College football betting: Ohio State among popular Week 2 bets
We saw teams finally put something on tape during Week 1 of the college football season. Some teams definitely looked more impressive than others. With some film and data now at our disposal, which games and teams are college bettors flocking toward in Week 2?
No. 12 Oregon at No. 3 Ohio State (Noon ET, Fox)
It's no surprise to see this matchup between two marquee programs on this list. This game has received more action than any other game on Saturday's slate.
Ohio State opened as 10-point favorites in this contest, but it's ballooned to a 14.5-point favorite as of Friday. Anytime a spread moves 4.5 points through the key number of 14, it's worthwhile to take notice. Ohio State is the second-most heavily bet side on the slate in terms of both ticket count and betting handle.
Both teams enter the game coming off solid wins, albeit neither team was overly impressive. The Buckeyes have had two extra days of rest and preparation after playing on Thursday of last week. Oregon travels through three time zones for a noon kickoff on the East Coast. The Ducks might also be without Kayvon Thibodeaux, a projected high first-round NFL draft pick, due to injury.
[Week 2 games to watch and picks against the spread]
No. 10 Iowa at No. 9 Iowa State (4:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
The battle for the Cy-Hawk Trophy is also getting attention from college football bettors. Two top-10 teams go head-to-head for bragging rights in the state of Iowa. This has been the second most bet game in terms of ticket count at BetMGM.
Bettors are backing the underdog Hawkeyes in this one, as Iowa has received more action than any other side on Saturday's slate in terms of both ticket count and betting handle. Iowa State opened as a 6.5-point favorite, but the current line has the Cyclones as just four-point favorites. The total has also risen from 44.5 to 46 points.
Bettors in this game are reacting to what they saw in Week 1. The Cyclones struggled with FCS opponent Northern Iowa, winning by a final score of just 16-10 as 28.5-point favorites. On the other side, the Hawkeyes demolished Indiana, winning 34-6 as just 3.5-point favorites.
Toledo at No. 8 Notre Dame (2:30 p.m. ET, Peacock)
The Notre Dame Fighting Irish are always popular. This week is no different, as they sit as 17-point favorites in their home opener against Toledo.
This has been the third-most bet game on Saturday's slate, and the majority of that action has been on the home favorite to cover the three-score spread. Notre Dame at -17 is the third-most popular bet of the slate in terms of ticket count. Despite bettors rushing to back Notre Dame, the line has moved in favor of Toledo. The market opened with Notre Dame as 18.5-point favorites.
Toledo isn't a Power-5 school, but it is one of the better teams in the MAC. It beat Norfolk State by a score of 49-10 in Week 1. On the other side, the Fighting Irish coughed up an 18-point lead to the Florida State Seminoles before winning the game in overtime. They failed to cover as touchdown favorites.
The total in this game has also moved from 53.5 points to 55.5 points. Seventy-five percent of the betting handle is on the over at BetMGM.
Washington at Michigan (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
It appears that losing to an FCS school at home as a 22.5-point favorite has a negative impact on your perception.
The Michigan Wolverines opened as 2.5-point home favorites against the Washington Huskies. That number is long gone, as Michigan is now a 7-point favorite. Michigan is the third-most popular bet on Saturday's slate in terms of betting handle.
The Wolverines were impressive in Week 1, beating Western Michigan 47-14 and covering the 16.5-point spread. On the other side, Washington's offense mustered just seven points against an FCS opponent.
Is this a potential overreaction to Week 1? I guess we'll see.
