Preview and picks for NCAA Football Week 2

The early 2022 college football season continues and three more top-25 match-ups in Week 2 including the SEC showdown at the Swamp between Kentucky and Florida. I chip-in top-25 coverage and key match-up picks throughout the season with added insight, picks and odds updates from leading online sportsbooks along with other information you can bet on. 

You can follow along and decide if you want to bet on the picks, opinions and leans provided each week, as available, from a proven sports handicapper including in college football.  

I like to dig into stats and have provided information and insight for years looking for match-up edges, along with stats and situational plays that can often be overlooked when evaluating the games and match-ups. 

Winning bets is always the goal and how we keep score. But developing a process in your handicapping approach, while understanding the betting market and searching for value, should be of great significance. As you shoot for more birdies and green on the gridiron, recognize there are plenty of hazards and rough along the way as you navigating and manage all the information put in front of you each week. 

Understand there are no sure things when betting on sports and my input is for news and entertainment purposes with an added goal to help you learn while you earn. 

Also understand that while the top teams in the Top 25 rankings draw most the headlines, attention and betting action, those games often don't offer the best value or betting opportunities. The online sportsbooks take the most bets on those games as bettors shoot for big-game payouts. That in turn drives the handle on the top teams and match-ups.

But since those games are of most interest to many fans, I'll try to cover those college football games from tee-to-green and chip-in information you can bet on. As available or through social media, I'll provide added sportsbook betting data as benefits and update later in the week to my picks and information so you can see which teams are attracting more bets and money (handle). 

No picks in Week 1 Top-25 match-ups, and our Opinions and Leans both went 1-1. All side selections are ATS unless indicated.

Week 2 Top 25 Match-ups

No. 24 Tennessee at No. 17 Pittsburgh | 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Line: Tennessee -6 and Total 64.5 at BetOnline

Last year, Pittsburgh beat Tennessee in Knoxville 41-34. Now the Volunteers shoot for redemption with an explosive offense directed by second-year head coach Josh Heupel. Tennessee averaged 39.3 points per game last season, and this year's team will eclipse that scoring and it started with last week's 59-10 beatdown of Ball State. Tennessee gave two backup quarterbacks playing time after QB Hendon Hooker did the early damage with 225 passing yards and 2 touchdowns. Pitt was fortunate to get past West Virginia with a thrilling rivalry finish on a pick-6. The Panthers were out-played at the line of scrimmage, and their press coverage could get burned more often by Tennessee's vertical game. 

Opinion: Tennessee 

No. 20 Kentucky at No. 12 Florida | 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN
Line: Florida -6 and Total 64.5 at Bet Any Sports, offering reduced juice

Florida goes from unranked to No. 12 following a 29-26 win over then No. 7 Utah. Quarterback Anthony Richardson is dynamic and he rushed for more than 100 yards and the Gators totaled 284 rushing yards at 7.4 yards per rush against Utah’s elite run defense. Some will argue this is line is a bit high and an over-reaction to Florida's win and Kentucky struggling with Miami, Ohio for a half before winning 37-13. But the Wildcats only rushed for 50 yards with star RB RB Chris Rodriguez out, and he'll miss this game also (suspended) while LB Jordan Wright has now been cleared to play. Kentucky does have pro prospect QB Will Levis on their side and he passed for 303 yards and 3 TDs last week. Levis only passed for 87 yards in last year's 20-13 upset of Florida as a 7.5-point 'Dog, and Rodriguez rushed for 100 yards. The Gators out-gained the Wildcats by more than 150 yards in defeat. No Rodriguez this game and I'm riding the momentum of Florida in the SEC opener. Bet at -5.5 and now -6.

Pick: Florida    

No. 9 Baylor at No. 21 BYU | 10:15 p.m. ESPN
Line: BYU -2.5 and Total 52.5 at BookMaker 

The line has adjusted from BYU -3.5 to -2.5 and the total has dipped slightly. Significant experience edge to BYU, who can continue to climb the rankings with a signature home win. We planned to bet BYU to get the win and cover, but this afternoon it was announced that both BYU's leading receivers will miss the game. Puka Nacua and Gunner Romney combined for 8 receptions for 249 yards in last year's 38-24 loss at Baylor, and the Bears rushed for more than 300 yards. BYU quarterback Jaren Hall is a special talent for the Cougars, and he'll have to lead the way without his two top targets.  

Lean: BYU

FairwayJay is a proven sports handicapper and is recognized as one of the sports industry's most insightful analysts. He chips in additional sports betting coverage and reporting on industry news and events. Follow FairwayJay here at OSGA.com and on Twitter @FairwayJay for more sports and gambling insights.