It's back to the drawing board once more to generate the best bets for Week 2. Upon working on the Big Ten exclusively, it's now time to accelerate to the national pulpit and scrounge up the remnants of value that's cloaked in the weeds.
Big Ten Picks
Penn State Team Total Over 34
Maryland-Bowling Green First Half Under 34.5
Nebraska-South Alabama Under 54
Miami (Ohio) First Half +17.5
Ohio State-Hawaii Under 60
Washington State +3, Rutgers-WSU Under 63, Rutgers Team Total Under 33
Indiana -7.5
Michigan -14.5, Oregon State Team Total Under 17
Michigan State -3.5
Iowa-Iowa State Over 54
Week 2 Trends to Consider
Fresno State is 0-7 against the spread and opponent's team total over is 7-0 the last seven contests versus non-conference teams [at Ole Miss]
Nevada is on a 5-0 run against the spread as a double-digit underdog [+12 vs. Arizona]
LSU is on a 7-0 run to the over its last seven FBS openers [48, at Mississippi State]
Florida State is 2-8 against the spread the last 10 games as a double-digit favorite [-27.5 vs. South Florida]
Georgia Tech is 18-5 to the over versus non-conference opponents [54.5, vs. Tulane]
Stanford is 12-4 to the under when the total is set in the 40s [43, vs. UCF]
Oregon is 6-0-1 to the over its last seven non-conference match ups [67.5, at Michigan State]
Best Bets
Temple at Cincinnati
Time: Saturday, September 12th (8 ET)
Line: Bearcats -6.5, 51.5
We're going to find out how good this Temple Owls team really is after they shocked Penn State last Saturday. Frankly, I'm not ready to buy Matt Rhule's east coast warriors just yet, as they'll run into a well-oiled machine in Gunnar Kiel and the Cincinnati Bearcats. This will be a night game in Cincy and could be a great spot to fade the Owls following a significant win versus a Power Five, and I think getting the Bearcats under a touchdown could spell trouble for Temple backers.
Pick: Cincinnati Bearcats -6.5
Appalachian State at Clemson
Time: Saturday, September 12th (12:30 ET)
Line: Clemson -17, 58.5
Very rarely do I fall into traps.
When the 'books set those top-tier clubs as skimpy favorites, it's either time to lay off or grab the underdog, and I sincerely believe there's value with Appalachian State in Death Valley.
The Mountaineers are far from the FCS program it represented in year's past. It's a club that was projected to win 8-9 games in the Sun Belt prior to season's opening, and should be prepared to take on a Clemson club that appears shorthanded on the defensive side of the ball.
Appalachian State has some nice talent on offense and will measure up with a Tigers' defense that sent a slew of guys to the draft following 2014. I sincerely think that the sportsbooks are setting traps here--I'm not biting.
Pick: Appalachian State +17.5
Lock of the Week
Washington State at Rutgers
Time: Saturday, September 12th (3:30 ET)
Line: Rutgers -3, 63
Saturday's meeting between Rutgers and Washington State is a perfect case of buying low and selling high. The Scarlet Knights are coming off a large win versus Norfolk State while the Cougars were exposed to Portland State at home.
I mentioned earlier that Wazzou head coach Mike Leach typically has rebounded well in this situation, covering 67% of road games following a home loss, and this line should have opened up in the six to eight-point range, but instead has Rutgers the favorite by a mere field goal.
The public should see this line and automatically back Rutgers at home, but the Cougars are searching for revenge after a 41-38 loss to open up 2014, and I don't necessarily want to buy into a Scarlet Knights program that hasn't proved anything just yet.
If Washington State can win the turnover battle, then they should absolutely escape Piscataway with a win.
Pick: Washington State +3
Picks
Penn State Team Total Over 34
Maryland-Bowling Green First Half Under 34.5
Nebraska-South Alabama Under 54
Miami (Ohio) First Half +17.5
Ohio State-Hawaii Under 60
Rutgers-WSU Under 63, Rutgers Team Total Under 33
Indiana -7.5
Michigan -14.5, Oregon State Team Total Under 17
Michigan State -3.5
Iowa-Iowa State Over 54
Cincinnati -6.5*
Appalachian State +17*
Washington State +3**