College Football Week 3 Picks and Predictions

Each Monday morning, Whatifsports.com's NCAA college football simulation engine will provide you with game predictions for every D-1 FBS game that upcoming week. The college football simulation engine generates detailed information for each game including the home team's chances of winning (Home Win%) and the average points scored for both teams. Make sure to share the college football information you gained here with your friends by either checking out our NCAA football widgets on the WhatIf To Go page or clicking on the social networking share bar at the top and bottom of this article.

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The statistical inputs to the thousands of college football simulations are based on rigorous analysis of each team's roster, depth charts, and statistically based player rankings. Roster modifications are made in cases of injury or suspension and those players are removed from their team's game simulation for that week.

Week 3 Picks

Game of the Week: Arkansas vs Georgia

Georgia has an opportunity to forget about a Week 2 nightmare. Arkansas has a chance to make a bit of a statement. We may not have the premiere college football matchups that we had throughout this past week but who doesn't like a good, old-fashioned SEC brouhaha?

The Georgia Bulldogs are coming off a disappointing Saturday, losing 17-6 on the road at nationally ranked South Carolina. The problem was, after putting up 55 points on Louisiana-Lafayette in their opener, they managed just six in their first test of the season.

The Bulldogs rank 94th out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision teams in total offense per game. And while that number is somewhat clouded—they still average a run-of-the-mill 5.48 yards per play—failing to find the end zone against South Carolina and having to kick two field goals of less than 30 yards had to sting.

Defensively, however, you have to like where the Bulldogs are at. While it's still early in the season, they are one of just a handful of teams in the country allowing fewer than four yards per play to opposing offenses. The unit simply needs the Georgia offense to put up a few points.

The Bulldogs clearly put themselves behind the eight ball by losing to the Gamecocks, a division foe in the SEC. While the Razorbacks aren't in the East Division, a victory would go a long way in raising the confidence level whereas a loss would mean a disastrous 0-2 start in conference play.

The Razorbacks would love nothing more than to hand Georgia that kind of a start. Arkansas is off to a quick 2-0 record, but surely haven't been tested to the likes of going on the road to Athens. The Razorbacks have cruised to this point, dumping Louisiana-Monroe and Tennessee Tech by a combined total of 75-10.

What does a couple of big victories over a pair of cupcake opponents mean? Well, Arkansas's statistics have them looking like a team capable of winning a national championship.

The Razorbacks are averaging a whopping 7.71 yards per offensive play and if it appears that they have been one-dimensional because they rank in the bottom half of the FBS in rushing yards per game, forget about it. Arkansas is still averaging five yards per carry.

But its passing attack surely has looked more dominant as the Razorbacks average nearly 10 yards per pass attempt. Only eight teams are at 10 or more in the entire FBS.

The easy schedule certainly hasn't hurt the defensive side of the ball, either. We're talking numbers like 3.32 yards per play and a paltry 2.44 yards per rush for Arkansas' opponents, ranking the Razorbacks amongst the nation's best.

So this one will be a classic case of a defense with inflated numbers trying to legitimize those numbers against a big name team whose offense has looked anything but potent to this point. Can the Razorbacks get it done?

The answer is yes, but barely. And two teams that look stout in a bevy of defensive categories look like they'll take a hit.

The computer certainly isn't buying into Arkansas' numbers at this point as Georgia runs for five yards per carry and racks up more than 300 yards passing in what turns into a shootout.

And the solid defense of the Bulldogs crumbles as well as the Razorbacks' aerial assault proves to be too much. Quarterback, and Heisman hopeful, Ryan Mallett throws for nearly 400 yards. A performance like that would solidify a spot in the Heisman race.

The passing attack is the one most noticeable advantage in what appears to be a rousing early-season SEC game. In 101 simulations, it carries the Razorbacks to a victory nearly two-thirds of the times, but by less than a field goal on the road.

