Week 3 of the 2026 college football season featured some incredible performances. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss tallied 365 total yards and three touchdowns in a 32-24 victory over LSU. Louisville running back Keyjuan Brown fueled a 41-31 win over SMU with 163 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries. The focus now shifts to a Week 4 slate packed with intriguing storylines and ranked programs in action. Here’s a look at three of my favorite college football picks for Saturday’s contests.
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Saturday's Best College Football Picks (Week 4)
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
No. 1 Texas Longhorns at No. 14 Tennessee Volunteers
SEC schedules leave no breathing room. The No. 1 Longhorns will be tested when they visit the No. 14 Volunteers at Neyland Stadium on Saturday.
Texas maintained momentum from its win over Ohio State by bludgeoning UTSA 30-6 in Week 3. Wide receiver Cam Coleman found the end zone twice. Meanwhile, Tennessee crushed Kennesaw State 42-9 in Week 3 to reach a 3-0 record for the third time in the past five years. Running back Duane Morris guided the way with 125 total yards.
It may seem easy to circle Texas as a road victor and move on. It’s not that simple, though. Tennessee has proven it can keep up with any team in the country. It’s been a top-10 offense in points per game (43.5) and yards per rush attempt (6.6) so far.
The Volunteers have also turned every trip to the red zone into points. The Longhorns have talent up and down the roster, yet their offense has been missing explosiveness. They rank 78th in yards per play (5.3) and 88th in yards per completion (10.9).
On the defensive side, these squads rely on strong play in the trenches from stars like Colin Simmons and Arion Carter. Tennessee has excelled at rushing the passer, racking up 13 sacks. Texas has thrived at stopping the ground attack, surrendering 3.4 yards per rush attempt.
This showdown has the makings of a back-and-forth thriller, so take the points with the home underdog. It’s worth noting that the Longhorns have failed to cover the spread in eight out of their last 13 contests as favorites.
Pick: Volunteers +5.5 (-110)
No. 4 Ole Miss Rebels at No. 21 Florida Gators
Lane Kiffin’s return to Vaught-Hemingway Stadium was met with hostility in the stands and vengeance on the field. Trinidad Chambliss fueled his Heisman Trophy campaign with a lights-out performance through the air (33-of-48 for 363 yards & two touchdowns) that gave Ole Miss the momentum they were searching for.
Another tough clash awaits on Saturday. Florida has crashed the AP Top 25 College Football Poll thanks to a trio of high-scoring victories. The Gators opened conference action by outlasting Auburn 44-39 in Week 3.
There’s no hiding the secret to either team’s offensive success. Florida running back Jadan Baugh leads the SEC with 458 yards and eight touchdowns on 54 carries (8.5 yards per carry). Chambliss leads the SEC with 77 completions and 924 passing yards. Limiting those stars will be the focus of the defensive plans, especially because they draw beneficial matchups.
The Rebels rank 85th in rushing yards allowed per game (159) and the Gators rank 111th in passing yards allowed per game (273.5).
Just like with Tennessee, there’s a case to be made for the home squad to prevail. However, I’ll attack this duel from a different angle. These offenses have been sensational at scoring early and often.
Florida has averaged 29 first-half points per game, while Ole Miss has averaged 20.3. Overall, there have been more than 30 first-half points in each of the Gators’ previous seven contests. Trust that trend to continue in front of an electric crowd at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.
Pick: First Half Over 30.5 Points (-110)
No. 20 Oregon Ducks at No. 12 USC Trojans
Let’s switch gears to a Big Ten collision with conference title ramifications. Oregon bounced back from a Week 2 loss by demolishing Portland State 84-0 in Week 3. The performance set a modern-era school record for points in a game, with 10 Ducks scoring touchdowns.
USC began conference play with a 42-35 win over Rutgers in Week 3. Running back King Miller logged his second straight 100-yard effort. The Trojans boast a 38-24-2 record in this head-to-head series that dates back to 1915.
These defenses have been anything but steady when facing quality competition. Oregon has conceded an average of 33 points and 414 yards in its two contests against FBS opponents. USC has conceded an average of 32.5 points and 409 yards in its past two games.
Take note that both the Ducks and Trojans rank outside of the top 75 programs in opponent yards per completion. Expect Oregon quarterback Dante Moore and USC quarterback Jayden Maiava to have no trouble finding open targets. It’s what they’ve been doing all year.
Maiava’s efficiency has helped the Trojans post the nation’s highest third-down conversion rate (65.2%). Moore’s decisiveness has facilitated a 100% red-zone scoring rate for the Ducks. Dynamic offenses battling lackluster defenses means a shootout is looming.
There have been more than 62 points scored in three of USC’s four games and in two of Oregon’s three games in 2026. There’s also been more than 62 points scored in nine of the last 10 meetings between these rivals.
Pick: Over 62.5 Points (-108)
