Preview and Picks for NCAA Football Week 2

Week 2 of the college football season often sees some significant line adjustments based on Week 1 results. This season also has more shuffling in the Top 25 following three top 10 matchups in Week 1 that were closer one-score results. Major SEC and ACC favorites and College Football Playoff contenders Texas and Clemson went down in defeat along with last year's national championship game participant Notre Dame.  

So last year's national champion Ohio State is back on top at No. 1 following a 14-7 win over Texas, who received 25 first place votes in the AP Poll last week, and now drop to No. 7 with zero votes. The Buckeyes received 55 first place votes with fellow Big Ten bulldog Penn State No. 2 and seven votes for the top spot. Mark your calendar for the major showdown in two months when Penn State visits Columbus to tackle Ohio State on Nov. 1. 

Review the college football stability score ratings as the betting lines adjust early season including Week 2 odds and matchups as you compare openers to current lines with selected picks and bets below. I also review weekly NCAA football boxscore data and note stats and rushing edges, balanced and efficient offenses and key plays plus misleading finals and boxscore data. 

Top 25 Games and Week 2 Lines

Betting lines and college football odds from BetOnline and top online sportsbooks refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. Point spread on favorites plus game totals taken from Monday openers. All times ET. 

Check back by Friday each week as we add Picks and Opinions with select analysis, stats and information you can bet on. 

Sat., Sept. 6.

Grambling State at No. 1 Ohio State (N/A) | 12:30 pm Big Ten Network
Florida Intl at No. 2 Penn State (-42), 54.5 | 12 pm Big Ten Network
Louisiana Tech at No. 3 LSU (-38), 52.5 | 4:30 pm ESPN+/SEC
Austin Peay at No. 4 Georgia (N/A) | 12:30 pm ESPN+/SEC
Bethune Cookman at No. 5 Miami (N/A) 4:30 p.m. FOX
Oklahoma State at No. 6 Oregon (-28), 59 | 12:30 pm Big Ten Network
San Jose State at No. 7 Texas (-36.5), 51  | 3:30 pm ABC or ESPN
Troy at No. 8 Clemson (-33), 51.5 | 12:30 p.m. ACC Network
No. 9 Notre Dame | Bye
South Carolina State at No. 10 South Carolina (N/A) | 4 pm ESPN+/SEC
No. 11 Illinois (-3) at Duke, 49.5 | 12 pm ABC or ESPN
No. 12 Arizona State (-7) at Mississippi State, 59 | 4:30 pm ESPN2
South Florida at No. 13 Florida (-17), 54.5 | 1:15 pm SEC Network
East Texas A&M at No. 14 Florida State (N/A) | 9 am ACC Network
No. 15 Michigan at No. 18 Oklahoma (-5), 46.5 | 4:30 p.m. ABC
Iowa at No. 16 Iowa State (-3), 41.5 | 12 pm FOX
Baylor at No. 17 SMU (-3), 65 | 12 pm CW Network
Utah State at No. 19 Texas A&M (-29.5), 55.5 | 12:45 pm SEC Network
No. 20 Ole Miss (-10) at Kentucky, 52 | 12:30 p.m. ABC
UL Monroe at No. 21 Alabama (-37.5), 51 | 4:45 pm SEC Network
East Tennessee State at No. 22 Tennessee (N/A) | 12:30 pm ESPN+/SEC
Kennesaw State at No. 23 Indiana (-35.5), 50.5 | 12 pm FS1
Kent State at No. 24 Texas Tech (-49), 59.5 | 7:30 pm TNT/MAX
Cal Poly at No. 25 Utah (N/A) | 3 p.m. ESPN+

Next teams receiving votes in top 30: BYU, Auburn, Georgia Tech, USC, Louisville, TCU.

Other notable games Sat., Sept. 6

- Kansas at Missouri (-6), 51 - 12:30 pm
- Fresno State at Oregon State (-3), 48.5 - 12:30 pm
- Army at Kansas State (-16.5), 48.5 - 4 pm
- Houston (-12.5) at Rice, 40 - 4 pm
- Vanderbilt at Virginia Tech (-1), 47.5 - 4:30 pm
- Boston College at Michigan State (-3), 46 - 4:30 pm
- Ball State at Auburn (-43.5), 55.5 - 4:30 pm
- UCLA (-2.5) at UNLV, 55.5 - 5 pm
- Stanford at BYU (-18.5), 47.5 - 7:15 pm
- San Diego State at Washington State (-1.5), 45 - 7:15 pm

Week 2 Stability Score ratings fit Oregon State, UCLA and San Diego State with SDSU a best bet. Top 25 teams that fit stability score ratings as huge favorites include LSU, Indiana, Texas A&M and Auburn. 

