College Football Picks & Predictions: Week 2 (Saturday)
Week 1 of the 2026 college football season featured some incredible performances. Wide Receiver Malachi Toney racked up 234 yards and three touchdowns on 12 receptions in Miami’s 45-6 win over Stanford. Quarterback Sam Leavitt recorded 343 total yards and three touchdowns in LSU’s 51-10 thumping of Clemson. The focus now shifts to a Week 2 slate packed with intriguing storylines and ranked teams in action. Here’s a look at three of my favorite college football picks for Saturday’s contests.
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Saturday's Best College Football Picks (Week 2)
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes vs. No. 5 Texas Longhorns
An epic battle is on deck at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Ohio State is the favorite to win the National Championship (+550), while Texas has the third-best odds to win it all (+650) on DraftKings Sportsbook. Not only that, but Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (+950) and Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith (+1000) both boast top-three odds to win the Heisman Trophy. There’s no shortage of offensive talent in a clash that will likely have a major impact on the College Football Playoff (CFP) picture.
That was clear in Week 1, when Ohio State blasted Ball State 56-3, and Texas crushed Texas State 59-7. Be mindful of these defenses, too. Ohio State linebacker Tarvos Alford tallied five tackles and an interception. The Buckeyes are aiming to replicate their 2025 success, when they conceded just 3.9 third-down conversions per game. Texas linebacker Rasheem Biles forced a fumble and logged an interception. It was a great start for a Longhorns defense that averaged two takeaways per home game in 2025.
This contest could truly go either way, so I will avoid taking a side. Last year’s duel between these powerhouses ended in a 14-7 score. Both defenses finished the campaign ranked in the top 20 in points allowed per game and yards allowed per game. Then they began 2026 with a bang by surrendering fewer than 10 points and 5.0 yards per play in Week 1. Ohio State defensive coordinator Matt Patricia and Texas defensive coordinator Will Muschamp have had this moment circled on the calendar for months.
Trust the defenses to get enough stops to secure the under. There have been fewer than 49 points scored in seven of the Buckeyes’ previous nine regular-season road games.
Pick: Under 48.5 Points (-105)
No. 10 Oklahoma Sooners vs. No. 16 Michigan Wolverines
Talk about escaping by the skin of your teeth. Michigan connected on a 47-yard touchdown on the final play of the game to beat Western Michigan 13-12 in Week 1. It was an offensive struggle for the Wolverines, converting only three of their 10 third-down attempts and committing three turnovers. Meanwhile, Oklahoma cruised to a 51-0 victory against UTEP last Saturday. The Sooners’ defense excelled with four sacks, and wide receiver Isaiah Sategna III shined with an electric 88-yard punt return touchdown.
There are different ways to interpret the ending at the Big House. Some would say it revealed the Wolverines’ weaknesses, involving inconsistencies from quarterback Bryce Underwood. The sophomore threw an ugly first-half interception before fumbling during a key drive in the fourth quarter. Others would say converting a Hail Mary creates momentum and a chance for the coaching staff to learn from its mistakes. I believe the former is much more important, considering a top-10 team now visits Ann Arbor.
The Sooners showed no signs of mercy when they jumped out to a 21-0 lead versus UTEP. It’s a trend they have continued from 2025. Oklahoma held a lead when the first quarter ended in eight of its 12 regular-season contests. That includes when it was up 7-0 over Michigan when the first-quarter clock hit zero in a 24-13 win on September 6th. The Wolverines are still figuring out their offensive identity, so one scoring drive led by Sooners quarterback John Mateer may be all that is needed to cash this bet.
Pick: Oklahoma First Quarter -0.5 (+105)
No. 13 Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Kentucky Wildcats
Dominance from new quarterbacks controlled the headlines for Alabama and Kentucky in Week 1. Sophomore Keelon Russell showcased his dual-threat abilities by leading the Crimson Tide with 86 rushing yards and one touchdown on 13 carries in a 48-10 triumph over East Carolina. Notre Dame transfer Kenny Minchey completed 18 of his 27 passes for 301 yards and four touchdowns in the Wildcats’ 45-13 victory against Youngstown State. Of course, facing an SEC defense will be a huge step up in competition.
This is not the same Kentucky program from 2025. Along with Minchey are new head coach Will Stein and defensive coordinator Jay Bateman. Stein was Oregon’s offensive coordinator from 2023-2025. The Ducks were a top-15 scoring team in all three of those campaigns. Bateman was Texas A&M’s defensive coordinator from 2024-2025. The Aggies were a top-25 defense in opponent third-down conversion rate in both of those campaigns. These men have proven they can lead their units to elite marks.
Alabama has had far fewer changes, with head coach Kalen DeBoer back for a third year. This will be Russell’s first true road game, though, in a stadium that has proven to be hard to play in. Just last season, Texas quarterback Arch Manning completed 12 of his 27 passes for a lackluster 132 yards and Ole Miss quarterback Austin Simmons tossed two interceptions in their trips to Kroger Field. The Wildcats didn’t win either contest, but they kept the final scores within one possession (16-3 and 30-23).
Expect a similar outcome on Saturday, with a fourth-quarter score deciding a victor. Overall, Alabama is 1-4 against the spread (ATS) as a double-digit road favorite under DeBoer.
Pick: Kentucky Wildcats +10.5 (-110)