College Football Picks Against the Spread Week 2

• Week 2 of College Football features an intriguing slate on Saturday, September 10th
• Alabama vs Texas and Tennessee vs Pittsburgh are among the marquee matchups
• Read below for the best ATS picks for Week 2 of the college football season

Week 2 of the 2022 College Football season features a handful of enticing games — many involving the SEC (a program that was a blocked PAT away from going 14-0 in Week 1) — on Saturday, September 10th. The game between No. 1 Alabama and future conference foe is the clear headliner.

In addition to the showdown of bluebloods in Austin, a possibly resurgent No. 24 Tennessee travels to the Steel City to face reigning ACC champion and No. 17 Pittsburgh. Meantime, always-dangerous No. 9 Baylor takes on No. 21 BYU in Provo.

Here are CFB betting odds and three ATS picks to consider for Week 2.

Alabama vs Texas Odds

All odds as of September 6th at Barstool Sportsbook.

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ATS Pick #1: Alabama (-20) vs Texas

Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian said this game won’t define where UT is as a program. Good thing. The last time Texas faced one of its future SEC mates, the ‘Horns were blown out by Arkansas 40-21 in Fayetteville. Then, there’s the whole Nick Saban vs his former assistants thing working against Sark, a former lieutenant in Tuscaloosa. The seven-time national championship-winning head coach is 25-2 against his former employees. ‘Bama last faced Texas in the 2009 BCS title game, drubbing the Longhorns 37-21.

I realize this is obvious, but it's still quite a feat: Alabama is 53-0 in regular season non-conference games since 2008.

Texas is trying to become the first to win one since the ULM upset in Nick Saban's first season.

— Max Olson (@max_olson) September 6, 2022

So, it’s really not a question of if ‘Bama beats Texas. Obviously, it’s by how much. And after seeing UT quarterback Quinn Ewers put up a pedestrian 16-for-24, 225-yard, two-touchdown and one interception effort against Louisiana Monroe, Longhorn fans should be far from confident he’ll be able to handle the pressure Will Anderson and Co. will surely bring.

Will Anderson on going up against an inexperienced quarterback like Quinn Ewers:

“I try to approach every quarterback the same, but for a young quarterback like that, It’s gonna be fun.”

— Sidelines – Bama (@SSN_Alabama) September 5, 2022

Meantime, all reigning Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young did in his first game of 2022 was look like he might become the first repeat winner of the award since Archie Griffin nearly 50 years ago. He became the first player in program history to record five passing touchdowns and 100 rushing yards in a single game in a 55-0 whitewashing of Utah State.

Texas running back Bijan Robinson is the real deal. But I’m not subscribing to the ball control game plan stifling Alabama. The Tide will make a profound statement on The Forty Acres and cover.

• Pick: Alabama -20 (-112)

Tennessee vs Pittsburgh Odds

ATS Pick #2: Tennessee vs Pittsburgh (+6.5)

Enthusiasm is high on Rocky Top in Year 2 under head coach Josh Heupel. One reason: going back to last season, the Vols have scored at least 45 points in four straight games. That didn’t even happen in the Peyton Manning era. But following a 59-10 drubbing of Ball State last Thursday, quarterback Hendon Hooker was his typical efficient self. He completed 72% of his passes and tossed a pair of touchdowns as the Vols scored six touchdowns and a field goal on Hooker’s eight possessions before he gave way to Joe Milton early in the third quarter. Hendon spread the ball around, too — with 10 receivers making at least one catch.

Week one #SEC QBR:

1. Stetson Bennett-97.3
2. Bryce Young-96
3. Anthony Richardson-94.8
4. Will Rogers-82.4
5. KJ Jefferson-81.7
6. Hendon Hooker-79.9
7. Jaxson Dart-79.7
8. Mike Wright-74.9
9. Brady Cook-72.5
10. Haynes King-49
11. Will Levis-46
12. Spencer Rattler -28.6

— Jacob Davis (@JacobScottDavis) September 4, 2022

West Virginia’s offense put up 31 points against the Pittsburgh defense in an emotional 38-31 Backyard Brawl — perhaps giving UT fans some hope. But like Tennessee, the Panthers have had a couple extra days off after last Thursday’s game to prepare for a legitimate opponent.

Pitt is 3-0 against Tennessee all-time, including last year’s 41-34 triumph in Knoxville. Meantime,  former USC quarterback Kedon Slovis looked good in his Panthers debut. The transfer completed 16-of-24 passes for 308 yards and a touchdown, good for the highest passing yardage by a Pitt QB in a season opener since 1998.

Senior Pitt QB Kedon Slovis currently leads all of CFB in passing yards per completion with an average of 19.25 🎯 pic.twitter.com/OWbSyeGliY

— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) September 5, 2022

This will be the first time a ranked UT team will play another ranked team since Oct. 10, 2020, when the No. 14 Vols lost to No. 3 Georgia. I’m not sure Tennessee is ready to beat a ranked team on the road.

• Pick: Pittsburgh +6.5 (-112)

Baylor vs BYU Odds

ATS Pick #3: Baylor vs BYU (-3.5)

The Cougars beat South Florida 50-21, while the Bears crushed FCS Albany 69-10. Now, Baylor head coach Dave Aranda — a former Utah State assistant — has to prepare his team for the environment and the altitude (4,551 feet) in Provo.

#BYU coach Kalani Sitake: “[Baylor] is a program that we want to be like.”#BYUFootball pic.twitter.com/nQipSuYtiy

— Mitch Harper (@Mitch_Harper) September 5, 2022

This will no doubt be a more compelling game than the one in Austin. Both programs are regarded as disciplined, well-coached teams. BYU’s quarterback Jaren Hall will pose a lot of problems for the Baylor defense. He threw for 342 yards and a touchdown in a 38-24 loss last year. Look for revenge in 2022.

Jaren Hall: great QB. pic.twitter.com/AFxdIBGrlc

— Travis Roeder (@Travis_Roeder) September 7, 2022

Sitake will be going for his 50th career win against close friend Aranda. That intangible could be the difference.

• Pick: BYU -3.5 (-110)