Football

Alabama-Texas is the game of the weekend in college football, and we take a look at the betting matchup.

Of the nine (!) touchdowns scored in the quarter, six came on scrimmage plays of at least 13 yards and another was the result of a 43-yard kickoff return. Richardson threw for only 168 yards on 24 attempts, and Kentucky similarly limited Miami quarterback Brett Gabbert (20 for 28, only 166 yards, with 24 of them coming on one play). For the game, Georgia State had an offensive success rate of just 24.6 percent, which isn’t good. [9 of 11 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown on first down](https://www.si.com/college/2022/09/06/college-football-quarterback-battles-week-2-preview). Kentucky, which is thin at running back with presumed starter Chris Rodriguez suspended and backup Ramon Jefferson limited to two rushes last weekend because of injury, scored on 5 of 6 red-zone trips in its 37-13 win over Miami (Ohio) on Saturday. [counted](https://www.espn.com/college-football/insider/story/_/id/34011957/pac-12-college-football-preview-anyone-make-run-oregon-north) no players who were either four- or five-star recruits on their roster and only seven former three-star recruits in his season preview — was on full display in their season opener, when Washington State struggled to put away visiting Idaho in a 24-17 win. Add it all up and the underdog can do enough to keep this close. Sure, it was an overmatched Football Championship Subdivision foe, but considering Washington State’s offensive struggles last weekend against a lower-level opponent of its own, we’ll take the favorite here. The Badgers held Illinois State quarterback Zack Annexstad to just 186 passing yards and picked him off twice in last weekend’s 38-0 win. But after a 23-yard pass on its first play from scrimmage last weekend against Alabama, here’s what Utah State was able to muster on its next nine first downs (which more or less covers the competitive portion of the game): rush for minus-two yards, one-yard rush, incomplete pass, rush for minus-four yards, rush for no gain, pass for minus-two yards, seven-yard rush, rush for no gain, rush for minus-one yard. Can Texas and Coach Steve Sarkisian, who served as an analyst under Saban in 2016 and then was the Crimson Tide’s offensive coordinator in 2019 and 2020, give Saban’s former assistants a third win, or at least keep things within the rather large point spread? But both of those losses came last season, when Jimbo Fisher and

Dig into the players who might be tough start/sit calls in your lineup and who could be the breakout stars everyone wants in Week 2.

They were good when it came to rushing touchdowns, giving up just seven to opposing running backs on the year. I fully expect Pollard to see significant snaps and make an impact in the passing game and on edge runs. The team signed Akiem Hicks to replace Suh; he was the lynchpin to the Bears tough run defense for several seasons. He should be able to play against the Titans, but it's unknown if he'll be limited or even at full speed. - The Jets pass defense gave up the third-most yards through the air in 2021 but were league-average to wide receivers (2,659 yards). Dobbins is partially available, expect Jackson to throw a little more than usual. To be fair, the Texans defense should be in better shape for this week's game. - The main reason why you'd roll with Hines in full-PPR is that Indianapolis is expected to incorporate targets to its running backs. - While the Steelers have a lot of targets to feed, they've talked up Freiermuth's athleticism and after-catch abilities. The 49ers allowed the second-fewest yards to tight ends last year, but on the third-fewest targets. He had some designed plays to him this preseason. - Chicago's secondary is talented, but very young and probably preparing to play a lot of zone coverage.

By now you've read my fantasy football team profiles, picked your sleepers, avoided busts and executed a draft (or several). I'm managing five fantasy teams ...

Sleeper: Albert Okwuegbunam (DEN) is the No. Tony Pollard (DAL) remains a solid flex option with upside in PPR formats. Who to start: JuJu Smith-Schuster (KC) has WR2 upside as the presumed top wide receiver in the Chiefs offense. Who to sit: Sammy Watkins (GB) is a boom-or-bust option against a young secondary. I’m still in wait-and-see mode with rookie receivers Romeo Doubs (GB) and Christian Watson (GB). (JAC) is a boom-or-bust option to begin the season. Austin Hooper (TEN) is a touchdown-dependent option this week. Kareem Hunt (CLE) maintains his flex value with RB2 upside as a compliment to Chubb. Who to start: Consistent volume should help Amari Cooper (CLE) produce as a WR3/flex option. (JAC) has RB2 upside as the featured running back in this offense, especially in PPR formats. Who to start: This is a solid matchup for Trey Lance (SF) to begin his reign as starting quarterback. The Steelers D/ST allowed 65 points in two games last season (including 41 in Cincy).

