College Football 2021: 3 under-the-radar games to watch in Week 3

1. Fresno State at (13) UCLA

Before the season started, Chip Kelly and the Bruins were not being talked about much as a contender in the Pac-12. After two wins including one against LSU on the national stage, the expectations for the Bruins are clearly on the rise.

Fresno State enters this game at 2-1. They own two easy victories over UConn and Cal Poly. Sandwiched between those wins was a seven point loss to Oregon in which the Bulldogs had a fourth quarter lead. Those same Ducks went to Columbus and beat Ohio State last week. So if there is such thing as a quality loss, Fresno State has one.

Both teams have scored a lot of points so far. The Bulldogs are averaging 44 points in three games while the Bruins have averaged 41 points in two. On defense is where Fresno State has seen the most improvement from last season. They held high powered Oregon to 358 total yards, including less than 190 yards on the ground. They will need the defense to show up again to have a chance against the Bruins.

Fresno State has won three in a row in this series, dating back to the 2003 season. This year’s matchup should be a good one with the Bulldogs likely pushing the Bruins late into the game. While UCLA is favored and probably will win, the game will be worth your while to watch even if it means a super late night for east coast fans.