2024 College Football Week 2 Best Bets
2024 College Football Week 2 Best Bets
Week 1 of college football season definitely spoiled us. We had five straight days of thrilling games, and now we ease back into the normal schedule of Friday and Saturday games. And while we are still at the point of the season where FBS schools take on FCS opponents, there are still plenty of great matchups in Week 2. Here are my favorite Week 2 college football bets.
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Week 1: 1-4 (-3.28 Units)
Bowling Green (1-0) vs. #8 Penn State (1-0)
Penn State -34.5; O/U 48.5
Penn State -34.5 (-108)
No one loves running it up on opponents like James Franklin. Since 2021, Penn State is 8-2 ATS in non-conference, non bowl games. Penn State has outscored opponents 428-120 in that span. In the six against Group of Five or FCS teams, the margin is 287-61.
On the flip side, Scot Loeffler has been with Bowling Green since 2019. In that span, they have played eight games against Power Four teams. They have won two in that span, but have been outscored 95-300.
Drew Allar played well in his first game with new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki. I think this offense will continue to explode in Week 2 against Bowling Green.
#3 Texas (1-0) vs. #10 Michigan (1-0)
Michigan +7.5; O/U 42.5
Under 42.5 (-110)
Since 2021, Michigan has allowed 250 points in their 23 home games (10.9 PPG). In just six of those games an opponent scored at least two touchdowns. The Under in that span is 16-5-2. In non-conference, non-bowl games, the Under is 8-1-1 (7.7 PPG allowed). Texas will be the first Power Four program to enter The Big House as a non-con opponent in that span.
Michigan’s offense did not look great in their opener. The duo of Davis Warren and Alex Orji completed under 60% of their attempts for just 4.5 YPA. Donovan Edwards rushed for just 11 times at 2.7 YPC. I don’t think this offense will be down for long in 2024, but it’s difficult to rebound against a team like Texas. I think Michigan’s defense keeps this one close with the under cashing this week.
Iowa State (1-0) vs. #21 Iowa (1-0)
Iowa -3; O/U 35
Under 35 (-108)
A classic in-state rivalry that tends to be low scoring. In the last ten meetings, the Under is 8-2. The matchup has failed to go over 35 points in four of the last five. In the last ten in this rivalry played in Kinnick Stadium, the average point total for the game is 33.2. Lastly, when Matt Campbell has made the trip to Iowa City, his Cyclones have averaged just 5.3 PPG.
Iowa’s offense looked red hot last week, dropping 40 against FCS Illinois State. But it was just 6-0 at halftime. Their wide receivers scored three touchdowns in the second half last week; they scored a combined five in 2022 and 2023. Now they face a real opponent in Iowa State. I expect the trends to continue in the Cy-Hawk rivalry, with this being a low scoring affair.
Northern Illinois (1-0) vs. #5 Notre Dame (1-0)
Notre Dame -28; O/U 44.5
Northern Illinois +28 (-110)
Notre Dame is coming off arguably the most impressive win of Week 1, going into Kyle Field and defeating Texas A&M 23-13. Yet, this is a weird spot for the Irish in Week 2. Under Marcus Freeman, Notre Dame is 2-6 ATS against Group of Five schools. The only two covers came against yearly opponent Navy. The Irish have won two games – Toledo in 2021 and Navy in 2022 – by only three points at home. And Marshall stunned Notre Dame in Week 2 of 2022 on the road. Northern Illinois returns 16 starters under Thomas Hammock, and the Huskies are 14-5 ATS as an away underdog since he became the head coach. This, factored in with the letdown of a huge Week 1 win, I like the Huskies to keep it under four scores in South Bend.
Colorado (1-0) vs. Nebraska (1-0)
Nebraska -7.5; O/U 59
Over 59 (-108)
This has the making to be the most exciting matchup of the weekend. Two high upside quarterbacks in Shedeur Sanders and Dylan Raiola battle in Lincoln. In Colorado’s four non-conference games under Deion Sanders, the defense has allowed 29.3 PPG and 457.5 YPG. Dylan Raiola had a solid collegiate debut, throwing for 238 and two scores.
Colorado boasts a lethal receiver duo for Sanders in Jimmy Horn Jr. and a do-it-all talent in Travis Hunter. Colorado has topped 30 in their four non-conference games, averaging 38.8 PPG. I’m expecting fireworks in Lincoln this weekend when these two teams face off.
Outright Underdogs (.5 Units):
Week 1: 0-1 (-.5 Units)
(Friday) Duke @ Northwestern +114
Duke has won the last five in this series going back to 2017. Maalik Murphy (Texas transfer) played well against FCS Elon and is a type of athlete that can give Northwestern fits. I like Duke to make it six-straight as a slight underdog.
#10 Michigan vs. #3 Texas +220
The last time Michigan lost a regular season game came all the way back in the Covid-shortened 2020 season. Texas was 4-2 last year against ranked opponents, but 6-9 against ranked opponents under Sarkisian. This is a brand new era for Michigan, but I believe Michigan is worth an Outright Underdog sprinkle in Week 2.
Colorado @ Nebraska +215
In 13 games at Colorado, Deion Sanders is just 5-8. But four of those five wins came against non-conference opponents, including a 36-14 win last year against Nebraska. Colorado also won last year as a 20.5-point underdog on the road at TCU. Everyone is buying in the hype of Dylan Raiola and Matt Rhule in his second year, but Colorado is a live underdog in Week 2.
What are your favorite Week 2 college football bets? Let me know on X! Follow me @DrewRoberts_ for more college football and NFL content
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