College football Week 2 is upon us.
Saturday's slate features arguably the biggest game of the season when the No. 1 Ohio State Buckeyes head south to take on the No. 4 Texas Longhorns.
In addition to that massive matchup, the No. 11 Oklahoma Sooners will face the Michigan Wolverines and the No. 12 Alabama Crimson Tide meet the Kentucky Wildcats.
I broke down all three matchups and made a pick for each, so let's take a look at my college football picks and NCAAF predictions for Week 2 on Saturday, Sept. 12.
College Football Picks, Predictions
The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that Action Network senior writer Collin Wilson is targeting from Saturday's slate of Week 2 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 |
|---|---|---|
  | 12 p.m. | |
  | 3:30 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
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. | ||
Oklahoma vs Michigan Pick
Oklahoma Sooners
Despite triple-digit temperatures, Oklahoma barely broke a sweat in a 51-0 opening victory against UTEP. The Sooners flexed on defense, keeping the Miners under three yards per carry while also limiting the visitors to just two third-down conversions.
Linebacker Reggie Powers III led all Oklahoma defenders in tackles. UTEP was inept on passing plays, as OU allowed a 24% Success Rate on 21 attempts.
For Oklahoma, the bigger news was full health at the quarterback position on the other side of the ball.
John Mateer returns to full strength after a 2025 hand injury plagued the quarterback through the second half of the season. The super senior connected on 11-of-17 attempts for three touchdowns, finding Isaiah Sategna III more than any other target on the Sooners' roster.
The former Arkansas wide receiver not only found the end zone in the passing game, but also continued to be one of the most dangerous special teams players in FBS with an 88-yard punt-return touchdown.
Michigan Wolverines
The biggest question from the clock fiasco in Ann Arbor comes with Michigan's near future in the coming weeks.
Head coach Kyle Whittingham has quarterback Bryce Underwood on a short leash heading into Week 2, as the sophomore posted an interception and fumble in the thriller over Western Michigan.
Underwood logged five turnover-worthy plays in Week 1 after posting a total of 15 last year. Western Michigan recorded pressure on just 6-of-23 dropbacks, recording one sack the entire game.
Without any drops by Michigan's receivers, Underwood was fully responsible for the two turnovers and six other drives that ended in a punt.
The Wolverines did their job in the opener against Western Michigan, allowing just 12 points on four field goals. The Broncos averaged 3.3 yards per play and failed to create an explosive drive.
Troy Bowles led the way with nine tackles, while Dom Nichols produced two sacks off four pressures.
However, there are areas that need to be improved against Oklahoma. Michigan failed to create Havoc, stuffing Western Michigan on just 25% of its 44 rushing attempts.
The Wolverines' secondary also failed to produce a pass breakup, while three of Western Michigan's fumbles weren't recovered by Michigan.
Oklahoma vs Michigan Prediction
Oklahoma and Michigan have been in the Game of the Year market for months, with a spread close to a pick'em.
Thanks to the Wolverines' near-loss to WMU in Week 1, this number reached as high as Oklahoma -6.5 before a buyback occurred in the market.
The biggest question in this game is if a one-game sample set is enough to move the number that far.
Action Network, SP+ and Sagarin all call for Oklahoma to be a minimum touchdown favorite in the Big House.
Underwood's five turnover-worthy plays could get Michigan in deep waters against an aggressive Oklahoma defense that should be a national leader in Success Rate allowed and Havoc by the end of the season.
If Underwood were to have a clean sheet at the end of the game, the remaining pieces of the Michigan offense must step up. Slot receiver JJ Buchanan may provide that relief, generating six targets from Underwood in Week 0.
Buchanan caught 3-of-4 contested throws from Underwood, signaling that Michigan may run some quick slants to the slot early in this game.
Michigan's rushing game was also subpar against Western Michigan. Running back Jordan Marshall tallied 44 yards on 11 carries. The fourth-year rusher forced only two missed tackles on the day while posting a horrid 1.8 yards after first contact.
