CFB bettor's team insights: Week 2
"You play like you practice."
The old coaches' adage is mostly true. To know what's likely to happen on Saturday, you've got to know what's happening in the meeting rooms and on the practice fields during the week. That's why the college football bettor's team notes file will be here for you every Friday with the inside word on weekly preparations around the country. We'll check in on depth charts, game plans, personnel and health, while unmasking practice standouts ready to break out and assessing the quality of prep, who's distracted and who's dialed in, the mood of the fans and the coaches' message for the week.
Let's dive into Week 2.
Lines and totals from Westgate sportsbook, as of Friday.
No. 16 TCU Horned Frogs (-22.5) vs. SMU Mustangs
Friday, 8 p.m. ET
SMU coach Sonny Dykes <offer style="box-sizing: border-box;"></offer>took just one year off from coaching after leaving Cal following the 2016 season, but he spent it as an analyst on the staff of Friday opponent TCU. Dykes is intimately familiar with Gary Patterson's program, roster, signals -- you name it. Consequently, the TCU coaches have had to make extra adjustments heading into this game.
Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Purdue Boilermakers (-17)
Saturday, Noon ET
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Both Joey Sindelar, who started the opener, and David Blough, who came on in relief after the former threw three first-half interceptions, will play this week against Eastern Michigan; one will start the game and the other will enter in the second quarter. The offense has worked with wet balls all week in anticipation of rainy conditions Saturday, which may also be keeping this total (currently 54.5) on a downward slide.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (-3.5) vs. South Florida Bulls
Saturday, Noon ET
Charlie Strong defended plenty of option football as Notre Dame's defensive line coach from 1995-1998, but his teams have not seen an opponent who runs the triple or midline option since then. South Florida has -- like nearly all of Georgia Tech's new nonconference foes -- spent time working against Tech's plays in both spring practice and fall camp. The Bulls coaches may actually be more confident facing the wrinkles the Jackets' offense will show them than they will be going against Georgia Tech's new-look defense; the Yellow Jackets scrapped their 4-2-5 alignment in favor of a 3-4 under new boss Nate Woody, the former Appalachian State defensive coordinator.
Finally, USF offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert confirmed that first-string tailback Jordan Cronkrite, absent last week with a minor injury, is ready to start Saturday.
UCLA Bruins vs. No. 6 Oklahoma Sooners(-30)
Saturday, 1 p.m. ET
Chip Kelly isn't one of those coaches with a hard and fast rule that a player can't play if he doesn't practice, but the first-year UCLA chief does acknowledge that it's difficult for a player to play effectively if he hasn't gotten enough reps during the week. Kelly says ailing quarterback Wilton Speight is progressing, but the Michigan transfer wasn't participating in the open portions of practice this week and it appears likely that the Bruins will head to Norman with freshman Dorian Thompson-Robinson -- known as "DTR" around the team -- at the controls.
Portland State Vikings vs. No. 23 Oregon Ducks (-50)
Saturday, 2 p.m. ET
Oregon showed off its depth at running back in the opener as eight different players logged rush attempts, but don't think this is a committee just yet. All others are clearly in line behind starter Tony Brooks-James. The senior rushed just five times for 27 yards on the opener, but there will be a concerted effort to get him more involved in this week's gameplan.
Wyoming Cowboys vs. Missouri Tigers (-20)
Saturday, 7 p.m. ET
Missouri will be a pass-first team all year with a slinger like Drew Lock taking snaps, but the Tigers want to see more from their running backs, too. A pedestrian performance from the tandem of Damarea Crockett and Larry Rountree III in the opener saw no explosive plays from the running backs. It left coaches feeling like those backs could have run harder, and that they fatigued too early in the heat. Explosiveness from the running game is being emphasized this week, and freshman Tyler Badie will get more touches going forward.
No. 15 Michigan State Spartans (-6) vs. Arizona State Sun Devils
Saturday, 10:45 p.m. ET
Michigan State entered the season with an offensive line that returned four starters, but lost center and primary leader Brian Allen to graduation. The Spartans offense was still looking for a replacement for Allen's leadership on that unit at the end of camp, and that issue was one of our main concerns about this loaded, veteran team headed into the season. The most vocal of the returning linemen, junior left tackle Cole Chewins, didn't play against Utah State last week due to injury but returned to practice this week. His absence led to shuffling of the line both before the game, when sophomore right tackle Luke Campbell moved to the left side, and during the game, when Campbell struggled and the coaches tried different combinations. Chewins' return would be a stabilizing force for the least stable unit on what should be a very fine offense.
The Michigan State defense is also hurting, especially in the back end with star cornerback Josiah Scott likely to miss all of September. The Spartans didn't rotate much in the secondary last week because of Utah State's tempo, but this week's plan is to give defensive snaps to three or four more defensive backs who only played on special teams in the opener.
Others
Coaches are quick to heap praise on the opposing team, but usually don't come right out and admit when an opponent presents a bad matchup for certain players or position groups. They will, however, often reveal which concerns are getting extra focus in preparation for the upcoming matchup. Among this week's challenges keeping California coaches up at night are the size of BYU's (-3) mature group of linemen on both sides of the ball.
For Matt Campbell and his Iowa State staff, it's the Iowa (-4) defensive line, which spearheaded a defensive effort that saw Week 1 foe Northern Illinois gain just 211 yards. For Air Force, it's the superior speed, quickness and athleticism of Florida Atlantic's (-9) skill players, especially reigning Conference USA offensive Player of the Year, tailback Devin Singletary, whom Air Force coach Troy Calhoun compares to Marshall Faulk.
"You play like you practice."
