NCAAF Week 3: Best Bets and Leans

Gambling Opinion by Ethan Irish and Josh Blatt

Game: Tulane @ Kansas State 

Ethan's Best Bet: Kansas State -13.5 (-118) (Fanduel)

    I was waiting a while to get this number below 14 points in favor of Kansas State. People are high on Tulane right now because their defensive efforts against Alcorn State and UMass for some reason. I am not buying it. While Tulane has one of the few defenses that ranks higher than Kansas State through two weeks into this season at least the Wildcats played an actual football team. Even though the opponent was Missouri, they are a power 5 team that the Wildcats beat 40-12 and in the second half had 4 interceptions in 4 straight possessions on only 5 passes thrown by the Tigers. On the other side of the ball for Kansas State, it gets a bit trickier. Their run game led by Deuce Vaughn is incredible but their pass attack is not so much. Nebraska transfer Adrian Martinez is the quarterback for the Wildcats and his numbers through 2 weeks aren't great going 20/35 with only 181 passing yards. 

    What I think wins this game for KSU is their defense that has been very impressive so far this season and their dominating run game. Tulane has not seen a team close to this amount of talent this season and I believe they will receive a wake up call on the road in Manhattan, Kansas. 

Ethan's Other Leans:

SMU @ Maryland: SMU +2.5 (+100) (Fanduel)

Mississippi State @ LSU: Miss St. -1.5 (-115) (Fanduel)

Game: #11 Michigan State @ Washington

Josh's Best Bet: Michigan State +3.5 (-118) (Fanduel)

    Washington has come out this season firing on offense, especially through the air. Luckily for Michigan State, they have an elite pass rusher, in back to back national defensive player of the week Jacoby Windmon. Windmon has racked up 5.5 sacks through two weeks, while the rest of the team has 6 combined. This type of pressure isn't anything that Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr. has faced this season, as the Huskies have only allowed 2 sacks against sub-par competition-- which includes Portland State and Kent State. Sure, Michigan State has played two MAC Conference schools in Western Michigan and Akron-- however the rushing attack that the Spartans have displayed has been nothing less than impressive. Their running back room has gone nuclear, helping Michigan State post 457 rushing yards through their first two weeks. Washington has still given up 228 rushing yards to their weak competition, which in turn should lead to a huge day for Spartan running backs Jalen Berger, Jarek Broussard, and even Elijah Collins.

    The main reason I like this bet so much-- plain and simple, I believe Michigan State is better than Washington. If Michigan State were to lose this game, I doubt it would be by more than 3 points. I consider this my safest bet of the NCAA Football slate-- as I see Michigan State as a potential player for a Big Ten Championship. It may be a slow start for the Spartans on Saturday night, but I see this as a two possession win in the visit to Washington.

Josh's Other Leans:

North Texas @ UNLV: UNLV -2.5 (-118) (Fanduel)

Liberty @ #19 Wake Forest: Wake Forest -16.5 (-112) (Fanduel)