College Football Week 3 Best Bets: SEC Begins With Heavyweight Bout

By Bill Speros Sep 4th, 2025 3:08 PM EDT

Our Week 3 College Football Best Bets see the return of full-time Power 5 intra-conference play at the best sports betting apps.

The SEC wastes no time in offering a pair of games that could well impact the participants in the conference championship game. The Georgia Bulldogs jump paws-first into the SEC fray by visiting Knoxville. An orange-clad throng of 105,000+ fans at Neyland Stadium await the defending conference champs in a matchup of Top 25 teams.

Saturday night, the Florida Gators return to the REAL “Death Valley” to face LSU. Florida beat LSU last season in The Swamp. Both teams could well be in top 13 of the AP Poll come kickoff.

The SEC isn’t hiding this week. Texas A&M takes a rare trip above the Mason-Dixon line to play Notre Dame. Another loss should land the Irish in the Top 3 of every poll.

Other Week 3 College Football Best Bets include:

• A full Big 12 & ACC menu
• Oregon starting its Big Ten defense against Northwestern
• Ohio State looking for a monster cover against Ohio

Week 3 College Football Best Bets

Here are our Week 3 College Football Best Bets to back on your favorite sports betting sites. 

Date	Matchup	Week 3 Best Bets
Fri. Sept. 12	Colorado at Houston	TBD DraftKings
Sat. Sept. 13	Clemson at Georgia Tech	Georgia Tech +7.5 (-110) DraftKings
Sat. Sept. 13	Vanderbilt at South Carolina	South Carolina -8.5 (-110) DraftKings
Sat. Sept. 13	Arkansas at Ole Miss	Ole Miss -12.5 (-110) DraftKings
Sat. Sept. 13	Wisconsin at Alabama	Wisconsin +19.5 (-110) FanDuel
Sat. Sept. 13	Georgia at Tennessee	Tennessee +6.5 (-110) DraftKings
Sat. Sept. 13	Pittsburgh at West Virginia	West Virginia +2.5 (-110) DraftKings
Sat. Sept. 13	South Florida at Miami	Miami -18.5 (-110) DraftKings
Sat. Sept. 13	Florida at LSU	Florida +7 (-110) DraftKings

Week 3 College Football Best Bets: Game-By-Game Analysis

Friday, September 12

Colorado at Houston, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Buzz: Coach Prime and the Buffs have shown signs of life in the Post-Shedeur-Travis Hunter Era. The Cougs face their first legit opponent.

Best Bet: TBD at DraftKings via OddsJam  

Saturday, September 13

Clemson at Georgia Tech, Noon (ESPN)

Buzz: The Tigers would love to break out here and make a statement. But the Yellow Jackets remain a tough out at home, especially on this number with the hook at 7.5 points.  

Best Bet: Georgia Tech +7.5 (-110) at DraftKings via OddsJam  

Vanderbilt at South Carolina, TBA (ESPN)

Buzz: The Gamecocks strutted out of the gate with a solid win over Virginia Tech in the season-opener. The Commodores hit dry land in Columbia this week, and the home team scores a decisive win and cover on the big number.

Best Bet: South Carolina -8.5 (-110) at DraftKings via OddsJam  

Arkansas at Ole Miss, TBA (ESPN)

Buzz: Another seemingly lopsided SEC affair. The Lane Train won’t stop until it hits Atlanta in December. Point differential matters. The Hogs sat some key players against Arkansas State. But a full pen of pigs won’t be enough to contain the Rebels at home.  

Best Bet: Ole Miss -12.5 (-110) at DraftKings via OddsJam  

Wisconsin at Alabama, Noon (TBA)

Buzz: Alabama may legalize the lottery just to generate enough revenue to buy out Kalen DeBoer’s contract. (It would cost about $70 million.) One would think the Tide could score an easy win here against this Big Ten foe deep in Dixie. But it’s nearly impossible to envision Alabama covering a 19.5-point line against Marquette – which stopped playing football in 1960 – never mind Wisconsin.

Best Bet: Wisconsin +19.5 (-110) at DraftKings via OddsJam  

Georgia at Tennessee, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

Buzz: This is when CBS really starts to feel the loss of the SEC. A Tennessee upset would put the Vols in the subject line of the playoff discussion. Georgia remains the closest program to a college football dynasty in this era. Asking them to cover a 6.5-point line at Neyland Stadium is something else entirely.

Best Bet: Tennessee +6.5 (-110) at DraftKings via OddsJam  

Pittsburgh at West Virginia, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Buzz: The Panthers woefully underachieved last season in part due to multiple injuries at key spots. Pat Narduzzi survived this offseason despite losing his final 6 games. Rich Rodriguez returned to Morgantown this season and this is the sort of the game that would re-ignite the magic he delivered some 18 years ago. This home dog backs up the bark with enough bite to win outright.

Best Bet: West Virginia +2.5 (-110) at DraftKings via OddsJam  

South Florida at Miami, 4:30 p.m. (CW)

Buzz: The Bulls come off a visit to The Swamp with a trip to Hard Rock Stadium as part of their in-state series against Florida’s other Power 5 teams. Miami flexes its muscle. Miami QB Carson Beck can catch the eye of Heisman voters with some big numbers.

Best Bet: Miami -18.5 (-110) at DraftKings via OddsJam  

Florida at LSU, 7:30 p.m. (ABC)

Buzz: LSU goes as far as its defense takes them this season. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier owns the top spot in the Heisman betting market, but his passing numbers against Clemson were deceptive. More game-management than production. The Gators defense chomps on to Mike’s hindquarter and hangs on for the cover in Death Valley.

Best Bet: Florida +7 (-110) at DraftKings via OddsJam