College Football Week 2 Best Betting Tips, Picks: Odds, Spreads, Player Props
Week 1 of the college football season was a tough slate to bet. Despite beating the closing line by an average 2.8 points per play, best bets went 5-6 and lost -0.94 units on the week. But it’s back to the college football odds board for a downright loaded Week 2 slate. With far less mature lines and a ton of blockbuster matchups chewing up the attention of the populous, value exists on this board. Let’s dive into my favorite college football bets of the weekend, including some college football picks among player props.
College Football Week 2 Best Bets
Don’t miss the best odds! Join TheLines.com’s free sports betting Discord to get real-time bets as our staff places them. Sign up for notifications in the #roles server. We’ve also ranked the best college football betting sites for this season.
Iowa at Iowa State, 3:30 p.m. ET
Despite being down five starters, Iowa State took care of business in Week 1, upending a solid FCS foe in Northern Iowa. Iowa, on the other hand, looked fast offensively to start but petered out against Utah State and failed to score the key 25 points. And yet, the Hawkeyes are the better football team.
In a low-scoring affair (O/U and one I’m tempted to bet under), taking the points with the underdog may be the savory move above +3 (best odds: Iowa State ). But I’d like to see the Cyclones move the football against this Iowa defense.
Iowa stopped 17 Utah State rushes at or under two yards (50% of attempts) and held the Aggies to just 4.8 yards per play. A pair of Iowa turnovers and a late Utah State score made the game look closer than it was. Iowa State mustered just a 30% success rate and a 2% explosive play rate against UNI. Without top players Hunter Dekkers and Jirehl Brock, the Cyclones’ offense bottoms to one of the worst in the Power Five.
The Hawkeyes may not need to find the end zone more than once to cover a field goal spread, and that score doesn’t have to come from the offense.
Brett’s bet: Iowa -3 (-110) at BetRivers Sportsbook
Best available number: Iowa
Arizona at Mississippi State, 7:00 p.m. ET
Since new head coach Zach Arnett decided not to continue the Mike Leach air raid at Mississippi State, I’ve been excited to play under point totals in their games. Against Southeast Louisiana, the Bulldogs ran just 68 scrimmage plays, a bit under their average 74 last season. Although State moved the ball at will against a clearly overmatched opponent, they managed just four explosive plays (6%) and attempted eight more runs (38) than passes (30).
Against FCS Northern Arizona, the Wildcats also chunked their way down the field and split runs and passes almost evenly. Arizona ran 53 plays in that game, only two of which were deemed explosive plays, on 11 drives. Mississippi State fields a much stouter defense than the vaunted Lumberjacks of Northern Arizona. Giving over 60 points in this contest that no longer features an air raid team is a delight.
Brett’s bet: Under 62.5 (-110) at FanDuel Sportsbook
Best available number: Under
College Football Week 2 Prop Bets
Note: College football picks on player props are not available in every state that offers CFB game betting. Find out whether college football prop betting is legal in your state here.
Colorado WR Travis Hunter: O63.5 receiving yards (-114)
So long as sportsbooks remain semi-bearish on Hunter, I will be attacking his props weekly. Nebraska fields a much more competent defense than TCU, but the Huskers lack someone of the caliber of Hunter on the field. As we saw in Week 1, Shaduer Sanders will absolutely feed the two-way star (11 receptions). Better yet, Deion Sanders is hitting the Heisman campaign trail for both his son and Hunter. If nothing else, Coach Prime is a showman and will game plan to bolster Hunter’s numbers. On national TV, in their first home game, against an old rival, I’m betting that the offense runs through Shaduer first and Hunter second.
Also special nod to Hunter’s anytime touchdown prop, as he was targeted heavily around the goal line. (And an underrated aspect – his use and aggressiveness at corner double dips as he could score on defense!)
Notre Dame QB Sam Hartman: 228.5 passing yards (-114)
Against a complex defense like NC State, experience matters. Nothing the Wolfpack do Saturday will come as a surprise to Hartman, who has three career games against NC State at Wake Forest. In his last two outings, Hartman threw a combined six interceptions! But also, 397 yards and 290 yards. To date, Notre Dame hasn’t been tested and a trip to Carter-Finley Stadium will do just that.
With a spread set at , the Irish aren’t expected to line up and run for 400 yards and not need the passing game. Hartman has a proven history of yardage against this system.
Watch! TheLines College Football Podcast: Week 2 College Football Picks
21+ in most states to use sportsbook bonus codes; gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-GAMBLER.
RELATED ARTICLES
