Slate Breaker: College Football Week 3 (Saturday)

Game Picks

Memphis @ Florida State

It has been a disastrous start to the season for Florida State losing two games against far less talented teams, but their offense just has not offered any real upside. Memphis is by far their worst opponent of the season, but they are playing an experienced QB in Seth Henigan so the Florida State season could get even worse. I think this Florida State team just cannot lose to Memphis though, but Henigan could make it close.

Louisiana State @ South Carolina

I was wrong about this South Carolina team. Just last week I was calling the Gamecocks the doormat of the SEC, but they immediately shut me up by blowing out Kentucky. I will not make that mistake again and give them the respect they deserve. This will be a highly contested game that could go either way. I lean LSU because they have a stronger passing attack.

Oklahoma State @ Tulsa

Oklahoma State was not ready to play last week and sleep walked through the first half, but they showed their true colors in the second half and pulled off an epic comeback. The Pokes know they can win this conference if they show up to play every game so I expect them to show up early and run all over this inferior Tulsa defense. Oklahoma State easily thrashes Tulsa.

Alabama @ Wisconsin

Alabama is going to win this game. Sure the Wisconsin secondary and linebacking corps is very good, but they will not be able to move the ball on offense and Jalen Milroe will eventually find a crack in this Badger defense. This will be a low scoring game, but Alabama still wins easily.

Boston College @ Missouri

Missouri is really, really good. Boston College did surprise Florida State, but that seems like more of a Florida State issue than a Boston College boon. Missouri is loaded with talent on both sides of the ball so Boston College does not really stand a chance against Mizzou.

Tulane @ Oklahoma

This Tulane program has rebounded well after getting gutted this offseason. Their offense looked great against Kansas State but Oklahoma is a different beast. Oklahoma will be able to score points and while Tulane has offensive talent, they will not be able to hang with the Sooners.

Oregon @ Oregon State

Oregon has proved that they are not deserving of all the preseason hype they got, they still are not going to lose this game though. This Oregon State team lacks a real identity so they will not be able to compete with a talented Oregon roster, but it could be fairly close.

Washington State @ Washington

I have liked this Washington State offense a lot. They lost Cam Ward, but John Mateer looks like a comparable playmaker. This Washington team is a bit of a wildcard as they have played wholly inferior opponents but were still unable to play an entire 4 quarters against those opponents. I like what Wazzu is doing and they will take home the Apple Cup.

Texas A&M @ Florida

There is nothing impressive about either of these offenses, but Texas A&M does have a good defense. This will be a defensive battle with Texas A&M doing just enough to pull out a win.

West Virginia @ Pittsburgh

I love the offenses in this one. Pitt RB Desmond Reid looks like a legitimate superstar. He has excelled between the tackles, a pass catcher and a return man. He will carry a huge load for Pitt which is a good thing for both Reid and the whole Pitt team. On the WVU side of the ball, QB Garrett Greene is a superstar. He is a decent passer but he is an elite runner. He has gotten off to a slow start, but that will change this week because this game is going to be an offensive show. Expect a lot of points with the visiting Mountaineers ultimately prevailing in the end.

Colorado @ Colorado State

Colorado should win this game, right? Right? Like there is no way they lose to Colorado State is there? No way. They have a better QB. Better WRs. Far more talent on defense. But, they will still find some way to lose this game. It will be high scoring and will come down to the wire, but Colorado has proven that they cannot pass block nor can they play defense so they are always vulnerable to the upset and that upset will happen this week.

Central Florida @ Texas Christian

I LOVE the UCF run game, but I just do not think they can do enough to outlast TCU. KJ Jefferson once looked like a very promising QB, but I do not know if he took too many hits or what because he just has not looked like a very competent QB over the past year plus. As long as UCF is as one dimensional as they are they will struggle to win games.

Georgia @ Kentucky

Does this one require much analysis? Until Georgia faces Texas and maybe Alabama, you can just put a W down next to Georgia regardless of opponent.

Maryland @ Virginia

We have another fantasy gem here. Both of these offenses have looked great this season, but their offenses have gotten exposed by mediocre offenses. I love the over in this one and there should be a bunch of passing production so if there is one game you are going to watch this weekend, make it this one because it will be exciting. Honestly I am going to call this one a toss up with the slightest edge to Virginia by the smallest of margins.

