Week 2 of the college football season was a profitable one for this space. We hit our best CFB parlay for a return of $118, missed one leg on our long shot parlay that cost us $50, and lost one leg on our SGP parlay when Georgia failed to cover by the hook and lost $10.
Week 3 of the CFB season is traditionally difficult, with numerous non-conference games and a few lopsided conference matchups on tap.
I have three parlay options for you to consider for Week 3. Each card is wagered differently based on the odds available and the likelihood of the parlay landing.
Best CFB Parlay This Week
Our Week 2 best CFB parlay landed last week, hitting both legs for $118.11, but we ended up on the wrong side of the numbers with -2.7% CLV.
Saturday’s best bet will feature a three-leg moneyline parlay. The vigorish is too high to play these as stand-alone wagers, so we shall parlay our three best moneyline plays and see if our good fortune can continue during Week 3.
Phil Naessens TGD CFB Best Parlay Record: 1-2 (+$98.11)
CFB Week 3 Parlay (+118)
Caesars Sportsbook • WAGER: 1 Unit
- Rutgers ML (-260) vs Virginia Tech
- North Carolina ML (-285) vs Minnesota
- Penn State ML (-600) @ Illinois
Rutgers (-260) vs Virginia Tech
Rutgers is my favorite play. The Scarlet Knights have allowed 14 points this season and face a 1-1 Virginia Tech pass-first offense averaging 60 rushing yards per contest. The offense has improved, but the defense will carry Rutgers to its first 3-0 start since 1961.
North Carolina (-285) vs Minnesota
No. 20 North Carolina hosts a pesky Minnesota defense in a game the Tar Heels should win. The Golden Gophers pass defense allows 92.5 passing yards per contest, but they will be no match for North Carolina QB Drake Maye and an offense averaging 35.5 points per game at home.
Penn State (-600) @ Illinois
No. 7 Penn State travels to Champaign for a Big Ten conference matchup with 1-1 Illinois. Saturday will be the first real test for the Nittany Lions, but the Penn State defense is loaded, the offense knows how to find the end zone, and an Illinois defense allowing 477.5 yards of offense won’t be able to stop them.
CFB Week 3 Long Shot Parlay Bet
We missed our CFB Week 2 longshot play last week but did wind up with +2.7% CLV. Week 3 doesn’t bring the same upset possibilities as Week 2, but I like this bet.
We’ll risk 0.25 units or $25 on this CFB Week 3 longshot parlay bet.
Phil Naessens TGD CFB Long Shot Parlay Record: 0-3 (-$70)
CFB Week 3 Long Shot Parlay (+472)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.25 Units
- Florida ML (+200) vs Tennessee
- West Virginia ML (-110) vs Pittsburgh
Florida (+200) vs Tennessee
SEC football on a Saturday night is must-see TV, and No. 11 ranked Tennessee is a (-250) favorite per the NCAAF odds but is 0-5 over their past five meetings in Gainesville. Saturday will be the first real test for the Volunteers, where they’ll face a Gators defense allowing 191 total yards and 15.5 points per game.
West Virginia (-110) vs Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh will meet West Virginia for the 95th time on Saturday. The Mountaineers’ huge rushing game and 66th-best passing offense will be Pitt’s first real test this season.
Pitt has a mediocre offense with a defense that Cincinnati RB Corey Kiner gashed for 153 yards and a TD. The Mountaineers RB tandem of CJ Donaldson Jr. and Jaheim White will give the Panthers defense fits this week.
CFB Same Game Parlay Pick
We missed our Week 2 same game parlay when Ball State covered the 42.5-point spread by the hook.
In Week 3, we’ll use the UTEP at Arizona matchup due to its high total, giving us decent prices for this two-leg SGP parlay pick.
Phil Naessens TGD CFB SGP Record: 1-2 (+$20)
CFB Week 3 SGP (+450)
DraftKings Sportsbook • WAGER: 0.1 Units
- Arizona ML (-1200)
- UTEP 1Q Three-Way ML (+400)
Our two-leg SGP begins with Arizona beating UTEP. Arizona junior quarterback Jayden de Laura should have a field day against the 99th-ranked Miners defense. The Wildcats’ defense is 43rd in scoring and should win this game without much difficulty.
- See more of our top picks in our CFB Best Bets for Week 3.
The Arizona defense has struggled in the first quarter this season, allowing an average of 14.0 first-quarter points per game. Meanwhile, UTEP allows just 5.0 first-quarter points, and I suspect the UTEP defense will come out firing, the Wildcats offense will be flat, and UTEP will win the first-quarter three-way moneyline.
