College football Week 3 odds are now taking action, with both sharp bettors and public players getting involved early. The Week 2 docket featured one big upset within the Top 25, as Oregon took out Ohio State.
Top-ranked Alabama aims to avoid such a fate when it travels to Florida in the featured matchup on the college football Week 3 betting board.
Multiple sportsbooks provided Props.com with insights on opening lines and early action in the college football odds market. Check back throughout the week for action updates.
College Football Week 3 Odds
| Matchup | Time | Spread | Over/Under |
| Alabama at Florida | 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday | Alabama -14 | 60.5 |
| Cincinnati at Indiana | Noon ET Saturday | Cincinnati -3.5 | 50 |
| Auburn at Penn State | 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday | Penn State -5.5 | 53 |
| Virginia Tech at West Virginia | Noon ET Saturday | West Virginia -2.5 | 50 |
| Purdue at Notre Dame | 2:30 p.m. ET Saturday | Notre Dame -7.5 | 58 |
| Arizona State at BYU | 10:15 p.m. ET Saturday | Arizona State -3.5 | 50 |
| Virginia at North Carolina | 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday | North Carolina -8 | 66 |
| Nebraska at Oklahoma | Noon ET Saturday | Oklahoma -22.5 | 62 |
| Oklahoma State at Boise State | 9 p.m. ET Saturday | Boise State -3.5 | 58 |
| Michigan State at Miami FL | Noon ET Saturday | Miami -6.5 | 56.5 |
Odds courtesy of The SuperBook (updated as of 9 p.m. ET Sept. 18)
No. 1 Alabama at No. 9 Florida
Opening line: Alabama -15, Over/Under 57.5
UPDATE NOON ET SATURDAY: BetMGM Nevada lowered this number from Alabama -15.5 to -14.5, but the public is certainly firing on the two-touchdown-plus chalk.
“Tickets approaching 3/1 and money running about 4/1 in favor of Alabama,” BetMGM Nevada’s Scott Shelton said. “A lot of money on both sides, and sharp play on the ‘dog.”
UPDATE 10:30 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Alabama is down to -14.5 at TwinSpires, from an opener of -15 and a high point of -15.5. But make no mistake, there’s a wave of money on the Crimson Tide, and this game also has a little Pros vs. Joes feel to it.
“The public is all over Alabama. We saw sharp money on Florida +15.5 and +15,” TwinSpires trading analyst Zachary Lucas said. “Alabama will be one of our biggest liabilities of the day.”
The total is up to 60 from a 57.5 opener, with 86% of tickets/89% of cash on the Over.
“It’s mainly public money. They can’t get enough of this Over,” Lucas said.
UPDATE 10:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: DraftKings opened Alabama as a 14-point favorite Sunday, peaked at -15.5 Monday and reverted to -14 Tuesday. But it’s all ‘Bama at this point, with 89% of tickets and 92% of money on the Crimson Tide. The total surged from 57 to 59.5 by this afternoon, with practically all the early tickets and dollars on the Over.
UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: Alabama edged up to -15.5 in short order, then returned to the opener at TwinSpires. Still, it’s all Crimson Tide on the spread early, with ticket count 4/1 and money beyond 5/1.
“As with most games involving Alabama, the tickets and money have been pretty one-sided,” said Zachary Lucas, trading analyst at TwinSpires. “We did see some sharp money come in on Florida +15.5, but I expect us to need Florida for a sizable amount Saturday.”
The total is up a point to 58.5 on what Lucas described as “mainly public money. They can’t get enough of this Over.” Indeed, the Over is taking 84% of tickets/88% of cash in early betting.
No. 8 Cincinnati at Indiana
Opening line: Cincinnati -3, Over/Under 51
UPDATE 10:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Cincinnati went up at -3.5, then fell back to -3 early in the week at DraftKings before advancing to -4 by Tuesday night. The Bearcats are seeing 78% of spread bets and 91% of spread money early on. The total fell from 51 to 49.5, with 81% of tickets on the Over, but 55% of money on the Under.
UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: Early action moved the Bearcats up to -3.5 at TwinSpires, where 77% of bets and 72% of dollars are on Cincinnati.
“It’s a mix of public and sharp action on Cincy,” Lucas said. “This is the highest-volume game so far in the noon ET Saturday slot. We’re going to likely need the home ‘dog in this spot.”
The total also crept up a half-point to 51.5, although the Under is seeing 60% of bets/64% of money at TwinSpires.
No. 20 Auburn at No. 12 Penn State
Opening line: Penn State -6.5, Over/Under 53
UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: A couple of hours before kickoff, Penn State sits as a 5-point favorite at Caesars Sportsbook, after opening -6.5 and briefly getting as low as -4.5 Thursday morning. Ticket count and money are both running about 2/1 on the Nittany Lions, identical to this morning’s splits. The total has been fairly stable all week, sticking at 53 before going to 52.5 late Friday night.
UPDATE NOON ET SATURDAY: BetMGM Nevada lowered Penn State from -6.5 to -5, with plenty of activity landing on both teams. “Tickets are almost 2/1 in for of Penn State, and money is just over 2/1 on Auburn. Sharp play on Auburn, even at +5.”
UPDATE 10:30 P.M. ET FRIDAY: The Nittany Lions toggled between -6.5 and -6 a few times early in the week, but the line is now down to -5 at TwinSpires. Penn State is seeing 56% of spread bets and Auburn 57% of spread cash.
“Action is down the middle. Small sharp buy on Auburn +6,” TwinSpires trading analyst Zachary Lucas said.
The total is down a point, from 53 to 52, with the Under getting 59% of bets/56% of dollars.
UPDATE 10:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: DraftKings pegged Penn State -5 at the outset, topped out at -6.5 Sunday night and returned to the opener by late this afternoon. The Nittany Lions are taking 56% of early bets and 73% of early dollars. The total hasn’t budged off 53.
UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: This number initially moved toward Auburn, with TwinSpires adjusting Penn State to -6 before returning to the -6.5 opener. The Tigers are taking 57% of spread tickets, while the Nittany Lions are getting 55% of spread cash.
“Action has been virtually down the middle,” Lucas said. “If we get to 7, I think we’ll see a lot of Auburn money flood in.”
The total hasn’t moved, with 59% of tickets and 56% of money on the Under.
No. 15 Virginia Tech at West Virginia
Opening line: West Virginia -2.5, Over/Under 50.5
UPDATE 10:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: West Virginia moved from -2 to -2.5 in fairly short order Sunday, then advanced to -3 Monday morning at DraftKings. However, 70% of spread tickets and 76% of spread dollars are on Virginia Tech. The total bounced from 48.5 to 50.5 to 49.5, with ticket count 5/1 on the Over, but money 2/1 on the Under.
UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: Unranked West Virginia briefly got to -3, then went to -2.5 (-120) at TwinSpires. Virginia Tech is drawing 70% of early tickets and 59% of early money.
“This has a Pros vs Joes feel to it, with the public all over Virginia Tech, which already has a top-10 win under its belt,” Lucas said, alluding to the Hokies’ Week 1 upset of North Carolina. “Sharps bet West Virginia at -2.5.”
Lucas said the total fell to 50 due to a sharp buy on Under 50.5. The Over is getting 60% of tickets and the Under 68% of cash.
Purdue at No. 10 Notre Dame
Opening line: Notre Dame -7, Over/Under 58.5
UPDATE NOON ET SATURDAY: The Fighting Irish opened -7 at BetMGM Nevada and reached -8, then backed up to -7.5. “Tickets are 1.5/1 in favor of Notre Dame, money is 3/1 Notre Dame,” BetMGM Nevada’s Scott Shelton said. “There was sharp play earlier in the week on Under 58.5.” That led the book to drop the total to 57.5, and it’s now at 58.
