College football Week 3 preview

Losing star running back Rodney Anderson for the season is a huge blow, but the Sooners should have the talent to reload. More of the workload could fall on versatile quarterback Kyler Murray, as Oklahoma tries to extend its road winning streak to 17 games and avenge last year's 38-31 home defeat to the Cyclones.
Prediction: Oklahoma 24, Iowa State 10

After outlasting Appalachian State in their opener, the Nittany Lions returned to dominance with a 51-6 victory over rival Pitt. Penn State has scored 96 points in its first two games with quarterback Trace McSorley throwing for three touchdowns and rushing for three more. Kent State has lost eight in a row and 20 of its last 21 against ranked opponents.
Prediction: Penn State 45, Kent State 17

A year ago, the Hurricanes trailed Toledo at halftime before prevailing 52-30 at home. Now, Miami will visit the reigning Mid-American Conference champions, who are 12-1 at home since the start of the 2016 season. Miami is 3-4 against non-conference opponents on the road since 2012, so the visitors might not have it easy.
Prediction: Toledo 34, Miami 31

This contest has been moved up from its original 3:30 p.m. start time because of Hurricane Florence. The Tigers earned their stripes with a gutsy victory at Texas A&M last Saturday. The goings should be much easier this time, as Clemson's vaunted defensive line and quarterback tandem of Kelly Bryant and Trevor Lawrence are poised to dominate.
Prediction: Clemson 51, Georgia Southern 10 

Stanford won't have Heisman candidate Bryce Love for this one because of an injury, but it really shouldn't matter against this FCS program. The Cardinal were impressive last weekend while holding USC to 332 total yards. Davis receiver Keelan Doss is among the top players in the FCS and a true NFL prospect.
Prediction: Stanford 33, UC Davis 10

The Irish have looked balanced and consistent through two games, and now they welcome a Vanderbilt team looking to start 3-0 for a second consecutive season. If Notre Dame has a concern, it's quarterback Brandon Wimbush. The senior has thrown four interceptions — three vs. Ball State last week — and has been sacked six times. He also rushed for minus-7 yards on 11 carries against the Cardinals.
Prediction: Notre Dame 23, Vanderbilt 16

The teams have split their last four meetings with the home side winning each game. That bodes well for Auburn, which has allowed 25 points in its first two games and 20 in the last two at home against the Bayou Bengals. LSU, meanwhile, has been balanced while outscoring Miami and Southeastern Louisiana 64-17 to open this season.
Prediction: Auburn 23, LSU 17

Everything went right for the Wolverines in their home-opening 49-3 victory over Western Michigan. They could be in store for another one-sided affair against an SMU team that's yielded 88 points in the first two games against North Texas and TCU. Michigan has won nine straight and 27 of its last 28 at home against non-conference foes.
Prediction: Michigan 39, SMU 15

The Cowboys make their 2018 debut in the Top 25 following easy victories over Missouri State and South Alabama. This will be a much tougher test, as Boise State is prepared to take on all comers. However, the Broncos have won just once in their last eight road games against ranked non-conference opponents. Still, they look to be the better team at the moment.
Prediction: Boise State 24, Oklahoma State 20

After rushing for 253 yards against New Mexico, Heisman candidate Jonathan Taylor leads the FBS in rushing (398 yards), averages 7.8 per carry and has rushed for five touchdowns. He gained 128 on 18 carries in last season's 40-6 victory at BYU. The Cougars have improved from last year, but the Badgers still seem set to extend their non-conference home winning streak vs. unranked teams to 42 games.
Prediction: Wisconsin 38, BYU 7

This is the final of three non-conference tune-ups for the Ducks before facing Stanford next weekend. Oregon has not been tested thus far and that should continue against San Jose State, which has allowed 75 points in losing to UC Davis and Washington State. Paced by quarterback Justin Herbert, Oregon has scored 120 in its first two contests.
Prediction: Oregon 55, San Jose State 19

The Grove will be rocking as the Crimson Tide head to Oxford. Ole Miss beat Alabama in 2014 and '15 but has allowed 114 points in dropping the last two in the series. The Rebels are off to a nice start while the program remains in flux, and the atmosphere should be electric. But Alabama is still the much better team.
Prediction: Alabama 31, Mississippi 9 

