College Football Week 2 Opening Odds Report
College Football Week 2 odds don't exactly have the luster of Week 1. Plenty of big-name teams are squaring off against directional schools or FCS foes.
Thankfully, at least one matchup leaps off the page, albeit with a big point spread: Alabama vs. Texas. The top-ranked Crimson Tide travel to Austin to meet the Longhorns. A few other matchups are noteworthy, as well.
Let's dive into Week 2 college football odds and action, with insights from multiple oddsmakers and sportsbooks. Check back regularly for updates.
College Football Week 2 Odds
No. 9 Baylor vs No. 21 BYU
Opening line: BYU -2.5; Over/Under 52.5
Time: 10:15 p.m. ET Saturday (ESPN)
UPDATE 9:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: BYU opened -3 at BetMGM Nevada, peaked at -4 midweek, then steadily declined to -2.5. And as the late Saturday night get-even-or-get-even-deeper game, money is rolling in on this matchup at BetMGM's Vegas books.
"We've been getting a lot of big plays on this. A 6-figure play on BYU -2.5, and a couple mid-five-figure plays on Baylor +2.5," BetMGM Nevada's Scott Shelton said. "This is a public 'dog tonight. Tickets are 3/1 Baylor, but money is really close. Good two-way action."
Shelton said the public is also pounding Baylor moneyline, down to +115 from a high of +145, and Baylor first-half spread +2.
The total went from 54.5 to 53.5, then got back to 54.5 this morning and stuck there.
"Tickets 5/1 and money 10/1 on the Over," Shelton said.
UPDATE 7 P.M. ET FRIDAY: This number has bounced around on PointsBet USA's college football Week 2 odds board. BYU opened -3 and initially backed up to a couple iterations of -2.5, then stretched out to -4 by Wednesday morning. The line backed up to -3 by Wednesday afternoon and is now at BYU -2.5.
Baylor is taking 58% of early spread bets and 71% of early spread dollars for this late Saturday night showdown.
PointsBet opened the total at 52.5, spent most of the week at 53.5 and is now at 53. But all the early action is on the Over, at 96% of bets/97% of money.
UPDATE 3:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: BYU opened -2.5 at Caesars Sports, stretched to -4 by Wednesday morning, then backed up to -3 Wednesday afternoon. Baylor is netting 71% of spread bets and 59% of spread dollars.
The total opened at 52.5 and has spent much of the week at 53.5. Caesars splits weren't available today.
UPDATE 2:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: With a late Saturday night kickoff, this matchup is a bookend to Alabama-Texas on the college football Week 2 odds board. And it could well be among the best games of the day.
Baylor (1-0 SU and ATS) put the expected hurt on FCS foe Albany in Week 1, winning 69-10 as massive 42.5-point home chalk. Meanwhile, Brigham Young (1-0 SU and ATS) was a relatively modest 10.5-point favorite at South Florida and posted a 50-21 beatdown.
Although Baylor is now a top-10 team, the Bears are a road underdog. In fact, TwinSpires opened BYU -2.5 and is already up to -3. The Bears are seeing 58% of early spread bets, and the Cougars are netting 59% of early spread money.
"The public is on Baylor getting a field goal. Small sharp play on BYU early in the week," Lucas said.
TwinSpires upped the total to 53.5, with 65% of bets/62% of cash on the Over.
No. 20 Kentucky vs No. 12 Florida
Opening line: Florida -5.5/ Over/Under 51.5
Time: 7 p.m. ET Saturday (ESPN)
UPDATE 6:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: Thirty minutes ahead of kickoff, Florida is a 5.5-point favorite at DraftKings. The Gators opened -4.5 on Sunday afternoon, peaked at -6 midweek and again this morning, then backed up to -5 midafternoon. Florida then inched up to 5.5 two hours ago.
The Gators are drawing 64% of spread tickets and 59% of spread dollars.
The total opened at 51.5, rose to 52.5 Monday morning, then returned to 51.5 Thursday night. But this morning, the total again jumped a point returning to 52.5. The Over is taking 73% of bets/57% of money.
UPDATE 7 P.M. ET FRIDAY: It's a second straight night game at The Swamp, but this time, host Florida is favored. The Gators opened -5.5 in PointsBet USA's college football Week 2 odds market, and initially moved down to -4.5 Sunday night. But the line started heading back up Tuesday and has been at Gators -6 since Thursday night.
