Week 1 was an absolute delight. And it’s not even over yet! Florida State still has to play Boston College in a game that could provide more drama yet. While we wait for that one, here’s an early look at what’s on tap in Week 2.

(All odds via DraftKings unless otherwise noted.)

No. 17 Oklahoma State vs. Arkansas (noon ET, ABC)

Oklahoma State -8 | Total: 60.5 | Moneyline: Oklahoma State -340, Arkansas +270

UAPB stood no chance against a revamped Arkansas offense. While few expected a 70-0 demolition job, no one thought the Razorbacks would be challenged. Conversely, most thought South Dakota State could give Oklahoma State fits. Especially considering the recent nonconference blunders the Pokes have suffered against inferior teams. But Oklahoma State took care of business all the same. The Cowboys scored 21 in the third to take control of the game as Ollie Gordon II totaled 146 total yards and 3 touchdowns on 31 touches.

The Cowboys’ defense took control against SDSU, limiting the Jackrabbits to 3-for-17 on third and fourth downs. We’ll see if the offensive explosion Arkansas put on display in Week 1 was legit or just the start of a honeymoon phase now that Bobby Petrino is back in Fayetteville. It’s hard to score 10 touchdowns in 10 possessions no matter the competition, but UAPB is quite bad. Arkansas needs the offense to keep going.

On the defensive side, the matchup on the edges will be fascinating. UAPB had 19 runs for 40 yards (adjusted for sacks) against the Razorbacks. They ran outside the tight end 11 times and ran between the A and B gaps a combined 4 times. The middle (Cam Ball and Eric Gregory) was not tested.

Oklahoma State had a similar plan of attack against SDSU. Gordon had 21 combined carries outside the tackles. He hit the A gaps only 3 times. Containing Gordon will be the first order of business for the Razorbacks on Saturday. Getting Oklahoma State off schedule puts more onus on Alan Bowman (2.8% interception rate last year). Arkansas did well from a havoc creation standpoint in Week 1. More is needed in Week 2.

With both these teams showcasing such explosive offenses in Week 1 and not really being tested defensively, I’m looking at the over (-112 via DraftKings).

No. 9 Michigan vs. No. 4 Texas (noon ET, FOX)

Texas -7 | Total: 44.5 | Moneyline: Texas -245, Michigan +200

On one side of this matchup, we have a quarterback with talent against a defense that might be one of the best in the country. On the other, we have a shaky quarterback spot against a secondary that looked like a no-fly zone in Week 1.

Michigan sacked Fresno State quarterback Mikey Keene 3 times. Remove those from the rushing numbers, and the Bulldogs averaged 2.1 yards per carry on 19 attempts. Top tailback Malik Sherrod had 24 yards on 14 carries. The Texas run game looked fine in its opener, but you can’t really compare the front CSU presented with the one Michigan will. Week 2 will show how big a loss Cedric Baxter Jr. was for the UT offense.

Michigan needs to be able to stifle the run game and force Quinn Ewers off-schedule. Last season, the Longhorns had just a 34% success rate on passing downs.

The game has to stay close because Michigan doesn’t have the horses to get into a back-and-forth affair. The offense posted an explosive play rate of 3% in the opener. Davis Warren drew the start over Alex Orji and averaged 4.7 yards per pass attempt with a 60% completion rate. Donovan Edwards had 5 carries for 3 yards in the first half. He had only 3 successful rushing attempts all game.

I’m concerned about the Michigan offense after Week 1. Texas -6.5 at FanDuel is a good number.

No. 8 Penn State vs. Bowling Green (noon ET, BTN)

Penn State -35 | Total: 49

The college football gods saw Penn State had an offense that was rolling and decided they had to step in, opening up the skies and dumping a massive storm on Morgantown that delayed the second half of the game by more than 2 hours.

In the first half, Penn State averaged 9.2 yards per play and scored 20 points. Quarterback Drew Allar completed 8 of his 13 passes for 199 yards and 3 scores. After a fumble on the opening drive and a 3-and-out on the next possession, Penn State scored touchdowns on 3 of its final 4 drives before the break. Each of the scoring drives featured multiple chunk plays through the air.

Offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s addition was immediately felt. Allar looked comfortable and confident. Against Fordham in Week 1, Bowling Green gave up touchdown passes of 30 and 60 yards while surrendering 112 yards on 16 carries to the top Fordham tailback.

Assuming the weather doesn’t try to spoil the party again, points will be aplenty. Caesars has the total at 48 with -110 odds on the over.

