There are always a few surprises early into the college football schedule. If you ever wanted to understand what is sports handicapping then you found the right place and the right article.
These three teams have made big waves across the country with notable wins and their jump up the national championship futures board. Here’s a look at these programs and who they face in Week 3.
Texas A&M Aggies (100/1 to 30/1)
The Aggies' offense was expected to be good but the one thing that makes Texas A&M a surprise contender is the way the defense has performed. It locked down a potent Arizona State attack for just 17 points and limited Ball State to just 23 points last weekend.
The Aggies take on Nevada as a 34-point favorite in Week 3, just before opening SEC play on the road in Arkansas next week. Texas A&M’s stock has never been higher – pumping up this spread – but it could be walking into a lookahead spot against the Wolf Pack Saturday.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (100/1 to 60/1)
The Ramblin’ Wreck were a tough team in the ACC last season, taking Florida State to the brink. This year, Georgia Tech sees the window wide open in the conference and has come out guns blazing in the first two weeks, putting 69 and 65 points on Alcorn State and Tulane respectively.
The Yellow Jackets spread option gets it first true test against Notre Dame Saturday, with books pegging GT as a 2.5-point road favorite in South Bend. If you’re betting on the Jackets, you may want to wait it out as the Irish faithful will likely bring this spread closer to pick come game time.
But getting Georgia Tech giving less than a field goal is pretty good.
BYU Cougars (500/1)
Despite two huge upsets, the Cougars have yet to show up on the futures radar. Brigham Young is still at its opening price after stunning Nebraska in Lincoln on a last-second Hail Mary then following that with an upset win against Boise State at home.
Being an independent, BYU plays a doozy of a schedule. Next up: UCLA. The Cougars are 16.5-point road pups in L.A. this weekend, facing a Bruins team that has outscored its first two opponents 71-19.
