College Football 2026 Week 3 Top 25 Preview And Picks

As you watch and wager on the 2026 college football teams, you can follow the Top 25 teams dominated by the Power 4 conferences. That includes college football 2026 Week 3 showdown Friday night in Lubbock between No. 13 Texas Tech and No. 22 Houston. Saturday it’s one of the most anticipated NCAA football games of the season with No. 7 LSU at No. 8 Ole Miss. What a college football theatre, environment and scene that will be this week in Oxford, Mississippi, along with other Top 25 matchups and stadiums this week for college football 2026 Week 3 action.

I provide Power 4 coverage and team previews, futures odds, season wins and additional information you can bet on in the Big Ten and SEC, plus the Big 12 and ACC.

Week 3 of the 2026 college football season begins with a new team at No. 1 in the AP and Coaches Poll after No. 4 Texas stunned No. 1 Ohio State with an improbable comeback in Austin to escape with a 24-23 win. The Buckeye’s and Oregon Ducks from the Big Ten drop down after Oregon also suffered a stunning loss as a 24-point road favorite at Oklahoma State. Key games in the Top 25 again headline the college football Week 3 schedule with more big games in the weeks ahead.

Texas is now No. 1 followed by fellow SEC team Georgia at No. 2. Notre Dame, Indiana and Miami round out the top 5 with all receiving at least one first place vote along with No. 7 LSU.

Top 25 Games and Week 3 Odds

Betting lines and college football odds from top online sportsbooks refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. Point spread on favorites plus game totals. All times ET for College Football 2026 Week 3 games.

Check back by Friday each week and my updates on X (@FairwayJay) as Fairways Forecast adds Picks and Opinions with select analysis, stats and information you can bet on.

Fri, Sept. 18

– No. 5 Miami (-21) at Wake Forest, total 56 | 7:30 pm | ESPN
– No. 22 Houston at No. 13 Texas Tech (-7.5), 53 | 8 pm | FOX
– Portland State at No. 21 Oregon (NL) | 8 pm | BTN

Sat, Sept. 19

– Texas San Antonio at No. 1 Texas (-30), total 58 | 8 pm | ABC
– No. 2 Georgia (-25.5) at Arkansas, 54 | 12 pm | ABC
– Michigan State at No. 3 Notre Dame (-29), 52.5 | 7:30 pm | NBC
– Western Kentucky at No. 4 Indiana (-44), 60 | 4 pm | NBCSN
– Kent State at No. 6 Ohio State (-52.5) 60 | 12 pm | FOX
– No. 7 LSU (-3) at No. 8 Ole Miss, 59 | 7:30 pm. | ABC
– Kentucky at No. 9 Texas A&M (-17), 50 | 3:30 pm | ESPN
– Florida State at No. 10 Alabama (-20.5), 49.5 | 3:30 pm | ABC
– No. 11 BYU (-18) at Colorado State, 52.5 | 7:30 pm | CBS Online
– No. 12 USC (-24) at Rutgers, 59.5 | 3:30 pm | CBS
– Buffalo at No. 14 Penn State (-39.5), 48 | 12 pm | BTN
– Kennesaw State at No. 15 Tennessee (NL) | 7:45 pm | SECN
– No. 16 SMU at No. 23 Louisville (-1.5), 59.5 | 3:30 pm | ESPN2
– Utah State at No. 17 Utah (-28 ), 57 | 3:30 pm | FOX
– Northern Iowa at No. 18 Iowa (NL) | : pm | FS1
– UTEP at No. 19 Michigan (-35), 48 | 3:30 pm | BTN
– Troy at No. 20 Missouri (-27), 50 | 4 pm | SECN
– New Mexico at No. 24 Oklahoma (-21.5), 46.5 | 7:30 pm | ESPN2
– West Virginia vs No. 25 Virginia (-10), 53.5 (Charlotte) | 7:30 pm | ACCN

Others receiving votes: Washington 172, Florida 83, Boise State 57, Oklahoma State 36, Western Michigan 35, Tulsa, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Virginia Tech, UCLA, James Madison, Arizona, North Dakota State, Pittsburgh, Kansas State

Notable line and total adjustments from opener

– Miami -22.5 to -21
– Texas Tech -8.5 to -7.5
– Penn State -38.5 to -39.5

Other games of interest

– Florida (-2.5) at Auburn, 53.5 (up from 52.5)
– North Carolina at Clemson (-3.5), 44.5
– Mississippi State at South Carolina (-4), 59.5
– NC State at Vanderbilt (-3.5), 51 (down from 53)
– Colorado at Northwestern (-4), 49
– Virginia Tech (-3) at Maryland, 53.5
– Arizona State (-6) at Kansas, 52 (up from -5)
– Stanford at Duke (-9.5), 51
– Purdue at UCLA (-15.5), 53
– Miami, Ohio at Cincinnati (-14.5), 50.5
– North Texas at Texas State (-3), 63.5
– James Madison at San Diego State (-2), 46.5
– Fresno State (-6.5) at San Jose State (50.5)
– Ohio at South Alabama (-4.5), 51
– East Carolina at Old Dominion (-3), 49
– Florida Int’l at Florida Atlantic (-6.5), 63

Stats, Strategies and ATS Notes

More stats, ATS and matchup updates with information you can bet on provided by Friday for college football 2025 Week 3 contests.

Select Week 3 Top 25 Matchups and Picks

Picks

– Louisville (-1.5)
– West Virginia (+10.5 / 11), in Charlotte
– LSU/Ole Miss – Over 58.5

Opinions

– Houston (+8) and Under 52.5
– Colorado State (+17.5)

Non-Top 25
Opinions
– NC State (+3.5)
– Florida (-2)
– Kansas State (-20.5)
– Purdue (+14.5)

Houston at Texas Tech 

Texas Tech’s rise to power and run to last season’s College Football Playoff overshadowed Houston’s 10 win season. Now two Big 12 leaders and Top 25 teams collide in a major watch and wager Friday night showdown in Lubbock. This line has dropped a full TD from preseason spreads, and the Red Raiders had to rally in the 4Q last week in a look ahead spot to win at Oregon State 35-24 as a 26′ point favorite while getting out-gained by the Beavers. The Cougars are also 2-0 having also won 33-20 over Oregon State in Week 1 but more dominant statiscially while -2 in turnovers. Houston leads the nation in third-down conversion rate (71%), and this is an experienced Cougar’s team with a veteran quarterback and a solid run defense led by “Novocain” disciplined coach Willie Fritz. Tech’s run and pass defense is talented, but not yet performing to expectations, and the Cougars can claw and hang tough with less scoring than expected.

LSU at Ole Miss

One of the most anticipated games of the season, in a most hostile environment for visiting LSU. Ole Miss is also on a 23-1 straight up run at home. Plenty of pace and plays in this key SEC showdown, and shootout.

SMU at Louisville

A key contest in the ACC is more meaningful as neither of these league challengers play top team Miami this season. More attention and accolades given to SMU senior QB Kevin Jennings. But Louisville QB Lincoln Kienholz has been brilliant so far while passing for 639 yards, 4 TD’s and rushing for 3 more touchdowns behind a stronger offensive line in this matchup. Louisville has also been more challenged in a close, Week 1 loss vs. Mississippi. Louisville has not turned the ball over yet this season, and we prefer the Cardinals and their superior coaching and preparation with more questions for SMU’s DL and overall defense.

Check back Saturday for any additions, stats, analysis and information you can bet on.

You can bet on it.