BEST NCAA FOOTBALL GAMES OF WEEK 2

BY ADAM GREENE

It’s that moment again where I peruse the hundreds of games on our weekly NCAA Schedule and select the three most worth your time and betting dollars.

NEBRASKA AT COLORADO (-3, O/U: 59.5)

Location: Folsom Field, Boulder, Colo.

Kickoff: Saturday, Sep. 9, Noon

Nebraska (0-1) opened its season with a lackluster showing all around, falling 13-10 to an equally offensively inept Minnesota team. Jeff Simms was only good for 114 yards and three interceptions, though he did have a decent day on the ground, rushing for 91 yards. The defense, on paper, looked strong, surrendering 151 total yards and forcing two turnovers, but that could have more to do with the Golden Gofers than the Huskers.

No. 22 ranked Colorado (1-0), on the other hand, was the talk of FBS football after overcoming the 2022 National Champion runners-up, the TCU Horned Frogs, with a 45-42 shootout win in Deion Sanders’ FBS head coaching debut. The box score was ridiculous, with Shadeur Sanders throwing for 510 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. Four Buffs wideouts went over 100 yards, led by Dylan Edwards with five catches for 135 yards and three touchdowns.

After last week, I’m shocked this line is so close and I’m pretty sure everyone in Colorado with the last name Sanders is too. This could get very ugly. Colorado 35, Nebraska 20

TEXAS A&M AT MIAMI (+4.5, O/U: 51)

Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Fla.

Kickoff: Saturday, Sep. 9, 3:30 p.m.

Why does this game make the three-contest cut for the best games of the week? It’s simple. Texas A&M (1-0) should be legitimately good this year after the massive haul they had in recruiting a season ago. This should be the season it pays off. Everything looked good, as you’d expect, in their opener, a 52-10 win over New Mexico in Week 1. Connor Weigman passed for 236 yards and five touchdowns with no picks. Evan Stewart hauled in eight passes for 115 yards and two TDs. Noah Thomas has six grabs for 74 yards and three scores. The defense held the Lobos to just 3 of 13 on third downs.

For those of us that came of age in the 80s and 90s, Miami (1-0) being a non-factor in college football remains odd. Could this be the year that changes? A win right here over an SEC opponent would mean a lot. Tyler Van Dyke was good for 201 yards passing, a TD and a pick in their 38-3 win over Miami of Ohio last week. Henry Parrish, Jr. rushed for 90 yards and a touchdown. Mark Fletcher, Jr. had 76 yards and a score. Colbie Young caught four passes for 79 yards and a touchdown. The Redhawks gained just nine first downs and were 2 of 12 on third down.

As someone who loved that whole 80s/90s era of college football, the Hurricanes being a non-entity is a bummer. I don’t see it changing this week. Texas A&M 38, Miami 23

TEXAS AT ALABAMA (-7, O/U: 54.5)

Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Kickoff: Saturday, Sep. 9, 7 p.m.

Our biggest game of the week might turn out to be an annual thing as Texas (1-0) travels to Alabama (1-0) in what might become a regular rivalry once both teams are in the SEC. The No. 11 Longhorns opened their 2023 campaign cursing the Rice Owles, 37-10. Quinn Evers threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns and Xavier Worthy hauled in seven passes for 90 yards. Texas’ defesne held the Owls to just eight total first downs and 176 total yards of offense.

No. 3 Bama (1-0) too had no issue in its opener, downing visiting Middle Tennessee State 56-7. Jalem Milroe took most of the snaps at quarterback, throwing for 194 yards and three touchdowns. Eight Crimson Tide runners, including all three QBs that suited up, combined for 205 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. Milroe scored two of them. The Tide defense allowed 13 first downs and 211 total yards, with just 133 coming through the air.

This is an interesting spread because Alabama remains a mystery and nothing they put on film against the Blue Raiders really counts. Bama is the smart pick, but I bet the Longhorns will make it tougher than the spread. Alabama 34, Texas 30

Last week

Straight up: 1-2

Against the spread: 1-2

Season

Straight up: 1-2

Against the spread: 1-2

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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