Ten teams in the AP Top 25 College Football Poll are in action in Week 3, including the first contest of two ranked teams. Miami (No. 17) will travel to No. 18 Louisville where the Cardinals are 2.5-point favorites.
- Clemson is a 44.5-point favorite over the Citadel, but failed to cover the spread last week against Wake Forest
- The marquee game of the week is No. 17 Miami and No. 18 Louisville, the first game of two ranked teams of the 2020 season
- Central Florida struggled on the road last year, and will be tested at Georgia Tech
Clemson, the top-ranked team in the AP Top 25 poll, is playing for the second consecutive week. They’re hosting the Citadel, their only non-conference game of the season. They are 44.5-point picks.
Week 3 AP Top 25 College Football Games
| Spread | Over/Under | |
| Citadel at No. 1 Clemson | Clemson -44.5 | 57.5 |
| S. Florida at No. 7 Notre Dame | ND -25.5 | 48.5 |
| Tulsa at No. 11 Oklahoma State | OSU -23 | 66 |
| Austin Peay at No. 12 Cincinnati | Cincinnati -33.5 | 52.5 |
| No. 14 Central Florida at Georgia Tech | UCF -7.5 | 63 |
| No. 17 Miami at No. 18 Louisville | Louisville -2.5 | 64.5 |
| No. 19 Louisiana-Lafayette at Georgia State | LLU -17 | 58.5 |
| No. 23 Appalachian St. at Marshall | App St. -4.5 | 59 |
| Syracuse at No. 25 Pittsburgh | Pitt -21.5 | 50 |
| Source: Vegasinsider.com |
The Tigers defeated Wake Forest, 37-13 last week, but didn’t come close to covering the 35-point closing line. They also came up short on the 59-point over/under.
Head coach Dabo Swinney said it was tough not being able to have a conventional practice schedule. He told reporters this week that he expects a more disciplined effort.
“It’s great to have a week, this week, where we can get into the true rhythm of the season and have a true normal Monday, Tuesday, and so forth to really teach these guys how we prepare on a normal game week,†Swinney said. “Especially with so many young guys going through their first season here.”
Miami Will be Tested at Louisville
Miami is ranked for the first time since 2018, but it may be short-lived. The No. 17 Hurricanes travel to No. 18 Louisville to face the Cardinals, where they’re 2.5-point underdogs.
The Hurricanes defeated the University of Alabama 31-14 last week, but will have a much greater challenge with Louisville. The Cardinals return starting quarterback Micale Cunningham, as well as two wide receivers.
Miami senior linebacker Zach McCloud told reporters the defense is going to face its toughest challenge of the season.
“They are so skilled that everything they do, they do well,†McCloud said. “But as a defense, you got to pride yourself in stopping the run first. If you don’t stop the run, they won’t have to do anything else. I’m sure they will, but they won’t have to do anything else.â€
Central Florida Not Kings of the Road
Last season, Central Florida lost road games to Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, and Tulsa. They visit Georgia Tech on Saturday, and even though they are 7.5-point favorites, the Knights could be victims of an upset.
UCF quarterback Dillon Gabriel struggled in those games last year, but the sophomore told the Orlando Sentinel he’s matured from 2019.
“I think now I just know how to approach them,†Gabriel said. “Being a freshman, I lacked experience, and that’s something that I have now. I know how to go into a week and prepare.â€