There's reason to believe the Oklahoma defense will key in on Underwood's mobility while sitting in Brent Venables' Cover 3 schemes.
On the other side of the ball, Michigan's lack of Havoc might allow Mateer to execute outside the pocket. The Wolverines posted just two sacks on Western Michigan, and a much tougher offensive line and mobile quarterback await with Oklahoma.
The Broncos held the ball more than 40 minutes of possession in Week 1, an advantage the Oklahoma offense can recreate through a deep running back stable.
There's justification in all areas for Oklahoma to make a leap on the spread for this game.
First, the Michigan defense had no teeth in creating Havoc against Western Michigan. Second, the Oklahoma offense is a much more cohesive unit, with three players catching touchdown passes and four different rushers creating explosive runs.
Michigan won't get enough out of Marshall on the ground, while Buchanan is the only verified target for Underwood.
Finally, special teams goes to Oklahoma, as Sategna is a threat to score on any kickoff or punt return.
Pick: Oklahoma -5.5 or Better
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Alabama vs Kentucky Pick
Alabama Crimson Tide
The season couldn't have started any better for the Alabama Crimson Tide, as they easily exceeded a large spread in a 48-10 victory over East Carolina.
Quarterback Keelon Russell was the story. He not only passed for 256 yards, but he added an additional team-leading 86 rushing yards.
After questions in the offseason about Alabama's ground attack, four different rushers collected five rushing touchdowns in the Week 1 win.
Nearly all of Russell's rushing yards came on scrambles, but the running back crew was solid with Daniel Hill and EJ Crowell. Both Hill and Crowell exceeded four yards after first contact.
The offensive line collected the 39th-highest run-blocking grade of any other team in FBS.
While the offense was in cruise control, the defense allowed only three points in the second half.
East Carolina failed to create a rushing attempt of 10 yards or better, ending the game with a net two yards on 22 carries. The Crimson Tide stuffed half of the Pirates' rushing attempts and didn't allow a single methodical drive.
Cornerback Dijon Lee Jr. led the Tide in tackles, while safety Bray Hubbard was responsible for the one explosive pass play that came from the East Carolina offense.
Kentucky Wildcats
Kentucky did as expected in a Week 1 game against an FCS opponent, posting a scoring differential greater than four touchdowns against Youngstown State.
The highlight of the game was the offense, as it nearly doubled the Penguins in yards per play. In 11 offensive possessions, the Wildcats recorded two explosive drives and a methodical drive.
Running back Jason Patterson led the way with 78 yards, while Texas transfer CJ Baxter provided two first downs and two rushing touchdowns.
Quarterback Kenny Minchey verified the hype around his departure from Notre Dame, throwing for four touchdowns and just over 300 yards.
Minchey's numbers were without Havoc from the Penguins, as Youngstown State generated just three pressures. The Notre Dame transfer did record 14 first downs and limited his throwing time to 2.4 seconds.
Head coach Will Stein opened the 2026 season without a headache on both the offensive and defensive side of the ball.
Under defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, the Wildcats limited Youngstown State to no explosive drives (defined by an average of 10 yards per play).
The Penguins' rush attack was limited to 2.6 yards per carry, but quarterback Beau Brungard did find success with six passes that exceeded 15 yards. More concerning is the double-digit number of missed tackles by Kentucky in the opening game.
Alabama vs Kentucky Prediction
The first handicap in the game comes from Alabama's ability to push the offense downfield against Kentucky. 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.
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 Minchey will look to continue without any turnover-worthy plays against the Crimson Tide defense.
Pick: Over 49.5 or Better
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Ohio State vs Texas Pick
Ohio State Buckeyes
Ohio State lived up to expectations in a Week 1 rout of Ball State.