Auburn vs. California (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

Auburn -14 | Total: 53.5 | Moneyline: Auburn -650, Cal +470

The underlying theme throughout most of the SEC’s Week 1 was explosive offense. Payton Thorne threw 21 passes and net 322 yards in his debut. The Tigers talked in the offseason about how beneficial a remade receiving corps would be for Thorne and that was evident right away. The Tigers averaged 16.4 yards per dropback in a 73-3 win over Alabama A&M.

Cal did not look good in its opener. The Bears had a 14-13 lead on UC Davis going into the halftime break. Three second-half interceptions from UC Davis helped the Bears take control for a 31-13 win, but Cal was outgained on the day 304-281 despite an almost-even time of possession and a play differential of just 7.

UC Davis had 3 turnovers and 3 other drives that ended with turnovers on downs. On those 6 possessions, Cal scored only 7 points. The Bears went 3-and-out 6 different times, including a stretch of 4 straight between the second and third quarters. If not for an 80-yard kickoff return, the Bears would have gone into the half trailing.

Now they have to go to Jordan-Hare Stadium and face an Auburn team whose confidence is soaring. Other sports betting apps have Auburn -13.5. Take that on your app of choice.

Kentucky vs. South Carolina (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

Kentucky -10 | Total: 45 | Moneyline: Kentucky -395, South Carolina +310

The Gamecocks are now 3-6 against the spread in their last 9 games dating back to last season. Against Old Dominion on Saturday — a 20-point dog — the Gamecocks were outgained and outclassed. New starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers completed just 10 of his 23 passes for 114 yards without a score. He did damage on the ground (68 rushing yards, 1 touchdown) but was also sacked 4 times.

Old Dominion generated 10 tackles for loss on the day. After a field goal gave SC a 16-7 lead with 7:13 remaining in the third quarter, the Gamecocks had 3 straight possessions of madness. They missed a field goal to end a 7-play, 63-yard march with nothing. Then they went 3-and-out and had a punt blocked. They then punted again after 5 plays and just 17 yards. Meanwhile, Old Dominion scored 12 straight points to take a 19-16 lead. South Carolina’s only score of the second half came off an Old Dominion fumble at its own 6-yard-line.

Sellers was pressured on 11 dropbacks and completed just 1 pass.

Kentucky, meanwhile, posted a havoc rate of 29% in its opener against Southern Miss. The Wildcats had 2 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, and 11 total quarterback pressures. Kentucky won the field position battle with an average starting drive that began at the 42 thanks to 2 interceptions and an unyielding run defense. Maybe holding out for 9 or 9.5 makes the point spread more appealing. The under feels like the move right now. This feels like it has the potential to be a game Kentucky controls without having to score a ton of points. ESPN Bet has -115 odds on under 45.5 points.

No. 15 Tennessee vs. No. 24 NC State (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

Tennessee -7.5 | Total: 59.5 | Moneyline: Tennessee -290, NC State +235

This line opened around 5 points and I don’t think there was enough reaction to just how bad NC State looked in Week 1. Western Carolina had a 14-7 lead after one quarter and a 21-17 lead going into the fourth quarter. The absence of linebacker Payton Wilson in the middle of the defense was profound. Not only was Wilson the Wolfpack’s leading tackler last season, he was also a rock in coverage.

Western Carolina quarterback Cole Gonzales killed the Wolfpack between the numbers in their game. Fifteen of his 22 completions came between the numbers and within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. NC State’s linebackers were poor in coverage throughout most of the game. But the corners weren’t much better. Two-time All-ACC selection Aydin White gave up a 32-yard completion and allowed 5 total receptions on 11 targets. Western Carolina went right at him.

Dont’e Thornton had a huge game as the deep-ball man in the Tennessee opener. Dylan Sampson was active in the pass game. Squirrel White was quiet, but he’s one to watch in Week 2 as a slot guy. I think Tennessee’s passing attack can feast on the Wolfpack defense in Charlotte. Back the Vols -7.5 at FanDuel.

Nebraska vs. Colorado (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC)

Nebraska -7 | Total: 57.5 | Moneyline: Nebraska -250, Colorado +205

Nebraska outgained UTEP 507-205 in a 40-7 win. Mini Mahomes (as Dylan Raiola shall henceforth be referred to as) threw for 238 yards and 2 touchdowns in his collegiate debut. Nebraska ran for 229 at 5 yards a pop as a team (adjusted for sacks).

But 2 things stood out above anything else. The first: only 1 turnover. The second: only 3 penalties. Nebraska has been beating itself for years. Season after season, week after week, the Huskers have outgained and outsmarted teams but lost because of self-inflicted errors. Nebraska had the most turnovers in the country last season. It has 107 turnovers in 46 games over the last 5 seasons.

