College football picks against the spread, Week 3: Alabama-Wisconsin, the Backyard Brawl and more

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Name	Last Week	YTD
Christian D’Andrea	7-3	15-9
Michelle Martinelli	5-5	15-9
Blake Schuster	7-3	13-11
Mitchell Northam	5-5	13-11
Tyler Nettuno	5-5	13-11

All odds via BetMGM

No. 14 Kansas State vs. No. 20 Arizona, Friday, 8 p.m. ET on Fox

Opening Line: Kansas State -8.5

Blake Schuster: Arizona +7.5

Kansas State was very lucky to escape Tulane with a win and now they get a ranked Arizona team on a short week. Give me the Cats and the points in what’s probably and ugly, low-scoring game.

Mitchell Northam: Kansas State -7.5

Wildcats by a touchdown or so at home feels right against an Arizona team that hasn’t looked all that great against opponents much worse than K-State.

Christian D’Andrea: Kansas State -7.5

The Arizona passing attack could devastate a KSU defense that let three different Tulane receivers average more than 20 yards per catch last week. But the Wildcats have played a tougher schedule to this point and are at home, so… Kansas State, I guess?

Michelle Martinelli: Kansas State -7.5

Arizona gets its first taste of the Big 12 in the Big 12 with this matchup, and I suspect it won’t go as well as it hopes, especially on the road. These Wildcats barely got past Northern Arizona last week, while the other Wildcats survived a good Tulane team. Take the purple Wildcats.

Tyler Nettuno: Kansas State -7.5

The Wildcats looked like they were in some trouble for a while against Tulane, which is concerning. But while Arizona can be dangerous offensively, it gave up 39 points to New Mexico and struggled against Northern Arizona.

Wisconsin vs. No. 4 Alabama, Saturday, Noon ET on Fox

Opening Line: Alabama -10

Blake Schuster: Alabama -16.5

This seems like it’s going to be one of those games that Alabama finds itself tied at halftime before the Crimson Tide put up three unanswered touchdown drives in the fourth quarter to blow it open. Wisconsin’s offense won’t be able to keep up.

Mitchell Northam: Wisconsin +16.5

The Badgers being a nearly three-possession home dog feels like too much here. Especially against an Alabama team still figuring itself out under a new coaching staff. Last week, the Tide waited until the fourth quarter to really turn it on. Replicating that recipe in Madison could be difficult.

Christian D’Andrea: Alabama -16.5

I just watched this team struggle against Western Michigan and South Dakota in back-to-back weeks. You can only get burned on so many cutback runs before it breaks you.

Michelle Martinelli: Wisconsin +16.5

Look, Alabama is going to win in Madison, but this Crimson Tide squad is clearly still working out some kinks and wasn’t able to put away South Florida until late in last week’s game. This is a rare nonconference road game for Alabama, and it’ll be a rowdy environment — a big challenge for its slightly still discombobulated team.

Tyler Nettuno: Alabama -16.5

The Crimson Tide didn’t look very good against South Florida, and the Badgers are a much tougher test. Still, I expect Alabama to ultimately pull away by just enough to cover this.

South Carolina vs. No. 16 LSU, Saturday, Noon ET on ABC

Opening Line: LSU -9

Blake Schuster: LSU -7

I feel a push coming. South Carolina can’t move the ball consistently and LSU can’t be trusted period. I’ll take the more talented team, I guess.

Mitchell Northam: South Carolina +7

I’m not really sure what to think of either these teams, but the Gamecocks are coming off a big win and are hosting in a prime window on ABC. They might not win, but they’ll show up, I think.

Christian D’Andrea: LSU -7

Nothing would overjoy me more than a despondent Brian Kelly press conference, but I fear we’ll have to wait a while for the next one.

Michelle Martinelli: LSU -7

South Carolina’s offense enters Week 3 with the 122nd-best FBS offense. Absolutely not.

Tyler Nettuno: LSU -7

South Carolina’s defense looks pretty legit, but Old Dominion and Kentucky pale in comparison offensively compared to this Tigers passing game. This one probably won’t be as close as the suits at ESPN want you to think it will be.

No. 6 Missouri vs. No. 24 Boston College, Saturday 12:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network

Opening Line: Mizzou -17.5

Blake Schuster: Boston College +17

Who do we think is more nervous for this game? A BC team that just beat FSU in Tallahassee or a Mizzou team that’s ranked in the top 10 and has a legit playoff path. Missouri wins, but it’s far too close for comfort.

Mitchell Northam: Boston College +17

Mizzou ain’t played nobody and Bill O’Brien has the Eagles overachieving.

Christian D’Andrea: Missouri -17

BC is a perfectly cromulent team. But Mizzou has playoff bonafides and Luther Burden, who hasn’t gotten the chance to stretch his legs yet in a blowout heavy early schedule.

Michelle Martinelli: Missouri -17

A ranked-ranked matchup? With BC AND Mizzou? Not sure what world we’re living in, but this game has absurdity written all over it. Tigers at home, I guess. If they’re for real this season, they should have little trouble putting BC away.

Tyler Nettuno: Missouri -17

Could Boston College be pretty decent? Sure, but I don’t think a win against a potentially very bad Florida State team tells us that one way or the other. Mizzou should roll here if they’re as good as advertised.

Oregon State vs. No. 9 Oregon, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on Fox

Opening Line: Oregon -20.5

Blake Schuster: Oregon State +16.5

Look, if oddsmakers are going to keep giving us double-digit spreads against the Ducks, I’m going to keep taking the points until Dillon Gabriel proves otherwise.

