Photo by Ethan Miller / Getty Images
CLEVELAND – Week 3 of the college football season kicks off tonight with an interesting ACC clash between Boston College and Wake Forest. While we do not have a selection for that match up, it’ll be nice having a pair of football games to watch with the NFL Week 2 slate also kicking off between the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals. Below you will find our “Picks With Nick” full slate of college football selections against the spread (for entertainment purposes only, of course). Each week we will post our college football picks on Thursday mornings and our NFL selections on Friday mornings.
A quick glance at our numbers on the season against the Vegas spread:
CFB: 6-5-0 (55%)
NFL: 2-1-1 (67%)
Total: 8-6-1 (57%)
Our picks are made against Las Vegas oddsmakers merely helping create football interactions on Facebook and Twitter, as well as online and on-air content for Newsradio WTAM 1100 and WTAM.com.
Similar to the last two seasons, our goal is to win 53% of our picks against the spread. Las Vegas sports books, give us 11/10 odds or -110, so in order to break even in picking games against the spread (ATS) we must win 52.4% of the games we select. Winning 58% of picks ATS would place you among the most elite sports handicappers in the world. We’ll shoot for somewhere between 53% - 58% again this season.
Hawai'i head coach Nick Rolovich has the Rainbow Warriors off to a hot 3-0 undefeated start, but they will be put to the test on Saturday at Noon when they visit West Point for a Noon kickoff. Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea / Getty Images.
We are again keeping our college and NFL selections separate, but we will update the results from both weekly with full transparency, seeing how we stack up against Las Vegas oddsmakers. We are coming off back-to-back winning seasons in which we hit 54% ATS in college football and the NFL combined in 2016 and 56% in both combined last season in 2017. So far, in college and the NFL combined, we are hitting 57% ATS.
Throughout the season it is important to understand that we will continually update our records in both college football and the NFL, totaling them also, and additionally, that Newsradio WTAM 1100 and I do not condone illegal sports wagering. Any information shared on this page is strictly for entertainment purposes, as well as on-air and online content. Visitors reading “Picks With Nick” weekly selections need to understand that this is not a gambling website. WTAM 1100 and Nick Camino do not condone illegal sports wagering.
With Week 3 of college football opens tonight, so let’s dive into our full slate of selections against the spread.
Below is our full slate of college football picks featuring five selections ATS for Week 3:
Game: Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors vs. Army Knights
Where: West Point, New York – Michie Stadium
Kickoff: 12:00 pm ET
TV: CBSSN
Spread: Army -6.5
Nick’s Pick: Army is at home and they’ll have the benefit of playing a Hawai’i team that travels to the East Coast for a Noon game, however those are the only advantages we see for the Knights. Yes, the option is tough to prepare for, but the Rainbow Warriors are led by quarterback Cole McDonald who is already 78-for-111 through the air this season, for 1,165 yards and 13 TDs and also have a much-improved defensive unit. Nick’s Pick here is Hawai’i +6.5.
Las Vegas, Nevada isn't the only place where football fans are wagering on football following the May ruling by the Supreme Court that lifted the federal ban on sports betting. Along with Nevada, you can now legally wager on sports in Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Delaware, New Jersey, West Virginia and partially in New York. SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
Game: Boise State Broncos vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys
Where: Stillwater, Oklahoma – Boone Pickens Stadium
Kickoff: 3:30 pm ET
TV: ESPN
Spread: Oklahoma State -2.5
Nick’s Pick: This will be a high-scoring affair, loaded with big plays and speed. But while defense may seem optional in this non-conference clash between the Broncos and Cowboys, Oklahoma State is the better overall team and they are in front of their hometown fans. It’ll be enough for Mike Gundy’s team. Nick’s Pick here is Oklahoma State -2.5.
Game: USF Bulls vs. Illinoi Fighting Illini
Where: Chicago, Illinois – Soldier Field
Kickoff: 3:30 pm ET
TV: BTN
Spread: USF -10
Nick’s Pick: The Bulls were impressive in last week’s win over Georgia Tech and they probably boast more speed and talent in this match up. However, Lovie Smith is slowly turning Illinois around and spotting them ten points is just too many in this non-conference clash. Nick’s Pick here is Illinois +10.
Illinois head coach Lovie Smith has his Fighting Illini off to a fast start at 2-0, but their non-conference clash on Saturday at Soldier Field against South Florida will provide a nice measuring stick to see how much his team has improved. Photo by Steven Branscombe/Getty Images
Game: Ohio State Buckeyes vs. TCU Horned Frogs
Where: Arlington, Texas – AT&T Stadium
Kickoff: 8:00 pm ET
TV: ABC
Spread: Ohio State -13
Nick’s Pick: Spotting the No. 15-ranked team in the nation 13 points, especially in their home state of Texas feels odd. That said, Ohio State has reloaded with talent and look like a legitimate national title contender. 13 won’t be enough in this one. Nick’s Pick is Ohio State -13 even at the home of the Dallas Cowboys.
Dwayne Haskins and the No. 4-ranked Buckeyes are 2-0 after throttling Oregon State and Rutgers. However, this weekend's non-conference showdown with No. 15 TCU will be a much tougher task. Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images
Game: Washington Huskies vs. Utah Utes
Where: Salt Lake City, Utah – Rice-Eccles Stadium
Kickoff: 10:00 pm ET
TV: ESPN
Spread: Washington -6.5
Nick’s Pick: We’ll keep this simple. Utah wins this game. Nick’s Pick is Utah +6.5.
- Nick Camino
Record in college football ATS to date: 6-5-0 (55%)
Record in NFL ATS to date: 2-1-1 (67%)
Total record ATS to date: 8-6-1 (57%)
Note from Nick: All betting lines used will come from The Wynn Race & Sports Book in Las Vegas. The lines can change at any time, but we will only use lines 72 hours in advance and closer. Picks will be made based on the lines when we post.
DISCLAIMER: Newsradio WTAM 1100 and Nick Camino do not accept or place bets. This is not a gambling website. WTAM 1100 and Nick Camino do not condone illegal sports wagering. Any information shared on this page is strictly for entertainment purposes, as well as on-air and online content.