Expert CFB Betting Locks for Notre Dame vs. Texas A&M and Week 3's Biggest Games

Sometimes picking winners against the spread seems easy, but more often than not, it's anything but.

The "gambling gods" usually have their say, but last week, they treated us kindly with our college football picks.

Those picks went 7-1-1 against the spread.

The lone loss? That would come courtesy of Duke, which turned the ball over roughly 485 times against Illinois. Outside of that, we were nearly perfect. In fact, the lone push came with Iowa +3, and the spread finished at +3.5 at gametime. (Just sayin'.)

We don't take these results for granted, but entering Week 3 with momentum and a winning record feels great.

Although many complained about a lack of meaningful matchups in Week 2, that's not the case this week. There are a slew of games between ranked teams and a ton of compelling contests to dive into.

So, let's stay hot.

Last Week's Record: 7-1-1

Year to Date: 13-9-1

Tennessee (+4) vs. Georgia

1 of 6

Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Both teams are 2-0, but there are plenty of lingering questions about each squad.

Tennessee beat Syracuse in the opener and followed that up with a 72-point performance against East Tennessee State. Georgia clobbered Marshall, although the Bulldogs followed that up with a 28-6 lackluster showing against Austin Peay.

So what's next? The matchup heads to Knoxville, one of the best college football environments, where Georgia's starting QB Gunner Stockton faces his first road game.

For Tennessee, Joey Aguilar has looked the part at QB. With the drama at the position behind them, he looks like an upgrade in the early part of the season. And he has plenty of talent around him.

The injuries in the Vols' secondary are a concern, but the other pieces are spectacular. And, more than anything, home field is a lofty obstacle to overcome.

This has all the makings of a spectacular football game, one that Tennessee can very much win.

The Pick: Tennessee (+4)

Notre Dame (-6.5) vs. Texas A&M

2 of 6

Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

It seems strange to be talking about a bye in Week 3, but Notre Dame spent last Saturday on the couch. After a hard-fought loss against Miami in the opener, the Irish got an early breather before the crucial home opener.

Texas A&M, meanwhile, cruised past Utah State 44-22 after a slow start. In that game, starting QB Marcel Reed left due to injury, but he will play in this game. Whether he'll be 100 percent is another question entirely.

Regardless, the oddsmakers don't seem all that concerned about Notre Dame's 0-1 start, and neither am I.

While CJ Carr wasn't perfect for the Irish at quarterback, he showed a ton of promise. And once the skill-position talent gets going, this team could really hit its stride.

A&M is plenty talented, although giving up 46 points to UTSA and Utah State at home in the first two games is a concern. The Aggies should score, but Notre Dame might keep the scoreboard operator busy.

This won't be a blowout. A total hovering around 50 tells us there should be plenty of scoring, and it could come from both sides at first. In the second half, look for the Irish to pull away.

The Pick: Notre Dame (-6.5)

Miami (-17.5) vs. South Florida

3 of 6

Leonardo Fernandez/Getty Images

South Florida isn't just 2-0.

The Bulls are unbeaten, having conquered two ranked teams in two weeks. The most recent, an upset over Florida as an 18-point underdog, has completely changed the perception and given this team a number by its name.

South Florida exceeded expectations in Week 1, but this week, we're taking Miami for sound matchup reasons.

As a reminder, it's not personal. It's just business.

Business for Miami, at least thus far, is better than advertised. When you consider Notre Dame is a considerable favorite over Texas A&M this weekend, it speaks to the quality of the Hurricanes' win in the team's opener.

In particular, Miami's rebuilt offensive and defensive lines are poised to make a massive difference. Sure, USF was up for the challenge against Florida. But this feels like a different assignment entirely.

While we don't want to overreact to only two games, Mario Cristobal's squad has the look of a legit playoff team. And this spread, while plenty robust, feels robust for a reason.

The Pick: Miami (-17.5)

Houston (-4.5) vs. Colorado

4 of 6

Kenneth Richmond/Getty Images

Given the discrepancy in coverage over the past three years between these two programs, the point spread might seem odd to some.

However, considering what we've seen thus far, and the reality that Colorado is playing its first game on the road, it feels about right.

The Buffaloes deserve credit for hanging tough with Georgia Tech in the opener. Since then, we've seen multiple quarterbacks take meaningful reps, and we might see more of that this week.

At this point, though, it might not matter. With so many new faces on this roster, this team's first road trip will likely serve as a moment. And although we won't confuse the University of Houston with the University of Texas in terms of atmosphere, the routine and the environment will present a challenge.

In two games, Houston has allowed a grand total of nine points. Granted, Stephen F. Austin and Rice have plenty to do with that.

Still, don't sleep on this team or Willie Fritz. The former Tulane coach led Houston to a 4-8 mark a season ago, although he ripped off wins against TCU, Utah and Kansas State.

With former 5-star recruit Conner Weigman settling into his role as the team's starting QB, Houston is poised to win this one by more than a touchdown.

The Pick: Houston (-4.5)

Florida (+7.5) at LSU

5 of 6

Chris Leduc/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

No matter how hard we try to stay level, we can't help but be violently swayed by recent results.

The most recent result for Florida was not a favorable one. The Gators lost outright at home to South Florida, scoring only 16 points. It was ugly, and one can't help but wonder how that will impact a sizable road trip.

Indeed, Baton Rouge is a brutal place to play. Baton Rouge at night, when this game will be played, is even worse.

But Florida's result isn't the only result we should take notice of. LSU wasn't exactly stellar against Louisiana Tech, winning 23-7. Not bad. Not good. Maybe it was an emotional letdown following a win over Clemson, or maybe that win isn't as good as we thought.

It's a dangerous game to compare scoreboards, but one can't help but look at Clemson's struggles against Troy and wonder what that means for these Tigers.

The logic in this spot doesn't have to be all that complicated. Florida is still plenty capable, and it should be able to make this game weird enough and cover the spread.

Other Games on the Card

6 of 6

Justin Ford/Getty Images

After losing at Mississippi State, Arizona State is poised to score as many touchdowns as it can to let it all out. Also, Texas State, currently No. 16 in scoring offense, is plenty fun. Fireworks ahoy.

Arkansas State (+21) vs. Iowa State

Oh, the letdown potential is glorious. Iowa State just conquered rival Iowa and now hits the road to play at Arkansas State. The Cyclones will win, but don't be surprised if they're a little sleepy doing so.

Temple (+23.5) vs. Oklahoma

Let's stay with this theme and head to Temple. This is the ultimate sandwich spot for Oklahoma, which just beat Michigan and takes on Auburn next week. In between, a road trip to Temple is on tap. Could get weird enough.

Old Dominion (+7) at Virginia Tech

This Old Dominion program is getting better, and this team hung tough with Indiana in the opener. The fact that this spread is only a touchdown speaks to the trajectory of both programs.

Click here to read article