College Football Week 2 Opening Lines, Odds & Best Bets: Minnesota Physicality Prevails

Week 1 is in the rearview mirror, which means it’s finally time we get a fresh set of lines and odds to handicap before this weekend’s contests. Week 2 is a loaded slate, headlined by non-conference matchups like Missouri vs Kansas, Oklahoma vs Michigan, Memphis vs Boise State, Tennessee vs Georgia Tech, Iowa State vs Iowa and Ohio State vs Texas while also including some conference matchups like Alabama vs Kentucky, Arizona vs BYU, Navy vs FAU and USF vs Army. 

Ahead of the loaded Week 2 college football card, it’s time to peruse the oddsboard, analyze the early lines and find ourselves an early best-bet winner. With Notre Dame’s win and cover against Wisconsin, I’ve already extended my early-week best bet record to 2-0 this year and 22-10 dating back to the start of the 2024 season, so I’m anxious to get into this week’s slate. Let’s dive in, and don't forget our college football picks for tips and analysis on every FBS game throughout the year.

2026 College Football Week 0 Opening Lines and Odds

Odds courtesy of bet365 and available at the time of publishing.

Thursday, September 10

• Miami -53.5 (-110) vs Florida A&M; Total 60.5 (-110)

Friday, September 11

• Boston College -3.5 (-110) vs Rutgers; Total 54.5 (-110)
• Missouri -6.5 (-105) @ Kansas; Total 50.5 (-110)

Saturday, September 12

• East Carolina -8.5 (-110) vs App State; Total 56.5 (-110)
• Texas A&M -14.5 (-105) vs Arizona State; Total 51.5 (-110)
• Oklahoma -5.5 (-110) @ Michigan; Total 43.5 (-110)
• Virginia Tech -18.5 (-105) vs Old Dominion; Total 50.5 (-110)
• Oregon -22.5 (-110) @ Oklahoma State; Total 57.5 (Over -115)
• Army -3.5 (-110) vs USF; Total 48.5 (-110)
• Wake Forest -3.5 (-115) @ Purdue; Total 50.5 (Under -115)
• Kansas State -17.5 (-110) vs Washington State; Total 50.5 (-110)
• Alabama -10.5 (-105) @ Kentucky; Total 48.5 (-110)
• BYU -7.5 (-110) vs Arizona; Total 50.5 (-110)
• Syracuse -3.5 (-110) vs Cal; Total 56.5 (-110)
• Illinois -6.5 (-105) vs Duke; Total 54.5 (-110)
• Mississippi State -1.5 (-110) @ Minnesota; Total 55.5 (-110)
• Pitt -7.5 (-110) vs UCF; Total 57.5 (-110)
• UNLV -3.5 (-110) @ North Texas; Total 57.5 (Under -115)
• Vanderbilt -20.5 (-115) vs Delaware; Total 53.5 (Over -115)
• Ohio -2.5 (-110) vs Jacksonville State; Total 51.5 (-110)
• Boise State -7.5 (-115) vs Memphis; Total 55.5 (-110)
• Tulane -9.5 (-115) vs South Alabama; Total 50.5 (-110)
• Tennessee -12.5 (115) @ Georgia Tech; Total 55.5 (-110)
• Tulsa -13.5 (-115) @ Sam Houston State; Total 52.5 (-110)
• UCLA -11.5 (-105) vs San Diego State; Total 53.5 (-110)
• Iowa -14.5 (-105) vs Iowa State; Total 41.5 (Under -115)
• Navy -5.5 (-115) @ FAU; Total 59.5 (-110)
• Texas -1.5 (-105) vs Ohio State; Total 48.5 (Under -115)
• Utah -12.5 (-110) vs Arkansas; Total 56.5 (-110)
• Montana State -5.5 (-110) @ Nevada; Total 50.5 (-110)
• Hawaii -9.5 (-110) vs New Mexico State; Total 50.5 (-110)

College Football Week 2 Best Bet: Minnesota Golden Gophers +1.5 over Mississippi State Bulldogs (-110)

I am pretty shocked to see Mississippi State as a road favorite in Big Ten country. Minnesota may not carry the same prestige as the name-brand schools in this conference, but the Golden Gophers have a veteran, smash-mouth football team under P.J. Fleck that can go toe-to-toe with any power-conference program physically. In fact, Fleck’s team sits seventh nationally in returning production with 71% of the offense and 65% of the defense back this year, including some of its best offensive linemen, quarterback Drake Lindsey, stud running back Darius Taylor, leading tackler Maverick Baranowski, sacks leader Anthony Smith and interceptions leader John Nestor. Meanwhile, Mississippi State ranks 86th in returning production, bringing back just 44% of the offense and 52% of the defense. 

Returning production isn’t everything, but it means a lot so early in the season, especially when playing in a true road game for the first time. The Minnesota faithful are going to relish the opportunity to host an SEC opponent, no matter who it is, so expect Huntington Bank Stadium to be rabid – making it hard on an opposing offense that returns just one offensive linemen that played more than 50 snaps in Starkville last year. Let’s not forget, as promising as sophomore quarterback Kamario Taylor has been in limited action, we’ve seen him start just full games at this level and none of those were in a true road setting. 

This largely inexperienced Mississippi State offensive line is going to have its hands full with Smith off the edge. Smith led the Big Ten with 12.5 sacks last year, and he paired that with 17.5 tackles for loss. I expect the pressure he provides to force Taylor into at least a couple turnover-worthy plays, which Nestor is more than capable of cleaning up as one of the better coverage corners in the Big Ten. I also don’t expect running back Fluff Bothwell to find much space, as Baranowski and safety Kerry Brown have shown the ability to roam the entire field and stuff the run where needed – which was why the Golden Gophers were a top-30 run defense last year. 

All things considered, I expect a Minnesota win here, but why not take the extra point of security if it’s being offered?