College Football Week 2 Picks, Odds and Previews

If college football will be anything in 2020, it will definitely be crazy. There is, of course, the whole coronavirus mess that has the Big Ten, Pac-12, and Mountain West on the sidelines until the spring.

Then, there was a Week 1 of the college football season in which Army put a whooping on Middle Tennessee State, 42-0, with only five offensive possessions.

Yes, college football 2020 is going to be crazy. Let’s take a look at how crazy in Week 2.

Bet Rick’s NCAA Football Week 2 Best Bets at CFB Bookies

Syracuse vs. (#18) North Carolina Picks

The Orange travel to North Carolina where they will face the Tar Heels and QB Sam Howell. The sophomore threw for 3,641 yards and 38 touchdowns in his first season a year ago. The Tar Heels offensive line returns four of five starters too.

Still, covering a 22.5-point spread is going to be difficult against what could be an explosive Syracuse offense. Orange QB Tommy DeVito also started as a freshman last year and threw for 2,360 yards and 19 touchdowns.

Don’t forget, it was DeVito that took over in last year’s game in the fourth quarter, threw for 181 yards and three touchdowns, and led the Orange to a 40-37 win.

That game was in the Carrier Dome in Syracuse though. Plus, the Saturday forecast calls for rain and wind. The Over is 9-4-1 in North Carolina’s last 14 conference games and 4-0 in Syracuse’s last four.

Don’t trust the Total in this one. The Orange will have a tough time pulling out a win, but they will do enough to cover the spread.

BEST BET: SYRACUSE +22.5

Louisiana vs. (#23) Iowa State Picks

Two very good offenses will face each other at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames, Iowa, on Saturday. Iowa State returns Heisman Trophy candidate Brock Purdy who threw for nearly 4,000 yards last season.

Louisiana returns running backs Elijah Mitchell and Trey Ragas who combined for 1,967 yards and 27 touchdowns last season. The Ragin’ Cajuns also return starting quarterback Levi Lewis who threw 26 touchdowns a year ago.

With all that offense on the field and sunny skies in the forecast, one thing is bound to happen in Iowa. Lots of points will be scored. The Total is set at 56.5 points. You know what that means.

BEST BET: OVER 56.5

Duke vs. (#10) Notre Dame Picks

The big thing to remember about Saturday’s Duke-ND matchup is that the game is in South Bend. Here’s why.

The Fighting Irish have won 18 straight at home and have won their last 19 straight home openers. Notre Dame last lost at home three years ago. Since, they have beaten opponents at home by an average of 22.4 points.

Now, the crowd won’t be the same as there will only be 16,000 fans permitted in Notre Dame Stadium, but the Irish are simply better.

Senior QB Ian Book returns after leading an offense that scored 38 or more points in its last four games last season. One of those was a 38-7 win over this same Duke team.

The Duke Blue Devils football team are known to start seasons fast. They have covered the spread in 10 of their last 13 September games. Not this time.

BEST BET: NOTRE DAME -20

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(#1) Clemson vs. Wake Forest Picks

The nation’s No. 1 team heads to Wake Forest on Saturday as the overall favorite (+225) to win this year’s national title. The Tigers are extremely talented on both sides of the ball.

Quarterback Trevor Lawrence is a Heisman Trophy candidate. He threw for 3,665 yards and 36 touchdowns last year. Running back Travis Etienne is an All-American candidate who rushed for 1,614 yards and 19 scores.

Wake Forest just won’t be able to compete. Sam Hartman takes over at quarterback, but leading returning receiver Sage Surratt opted out of the season to prepare for next year’s draft. The offensive line has just 28 career starts between all of them.

Over the last two seasons, Clemson is beating Wake Forest by an average score of 57.5-3. The Tigers are no stranger to being favored by four touchdowns or more. Clemson will be way too much for the Demon Deacons on Saturday.

BEST BET: CLEMSON -33.5