The Week 2 slate rolls on in the 3:30 PM ET window, headlined by huge matchups in the SEC (Alabama vs. Kentucky) and Big 12 (Arizona vs. BYU).
We’ve got 5 more College Football Best Bets Today on Saturday, September 12, below.
College Football Best Bets Today
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that our college football betting staff is targeting from today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 3:30 PM | |
  | 3:30 PM | |
| 3:30 PM | |
  | 3:30 PM | |
  | 3:30 PM | |
 | All Day | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAF Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Alabama vs. Kentucky Best Bet
The first handicap in the game comes from Alabama's ability to push the offense downfield against Kentucky. Defensive coordinator Jay Bateman has coached the previous two seasons at Texas A&M, a team that hasn't been on the Crimson Tide's schedule since 2023.
Keelon Russell was near-flawless passing for Alabama in the opener, and expectations are that Kentucky's coverage should provide more avenues for explosive plays.
Kentucky failed to create enough contested throws against Youngstown State. Wildcat cornerbacks Isaiah McMillian and Aaron Gates allowed 8-of-10 targets to be caught. Safety Jordan Castell gave up catches on both of his targets for the biggest explosive plays of the day for the Penguins.
Russell connected deep between the hash marks on two attempts for 51 yards against East Carolina, something that should be replicated in Week 2.
The Action Network projects Alabama as a 13-point favorite, but the best edge may come on the total. Integrating seconds per play, expected Success Rate, and Finishing Drives, a projected total for Alabama and Kentucky falls above the key number of 55.
The Crimson Tide should have minimal resistance on Russell's passing attempts, while Kenny Minchey will look to continue without any turnover-worthy plays against the Crimson Tide defense.
Check out more of Wilson's Week 2 Best Bets here:
Related Articles
Pick: Over 49.5 or Better
| | | | | |
Arizona vs. BYU Best Bet
By Stuckey
There's not much you can take from last week for either team, with both handling their business against FCS foes, although BYU had a much easier opponent in Utah Tech.
Although, BYU did lose a starting safety to injury, which could matter a bit against the very experienced Noah Fifita.
Coming into the season, the biggest question surrounding this Arizona team was in the secondary following the loss of five players to the NFL.
It remains to be seen if they can avoid too steep a drop-off with the portal acquisitions they brought in, but they should be OK in this particular matchup, as BYU's biggest primary weakness lies at wide receiver following the graduation of Chase Roberts and dismissal of Parker Kingston.
It's an underwhelming group (even with true freshman Legend Glasker flashing in his debut last week) that I don't believe can fully exploit the potentially vulnerable Arizona back end.
In order to slow down this BYU offense in 2026, you need a stout front seven that can defend the run and cover tight ends. Arizona has that, especially with linebacker Max Harris expected back this week after getting an exemption to return.
For what it's worth, running back Ismail Mahdi should also play due to that same TRO, providing a nice spark in the backfield.
If two coin-flips had gone Arizona's way last season, it would have played in the Big 12 Championship instead of BYU. But the Cougars pulled off a miraculous double-overtime win in Tucson that I'm sure the Wildcats have had circled ever since.
Eventually, the BYU horseshoe run in recent seasons will end in terms of close game wins, fourth-down variance and turnover luck. And maybe it's this week against the revenge-minded Wildcats.
Bottom line: I was happy to take over a touchdown in a game where points may come at a premium (and it appears the market agrees with the total continuing to get bet down) in a favorable matchup for the Arizona defense.
Check out all of Stuckey's situational spots for Week 2 here:
Related Articles
Pick: Arizona +7 or Better
| | | | | |
Arizona vs. BYU Best Bet
By Doug Ziefel
LJ Martin's role in the passing game showed up in Week 1 exactly as expected. His damage against Utah Tech came almost entirely on the ground, where he ran for 54 yards on 7 carries, while the receiving production in BYU's 63-7 win flowed instead to true freshman Legend Glasker and the tight ends. Martin didn't register any meaningful line as a pass-catcher in the box score.
That's consistent with how he's used across a full season, not just a one-game sample. Over 13 games in 2025, Martin caught 36 passes for just 255 yards, a 19.6 yards-per-game average that already sits comfortably under this number even before accounting for game-to-game variance.
A workhorse rushing role at his volume (236 carries last year) simply doesn't leave much bandwidth for a heavy receiving workload layered on top of it, and that pattern carried right into the opener.
The Week 2 matchup only reinforces the lean. BYU hosts Arizona in the Big 12 opener, and the Wildcats' defense was excellent in its own opener, holding Northern Arizona to -7 rushing yards while returning most of their front seven.
A defense playing that disciplined against the run tends to force backs into checkdown duty rather than featuring them as receivers, which doesn't favor a big day for Martin through the air.
BYU's passing attack is also increasingly funneling through Glasker and the perimeter targets rather than the backfield, and with backup running back Sione Moa out injured, Martin may see even more early-down rushing work, which may further limit his snaps running routes.
Pick: LJ Martin Under 21.5 Receiving Yards
| | | | | |
Maryland vs. UConn Best Bet
Saturday's Maryland vs. UConn college football game fits a historically profitable betting system called "Home Dog Early" from our Bet Labs database.
In college football, the "Home Dog Early" system focuses on teams opening their season at home as underdogs.
These teams often enter Week 1 overlooked by the market, yet they enjoy the advantage of a familiar environment, crowd energy and months of preparation aimed at this single game.
With the spread modestly favoring the opponent, the home side can play with added urgency, aiming to make an early statement.
The unique dynamic of a first game, where rust and execution issues can affect both sides, often narrows the gap, creating value in backing the underdog before market expectations fully adjust.
This system boasts a record of 121-91-5, good for a winning percentage of 57% and an ROI of 11%. It has also gone 2-1 this season, albeit in a small sample size.
UConn is undergoing some massive changes, hiring former Toledo head coach Jason Candle following Jim Mora's departure to Colorado State.
The Candle era got off to a fast start, as the Huskies dismantled FCS Lafayette, 56-7, in Week 1.
Toledo transfer quarterback Kalieb Osborne flashed in a major way, completing 19 of his 26 passes for 265 yards, two touchdowns and one interception while adding another 90 yards and two scores on the ground.
He could cause major problems for a Terrapins defense that finished last season ranked just 93rd nationally in Success Rate allowed.
On top of that, Maryland has started slow in early-season nonconference games before. In the Terps' second game of the season last year, they escaped Northern Illinois with a 20-9 win at home.
Given the historically profitable betting system at hand and Osborne's potential for UConn, we're going to back the Huskies to keep this one close on Saturday,
Pick: UConn +12 or Better
| | | | | |
Mississippi State vs. Minnesota Best Bet
By Jordan Vanek
We only have a one-week sample, but Ragins has established himself as a serious deep threat, with an air-yard share close to 40%, per SIS.
I don’t mind taking his longest reception up to the 34.5-yard mark, and I also like his 31.5 receiving-yard total.
The safest play to me is the longest reception. I trust Kamario Taylor to connect with him on a deep ball this week.
Pick: Zion Ragins Higher Than 17.5 Longest Reception (Underdog Fantasy)
Related Articles
| | | | | |
Breese's Full Action App Card for Saturday
Need more picks for Saturday's action? It's always wise to see what our guy Breese is gambling on!
Additionally, if you haven't already, make sure you download the Action Network App to track all your picks and follow all your favorite college football experts:
| | | | | |
