As we inch closer to Week 3, more sportsbooks are coming out with props for the upcoming CFB slate. Not only can you bet on full-game spreads, moneylines, and totals, but some games have hundreds of betting options.
Below, check out my favorite college football props bets for Week 3.
Georgia vs South Carolina Prop
Either Team to win by 10 or Fewer (+390) at PointsBet Sportsbook
WAGER: .5 Units
Georgia is the best team in college football, and South Carolina is above average. That is why it should be no shock that Georgia is a 24.5-point favorite on the road this weekend.
Georgia should be a 21.5-point favorite against SC as the Gamecocks gave Arkansas a run for their money last weekend.
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What is the best way to bet on a close game besides betting on South Carolina +24.5?
To bet that either team will win by 10 or fewer points.
At +390, I believe it should be priced closer to +330, which makes the prop a better bet than the Gamecocks spread.
Oklahoma vs Nebraska Prop
Oklahoma First-Half Spread -6.5 (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook
WAGER: 1.5 Units
What is the most frequent margin of victory in the first half of college football games? Seven Points!
Why is that significant for the Oklahoma vs Nebraska game? Because most books have Oklahoma as a seven-point first-half favorite and Caesars has them at only 6.5 points. With 11% of first halves ending with a team ahead by seven points, why would you look the other way?
Football-wise, Oklahoma should win this game - even on the road. Nebraska has looked awful this season, and they just fired their Head Coach Scott Frost. Occasionally Oklahoma has found itself asleep at the wheel in lopsided games, but they should be prepared against Nebraska.
If you can grab Oklahoma at less than a 7-point first-half favorite, I would advise backing them to cover their first-half spread.
Cincinnati vs Miami Ohio Prop
First Half Under 27 Points (-105) at Caesars Sportsbook
WAGER: 0.75 Units
This pick is somewhat of a copout for me as I have the full game Under in my Week 3 college football best bets article, but the first half Under of 27 points is a great bet for the same reason.
Not only does Cincinnati have one of the most dominating defenses in college football, but Miami Ohio has a new quarterback after Brett Gabbert got injured in Week 1 against Kentucky.
In Week 2 against Robert Morris, Gabbert’s replacement, Aveon Smith, threw for 155 passing yards. If Smith can’t dominate an FCS opponent, how is he supposed to move the chains against Cincy?
Smith should struggle in the first half, and the Under should hit at 27 points.
Cal vs Notre Dame Prop
Notre Dame First-Half Spread -6.5 (-106) at FanDuel Sportsbook
WAGER: 1.5 Units
Notre Dame’s season has been weird so far. They nearly beat Ohio State as a 17-point underdog, and then they lost last week to Marshall as a 20-point favorite.
Now, they play Cal at home and are favored by 10.5 points.
The Fighting Irish should win this game, and at only -6.5 (-106), now is the time to back the Irish in the first half. With seven as the most important key number for first-half college football spreads, backing ND in the first half is the best way to bet on them.
Tulane vs Kansas State Prop
Kansas State Team Total Under 30.5 Points (-109) at BetRivers Sportsbook
WAGER: 1 Unit
Kansas State and Tulane rank in the top 13 NCAAF teams in rushing play percentage. The Wildcats have a rushing play percentage of 68.3%, and the Green Wave have a rushing play percentage of 63.9%.
Why is this relevant? Because running plays take more time off the clock than passing plays as incompletions stop the clock. This is good for Unders.
Sadly, this is baked into the spread, but the team total of 30.5 for Kansas State doesn’t properly reflect this. K-State should jump to an early lead and play conservatively to finish the game. Thirty-one-plus is a high bar for them to reach, even against Tulane.
Louisiana-Monroe vs Alabama Prop
Louisiana-Monroe First-Half Spread +31.5 (-110) at BetMGM
WAGER: 1 Unit
One of the most popular betting angles for years has been to back Alabama in the first half when they are a heavy full-game favorite. The Crimson Tide play their usual style of play in the first half and blow opponents out the water, and then Nick Saban puts in his backups to end the game.
This week, they are favored by 49.5 points.
As a 49.5-point favorite, they should be favored by 27.5 points for the first half, but they are a 31.5-point favorite. Call me crazy, but that’s a large margin for any team to build up in 30 minutes - even if it’s Alabama.
ULM certainly isn’t an SEC-caliber team, but they are not as much of a doormat as they have been in the past. At +31.5 for the first half, I would bet them up to 27.5.
