College Football Predictions for Week 2: Can Michigan Keep Up with Oklahoma?

From a controversial ending to a prolonged delay on Monday night, there was no shortage of drama in Week 1. Heading into Week 2, expect plenty more action to hit our screens, kicking off the day with a highly anticipated matchup between Oklahoma and Michigan before Ohio State caps off the slate with a top-five battle against Texas.

Here are my Week 2 college football predictions and picks.

College Football Predictions for Week 2

Michigan Over 18.5 Points Scored, No (52%, Kalshi)

Even though a blowout win over UTEP is hardly worth hanging your hat on, Oklahoma’s dominant performance on defense mirrored what we projected heading into the season, ranking in the top-20 in defensive finishing drives, explosiveness and hard stops. Their defensive line lived in the backfield, using their pressure to create havoc at a high rate.

While the Sooners thrived, Michigan severely underwhelmed, needing a last-second miracle to squeak past Western Michigan. Bryce Underwood was abysmal in their win, throwing for just 170 yards while completing 54.5% of his passes. The Wolverines' ground game was nonexistent, plummeting down to 126th in rush explosiveness.

Barring a sudden turnaround, it’s tough to envision how Michigan will move the ball on Oklahoma, keeping them out of scoring position. The Sooners are capable of collapsing the pocket with just their defensive line, allowing them to spy their linebackers, which will neutralize Underwood’s running ability.

Place a trade on the Wolverines to be held under their team total of 18.5, with intentions of arbing the other side should they cross through 14.

Penn State Wins by Over 23.5 Points, Yes (53%, Kalshi)

After going through a complete overhaul, Penn State was able to quickly integrate their new pieces on both sides of the ball, routing Marshall 45-0. Rocco Becht was efficient through the air, throwing for 271 yards and four touchdowns while leading the Nittany Lions to top-10 marks in pass play success rate and explosiveness.

Temple, on the other hand, struggled to hold off Rhode Island, needing a second-half surge to pull away on the scoreboard. While it’s tough to gauge the level of motivation heading into a matchup against an FCS opponent, the Owls' performance on defense was alarming, stumbling to the bottom half of the board in defensive success rate, EPA per play and finishing drives.

With Temple struggling to defend every level of the field, Penn State will face minimal resistance in their efforts to stay ahead of the sticks while marching down the field. After capitalizing on their scoring opportunities, their relentless pressure will force the Owls into early outs, leading to an uptick in their own total number of possessions. With clear advantages on both sides of the ball, hold off on trading the other side until the Nittany Lions send in their second unit.

Ohio State Wins, Yes (48%, Kalshi)

After Texas retooled their offense with the transfer portal, all eyes are on Arch Manning, surrounding him with arguably the most talented group of skill players in the nation. Unfortunately for the Longhorns, red flags have been raised after their offensive line was ravaged by injuries, potentially handicapping Manning’s ceiling while warding off pressure.

While Manning is more than capable of masking their loss of production in the trenches, a Week 2 matchup against Ohio State will do him no favors, facing off against a defense that ranks ninth in success rate and eighth in hard stops. Any stalled-out drive will swing the probability of the Buckeyes winning our way, giving us the opportunity to bet the other side and lock in a profit as the game progresses.

Published Sep 11, 2026, 4:00 AM ET

College Football Predictions for Week 2: Can Michigan Keep Up with Oklahoma?