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What a wild opening weekend to College Football. Whether you were watching the blocked extra point in New Orleans, the "Pitt Six" that led Pitt over West Virginia, or the absolute demolition of #11 Oregon by Georgia, if you tuned into College Football last weekend, you were not disappointed.
Week One was a difficult 1-2 start, with the volatility that we've come to know and love in college football. Mississippi State and Memphis were not deterred by a weather delay by smashing the over, but Tulsa dropped a heartbreaker in overtime, and Pitt only defeated their hated rival West Virginia by 7 points, missing that spread by half a point.
For Week Two of the college football season, here are some expert money-line and over/under betting picks.
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Alabama @ Texas (+20.5)
O/U: 65
Coach Nick Saban, now in his 16th season in Tuscaloosa, has yet another well-oiled machine at his disposal. Reigning Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young is as steady as they come at quarterback, as he showed in a surgical 55-0 disposal of the reigning Mountain West champions, Utah State. In the backfield, Georgia Tech transfer Jahmyr Gibbs may be the most gifted running back Saban has had during his tenure - a tenure that's seen Mark Ingram, Trent Richardson, Derrick Henry, among others taking carries. The Crimson Tide scored touchdowns in seven of their eight red zone trips in Week One, with only two punts attempted. If you're looking for one week area, the only poor thing that happened in Week One was a single blocked punt in garbage time.
Alabama's defense looked sharp, led by likely top-10 NFL draft pick Will Anderson, who notched a tackle for loss last week. Anderson's 2021 statistics - 101 tackles, 31 tackles for loss, and 17.5 sacks - blew every defensive player out of the water, including Heisman runner-up Aidan Hutchinson, who arguably was the wrong defensive end on the podium a season ago. Behind Anderson, future NFL players are scattered across the field such as cornerbacks Eli Ricks and Kool-Aid McKinstry, linebacker Jaylen Moody, and safeties Jordan Battle and DeMarcco Hellams. The Crimson Tide defense
The Texas Longhorns easily put away Terry Bowden's Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks in the opener, and showed some signs of promise as they enter the biggest game of Coach Steve Sarkisian's brief tenure. At quarterback, both Quinn Ewers and Hudson Card logged time, but it will be redshirt freshman Ewers, who spent 2021 with Ohio State, under center come game time. Ewers will be throwing to a stable of talented receivers, with sophomore Xavier Worthy the most notable. Running back Bijan Robinson is a quiet Heisman candidate, and if given ample space, he is a player that can make Alabama pay.
The Texas defense spent a lot of time in the opener in the backfield, with DeMarvion Overshown a name that Saban will be circling for Saturday. James Madison transfer linebacker Diamonte Tucker-Dorsey will be amongst the Big 12 leaders in tackles this season, and Ohio State transfer cornerback Ryan Watts will be put to the test after not getting much run in Columbus. Texas is young, and full of Coach Sarkisian went hard after the transfer portal to build up some defensive depth. We'll find out in a hurry if that young defense is up for the challenge against the top offense in the country.
This game marks the 44th appearance on ESPN's College Game Day since 2007 for Alabama, a startling number that dwarfs the competition. There's never a question about whether Alabama will be ready to play, and I expect Bryce Young and company to get their usual offensive production at will. Will Texas' young stars be ready for the big time? The offensive firepower for both teams is evident, and with three new starters on the Alabama defensive line, maybe Bijan Robinson can find some holes to rack up some big plays.
Pick: Over 65
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Old Dominion @ East Carolina (-12.5)
O/U: 52.5
The Monarchs notched a massive in-state rivalry upset of Virginia Tech in their home opener. Former Penn State offensive coordinator Ricky Rahne is starting to build the foundation of a solid program that is preparing to move up into the American Athletic Conference (AAC) during the next phase of realignment. Sophomore quarterback Hayden Wolff was not impressive in the opener (40% completion percentage), but found his favorite targets - receiver Ali Jennings and tight end Zack Kuntz - just at the right times.
