ESPN College Pick Em Picks For Week 2

I opened the season with a disappointing 30 points. After not missing a ten point game last year, I missed mine in the opening week. Thanks a lot, Stanford!

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I will look to dig myself out of a hole this week. I only scored 30 points in week 1, which according to ESPN, is one point below average. You guys don’t come here looking for an average column, so I need to step up my game. That would include picking the teams that should win, not the ones that I would like to see win.

Here are my ESPN College Pick Em Picks for week 2. They are in order from most confidence (10) to least (1) for those of you that play the confidence version of the game.

10. Notre Dame over Virginia:

Virginia was overmatched against UCLA, and their offense is not a whole lot better than a Texas team that the Irish dismantled. Virginia is better than Texas, and will likely put up more of a fight, but I just can’t see them winning this game outright. They make me nervous because they could keep it close, but in a slate full of what should be close games, the Irish are the closest to a lock.

9. Minnesota over Colorado State:

The Gopher defense did an incredible job against TCU, but the offense was as bad as the defense was good. I don’t put too much stock into that because the Toadies might have the best defense in the Big 12 (10). The Gopher offense will get enough because the defense is going to make it tough on the Rams all game.

8. Michigan over Oregon State:

The Beavers were okay against Weber State. They will need to be a lot better than okay against Michigan. The Wolverines hung with Utah despite the inability of QB Jake Rudock to get out of his own way. If he struggles again, expect to see Shane Morris some in this one. Regardless, Michigan had receiver Amara Darboh step up big, and Jake Butt proved to be a favorite target in the passing game. The defense did a good job against a solid Utah offense. The Beavers are going to have all kinds of issues in this one.

7. Washington State over Rutgers:

Yes, I realize that the Cougars were punked by Portland State in the opener. Portland State is a solid team, and Cougar QB Luke Falk played a pretty good game. Rutgers had five players kicked off the team last week, and four of them are defensive backs. That is an ominous sign against a team that wants to throw 70 times a game.

6. Iowa State over Iowa:

The Cyclones have had the Hawkeyes’ number lately. That and they might have the most talent they have had in Ames in the last decade. They beat a pretty good Northern Iowa team in the opener, and it was never close. If Iowa gets into a position where they need to throw to win, they might not be able to. Rudock was a better passer than C.J. Beathard. The ISU defense will have their work cut out for them trying to stop the Iowa rushing attack, but the Cyclone offense will prove to be too much.

5. BYU over Boise State:

The Cougars are once again without QB Taysom Hill, but backup Tanner Mangum led them to a victory at Nebraska. I tend to think that Nebraska’s defense is a notch above Boise State, and the offense is on the same plane at worst. And this game is in Provo. Things are looking good for BYU here.

4. Oklahoma over Tennessee:

I knew watching that game last year that Tennessee was going to be one of our biggest tests of the year. With the game in Knoxville, that just solidifies it. I think I would have picked this game the other way if Baker Mayfield weren’t under center for the Sooners. I doubt they win this game with Cody Thomas or Trevor Knight at the helm. The emergence of Samaje Perine will also help the Sooners take this one home. He was mostly a non-factor last season. That said, this one scares me. Josh Dobbs and Jalen Hurd are capable or propelling Tennessee to a win.

3. Michigan State over Oregon:

Quite honestly, neither team looked particularly good in the opener. The Spartans let off the gas against a good Western Michigan team, but they were never really threatened. You can’t say the same for Oregon. Eastern Washington’s potent offense kept them in the game for quite a while. The Oregon defense might be the worst unit they have had since sometime last century. I have to go with the leadership of Connor Cook and the Spartans at home.

2. Mississippi State over LSU:

I was really hoping that the Tigers’ opener against McNeese State was going to be played. I wanted to see something from LSU before this game since they have so much turnover on offense. The Bulldogs return a lot of skill players on offense, including Dak Prescott and DeRunnya Wilson. What I saw from LSU last week would have certainly affected the pick, and probably the confidence in the pick. Right now, I have to go with the Bulldogs at home.

1. Connecticut over Army:

The only thing I know for sure is that this might be the ugliest game of the day. It is on CBS Sports Network if any of you are morbid enough to watch it. The Huskies struggled against an average FCS opponent in Villanova. Army lost to an average one in Fordham. UConn I guess, but just because they are at home.

Stay tuned for my picks against the spread for the entire weekend, and the FanDuel picks for the weekend as well. Our NFL experts will also have you covered for FanDuel and DraftKings alike as the NFL gets underway!

Next: NFL DraftKings Lineup For Week 1

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