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2020 College Football Week 2 ATS Picks

Robert Duff

by Robert Duff in College Football

Updated Mar 5, 2021 · 10:38 AM PST

North Carolina State quarterback Bailey Hockman (16) throws a pass during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game Georgia Tech in Raleigh, N.C., Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020. (Ethan Hyman/The News Observer via AP, Pool)
  • These are the best ATS wagers during Week 2 of the college football season
  • Several top programs are kicking off their 2020 campaigns this week
  • Clemson, North Carolina, and Notre Dame are all heavy favorites in the ACC

Some of the biggest names and teams will take the field for the first time in 2020 during Week 2 of the college football season.

Two College Football Playoff teams from last season  – the #1 Clemson Tigers and #5 Oklahoma Sooners – get their seasons underway as both the ACC and Big 12 commence their schedules. Notre Dame makes its ACC debut against the Duke Blue Devils.

Let’s take a look at the top against-the-spread wagers on the docket during Week 2 of the NCAA football season.

Pick #1: Syracuse Slows Tar Heels Hype Machine

Team Moneyline Spread Total at DraftKings
Syracuse Orange +950 +23 (-110) O 65.5 (-110)
North Carolina Tar Heels -2000 -23 (-110) U 65.5 (-110)

All odds taken Sept. 11th

The Tar Heels hype train has been revving its engine all offseason, awaiting this moment to shift things into gear. After winning a combined five games in 2017-18, North Carolina was 7-6 last season, drubbing Temple 55-13 in the Military Bowl.

In their first season under new head coach Mack Brown, they came within a point of upsetting Clemson and beat both South Carolina and Miami. Following a strong recruiting year, the feeling is that the sky’s the limit for this squad.

At the same time, there seems to be some hesitation on the part of bettors. North Carolina’s 2020 win total opened at 8.5 but has since dropped to 7.5.

As a true freshman, Tar Heels quarterback Sam Howell threw for 3,641 yards and more touchdowns (38) than Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence (36), the projected first-overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Howell passed for at least three TDs in each of the Tar Heels’ last five games of the season.

Returning two 1,000-yard receivers (Dyami Brown and Dazz Newsome) and a 1,000-yard rusher (Michael Carter), North Carolina’s offense should be a formidable force.

Orange Look to Come Back

Syracuse (5-7) was a disappointment last season, losing four of its last six games. The Orange allowed 30.7 points per game. Quarterback Tommy DeVito displayed significant improvement in the latter stages of the season, finishing with 19 TD passes against just five interceptions.

The Orange also offer a cautionary tale when it comes to buying into preseason hype. They were a top-25 team when the 2019 campaign kicked off. They’re also the last 20-point ACC underdog to win outright when they beat Clemson in 2017.

Giving away 23 points to launch a season without spring football and following a COVID-19-induced socially-distanced training camp is too much. It figures to take a game or two for the North Carolina offense to get in sync and begin firing on all cylinders.

Pick: Syracuse +23 (-110)

Pick #2: Demon Deacons Can’t Hold Those Tigers

Team Moneyline Spread Total at DraftKings
Clemson Tigers OFF -34 (-110) O 60 (-110)
Wake Forest Demon Deacons OFF +34 (-110) U 60 (-110)

By the time this one is over, you may not be able to see Wake Forest for all the Clemson TDs. Last season, the Tigers hammered the Demon Deacons 52-3.

In 2018, Clemson were 63-3 winners. Overall, Tigers have won 11 in a row from Wake Forest. No wonder the moneyline is off.

Normally, giving a 34-point spread would be something to avoid. In this case, there’s little cause for concern.

In Trevor Lawrence, Clemson has a Heisman Trophy favorite under center who is 25-1 as a starter. Travis Etienne and his 1,614 rushing yards return to the backfield. The Tigers defensive line, led by pass-rushing menace KJ Henry, might get back to its 2017-18 level of dominance.

The departure of Jamie Newman leaves Sam Hartman at QB for Wake Forest. He passed for 830 yards last season.

The Demon Deacons have scored 20 or more points just twice in their past 14 games against Clemson. The Tigers have scored at least 30 points in 11 of their last 13 games when facing Wake Forest.

Since fans aren’t being permitted at Wake Forest home games, Clemson offered to split the gate receipts 50-50 if the game were moved to Death Valley, where spectators are being permitted. Wake Forest declined.

Talk about poking the Tigers – they’ve made Clemson angry and this game is being played in front of a national television audience. Clemson will most certainly seek to flex its muscles.

Pick: Clemson -34 (-110)

Pick #3: Cyclones Hit by Ragin’ Cajuns

Team Moneyline Spread Total at DraftKings
Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns +340 +12 (-110) O 57 (-110)
Iowa State Cyclones -455 -12 (-110) U 57 (-110)

Now here’s something you won’t see much during the 2020 college football season – a non-conference matchup.

Iowa State was a disappointing 2-4 ATS as a home favorite last season. Louisiana-Lafayette won 11 games  and a second straight Sun Belt West Division title.

The Ragin’ Cajuns return 16 starters. The Cyclones have gone to three straight bowl games. They’re considered a Big-12 title contender.

Iowa State will win this game but the Ragin’ Cajuns will keep it too close for comfort.

Pick: Louisiana-Lafayette +12 (-110)

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