Player Spotlights

Quarterbacks

Play of the Day: Anthony Colandrea, Virginia (vs Maryland)

The Virginia passing attack is a great fantasy option in most weeks. The Virginia rushing attack is anemic with lead back Kobe Pace never rushing for more than 100 yards over his Virginia career. The lack of production from the Virginia rushing attack leaves a lot of juice left over for Colandrea. Since becoming the starter, all Colnadrea has done is pass for 200 yards with 9 straight games with at least 200 yards. He is also a decent runner with an average of 39 rushing yards over his last 8 games. He also gets a plus matchup against a Maryland defense that just got torched by Aidan Chiles for 363 yards and 3 TDs. This game will likely be a shootout providing Colandrea with a very strong floor with elite upside.

Jalen Milroe, Alabama (@ Wisconsin)

Milroe is just the best fantasy QB in the entire country. No one can compare to his rushing prowess with 4 rushing TDs on the season already. He also has not been bad throwing the ball with another 5 passing TDs. Milroe does face a tough Wisconsin defense so this could be more of a floor game for Milroe, but his floor is 25 points so do not be afraid to throw him into your lineups.

John Mateer, Washington State (@ Washington)

Mateer has shown off elite playmaking ability in his limited experience as a starter. He threw for 5 TDs in his first start of the season and then showed his dual threat abilities by rushing for nearly 200 yards last time out against Texas Tech. Given Mateer's inexperience, I would not call him a guaranteed producer quite yet, but he seems to be a very strong option regardless of opponent. A lot of points will be scored in this game so there will be enough production for Mateer to siphon off and produce a great game.

Garrett Greene, West Virginia (@ Pittsburgh)

Greene is a decent passer, but he is an elite running QB making him a great play against most defenses. Over his last 11 games, Greene has averaged 67 rushing yards and 1.2 rushing TDs per game. That is 13.8 fantasy points with just his rushing abilities so he does not need to do much with arm to deliver a great fantasy performance. 

Billy Edwards, Maryland (@ Virginia)

Coming into the season, Edwards was hyped up as more of a rushing QB than a passing QB, but it has been his passing ability that has really shined to open the season. Edward had never passed for more than 200 yards in his career coming into the season, but through his first two games, Edwards is averaging 282 passing yards and 2 passing TDs. His rushing production has been a bit disappointing with just 52 yards over the first two games, but it is only a matter of time until that number shoots up. If Edwards can pair his improved passing ability with his proven rushing ability, he will be an elite fantasy option and it could be this week because this Virginia defense is very beatable.

Running Backs

Play of the Day: Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh (vs West Virginia)

If Rodney Hammond was never deemed ineligible, would we have ever been blessed with the superstardom of Desmond Reid. This kid is an absolute stud. He has rushed for 100 yards in both games this year. He took a punt back for a TD in Week 1 and topped that performance with a 100 yard receiving game in week 2. He has 410 total yards in just two weeks and that does not include the punt he took for a TD. Reid is a legitimate superstar and with one more week of elite production he will cement himself amongst the elite fantasy options at RB.

Ollie Gordon, Oklahoma State (@ Tulsa)

I know I should be talking about Gordon here and I love him, which just shows how highly I think of Desmond Reid having him above Gordon when Gordon has a great matchup. Gordon had a down week last time out but he still produced 15.9 points and that is his absolute basement; it only goes up from there. Oklahoma State will be able to cruise against Tulsa allowing Gordon to be able to carry a large load and get back to his 20+ point production.

Jonah Coleman, Washington (vs Washington State)

I think Washington will score a decent team total since the Wazzu defense is very beatable, but Coleman is the only offensive weapon I have any confidence in. He has rushed for over 100 yards in back to back games now and that was with just 13.5 carries per game. He will need to take on a much larger role this week as Washington plays their first game against a comparable opponent so expect an explosive performance out of Coleman.

Cam Cook, TCU (vs UCF)

Cook is a decent player, but this is all about the matchup. Last year, UCF gave up 194! rushing yards per game. While UCF has only given up 67 rushing yards per game to open the season, they have only played an FCS team and Sam Houston State so expect a sharp increase in that figure starting this week and every week after. Cook has established himself as the lead back for the Horned Frogs with 33 carries over the first two weeks. 

