'Stanford Steve' and 'The Bear': Week 3 college football picks, bets, nuggets 🏈
'Stanford Steve' and 'The Bear': Week 3 college football picks, bets, nuggets
ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)
College football is underway in 2020 and it's unlike any season we have had before. One thing is familiar: "Stanford Steve" Coughlin and Chris "The Bear" Fallica breaking down games as only they can, offering their top bets, nuggets and totals worth wagering on.
Here is your guide to Week 3 of the CFB season with the two college football analysts.
Records
Stanford Steve 4-0
The Bear 1-3
The plays
No. 17 Miami Hurricanes at No. 18 Louisville Cardinals (-2.5, 64.5)
Stanford Steve: Both teams looked impressive offensively last week in their season debuts. New Canes offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee was one of my favorite hires in the offseason, and he showed why in his first game calling plays in South Florida last Thursday night as Miami rushed for over 330 yards in a win over UAB. D'Eriq King showed some flashes with some splash plays too. But, when I look at this matchup, I just trust the Cardinals more. I like the coaching staff as a whole more than "The U," and I also trust the accuracy of Louisville QB Micale Cunningham, along with the versatility of their offense. It will be an awesome game to watch, as both teams have some serious speed at the skill positions.
Pick: Louisville money line -140 (Louisville 31 Miami 28)
The Bear: Yes, the Canes have lost 23 of their past 26 games away from home vs. ranked teams, but they also appear to have their best QB situation in a long time and an ability to control the line of scrimmage and run the ball. Sure, it's just one game, but there are positive signs, and King should start to make more throws. Defensively, the Canes gave up only one drive longer than 34 yards against UAB and spent a lot of time in the UAB backfield despite just one sack. Louisville's offensive line couldn't get a consistent push against Western Kentucky and will have to play better against a much better defensive front.
Pick: Miami +2.5
Wake Forest Demon Deacons at NC State Wolfpack (-2.5, 53)
Stanford Steve: Last week on the Stanford Steve & The Bear podcast we talked about when a team that opens the season against a team that has a game already under its belt, the team that has played a game has a decided advantage. So, that is the thinking here. The Demon Deacons are off a loss vs. No. 1 Clemson, where they did cover (thanks to Dabo Swinney calling off the dogs earlier than he is accustomed to). But the idea of the Wolfpack giving points to an in-state division foe that already has played a game and also has an overachieving coaching staff year after year, I'll take the road dog here, plus the points.
Pick: Wake Forest +2.5 (Wake Forest, 26 NC State 23)
The Bear: The fact that Wake has a game under its belt is huge here. Predictably, the Deacs struggled running the ball and slowing down Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne & Co., but they will not face another offense nearly as prolific this year. Remember too that NC State had issues that paused practice and moved the Wolfpack's originally scheduled opener. Coming off a poor season where a lot went wrong -- along with a lot of questions this season -- I'll back the team with a game under its belt.
Pick: Wake Forest +2.5
Syracuse Orange at No. 25 Pittsburgh Panthers (-21.5, 50)
The Bear: We expected Pitt's defense to be good this year, and it didn't disappoint in the opener against an overmatched Austin Peay. We also expected Syracuse to struggle this season, and that's exactly what happened at North Carolina, where the Orange gave up seven sacks, ran for 68 yards on 35 carries and completed only 16 of 38 passes. Syracuse couldn't manage a TD despite enjoying a 3-1 turnover edge. Last year, Pitt posted nine sacks vs. a makeshift O-line, and it again could be a long day for the Syracuse offense.
Pick: Pitt -21.5
Boston College Eagles at Duke Blue Devils (-6, 52)
The Bear: I'm not sure after last week if I was guilty of underrating Duke, overrating Notre Dame or a little of both. But I do think laying points with Duke is a risky proposition, seeing as the Blue Devils have lost six of their past nine games outright in which they were favored and covered only four of the past 14. I also think head coach Jeff Hafley will do wonders for BC defensively, and Phil Jurkovec being eligible should solidify the QB position.
Pick: BC +6
Navy Midshipmen at Tulane Green Wave (-7, 49)
The Bear: Tulane cranked it up in the third quarter last week in its comeback win at South Alabama. That Green Wave offense will give Navy a lot of problems this week. Yes, I do think Navy will put forth a much better effort, but I'm not sure if this is going to be a good Navy team or not. It seemed to be lacking up front on both sides of the ball, and against a solid Tulane defensive front it could be another long night.
Pick: Tulane -7
No. 14 UCF Knights (-7.5, 61.5) at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Stanford Steve: Just because I want to punish myself. Under the total! If it wins, we give another one next week.
