College Football Predictions Today: Picks and Best Bets for Thursday's Games (Sept. 3)

College Football Picks in Summary

• Rutgers -29.5 (-110)
• Missouri -54.5 (-105)
• Utah -34.5 (-110)

Tonight, the 2026 college football season gets its first full Thursday slate. There are several lopsided spreads across the slate while two ranked teams have their openers.

After looking at the current FanDuel Sportsbook odds, team personnel and 2025 production, these are the bets I like most for tonight’s college football action.

All college football odds via FanDuel Sportsbook. Lines may change after this article is published.

Thursday College Football Picks and Predictions

Rutgers -29.5 (-110)

UMass vs. Rutgers (6 p.m. ET)

Rutgers Scarlet Knights is a significant favorite, but the matchup advantages are difficult to ignore.

The Massachusetts Minutemen went 0-12 last season and is facing a Rutgers team that has substantially more returning offensive stability heading into 2026. The Scarlet Knights are led by transfer quarterback Dylan Lonergan, running back Antwan Raymond and wide receiver K.J. Duff.

Raymond rushed for 1,241 yards and 13 touchdowns last season while Duff topped 1,000 receiving yards. Rutgers also returns a highly experienced offensive line, including All-American guard Kwabena Asamoah. That combination should allow the Scarlet Knights to control the game on the ground and consistently create favorable field position.

Rutgers was a favorite of at least 29.5 points only once last season, but they covered in that game. More importantly, UMass was 3-9 against the spread last year and went over the total in nine of its 12 games, showing how porous they are defensively.

I expect Rutgers to get out to a significant lead and then for its depth to take over.

Missouri -54.5 (-105)

Arkansas Pine Bluff vs. Missouri (8 p.m. ET)

The biggest spread on the Thursday slate belongs to the Missouri Tigers against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, and I’m comfortable laying the points with the Tigers.

Missouri is ranked No. 25 in the AP preseason poll and is facing an Arkansas-Pine Bluff team that has a rest disadvantage after playing last week.

Missouri does have some personnel concerns, most notably the absence of starting running back Ahmad Hardy and left tackle Cayden Green. Still, the Tigers have plenty of talent remaining, including running back Jamal Roberts, who averaged 6.1 yards per carry in 2025. Quarterback Austin Simmons is also expected to make his Missouri debut after transferring from Ole Miss.

Arkansas-Pine Bluff is coming off a 35-15 victory over Morehouse, but that is a completely different level of competition from an SEC opponent. Missouri has also historically handled FCS competition comfortably, and the Tigers have a massive advantage in roster depth at virtually every position.

I expect the Tigers to score consistently enough early to put this game out of reach before their backups take over.

Utah -34.5 (-110)

Idaho vs. Utah (9 p.m. ET)

I like the Utah Utes to be a darkhorse playoff team this season, and I’m backing them to cover Thursday night against the Idaho Vandals.

The Utes have the returning production and overall team strength to justify such a massive number. Utah went 11-2 last season and averaged 41.31 points per game while allowing just 18.92 points per game. The Utes also averaged 482.9 total yards per game and 6.6 yards per play in 2025.

Quarterback Devon Dampier is back after throwing for 2,490 yards and 24 touchdowns while completing 63.47% of his passes last season. He also added 835 rushing yards, giving Utah a major advantage both through the air and on the ground. Running back Wayshawn Parker returns, as well, after averaging 6.6 yards per carry in 2025.

Idaho is coming off a 38-34 loss to Cal Poly in Week 0, and although Joshua Wood threw for 363 yards in that game, the Vandals' defense is facing an enormous step up in competition. Idaho allowed 26.42 points per game and 382.5 yards per game last season and just permitted 38 to a Cal Poly team that has nowhere near the depth and talent that Utah does.

Utah should be able to create explosive plays throughout this game, and the Utes to cover the spread is my favorite Thursday wager.

College Football Betting FAQ

What is a point spread in college football betting?

The point spread is designed to account for the expected difference between two teams. The favorite must win by more than the listed spread for a bet on that team to cover while the underdog can cover by winning outright or losing by fewer points than the spread.

What is a college football moneyline bet?

A moneyline wager is simply a bet on which team will win the game. Favorites typically have shorter odds and smaller potential payouts while underdogs generally offer larger potential returns.

What does over/under mean in college football?

An over/under, also known as the game total, is a wager on the combined number of points scored by both teams. Bettors can choose whether the final combined score will finish over or under the set total.

What are college football player props?

College football player props are wagers based on an individual player's performance rather than the final outcome of the game. Depending on availability, common markets can include passing yards, rushing yards, receiving yards, touchdowns, and other statistical categories.

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.