College football Week 3 picks: One underdog and two unders - ESPN

Week 3 of the 2024 college football season is here, bringing prime opportunities to find some value picks. From a live underdog poised to make a statement to a total that could fly under the radar, I'm breaking down the angles that matter. But first, full transparency: Week 3 isn't the most attractive slate. By this point in the week, several games have already seen line movements that have eliminated value. For example, UCF shifted from a +1.5 underdog to a -2 favorite, and Purdue moved from +12 to +10.

However, there's still plenty to discuss. Here are my insights, picks and best bet as we head into this pivotal college football weekend:

All lines current as of publication time, courtesy of ESPN BET.

Washington State is known for its aerial assault, ranking 6th in passing yards per game last season but struggling on the ground, finishing 132nd in rushing yards. This year's Cougars, led by quarterback John Mateer, continue their passing dominance (352 yards in Week 1). However, last week against Texas Tech we saw a new dimension — Mateer's rushing ability — which helped balance the offense.

The Cougars racked up 301 rushing yards, with Mateer accounting for 197 of them, marking more rushing yards in a single game than any previous quarterback at Washington State did all season since at least 2004. One of those attempts included a 68-yard run, showcasing Mateer's ability to make explosive plays. Washington, on the other hand, struggled against the run last season, ranking 77th in PFF run defense. The Huskies may be caught off guard by the dual-threat Cougar offense.

Washington has also had sluggish starts, scoring zero first-quarter points through two games. With 11 offensive starters gone from last year, the Huskies