Week 2 NCAA CFB Heat Check: Michigan at Oklahoma is the primetime must‑watch

Quick hits: Week 2 brings a juicy mix of rivalry venom (Cy‑Hawk), brand-name showdowns (Michigan at Oklahoma), and tune-ups for national title hopefuls.

The market has settled on a handful of heavy favorites, but key injuries and Week 1 headlines hint at a few sneaky spots where the number may be a touch rich.

Buckle in—here’s your fast, watch-and-wager roadmap using the featured slate, TV windows, and current lines.

Northern Illinois at Maryland (Fri 7:30 pm ET, BTN; MD -17 to -17.5)

Maryland’s speed on the edges should stress a sturdy but outgunned NIU defense. Terps’ balance and tempo play here.

Prediction: Maryland 38, NIU 17 (Terps cover)

Western Illinois at Northwestern (Fri 7:30 pm ET, BTN; NU -28.5)

FCS vs Big Ten trench gap is the story; Wildcats should control field position and the clock.

Prediction: Northwestern 45, Western Illinois 7 (NU covers)

Eastern Washington at Boise State (Fri 9:00 pm ET, FS1; BSU -27.5)

The blue turf boost plus Boise’s ground game wears down EWU late.

Prediction: Boise State 48, Eastern Washington 17 (BSU covers)

Northwestern State at Minnesota (Sat 12:00 pm ET, BTN; No line)

Gophers’ defense dictates; short fields equal points.

Prediction: Minnesota 41, Northwestern State 6

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San Jose State at No. 7 Texas (Sat 12:00 pm ET, ABC; TEX -36.5)

After the most-watched Week 1 headliner spotlighted Texas’ star power nationally, the Longhorns get a palate cleanser. WR Emmett Mosley V (hamstring) is questionable, but the depth chart is loaded.

Prediction: Texas 52, San Jose State 10 (Texas covers)

Kent State at No. 24 Texas Tech (Sat 12:00 pm ET, TNT; TTU -48.5)

Red Raiders talent gap is massive, but QB Behren Morton (lower leg) is questionable—enough to temper a 48.5-point ask.

Prediction: Texas Tech 49, Kent State 10 (Kent State covers)

FIU at No. 2 Penn State (Sat 12:00 pm ET, BTN; PSU -41.5)

PSU’s front seven should live in the backfield. Explosives on offense do the rest.

Prediction: Penn State 55, FIU 7 (PSU covers)

East Texas A&M (Texas A&M–Commerce) at No. 14 Florida State (Sat 12:00 pm ET, ACCN; No line)

TE Randy Pittman Jr. is out, but the ‘Noles won’t need him here.

Prediction: Florida State 52, Texas A&M–Commerce 3

Baylor at No. 17 SMU (Sat 12:00 pm ET, The CW; SMU -2.5)

Short number in Dallas. SMU’s continuity and seasoned QB play are edges in a one-score script.

Prediction: SMU 31, Baylor 27 (SMU covers)

Kennesaw State at No. 23 Indiana (Sat 12:00 pm ET, FS1; IND -35.5)

Hoosiers’ tempo + vertical shots should pile up chunk plays.

Prediction: Indiana 45, Kennesaw State 7 (IND covers)

No. 11 Illinois at Duke (Sat 12:00 pm ET, ESPN; ILL -3)

Physical Illini front vs. Duke’s timing passing game. In a field-position fight, the higher-ceiling defense travels.

Prediction: Illinois 27, Duke 23 (ILL covers)

Iowa at No. 16 Iowa State (Sat 12:00 pm ET, FOX; ISU -3.5)

Cy-Hawk crackles yearly; Matt Campbell called it an “unbelievable opportunity.” ISU’s offense is a tick more multiple right now.

Prediction: Iowa State 23, Iowa 17 (ISU covers)

Utah State at No. 19 Texas A&M (Sat 12:45 pm ET, SECN; A&M -31.5)

Too much SEC trench power. Aggies bully ball to a comfy cover.

Prediction: Texas A&M 45, Utah State 10 (A&M covers)

Grambling State at No. 1 Ohio State (Sat 3:30 pm ET, BTN; No line)

Buckeyes’ defense—under the national spotlight—looks suffocating. This is reps-and-roll subs territory.

Prediction: Ohio State 56, Grambling State 0

No. 20 Ole Miss at Kentucky (Sat 3:30 pm ET, ABC; MISS -10)

Rebels bring fireworks, but TE Dae’Quan Wright is questionable. Kroger Field can be sticky for favorites.

