College Football Game Picks: Week 3
College football turned the page on another exciting week of games, with some happening to shock the world.
Notable games that summarized the week belong to Arkansas stealing a game at home against No. 15 Texas 40-21 in Fayetteville, and No. 12 Oregon walking out of Columbus with a statement win over the No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes 35-28.
As Week 3 dawns upon football fans, let’s look at some marquee matchups this Saturday.
Nebraska vs. No. 3 Oklahoma
As the FOX Big Noon Kickoff matchup, the Nebraska Cornhuskers take their two-game win streak on the road to Norman as they face a national championship contender in the Oklahoma Sooners.
Nebraska, led by quarterback Adrian Martinez, soon found its stride as it won two straight games after its season-opening loss to rival Illinois.
Those two wins, however, were against weaker opponents in Fordham and Buffalo.
Its offense managed to produce over 500 yards per game and 34 points per game, but on the flip side of the ball, the defense seems to be lacking by giving up over 325 yards per game.
As for the Sooners, head coach Lincoln Riley’s team got back on track by dismantling Western Carolina 76-0 after a scare from Tulane in Week 1. Its offense seems to be firing on all cylinders as it averages 527 yards per game and 58 points per game, but its secondary is its main problem by letting up over 200 yards per game through the air.
Oklahoma will run away with this game thanks to its elite talent on the field.
Prediction: Oklahoma 48, Nebraska 17
Oklahoma State vs. Boise State
The Oklahoma State Cowboys travel to the infamous blue turf in Idaho to take on the Broncos of Boise State. This game has some AP Top 25 implications based on team production.
For Oklahoma State, the quarterbacks have been splitting reps in the last two games, considering Spencer Sanders came back from surgery in last week’s 28-23 win against Tulsa. Shane Illingworth led the charge against Missouri State with 55% completion with one touchdown and one interception.
As for Boise State, its bounce-back win against UTEP provided a glimpse into its dominant tenure as a Group of Five team. With skill sets like running back George Holani and wide receiver Khalil Shakir posing as weapons on offense, the Broncos can make a run for a legitimate bowl game, possibly upsetting another Power Five team.
The Cowboys walk out of Boise with a win due to the lack of defensive power the Broncos hold.
Prediction: Oklahoma State 27, Boise State 17
No. 15 Virginia Tech vs. West Virginia
The Virginia Tech Hokies look to continue their winning ways as they head to Morgantown to face the Mountaineers of West Virginia.
The main thing to look for between these two teams is the quarterback play. Virginia Tech quarterback Braxton Burmeister led potent attacks against North Carolina and Middle Tennessee, racking up 311 yards on 60.5% completion and three touchdowns.
Jarret Doege looks to create chaos in the rankings, as he leads the team with 536 yards and four touchdowns. Doege, however, also has two interceptions to his name.
Both teams will make this game a barn burner, but the Hokies will pull out the victory.
Prediction: No. 15 Virginia Tech 23, West Virginia 14
Jonathan Draeger is a sophomore majoring in broadcast journalism. You can contact him at jrd6052@psu.edu.
