WEEK 2

Football has always been a game of sweat. But this week, it’s become a game of… spit? Following in the footsteps of the bodily-fluid-filled NFL Opener, Florida DT Jalen Carter hocked a loogie of his own, with arguably far more consequence. The ensuing unsportsmanlike conduct and 15-yard penalty bailed out a USF team on the ropes late and became the precursor to a walk-off FG, giving Rocky the Bull and his 18-point underdog squad a massive upset. I guess gators are just wired to take the bait. What’s ahead for the Swamp creatures? LSU, Miami (FL), Texas, Texas A&M, Mississippi State, Georgia, Kentucky, Ole Miss, Tennessee, Florida State. Can we get a side pot going for when we say “Bye, bye Billy” this season? My money is after A&M, with a 1-5 record to his name.

Elsewhere in upset land, though far from the biggest of the day, I simply can’t forget our the mighty West Virginia Mountaineers traveling to Athens, OH as mere 3.5-point favorites, only to LOSE to the Ohio Bobcats. Now, I love me some MAC football more than most, but ouch. Bumpy country roads in Morgantown these days…

After being the beneficiaries of a first round playoff bye in 2024, the 12th-ranked Sun Devils, falling victim to the SEC again, this time not under the bright 2OT light of a New Year’s Day bowl game, but as the largest favorites (-5.5) on the Pick ‘Em spread to lose, a few time zones east in Starkville, MS.

Vegas clearly hadn’t watched Any Given Saturday: SEC Football this offseason. If they had, there’s no chance in hell the Hokies would have been favored to win this game. After being down 20-10 at halftime, the Commodores won the second half 34-0, winning the game 44-20. Never offend Diego Pavia.

And in Norman, the Sooners dropped the Boomer on the maize and blue, more than covering as 4.5-point favorites, even while ranked three spots behind the troubled Wolverines.

Rapid fire: Cyclones outdueled Hawkeyes in a classic 16-13 (State of) Iowa football game. ‘Cuse outlasted the Huskies in OT. Duke finally got relegated to a basketball school, falling 45-19 to the Fighting Illini (possibly the most unoriginal name in all of college sports, I might add). SMU is likely on the market for a new kicker after falling to Baylor in 2OT. NC State overcame a 24-14 halftime deficit to fend off the invading UVA Cavaliers. And Missouri won the border war after a scare, giving up 21 in Q1.

Some might say a sleepy week in the grand scheme of the college football season, but every point matters in OTC. We had ourselves a 3-way tie for the Week Two crown: RecordSetter 98, PSU 1996, and KingBrutus shared the top honor with 36 apiece. KingBrutus remains his namesake, king of the Hill, with 83 points overall, five ahead of dallas2697. With 13 weeks to go, we’re bound to see a surge. Will it be you? Only one way to find out. Study up. Get those picks in. And for the love of God, please don’t spit on anyone this week.

              VEGAS

Iowa @ #16 Iowa State (-3.5)

Connecticut @ Syracuse (-7)

#11 Illinois (-2.5) @ Duke

Baylor @ #17 SMU (-2.5)

Virginia @ NC State (-3)

Kansas @ Missouri (-5.5)

West Virginia (-3.5) @ Ohio

#12 Arizona State (-5.5) @ Mississippi State

Vanderbilt @ Virginia Tech (-2.5)

#15 Michigan @ #18 Oklahoma (-4.5)