Florida is drawing 62% of spread bets, but spread money is running dead even for this SEC showdown.
"We are seeing great two-way action," PointsBet sports analyst Mike Korn said.
The total opened and is currently at 51.5, though it spent a fair amount of time this week at 52.5. Ticket count is 4/1 and money just shy of 2/1 on the Over.
UPDATE 3:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Caesars pegged Florida a 5.5-point chalk and dialed down to -4.5 by Sunday evening. However, the number rebounded to Gators -6 by Wednesday night.
Florida is drawing 61% of early spread bets/66% of early spread money at Caesars. The total opened at 51.5 and has been at 52.5 since late Monday night. Current weren't available.
UPDATE 2:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: Florida (1-0 SU and ATS) got off to a solid start under new coach Billy Napier. Going off as 2.5-point home underdogs, the unranked Gators held off No. 8 Utah 29-26. That win vaulted Florida well into this week's Top 25, at No. 12.
Kentucky (1-0 SU and ATS) had a much easier Week 1 foe, and a much easier time. The Wildcats pulled away in the second half for a 37-13 win over Miami-Ohio, cashing as 16-point favorites.
Florida hit TwinSpires' college football Week 2 odds market as a 5.5-point favorite and is now down a point to -4.5. The Gators are taking 54% of spread bets, but 62% of spread dollars are on the Wildcats.
"Early money coming in on the 'dog," Lucas said. "We're expecting two-way handle on this game."
The total is down a notch to 51, with 59% of bets on the Over/56% of money on the Under.
No. 10 USC vs Stanford
Opening line: USC -10.5; Over/Under 64
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday (ABC)
UPDATE 6:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: USC landed on DraftKings' college football Week 2 odds board as a 10.5-point chalk and initially nudged up to -11 Sunday. But the line fell to Trojans -9 by Monday morning, then bottomed out early Friday afternoon at -8.
However, by Friday night, USC returned to -9, and the Trojans are now -10 an hour before kickoff. Point-spread ticket count is almost 4/1 and point-spread money 6/1 on USC.
The total opened at 64 and on Tuesday reached 67, where it stuck much of the week. Today, the number tumbled back to 64, and it's now at 65. The Under is netting 61% of tickets and 52% of cash.
UPDATE 8 P.M. ET FRIDAY: As with other books, PointsBet USA has moved significantly off its opening number. USC went up at -10.5 and was down to -9 early Monday morning. Late Wednesday night, the line dipped to -8.5, and this afternoon, PointsBet moved to -8.
Still, point-spread ticket count is almost 5/1 and spread money is 3/1-plus on the Trojans. It's a Pros vs Joes game, with sharp bettors backing home 'dog Stanford, while the public is on Southern Cal.
"We'll be rooting for Stanford as of now, but I wouldn't be surprised if our liability shifted a bit come kickoff," PointsBet sports analyst Mike Korn said.
UPDATE 3:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Caesars books opened USC as an 11.5-point chalk, and the line has rapidly descended since. The Trojans are now down to -8.5 (-105).
USC is grabbing 77% of early spread bets, but 80% of early spread dollars are on home 'dog Stanford. That includes a $66,000 bet on the Cardinal +9.
"This is the ultimate public vs. sharps game so far this season," Caesars lead college football trader Joey Feazel said. "This matchup comes down to Stanford's physical ability against USC's speed. There haven't been many schools that have dealt with more adversity than Stanford has during the COVID era, but [coach] David Shaw still gets a lot of respect.
"This is USC's first real test. If [the Trojans] blow Stanford out of the water, we're going to see a lot of USC money going forward."
Caesars' splits on the total weren't available, but the number is up to 67.5 from a 65 opener.
UPDATE 2:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: Southern Cal (1-0 SU and ATS) is getting some chatter and drawing action in the college football national championship odds market. Hiring Lincoln Riley away from Oklahoma, and getting quarterback Caleb Williams to follow his coach, can do that for a program.
Unlike Pac-12 brethren Oregon (vs. Georgia) and Utah (vs. Florida), USC didn't schedule a challenging nonconference opponent. Rather, the Trojans hosted Rice and rumbled to a 66-14 victory giving 31.5 points.
