, and the Panthers always step up for their first game. We see this one still being won by Louisiana, but at 27-14, which means they won’t cover the spread.

Charlotte at No. 12 North Carolina

Odds: North Carolina -29.5

The Tar Heels had to put up some solid plays in the second half of their Week 1 contest in order to cover the spread against the Syracuse Orange. They aren’t going to need the second half to put up a convincing win over the Charlotte 49ers this week, but it’s going to take one heck of a game to cover the spread, and we just don’t see that happening. We’re going to call this one a bit closer than that at 48-20, just shy of the spread, though over the 60.5 total predicted by oddsmakers.

Syracuse at No. 25 Pitt

Odds: Pitt -21.5

If Syracuse plays anywhere near the same level as they did in their Week 1 matchup against the North Carolina Tar Heels, this game is going to be a very sad one for Orange fans. Pitt, on the other hand, has a nice AP ranking to go with its renewed offense. While these teams traditionally put on a close game for spectators, we just don’t see it that way in 2020. Pitt is going to control the game from the start, and barring a resurgence from Syracuse, they’ll cover the spread 38-13, which will also put the game over the point total of 50.

No. 14 UCF at Georgia Tech

Odds: UCF -7.5

There is no doubt the players on the Georgia Tech roster aren’t happy with being the underdogs in this matchup, but that’s nothing new to them. In fact, they played that role when they picked up an upset win over the Florida State Seminoles, 16-13, in Week 1 of the 2020 season. They’ll be using that momentum, and the slight disadvantage oddsmakers have them at, when they surprise UCF and take the win, 24-21, meaning UCF will fail to cover the spread, and the total will be under the predicted 60.5 points oddsmakers have put on this one.

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