Week 2 College Football Best Bets from Wes Reynolds:

Let’s look at this week’s college football best bets.

Georgia Tech (-3, 61) at Syracuse

Saturday, 12:00 p.m. (ACCN)

 

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Georgia Tech is now 2-0. They were able to cover last week against Georgia State, 35-12 (-20.5), in the proverbial letdown spot. The Yellow Jackets are now No. 23 in the AP Poll and attempting to start 2-0 in ACC play at Syracuse.

While Georgia Tech did win and cover last week vs. Georgia State in the “Battle For Atlanta,” it was not without some good fortune. On the opening drive of the game, Georgia State drove to first and goal at the 1-yard line and failed to score. They then fumbled on their own 20 on the second drive, leading to a short field for the Yellow Jackets, who converted a fourth-and-goal at the 1.

Georgia State settled for a FG after having 1st-and-goal from the 3, and then Georgia Tech scored another TD on fourth-and-goal at the 2.

Georgia Tech survived a backdoor attempt late as Georgia State failed to score a TD again on a goal-to-go situation.

The Fran Brown era began in Syracuse with a 38-22 non-covering (-17) victory vs. Ohio U. Ohio State transfer QB Kyle McCord went 27-for-39 and threw for 354 yards and four touchdowns (one interception). Granted, it does not take much to upgrade the QB position, considering the Orange were running TE Dan Villari in the Wildcat at one point.

The defense allowed Ohio’s Anthony Tyus (Northwestern transfer) to run for 203 yards and two touchdowns on just 16 carries, so there is room for improvement there.

However, this is not an easy spot for Georgia Tech, as it has to return home from Dublin and then go on the road again to New York.

Brown came to Syracuse from Georgia, where he was the DB coach, so he should be well-versed in preparing for the Yellow Jackets, although not working with as many pros as he had in Athens.

College Football Best Bet: Syracuse +3

Northern Illinois at Notre Dame (-28, 45)

Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (PEACOCK)

All week, we have heard, “Welcome to the College Football Playoff, Notre Dame.” That assessment is likely correct after the Fighting Irish went to College Station and pulled away in the fourth quarter to win 23-13.

Duke transfer QB Riley Leonard was solid in debut, throwing for 158 and rushing for another 63.

The Irish defense also held the Aggies to 246 yards, 4-for-13 on third downs, and forced two turnovers.

Meanwhile, Northern Illinois bested FCS Western Illinois 54-15. New starting QB Ethan Hampton threw for 328 and five touchdowns on just 20 passes (18-for-20) as the Huskies amassed 706 total yards. Expect NIU to run the ball more often here to shorten the game with First Team All-MAC RB Antario Brown (1,296 yards, 10 TD in 2023).

The task is clearly taller for NIU this week, taking the bus from DeKalb to South Bend. Nevertheless, the Huskies are arguably the most physical team in the MAC, and this senior-laden (30 overall) team has won outright at Boston College and at Georgia Tech in the last three years, so they should relish the challenge.

There are still a couple of 28.5s in the market, which is obviously preferred. This week should prove difficult for Notre Dame to get margin off a highly physical and gutty win and in a flattish spot.

College Football Best Bet: Northern Illinois +28

Utah State at USC (-28.5, 63)

Saturday, 11:00 p.m. ET (BTN)

Of all the perennial power brand names in college football, USC probably came into this season with buzz on the lower end of the scale. Now they have it courtesy of an outright 27-20 victory over LSU as four-point underdogs.

Miller Moss picked up where he left off from his start in place of No. 1 overall NFL Draft pick Caleb Williams in last year’s Holiday Bowl where he threw for 372 yards and six touchdown passes. In the season opener, Moss went 27-for-36 for 378 yards and two touchdowns.

However, the defense was the story, as the poaching of defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn from crosstown rival UCLA looks to have paid immediate dividends. Lynn’s defense not only limited big plays, but stiffened in the red zone, and missed very few tackles for a group that gave up 34.9 ppg (123rd) last year.

This week, Lynn’s defense will have to prepare for two quarterbacks with Utah State coming into town. Iowa transfer Spencer Petras left with an ankle injury in the second quarter last week in the 36-14 victory over FCS Robert Morris. Utah transfer Bryson Barnes came on in relief. Barnes is more of the runner and option QB of the duo.

Utah State certainly was not all that impressive against Robert Morris, considering they trailed 14-10 at half and only led by six after three quarters. However, there may have been some opening game nerves for a team that underwent a great deal of transition this summer, with now-former head coach Blake Anderson being fired for violating university rules and interim coach/defensive coordinator Nate Dreiling taking over on July 2nd.

USC has a bye on deck and then a showdown in the Big House against Michigan after that. This could be a tough spot for a team that left it all out there against LSU last Sunday and on a short week to boot.

College Football Best Bet: Utah State +28.5

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