College Football Week 2 Betting Picks: Arch Manning Prop Bet and More

College football’s first full slate may not have been stacked with marquee matchups, but Week 1 still provided some surprises. From USF’s dominant performance against Boise State to open the long weekend, to North Carolina’s complete face-plant to close, plenty of preseason expectations were refuted almost instantly.

That goes for no team nor player more than Texas quarterback Arch Manning, whose debut as the Longhorns QB1 against a stout Ohio State defense completely flipped the media narrative. The knee-jerk reactions inherent with college football provide opportunity for players at home to capitalize.

Arch Manning +108 to pass for 280 or more yards vs. San Jose State (DraftKings)

Former Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Mark Grace once tactfully described the concept of a “slump buster.” Deeming one disappointing a slump might be excessive, but the principle of the slump buster applies to Manning in Week 2.

An opponent like San Jose State would typically be the Week 1 offering for a new starting quarterback to ease into the role; not the reigning national champion. Rather than Steve Sarkisian easing Manning into the job vs. the Spartans, heading into Darrell K. Royal Stadium as 37-point underdogs, the on-paper mismatch is a chance for the Texas quarterback to gain confidence and momentum.

Expect Sarkisian to lay out a game plan that calls for Manning to air it out early and often, approaching 30 pass attempts before letting off the gas. Against a Central Michigan offense that employed a diametrically opposite approach in Week 1, the Spartans faced 8.8 yards on 13 attempts and gave up 14.4 per catch.

If Manning can complete around 70 percent at a similar per-reception clip, he can exceed 300 yards – which might even make +168 for 300 or more yards an attractive play.

Iowa State -3 vs. Iowa (Bally)

Each matchup since 2017 in the annual, early-season rivalry showdown between Iowa and Iowa State has been decided by 10 points or fewer, while each of the last three have been one-score decisions.

Thus, it’s little surprise this year’s installment opened with just a 1.5-point spread. As of this writing, it has climbed all the way to Iowa State -3.5 at most sources, with Bally offering the most favorable play for those wagering on Iowa State at -3.

Both the Cyclones and Hawkeyes have garnered some buzz as dark-horse contenders in their conferences. Iowa State rallied in a sloppy and soggy Week 0 contest against Big 12 rival Kansas State, then in Week 1 absolutely dominated a South Dakota team with designs on competing for the FCS national championship.

Iowa rolled in its own Week 1 match vs. FCS competition, beating UAlbany, 34-7. The Hawkeyes took some time to get rolling on offense, however – a familiar theme for this program – not scoring its first touchdown until more than 22 minutes into the contest.

How much of that was opening-week wrinkles needing to be ironed and how much was indicative of larger concerns for Iowa, we should know by the end of Week 2. South Dakota State transfer quarterback Mark Gronowski went down in the opener, presumably causing Hawkeyes faithful to hold their breath, especially after Gronowski dealt with injuries during the summer.

For its part, the Iowa State defense has been solid through two games. The offense was slow to get started in Ireland vs. Kansas State, but Rocco Becht has managed the flow effectively without committing major errors.

Another low-scoring edition of the battle for the CyHawk Trophy is likely in store, and it’s Iowa State’s to lose.

Navy -20.5 vs. UAB (ESPNBet); -115 over 58.5 points (DraftKings)

The disastrous Trent Dilfer era at UAB nearly reached its nadir in Week 1, as the Blazers needed a comeback to beat Alabama State. Although UAB put up 52 points, the Blazers allowed 42 to an opponent that ranked No. 79 in scoring offense in the FCS a season ago.

Alabama State’s output was both a byproduct of UAB surrendering 514 total yards – 202 on the ground – and more than a touchdown-and-extra point greater than the Blazers’ No. 120-ranked per-game allowance of 34.8 points per game in 2024.

That 202-yard mark looms large against Navy’s always-productive rushing attack. The Midshipmen, meanwhile, got 180 rushing yards from just one ball-carrier – and it was their backup quarterback, at that.

Blake Horvath, who rushed for 1,246 yards in 2024 – including 84 at a 6.5-per carry clip in Navy’s 23-point rout at UAB – got to rest much of the 52-7 blowout of VMI in Week 1. That allowed reserve Braxton Woodson to go off for 180 yards on just seven carries.

With Alex Tecza adding 89 yards on 15 carries, the Navy rushing attack showed no signs of slowing from last season’s sixth-ranked ground offense. UAB’s Week 1 struggles to contain Alabama State suggest the Mids will put up points in bunches, and they are not likely to surrender anything approaching the 52 points the Blazers managed in the season opener.

Navy might hit that number, however, so the over – which ESPNBet offers at -110 at 59.5, and DraftKings has at 58.5 – should be well within reach.