The old coaches' adage is mostly true. To know what's likely to happen on Saturday, you've got to know what's happening in the meeting rooms and on the practice fields during the week. That's why the college football bettor's team notes file will be here for you every Friday with the inside word on weekly preparations around the country. We'll check in on depth charts, game plans, personnel and health, while unmasking practice standouts ready to break out and assessing the quality of prep, who's distracted and who's dialed in, the mood of the fans and the coaches' message for the week.
Let's dive into Week 2.
Lines and totals from Westgate sportsbook, as of Friday.
No. 16 TCU Horned Frogs (-22.5) vs. SMU Mustangs
Friday, 8 p.m. ET
SMU coach Sonny Dykes <offer style="box-sizing: border-box;"></offer>took just one year off from coaching after leaving Cal following the 2016 season, but he spent it as an analyst on the staff of Friday opponent TCU. Dykes is intimately familiar with Gary Patterson's program, roster, signals -- you name it. Consequently, the TCU coaches have had to make extra adjustments heading into this game.
Eastern Michigan Eagles vs. Purdue Boilermakers (-17)
Saturday, Noon ET
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Best college football bets for Week 2
Looking for the best betting value in Week 2 of the CFB season? Our experts offer their picks on 18 of Saturday's games. -
Vegas vs. FPI: Week 2 CFB disagreements
The ESPN FPI wasn't created with gambling in mind, but that data can be useful in analyzing college football betting markets.
Both Joey Sindelar, who started the opener, and David Blough, who came on in relief after the former threw three first-half interceptions, will play this week against Eastern Michigan; one will start the game and the other will enter in the second quarter. The offense has worked with wet balls all week in anticipation of rainy conditions Saturday, which may also be keeping this total (currently 54.5) on a downward slide.
Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (-3.5) vs. South Florida Bulls
Saturday, Noon ET
Charlie Strong defended plenty of option football as Notre Dame's defensive line coach from 1995-1998, but his teams have not seen an opponent who runs the triple or midline option since then. South Florida has -- like nearly all of Georgia Tech's new nonconference foes -- spent time working against Tech's plays in both spring practice and fall camp. The Bulls coaches may actually be more confident facing the wrinkles the Jackets' offense will show them than they will be going against Georgia Tech's new-look defense; the Yellow Jackets scrapped their 4-2-5 alignment in favor of a 3-4 under new boss Nate Woody, the former Appalachian State defensive coordinator.
Finally, USF offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert confirmed that first-string tailback Jordan Cronkrite, absent last week with a minor injury, is ready to start Saturday.
UCLA Bruins vs. No. 6 Oklahoma Sooners(-30)
Saturday, 1 p.m. ET
Chip Kelly isn't one of those coaches with a hard and fast rule that a player can't play if he doesn't practice, but the first-year UCLA chief does acknowledge that it's difficult for a player to play effectively if he hasn't gotten enough reps during the week. Kelly says ailing quarterback Wilton Speight is progressing, but the Michigan transfer wasn't participating in the open portions of practice this week and it appears likely that the Bruins will head to Norman with freshman Dorian Thompson-Robinson -- known as "DTR" around the team -- at the controls.
Portland State Vikings vs. No. 23 Oregon Ducks (-50)
Saturday, 2 p.m. ET
Oregon showed off its depth at running back in the opener as eight different players logged rush attempts, but don't think this is a committee just yet. All others are clearly in line behind starter Tony Brooks-James. The senior rushed just five times for 27 yards on the opener, but there will be a concerted effort to get him more involved in this week's gameplan.
Wyoming Cowboys vs. Missouri Tigers (-20)
Saturday, 7 p.m. ET
Missouri will be a pass-first team all year with a slinger like Drew Lock taking snaps, but the Tigers want to see more from their running backs, too. A pedestrian performance from the tandem of Damarea Crockett and Larry Rountree III in the opener saw no explosive plays from the running backs. It left coaches feeling like those backs could have run harder, and that they fatigued too early in the heat. Explosiveness from the running game is being emphasized this week, and freshman Tyler Badie will get more touches going forward.
No. 15 Michigan State Spartans (-6) vs. Arizona State Sun Devils
Saturday, 10:45 p.m. ET
Michigan State entered the season with an offensive line that returned four starters, but lost center and primary leader Brian Allen to graduation. The Spartans offense was still looking for a replacement for Allen's leadership on that unit at the end of camp, and that issue was one of our main concerns about this loaded, veteran team headed into the season. The most vocal of the returning linemen, junior left tackle Cole Chewins, didn't play against Utah State last week due to injury but returned to practice this week. His absence led to shuffling of the line both before the game, when sophomore right tackle Luke Campbell moved to the left side, and during the game, when Campbell struggled and the coaches tried different combinations. Chewins' return would be a stabilizing force for the least stable unit on what should be a very fine offense.
The Michigan State defense is also hurting, especially in the back end with star cornerback Josiah Scott likely to miss all of September. The Spartans didn't rotate much in the secondary last week because of Utah State's tempo, but this week's plan is to give defensive snaps to three or four more defensive backs who only played on special teams in the opener.
Others
Coaches are quick to heap praise on the opposing team, but usually don't come right out and admit when an opponent presents a bad matchup for certain players or position groups. They will, however, often reveal which concerns are getting extra focus in preparation for the upcoming matchup. Among this week's challenges keeping California coaches up at night are the size of BYU's (-3) mature group of linemen on both sides of the ball.
For Matt Campbell and his Iowa State staff, it's the Iowa (-4) defensive line, which spearheaded a defensive effort that saw Week 1 foe Northern Illinois gain just 211 yards. For Air Force, it's the superior speed, quickness and athleticism of Florida Atlantic's (-9) skill players, especially reigning Conference USA offensive Player of the Year, tailback Devin Singletary, whom Air Force coach Troy Calhoun compares to Marshall Faulk.
