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College Football Picks, Predictions: Week 3 Best Bets for Noon Slate on Saturday, September 19

College Football Picks, Predictions: Week 3 Best Bets for Noon Slate on Saturday, September 19 article feature image
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Photos courtesy of Imagn Images.

It's another beautiful Saturday of college football.

Our staff of betting experts will have action on almost every game for the entire day, starting with our 4 College Football Picks and Predictions for the Noon slate on Saturday, September 18, including picks for Arkansas vs Georgia and more.


College Football Picks, Predictions

The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our college football betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.

GameTime (ET)Pick
Arkansas Razorbacks LogoGeorgia Bulldogs Logo
12 PM
Bowling Green Falcons LogoIowa State Cyclones Logo
12 PM
Mercer Bears LogoGeorgia Tech Yellow Jackets Logo
12 PM
Arizona State Sun Devils LogoKansas Jayhawks Logo
12 PM
Action Logo
All Day
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAF Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game.


Arkansas vs. Georgia Best Bet

Arkansas Razorbacks Logo
Saturday, Sept. 19
12 PM ET
ABC
Georgia Bulldogs Logo
Georgia -24.5
FanDuel Logo

By Collin Wilson

The Bulldogs are headed to Fayetteville for an 11 a.m. Central kickoff (also known as the Jefferson Pilot time slot for old-school SEC folks) as 24-point favorites. There's no advantage for the Bulldogs numbers-wise, as The Action Network projects Georgia at -21, in comparison to SP+ at -25.

Smart will have the advantage with every unit that lines up on the field, but Georgia has struggled in its first road conference game over the past three seasons. The Bulldogs won their first SEC road game against Auburn, Kentucky and Tennessee by a cumulative margin of 11 points.

However, Kirby Smart may have an axe to grind with Silverfield because of previous comments made.

Smart deflected the question during his weekly press conference, remarking on the Ryan Silverfield apology in Tampa earlier this year, saying "much to do about nothing."

There's certainly potential that Georgia will start slow on the road in its first SEC game — similar to the previous three seasons — but the comments made by Silverfield may draw Georgia to play a full four-quarter game no matter the score.

While Arkansas continues to search for answers regarding a failed offense with no EPA or a defense that is 94th in Havoc, Georgia could lean into its running game alone to cover the spread.

Check out all of Collin's Week 3 CFB Best Bets here:

Pick: Georgia -24.5 or Better



Bowling Green vs. Iowa State Best Bet

Bowling Green Falcons Logo
Saturday, Sept. 19
12 PM ET
ESPNU
Iowa State Cyclones Logo
Bowling Green +24
FanDuel Logo

By Stuckey

This is a tough spot for the Cyclones after a hard-fought last-minute loss to Iowa in the Cy-Hawk Game last week.

Now, they come home for a sleepy early kick to face lowly Bowling Green one week before hosting Utah to kick off conference play.

I doubt they want to show much here and likely want to get some run for their inexperienced backup quarterback once they build a comfortable lead.

Plus, quarterback Jaylen Raynor is always a prime candidate to cough the ball up, regardless of opponent. The Clones also got pretty beat up last week in Iowa City, so they could be down a couple of key starters.

Bowling Green has been pretty abysmal to start the season. The Falcons lost a coin-flip at home to an FCS school to open the season (a top-10 one at least) and then got drilled at Nebraska, 56-7, last week.

The offense is simply anemic with a D-II transfer at quarterback, playing behind an offensive line that had to be completely rebuilt after the Falcons sported an extremely veteran group in Eddie George's first season in northwest Ohio.

The wide receiver room is also severely lacking in talent. It's very alarming that BG averaged only 2.8 yards per rush against Tarleton, which allowed both Prairie View A&M and McNeese State to eclipse six yards per carry.

You can at least expect BG to operate at a glacial pace with a heavy dose of likely unsuccessful runs and short passes that feature tight ends from heavy sets.

