College football betting: Ole Miss, Purdue offer safe dates

College football betting: Ole Miss, Purdue offer safe dates By Matt Youmans VSiN September 18, 2026 - 10:18 am Blind dates often end in disappointment. You may have heard promising rumors and formed an expectation of what lies ahead, yet the true nature of the encounter remains unknown until you experience it firsthand. The opening two or three weeks of a college football season resemble a first date. The objective each year is to avoid early disaster, evaluate teams as thoroughly as possible, and identify a promising advantage as a handicapper. Victory is never simple, but our understanding of these squads has deepened considerably.  VSiN, The Sports Betting Network Here are my recommended football picks for Week 3: **LSU (-3) at Mississippi** Breakups are rarely painless. As the saying goes, hell holds no fury like a scorned woman—here, it is a scorned fan base. Ole Miss supporters are fuming, demanding revenge against Lane Kiffin for abandoning the Rebels before the playoff chase and accepting the LSU head coaching position. Kiffin will step into the most hostile environment imaginable Saturday night in Oxford, and bettors can wager that he thrives on the attention and the animosity. The style of play he engineers is irritating, yet this top‑10 showdown remains undeniably appealing. From a gamesmanship perspective, Kiffin made the initial move on Wednesday by designating running back Sam Leavitt as doubtful on the injury report. This surprising development prompted an immediate line adjustment, shifting the Tigers from –3 to –1.5. Leavitt was later upgraded to questionable on Thursday, causing the spread to revert to a field goal. Leavitt, a transfer from Arizona State with a history of injuries, has been inconsistent and threw three interceptions in the first half versus Louisiana Tech the previous week. The LSU defense has been steadfast, while Ole Miss quarterback Trenton Chambliss stands as arguably the nation’s premier signal‑caller at this stage; consequently, something must yield. Chambliss has completed 71 percent of his passes for five touchdowns and one interception. He eludes pressure, creates dynamic plays, and benefits from a strong supporting cast that includes running back Kewan Lacy and receiver Deuce Alexander. Chambliss threw for 336 yards as the Rebels accumulated 488 yards of offense in a 41‑38 victory over Louisville on September 6. The Ole Miss defense could prove vulnerable, and Kiffin holds a coaching edge, so I will not argue that the wrong side is favored. Nevertheless, when the starting running back is a slight underdog in an electrifying atmosphere, I am willing to take my chances with the points. If the contest comes down to a field goal attempt, the Rebels’ kicker Lucas Carneiro possesses a dangerous long‑range leg. **Best bet:** Mississippi +3 **BYU (-18) at Colorado State** My preseason ranking of BYU appears justified—admittedly early in the season, and further clarity will emerge when Notre Dame visits Provo on October 17—but this could be a challenging road trip against a well‑coached underdog. The Cougars do not rely on a quick‑strike offense; instead, they grind out results with quarterback Bear Bachmeier and running back LJ Martin. Bachmeier accounted for four touchdowns in a 28‑17 comeback win over Arizona. The opposing quarterback, Hauss Hejny, could add intrigue to the matchup. For those unfamiliar, Hejny is a dual‑threat talent. He has thrown for 539 yards and nine touchdowns while rushing for 124 yards and one score in victories over Wyoming and Southern Utah. The Rams, averaging 46.5 points per game, resemble a team on the ascent under head coach Jim Mora. BYU is likely to grind out a victory by 10 to 14 points. **Best bet:** Colorado State +18 **Purdue at UCLA (-14)** New head coach Bob Chesney ranked among my favorite offseason acquisitions, and I backed the Bruins in their first two victories over California and San Diego State. UCLA is legitimate, but quarterback Nico Iamaleava still has work to do. He has yet to record a touchdown pass and threw an interception in the final quarter against the Aztecs. Purdue quarterback Ryan Browne is performing at a higher level. Browne has completed 77.5 percent of his passes for 646 yards and four touchdowns without an interception across two games. He is complemented by explosive running back Fame Ijeboi, who has amassed 201 rushing yards and four touchdowns. Purdue is demonstrating gradual improvement under second‑year head coach Barry Odom, although his defense still has considerable ground to cover. Iamaleava will likely deliver his first touchdown pass, and UCLA running backs Wayne Knight—who boasts six touchdowns—and Anthony Woods are poised to exploit Odom’s defense in what should develop into a high‑scoring affair at the Rose Bowl. **Best bets:** Purdue +14 and over 51.5