College football Week 2 best bets: Picks against the spread for every Top 25 game

No. 12 Texas A&M at No. 1 Clemson (-17.5)

This is the matchup we’re here for. The defending National Champs gets their first test. They welcome Jimbo Fishers and the Texas A&M Aggies. Clemson drilled Georgia Tech, putting 52 points on them last week. This is the best team in college football, but as they say it’s still any given Saturday.

The Aggies believe they see a weakness in the Tigers secondary. Maybe that’s just talk, but at least Fisher’s team is coming into this game with a plan. If they are going to keep this game competitive, they have to do it through the air. Kellen Mond is an outside candidate for the Heisman Trophy, and it’s because of the matchups he will face. Mond is eventually going to play Alabama, making them the only team facing both of the National Championship finalists.

Last year, Clemson escaped with a 28-26 victory, and that was without any of Jimbo Fisher’s schemes or players truly in place. This is a coach with a championship pedigree, and now his team wants to finish the job. They are not lacking confidence. That could work both ways. They could go into this matchup feeling overconfident, then when Clemson punches them in the mouth they may not react right. On the other hand, going in thinking you should win keeps you pushing from the opening kickoff.

After last week’s Oregon-Auburn game, don’t expect a team to have a “get them next week” mentality for any game. Even if Clemson goes out to an early lead, the Aggies are easy candidates for a backdoor cover. Either way, Texas A&M feels like the clear bet here. Yes, Clemson is playing at home, but there are still some pieces gelling right now, and they’re playing a top 12 program this weekend.

Pick: Texas A&M (+17.5)