The scores in the 3rd quarter are a quick clue to the whole game.
For example, look at top rated Alabama and Ohio State; their games are already way out of hand in the 3rd quarter. There's hardly a need to look at the final scores.
| Team | 3rd | Qtr | Final | Score | |
| Alabama | Arkansas State | 50 | 7 | 57 | 7 |
| Ohio State | Rutgers | 45 | 3 | 52 | 3 |
| Auburn | Alabama State | 49 | 9 | 63 | 9 |
| Virginia Tech | William & Mary | 55 | 14 | 62 | 17 |
But then there are instances where the games are much closer than the final score indicates.
TCU last week against cellar dweller SMU is a prime example. The final score was 42-12, but TCU ran up the score with 14 points in the 4th quarter, and that on top of 14 points in the 3rd quarter. The score was only a 2-point margin, 14-12 at halftime! Are you getting a little less worried about playing TCU at home in DFW?
Likewise, Wisconsin had a blow-out final score of 45-14 over lowly New Mexico. But the Badgers scored 21 points in the 4th quarter on top of 14 points in the third quarter. The 3rd quarter score was 24-7 and their halftime lead was only 10-7.
The same is true of a blow-out victory for Maryland beating Bowling Green 45-14. However, they scored 28 points in the 4th quarter. It was only 17-14 at the end of the 3rd.
| Team | 3rd | Qtr | Final | Score | |
| Texas Christian | Southern Methodist | 28 | 12 | 42 | 12 |
| Wisconsin | New Mexico | 24 | 7 | 45 | 14 |
| Maryland | Bowling Green | 17 | 14 | 45 | 14 |
| Miami | Savannah State | 49 | 0 | 77 | 0 |
| Washington | North Dakota | 24 | 3 | 45 | 3 |
| Penn State | Pitt | 30 | 6 | 51 | 6 |
And then the opposite is shown at times in the 3rd quarter scores. It may not have been that close until the 4th quarter.
Notre Dame was ahead of Ball State 24-6 at the end of the 3rd quarter. Then Ball State scored 10 unanswered points, resulting in a close final score of 24-16. After beating Michigan, the Domers were not that impressive.
Top-rated Clemson was leading Texas A&M at the end of the 3rd by a comfortable 28-13. But A&M came roaring back and almost won the game except for a questionable fumble into the end zone and a failed 2-point conversion.
And other teams lose in the final quarter when the 3rd quarter score is close. As happened with 3 Big 10 teams: Colorado at Nebraska, Michigan State at Arizona State and Eastern Michigan at Purdue.
| Team | 3rd | Qtr | Final | Score | |
| Notre Dame | Ball State | 24 | 6 | 24 | 16 |
| Clemson | Texas A&M | 28 | 13 | 28 | 26 |
| Colorado | Nebraska | 27 | 28 | 33 | 28 |
| Arizona State | Michigan State | 3 | 13 | 16 | 13 |
| Eastern Michigan | Purdue | 10 | 12 | 19 | 20 |
And finally there are examples where nothing really happens at the end of the games. And for that matter nothing really happens during the entire game, as with Iowa against Iowa State, where Iowa was ahead 6-3 at the end of the 3rd quarter, and won the game 13-3.
| Team | 3rd | Qtr | Final | Score | |
| Iowa | Iowa State | 6 | 3 | 13 | 3 |
| Stanford | Southern California | 17 | 3 | 17 | 3 |
The score at 3Q is a quick clue.