Stanford also played it safe in Week 1, hosting FCS foe Colgate. The Cardinal (1-0 SU, 0-1 ATS) had little trouble in a 41-10 win, but couldn't cover as 40-point faves.
USC is already down 1.5 points at TwinSpires, sitting as a 9-point chalk. Point-spread ticket count is 2/1 Trojans, but early spread money is running almost dead even.
"Sharp play on Stanford +10.5 and +10 early," Lucas said.
The total rose a point to 65, with the Over seeing 60% of tickets/71% of money.
Arizona State vs No. 11 Oklahoma State
Opening line: Oklahoma State -11/ Over/Under 54.5
Time: 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday (ESPN2)
UPDATE 6:30 P.M. ET SATURDAY: An hour before kickoff, Oklahoma State is laying 12 points at DraftKings. The Cowboys opened -10.5 in DK's college football Week 2 odds market and nudged to -11 several times during the week.
On Friday night, Oklahoma State went to -11.5, and the line went to -12 early this afternoon. Point-spread ticket count is almost 5/1 and money almost 6/1 on the host Cowboys.
The total is out to 58 from a 54.5 opener, with tickets and money both in the 9/1 range on the Over.
UPDATE 8 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Oklahoma State landed on PointsBet's board as a 10.5-point home fave Sunday and hit -11.5 a couple times early in the week. The number stabilized at Cowboys -11 Monday afternoon, before rising to -11.5 Thursday night.
Point-spread ticket count is 4/1 and money 6/1-plus on Oklahoma State.
The total opened at 54 and climbed steadily throughout the week, reaching 58.5 this afternoon. Ticket count is 4/1 and money 3/1 on the Over.
UPDATE 3:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: This line bounced around a bit early on at Caesars Sports. Oklahoma State opened -12, initially rolled back to -10.5, then quickly rebounded to -11.5 Sunday night. The line has spent most of the week toggling between -11 and -11.5, but this morning at Caesars, it stretched out to -12.5, where it rests now.
Point-spread ticket count and money are in the 2/1 range on the host Cowboys. Splits on the total weren't available, but the total opened at 54, peaked at 58 Tuesday afternoon and is now 57.
UPDATE 2:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: Oklahoma State (1-0 SU, 0-1 ATS) coasted to a 58-44 win over Central Michigan. However, the Cowboys – who early in the third quarter led 51-15 – let off the gas late and failed to cover as 20.5-point favorites.
Arizona State (1-0 SU and ATS) cruised to a 40-3 home victory laying 25.5 points against FCS foe Northern Arizona.
Oklahoma State initially nudged up to -11.5 on TwinSpires' college football Week 2 odds board. But the Cowboys then returned to -11. Oklahoma State is landing 58% of early spread bets and 62% of early spread money.
"Minimal action on the side right now. However, Oklahoma State moneyline is already a popular parlay piece," Lucas said.
The total is up to 55.5, with early tickets and money running 2/1 on the Over.
Iowa State at Iowa
Opening line: Iowa -3.5; Over/Under 41.5
Time: 4 p.m. ET Saturday (BTN)
UPDATE 1 P.M. ET SATURDAY: Three hours before kickoff, DraftKings has Iowa laying 4 at home. That's where the line opened Sunday, though it quickly dipped to -3.5 and stuck there until returning to -4 Thursday night.
The Hawkeyes are drawing 61% of spread bets and 66% of spread dollars.
More interesting in this instate rivalry is the total, in the wake of Iowa scoring just 7 points – on a field goal and two safeties – in its 7-3 Week 1 win over South Dakota State. DraftKings opened the total at 41, moved to 41.5 Sunday night, then briefly touched 42 Tuesday.
But the number has been on the decline since and is now at 39 (Over -115). Ticket count is 3/1 and money almost 5/1 on the Under.
UPDATE 7 P.M. ET FRIDAY: PointsBet USA pegged Iowa a 3.5-point home favorite, and the line has remained at some iteration of -3.5 much of the week, save for a couple short stretches at -3. It's two-way point-spread action, with 57% of bets on Iowa State/54% of money on Iowa.