If there was any concern that Georgia lost too much from last season's run to the College Football Playoff championship game, it should have been squashed after a convincing victory at then-No. 24 South Carolina. The Bulldogs defense might be as solid as ever, and that will pose a problem for Middle Tennessee, a quality opponent but one that doesn't have the depth to make a game out of this one.
Prediction: Georgia 42, Middle Tennessee 10 

Mississippi State is in prime position to open 3-0 for the second straight season. Sophomore running back Kylin Hill will help lead the way in this non-conference game after rushing for 211 yards and totaling three touchdowns in last weekend's rout of Kansas State. Louisiana has dropped 17 in a row against ranked opponents.
Prediction: Mississippi State 49, Louisiana 20

After scoring 129 points in its first two games, Ohio State will finally face some competition against the Horned Frogs in the house that Jerry Jones built. It's the overall strength and power of the Buckeyes against TCU's speed. The X factor could be how well Frogs sophomore quarterback Shawn Robinson can handle Ohio State's pressure.
Prediction: Ohio State 34, TCU 14

This is a rematch of perhaps 2017's most entertaining non-conference game that the Trojans won 27-24 in double-overtime at home. This time, USC travels to Austin looking to bounce back from being shut down in a 17-3 loss at Stanford. The Longhorns started the season in the Top 25 but fell out after an opening loss to Maryland but then held on to beat Tulsa at home.
Prediction: Texas 25, USC 23

The Huskies have won four of the five meetings since the Utes' joined the Pac-12, but it has not been easy. Washington had to rally for a three-point victory last season and needed a touchdown late in the fourth to win at Utah the year before. The Utes haven't looked overly strong in either of their first two games, so the Huskies might hold the edge.
Prediction: Washington 27, Utah 20

The Sun Devils enter the Top 25 after scoring 13 fourth-quarter points to upend then-No. 15 Michigan State. But they won't have it easy at San Diego State, which beat them 30-20 on the road last season and hung with Stanford on The Farm this year. The difference for Arizona State this time could be coach Herm Edwards, who has his squad focused out of the gate.
Prediction: Arizona State 22, San Diego State 19

After being dominated by Virginia Tech, Florida State barely got by Samford out of the FCS, needing a fourth-quarter rally last week at home. First-year coach Willie Taggart has tinkered with his lineup ahead of this contest with Syracuse, which is looking for its first 3-0 start since 2015.
Prediction: Syracuse 25, Florida 21 

Hawaii already has one victory over a service academy this year (beat Navy 59-41) and will try to open 4-0 for the first time since Colt Brennan and Co. went undefeated during the 2007 regular season. Army, however, is trying to extend its home winning streak to nine games.
Prediction: Army 38, Hawaii 35

The Cornhuskers could not hold on to a late lead in Scott Frost's Nebraska coaching debut against Colorado. As they try to bounce back against a competitive Troy team, it's uncertain if quarterback Adrian Martinez will be ready to go for the home team. The Trojans, meanwhile, won a big game at LSU last season.
Prediction: Nebraska 24, Troy 20

After disposing of Abilene Christian and UTSA to double its win total from 2017, Baylor will finally be tested. The Bears are improved from that 1-11 campaign a year ago, but Duke has shined early while allowing 21 points against Army and Northwestern.
Prediction: Duke 33, Baylor 17

Houston has scored 45 points in each of its first two games, and the Ed Oliver-led defense stymied Khalil Tate and struggling Arizona last week. However, the challenge for the Cougars should be greater against Texas Tech, which won 27-24 at Houston last season. Red Raiders coach Kliff Kingsbury got his coaching career started at Houston as an assistant.
Prediction: Houston 35, Texas Tech 31.

Two teams apparently heading in opposite directions will meet in West Lafayette. With eight touchdowns, no interceptions and a 74.3 completion percentage in two games, Mizzou's Drew Lock is showing why some believe he's the best quarterback in the SEC. Meanwhile, the Boilermakers' issues under center are one reason for their rough start.
Prediction: Missouri 35, Purdue 16

UCLA has not dropped its first three games of the season since 1971, but there's a possibility that could happen this time. The Bruins' start under Chip Kelly has been less than desirable and Fresno State is no pushover. It's uncertain who will start under center for UCLA, which has one passing touchdown and allowed 11 sacks in two games.
Prediction: Fresno State 25, UCLA 20.