Gavin Sawchuk, Oklahoma (vs Tulane)

I cannot believe we are here. I cannot believe I am doing this. But yes this is an endorsement of Gavin Sawchuk. Yes, I know he only has 19 yards on the season on 10 carries for 1.9 yards per carry, but there is some logic here. Brent Venables has hyped up Sawchuk this week saying that he will be a part of this offense and he has not lost faith in him. He was named an offensive captain this week which might seem like a nothing-burger, but last week's offensive captain was fellow RB Jovantae Barnes who handled 75% of the RB touches last week. Barnes was very inefficient with that large workload so it should be Sawchuk's turn to take on the lead back role and they did not make him a captain to sit on the sidelines. We all know Sawchuk is very talented averaging 136 yards per game over the final 5 games over the 2023 season. If Sawchuk hits, oh boy if Sawchuk hits; he will be a tournament winner, but he is not for the faint of heart as he is a huge risk.

Wide Receivers

Play of the Day: Malachi Fields, Virginia (vs Maryland)

Fields is THE GUY in this Virginia passing attack. He has back to back 100 yard games to open the season and it is no fluke as he has led the team in targets in both games. This Maryland secondary is very beatable too. In Maryland's first two games, they have allowed an average of 168 yards to their opponent's leading receiver. Get Fields in your lineups or you will be left behind.

Travis Hunter, Colorado (@ Colorado State)

Hunter is the only offensive weapon Colorado can rely on. Sure Jimmy Horn had a huge week 1, but he looked lost in week 2. LaJohntay Wester has been a huge disappointment. It has been Hunter who has shown up to play every down leading to back to back 100 yard games and 121 yards per game. Colorado State is a beatable secondary having allowed an opposing WR to score at least 16 points each week even though one of the games was against a FCS opponent. Hunter will have a huge week.

Tai Felton, Maryland (@ Virginia)

This Tai Felton breakout came out of nowhere. After having only 2 100 yard games over his first three seasons of college football, Felton has back to back 150+ yard games with an average of 165 yards per game. He has truly become an elite option as the chemistry he has displayed with Billy Edwards has been unrivaled. Virginia's secondary is also very beatable after allowing Wake Forest's Donavon Greene to rack up 166 yards and a TD last week. Felton is an elite option this week and every week from here on out.

Deion Burks, Oklahoma (vs Tulane)

Jackson Arnold has been a disappointment for the Sooners as he looks afraid to push the ball down the field. Even with Arnold's ineptitude, Burks can still be a fantasy asset thanks to his incredibly high usage. Over just two weeks of play, Burks has already seen 19 targets and the Sooners have made it obvious that they are going to Burks when they are in the redzone with a bunch of endzone targets in just two games this season. Burks will see 10 targets with some coming in the endzone making him a very safe fantasy play.

Tory Horton, Colorado State (vs Colorado)

Horton is dealing with an injury, but if he plays, he is a great option. In this matchup last year, Horton was an absolute beast scoring a TD and even passing a TD on his way to rack up 32.5 fantasy points. Colorado has not improved either so Horton will put up another strong number as long as he is a full go.

West Virginia WRs (@ Pittsburgh)

The Pitt secondary is very beatable having allowed an explosive performance to an opposing WR in each of their games this year. The only issue is deducting which one of these Mountaineer WRs will be the productive one. I lean Preston Fox since he has led the team in targets each week, but it really comes down to who catches the TD. It was Hudson Clement and Kole Taylor who led the team in TDs last year. This receiving corps is a gamble, but one of them will pay off.

FanDuel DFS Dream Team

QB: Garrett Greene, West Virginia (@ Pittsburgh)

RB1: Desmond Reid, Pittsburgh (vs West Virginia)

RB2: Gavin Sawchuk, Oklahoma (vs Tulane)

WR1: Tai Felton, Maryland (@ Virginia)

WR2: Malachi Fields, Virginia (vs Maryland)

WR3: Hudson Clement, West Virginia (@ Pittsburgh)

Flex: Anthony Colandrea, Virginia (vs Maryland)

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