Three favourites are featured in my college football picks for Week 2, including a pair of schools that are laying more than three touchdowns.
The pregame narrative: The Oregon Ducks cruised in their season opener and should keep their feet on the gas against the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Elsewhere, the Navy Midshipmen are a perfect stylistic match to dominate against the UAB Blazers.
Check out the best college football Week 2 picks, featuring an over/under prediction on North Carolina vs. Charlotte.
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College football picks Week 2
Best bet: Oregon -28 (-118)
No. 6 Oregon had a perfect start to the season, and they should cruise again on Saturday afternoon.
- Last weekend, the Ducks dismantled Montana State (FCS), 59-13. They scored on every possession except the last one, which concluded in victory formation.
- Oregon was a 28-point favourite in that game, so a thrashing by the reigning Big Ten champions was expected. A confidence-boosting blowout is what you want in a season opener — especially with a new quarterback under centre.
- Dante Moore, a five-star sophomore who was 247 Sports' No. 3 QB in the 2023 class, completed 18 of 23 passes for 213 yards and three TDs. Oregon also ran at will, turning 39 carries into 253 yards.
Next up on the schedule is Oklahoma State, which should pose a tougher test as a fellow NCAA Division I program. But the Pokes were truly dreadful last year, and I don't expect them to hang around.
Oklahoma State went 0-9 straight up and ATS in conference play last season after winning a trio of cupcake matchups to start.
Understandably, the Cowboys overhauled their roster in the transfer portal. More than half of their starters are new to the program in 2025.
New doesn't necessarily equate to improved, though. Only one of Oklahoma State's 41 transfer commits came in with a four-star grade.
Oregon ranked 13th in D-I in net EPA per play last year, according to Game On Paper. Oklahoma State was 105th. These schools aren't in the same weight class.
Key stat: Oklahoma State went 1-4 ATS as a road underdog last year, per Team Rankings.
College football best bets
Navy -21.5 (-110): Navy operates as an 11-man battering ram on offence, with an ability to run at will against overmatched opponents.
That should work out really well against UAB.
- The Blazers just allowed 42 points and more than 500 yards of offence to FCS-level Alabama State in Week 1. Woof.
- Last season, UAB allowed 212.9 rush yards per game, which ranked 125th among 133 D-I schools. Also, the Blazers' defence was 120th in EPA/rush.
Navy rushed for 247.5 yards/game last year, ranking sixth in the country. That equated to 27th in offensive EPA/rush.
The Midshipmen are 5-1 ATS over their past six games dating back to the 2024 campaign. I expect them to control the clock and run over the Blazers.
As underdogs by more than two TDs last season, UAB went 1-3 ATS.
Arizona State -6.5 (-112): Is this line too good to be true? Mississippi State has a raucous home crowd, but I can't stomach backing the Bulldogs on Saturday night.
Keep in mind that Mississippi State went 2-10 SU last year while allowing nearly 35.0 points/game.
No. 12 Arizona State, meanwhile, boasts practically unmatched roster continuity after a banner season.
- Cam Skattebo's NFL graduation aside, the Sun Devils returned 79% of last year's snap production, per ESPN. That's the second-most in the country.
- ASU went an FBS-best 12-2 ATS last season — including 7-0 ATS as a favourite — and earned a spot in the College Football Playoff.
Arizona State quarterback Sam Leavitt was named the Big 12 preseason Offensive Player of the Year, which gives the team a nice foundation to work from.
Leavitt struggled mightily against Mississippi State last year in Week 2, but he got stronger as the season wore on.
Also, despite his struggles in last year's early-September matchup, Arizona State covered this number against Mississippi State (30-23).
Belichick's Tar Heels face 49ers
North Carolina/Charlotte under 47.5 points (-110): Bill Belichick's collegiate coaching debut went south quickly, and I think his offence will struggle again in Week 2.
Starting QB Gio Lopez was atrocious on Monday night, going more than two full hours between completions. He eventually exited due to injury, and his status in this short week is unknown as of Tuesday afternoon.
All told, the Tar Heels turned 49 offensive plays into just 222 yards and 14 points.
Charlotte was no better in its season opener, scoring 11 points on 218 yards against Appalachian State.
I could see this being a run-heavy, grind-it-out matchup. Belichick's QB room looks untrustworthy, while Charlotte head coach Tim Albin has been known to feature his ground game prominently.
Last year at the helm for Ohio University, Albin's offence had the 11th-highest run play percentage (60.57%) in D-I.
College football picks made at 2 p.m. on 09/02/2025.
