Week 2 brings another full college football board, and there are a few spots that stand out if you’re looking to make a bet or two.
One of the cleaner plays on the total is Penn State-Temple going UNDER. Penn State scored 45 points against Marshall last week, but the box score didn’t tell a perfect story. The Nittany Lions managed only 3.6 yards per carry, and that kind of ground-game trouble can become a problem if the offense has to lean too heavily on the pass.
Temple, meanwhile, barely threw at all in its opener. The Owls attempted just 16 passes and ran it 45 times, a style that can help keep the offense moving, shorten the game, and chew up clock. That makes the UNDER the angle here.
Another number that stands out is Kentucky getting 10.5 points against Alabama. It’s tempting to look at the Crimson Tide and think of the old standard, but this is not Nick Saban’s Alabama anymore.
Even after a 38-point win over East Carolina in Week 1, there were some questions raised by that performance. Russell completed 18-of-30 passes, and the rushing attack averaged 4.6 yards per carry.
That’s not exactly the kind of efficiency that screams dominance.
Kentucky’s offense should be able to stay in the conversation in this matchup, which is why the points with the home team are appealing.
And in the biggest spotlight game of the day, Ohio State is the side to back against Texas. There’s no reason to anoint the Longhorns as the better team, and there’s also no reason to assume Arch Manning will dramatically outperform his 2025 showing against this Buckeyes defense.
Ohio State already finished last season as the stronger team. The Buckeyes were first in offensive success rate and eighth in defensive success rate, while Texas ended the year 80th and 30th in those categories. Unless you believe Texas made enough of a leap in the offseason to flip that gap, Ohio State is the pick to win again.
In Other News...
Penn State Just Lost A Defensive End It Couldnt Afford To Lose
Penn States defensive line took another hit in practice, with defensive end Max Granville set to miss the rest of the season after a new injury, as announced by head coach Matt Campbell. Granville had worked his way back onto the field this year after sitting out the entire previous season, so this latest setback lands especially hard for a group that was already counting on him to provide depth and energy off the edge.
The injurys nature was not disclosed, leaving the program with one more unanswered question at a position where availability has already been an issue. For a defense that needs steady rotation and dependable pressure up front, losing Granville again is the kind of blow that can ripple beyond one roster spot and force the staff to reshuffle its plans in a hurry. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Suddenly Has A Week 2 Availability Problem To Watch
Penn State heads into its Week 2 matchup with Temple already juggling some early-season injury uncertainty, and the latest update from Matt Campbell added a few names to keep an eye on. Defensive end LaVar Arrington II is expected to miss four to six weeks after knee surgery, while offensive tackle Owen Aliciene and defensive tackles Armstrong Nnodim and Alijah Carnell were all listed as questionable as the Nittany Lions continued preparing for the game.
There was better news elsewhere on the depth chart, with tight end Gabe Burkle and linebacker Alex Tatsch both probable to return after working back from injuries. For a team trying to settle into the rhythm of the season, the availability picture matters on both sides of the ball, especially with the front still sorting out who will be ready to go when Temple comes to town. [Read more 🡒]
Penn State Faces An Early Test On The Edge In Week 2
Penn State is already dealing with a hit to its edge depth heading into Week 2, as defensive end Max Granville will sit out the Temple game because of injury. Granville took part in the season opener against Marshall, logging 22 defensive snaps without showing up on the stat sheet, but he was still part of the early rotation the Nittany Lions were trying to settle.
His absence puts a little more pressure on the defensive end group to hold up as Penn State tries to move to 2-0 under head coach Matt Campbell. Early September is often about sorting out roles as much as chasing wins, and this is one of those spots where the staff will have to adjust quickly while waiting to see how long Granville is sidelined. [Read more 🡒]