Week 2 College Football Lines, Odds and Bets

Bets and analysis for four games from Saturday’s college football slate.

Frankie Taddeo | Sep 8, 2022

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Week 2 of college football features a loaded card that is highlighted by three games pitting ranked teams facing off against each other early in the 2022 season.

Bettors find No. 17 Pittsburgh hosting No. 24 Tennessee as a six-point home underdog, No. 12 Florida hosting No. 20 Kentucky as a 6.5-point home favorite and No. 21 BYU welcoming No. 9 Baylor into Provo as a three-point home favorite.

No. 1 Alabama, the overwhelming betting favorites (+150) at SI Sportsbook to win the national title, heads to Austin to face Texas as a 19.5-point road favorite.

Respected money posted the dreaded goose egg last week as Appalachian State fell to North Carolina, 63-61, Tulsa came up short on the road against Wyoming and Louisville was dominated at Syracuse.

The information stands with a disappointing 2-6 against the spread (ATS) mark but we have a whole season to go! Let’s dive into what’s on tap for Saturday.

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Virginia (1-0; 0-1 ATS) vs. Illinois (1-1; 1-1 ATS)

The line has held steady since opening with Illinois as a 4.5-point home favorite against Virginia.

Last season, Virginia beat Illinois, 42-14, as a 10.5-point home favorite. Cavaliers quarterback Brennan Armstrong threw for 405 yards and five touchdowns.

Armstrong was in peak form in last week’s 34-17 victory over Richmond despite failing to cover the 21-point spread. The senior signal-caller threw for 246 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 105 rushing yards and a score.

Illinois dominated Wyoming, 38-6, in the season opener as a 14-point home favorite, but came up short in Week 1 at Indiana. The Illini blew a late second-half lead, falling to the Hoosiers as one-point road underdogs.

Oddsmakers can have the wrong team favored early in the year. This appears to be one of those instances and respected money in Vegas has targeted the road underdogs who are 3-1 ATS in their last four games away from Scott Stadium.

BET: Virginia +4.5 (-118)

Syracuse (1-0; 1-0 ATS) vs. UConn (1-1; 2-0 ATS)

Spread: Syracuse -22.5 (-110) | Connecticut +22.5 (-118)
Moneyline: SYR (-2500) | UCONN (+1000)
Total: 49 – Over (-118) | Under 49 (-118)
Public (Spread) Betting Percentages: SYR 63% | UCONN 37%
Game Info: Sept. 10, 2022 | 7 p.m. ET | CBSSN
Editor’s Note - Odds are subject to change.

The line has steamed up since opening in favor of Syracuse as a 20-point road favorite against Connecticut to a line displaying the Orange as 22.5-point favorites.

Syracuse pummeled Louisville, 31-7, in Week 1 as a 5.5-point home underdog. Quarterback Garrett Shrader threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns, but it was the efforts of running back Sean Tucker that opened eyes. The sophomore running back rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown, while hauling in a team-high six receptions for 84 yards and a score.

The Huskies, who lost to Utah State, 31-20, at home in Week 0, bounced back to beat Central Connecticut State, 28-3. Uconn is 2-0 ATS thus far, but respected money in Vegas believes the Orange will be too strong. Syracuse is 3-0 straight-up (SU) and 2-0-1 ATS in the last three meetings with the Huskies, and bettors should expect that winning streak to easily improve after Saturday.

BET: Syracuse -22.5 (-110)

Annie Rice/Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Houston (1-0; 0-1 ATS) vs. Texas Tech (1-0; 1-0 ATS)

The line has bounced around since opening with Texas Tech as a 2.5-point home favorite against No. 25 Houston. Bettors at SI Sportsbook now find a line currently displaying the Red Raiders with a three-point demand.

Texas Tech beat Murray State Racers, 63-10, last week as a 38-point home favorite. Sophomore quarterback Donovan Smith threw for 221 yards and four touchdowns, primarily hooking up with wideouts Loic Fouonji (4/110/2) and Jerand Bradley (6/108/2). Running back Tahj Brooks added three touchdowns on the ground, helping the Red Raiders cover the more than five-touchdown spread.

Houston needed triple overtime in Week 1 to beat UTSA, 37-35, but failed to cover the 3.5-point spread. Clayton Tune threw for 206 yards and three touchdowns, connecting with junior wideout Nathaniel Dell five times and for two scores.

Texas Tech has won four consecutive meetings with Houston dating back to 2010, while boasting a lucrative 4-0 ATS mark over that span. Respected money in Vegas is backing that ATS trend to remain perfect Saturday.

BET: Texas Tech -3 (-125) Buy Hook

USC (1-0; 1-0 ATS) vs. Stanford (1-0; 0-1 ATS)

The line has ticked down since opening with No. 10 USC as a nine-point road favorite against Stanford to the Trojans now with an 8.5-point demand.

Lincoln Riley kicked off his Trojans coaching debut in impressive style, beating Rice, 66-14, as a 31.5-point home favorite. Former Oklahoma quarterback Caleb Williams threw for 249 yards and two touchdowns, while adding 68 rushing yards. Pittsburgh transfer Jordan Addison hauled in five receptions for 54 yards, while being on the receiving end of both touchdown passes by Williams.

Stanford back E.J. Smith, the son of NFL Hall of Fame running back Emmitt Smith, gained 118 yards and two touchdowns on the ground, while hauling in five receptions for 37 yards in the air against Colgate. The impressive production led to a 41-10 victory, however the Cardinal failed to cover the massive 40-point spread.

USC will have revenge on its minds after being upset 42-28 by Stanford as 18.5-point home favorites last year. While Stanford boasts a 6-4 ATS mark over the last 10 meetings against its Pac-12 foe, the Cardinal have been a solid team to fade at the betting windows after posting a dismal 1-9 ATS mark over their last 10 games. Now, they host a USC team armed with Riley, Williams and Addison.

SI Betting: USC -8 (-120) Buy Hook

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2022 SI Betting NCAA Football: 2-6 ATS
2021 SI Betting NCAA Football: 14-12 ATS
2020 SI Betting NCAA Football: 32-21 ATS

Frankie Taddeo is a successful high-stakes fantasy football player who created the first-ever DFS program ever offered in a Las Vegas sportsbook. Frankie is SI Betting's Senior Analyst and provides his significant experience and resources in the sports betting scene. You can follow Frankie on Twitter @Frankie_Fantasy for his latest betting and fantasy insights from Las Vegas.

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Published Sep 8, 2022

FRANKIE TADDEO

Frankie Taddeo is a successful high-stakes fantasy football player who created the first-ever DFS program offered in a Las Vegas sportsbook. Besides contributing NFL fantasy analysis with a Vegas slant, Frankie primarily performs as Sports Illustrated's Senior Betting Analyst providing his significant experience and resources in the sports betting scene.