Will USC avenge its 2021 loss to Stanford? Do Steve Sarkisian and Texas stand a chance against Alabama? Here are eight Week 2 matchups worth watching.

21 BYU (1-0) 12 Florida (1-0) 9 Baylor (1-0) at No. USC is expecting a better result than [last season’s 42-28 loss](https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/story/2021-09-11/usc-loses-stanford-kedon-slovis-clay-helton-pac-12) to Stanford at the Coliseum, which was [Clay Helton’s last game](https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/story/2021-09-13/clay-helton-fired-usc-football-coach) as coach. 17 Pittsburgh (1-0) In an offensive show last season, the Bears beat the Cougars 38-24 at Waco. [Quarterback Caleb Williams](https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/story/2022-09-01/usc-quarterback-caleb-williams-heisman-trophy) had an impressive debut for USC, completing 86.3% of his passes, the best performance since Matt Barkley’s against Colorado in 2012. 20 Kentucky (1-0) at No. [Kedon Slovis](https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/story/2021-12-21/former-usc-quarterback-kedon-slovis-transferring-to-pitt), the former [USC](https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc) quarterback who led Pitt to a seven-point win over West Virginia last week. After the Gators got a last-minute interception that stopped Utah 29-26 last week, the Wildcats could bring more drama to the Southeastern Conference opener for both teams at Gainesville. 24 Tennessee (1-0) at No. [Steve Sarkisian](https://www.latimes.com/sports/usc/story/2021-09-02/to-recover-from-usc-fall-texas-coach-steve-sarkisian-shut-out-those-who-built-him), the past meets the future when the Crimson Tide visit the Longhorns in Austin.

The Pac-12 is wasting little time in jumping into its conference schedule, at least for a pair of teams. No. 14 USC will visit Stanford on Saturday at 7:30 ...

[New Mexico](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/teams/NMEX/new-mexico-lobos/) (+17, 46.5) [+550BET NOW ] [+17-110BET NOW ] [o44-110BET NOW ] [-800BET NOW ] [-17-110BET NOW ] [u44-110BET NOW ] [Iowa State](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/teams/IOWAST/iowa-state-cyclones/) (+3.5) stays within the spread on the road versus [Iowa](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/teams/IOWA/iowa-hawkeyes/) at 4 p.m. [Pittsburgh](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/teams/PITT/pittsburgh-panthers/) covers as a 6-point home underdog against [Tennessee](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/teams/TENN/tennessee-volunteers/) in a 3:30 p.m. [Mississippi State](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/teams/MISSST/mississippi-state-bulldogs/) (-10.5). [college football picks](https://www.sportsline.com/college-football/picks/) against the spread. [USC](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/teams/USC/usc-trojans/) transfer [Kedon Slovis](/college-football/players/3123467/kedon-slovis/) looks to be a suitable replacement after he guided the Panthers to a win over [West Virginia](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/teams/WVU/west-virginia-mountaineers/) in the Backyard Brawl last week. [Arizona](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/teams/ARIZ/arizona-wildcats/) vs. The Vols weren't tested to that extent in a laugher against [Ball State](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/teams/BALLST/ball-state-cardinals/). [college football odds](https://www.sportsline.com/college-football/odds/) from Caesars and locked in picks for every FBS matchup. Iowa has now scored just two total TDs over its last three games dating back to last year as its offense, which ranked 99th (out of 130 teams) in scoring in 2021, doesn't look like it's improved any. It wasn't the best of season openers for the conference last week with both [Utah](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/teams/UTAH/utah-utes/) and [Oregon](https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/teams/OREG/oregon-ducks/) losing. Caesars Sportsbook has USC as a 9-point favorite in the latest Week 2 [college football](/college-football) odds, with the over/under set at 65.5.

Matchups are a driving force behind weekly lineup decisions in fantasy football. Here are the most and least favorable matchups at QB, RB, WR and TE for ...

