College football Week 3: Teams to buy and sell
Every week, we're diving into which teams are too low or high in the betting markets ahead of the weekend.
Here's what we're seeing leading up to Week 3.
Buy - Charlotte
Week 3: -19.5 vs. UMass
Charlotte is a fun team you might not know about.
First-year head coach Will Healy took over a stale program last December, and he's immediately morphed the 49ers into a competent squad. After averaging three wins per season over former head coach Brad Lambert's four-year stint, Charlotte racked up a victory in Week 1 and kept things close against Appalachian State on Saturday.
The 49ers should be above .500 again once the curtain closes on Week 3 with UMass coming to town. The Minutemen lost by 20-plus points to Rutgers and Southern Illinois to start the year.
Buy - Louisiana Tech
Week 2: -10 at Buffalo
The Bulldogs' season has been odd so far. They lost by 31 points to Texas in their opener despite being outgained by only 41 yards, then beat Grambling State by six on Saturday while losing the total-yards battle.
Perhaps the latter loss came from a hangover following the Texas game, but Louisiana Tech hasn't looked good to start the season. There's a show-me game in Week 3 up next for the Bulldogs against a Bowling Green defense that can't stop anyone. Kansas State blanked the Falcons 52-0 this weekend, and Bowling Green looks to be outmatched yet again.
Buy - Liberty
Week 3: +4 vs. Buffalo
Liberty's offense has struggled mightily to open the year. After Syracuse shut out the Flames at home, Liberty put up just a pair of touchdowns during a 21-point loss to Louisiana-Lafayette.
This could also be a great spot to sell Buffalo, which is coming off a loss at Penn State despite holding a three-point lead at halftime in Happy Valley.
Sell - Maryland
Week 3: -8 vs. Temple
Maryland's offense was supposed to be good, and now the Terrapins are absolutely humming.
Following a 79-0 blowout win over Howard in their opener, the Terrapins hung 63 on ranked Syracuse. However, Temple has been able to prepare for a couple of weeks after being off in Week 2, and S&P+ originally tabbed the Owls as the favorites in this one.
Sell - Illinois
Week 3: -8 vs. Eastern Michigan
Illinois hasn't been tested much to start the year. The Fighting Illini covered easily as 18-point favorites in Week 1 while shellacking Akron, and then they walked out of UConn with a win on Saturday.
Eastern Michigan has thrived in the underdog role under head coach Chris Creighton, and we wouldn't be so quick to jump on the Illinois train.
Sell - SMU
Week 3: -18 vs. Texas State
SMU is probably at the peak of its value heading into Week 3. The Mustangs won as underdogs on the road against Arkansas State in their opener and routed North Texas at home this past Saturday.
Texas State, meanwhile, is still looking for its first win of the season after drawing Texas A&M and a Wyoming team that beat Missouri. The point spread in this one initially looks a tad steep.
Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AlexKoIodziej.