Pick: Under 61.5 (UCF 33, Georgia Tech 25)
ESPN PLUS ($ MATERIAL)
College football is underway in 2020 and it's unlike any season we have had before. One thing is familiar: "Stanford Steve" Coughlin and Chris "The Bear" Fallica breaking down games as only they can, offering their top bets, nuggets and totals worth wagering on.
Here is your guide to Week 3 of the CFB season with the two college football analysts.
Records
Stanford Steve 4-0
The Bear 1-3
The plays
No. 17 Miami Hurricanes at No. 18 Louisville Cardinals (-2.5, 64.5)
Stanford Steve: Both teams looked impressive offensively last week in their season debuts. New Canes offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee was one of my favorite hires in the offseason, and he showed why in his first game calling plays in South Florida last Thursday night as Miami rushed for over 330 yards in a win over UAB. D'Eriq King showed some flashes with some splash plays too. But, when I look at this matchup, I just trust the Cardinals more. I like the coaching staff as a whole more than "The U," and I also trust the accuracy of Louisville QB Micale Cunningham, along with the versatility of their offense. It will be an awesome game to watch, as both teams have some serious speed at the skill positions.
Pick: Louisville money line -140 (Louisville 31 Miami 28)
The Bear: Yes, the Canes have lost 23 of their past 26 games away from home vs. ranked teams, but they also appear to have their best QB situation in a long time and an ability to control the line of scrimmage and run the ball. Sure, it's just one game, but there are positive signs, and King should start to make more throws. Defensively, the Canes gave up only one drive longer than 34 yards against UAB and spent a lot of time in the UAB backfield despite just one sack. Louisville's offensive line couldn't get a consistent push against Western Kentucky and will have to play better against a much better defensive front.
Pick: Miami +2.5
Wake Forest Demon Deacons at NC State Wolfpack (-2.5, 53)
Stanford Steve: Last week on the Stanford Steve & The Bear podcast we talked about when a team that opens the season against a team that has a game already under its belt, the team that has played a game has a decided advantage. So, that is the thinking here. The Demon Deacons are off a loss vs. No. 1 Clemson, where they did cover (thanks to Dabo Swinney calling off the dogs earlier than he is accustomed to). But the idea of the Wolfpack giving points to an in-state division foe that already has played a game and also has an overachieving coaching staff year after year, I'll take the road dog here, plus the points.
Pick: Wake Forest +2.5 (Wake Forest, 26 NC State 23)
The Bear: The fact that Wake has a game under its belt is huge here. Predictably, the Deacs struggled running the ball and slowing down Trevor Lawrence, Travis Etienne & Co., but they will not face another offense nearly as prolific this year. Remember too that NC State had issues that paused practice and moved the Wolfpack's originally scheduled opener. Coming off a poor season where a lot went wrong -- along with a lot of questions this season -- I'll back the team with a game under its belt.
Pick: Wake Forest +2.5
Syracuse Orange at No. 25 Pittsburgh Panthers (-21.5, 50)
The Bear: We expected Pitt's defense to be good this year, and it didn't disappoint in the opener against an overmatched Austin Peay. We also expected Syracuse to struggle this season, and that's exactly what happened at North Carolina, where the Orange gave up seven sacks, ran for 68 yards on 35 carries and completed only 16 of 38 passes. Syracuse couldn't manage a TD despite enjoying a 3-1 turnover edge. Last year, Pitt posted nine sacks vs. a makeshift O-line, and it again could be a long day for the Syracuse offense.
Pick: Pitt -21.5
Boston College Eagles at Duke Blue Devils (-6, 52)
The Bear: I'm not sure after last week if I was guilty of underrating Duke, overrating Notre Dame or a little of both. But I do think laying points with Duke is a risky proposition, seeing as the Blue Devils have lost six of their past nine games outright in which they were favored and covered only four of the past 14. I also think head coach Jeff Hafley will do wonders for BC defensively, and Phil Jurkovec being eligible should solidify the QB position.
Pick: BC +6
Navy Midshipmen at Tulane Green Wave (-7, 49)
The Bear: Tulane cranked it up in the third quarter last week in its comeback win at South Alabama. That Green Wave offense will give Navy a lot of problems this week. Yes, I do think Navy will put forth a much better effort, but I'm not sure if this is going to be a good Navy team or not. It seemed to be lacking up front on both sides of the ball, and against a solid Tulane defensive front it could be another long night.
Pick: Tulane -7
No. 14 UCF Knights (-7.5, 61.5) at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets
Stanford Steve: Just because I want to punish myself. Under the total! If it wins, we give another one next week.
Pick: Under 61.5 (UCF 33, Georgia Tech 25)