After a strong 11-4 start to the season against the spread, here are my picks for Week 2’s monster weekend of college football.
[Editor’s Note: All lines from Bovada. #7 Washington, #12 LSU, #18 Virginia Tech, #22 Florida & #25 Tennessee are all playing FCS teams so the games do not have lines.]
Fresno State at #1 Alabama (-43)
Alabama’s offense looked dreadful in Week 1 and Nick Saban never runs up the score on weak opponents.
— Pick: Fresno State
#5 Oklahoma at #2 Ohio State (-7.5)
The Sooners were embarrassed by Ohio State last year in a 21-point loss and should have all the motivation they need to keep this game within one score.
— Pick: Oklahoma
#13 Auburn at #3 Clemson (-6)
The reigning national champions picked up right where they left off last season by trashing Kent State in Week 1 and should win by at least a touchdown vs. an unproven Auburn team.
— Pick: Clemson
Pitt at #4 Penn State (-21.5)
Pitt had to go to overtime to beat Youngstown State in Week 1 and will be in way over their heads in Happy Valley.
— Pick: Penn State
#14 Stanford at #6 USC (-6)
USC has struggled mightily vs. Stanford in recent years and after a sloppy opener vs. Western Michigan, expect more of the same in the L.A. Coliseum.
— Pick: Stanford
Cincinnati at #8 Michigan (-35)
Wilton Speight has Michigan fans concerned after throwing two Pick Sixes vs. Florida but Cincinnati’s woeful offense may not score a point on the Wolverines’ stacked defense.
— Pick: Michigan
Florida Atlantic at #9 Wisconsin (-32)
After a sluggish start vs. Utah State, Wisconsin ended up winning by 49. They should cover again vs. an FAU team coming off a 23-point home loss to Navy.
— Pick: Wisconsin
Louisiana-Monroe at #10 Florida State (-35)
With QB Deondre Francois out for the year, this has “Hangover Game” written all over it.
— Pick: Louisiana-Monroe
#11 Oklahoma State at South Alabama (+29)
The Cowboys’ offense was clicking on all cylinders in Week 1 and should roll right through Mobile.
— Pick: Oklahoma State
#15 Georgia at #24 Notre Dame (-4)
Georgia’s defense looked down-right nasty in Week 1; the Bulldogs cover even with true freshman Jake Fromm at QB for an injured Jacob Eason.
— Pick: Georgia
#17 Louisville at North Carolina (+10)
Both teams looked terrible in Week 1 but North Carolina has too much pride to loss its first two games of the season at home without putting up a fight.
— Pick: North Carolina
Charlotte at #19 Kansas State (-36)
Charlotte put up all of 7 points against Eastern Michigan. The road trip to Manhattan will be a bloodbath.
— Pick: Kansas State
Boise State at #20 Washington State (-10.5)
The Broncos’ defense is too good to allow a double-digit loss after beating the Cougars last year in Boise.
— Pick: Boise State
#21 USF at Connecticut (+17)
UConn had to come back in Week 1 to beat Holy Cross — that’s all you need to know.
— Pick: USF
#23 TCU at Arkansas (+3)
Arkansas won last year in Fort Worth but the Horned Frogs’ offense is too loaded for the Hogs to keep up.
— Pick: TCU
