All times Eastern
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Results: NCAA Week 3 Picks: Coin: 7-8; Rick: 10-5
Cumulative: Coin: 18-26; Rick 31-13
Thursday, September 20
7:30 pm Tulsa at Temple (-7, 55) - The Golden Hurricane has been twisted to losses the past two weeks, though the defeats were to quality teams, Texas (28-21), and Arkansas State (29-20). At 1-2, Tulsa needs a win and playing on the road at Temple may provide some opportunities.
The Owls have been inconsistent, losing their first two games - Villanova and Buffalo - before going on the road to whip Maryland, 35-14. Oddly enough, the Terrapins topped Texas in week one. So, since Temple beat Maryland, Maryland beat Texas, and Texas beat Tulsa, wouldn't it be reasonable to assume that Temple would beat Tulsa?
Yes, it would, but only by four points.
Coin Flip: Tulsa
PREDICTION: Owls 30 Golden Hurricane 26
Friday, September 21
7:00 pm Florida Atlantic at #16 UCF (-13 1/2, 71) - After being smeared at Oklahoma to kick off the season, 63-14, the Owls topped Air Force and Bethune-Cokman by scores of 33-27 and 49-28, respectively.
However, those two wins were against somewhat lesser competition. UCF hasn't lost a game since December of 2016, and last week had their game at North Carolina cancelled by Hurricane Florence.
Since they beat S. Carolina St. 38-0 on September 8, the defense is likely to be hungry for more hitting. Sorry Florida Atlantic fans. This one isn't going to be close.
Coin Flip: Florida Atlantic
PREDICTION: Knights 55 Owls 20
9:00 pm #10 Penn State (-28, 60) at Illinois - Massive line to cover for the Nittany Lions, but they've proven capable of putting up big numbers. They're averaging 53 points per outing, fifth nationally, and the defense has been tuned up after their season-opening 45-38 OT scare against Appalachian State, with a 51-6 win at Pitt and last week's 63-10 rout of Kent State.
Even though this is a conference game, that doesn't make it any less of a chance for Penn State to roll over the Illini, which started the season 2-0 before losing last week to South Florida. That same pattern emerged last season, when Illinois lost ten straight. They're not going to win here, so let the count begin.
Coin Flip: Illinois
PREDICTION: Nittany Lions 48 Fighting Illini 10
10:30 pm Washington State at USC (-3 1/2, 51 1/2) - After the Trojans got ripped to shreds at Texas last week, 37-14, there are some skeptics, though apparently, none of them can be found in Las Vegas, which still rates the unranked USC squad as a 3+ point favorite.
Washington State has tasted victory thrice this season, including a 41-19 win at Wyoming, a 31-0 wipe of San Jose State and a 59-24 romp over Eastern Washington. The Cougars should not be taken lightly, as they went 9-4 last season, including wins over Stanford, Utah, and USC (30-27). Just because this is on USC turf, don't chalk up a Trojan win. The Cougars can handle them.
Coin Flip: USC
PREDICTION: Cougars 34 Trojans 23
Saturday, September 22
12:00 pm #2 Georgia (-14 1/2, 61 1/2) at Missouri - Last season, Georgia slaughtered the Mizzou, 53-28, handing them their fifth straight loss, but the Tigers recouped and won six in a row before losing to Texas in the Academy Sports Bowl, 33-16.
This season, Missouri is off to a 3-0 start, but last week's 40-37 win at Purdue raises some concerns over their defense. While they may keep this one close for a while, 3-0 Georgia is stacked and jacked and has scored over 40 points in each win, while allowing just 24 points, which has them at #2 nationally, yielding just 8 points per game. Georgia should roll.
Coin Flip: Missouri
PREDICTION: Bulldogs 45 Tigers 13
12:00 pm #8 Notre Dame (-7 1/2, 55 1/2) at Wake Forest - Last November, the Demon Deacons traveled to South Bend and gave the Irish their best, losing 48-37, a score which is good enough to suggest that Wake Forest, hosting the Irish this time, may have enough firepower to trade scores with Notre Dame.
Wake is coming off a 41-34 loss to Boston College, after which the Eagles made the top 25 rankings, at #23. Notre Dame topped Vanderbilt, 22-17, getting to 3-0, but hasn't won a game by more than eight points. Being on the road for the first time this season, the Irish will get all they can handle in soggy North Carolina.
Coin Flip: Notre Dame
PREDICTION: Wake Forest 35 Fighting Irish 30
12:00 pm #23 Boston College (-7, 63) at Purdue - There were those who believed the Boilermakers were going to be pretty good this season. That may be true, but they're 0-3, with losses to Northwestern, Eastern Michigan and Missouri by a total of eight points.
To suggest that BC, now ranked #23, is going to equal that margin of victory on Purdue's turf is whistling past the grave. BC is good, too, and we're going to find out how good this weekend. Chances are they're only good enough to go into OT with Purdue, and possibly lose.
Coin Flip: Purdue
PREDICTION: Boilermakers 27 Eagles 24
12:00 pm Nebraska at #19 Michigan (-18, 49 1/2) - The Cornhuskers are 0-2, with losses at home to Colorado and Troy. Will they be competitive against the Wolverines?
Maybe at some points of the game, but overall, this looks like a major blowout victory for Michigan, which has recovered well from their opening weekend loss at Notre Dame (24-17) with romps over Western Michigan and SMU. Lay the points.
Coin Flip: Michigan
PREDICTION: Wolverines 38 Cornhuskers 17
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