The first week of the 2021 college football season brought some surprises. Montana knocked off #20 Washington to become the first FCS squad to take down a ranked FBS program in five years, with a 13-7 victory. Georgia won a defensive classic against Clemson, a 10-3 affair in which a defensive score for the Bulldogs was the only touchdown. Oklahoma was down 14-7 to Tulane before roaring back to take a 34-14 lead…only to see the defense collapse before they held on for a 40-35 home win that could see their national ranking slip. What will happen in Week 2?
We have some college football predictions that could help your online betting for the week.
NCAA News: Expert Predictions for College Football Week 2
Oregon is headed for a reckoning
The Oregon Ducks view themselves as a contender, not just for the Pac-12 title but for a slot in the College Football Playoff. That view took a major blow in Week One, when Oregon headed to Fresno State and barely escaped with a 31-24 victory. Next, they head to Columbus to take on Ohio State, who opened as a two-touchdown favorite over the Ducks after beating Minnesota on the road on Thursday, 45-31. The Golden Gophers had the Buckeyes on the run for much of the first half, but the Buckeyes came back and ended up running to a push. In that game, C.J. Stroud showed that he was more than ready to fill Justin Fields’ cleats at quarterback, becoming the first quarterback to throw three touchdown passes of 50 or more yards in one game in 25 years. Overall, he threw for 294 yards and four scores, and the Buckeyes also got a defensive touchdown from a strip sack.
For Oregon, it took a 30-yard quarterback sneak for a touchdown on fourth down, with 2:57 left in regulation, to take the lead back. The Ducks had sprinted out to a 21-6 lead before Fresno State got two unanswered touchdowns during the third quarter and then moved into the lead on a field goal early in the fourth quarter. The spread is 14 points, and while this might come across as a big spread for two Power 5 contenders, the Ducks have more flaws than the Buckeyes do right now; playing this at home will help Ohio State not just win, but cover.
Grab Iowa before the line shifts
Iowa heads to Iowa State on Saturday, and the opening line has the Cyclones as four-point favorites. However, in Week 1, Iowa State had a difficult time fighting off FCS program Northern Iowa, 16-10, at home in Week One. It took an interception by Datrone Young with 2:05 remaining in regulation to stop a late Northern Iowa drive. Quarterback Brock Purdy had a solid day, going 21 of 26 for 197 yards, but tailback Breece Hall only picked up 69 yards on 23 attempts.
Iowa had two pick-sixes from Riley Moss in the first half of their laugher of a win over visiting Indiana. Overall, Iowa picked off Michael Penix three times, with a fourth potential pick negated by a penalty for roughing the passer. Tyler Goodson ran for 99 yards and a score, and quarterback Spencer Petras ran for a nine-yard touchdown while throwing for 145 yards on 13 of 27 passing. Iowa clearly had a much better Week One and is a solid road dog pick for this rivalry game.
Michigan will take down Washington
The Michigan Wolverines have failed to achieve contender status with Jim Harbaugh running the ship. However, in their opener, Michigan rolled over Western Michigan, 47-14. Wideout Ronnie Bell had a 31-yard punt return and a 76-yard touchdown catch; he remains questionable after a right leg injury. Tailback Blake Corum ran for 111 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Washington comes in as a 4 ½-point underdog after only putting up those seven points against Montana in Week One. Take advantage of this line before it grows.
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