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Notable Week 1 Stats, Rushing, Results

- Auburn rushed 52x for 307 yards and Baylor 64 rush yards in Tigers 38-24 road win.
- Florida State outrushes Alabama 230-74 in Seminoles (+13.5) big upset win over Crimson Tide, 31-17. 
- Georgia (-38.5) wins 45-7 over Marshall with balanced attack 239 yards rushing and 249 passing.
- LSU (+3.5) wins at Clemson 17-10 with 108-31 rush edge.
- Georgia Tech rushed for 320 yards to 147 for Colorado in Yellow Jackets 27-20 road win and cover.
- Michigan win, no cover in 34-17 victory over New Mexico with Wolverines 200 club balanced offense, 201 rush, 251 pass.

Pointspread play of the week - Michigan State (-21.5) lead 23-0 with less than 4 minutes remaining in 4Q when Western Michigan got a 32-yard pick-6 interception return TD in Spartans 23-6 win. Rushing yards MSU 181, WMU 29. 

NCAA Football Week 2 Picks

Updates and select analysis with ATS Picks and Opinions unless noted ahead of Sat. games. 

Michigan at Oklahoma. Lone top-25 matchup Big Ten vs. SEC and I bet the Sooners as a big early season game weeks ago -2 and noted in Big Ten preview Michigan would lose two early season games. Line moved to -3 ahead of Week 1 games and now line is -5 after topping out at -6. Michigan freshman Bro QB Underwood makes his first road start in most raucous environment after good opening week performance, but don't see many points for Big Blue against elite SEC front seven and top defensive coach. Sooners QB Mateer may be scrambling more (like Underwood) facing top ‘Wolves defensive front (with suspended player 1H) as the new Heisman favorite. Opinion: Oklahoma. 

Mississippi (-8.5) at Kentucky. Total dropped and money on home ‘Dog Wildcats too. Big narrative on revenge for Ole Miss, who lost to Kentucky last year as big favorite to keep them out of the College Football Playoff. Lots of personnel losses for Rebels, but still much more talent than slow-slugging Wildcats. Lean: Ole Miss.

Louisiana Tech (+37.5) at LSU. Big win for LSU last week at Clemson sets up huge letdown vs. in-state little brother with Florida on deck in SEC opener. La Tech defense improved and allowed less than 275 yards in last week’s 24-0 win over SE Louisiana while also +3 in turnovers. Backup players see second half action for LSU. Opinion: Louisiana Tech 

Arizona State at Mississippi State (+6.5/7). Sun Devils are complete team on both sides of ball, but Mississippi State much improved and NIL spending has helped along with senior QB Shapen returning from injury and looking sharp with 270 pass yards and 76% completions in last week’s 34-17 win over Southern Miss. ASU won last year over Mississippi State 30-23 at this same price point in Tempe, but Bulldogs are far better and can play fast as live home ‘Dog. Line down with sharps on Bulldogs. Pick: Mississippi State and Opinion fine with live betting ‘Dog if behind 1H. 

More Leans and Opinions on ‘Dogs: Baylor +3, Iowa +3.5 

Two non Top 25 matchups that figure to see our teams out-rush opponents by at least a 2/1 margin, setting up solid 75% ATS winning situations.

UAB at Navy (-21): Lay the wood with a top Navy team in a true steamroller. Navy has won this matchup by 23+ the last 2 years vs. UAB and HC Trent Dilfer. Middies are even better in second-year offensive coordinators system, and don’t see UAB slowing down option attack and balance in higher-scoring win. A 52-7 win last week over VMI saw Navy rush for 460+ yards, and 300+ is projected vs. UAB. Returning QB Horvath operating Navy offense seamlessly against Blazers defense that allowed 500+ yards including 200+ rushing in last week’s 52-42 win over weaker Alabama State. Pick: Navy and Opinion Over 58.5 

San Diego State (+1.5) at Washington State. Aztecs off a 42-0 win while Cougars off a narrow 13-10 win over Idaho as big favorite. SDSU lost a to WSU 26-23 last year as double-digit ‘Dog when they were far worse, and now Cougars are in decline with hidden special teams edge also in visitors favor. Pick: San Diego State.

Arkansas State at Arkansas (-23), 63. Top total Pick (Over) with fast-paced non-conference visiting Red Wolves and offensive weapons against in-state big brother Hogs. Arkansas QB Green passed for 6 TDs in last week’s win and projections are 550+ yards offense for Razorbacks against very poor Red Wolves defense. Game total unders hit > 60% in Week 1, but this sets up as a high-scoring special.

More matchups, stats, updates and biggest early season games to follow along with Week 2 Picks and Opinions as college football draws more watch and wager action with added value betting at reduced juice sportsbooks.

You can bet on it. 

FairwayJay is a proven sports handicapper and loves college football. He's been handicapping and betting college football for more than two decades 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 X @FairwayJay for more sports and betting insights.