This Iowa State defense looks legit under head coach Jimmy Rogers, as it held Iowa to nothing on the ground while almost pulling off the upset.

There's a real chance Bowling Green just can't score here, so I also sprinkled some under, for what it's worth.

While disappointing so far, the BG defense does at least have some real talent for a MAC school at all three levels. And this Iowa State offense is just completely broken right now while also operating at a snail-like pace.

This thing could easily end 23-7 in a battle between two of the slower-paced teams in the country.

Check out all of Stuck's Situational Spots for Week 3 here:

Pick: Bowling Green +24 or Better



Mercer vs. Georgia Tech Best Bet

Mercer Bears Logo
Saturday, Sept. 19
12 PM ET
ACCN
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets Logo
Georgia Tech -40
FanDuel Logo

By Joshua Nunn

This line opened with Georgia Tech listed as a 41.5-point favorite with a total set at 60.5.

There have been significant adjustments in games between FBS and FCS teams, as the FBS team has covered at an alarmingly high rate. Still, I don’t believe this line has been adjusted enough.

Money has come in on Mercer, which has pushed this line down to -38.5. I am willing to lay that number with the Ramblin’ Wreck.

Mercer’s offense isn't consistent enough to run the ball effectively and stay out of third-and-long situations. The rush offense shined against Presbyterian but fizzled out against both of the other FCS teams on its schedule.

The Bears have relied on explosive plays against poor defensive teams, but I don't see them registering explosive rushing plays in this one.

Running backs Zahmari Palode-Gary and Devon Caldwell have feasted on the ground against weak rush defenses, but I foresee a struggle here for this ground attack.

The Bears will have to throw the ball, and I fully expect Georgia Tech’s secondary to win the battles against Brayden Smith and Travion Solomon, who have both hauled in several deep passes this season. That won't happen here.

Mercer has been horrific on third down this season, converting just 5-of-31 attempts against scholarship-level opponents.

The Bears have had drives stall out, already attempting eight field goals this season. Kicker Simon Zeidan has gone 5-of-8 while missing from 29 and 32 yards.

Without explosive plays to aid the offense, Mercer won't move the ball methodically down the field. That means its ability to put points on the board will be limited.

On the other side, Georgia Tech comes in quite angry after the 0-2 start, and this game will give it a chance to work on some of the more dynamic elements of its offensive attack in an attempt to get ready for ACC play.

There will be a concerted effort to coax improvement out of the offensive line this week. The unit has struggled, giving up seven sacks and 15 tackles for loss in just two weeks.

Expect attitude and extreme effort, even against an FCS opponent. The run game should look buttoned up here.

The talent gap is very wide between these two teams, and GT has the motivation to put a lot of points on the board after the offense failed to score a touchdown against Colorado and didn’t score until the middle of the third quarter against Tennessee.

This team will look much different against an overmatched FCS opponent and should win this game comfortably by six touchdowns. Lay it.

Pick: Georgia Tech -40 or Better



Arizona State vs. Kansas Best Bet

Arizona State Sun Devils Logo
Saturday, Sept. 19
12 PM ET
FS1
Kansas Jayhawks Logo
Omarion Miller Receiving Yards
Underdog Fantasy Logo

By Jordan Vanek

Kansas has been gashed from the slot this season, and Arizona State’s primary slot WR is Omarion Miller.

Miller and Reed Harris are the two main threats in this WR room and have combined for close to a 70% target share against the blitz, which Kansas has been using a ton.

Miller’s aDOT below is hilarious, and I expect that number to climb into the 8-10-yard range in this matchup because Arizona State should trust its offensive line to hold up.

Missouri's Donovan Olugbode and Cayden Lee each had 120 receiving yards against Kansas, and I think Miller or Harris could have a similar performance this weekend.

Pick: Omarion Miller Higher Than 54.5 Receiving Yards



Mike Calabrese's Full Action App Card for Saturday

Need more bets for Saturday's action? It's always wise to see what our guy Breese is betting on!

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