We're on the cusp of Week 2 of college football and we're ready to roll. Check out our 4 best bets for Saturday, September 7. Enjoy the action, and good luck with your bets!
Iowa State Cyclones vs Iowa Hawkeyes
The Cyclones faced off with North Dakota in their opener. It was a low scoring affair that Iowa State was fortunate enough to win 21-3. Rocco Becht and Jaylin Noel connected 8 times through the air for 135 yards and a touchdown.
Becht was efficient and finished with 20 completions on 26 passing attempts for 267 yards. The defense was up to task as well. They held North Dakota to just 121 yards through the air which was a difference in the game.
Iowa was their typical self on defense in week one. They shutout the visiting Illinois State Redbirds. They allowed just 4 1st downs on 15 third down attempts. Iowa forced 3 turnovers and kept the Redbirds quiet on the ground with just 56 yards rushing.
Offensively, the Hawkeyes had just 6 points at the half. However, they broke it open in the 2nd half and finished the game with 40 points. Cade McNamara went 21-31 for 251yds and 3 touchdowns. 7 different ball carriers helped rack up over 240 yards on the ground.
Best Bet: Iowa State Team Total UNDER 16.5
This Iowa defense seems to be picking off right where they left off last year but the offense looked much improved which is keeping us from taking the total.
The overall line is a bit fishy as well with the Hawkeyes favored by just a field goal at home. We don’t feel strongly about the Cyclones but do believe that Iowa can keep them in check with their staunch defense.
Key Betting Trends for ISU at Iowa
- The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Iowa State’s last 9 games against Iowa.
- The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Iowa State’s last 8 games when playing on the road against Iowa.
- The total has gone UNDER in 9 of Iowa’s last 10 games.
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Iowa’s last 5 games at home.
Boise State Broncos vs Oregon Ducks
It was a wild start to the season for Boise State last week. They were at Georgia Southern and favored by 13.5 points. They led 28-16 at the half and things looked like they were falling into place for a relatively easy win.
However, Georgia Southern had other plans and took a 30-28 lead midway through the 3rd quarter. Boise was able to turn things around and put separation late in the 4th as they led 56-37 on a Sire Gaines touchdown reception. Georgia Southern fought to the end and ultimately lost 56-45. Boise put up over 650 total yards of offense but struggled on defense where they gave up over 300 yards through the air.
Oregon had arguably a tougher time in their opener. As enormous favorites against visiting Idaho, the Ducks led by just a touchdown as they headed into the 4th quarter. Transfer QB, Dillon Gabriel still put up 380 yards through the air but drives kept stalling in and near the redzone.
Idaho cut the lead to 17-14 with just under 10 minutes to go in the game before Gabriel finaly capped off a drive with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Tez Johnson to close things out and get the 24-14 win.
Best Bet: Oregon Ducks -21
While the line opened with Oregon as 24.5-point favorites, the lackluster performance against Idaho had bettors taking the Broncos and thus lowering the line to just 21.
We believe the Ducks will take last week as a wake-up call and will pour it on the visiting Broncos this week.
Boise had trouble stopping a mediocre Georgia Southern offense and should get lit up by Gabriel and company here.
Key Betting Trends for Boise State at Oregon
- Boise State are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games against an opponent in the Pac-12 conference.
- Oregon is 12-4 ATS in their last 16 games at home.
- Oregon is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games played in September.
- Oregon is 10-4 ATS in their last 14 games when playing as the favorite..
Texas Longhorns vs Michigan Wolverines
The Longhorns kicked off their season as 34.5-point favorites at home last week against Colorado State. After leading 31-0 at the half, the Longhorns continued to cruise in the 2nd half. Heisman hopeful, Quinn Ewers, completed 74% of his passes and finished with 3 touchdowns and 1 interception while accumulating 260 yards through the air.
Backup, Arch Manning, made his season debut by going 5-6 for 95 yards and a touchdown through the air while adding another on the ground. The defense was tremendous in the win and kept Colorado St shutout throughout. The final was 52-0 and Texas walked away with the easy cover.
For the defending national champions, the Wolverines, it was not such an easy opener. The offense, now led by Davis Warren, never seemed to hit their stride. He was just 15-25 for 118 yards and 1 touchdown to match his solo interception.
Running back, Donovan Edwards, was underwhelming as he went for just 27 yards on 11 carries. Luckily, Kalel Mullings took his 15 carries for 92 yards. The strength of the Wolverines was their defense.
They held Fresno State to just 9 yards on the ground and picked uff Mikey Keene twice in the 30-10 win. As 21.5-point favorites, the Wolverines led by just 6 with 10 minutes remaining. The offense will need to be mor efficient to hold their own this week against the visiting Longhorns.
Best Bet: UNDER 42.5
The opening line was just Texas -4 but was quickly bet up to -7.5. While we typically do not like to follow the public on dramatic line changes, it seems like a Texas team that returned many starters are multiple steps ahead of a Michigan team that is trying to rebuild after losing 13 playmakers along with their head coach and offensive coordinator.
The Wolverines just simply will not have enough to keep up with this high-powered Texas offense. While the side is likely going to be Texas, we are going to bank on the Michigan defense keeping this one within arm's reach and leaving the under as the play.
Key Betting Trends for Texas vs Michigan
- The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Michigan’s last 11 games at home.
- The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Michigan’s last 6 games played in week 2.
- The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Texas’ last 5 games on the road.
- The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Texas’ last 11 games played on a Saturday.
Tennessee Volunteers vs North Carolina State Wolfpack
The #14 Volunteers opened their game 2024-2025 season with a blowout win over Chattanooga 69-3. They easily covered the large 40.5-point spread and were covering by halftime as the score was already 45-0 at that point.
Nico Iamaleava was spectacular in the win as he led the aerial assault of the Vols. He finished with 78.6% competitions and racked up over 300 yards and 3 touchdowns through the air. Running back, Dylan Sampson used just 12 carries for 124 yards and found paydirt on 3 separate occasions. Defensively, they held Chattanooga to just 1-14 on 3rd down and 10 total first downs in the game.
For the Wolfpack, things were not as easy in their opener. They trailed 14-7 after the 1st quarter and had it tied up 14-14 at the break. Trailing 21-14 heading into the 4th quarter, Jordan Waters scored twice on the ground after the Wolfpack tied things up and led them to the 38-21 victory.
Transfer, Grayson McCall finished with over 300 yards passing and 3 touchdowns. Kevin Concepcion caught 9 passes for 121 yards and scored all 3 passing touchdowns from McCall.
Best Bet: Tennessee Volunteers -10
Tennessee’s offense was rolling last week and now they face this Wolfpack team that allowed 3 touchdowns against a weak Western Carolina team.
We believe NC St will put up a better fight than Chattanooga did but ultimately the Vols will be able to pull away later in the contest and get this cover.
Do not be surprised if you hear Nico Imaleava’s name as a potential Heisman frontrunner after this game is over.
Key Betting Trends for Tennessee vs NC State
- North Carolina State are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games against an opponent in the Southeastern conference.
- North Carolina State are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games played in September.
- Tennessee is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games against an opponent in the Atlantic Coast conference.
- Tennessee is 16-6 ATS in their last 22 games when playing as the favorite.
