Week 1 of college football was a fun one. From Dabo Swinney taking a nosedive on the national stage, to LSU and USC giving us the game of the week, to FSU proving to the entire country that they didn’t deserve a spot in the CFP a year ago, we couldn’t have asked for much more. The gauntlet is another good one this week, with plenty of great games involving ranked teams. Here’s our top 3 picks for 2024 college football week 2.
No. 3 Texas vs No. 10 Michigan
While Texas is hoping to show off in the SEC this year, they felt like they could’ve won a National Championship a year ago. It’s evident that Steve Sarkisian is the right man for the job as Texas looks to regain national relevancy and Quinn Ewers is once again proving that he is one of the best quarterbacks in the country. Texas had no struggles against Colorado State in Week 1 but the same can’t be said for Michigan. The Wolverines kept it close with Fresno State for most of their Week 1 game until Michigan scored 17 in the fourth quarter. It wasn’t an impressive first showing without Jim Harbaugh and JJ McCarthy. Texas might be on the road in this game and in the Big House, but I have no doubt that they handle business. Prediction: Texas 31 Michigan 24
No. 14 Tennessee vs No. 24 North Carolina State
Who is this game more important for? I am leaning on NC State who just watched a golden opportunity unfold before their eyes in the ACC. Florida State has lost two games already and is not only out of CFP contention but also ACC contention. On top of that, Clemson’s loss doesn’t end their hopes considering it came against Georgia, but it allows another team to control the ACC. NC State finished last year on a high note and is hoping to keep it going in 2024. They gave up 21 points to Western Carolina so Tennessee might be licking their chops after scoring 69 points a week ago. The SEC is going to be the toughest division in football by far this season and getting any sort of ranked win will go a long way for the Vols. I am taking their offense in a prove-it game this weekend. Prediction: Tennessee 38 NC State 27
Boise State vs No. 7 Oregon
I don’t think it’s long before Boise State is ranked this season, and they are going to show that to the country when they give Oregon everything they can handle. The Broncos might just have the best running back in the country in Ashton Jeanty. He scored six touchdowns in the opening week and rushed for 267 yards. If you’re not a big fan of football, that’s a lot. Jeanty is going to allow Boise to keep it on the ground in chunks, batter down this Oregon defense, and control time of possession. Oregon barely pulled away from Idaho last week and the offense with new QB Dillon Gabriel really didn’t seem to gel in big spots. Autzen is a hard place for a road team to win, but a team like Boise State will certainly give Oregon a hard time. Prediction: Boise State 23 Oregon 30