College Football Best Bets & Odds Week 2

With college football's Week 2 Saturday slate almost here, I've amassed a quartet of my college football best bets for what should be a fun and entertaining day. 

As part of our Week 2 college football predictions, my picks begin with Saturday's first time slot of games and the highly anticipated SEC-Big Ten matchup between Texas and Michigan, with the Longhorns entering among the college football championship odds favorites.

“Shutdown cornerbacks” is a term more commonly used for the best NFL defensive backs, but Will Johnson fits that bill for the Wolverines. I analyze how Michigan's secondary will impact one of the Longhorns' most talented transfer receivers.

I also make my best prediction involving Tennessee quarterback Nico Iamaleava, who is quickly becoming a household name, and I offer a game prop and a game pick for two high-profile non-conference tilts.

We broke down that game – and others – in our Week 2 college football expert picks. Here's how I view that game and a few other marquee matchups:

Best college football bets for Week 2

College football odds as of Friday and subject to change. Track the college football scores for the latest line movement and matchup info.

• Isaiah Bond Under 53.5 receiving yards (-114 via FanDuel) vs. Michigan  ????
• Nico Iamaleava anytime touchdown scorer (+120 via DraftKings) vs. N.C. State  ???
• California +13.5 (-115 via FanDuel) vs. Auburn  ????
• Texas Tech team total Over 34.5 (+120 via bet365) vs. Washington State  ???

Week 2 college football odds & schedule

(Odds via DraftKings)

< li>Texas (-7.5) vs. Michigan (+7.5), noon ET
• Baylor (+14.5) vs. Utah (-14.5), 3:30 p.m. ET
• Iowa State (+3.5) vs. Iowa (-3.5), 3:30 p.m. ET
• Kansas (-5.5) vs. Illinois (+5.5), 7:00 p.m. ET
• Tennessee (-9.5) vs. NC State (+9.5), 7:30 p.m. ET

College football player props for Week 2

College football picks made Friday; odds subject to change.

The Texas offense always figured to look like a work in progress against top competition early in the season, as the unit lost its leading rusher and top five receiving targets from a year ago.

Alabama transfer Isaiah Bond is seemingly entrenched as Quinn Ewers' go-to target after leading the team in receptions and catching a touchdown last week against Colorado State. But that No. 1 receiver distinction is not the most ideal label to have when facing Michigan, as John son is PFF's No. 2 prospect prior to the 2025 NFL Draft.

This is a confident four-star play, even after Johnson was targeted eight times while allowing five catches for 77 yards in the season opener. However, as recently as the Wolverines' playoff game against Bond's former Crimson Tide team last year, Johnson was targeted twice on 33 coverage snaps and allowed zero catches, per PFF.

Caesars and bet365 are one yard lower with Bond's total set at 52.5, so the top number and value for Under backers at our best sportsbooks is found at FanDuel. A $10 winning wager would pay out $18.77.

Bond might not feature heavily, but I still think the Longhorns can cover as part of my Texas vs. Michigan prediction.

Best odds: -114 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 53.27%

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Nico Iamaleava's debut at Tennessee was one of the most highly anticipated in school history, and he even exceeded expectations after throwing for 314 yards and three touchdowns in limited action against Chattanooga.

His performance was so good that college football host Barrett Sallee called it one of the most impressive halves of football from a player in Tennessee history.

Iamaleava wasn't asked to do much with his legs, as he only rushed four times for six yards last week. However, expect that to ramp up against a Wolfpack defense that shouldn't impede Iamaleava much in this matchup after losing three of its four defenders who logged at least six tackles for loss a year ago.

There's a big discrepancy on Iamaleava's anytime touchdown odds across our best sports betting sites, as FanDuel, bet365, and Caesars all offer +105 odds or shorter. With the quarterback's imp lied probability as high as 50/50 based on Caesars' +100 odds, bettors are getting great value through DraftKings' +120 odds for Iamaleava to find the end zone.

A $10 winning wager returns $12 in profits. If you're feeling extra bullish on Iamaleava and the Volunteers, Phil Wood has included them in his college football parlay picks for Week 2.

Best odds: +120 via DraftKings | Implied probability: 45.45%

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College football game picks for Week 2

Auburn was one of four SEC teams to beat a non-Power 4 squad by 60-plus points last week, which marks the first time a conference has logged four such wins in one day during the AP Poll era (1936).

However, the Tigers aren't even two-touchdown favorites against a Golden Bears team that slogged its way to an 18-point win over UC Davis. It's also the same team that needed three wins in the school's final three games last year to be bowl-eligible for the first time in four seasons.

That alone gives off the scent that the oddsmakers know a close game is brewing, and I'm happy to back the underdogs at +13.5.

This is a four-star play, as California isn't devoid of talent, with returning stud running back Jaydn Ott (32 carries of 10-plus yards last year) and their three-best offensive linemen leading the way. California was an offensive juggernaut when Ott went off last year, averaging more than 47 points per game whenever he rushed for six-plus yards per carry.

Most of the other best sports betting apps are at California +13. But since the line has moved from +11.5 earlier in the week, I would not put anyone past waiting to see if they can get +14 before kickoff.

Don't play it at +13 or lower. FanDuel will get my $10 wager as I look for a nice $18.70 payout.

Best odds: -115 via FanDuel | Implied probability: 53.49%

Texas Tech found itself in a surprise shootout last week, eventually holding off Abilene Christian 52-51. While that doesn't bode well for its defense going forward, it likely means the team's offense will need to put up points consistently to keep pace. 

The Red Raiders came into the season with one of nine Big 12 offenses ra nked in the top 43 of Offensive SP+. They enter the week as the only FBS team to boast a 375-plus-yard passer, a 150-yard rusher, and a 150-yard receiver in a game. That balance will likely be too much for Washington State to handle.

DraftKings is juicing Texas Tech's team total Over on 30.5 as high as -170, with its Over on 33.3 at a more standard -110 price. bet365's +120 odds are therefore worth a flier for one more point needed to cover.

A $10 winning wager would return $12 in profit.

Best odds: +120 via bet365 | Implied probability: 45.45%

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College football betting odds pages

Here are our
best college football betting sites:

• Caesars Promo Code: SBRBONUS1000 | Read our Caesars Review
• BetMGM Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our BetMGM Review
• bet365 Bonus Code: SBRBONUS | Read our bet365 Review
• FanDuel Promo Code | Read our FanDuel Review
• DraftKings Promo Code | Read our DraftKings Review

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