College Football Week 2 Best Bets: Ohio State-Texas, Oklahoma-Michigan and More

Week one was more of a preview of the season, but here in week two, we’ve got a ton of great matchups, including our first top-five showdown of the season.

Here are this week’s best bets for the first real slate of games this season.

#11 Oklahoma (-5.5) vs Michigan Total: 43.5

Michigan has found themselves at the center of the college football universe this past week, but they have the chance to change the narrative. They’re only 5.5-point underdogs to an Oklahoma squad that impressed against a bad UTEP team last week. Oklahoma did a solid job of keeping Mateer fresh heading into their first test of the season, only generating 3 carries in week one. If Oklahoma wants to win in the Big House, he’s going to need to run a fair bit more.

While Western Michigan wasn’t able to generate a ton on offense, I don’t feel their offensive line looked overmatched against Michigan, and that’s going to be a problem against the Sooners. Oklahoma is going to dominate the trenches on both sides of the ball this week and will obliterate Michigan. I’m only taking the under because Michigan’s offense looked so pathetic; I’m unsure they’ll be able to contribute anything to the over.

Pick: Oklahoma -5.5

Lean: u43.5

Arizona vs #15 BYU (-7.5) Total: 47.5

The Big-12 quietly has a conference-defining game happening in Provo this week. Arizona has been building toward a breakout year, while BYU is trying to break into the playoffs. These teams are structurally very different, but there’s one key thing that separates them early in the year, and that’s who they’re starting at quarterback.

Bear Bachmeir had one of the worst games of his career last season against Arizona, while Noah Fifita tried his best to will the Wildcats to an upset win. More importantly, this time around, Arizona has more depth up front, and if they’re able to pull ahead again, I don’t believe Bachmeir will be able to press the ball downfield, as he could struggle against Arizona’s pass rush that had 5 sacks last week. This just feels like too many points, and I think Arizona at least covers.

Pick: Arizona +7.5

Iowa State vs #21 Iowa (-14) Total: 40.5

Anytime you think you know what’s going to happen in the Cy-Hawk, these two teams make sure you leave shocked with the outcome. Iowa dominated an NIU team that might be the worst in the Mountain West, while Iowa State looked a little underwhelming against FCS SE Missouri. Iowa State obviously has to rebuild an entirely new roster, and everything on paper makes me think Iowa can cover -14, but I’ll never take a double-digit spread in this heated of a rivalry.

The Hawkeyes' new lead tailback, Kamari Moulton, looked incredible in the season opener, but they’re going to have to lean on Hank Brown at least a little bit more in this game. I’m not sure he’s good enough to blow out any competent roster, so I love Iowa State and the points. Also, you’re a psycho if you ever bet the over in this game, especially when it’s over 40 points.

Pick: Iowa State +14 and u40.5

#1 Ohio State vs Texas (-1.5) Total: 48.5

During Ryan Day’s tenure at the helm of Ohio State, the Buckeyes are just 1-4 as underdogs. Of course, Ohio State is rarely an underdog, but Day has struggled a bit to get his guys to win games they aren’t supposed to win. A trip down south to Texas is a perfect time to flip that narrative. For Texas, Steve Sarkisian’s back is against the wall. Last season was a mild disappointment, so the boosters raised a ton of NIL money and built one of, if not the most talented, rosters in the country. If Texas can’t beat Ohio State at home, and with this roster, it might get ugly in Austin

However, I don’t think the game at hand will look similar to last year’s matchup. Both of these offenses, and more specifically Julian Sayin and Arch Manning, look far more comfortable in their starting roles in 2026. I think this game could be a “mini shootout” with a ton of points. If I’m betting on a team in a shootout, I’ll take the team with the best player, and that’s Jeremiah Smith, who picked up right where he left off in a dominant performance against Ball State. However, if new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith can’t clean up issues on the offensive line, it will be the big win Sark has been looking for at Texas.

Pick: o48.5

Lean: Ohio State +1.5