The tremors are already shaking Oxford, Mississippi, this weekend as Lane Kiffin makes his highly anticipated return to Ole Miss, headlining Week 3 of the college football season. No. 7 LSU rolls into town to face No. 8 Ole Miss in an SEC clash that has everyone buzzing, but the Friday night slate might be where the real fireworks, and the real betting value, are hiding.
The Friday Night Football Trap Game You Can’t Miss
While LSU versus Ole Miss gets the prime spotlight, don’t sleep on No. 5 Miami (-22.5) at Wake Forest on Friday. CBS Sports’ Chris Hummer and Brad Crawford both see serious value in taking Wake Forest to cover that hefty 22.5-point spread. Miami has been an absolute buzzsaw, no doubt, but Hummer points to the Demon Deacons’ offense, which is averaging a stunning 38 points per game! They’re not just a fluke, either, with 10 starters back from a nine-win team last season. Sure, Wake’s secondary has been a little leaky, giving up 243 passing yards per game, including 329 to Purdue last week, and Miami has the most explosive passing offense in the FBS. But can Wake Forest score enough to stay within the number? Hummer thinks so, predicting a 42-21 Miami win.
Why Miami’s “Electric Start” Is About to Get Tested
Crawford echoes the sentiment, calling a Wake Forest cover dangerous given Miami’s red-hot start, but he believes the Hurricanes are due for a competitive game. Wake Forest quarterback Gio Lopez, a transfer from UNC, has looked comfortable in his new system and hasn’t turned the ball over yet. That’s huge. He’s going to need to orchestrate some touchdown drives to keep pace, because you know Miami is coming in hungry to put up points. Crawford’s prediction of Miami winning 38-17 still has Wake Forest covering. These guys are telling you there’s a serious chance the Demon Deacons keep this way tighter than that 22.5-point line suggests.
Looking ahead, Week 3 also features other big matchups like SMU versus Louisville in a top-25 tilt. On Friday night, No. 22 Houston takes on No. 13 Texas Tech (-8.5) in Lubbock. The winner of that one gets an early poll position alongside BYU in the Big 12. Don’t miss the action; there’s a lot on the line in the early college football season!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply