SportsLine Week 3 CFB Picks: South Carolina, Michigan State — SkimNews
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- SportsLine's model is on a 33-21 run on top-rated CFB money-line picks since 2024 and has been upgraded for 2026 to better account for the transfer portal, according to the article.
- No. 7 LSU opens as a 2.5-point road favorite at No. 8 Ole Miss in Oxford on Saturday with quarterback Sam Leavitt listed as doubtful, in Lane Kiffin's return to face his former team.
- South Carolina (-4, total 58.5) covers at home against Mississippi State in nearly 60% of simulations; the Gamecocks have won eight of the last nine meetings behind dual-threat QB LaNorris Sellers.
- Michigan State (+29.5) stays within the spread at No. 3 Notre Dame in roughly 60% of simulations, with the model projecting a 42-17 final and the Over 52.5 clearing well over 60% of the time.
- Conference play openers headline the Week 3 slate: No. 2 Georgia lays 24.5 at Arkansas, No. 12 USC lays 24.5 at Rutgers, No. 10 Alabama is a 19.5-point home favorite over Florida State, and No. 25 Virginia is -10.5 versus West Virginia.
- LSU-Ole Miss history tilts to the venue: the home team has won each of the last six meetings between the rivals, per the article.
Why it matters: Bettors weighing Week 3 wagers get a model with a 33-21 run backing South Carolina -4 and Michigan State +29.5 in roughly 60% of simulations each — two of the week's most actionable angles. The home team has won each of the last six LSU-Ole Miss meetings, a historical lean that complicates the 2.5-point spread favoring Kiffin's new Tigers squad over his former program.
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