Week 2 Preview

(FRI 7:10) BYU (+12.5) @ SMU, Fan Duel "Aug Dog of the Week"

Our resident numbers guy, Auggie, has projected the points in this game at 28 for BYU and 29 for SMU. He likes BYU’s passing attack to contend with SMU. He is our numbers guru, so we ride with Auggie on this one.

(FRI 9:00) Duke @ Northwestern (total 37) UNDER, Draft Kings

Look I know this pick is UGLY and this game could be unbearable to watch, so let’s hope it is because that will make the under probably hit. This game is being played on the lake and with very poor offenses. If these two teams move the ball it will be on the ground. I expect Duke to move the ball a little with Malik Murphy. I don’t expect him to light it up too much, so I have faith in the under. The forecast for Friday night in Evanston, Illinois is 59’ and 10 mph winds, but off the lake it should be a little stronger. So, this game in this stadium is screaming under to me.

(SAT 12:00) Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati (total 63) UNDER, Draft Kings

Both teams are coming off games where they scored over 35 points and allowed their inferior opponents to score over 20 points. Many people think that would mean an easy over, but I don’t think so. Last year the game between these two schools was a 27-21 victory by Cincinnati in Pittsburgh. Both defenses are shaky compared to last year but 63 is a lot of points. Cincinnati is also getting back potential NFL draft pick, Dontay Corleone. I think everyone is overreacting a little bit too much to week 1 scores here, I like the under.

(SAT 12:00) Texas (-6.5) @ Michigan, Bet Rivers

Texas is the play here, even though it seems like a dumb pick. My sources out of Texas and the Austin area say the team is very confident going into this match up with Michigan. Texas beat Alabama on the road last year and the Longhorns feel they can go beat a national champ contender on the road 2 seasons in a row. Michigan has lost a lot of pieces on both sides of the ball. Their defense should be fine, but I worry about their offense, especially if they can’t run the ball with Donovan Edwards. Texas has the QB advantage in a big way, and I expect that to help the Longhorns in the end. The line has moved from Texas -3.5 to -7.5 after last week’s performances by both teams. If the total moves up, I might be on the under.

(SAT 3:30) Michigan St @ Maryland (total 44) UNDER, Bet MGM

I think the total on this game is a little low. Michigan St did not score a lot of points in last week’s win over FAU, 16-10, they did turn the ball over a couple times which stopped possible scoring drives which left points on the board. I expect QB Aidan Chiles to move the ball a little bit better this week. The problem for the Spartans is that they head to Maryland to play a team that just dropped a 50 burger against UCONN. Maryland will be able to put up points this weekend and I expect the Spartans to hang around and could put some garbage time points on the board. And maybe Aidan Chiles meant this week when talking about overs.

(SAT 3:30) Iowa St @ Iowa (-3), Fan Duel

Don’t watch this game, I’m warning you it will be gross. However, I will be pulling for Iowa. I like Iowa for a couple reasons. First Iowa looks like they have figured out the offensive side of the ball, they put up 40 in week 1. If Iowa has figured out the offensive side of the ball, then that’s bad news for a team, Iowa State, that has injury issues at Linebacker and might be starting a freshman. Iowa has also won 7 of the last 8 in this rivalry.

(SAT 6:00) South Alabama (-2) @ Ohio, Draft Kings

Last week South Alabama lost a barn burner to North Texas who runs a fast paced up-tempo attack, 52-38. Ohio lost to Syracuse 38-22, in a game where Syracuse and QB Kyle McCord threw all over them. South Alabama’s QB Gio Lopez threw for over 400 yards and 4 touchdowns in a loss. I expect South Alabama to have a better game this week against an Ohio team who lost a lot of production this off season and has an offense that doesn’t run nearly the same tempo North Texas does. I’m on South Alabama in a get right spot for HC Major Applewhite.

(SAT 7:00) San Jose St (+5.5) @ Air Force, Fan Duel

I like San Jose State in this spot for a couple reasons. First thing is that San Jose is now led by former Navy HC Ken Niumatalolo. He is very familiar with defending the type of run heavy offense Air Force runs. It also helps that Air Force has a very young team. Air Force has a new QB in John Busha and many other new parts with only 6 total starters returning on both sides of the ball. Lastly, Air Force looked very pedestrian against their week 1 opponent, Merrimac. They only rushed for 155 yards against an awful FCS team.

(SAT 7:30) Colorado @ Nebraska (-7) Bet Rivers

Ok, I was the biggest Deion rider last season, and I was repaid by getting fucked hard. After a hot start and it looked like my 4.5-win total would cash, Colorado fell off bad and couldn’t get a fifth win. This year they have a little bit more talented team and a bit more depth, however I still have concerns on both sides of the line. Colorado struggled to block and stop the run last week against FCS North Dakota State. That’s not great seeing how Nebraska comes to town with a defensive line that averages at least 15 pounds heavier than NDST. Sheduer Sanders and his WR’s, Hunter and Joe Horn jr, will have an impact on the game, however I think Nebraska plays keep away from Colorado’s offense and grinds out long drives. Also helping the Cornhuskers is that they are now led by Dylan Raiola instead of turnover machine from last year Jeff Sims. Lastly, I like the Huskers here because I think HC Matt Rhule is a better in game coach as well.

(SAT 7:30) Houston @ Oklahoma (-28.5), Fan Duel

I know this is a big spread, but I am going back to the Oklahoma well. They were good to me last week in a thumping of Temple. Oklahoma covered last week’s spread of 42.5 by 5.5 points. I expect OU to do the same this week against a struggling Houston team who lost to UNLV last week 27-7.

(SAT 10:00) Texas Tech @ Washington St (-1.5), Fan Duel

I like Washington State in this game. Texas tech is a different team on the road than they are at home like many teams. The Red Raiders were 2-4 on the road last year with wins against Baylor and Kansas. They lost so much production on defense that I don’t know if it will travel well when it goes up to play Washington State. When they do play Texas Tech will be playing an offense coming off a 70-point beatdown. Oh, and Texas Tech barley beat Abilene Christian 52-51 in week 1. So, I think that defense on Tech might be weak. Also respect both Washington state QBs John Mateer and Zevi Eckhaus, so one of them will get the job done. Over could be a play too.