College Football Week 2 – Best Betting Games

Most square bettors are concerned with the huge showdown between No. 3 USC and No. 8 Ohio State at The Horseshoe, but there’s better value to be had elsewhere on the college football betting board on Saturday.

Before getting on to the games being keyed on by sharps, a quick word on the Trojans-Buckeyes battle is in order: Think twice about laying down on Ohio State as 6.5-point underdogs, because Southern California center Kristofer O’Dowd (knee) is expected to suit up.

Now that public players are reading this article, here’s a look at four college pigskin games on handicappers’ radar for Week 2:

Syracuse at No. 7 Penn State – 12 PM ET

Whether you think Penn State or Ohio State is the best team in the Big Ten, you can’t deny the Nittany Lions (1-0, 0-1 ATS) got the upper hand in Week 1. Penn State looks to build on its strong showing in its opener when it hosts the Orange (0-1, 1-0 ATS).

The Lions rolled Akron 31-7 last Saturday, but they couldn’t cover the huge 29.5-point spread imposed by oddsmakers. Penn State is set to see similar chalk against Syracuse, which is getting 28.5 points from the Lions after its 23-20 overtime loss to Minnesota at the Carrier Dome.

With head coach Joe Paterno back on the sidelines at Happy Valley, Penn State is banking on a repeat of last year’s 55-13 pasting of the Orange at Syracuse as 27.5-point favorites. It won’t be as easy for the Lions this time around because of former Duke basketball player Greg Paulus, who was solid in his first game at quarterback since high school last week.

No. 18 Notre Dame at Michigan – 3:30 PM ET

The Wolverines (1-0, 1-0 ATS) get their first test of the season at the Big House against the Fighting Irish (1-0, 1-0 ATS), who jumped five spots in the national rankings following last week’s win.

This is always a big game for bettors – but it takes on even greater significance this season. Notre Dame (-14.5) looked great in its 35-0 waxing of Nevada in South Bend last Saturday, but Jimmy Clausen and the Irish need to prove they can pay for backers on the road.

Notre Dame is priced as a 3-point fave for the matchup, and the line should stay right there with the action split through the middle of the week. Michigan (-13) opened with a 31-7 payday over Western Michigan, but it still has a lot to prove after going 3-9 (2-10 ATS) last year in Rich Rodriguez’s first season at the helm.

Houston at No. 5 Oklahoma State – 3:30 PM ET

It didn’t take public bettors long to fall in love with the Cowboys (1-0, 1-0 ATS) following their 24-10 win over Georgia as 5.5-point home chalk last week. With tons of money coming in on Oklahoma State, it entertains the Cougars (1-0, 0-0 ATS) on Saturday afternoon.

Oddsmakers opened the Cowboys as 15.5-point favorites for the contest, but squares are having none of it. Through the first three days of wagering on the spread, about 80% of plays had come in on Oklahoma State at that number. That type of response will surely move the line before kickoff.

The Cowboys (-15.5) overpowered the Cougars 56-37 when the schools met last year at Boone Pickens Stadium, as Oklahoma State racked up an impressive 699 yards of offense against Houston.

South Carolina at No. 21 Georgia – 7 PM ET

Bettors handicapping totals should get a handle on Saturday night’s tilt between the Bulldogs (0-1, 0-1 ATS) and Gamecocks (1-0, 1-0 ATS). The teams haven’t played over the number in 12 consecutive games dating back to 1996, making the under the sharp play.

Georgia (-7) clipped South Carolina 14-7 last September, but the game came nowhere close to playing above the 45-point total. If the Bulldogs’ play on the offensive side of the ball last week is any indication, bettors are in for another low-scoring affair this season.

Joe Cox appears to be a serviceable college quarterback after going 15-of-30 for 162 yards with a touchdown and an interception against Oklahoma State, but he’s no Matt Stafford. The good news is Georgia’s defense held Cowboys quarterback Zac Robinson to only 135 yards passing on 11-of-22 attempts in last week’s loss.