Prediction: Ole Miss 30, Kentucky 24 (UK covers)

Oklahoma State at No. 6 Oregon (Sat 3:30 pm ET, CBS; ORE -28.5)

After Mike Gundy’s NIL jab, Dan Lanning clapped back—“We spend to win.” Ducks have the edges everywhere and Autzen is a hornet’s nest.

Prediction: Oregon 48, Oklahoma State 20 (ORE covers)

Troy at No. 8 Clemson (Sat 3:30 pm ET, ACCN; CLEM -33.5)

Clemson defense squeezes the air out; short fields turn into a route.

Prediction: Clemson 44, Troy 10 (CLEM covers)

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East Tennessee State at No. 22 Tennessee (Sat 3:30 pm ET, SECN+; No line)

Vols’ pace overwhelms. Rocky Top romp.

Prediction: Tennessee 52, ETSU 7

Delaware at Colorado (Sat 3:30 pm ET, FOX; CU -23.5)

Delaware QB Zach Marker is likely out, with Nick Minicucci stepping in. After Deion’s squad took heat for late-game management in Week 1, this is a get-right spot.

Prediction: Colorado 45, Delaware 13 (CU covers)

Austin Peay at No. 4 Georgia (Sat 3:30 pm ET, SECN+; No line)

Classic UGA tune-up: body blows and depth on display.

Prediction: Georgia 55, Austin Peay 6

Middle Tennessee at Wisconsin (Sat 4:00 pm ET, FS1; WIS -28.5)

Badgers’ OL vs. MTSU front is the mismatch. Methodical cover.

Prediction: Wisconsin 41, Middle Tennessee 10 (WIS covers)

USF at No. 13 Florida (Sat 4:15 pm ET, SECN; FLA -17.5)

Gators lean on defense and a downhill run script to widen late.

Prediction: Florida 37, USF 17 (FLA covers)

Cal Poly at No. 25 Utah (Sat 6:00 pm ET, ESPN+; No line)

Rice-Eccles advantage + Utes’ physicality = no drama.

Prediction: Utah 49, Cal Poly 3

Bethune-Cookman at No. 5 Miami (FL) (Sat 7:00 pm ET, ACCNX; No line)

Canes roll early, rotate freely late.

Prediction: Miami 52, Bethune-Cookman 7

South Carolina State at No. 10 South Carolina (Sat 7:00 pm ET, SECN+; No line)

Gamecocks control both lines. Points pile up.

Prediction: South Carolina 45, SC State 7

Southern Illinois at Purdue (Sat 7:30 pm ET, BTN; No line)

Boilermakers’ passing game finds rhythm and separation after halftime.

Prediction: Purdue 35, Southern Illinois 13

Louisiana Tech at No. 3 LSU (Sat 7:30 pm ET, SECN+; LSU -37.5)

Death Valley at night. Tigers’ speed and depth overwhelm.

Prediction: LSU 49, Louisiana Tech 7 (LSU covers)

No. 12 Arizona State at Mississippi State (Sat 7:30 pm ET, ESPN2; ASU -6.5)

SEC road test for the Sun Devils. They’ve got the better explosives profile and should edge the 4Q coin flips.

Prediction: Arizona State 31, Mississippi State 24 (ASU covers)

Georgia Southern at USC (Sat 7:30 pm ET, FS1; USC -28.5)

Trojan offense resets the timing and finishes drives vs. a thin back end.

Prediction: USC 49, Georgia Southern 17 (USC covers)

Akron at Nebraska (Sat 7:30 pm ET, BTN; NEB -34.5)

Huskers’ ground game and front seven tee off. Clean cover if the turnovers stay away.

Prediction: Nebraska 45, Akron 7 (NEB covers)

No. 15 Michigan at No. 18 Oklahoma (Sat 7:30 pm ET, ABC; OU -5.5) — Hot Game to Watch

Blue-blood brawl in primetime. Oklahoma’s speed outside meets Michigan’s trench heft; home crowd and QB play tilt it late.

Prediction: Oklahoma 30, Michigan 24 (OU covers)

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ULM at No. 21 Alabama (Sat 7:45 pm ET, SECN; ALA -37.5)

After the Week 1 sting vs. Florida State, the Tide hear the noise. Freshman WR Ryan Williams is back practicing, and the offense should pop.

Prediction: Alabama 52, ULM 10 (ALA covers)

UC Davis at Washington (Sat 11:00 pm ET, BTN; No line)

Huskies light up the night; quick start, quick separation.

Prediction: Washington 48, UC Davis 7

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