College Football Week 2 Picks & Predictions: Bogman’s Best Bets (2023)

by Scott Bogman |
Sep 07, 2023

After a shocking start to the College Football season, we pick up the pieces, heading into Week 2. The sport will now share the stage with the NFL, but the tension only continues to build at the collegiate level.

Here are my best bets for College Football Week 2.

College Football Week 2 Picks & Predictions

(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)

Nebraska vs. #22 Colorado

I was completely wrong about Colorado taking time to gel and get it together under Deion Sanders. Luckily, itâ€™s a long season, and we can learn from our mistakes! I initially thought, â€˜Wow, these scripted drives Colorado has been working on look great! I bet they start to look like I thought in the second half.â€ However, they never took their foot off the gas.

Nebraska looked strong on defense until the fourth quarter, when Minnesota mounted a last-second comeback. Unfortunately for Nebraska, Jeff Sims doesnâ€™t look like the answer at QB. He took three sacks and threw three INTs.

I expect Colorado to be PACKED for their home opener. While they didnâ€™t seem to have a lot on defense, the offense looks like a well-oiled machine already. This feels like a trap game, and I understand that. Still, I trust the eye test here. Colorado passed with flying colors, and I believe theyâ€™ll beat up on Nebraska this week!

Bet: Colorado -3 (-105)

Southern Miss vs. #4 Florida State

This is another total that feels like a trap after FSU just put up 45 on a solid SEC defense in LSU. I like this total because I expect FSU to get the majority, if not all of it.

Jordan Travis looks like a legit Heisman contender, and if he wants to be in the running, I feel like FSU needs to lean into him getting a bunch of TDs and keeping on the field maybe a little bit longer than he should. Southern Miss was tough on offense last season but looked great in the opener. While I donâ€™t think they put up a lot against FSU, a score or two would be nice to get us home.

If FSU is good for about 45, weâ€™re only asking for eight total points from Southern Miss. Although, I feel like thereâ€™s a chance they donâ€™t need to score at all for this game to go over. There are many roads to the over here. However, I love it when I expect one team to cover the majority of it, and I believe that will be the case for the Seminoles in this one.

Bet: OVER 53.0 (-110)

#12 Utah vs. Baylor

Baylor was clearly overlooking Texas State and ahead to Utah, catching them in a surprising Week 1 loss. While I donâ€™t think Baylor will play as poorly as last week, I also donâ€™t think the current line accurately reflects a team that looked as bad as Baylor did.

QB Cam Rising is still a question this week, but Iâ€™m not sure it matters for Utah. The combo of Bryson Barnes and Nate Johnson did enough to beat Florida. I donâ€™t think theyâ€™ll have any issues against Baylor, who allowed Texas State to put up 42 last week. Baylor backup QB Sawyer Robinson will be starting, and while he wasnâ€™t terrible, he did have two turnovers in only 14 dropbacks.

The line looks tasty because Utah just beat an SEC team with a backup QB, and Baylor lost to a G5 team. I expect this to be closer than many expect, but the dominance of the Utah defense should keep them in front and ahead comfortably. Utes roll on the road!

Bet: Utah -7.5 (-112)

Stanford vs. #6 USC

This one is a big number, but what weâ€™ve seen from USC this season shows me that they are most likely going to have to outscore teams to win games this season. Both games USC has played so far have gone over 80 points, and I expect this to be the formula for most of their games moving forward.

Stanford scored 37 points in Week 1 after 28 was their highest total last season (against USC, too). It looks like the offense will at least put up a fight this season. New HC Troy Taylor comes over from Sacramento State, where he was the Big Sky Coach of the Year twice in four seasons, and he brings an offensive mind to Stanford that has been flat.

USC has scored 56 and 66 points in their first two games, but this is their first game against a P5 opponent. If Stanford puts up the same 28 they did last season, we only need USC to get to 42. I suspect thatâ€™s on the low end for USC. Trojans roll, and Stanford scores to get us to the over!

Bet: OVER 70.0 (-110)

Other Bets I Like:

Ohio vs. Florida Atlantic -3.5 (-108)
#10 Notre Dame vs. NC State UNDER 51 (-110)
Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh UNDER 46.5 (-108)
Houston -9.5 vs. Rice (-112)
Marshall vs. ECU OVER 43.5 (-112)
UCLA -14.5 vs. San Diego State (-110)

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