UPDATE 10:30 P.M. ET FRIDAY: TwinSpires moved Notre Dame from -7 to -7.5 right out of the gate, and the number was stable there for much of the week before going to -8 tonight. It’s two-way action, with 58% of tickets on Purdue and 63% of money on Notre Dame.
TwinSpires trading analyst Zachary Lucas reiterated his comments from earlier this week: sharp money took the Irish to -7.5 and that this matchup “could be a good buy-low spot on Notre Dame.”
The total moved from 58.5 to 59 to 58, and it’s now back at the opener, with 62% of tickets/61% of money on the Over.
UPDATE 10:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: DraftKings has moved this line down and up and back down again, opening Notre Dame -8.5, dropping to -7 within a couple of hours Sunday, rising to -8 Wednesday morning and going back to -7 Wednesday afternoon. The Fighting Irish are taking 65% of spread bets, but spread money is much closer, with 53% on the Irish. The total is down a point to 58, yet 58% of bets/71% of cash are on the Over.
UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: “Sharp money came in at the open on Notre Dame -7, and we’re holding at Notre Dame -7.5,” Lucas said. “We’ve seen some money come in on Purdue +7.5, but it’s been recreational handle.”
The Boilermakers are drawing 62% of bets, while the Fighting Irish are nabbing 64% of money.
“This could be a good buy-low spot on Notre Dame. Public perception is very low on the Fighting Irish right now,” Lucas said.
The total toggled from 58.5 to 59 and back to 58.5, with tickets and money just beyond 2/1 on the Over.
No. 21 Arizona State at No. 23 BYU
Opening line: Arizona State -2.5, Over/Under 50.5
UPDATE 8:45 P.M. ET SATURDAY: After peaking at -4 from a -2.5 opener, Arizona State is down to -3 tonight at TwinSpires, about 90 minutes ahead of kickoff. “When we got to ASU -4, we saw some sharp money come in at BYU +4. The last few hours, a lot of public money has come in on BYU moneyline and spread, flipping the liability around. We need ASU now.”
The SunDevils are drawing 56% of spread bets, but the Cougars are taking 58% of spread money. The total is right where it opened, 50.5, with 57% of bets/63% of money on the Over.
UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: Arizona State hit the Caesars Sportsbook odds board at -2 and got bet up to -4 by midweek, before backing up to -3.5 Friday. Point-spread ticket count is almost dead even, with a slight lean to BYU, and the Cougars are taking 72% of spread money. The total has operated in a narrow window, opening at 51, initially going to 50.5, rising to 51.5 and now back at 50.5.
UPDATE 10:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: Arizona State is out to -4.5 from a -2.5 opener at DraftKings, where ticket count is close (54% ASU/46% BYU), but the Sun Devils are grabbing 83% of money so far.
UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: This line was on the move right out of the gate at TwinSpires, going to ASU -3 on its way to -3.5. The Sun Devils are taking 70% of tickets and 77% of money.
“Sharp money on ASU -2.5 and -3,” Lucas said. “Bettors must be expecting a letdown spot for BYU after its upset win vs. Utah. Personally, I haven’t been impressed by ASU, so it’ll be interesting to see when we get some buyback on BYU.”
The total is stable at 50.5, with the Over getting 59% of tickets/55% of dollars.
Virginia at No. 19 North Carolina
Opening line: North Carolina -9, Over/Under 65
UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: North Carolina is down to -8 after opening -9 at Caesars Sportsbook, with the number stable since early Thursday. The underdog Cavaliers are taking 63% of tickets and 80% of money, but that’s actually lower on both counts since this morning, when the Cavs were landing 65% of bets/89% of cash. The total is out to 67.5 from a 64.5 opener.
UPDATE 3 P.M. ET FRIDAY: North Carolina opened -9 at DraftKings and by midweek was down to -7.5, where the number remains this afternoon. Ticket count is almost dead even, but Virginia is attracting 81% of point-spread dollars. The total rose from 65 to 67, then peeled back to 65.5, with some rather intriguing splits: 64% of tickets on the Under, but 96% of money on the Over.
UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: The Tar Heels bounced between -9 and -8.5 a couple of times at TwinSpires and is now at the -9 opener. Virginia is getting 55% of bets and North Carolina 56% of money.
“Good two-way action so far,” Lucas said. “North Carolina rebounded last week (from a loss at VaTech), and Virginia is off to a 2-0 start. I’d be shocked if this line got to double digits.”
The total moved from 65 to 65.5, with the Over nabbing 64% of tickets and 60% of money thus far.
Nebraska at No. 3 Oklahoma
Opening line: Oklahoma -22, Over/Under 61.5
UPDATE 10:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: The Sooners opened as hefty 22.5-point favorites, briefly touched -23, then dipped to -22, all by Sunday evening at DraftKings. Point-spread ticket count is 3/1 and money 4/1 on Oklahoma. Bettors are also hitting the Over early, to the tune of 82% of bets/90% of cash, as the total moved from 62.5 to 61.5 and back to 62.5.
UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: Remember when the date of this game had a big red circle around it every year? That ended not only with Nebraska’s exit from the Big 12 to the Big Ten, but also with the Huskers’ rapid decline on the college football landscape.
Perhaps nothing provides more evidence of that decline than the fact that Nebraska is catching 22 points Saturday in Norman. Despite the hefty number. ticket count is 3/1 and money 4/1 on Oklahoma.
“It’s all public money on Oklahoma. We haven’t seen any sharp action on either side,” Lucas said of early activity at TwinSpires.
The total rose a point to 62.5, with 82% of tickets/78% of cash on the Over.
No. 22 Oklahoma State at Boise State
Opening line: Boise State -4.5, Over/Under 57.5
UPDATE 9 P.M. ET: With kickoff moments away, BetMGM Nevada is at Boise State -3.5, after opening -4.5 and peaking at -5. Ticket count is close, but the money is 6/1 on Boise State. “A lot of money on Boise State, a lot of low- to mid-four-figure bets,” BetMGM Nevada’s Scott Shelton said, before addressing the total of 58. “Really good two-way action, tickets and money.”
UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: Caesars Sportsbook moved Boise State from -4.5 to -5 early in the week, but by midweek, the line backed up to -3.5, which is where it sits a few hours before kickoff. Contrary to the move down, the Broncos are landing 77% of spread tickets and 79% of spread money. The total was pinned all week to 57.5 before inching up to 58 this morning.
UPDATE 3 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Boise state bounced between -4.5 and -4 a few times early in the week, rose to -5 Monday afternoon, then steadily crept down to the current -3 at DraftKings. Ticket count is about 3/1 and money 2/1 on the Broncos. The total toggled between 58 and 57.5 throughout the week and is currently at the latter number, with 71% of bets on the Over and 89% of money on the Under.
UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: The Broncos are up to -5 at TwinSpires, although 68% of early bets and 54% of early dollars are on the Cowboys.
“It’s a low-handle game so far, but we did see some sharp money on Boise State -4.5,” Lucas said, noting the 9 p.m. ET kickoff should bolster handle. “I expect the volume on this game to rise significantly on Saturday, as some players look to get even after the morning/afternoon slate.”
The total hasn’t budged yet, even though 70% of bets/57% of the money are on the Under.
Michigan State at Miami
Opening line: Miami -6, Over/Under 54.5
UPDATE 10:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: This line hit DraftKings’ odds board at Miami -7.5 on Sunday, bottomed out at -5.5 on Monday, climbed to -7 on Tuesday and is now -6.5. Underdog Michigan State is netting 83% of tickets and 74% of money on the spread.
UPDATE 5:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: The Hurricanes are now -6.5 at TwinSpires, where early opinion is split, with 57% of tickets on Miami and 56% of money on Michigan State.
“We moved a half-point with the market. It’s been public money on both sides,” Lucas said.
The total went to 55, then returned to the 54.5 opener, with 55% of tickets/63% of money on the Over.