By Chris Marler
Welcome back to Big Picks Energy: Week 2 edition and the best bets for this Saturday’s college football slate. After a tough Week 0, we rebounded well last weekend. Yes, we did only go 4-4 overall. However, LSU getting manhandled by USC was not on my bingo card, and the Syracuse -16.5 missed by a half point.
This week we are going to try a new strategy: system plays and throwing sh*t at the wall. Strap in.
Best Bets for Week 2
- Tennessee Score first
- Tennessee – 4 1st Half
- Auburn -6.5 1st Half
- Auburn -13.5
- Payton Thorne 2 TDs
- Auburn vs Tennessee Tech Over 16.5 1st Half
- Taylen Green Over 225 Pass Yds
- Texas Score first
- Iowa Moneyline
- Texas 2nd Half Moneyline
- Utah -6.5 1st Half
Tennessee vs NC State Bets
– Tennessee Score 1st -188
– Tennessee 1Q ML
– Tennessee -4 1H
Why? Because Tennessee has scored 1st in 32 of their 40 total games under Josh Heupel, and he’s an astounding 27-5-1 ATS in 1st Half spreads on the road. Tennessee scores, and they score early. They’ve scored at least seven points or more in the first quarter in 35 of 40 total games under Heupel.
Auburn vs Cal Best Bets
– Auburn -6.5 1st Half
– Auburn -13.5
– Payton Thorne over 2 TDs
– Auburn 1st Half Team Total Over 16.5
Why? Because Cal has been atrocious in the first half of games. Last week they had a 14-13 lead over UC Davis where they were held to 109 total yards and had 12 less first downs than an FCS team. They ranked 119th in FBS last year in first half ppg allowed with 18.8. They also finished last season with the 3rd most pass ypg allowed (280.7), Pass TDs (30), and total turnovers lost (28).
Utah -6.5 1st Half vs Baylor
Why? Because Utah is 31-2 at home since 2018 (not including the covid year), and 26 of those 31 wins were by double digits. Utah had a Top 15 ranked first half scoring offense for two consecutive years when Cam Rising wasn’t hurt. Baylor, on the other hand, ranked 111th in first half ppg and 123rd in first half ppg allowed.
Taylen Green Over 225 Pass Yds vs Ok State
Why? Because Green will put up huge numbers in this Bobby Petrino offense all season. And, because OK State allowed at least 225 pass yards in nine of their last 11 games while finishing last season with the 126th ranked pass defense in the country.
Texas 2H ML and/or -3 vs Michigan
Why? Because Michigan won’t be able to hang with Texas for four straight quarters. They may come out of the gates inspired and score early to keep it close. But this is a team that lost 13 players to the draft, has a new QB and head coach, and has just one top ten recruiting class over the last four years.
Iowa ML vs Iowa State
Why? Because Matt Campbell is 1-6 vs Iowa as the head coach of Iowa State, and only one of those six losses were by single digits.
Best of the Rest
- Oklahoma -16.5 1st Half
- Northwestern Moneyline
- Utah -13.5
- Arkansas/Oklahoma St Over 60.5
- Miss St/ASU Over 56
- Nebraska/Colorado Over 56.5