The Buckeyes accumulated nearly 700 yards of offense, averaging 9.3 yards per play. There was hardly a weakness in the offense, with a 69% Success Rate in standard downs, led by the running back duo of Ja'Kobi Jackson and Bo Jackson.
Both Jacksons ended with 83 yards and a touchdown, but quarterback Julian Sayin and the receiving unit were elite.
Fifteen different players received a target from Sayin, none more than Heisman candidate Jeremiah Smith. The future NFL wide receiver caught eight passes for 151 yards and a pair of scores.
Any questions about the hiring of Arthur Smith as offensive coordinator and his commitment to the run game were washed away with the Buckeyes' Week 1 passing attack.
The defense was also outstanding on all fronts, ranking up seven tackles for loss while holding the Cardinals to two yards per carry.
Cornerback Jay Timmons led in coverage with two pass breakups, while EDGE Kenyatta Jackson Jr. was a one-man Havoc crew with seven pressures in 26 pass-rush snaps.
Texas Longhorns
Texas annihilated a Texas State roster that was expected to compete for the Pac-12 Championship this season.
The Bobcats offense has long been known for explosives under head coach G.J. Kinne, but the newly-led Longhorn defenders were up for the task as well.
Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp surrendered a single score to Texas State, limiting the Bobs to less than five yards per play.
Texas State did generate the national average in available yards, but possessions that crossed the Longhorns' 40-yard line were fruitless.
Texas proved to be a Havoc machine, picking off Texas State once while scooping two of the Bobcats' three fumbles. Eleven different Longhorn defenders were also credited with a tackle for loss.
Texas finished top-30 in Havoc a season ago, leaving the one area for improvement to be Finishing Drives. The Longhorns allowed just one score in four Texas State drives that crossed Texas' 40-yard line.
On the other side of the ball, quarterback Arch Manning nearly completed a clean sheet with three big-time throws and four touchdowns while distributing the ball to 12 different targets.
Auburn transfer wide receiver Cam Coleman continues to steal the headlines, generating two touchdowns on just three receptions. Ryan Wingo was the workhorse of the day with seven catches and 121 yards.
Texas experienced a large dip in offensive Success Rate last season, but the new running back stable of Hollywood Smothers and Raleek Brown produced over 100 yards and two touchdowns.
Outside of a Manning interception in the end zone, the Longhorns had no issues putting points on the board in eight other offensive possessions.
Ohio State vs Texas Prediction
There are no discernible weaknesses on either roster, as both Ohio State and Texas return quarterbacks from last season's showdown.
Both offenses have weapons on the outside that will dominate cornerbacks in the NFL in Smith and Coleman.
PFF grading differs from each Week 1 blowout, as the Buckeyes were better in run blocking and creating a pass rush. However, the Longhorns had much better scores in run defense and tackling to go along with a score of fifth nationally in pass blocking.
Texas dominated on the ground in Columbus a season ago. Smothers and Brown should give the Longhorns better options compared to Quintrevion Wisner and CJ Baxter in 2025.
Smothers has a career yards-after-first-contact number above four yards, producing 50 yards after contact on 10 carries against Texas State last week. Brown, meanwhile, tallied 55 missed tackles forced at Arizona State, something that needs to be in play against the Buckeyes.
Ohio State had a much slower afternoon in getting the running game going, as Bo Jackson exceeded five yards on a carry just once in the first half. Ja'Kobi Jackson also failed to create a rush over five yards in the first half against Ball State.
The numbers look different for Ohio State when taking out the biggest explosive play from each of the Jackson backs. Without the longest explosive rush in the final totals, Ohio State's top two options combined for just 52 yards on 15 carries.
The Longhorns are the pick based on a more elusive ground attack that should create yards after first contact.
Expect Muschamp to continue calling a Havoc-first defense with bracket coverage on Smith.
Along with the Buckeyes facing an elite aerial attack and ground game, Manning comes in as a more proven weapon on designed carries compared to Sayin.
Pick: Texas ML -125 or Better
