College football betting, odds, lines: Three early Week 2 bets to make right now
- - College football betting, odds, lines: Three early Week 2 bets to make right now
Corbie CraigSeptember 2, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Week 1 of college football wasted no time in reminding us why Saturdays in the fall are unmatched. Four of the nation’s top 10 teams went down, “buy games” got dicey for a handful of Power Four schools (looking at you, Kansas State) and bettors were treated to a slate packed with volatility from Thursday through Sunday.
Now, as Week 2 approaches, the market has already started moving. Early Monday steam shaped several numbers, giving us a window into where sharp groups are finding value. Let’s break down the most notable moves, and the bets I’m making early this week.
Odds courtesy of BetMGM.
Western Kentucky at Toledo (-7, 58.5)
The Rockets impressed in their Week 1 performance against Kentucky, and professional bettors clearly liked what they saw. Toledo opened -5, but steady sharp action pushed this line all the way up to the key number of -7.
Still, I’m not buying the move. My projection for this game came in at Toledo -4, leaving little room for value at the current number. Not every piece of steam is worth tailing, and this is one I’ll sit out.
Fresno State at Oregon State (-3, 48.5)
Oregon State closed as a surprising underdog in Week 1 after late steam pushed the Beavers from 2.5-point favorite to 3-point underdogs. That fade proved justified as Cal controlled the game throughout in a 34-15 win. This week, however, sharps are buying low.
The line has swung back in Oregon State’s favor, sitting -3 against Fresno State. My numbers support the move, I make the Beavers -4.5 here, and the market correction feels warranted after last week’s late flip.
Ball State at Auburn (-43.5, 55.5)
Games with spreads this big often come down to a few key questions: Does the favorite have incentive to score 50? Can the underdog score at all? And what happens when the backups enter? For Auburn-Ball State, the answers lean toward the under.
Yes, Auburn looked strong in its opener, but much of the tempo came from Baylor’s pass-heavy attack (48 attempts, 400-plus yards). Auburn’s offense played fast but wasn’t relentlessly explosive, mainly relying on the legs of Jackson Arnold, Damari Alston and Jeremiah Cobb. Ball State’s offense, meanwhile, looked anemic on film.
Bet: Under 55.5 (-110, BetMGM)
North Carolina (-21.5) at Charlotte
Week 2 is all about finding mispriced upside, and Charlotte fits the bill. Despite heavy preseason steam, the 49ers got smoked by Appalachian State in their opener. That poor showing may create a buy-low opportunity.
North Carolina enters this game off a short week after facing TCU on Monday night. If the Tar Heels look shaky, this line could dip under the key number of 21. Locking in +21.5 now protects against that move and provides a high-upside play on a Charlotte team that sharps were bullish on all offseason.
Bet: Charlotte +21.5 (-110, BetMGM)
South Florida at Florida (-17.5, 54.5)
South Florida was one of Week 1’s darlings, moving from +9 to +3.5 before kickoff against Boise State, and then dominating from wire to wire. That sets up a potential “sell high” spot, but situationally, I’m not ready to fade the Bulls.
They travel to Gainesville with Florida looking ahead to LSU. The Bulls showed last year they can hang with SEC teams, giving Alabama a legitimate scare, and quarterback Byrum Brown’s health gives them a dynamic offensive ceiling. Meanwhile, Florida’s QB room thins out dramatically behind DJ Lagway, making a backdoor cover all the more possible if he’s pulled early.
Bet: South Florida +17.5 (-110, BetMGM)
Source: “AOL AOL Sports”
