For those who might have soaked in their last bit of summer over the Labor Day weekend and passed on week one of college football, first off, how could you? But if that happened, there were some wild results from week one. As a result, Last Word sputtered out of the starting blocks with our week one picks. Sure, in a week in which many teams played FCS opponents, we had lots of moneyline winners. But for those who did have actual spreads and totals to pick against, it was not pretty. Have no fear, week two winners promise to treat to college football public better than last week (right?). All lines/totals are reflected in the most common number found across multiple sports books.
Week Two Winners From The Big 12
Season Record ML: 10-4
Season Record ATS: 3-6
Season Record Totals: 4-5
Illinois At Kansas (-3)
Big 12 action and our week two winners kick off on Friday in what should be a fun matchup. On a personal note, there are too many schools with black uniforms that do not have black in their school colors. However, Kansas did a really nice job with the “Blackhawk” uniforms they will debut. In a game between two fairly evenly matched teams, the lean is to always pick the team with the better quarterback. Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels is the best in the conference so expect Lance Leipold’s squad to move to 2-0.
Moneyline: Kansas ATS: Kansas Total 58.5: Over
#12 Utah (-7.5) At Baylor
Let’s face it. Baylor stunk last week. This game has bounce-back written all over it. The Bears are at home coming off a terrible loss while the ranked Utes are coming in after a big home victory over a SEC foe. However, Baylor just lost quarterback Blake Shapen for the next two to three weeks with an injury. It also appears Utah is getting its starting quarterback Cameron Rising back for this one. Expect the Utes to roll in Waco.
Moneyline: Utah ATS: Utah Total 47.5: Over
Troy (+16.5) At #15 Kansas State
Kansas State shouldn’t be caught looking ahead to a game with Missouri. After all this team did lose at home to a Group Of Five opponent. Sure, that same Tulane team did go on to win the Cotton Bowl. But the Big 12 champion shouldn’t drop non-conference games at home to “lesser” opponents. So in comes the defending Sun Belt champion with a stingy defense. Chris Klieman’s team will win the game but expect it to be a tight affair throughout.
Moneyline: Kansas State ATS: Troy Total 50.5: Under
Southern Utah At BYU
BYU was not very impressive against Sam Houston State last week. But a 14-0 victory is better than any loss to the same opponent. BYU continues its non-conference play against a team that just pushed Arizona State to the brink. The Thunderbirds scored a touchdown with just under eight minutes remaining in the game that brought them within three of the Sun Devils. That said, expect the Cougars to stay undefeated at home.
Moneyline: BYU ATS: N/A Total: N/A
Iowa (-3.5) At Iowa State
When it comes to week two winners, no game will bring more intrigue than the total in what a portion of college football simply knows as “¡El Assico!” A number so low seems like it just has to mistakenly go over. Expect, this game is allergic to offense. In the last four years, this game has gone under this total three of those times. All the “Drive to 325 jokes” will be a reality this Saturday in Ames when neither team can find a way to generate points. But Iowa’s defense is the better of the two, and that proves to be the difference.
Moneyline: Iowa ATS: Iowa Total 36.5: Under
SMU (+16.5) At #18 Oklahoma
The Pony Express rides into Norman on Saturday. SMU has NY6 bowl aspirations this season and has a great opportunity to make a statement against the Sooners. This will be the first real test for Brent Venables’ much-maligned defense. Oklahoma is going to surrender points against a potent SMU offense. But it will be worth paying attention to how that happens. Blown assignments leading to big plays all game would give all Sooner fans much concern for the outlook on the season. In a game without a lot of defense, trying to cover more than two touchdowns seems like a big ask. Sooners win the game but do so by less than 17.
Moneyline: Oklahoma ATS: SMU Total 68.5: Over
Duquesne At West Virginia
The good news for head coach Neal Brown is that his team showed a little spunk last week against Penn State. The bad news is they still never were really in the game, and it appears West Virginia has zero playmakers they can lean on. The Mountaineers will regroup at home this week against Duquesne. But next week’s Backyard Brawl will be a true fork in the road moment for Brown and his team.
Moneyline: West Virginia ATS: N/A Total: N/A
Cincinnati At Pittsburgh (-7)
Speaking of the Backyard Brawl, the Pitt Panthers play host to a Cincinnati team who have the advantage in their most recent history. The Bearcats have beaten Pitt four of the last five times they have got together. However, the last time these two met was in 2012. Pitt head coach Pat Narduzzi has elevated his team over the last two seasons. There is still a great level of unknown with Cincinnati as Scott Satterfield has only coached one game for the Bearcats. So the home team with more continuity wins the day.
Moneyline: Pittsburgh ATS: Pittsburgh Total 46.5: Over
#11 Texas (+7.5) At Alabama
Last Word has been warning everyone for almost a month now. When Texas wins, the overreaction train for both teams will be completely unhinged.
Moneyline: Texas ATS: Texas Total 54.5: Over
#13 Oregon At Texas Tech (+6.5)
Oregon makes its first trip down to Lubbock since 1991. Both quarterbacks in this game should post big numbers in a game with all the makings of a shootout. If Texas Tech is going to win, they need a career performance from their starting quarterback Tyler Shough. However, it is the Heisman candidate Bo Nix who has the ball last, and with the game-winning score, the last laugh.
Moneyline: Oregon ATS: Texas Tech Total 66.5: Over
UCF (-3.5) At Boise State
There is a bit of a “throwback game” in the week two winners when the Knights travel up to Idaho to play on the blue turf. Both teams ascended to the top tier in the Group of Five, but it was UCF who was able to get the invite first to the Power Five level. These teams met last year and played a fun 36-31 game in Orlando. The Broncos looked way outmatched by Washington last week. Was that simply a case of how good the Huskies are or does Boise State have real defensive concerns? They will get tested again this week when Gus Malzahn brings his up-tempo attack up north. Boise will be better this week, but UCF gets a solid road victory.
Moneyline: UCF ATS: UCF Total 59.5: Over
Houston (-9.5) At Rice
These schools are located just four and a half miles from one another, so the Cougars will take the short bus ride over on game day. Houston is coming off a great home victory against a solid UTSA team. Rice acquitted itself well against Texas in a 31-10 defeat. However, Houston holds a current seven-game winning streak over the Owls. Their average margin of victory during this winning streak is 22.8 points. Dana Holgorson’s squad will handle its business before opening Big 12 play next week against TCU
Moneyline: Houston ATS: Houston Total 51.5: Under
Nicholls At TCU
It was a tough day to be a Horned Frog last Saturday. However, the mega spotlight is now off of this program completely, and not just because Coach Prime is gone. TCU has an opportunity to truly start a square one against this season. This will be a good reset for Sonny Dykes and his team. However, if they look sloppy against the Colonels from Thibodaux, Louisiana, TCU will have major questions to answer this season.
Moneyline: TCU ATS: N/A Total: N/A
Oklahoma State (-3.5) At Arizona State
The week two winners conclude with some classic #Pac12AfterDark action in the desert. Mike Gundy is in a bit of a “prove it” year with this Cowboy team. Meanwhile, Kenny Dillingham has his Arizona State program in a full makeover season with a self-imposed bowl ban by the university. While Oklahoma State did lose a bunch of players to the transfer portal this past year, they still have more talent than what was left for Dillingham to take over after the firing of Herm Edwards. Dillingham, just like Gundy, did supplement with the transfer portal. But, in this game, Oklahoma State survives its trip out west.
Moneyline: Oklahoma State ATS: Oklahoma State Total 55.5: Under
