College Football Picks Against the Spread: Week 2 ATS Predictions & Best Bets

The Week 2 slate doesn't feature the same marquee matchups as the opening weekend, but there are still lots of intriguing matchups to feature in my college football picks against the spread as part of our college football predictions for Week 2.

That includes Arizona State's road matchup against a limping SEC team, Bill O'Brien finding more collegiate success than Bill Belichick, and what could be a massive clash for the Group of Five spot in the College Football Playoff. Let's dive into my college football picks, which focus on three overlooked games this week.

🏈 College football picks against the spread: Week 2 ATS predictions

College football picks against the spread based on the latest college football odds and subject to change; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale.

💰 My best Week 2 ATS picks

Track the latest college football scores for line movement and matchup info.

🔱 Arizona State (-6.5) vs. Mississippi State ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Yes, this is a road game for the Sun Devils against an SEC team, but nothing about the Bulldogs' Week 1 win gives me any confidence they'll be able to keep this close against Arizona State. Mississippi State is coming off a 34-17 win against a Southern Miss team full of transfers, and Jeff Lebby's team just kept letting the Golden Eagles hang around.

The Bulldogs' defense is No. 78 in SP+ and doesn't stand a chance at stopping Heisman Trophy odds contender Sam Leavitt and potential first-round wide receiver Jordyn Tyson. Tyson is coming off a 12-reception, 141-yard performance in Week 1 in which he had the second-most first-down receptions in the country (7).

Mississippi State doesn't have the defensive talent to slow Leavitt and Tyson - the Sun Devils are No. 30 in SP+. I'd be willing to take Kenny Dillingham's team to cover as much as a 9.5-point spread.

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🦅 Boston College (+3.5) vs. Michigan State ⭐⭐⭐⭐

It appears  Belichick's former assistants are enjoying far more success at the collegiate level after Matt Patricia's Ohio State defense shut down Arch Manning and O'Brien's Boston College squad rocked Fordham. Obviously, blowing out an FCS school isn't a massive accomplishment, but Eagles fans should feel good about their new starting QB, Dylan Lonergan.

The Alabama transfer racked up four touchdown passes, accounted for two big-time throws, logged zero turnover-worthy plays, and put together a 78.8% adjusted completion rate in his debut for BC. So while Michigan State boasts a much better defense than Fordham, Boston College's offense is coming into this matchup looking like it's in much better shape than the Spartans' unit.

Michigan State is No. 108 in SP+ on offense after a Week 1 struggle that finished with the school beating Western Michigan just 23-6. Spartans QB Aidan Chiles remains turnover-prone (he recorded two fumbles against the Broncos), and the Eagles (No. 46 in SP+ on defense) feature a much more competitive defense than WMU (No. 114). Don't be shocked if O'Brien's team wins this on the road.

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🎈 Western Kentucky (+7) vs. Toledo ⭐⭐⭐⭐

In a week short on massive matchups, this one might end up being among the most important come December. Both Western Kentucky and Toledo are Group of Five College Football Playoff odds contenders, and with Boise State's Week 1 loss, this matchup carries a lot of weight for two teams capable of winning their respective conferences.

Although Toledo played Kentucky tight in Week 1, a 24-16 loss, I'm not sure they should be a touchdown favorite against this Western Kentucky team. The Hilltoppers seem to have done it again with the ol' Tyson Helton move of hiring an offensive coordinator (Rick Bowie) and bringing his QB with him (Maverick McIvor from Abilene Christian).

Through two games, WKU is averaging 48 points per game, ranks No. 61 in SP+, and McIvor leads the country in big-time throws (7) and touchdown passes (8). With a strong wide receiver room led by Matthew Henry and K.D. Hutchinson, the Tops should be in this one until the end against a Rockets team that's No. 77 in SP+. 

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📈 College football picks against the spread betting insights

Here are some betting insights from our best sports betting sites ahead of these three colossal clashes:

• Arizona State has moved from being a -7.5 favorite to -6.5 as of Wednesday afternoon, with 55% of the action coming in on Mississippi State
• Michigan State has shifted from -2.5 to -3.5, with 65% of the action on the Spartans
• Toledo has shuffled from -5.5 to -6.5 while receiving 63% of the action

❓ College football picks against the spread FAQs

What are the best college football ATS picks this week?

The best college football ATS picks this week are Arizona State (-6.5), Boston College (+3.5), and Western Kentucky (+7).

What does the ATS mean in college football?

ATS in college football betting stands for “against the spread.” It refers to how often a team covers the point spread in its games. Bettors use ATS records to track performance relative to expectations, not just wins and losses.

What does against the spread mean?

Against the spread (ATS) betting means wagering on whether a team will cover the point spread set by oddsmakers - not just win the game. The favorite must win by more than the spread, while the underdog can win outright or lose by fewer points than the spread.

How do college football odds work?

When betting on college football odds, the point spread shows how many points the favorite needs to win by in order to cash the bet. For example, a favorite of -3 must win by more than 3 points to cover the spread, while an underdog at +3 must win outright or lose by fewer than 3 points to cover the spread.

You can determine the payouts and implied probabilities for any wager - or convert odds to different formats - with our odds converter.  

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