College Football Week 3
Matchup	Win%	Avg Score
East Carolina Pirates	5.0	16
@ Virginia Tech Hokies	95.0	42
Brigham Young Cougars	18.8	24
@ Florida State Seminoles	81.2	39
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	75.2	32
@ North Carolina Tar Heels	24.8	24
Cincinnati Bearcats	85.1	37
@ North Carolina State Wolfpack	14.9	28
Alabama Crimson Tide	95.0	40
@ Duke Blue Devils	5.0	11
Maine Black Bears	5.0	6
@ Syracuse Orange	95.0	52
Maryland Terrapins	6.9	16
@ West Virginia Mountaineers	93.1	38
Massachusetts Minutemen	5.0	9
@ Michigan Wolverines	95.0	56
Ohio Bobcats	5.0	8
@ Ohio State Buckeyes	95.0	38
Kent State Golden Flashes	5.0	7
@ Penn State Nittany Lions	95.0	40
Ball State Cardinals	5.0	9
@ Purdue Boilermakers	95.0	37
Arizona State Sun Devils	7.9	14
@ Wisconsin Badgers	92.1	37
Notre Dame Fighting Irish	42.6	34
@ Michigan State Spartans	57.4	39
Northern Illinois Huskies	48.5	25
@ Illinois Fighting Illini	51.5	27
USC Trojans	90.1	35
@ Minnesota Golden Gophers	9.9	18
Toledo Rockets	65.3	26
@ Western Michigan Broncos	34.7	22
Connecticut Huskies	71.3	30
@ Temple Owls	28.7	25
UCF Knights	72.3	27
@ Buffalo Bulls	27.7	21
Colorado State Rams	86.1	24
@ Miami (OH) RedHawks	13.9	13
Marshall Thundering Herd	87.1	30
@ Bowling Green Falcons	12.9	18
Central Michigan Chippewas	95.0	36
@ Eastern Michigan Eagles	5.0	11
Portland State Vikings	5.0	5
@ Oregon Ducks	95.0	68
Wake Forest Demon Deacons	6.9	20
@ Stanford Cardinal	93.1	42
Louisville Cardinals	12.9	18
@ Oregon State Beavers	87.1	35
Iowa Hawkeyes	53.5	23
@ Arizona Wildcats	46.5	22
Houston Cougars	56.4	37
@ UCLA Bruins	43.6	35
Nebraska Cornhuskers	89.1	32
@ Washington Huskies	10.9	16
Vanderbilt Commodores	5.0	12
@ Mississippi Rebels	95.0	35
Furman Paladins	5.0	5
@ South Carolina Gamecocks	95.0	57
Akron Zips	8.9	13
@ Kentucky Wildcats	91.1	34
Mississippi State Bulldogs	13.9	16
@ LSU Tigers	86.1	33
Clemson Tigers	49.5	24
@ Auburn Tigers	50.5	27
Arkansas Razorbacks	66.3	39
@ Georgia Bulldogs	33.7	37
Florida Gators	87.1	32
@ Tennessee Volunteers	12.9	17
Southern Utah Thunderbirds	5.0	6
@ San Jose State Spartans	95.0	33
UNLV Rebels	6.9	25
@ Idaho Vandals	93.1	45
Navy Midshipmen	47.5	24
@ Louisiana Tech Bulldogs	52.5	27
California Golden Bears	70.3	38
@ Nevada Wolf Pack	29.7	34
Fresno State Bulldogs	78.2	36
@ Utah State Aggies	21.8	27
North Texas Mean Green	41.6	17
@ Army Black Knights	58.4	24
Indiana Hoosiers	95.0	32
@ Western Kentucky Hilltoppers	5.0	14
Florida International Golden Panthers	5.0	8
@ Texas A&M Aggies	95.0	51
Tulsa Golden Hurricane	9.9	17
@ Oklahoma State Cowboys	90.1	41
San Diego State Aztecs	10.9	18
@ Missouri Tigers	89.1	36
Iowa State Cyclones	24.8	20
@ Kansas State Wildcats	75.2	31
Air Force Falcons	25.7	22
@ Oklahoma Sooners	74.3	35
Hawaii Warriors	45.5	28
@ Colorado Buffaloes	54.5	31
Texas Longhorns	77.2	27
@ Texas Tech Red Raiders	22.8	20
Washington State Cougars	5.9	16
@ Southern Methodist Mustangs	94.1	39
New Mexico State Aggies	9.9	14
@ UTEP Miners	90.1	34
Kansas Jayhawks	16.8	25
@ Southern Miss Golden Eagles	83.2	39
Troy Trojans	73.3	35
@ UAB Blazers	26.7	28
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders	92.1	34
@ Memphis Tigers	7.9	16
Northwestern Wildcats	95.0	36
@ Rice Owls	5.0	17
Baylor Bears	5.0	17
@ TCU Horned Frogs	95.0	42
Boise State Broncos	94.1	42
@ Wyoming Cowboys	5.9	21
Utah Utes	95.0	40
@ New Mexico Lobos	5.0	11
Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks	84.2	31
@ Arkansas State Red Wolves	15.8	21