Mitchell Northam: Oregon State +16.5

REVENGE OF THE PAC-2.

Christian D’Andrea: Oregon State +16.5

This is a stupid line for a rivalry game to begin with, but factor in the Ducks’ inability to pull away from opponents early in 2024 and this feels like a trap.

Michelle Martinelli: Oregon State +16.5

The Ducks’ offense isn’t quite firing exactly the way it was expected to — at least not yet. Especially in Corvallis, the Beavers will be pumped up and ready fight for the honor of what’s left of the Pac-12.

Tyler Nettuno: Oregon State +16.5

It may be a bit overreactive, but the Ducks seem like they could have some issues. This spread just feels way too big for a rivalry game given the way Oregon has played in the first two games.

Washington vs. Washington State, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on Peacock

Opening Line: Washington -8.5

Blake Schuster: Washington State +4.5

Justice for the Pac-2!

Mitchell Northam: Washington State +4.5

THE PAC-2 STRIKES BACK.

Christian D’Andrea: Washington -4.5

This isn’t the Huskies of old, and it’s not quite a home game at Lumen Field, but UW needs a statement win in the post-DeBoer era and this would help quite a bit.

Michelle Martinelli: Washington -4.5

This isn’t the playoff Huskies from last season, and neither team has faced a challenge yet. We love a rivalry game, but I don’t see the Cougars’ defense standing firm here.

Tyler Nettuno: Washington State +4.5

I’m going out on a bit of a limb here, but I think the Cougars get it done here. The Huskies just aren’t the same team, and this will be the toughest test yet against a Wazzu team that handled business easily against Texas Tech last week.

Pitt vs. West Virginia, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2

Opening Line: West Virginia -5.5

Blake Schuster: WVU -2

I’m not saying the Penn State loss was a fluke, but when you have a 2+ hour rain delay at halftime, you’re not getting the full measure of a team. The Mountaineers unleash hell on Pittsburgh this week.

Mitchell Northam: WVU -2

Pitt needed a miraculous comeback to beat Cincy last week. Furthermore, Pitt just inexplicably fired its AD. Does anyone feel good about the Panthers right now?

Christian D’Andrea: Pitt +2

The only constant in the Backyard Brawl is chaos. Unless one team has Pat White, then it’s CHAOS.

Michelle Martinelli: Pitt +2

OK, I lied: This is the game for absurdity and chaos.

Tyler Nettuno: WVU -2.

Pat Narduzzi spared himself from a seat engulfed in flames with a comeback win over Cincinnati on Saturday, but that doesn’t exactly ease all the concerns here.

UCLA vs. Indiana, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock

Opening Line: Indiana -1.5

Blake Schuster: Indiana -3

WE’RE BACK ON THE KURTIS ROURKE TRAIN! Time for UCLA’s “Welcome To The Big Ten” moment and a sign of arrival for the Curt Cignetti era in Bloomington.

Mitchell Northam: UCLA +3

I know the Bruins only won by three points at Hawaii, but they’ve had two weeks to prepare for this game. Show us something, DeShaun Foster.

Christian D’Andrea: UCLA +3

The Bruins aren’t gonna get pantsed at home in their Big Ten debut against a traditional conference doormat… right?

Michelle Martinelli: Indiana -3

UCLA is coming off an early bye and has only played one game — an unimpressive three-point win over Hawaii. And not that the Hoosiers have played the toughest schedule so far, but they’re rolling with the No. 3 defense right now. It would be a fitting welcome to the Big Ten for UCLA to lose to Indiana.

Tyler Nettuno: Indiana -3

The Hoosiers haven’t been tested yet, but they scored a school record 77 points in Week 2 and may have something in Kurtis Rourke. UCLA struggled quite a bit in its only game so far against Hawaii, and I think this is a prime opportunity for IU to earn a *shudders* Big Ten win.

Colorado State vs. Colorado, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET on CBS

Opening Line: Colorado -7.5

Blake Schuster: Colorado -7

But the real intriguing matchup here is the postgame handshake.

Mitchell Northam: Colorado -7

I don’t feel good about this, because I think Deion Sanders is a fraud of a coach, but Colorado State is not good. Time for Shadeur and Travis Hunter to string together some highlights for the pro scouts.

Christian D’Andrea: Colorado -7

Don’t get me wrong, I’ll root for a Rams win because I enjoy chaos, but the talent disparity here remains stark.

Michelle Martinelli: Colorado -7

This is more of a comment on how bad the Rams are looking so far rather than a praise of the Buffs. You never know with a rivalry game, but take the points here.

Tyler Nettuno: Colorado -7

This game was far closer than anyone expected last year, but while I’m not buying the Buffs, I do believe they should be fine in this game if they have improved even slightly this season.

Virginia vs. Maryland, Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ACC Network

Opening Line: Maryland -1.5

Blake Schuster: Virginia +3

Maryland couldn’t hold off Michigan State at home last week. Give me the Cavaliers and our sweet prince Anthony Colandrea to stun the Terps and win outright.

Mitchell Northam: Maryland -3

It feels like Maryland always plays well against old ACC opponents.

Christian D’Andrea: Virginia +3

Anthony Colandrea hours are upon us.

Michelle Martinelli: Maryland -3

Neither team looks particularly good through two weeks, but I’m banking on the Terps being mad about dropping a close one to Michigan State last week and being eager to get back to winning.

Tyler Nettuno: Virginia +3

Maryland squandered what should have been an easy home win against Michigan State last Saturday, while the Cavaliers earned a comeback, shootout win against Wake Forest. I know which team has impressed me more through two weeks.