College football season is off and running, with full slates of games every Saturday from now until the holiday season.
Last week, our picks got off to a less-than-stellar 2-5 start, with Alabama and Virginia Tech playing hero to save us from disaster. Some excuses could be made – one good red zone possession from Washington, and Miami being semi-conscious could have made for a winning week – this isn’t the place for them. Sometimes it’s just not your week.
That said, everyone loves a redemption story, and this week we’re starting ours with seven more picks off the college football schedule. I’m backing six favorites and just one underdog this time around, which feels a bit too chalky for my usual tastes, but at the start of the season working with limited, you have to back the teams you trust to get the job done.
Below are your best seven bets of the second Saturday of the college football season.
LAST WEEK: 2-5OVERALL: 2-5
Alabama (-36) over Arkansas State
Alabama showed last week they have no problem running up the score. Further, even when the Crimson Tide decides to take its foot off the gas and rest its starters, the backups coming in are also five star recruits - Jalen Hurts, who has led Bama to the past two national title games, is now entering the game up 40 in the third quarter. Of course laying a huge number isn't ideal, but this is a trend I'll be playing for the near future.
Stanford (-6) over USC
This is a tough pick - you'd much prefer taking Stanford as a three point favorite than the full six here. But I try to pick the biggest games of the week, and this is certainly one of them. Bryce Love was stifled a bit by San Diego State's defense in Week 1, so this is a great spot for him to begin his Heisman campaign in full.
Clemson (-12) over Texas A&M
This is a tough spread but it's hard to imagine the Texas A&M's defense stopping Clemson at any point during this game. The Tigers dropped 48 points against Furman last week without really trying, and will come into this match against the Aggies even more prepared.
Penn State (-8.5) over Pittsburgh
Penn State survived a scare against Appalachian State last weekend, eeking out an overtime win. Admittedly, they didn't look great, but I expect the Nittany Lions to roar back in this spot. Penn State still has memories of Pittsburgh upsetting them in early 2016 in a shootout, and won't be looking to let the Panthers catch them off their game again.
Central Michigan (-4.5) over Kansas
Kansas lost to FCS program Nicholls State in overtime to open the season last week. Head coach David Beaty is in his fourth season with the Jayhawks and holds a record of 3-34. Central Michigan might not strike you as a powerhouse, but they're a regular bowl season competitor and can take care of lesser opponents.
Temple (-4) over Buffalo
Temple got rolled by Villanova to start the year, but unlike Kansas, the Owls are a team I trust to bounce back from a disappointing loss. Temple has been one of the most profitable programs to bet in recent years, and this low line feels like an overcorrection.
Colorado (+3.5) over Nebraska
I had to take one underdog! Colorado looked solid last weekend in its 45-13 win over Colorado State. Meanwhile, Nebraska's season opener had to be cancelled due to weather concerns. The Scott Frost era will eventually pay off for the Cornhuskers, but give me the team that's already rolling with its season over the one that's been forced to sit on its hands for an extra week.
Now check out our picks for Week 1 of the NFL season
