The college football betting season is mysterious and fascinating in the early weeks of the season because we’re all asking ourselves if certain teams are as good as the offseason publicity suggested they were, or if other teams are being overlooked or underrated.
When we get into Week 2 games between various teams of note, we begin to gather more information on those teams. The picture slowly gets clearer and we are able to form a more defined sense of the season and how it is unfolding. A few games from Week 2 are particularly important in terms of assessing how good – or not – various teams truly are.
USC vs. Stanford Cardinal College Football Betting Odds
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USC | -8½ ( -110 ) | 67½ ( -110 ) |
-325
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| Stanford | +8½ ( -110 ) | 67½ ( -110 ) | +265 | |
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How good is USC under new head coach Lincoln Riley? We really don’t know right now. The big concern for USC is its defensive line, which allowed a 16-play touchdown drive in the first quarter of last week’s game against Rice. USC’s defensive line played better in the second half of that game, but the subpar first half brings up the point that the Trojans are vulnerable against the run.
Opposing teams will try to control the ball and milk the clock so that USC’s offense, specifically quarterback Caleb Williams, does not get on the field. If Stanford can keep the ball away from USC, the Cardinal can keep this game close and significantly reduce the margin for error on each USC offensive possession.
The Cardinal probably don’t have enough offensive firepower to hang with USC for the full 60 minutes, but they can keep this game close and might lose by one touchdown, in which case they would cover the spread.
Pick: Stanford +8.5
Tennessee vs. Pittsburgh College Football Odds by BAS
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | -6 ( -110 ) | 64½ ( -110 ) | -250 | |
| Pittsburgh | +6 ( -110 ) | 64½ ( -110 ) | +210 | |
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Pittsburgh beat Tennessee last year, 41-34, and used that win as a springboard to an ACC championship season. However, this Pitt team lacks quarterback Kenny Pickett, a first-round NFL draft pick, and receiver Jordan Addison, who transferred to USC.
Not having either Pickett or Addison leaves the Panthers shorthanded against a high-octane Tennessee offense. This game might be 41-34 as well, but Tennessee is the team more likely to have the 41 points this year. Pittsburgh will need better play from its defensive line, which got outplayed by West Virginia’s offensive line one week ago.
Tennessee urgently needs a big win to give second-year head coach Josh Heupel a firm footing as the Vols’ new head coach. If he loses here, Heupel will encounter significant anger and frustration from his fan base. It’s a game that is a lot more important for Tennessee than Pittsburgh.
Pick: Tennessee -6
Baylor Bears vs. BYU Cougars Betting Odds
| Team | SP/RL | TOTAL | ML | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baylor | +3 ( -110 ) | 53½ ( -110 ) | +135 | |
| BYU | -3 ( -110 ) | 53½ ( -110 ) | -155 | |
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This might be the game of the week. Alabama-Texas will get higher television ratings, but this is a game that figures to be close, unlike Bama-Texas. Baylor won the meeting between these two teams last year.
The Bears won the Big 12 championship and then won the Sugar Bowl. BYU looked great on offense in Week 1, but it was playing lowly South Florida. Baylor offers a dramatically higher level of difficulty, and the view here is that Baylor’s defense will have answers for BYU’s offense.
Pick: Baylor +3