It's also two-way ticket count on the moneyline, literally a dead-even 50/50 split. However, 75% of moneyline cash is on the underdog Cyclones.
The total dipped from 41.5 to 40 over the course of the week, with ticket count 3/1 and money 6/1 on the Under.
UPDATE 3:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Iowa hit Caesars Sports' college football Week 2 odds board as a 3-point fave, then toggled between -3 and -3.5 a few times early on. The Hawkeyes have been at -3.5 since Monday morning. However, point-spread ticket count is 3/1-plus and spread money is approaching 4/1 on the visiting underdog Cyclones.
Caesars has the total at 40.5, down a point from the opener. Splits weren't available.
UPDATE 2:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: Iowa (1-0 SU, 0-1 ATS) got out of the gate with a win, though it was in easily the most offensively challenged game of Week 1. The Hawkeyes beat FCS opponent South Dakota State 7-3, which looks bad enough at first glance.
But in case you didn't see the game, and you then looked at the boxscore, you'd see the pain what fans and bettors were put through. Iowa's 7 points came on a field goal and two safeties. With such an inept offense, it's no surprise the Hawkeyes failed to cover as 10.5-point home favorites.
On the flip side, Iowa State – also hosting an FCS foe, Southeast Missouri State – had little trouble finding the end zone. The Cyclones (1-0 SU, 0-1 ATS) rolled 42-10, but fell just short of covering as heavy 33.5-point faves.
TwinSpires initially dipped from Iowa -3.5 to -3, and the line is now back at -3.5. Iowa State is taking 62% of early spread tickets/58% of early spread money.
"The public is on the road 'dog early in the week. Bettors are expecting a low-scoring, tight affair," Lucas said.
The total is down a half-point to 41, with ticket count almost 3/1 and money 4/1 on the Under.
"No surprise, we'll need the Over in this one," Lucas said, noting bettors' response to Iowa's offensive ineptitude. "Hopefully, we see less than 12 punts this game."
No. 24 Tennessee vs No. 17 Pittsburgh
Opening line: Tennessee -6; Over/Under 65.5
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday (ABC)
UPDATE 1 P.M. ET SATURDAY: With 2.5 hours until kickoff, Tennessee is a 6-point favorite on DraftKings' college football Week 2 odds board. The Vols opened -4.5 Sunday afternoon, peaked at -7 Monday morning and spent much of the week toggling between -6.5 and -6.
The line dipped to -5.5 Friday night, then returned to -6 late this morning. Ticket count is just shy of 2/1 and money just beyond 2/1 on the Vols.
The total opened at 64, got to 67.5 briefly Tuesday and Thursday, then backed up to 64.5 Thursday night. This morning, the total saw a 3-point dip to 61.5, and it's now at 62. But ticket count is 5/1-plus and money 4/1-plus on the Over.
UPDATE 7 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Tennessee hit PointsBet USA's odds board Sunday as a 5-point road chalk. It only took a couple of hours for the Vols to advance to -6 and then to -6.5 later Sunday night. Tennessee peaked at -7 Monday morning and by Wednesday night dipped to -6, where the number sits now.
The Vols are seeing 61% of spread bets and 72% of spread cash.
The total opened at 64, quickly got to 65.5 and by Wednesday peaked at 67. However, it's now down to 64.5, though 78% of bets/63% of dollars are on the Over.
UPDATE 3:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Tennessee opened -5.5 Sunday afternoon at Caesars Sports and initially backed up to -5. However, by Sunday evening, the Vols were out to -7. On Monday evening, the line inched down to -6.5, and the number dipped to -6 Wednesday night.
Tennessee is attracting 67% of spread bets, but spread money is two-way with a lean toward Pitt, at 52%. The total is out to 67 from a 65 opener, though Caesars splits weren't available today.
UPDATE 2:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: Pittsburgh was part of the Week 1 opening slate of games, playing Thursday night. So the Panthers will get a little extra rest and are again playing at home this week. Pitt (1-0 SU, 0-1 ATS) got all it could handle from West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl, prevailing 38-31 but failing to cash as a 7.5-point home fave.
Tennessee (1-0 SU and ATS) had no such issues in its opener, also at home. The Vols flattened Ball State 59-10 as 37-point favorites.