[DJ Moore](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3915416/dj-moore), [Carolina Panthers](/nfl/team/_/name/car/carolina-panthers) (vs. [Mike Gesicki](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3116164/mike-gesicki), Miami Dolphins (vs. Hockenson](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4036133/tj-hockenson), Detroit Lions (vs. [Marquez Valdes-Scantling](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3051738/marquez-valdes-scantling), [Kansas City Chiefs](/nfl/team/_/name/kc/kansas-city-chiefs) (at [Arizona Cardinals](/nfl/team/_/name/ari/arizona-cardinals)). [Breece Hall](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4427366/breece-hall), [New York Jets](/nfl/team/_/name/nyj/new-york-jets) (vs. [Albert Okwuegbunam](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4035115/albert-okwuegbunam) (Broncos, at Seahawks) doesn't stack up against the Seahawks as well as his wide receiver teammates do, but where Wilson stands out, the tight end should follow suit. [Russell Wilson](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/14881/russell-wilson), [Denver Broncos](/nfl/team/_/name/den/denver-broncos) (at [Seattle Seahawks](/nfl/team/_/name/sea/seattle-seahawks)). ... [Rashaad Penny](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/3139925/rashaad-penny) (Seattle Seahawks, vs. ... As the WR2 in a WR1-TE1-WR2 pecking order, [DeVonta Smith](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/4241478/devonta-smith) (Philadelphia Eagles, at Detroit Lions) will primarily be appealing in fantasy when facing defenses as weak as the aforementioned Lions. [Matthew Stafford](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/12483/matthew-stafford), Los Angeles Rams (vs. [Jameis Winston](https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/_/id/2969939/jameis-winston) ( [New Orleans Saints](/nfl/team/_/name/no/new-orleans-saints), at [Atlanta Falcons](/nfl/team/_/name/atl/atlanta-falcons)) has averaged 24.6 fantasy points in his past seven meetings with the Falcons, passing for three-plus scores in six of them, but to be fair, those occurred between 2016 and '19. [Buffalo Bills](/nfl/team/_/name/buf/buffalo-bills)).

Week 1 of the college football season did not disappoint, but now it's time to turn the page to Week 2.

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The headliner of the weekend is Alabama's road game at Texas, but beyond that there's good ones featuring Tennessee vs. Pitt and Kentucky vs. Florida. Buy ...

Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. 12 Florida (1-0) 17 Pitt (1-0) The prediction: See Tipico.com for Terms and Conditions. The game: The bets: Football Bowl Subdivision football games, you’re in luck! 20 Kentucky (1-0) at No. Syndication: The Tennessean We’ll give you the latest point spread, money line odds and over/under number, as well as the information you’ll need to make the smartest bet at

You may not have noticed it last weekend as you were most likely writing scathing emails to Brian Ferentz, but there were other football games played ...

[Wake Forest](https://www.bloggersodear.com) @ Vanderbilt and Duke @ Northwestern are in the morning window. Looking at the rest of the night’s schedule...well...it’s a lot of paycheck games and record padding, so I hope you can’t wait for Southern @ LSU or Hawai’i @ #4 Michigan (really, Wolverines, at least Vanderbilt had the coconuts to play them on the road). [Boise State](https://www.obnug.com) @ New Mexico. Maybe it doesn’t, maybe we got spoiled too early in the season, but just when you least expect it the stars align and we get Furman upsetting #5 Clemson. After the five straight days of football we enjoyed last weekend, and just how entertaining they were, it’s hard to see how this weekend lives up to it. I’ll have more thoughts in the Pants Predicts for this game but all I’ll say here is this one could be ugly in either a great way or terrible way for the Hawkeyes and right now I just don’t know which way to lean. I’m about the farthest thing from a Florida fan, but when your QB can make plays like this you want to see more. They’re two of the biggest brands in college football, and so much airtime this offseason was spent on whether or not “Texas is back!”. But that’s all part of the allure of college football; the feeling that at any moment, in any game, lightning could strike and you could witness something remarkable. Hell, even the miasma that was SDSU at Iowa felt like some weird historic event you’d eventually tell your children about. As much as I enjoy NFL games, they feel like an office outing for drinks and a bite to eat compared to college football’s weekend-long bachelor party of drunken revelry. And many of them were simply tremendous.