College Football Week Two: Home Underdogs Offer Enticing Money Line Plays

Posted on: September 4, 2018, 05:00h. 

Last updated on: September 4, 2018, 04:03h.

Lucas Thomas Read More
Expertise: Sports Betting, Sports.

Week two of the college football season features an intriguing mix of home dogs and heavy favorites who are looking to “right” some “wrongs” from week one.

Jake Bentley and the South Carolina Gamecocks have an opportunity to emerge as frontrunners in the SEC East with a win against Georgia Saturday. (Photo: Travis Bell/Sideline Carolina)

Whether you’re hunting for an early season money line upset, or willing to lay a lot of chalk with traditional powerhouses against outmatched opponents, there’s something at the buffet for you this week.

Home Dogs

#24 South Carolina (+10) vs. #3 Georgia

This is one of the weekend’s most intriguing matchups. South Carolina trots out a veteran group of mostly juniors and seniors on both sides of the ball. Though it’s only week two, this might be the most important game on the Gamecocks’ schedule this season. A win against the 3rd ranked Georgia Bulldogs would put them in the driver’s seat in the SEC East with a month’s worth of winnable games after that. If you think an outright win is possible for the Gamecocks, the +330 money line tag could be the play of the week.

Kansas State (+9.5) vs.  #18 Mississippi State

The 18th ranked Bulldogs head to Manhattan to take on the Kansas State Wildcats who are two-score underdogs at home. The Bulldogs might be the more talented team, but starting quarterback Nick Fitzgerald is making his season debut after serving a one-game suspension. If the Wildcats can give Fitzgerald the road-scaries, their +290 money line tag is enticing

Texas A&M (+12.5) vs. #2 Clemson

Another top three team hits the road this weekend at Clemson takes on the unranked Aggies. No doubt Jimbo Fisher circled this game when he left Florida State to take the Texas A&M head coaching position last December. There isn’t a better opportunity to start a new job than the one he has Saturday. Fisher is familiar with Clemson, having gone 4-4 against the Tigers in his eight seasons at FSU. Beating one of college football’s perennial powerhouses in front of the 12th Man would earn the new boss a lot of good will in College Station.

Arizona State (+6.5) vs. #15 Michigan State

Another first-year head coach can make a splash at home with a win against a ranked opponent. The Arizona State Sun Devils play host to Michigan State as one touchdown underdogs. Arizona State head coach Herm Edwards will have his players inspired, but will that be enough to take down the 15th ranked Spartans? If you think so, the +205 money line isn’t a bad bet.

South Florida (+3.5) vs. Georgia Tech

The Bulls ended last season 10-2 with a bowl win against Texas Tech, but entered this season unranked. After a 1-0 start, they’re still unranked in the AP Top 25 but could do a lot in voters’ eyes with a home win against the visiting Yellow Jackets. Money line bettors can get the Bulls at +150.

Feeling Chalky?

Several teams are looking for bounce-back games after disappointing week one losses.

The Michigan Wolverines looked flat in losing at Notre Dame in week one. They’re still ranked after the loss, but slipped to #21. They can’t afford to mess around in Ann Arbor this weekend as four touchdown favorites (+28) against Western Michigan.

Florida State and Texas both dropped out of the top 25 with week one losses. Texas will look to rebound as 23-point home favorites against Tulsa. Meanwhile the Seminoles have a scheduled tune-up game against Samford that you won’t find on the menu this week.

Miami, like Florida State, was embarrassed in week one. And like FSU, they also have a tune-up game against Savannah State that is not listed.