This year has been tougher than most, with absolutely nothing to go off of for Week 1, but now the belief systems start to kick in. While I lean a bit too heavily on the flaky historical trends this week, I’d be doing America a disservice if I didn’t at least point them out.
It’s Week 2. Let’s have some fun.
Results So Far: 13-12
– CFN Week 2 Expert Picks
– Week 2 Schedule, Picks
10. Eastern Michigan at Michigan State
Line: Michigan State -17.5
ATS Pick: Michigan State
– Game Prediction and Preview
Along with Michigan State being far better than an Eastern Michigan team that just lost to San Jose State and struggled against Sacramento State, there’s a historical thing happening here.
Michigan State is 7-0 all-time against Eastern Michigan, and … fine. This is a goofy trend, but the Spartans really should roll in this.
The Spartans won 73-14 in 2014. 23-7 in 2012, 42-10 in 2008, 52-20 in 2006, 56-7 in 2002, 51-7 in 1999, and 47-0 in 1996. Six total wipeouts and one outlier on the 17.5 in 2012.
9. Oregon at Oklahoma State
Line: Oregon -23.5
ATS Pick Oregon
– Game Prediction and Preview
If Oklahoma State is about to turn the machine on, fine, I’ll tip my cap and move on. But I just can’t get past this. It’s not like 2025 North Texas, and all its star players now with Oklahoma State, did anything against the powerhouses.
The best win was against … Navy?
The Cowboys didn’t look anywhere near close to being ready for primetime last week in the loss to Tulsa, and now they get an Oregon team coming off a mediocre performance against Boise State.
What happened the week after the last time Oregon had a tough fight against the Broncos? In 2024, it followed up the 37-34 win with a 49-14 domination at Oregon State.
8. Howard at Indiana
Line: Indiana -56.5
ATS Pick Indiana
– Game Prediction and Preview
I have a personal rule to always pick the underdog that walks into a building up 50 or more against the spread. I whiffed on that last week, taking Utah Tech +51.5 against BYU – the Cougars won 63-7.
I assumed Miami -59.5 would stop scoring at some reasonable point against Florida A&M on Thursday night. The Hurricanes won 77-7. Indiana beat Indiana State 73-0 last season.
In the first year under Curt Cignetti, it beat Western Illinois 77-3. I’ll take the chance that 56.5 might be laughably low against another FCS team if history repeats itself.
7. Iowa State at Iowa
Line: Point Total 41.5
ATS Pick Under
– Game Prediction and Preview
I know – I KNOW. I’m being super-flaky so far, but it’s Iowa vs Iowa State. These two combined for 29 points last year.
They scored 39 in 2024, 33 in 2023, and 17 in 2022. Okay, so the 2021 game was a relative shootout (Iowa State won 27-17), and they didn’t play in 2000, but … 35 in 2019 and 16 in 2018.
6. Bowling Green at Nebraska
Line: Nebraska -29.5
ATS Pick Nebraska
When I first marked this game, it was Nebraska -28.5. Now it’s 30.5 in some spots, but 29.5 in others. That extra point one way or another shouldn’t matter much.
Nebraska was super-sluggish early on against Ohio, but here’s the positive. It figured it out in the second half, and it was Week One – there was tuning to do.
The Huskers weren’t great, and there seem to be concerns about the tough start, and … they beat a good Bobcat team by 28. Bowling Green lost to Tarleton State 20-13. Nebraska blasted Akron from the MAC 68-0 last year, and it should open it up in this to keep tuning up.
5. Ohio State at Texas
Line: Texas -1.5
ATS Pick Ohio State
– Game Prediction and Preview
My mouth has been writing the check all week long on every single appearance when it comes to thinking Ohio State is just that good and will win this. Now it’s up to the Buckeyes to cash it.
4. Navy at Florida Atlantic
Line: Navy -5.5
ATS Pick Navy
Florida ran all over Florida Atlantic for 281 yards and five touchdowns last week. Last season, the Owls ended the season with a 42-3 loss to East Carolina after allowing 266 rushing yards, were rocked by USF 48-13 after giving up 259 yards, got rolled by FIU and Memphis after giving up way over 200 yards on the ground, and yeah, they played Navy.
The Midshipmen ran for 397 yards and six touchdowns in a 42-32 win over the Owls. I’ll believe Florida Atlantic can slow down the run – and it’s Navy; it will run – when it happens.
3. Arkansas at Utah
Line: Point Total 55.5
ATS Pick Over
In this week’s edition of If There’s A Reasonable Chance One Side Can Handle the Over By Itself, You Take That Reasonable Chance.
Utah beat Idaho 66-10 last week. I know Arkansas is in the SEC, duh, and I’m aware that it’s better than Idaho, double duh.
I’m also aware that Utah is on a mission to prove that it’s really, really good without Kyle Whittingham, and it’s about to show it off against a Hog defense that, while better under new head coach Ryan Silverfield, is hardly the 1985 Chicago Bears coming into the season.
Six of the last seven Utah games have blown past 55.5, with Utah scoring at least 44 points in all six. (By the way, the Hog offense should help the cause in this, too.)
2. Louisiana at USC
Line: USC -30.5
ATS Pick USC
That was a solid Fresno State team that USC just dominated in a 39-0 win.
Louisiana is coming off an easy win over Lamar, but quarterback Lunch Winfield and the offense had a problem with interceptions. The game will end about 2 am Ragin’ Cajun time, and while the program has a decent recent history of hanging around against power conference teams, the 52-10 loss last year at Missouri early on is more like what the comp should be.
(I really am buying that this USC team is special. Speaking of USC, and former head coaches, and special …)
1. Louisiana Tech at LSU
Line: LSU -35.5
ATS Pick LSU
You might be familiar with the developer guy who freaked out everyone this week by warning that there’s an honest chance that AI will destroy all of humanity in a few years.
That was me all offseason setting the fire alarms about something far more important – Lane Kiffin was going to make LSU an unstoppable monster.
It’s only been one week, but what happened? Kiffin handed Dabo his worst loss as a head coach, and remember, Clemson lost to West Virginia 70-33 in the 2012 Orange Bowl.
I seriously don’t think anyone is getting this quite yet. In normal times, LSU will always be at least very good. Now it’s LSU, only faster, more talented, and with a coach who was good enough to make programs like Florida Atlantic and Ole Miss awesome at football.
And you think Louisiana Tech is going to unplug this thing and it’ll all stop?
Consensus line based on BetMGM, Caesars, DraftKings, and FanDuel. Game odds refresh periodically and are subject to change. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem and wants help, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
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