Spread Options: Dr. Saturday's Week 3 picks against the spread

Will Dalvin Cook have a big day vs. Louisville? (Getty Images)

Week 2 was a disaster. We’re 5-14-1 to start the season. Looking on the bright side, if you’ve faded all our picks through the first two weeks you’re doing really well. Keep it up!

Week 3 has some interesting lines. Let’s take a look at some of them.

Baylor (-31.5) at Rice, 8 p.m. ET FRIDAY: Baylor is mad at itself for the slow start it had vs. SMU in Week 2. The Bears should come out with a vengeance against a really bad Rice team. Rice lost at Army in Week 2 and opened the season with a 32-point loss at Western Kentucky. Yeah, the Owls are at home for the first time all season, but do you think WKU is going to beat Rice by more than Baylor will?

Florida State (-3) at Louisville, Noon ET: The loss of Florida State defensive back Derwin James may be a bit overstated. He is the Seminoles’ best defensive player, but it’s not like the defense is a barren wasteland without him. There’s still plenty of talent, and the FSU offense should have plenty of room vs. a Louisville defense that let Syracuse hang around in the first half in Week 2.

Kansas at Memphis (-20.5), Noon ET: We’re off the Kansas bandwagon. The Jayhawks were dominated by Ohio in Week 2 and now head on the road. Without Paxton Lynch, Memphis isn’t nearly the offensive powerhouse it was in 2015 and Kansas isn’t as bad as it showed in Week 2 (right?). But we’re still confident in this pick, which means Kansas will lose by 17.

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New Mexico at Rutgers (-5.5), Noon ET: Chris Ash has to get a good moment from Rutgers, doesn’t he? The new head coach might have a bigger rebuilding effort than we thought. After getting shellacked at Washington in Week 1, Rutgers struggled in the first half with FCS-level Howard. Meanwhile, New Mexico lost to New Mexico State, a team that’s looking for a conference in the future. Don’t watch this game unless you don’t have to.

Virginia (+4.5) at Connecticut, 2 p.m. ET: This is our bias against UConn’s horrible clock management at the end of its loss to Navy in Week 2. It’s Virginia’s second-straight road game after traveling to Oregon in Week 2. The Cavaliers weren’t extremely competitive if you stayed up late to watch that game, but they weren’t blown off the field either. We’re going with the better coach.

Pitt at Oklahoma State (-4.5), 3:30 p.m. ET: This is a bounceback game for Oklahoma State, assuming the Cowboys stick to the run. Coach Mike Gundy said after the crazy loss to Central Michigan in Week 2 that the team gave up on the run too early in the game. The lack of rushing commitment made OSU too one-dimensional and gave CMU the opportunity to get back in the game. If Gundy and team have learned their lesson, Oklahoma State could cruise.

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Oregon (+3) at Nebraska, 3:30 p.m. ET: Wyoming was competitive with Nebraska in Week 2 until the turnover plague hit. After that, Nebraska took advantage of incredible field position and turned the game into a rout. Oregon is a bit underrated this year and if the Huskers stop RB Royce Freeman, there’s still QB Dakota Prukop to contend with. Oregon by 10.

Mississippi State (+14) at LSU, 7 p.m. ET: LSU certainly can’t do worse with Danny Etling under center than it has with Brandon Harris at QB right? Mississippi State’s Week 2 win over South Carolina was a far cry from its stagnant performance in Week 1 vs. South Alabama. With a healthy Leonard Fournette, this should be an LSU win. But Mississippi State has the ability to prevent a blowout.

Texas A&M (+3.5) at Auburn, 7 p.m. ET: How hot will it be in Auburn if the TIgers start the season 1-2 with home losses to Clemson and A&M? The Tigers destroyed an Arkansas State team that’s been disastrous through the first two games last week. Because of Ark. State’s incompetency, it’s unclear just how settled the Auburn QB situation is. This game will be settled by the team’s defensive lines and under 54 may be in play.

Ohio State at Oklahoma (OVER 63.5), 7:30 p.m. ET: This game is officially a big game now that Oklahoma backup QB Austin Kendall is publicly talking about the Ohio State defense. Ohio State’s offense hasn’t missed a beat without Ezekiel Elliott and its defense is still breaking in a lot of new talent. First one to 40 wins.