This line has been a quick mover at TwinSpires, already up a point to Tennessee -7 on the road. Pitt is getting 54% of early spread bets, while 65% of early spread money is on the Vols.
"Some sharp play on the Vols laying less than a TD," Lucas said.
The total is also on the move early, rising 1.5 points to 65.5. The Over is drawing 60% of bets/66% of money.
No. 1 Alabama vs Texas
Opening line: Alabama -19; Over/Under 62.5
Time: Noon ET Saturday (FOX)
UPDATE 9:55 A.M. ET SATURDAY: About two hours before kickoff, WynnBet has Alabama a 20.5-point chalk on the college football Week 2 odds board. That's up 1.5 points from the -19 opener Sunday, and it's a landslide of point-spread action on the Crimson Tide. Ticket count and money are both in the 9/1 range.
The total has also been on the move this week, opening at 61.5 and currently sitting at 64.5. Ticket count is 2/1 and money approaching 3/1 on the Over.
UPDATE 7 P.M. ET FRIDAY: Alabama opened -19 Sunday afternoon at PointsBet USA and got to -20 within a few hours. The number peaked at 20.5 Monday morning, receded to -19.5 (-115) Wednesday evening and has been at -20 (-115) since noon Thursday.
It is all Crimson Tide on the spread, at 90% of tickets and 95% of money.
"Bama is our biggest [Week 2] liability as of now," PointsBet sports analyst Mike Korn said. "We'll be rooting for Texas to cover the almost three-touchdown spread."
The total is all the way out to 66 from a 61.5 opener, with ticket count 4/1 and money 5/1 on the Over.
UPDATE 3:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: On Sunday afternoon, Alabama hit Caesars Sports' college football Week 2 odds board as a hefty 19-point road favorite. It didn't take long for that line to grow, reaching -20 within a few hours. The line has remained Bama -20 most of the week, save for a couple of hours Monday at -20.5.
And early bettors are firmly convinced the Crimson Tide will win and cover. Point-spread ticket count at Caesars is running 6/1 and money 5/1-plus on Alabama.
“Even though it was higher earlier in the week than now, I can see this line going back up again,” Caesars lead college football trader Joey Feazel said. "Alabama definitely passed the eye test against Utah State last week. Bettors are definitely convinced that Alabama is as dominant as they were expected to be, which is why the action is going toward them here.
Of course, the always popular trend of betting Alabama first-half spread is fully in play, too. The Crimson Tide, who opened -11.5 and are up to -12.5 in that market, are taking practically every single ticket (99.2%) and every single dollar (99.9%).
"For first half, it’s seemingly death, taxes and Alabama first half. It’s similar to [Golden State] Warriors third quarter, they just always come out of the gates swinging," Feazel said. "You don’t get under 14 with Alabama first half that often, and Alabama first half has shown to be profitable over the years."
To put Alabama first-half wagering in more perspective: So far this week, Caesars has seen more Crimson Tide first-half money than 25 of the 47 full-game spreads in Week 2. And Alabama first-half spread is drawing twice as much money as every other Week 2 first-half spread combined.
The total opened at 61.5 and on Wednesday peaked at 65.5, where it sits now. Caesars betting splits weren't available.
UPDATE 2:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: In Week 1, Alabama had about as much trouble as you could expect. Which is to say, none. The Crimson Tide blasted Utah State 55-0. In fact, Nick Saban's troops were up 41-0 at halftime, almost covering the full-game 41.5-point spread. And since the overmatched Aggies provided no scoring support, Under 63 hit in that contest, too.
So 'Bama is out of the gate at 1-0 SU and ATS. Texas took on a Week 1 lightweight, as well, and is also 1-0 SU and ATS. Playing host to Louisiana-Monroe, the Longhorns rolled 52-10 laying 36.5 points. Under was a winner, too, though just barely on a total of 64.
Alabama opened -19 Sunday at TwinSpires Sportsbook, and the number then moved to -19.5 on the way to the current -20. Early ticket count is approaching 3/1 and money 4/1 on the Crimson Tide.
"It's a mix of public and sharp money on Alabama so far," TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said. "It's early, but Texas is likely going to be a big need for us."
The total is down a point early on, sitting at 61.5. The Over is seeing 66% of tickets, while 54% of money is on the Under.
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