Alright, alright, alright. Before we get to the Week 2 SEC betting lines, it’s time to look at the weekend’s biggest game. On Saturday, Texas travels to Ann Arbor to face the defending national champion Michigan Wolverines. The game not only pits two of the biggest brands in college football against one another but also provides the Longhorns with an opportunity to prove they belong in the SEC. We’ve got everything you need to prepare the Big Noon Kickoff and all the Week 2 SEC action.
High Noon Showdown
The time for champagne and oysters is over; it’s time for Texas to earn its keep. We all know the Longhorns know how to party. The university and the city of Austin opened their doors for a fantastic celebration when they and Oklahoma officially joined the SEC in July. Parties and fireworks are lovely, but the SEC just wants more. The game on Saturday is why Greg Sankey did not hesitate to move to bring in Texas and Oklahoma from the Big 12. Michigan and Texas will be on Fox’s Big Noon Kickoff to usher in Week 2 and likely garner plenty of eyeballs. We could see around 10-12 million sets of eyeballs on the screen watching these two historic programs.
The Wolverines are the defending national champions. Sure, Jim Harbaugh and a host of Wolverines are gone from last year’s team, but that doesn’t matter. Michigan is still expected to be among the Big Ten and College Football elite. A Longhorn win on the road in the Big House helps the Longhorns not only prove their worth to their new conference brethren but also provides an opportunity for the SEC to seize upon the lost opportunities of Week 1. To clarify, for Texas to excel, their success will land squarely upon the shoulders of their quarterback, Quinn Ewers.
Hook Em
Ewers has had plenty of hype in his three years in college. He not only has the pressure of being the quarterback at the University of Texas, but he also has a backup with a big name behind him. Ultimately, Ewers showed last week that he is ready to step firmly into the limelight. Texas took care of business last week, dusting Colorado State 52-0. Before you snicker, it’s important to see that Texas rose to the occasion. Steve Sarkisian has done an excellent job building, shaping, and preparing the Longhorns for the SEC. In years past, Texas may have gotten off to a slow start or had to battle complacency to defeat the Rams. Instead, Eweres and the Longhorns put them away early.
Ewers went 20 of 27 for 260 yards and had three touchdowns on the afternoon. The Michigan defense will present a significant talent upgrade and challenge for Ewers and the Longhorns. Despite missing his two top running backs, Ewers found a new favorite weapon in Alabama transfer Isiah Bond. The Junior caught five passes for 61 yards and a touchdown. Jerrick Gibson and Jaydon Blue will continue to look for their footing as they become the new feature backs of the Longhorns.
A win on Saturday in Ann Arbor will make a statement for the Longhorns and the SEC as the narrative begins to be shaped. No longer will the media be wondering if Texas is back, but the conversation may shift to if Texas is next.
Other Notable Week 2 SEC Matchups
However, Texas isn’t the only SEC team with something to prove in Week 2. The conference set the tone and controlled the narrative after Week 1. Hats off to the Big Ten that went 17-1. Sure, the SEC had a few teams score 70+ on opponents, but those ultimately don’t count. Flordia getting housed by Miami at the Swamp and Texas A&M and LSU losing close games were disappointing and not what the conference needed. Here are two other games to look out for on Saturday:
- Arkansas @ Oklahoma State: This is a border state game and an old Southwest Conference classic. The Razorback’s offense dropped 7o last week under new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. A win in Stillwater will be a challenge, but it could help Sam Pittman get off the hot seat.
- No. 15 Tennessee @ No. 24 NC State: Another border state game and, more importantly, a measuring stick between the SEC and ACC. With Florida State and Clemson floundering, the Wolfpack have a prime opportunity to seize control of the ACC. The Vols want to play spoiler and find their way into a 12-team playoff. Knocking off an ACC contender can help their case. All of this makes for great storylines and a perfect way to spend your Saturday night.
Week 2 SEC Betting Lines
Let’s hope you hit up the apple orchard and got your honey-do list taken care of; we have a full slate on Saturday. If not, take note of the varied start times. No longer are teams locked into the noon, 3:30 p.m., and late window. With this in mind, plan accordingly. Rankings are based on the AP media poll. Lines and game totals are courtesy of FanDuel. Cupcakes (FCS) games are sweet but do not have lines. All games are Eastern Standard Time. Check the links for insights from your favorite Last Word on College Football writers.
| Matchup | Time | TV | Line | O/U |
| No. 4 Texas @ No. 9 Michigan | Noon | FOX | #HookEm -7.5 | 44.5 |
| Arkansas @ Oklahoma State | Noon | ABC | #WooPig +6.5 | 59.5 |
| McNeese @ No. 20 Texas A&M | 12:45 p.m. | SECN | – | – |
| Tennesee Tech @ No. 1 Georgia | 2:00 p.m. | ESPN+ | – | – |
| California @ Auburn | 3:30 p.m. | ESPN2 | #WDE -13.5 | 53.5 |
| South Carolina @ Kentucky | 3:30 p.m. | ABC | #BBN -10.5 | 44.5 |
| MTSU @ No. 6 Ole Miss | 4:15 p.m. | SECN | #TheSip -40.5 | 62.5 |
| South Florida @ No. 5 Alabama | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN | #RollTide -30.5 | 64.5 |
| Buffalo @ No. 11 Missouri | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN+ | #MIZ -34.5 | 51.5 |
| Samford @ Florida | 7:00 p.m. | ESPN+ | – | – |
| Nicholls @ No. 13 LSU | 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+ | – | – |
| No. 15 Tennessee @ No. 24 NC State | 7:30 p.m. | ABC | #RockyTop -7.5 | 59.5 |
| Alcorn State @ Vanderbilt | 7:30 p.m. | ESPNU | – | – |
| Houston @ No. 16 Oklahoma | 7:45 p.m. | SECN | #Boomer -28.5 | 53.5 |
| Mississippi State @ Arizona State | 10:30 p.m. | ESPN | #HailState +6.5 | 56.5 |