Tailback Dante Dowdell had a fumble in the second quarter that led directly to a UTEP score. Nebraska was clean from then on. Raiola didn’t put the ball on the ground, and he didn’t have a single turnover-worthy throw, according to PFF.

The only way Colorado beats Nebraska in Lincoln is if the Huskers give the football away. NU has a defense that should be able to cause problems up front for Colorado. And the pass game should dice up Colorado’s secondary. North Dakota State averaged 10.4 yards per dropback against the Buffs.

No. 14 Clemson vs. Appalachian State (8 p.m. ET, ACC Network)

Clemson -17.5 | Total: 52.5 | Moneyline: Clemson -950, App State +625

This is an early contender for Best Bets. The Mountaineers scored 38 points in their opener as quarterback Joey Aguilar completed 22 of his 36 passes for 326 yards and 2 touchdowns. App State had 7 different players log rushing attempts and 7 different players catch a pass. They had explosive plays of 34, 47, 47 (run), and 83 yards in the game. It’s all gas, no brakes for the Mountaineers in 2024 and they should be smelling blood in the water as they head to Clemson in Week 2.

Clemson was handled by Georgia in its opener. The Tigers didn’t score a single touchdown, extending a streak of offensive possessions without a TD in the series against Georgia to thirty-one straight. Clemson has faced Georgia 3 times now in the last decade. Since taking a 21-14 lead over the Bulldogs in a 2014 game, they’ve been outscored 68-6 across 10 quarters of play.

But coach Dabo Swinney said after the game that Clemson “matched up well” with Georgia in terms of talent but “details” cost the Tigers the game.

Not sure a 34-3 loss is a good indicator of equivalent talent. More than anything, we got another indicator that quarterback Cade Klubnik (18-for-29, 142 yards, 1 pick) might not be the answer at quarterback.

I like App State against the spread in this spot. Bet365 has the Mountaineers at +18.

No. 3 Oregon vs. Boise State (10 p.m. ET, Peacock)

Oregon -18.5 | Total: 61.5 | Moneyline: Oregon -1200, Boise State +750

The Ducks had to work their feathers off for every single point. It was not what anyone expected to see from an Oregon group that had won its previous 2 games against FCS competition by a combined score of 151-21.

The offensive line had a poor day. The absence of Rimington Trophy-winning center Jackson Powers-Johnson was felt. Oregon was also missing its expected starter at right guard. That helped Idaho record 3 sacks against an Oregon team that gave up 5 total sacks all last season. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel got hit in the hand at one point in the first half and that affected the shot game in the second half.

Boise State is a curious second opponent for Oregon if the offensive line is indeed an issue. Edge rusher Ahmed Hassanein led the Broncos with 53 total quarterback pressures last season. That was tied for the seventh-most by any Group of 5 defender. In a 56-45 win over Georgia Southern, he had 5 quarterback pressures but didn’t get in on any of the team’s 4 sacks.

Boise was one of the betting favorites to earn the G5’s Playoff spot in the preseason. The 45 points allowed to Georgia Southern were the most the Boise defense had surrendered since last season’s opener at Washington.

But the Broncos won in part because star tailback Ashton Jeanty had 267 rushing yards and 6 scores on 20 carries. The ground game as a whole produced 371 yards at 10.6 a pop. Idaho didn’t really test the Ducks’ run defense, and Oregon didn’t stuff any of the runs it did face.

So do you get a bounceback game from a talented team that drastically underperformed in Week 1? Or do you get a hangover game against a team with talent? Oregon has failed to cover a spread 7 other times under Dan Lanning. The Ducks are 6-1 ATS in the following week, beating the number by an average of 14.3 points in the 6 wins.

No. 23 USC vs. Utah State (11 p.m. ET, BTN)

USC -28 | Total: 62.5

What a debut for the USC defense under D’Anton Lynn. While the Trojans did give up 421 yards, they only allowed 20 points. Yes, Alex Grinch’s defenses were bend-don’t-break in nature but this felt different. USC wasn’t reliant on takeaways to bail out drives. Instead, the Trojans posted a 50% stop rate and turned the Tigers away on a drive that reached all the way to the USC 3.

LSU ran 24 plays inside USC’s 40-yard-line and came away with 20 total points. The Tigers were 6-for-15 on third and fourth down. USC didn’t record a sack, but Lynn dialed up pressure at the right times and his defense swarmed to the football whenever possible.

The Trojans were playing a pretty good quarterback in LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier. Now, they’ll face a passing attack that won’t offer close to the same threat. Given the way Miller Moss has looked in his 2 starts for Lincoln Riley, this should not be a competitive affair. Back the Trojans as a 28-point favorite at DraftKings.