Media by Associated Press – Florida head coach Billy Napier stands next to his players during a timeout in the final minutes of an NCAA college football game against Kentucky, Saturday, Sept. 10, 2022, in Gainesville, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
The college football landscape changed in Week 2 with a rough week for the top 10 in terms of covering the spread and, in some cases, outright losing. Notre Dame and Texas A&M went down, while Alabama escaped with a win. Florida, Wisconsin, and Iowa also lost on Saturday, and while not ranked, Nebraska lost to Georgia Southern and fired coach Scott Frost.
Let’s take a look at the top four teams to bet on as college football enters Week 3.
Troy +12.5 at Appalachian State
Appalachian State went to Texas and knocked off Texas A&M last week. This week they will be hosting College Gameday, and the atmosphere in Boone, North Carolina, will be off the charts. But they aren’t playing a walkover with this Sun Belt matchup against Troy.
Troy scored 38 points in a Week 2 win over Alabama A&M and stayed with Ole Miss on the road in the opener. They had nearly 300 passing yards against the Rebels, just couldn’t find the endzone until late in the game. The Trojans threw for 464 yards against Alabama A&M last week, and Appy State allowed over 400 passing yards in the opening loss to UNC.
Last year Appalachian State won this matchup 21-10. A repeat performance gives Troy the cover. This line is a little inflated because of the ASU win in College Station and fading a team off a huge win is usually a good play.
Florida -23.5 v. South Florida
The Florida Gators’ offense struggled at home Saturday night as they were upset by Kentucky. After a world-beating performance against Utah, quarterback Anthony Richardson struggled mightily against the Wildcats, completing less than 50% of his passes and not finding any running lanes.
This week the Gators host South Florida and that would be exactly what they need to get back on track before returning to SEC play. The Bulls gave up 50 points and 575 total yards to BYU in the opener, a 50-21 loss. With that game tape in hand, Billy Napier and his army of Florida coaches should be able to find a multitude of ways for his more talented offense to attack USF.
The Swamp has been electric so far in 2022 for night games against ranked teams in Utah and Kentucky. It may be a little less packed for a game against an in-state team that many fans believe is beneath them; however, the players know this is their chance to get back on track. Look for Florida to make a statement against USF.
Western Kentucky +6.5 at Indiana
Indiana is 2-0, but they are very lucky to be there. A bad call on a clear touchdown in the opener prevented a loss to Illinois. The Hoosiers trailed FCS Idaho 10-0 at half last week before finally hitting their stride, but the offense is still a question mark.
This week they host a Western Kentucky team that has scored 87 points in two games. Quarterback Austin Reed threw for 271 yards at Hawai’i and followed with 276 against Austin Peay. He has seven passing touchdowns on the season and will challenge the Indiana secondary.
The Hoosiers have more talent and are at home. But if they sleepwalk through the first half again, the Hilltoppers won’t let up, and this one should be closer than a touchdown.
Oklahoma -11 at Nebraska
The whole Nebraska program is in turmoil, and don’t think for one second that Oklahoma feels sorry for them. The Sooners have put 78 points on the board in their two blowout wins, and they look to keep the offense in sync as they get ready for Big 12 play next week.
Last year Nebraska kept it close with a 23-16 loss in Norman as the rivalry resumed in the regular season for the first time since the Huskers left for the Big Ten in 2010. Oklahoma hasn’t won in Lincoln since 2006, but this won’t be a regular trip. Nebraska has an interim coach, and they are reeling confidence-wise after a home loss to Georgia Southern.
If Oklahoma is truly a top-10 team with playoff aspirations, this is a game they win by double digits. Brent Venables needs a statement win after coaching victories over UTEP, and Kent State, so don’t expect him to take the foot off the gas if the Sooners get a big lead early.
Keep up with your latest NCAAF news coverage and betting pick previews at NJSportsbookReview.com.