The ODU defense was able to force four interceptions and one fumble recovery last week, giving the offense great field position time-and-time again. Part of that was due to Virginia Tech quarterback Grant Wells' gunslinger mentality, and part of it was due to the maturation and growth of this defense. Meanwhile, the running game averaged a meager 2.5 yards per carry, and the hogs up front are undersized, with two starters coming in below 275 pounds. The offense still has a ways to go, but I'd expect the defense to be the strongest unit for ODU in 2022.
East Carolina was on the wrong side of a heartbreaking in-state rivalry game, falling to NC State 21-20 via a missed extra point. Holton Ahlers is in his 4th season as the starting quarterback, and he's shown he can step up to the plate when called upon. The passing attack will be the Pirates' strength, as Toledo transfer Isaiah Winstead, CJ Johnson, and Keaton Mitchell will be names called upon often this year. The offensive line has starting experience at every position, with junior right tackle Noah Henderson a name that is circulating in draft circles.
In the opener, the ECU defense held NC State - projected by many to be on the cusp of a top-10 team nationally - to just 344 yards of total offense, and forced two turnovers. The team has nine starters back, and has Coach Mike Houston giddy about its potential. The depth in the secondary is the defense's biggest strength, with probably 10 players who will see significant time and are interchangeable at safety and cornerback. The trio of senior linebackers will be all over the field as they try to make life miserable for the Monarchs.
ECU holds the all-time advantage in this future conference rivalry with a 3-0 record, and I expect that record to grow to 4-0 on Saturday. Old Dominion should be proud of the progress that they're making, and the defense looks like it is going to be the strength this year, but they will be in a tough position on the road against a veteran team that is well coached and probably feels like they let one slip away last week against a top ACC opponent.
Pick: East Carolina -12.5
Missouri @ Kansas State (-8.5)
O/U: 57
After covering against Louisiana Tech, Coach Eli Drinkwitz's team gets its first challenge with a road game against former Big 12 rival Kansas State. The offense looked sharp, putting up 52 points and 558 points in the opener. Quarterback Brady Cook looked sharp, with five-star freshman Luther Burden being targeted in both the passing game and on jet sweeps. At running back, there will be a committee of backs, including Stanford transfer Nathaniel Peat and Cody Schrader. The offense passed its first test, and now must show it can go on the road against a solid Power Five opponent.
Entering the season, Missouri's defense was a bit of a question mark due to significant turnover. In the opener, they sacked Louisiana Tech four times, forced three interceptions, and recorded nine tackles for loss. Albeit against softer competition, Florida transfer linebacker Ty'Ron Hopper led the way with 6 tackles, a pick, a sack and 2 TFLs, while Clemson transfer safety Joseph Charleston notched an interception. In game one, the many new faces meshed well together in the first half, but Louisiana Tech did get to 24 points and had its way in garbage time.
Chris Kleiman, who won four FCS national championships during his five year run at North Dakota State, has done a great job of producing a winner at Kansas State thus far with a 21-16 record. The 34-0 opening win against South Dakota was a ho-hum affair, with the playbook hardly even being opened, and the passing game only recording 95 yards. Running back Deuce Vaughn is a legit playmaker, and he'll give Nebraska transfer quarterback Adrian Martinez a great check-down option at all times.
Its hard to take much from an opener against an FCS foe, but Kansas State did everything it should have done, allowing South Dakota to only make it to the red zone once, and keeping a zero on the scoreboard. Defensive end Felix Anudike-Uzomah turned some heads with a sack and two tackles for loss in the opener, and he's definitely the type of player who will be giving Missouri's offensive line fits. The 3-3-5 defense features some veteran pieces that might not have a ton of starting experience but make Klieman hopeful for a run at the Big 12 crown.
There are plenty of unknowns in this game, especially how two teams with some turnover can adjust from a cupcake opponent to an actual Power Five game. The oddsmakers favor Kansas State, with more certainty on the offensive side for the Wildcats, but Missouri's youthful offense showed some impressive flashes last week. I'd expect freshman receiver Luther Burden to be targeted early and often, and Missouri to turn this game into a dog fight.
Pick: Over 57
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