College Football Week 2 Line Move Plays

The CLV diehards were awfully disappointed after the first full week of college football. According to Brad Powers, there were 44 sides or totals where the odds moved by three points or more last week. Those sides and totals went 20-24 ATS against the opening line and a putrid 16-28 ATS against the closing number per the college football gambling odds. That is unlikely to stay though, so let’s take a look at some of the numbers that have been on the move this week in college football.

College Football Week 2 Betting Odds at BetRivers Sportsbook

Nebraska +3
Colorado -3
Total 59

Once again, we have to talk about the Colorado Buffaloes. They have quickly become the most public team of the season after their upset victory over TCU as a three-touchdown underdog per the CFB betting line in Week 1. The Buffaloes made a lot of money for their bettors last week, so we saw an incredible line swing between the preseason Game of the Year lines and the Opening Week 2 Lines. Initially, Nebraska was an 8.5-point favorite on the road in Boulder, but the Cornhuskers are now a three-point underdog per the football betting odds. We have seen numbers as low as Colorado -1.5 and as high as Colorado -5 since Saturday night, so the sportsbooks are crossing their fingers that the final score doesn’t land within that range.

As we did with our College Football Week 2 Picks article that was published yesterday, we are going with Nebraska here. Matt Rhule gets the most out of the talent on his roster, and the Huskers have a solid defense that will keep games close while Georgia Tech transfer Jeff Sims continues to develop as a passer.

Play: Nebraska +3

Texas State +13
UTSA -13
Total 66

Texas State was responsible for the biggest upset according to the CFB betting line in Week 1. The Bobcats stunned the Baylor Bears 42-31 in Waco, scoring their first-ever victory over a Power Five opponent in the process. Now, Texas State is looking to show that it has made up significant ground on in-state rival UTSA.

The Roadrunners had a chance to pick up a program-shaping win of their own, but they lost to the Houston Cougars 17-14 on the road. Frank Harris had an uncharacteristic poor performance, completing just 50% of his passes while throwing three interceptions, and that played a big part in UTSA’s defeat.

Initially, oddsmakers installed UTSA as an 11-point favorite in this game, and the money has gone against Texas State. The number that has moved the most though has been the total. The first total we saw was 62, but it took little time in climbing all the way to 66. That number is now a bit too high, yet UTSA is still a solid choice as less than a two-touchdown favorite.

Play: UTSA -13

Wisconsin -6
Washington State +6
Total 59

This is one of the more underrated games of the week as Washington State will be particularly fired up against a Power Five opponent considering their future. The Cougars were left high and dry alongside Oregon State when the Pac 12 collapsed, and they will likely be forced into the Mountain West Conference in the next year or two. However, the line has moved against the hosts at this point as Wisconsin was originally a four-point favorite per the football betting odds.

There has been a significant amount of movement on the total too. Wisconsin is in the process of bringing its offense into the 21^st Century under new head coach Luke Fickell and transfer quarterback Tanner Mordecai, so the over/under has risen from 55 to 59.

However, Mordecai didn’t look great in his first start with Wisconsin. He threw a touchdown and two interceptions while averaging just 6.1 YPA against Buffalo last Saturday. Washington State’s defense is not the joke it was when the dearly departed Mike Leach was in Pullman, and that is not an environment where its easy to win. Meanwhile, Cameron Ward is the type of quarterback that can win a game on his own, so Washington State is a live dog at home.

Play: Washington State +6