College football picks, predictions, odds: Notre Dame vs. Northern Illinois among best bets in Week 2

.Just when you want to jump on the Bet Against Florida State bandwagon, the Seminoles have a much needed week off. At least we will have a bigger selection of games between FBS teams after having only 37 last week.

Each week, I will use this space to tell you what I think are a few of the best bets heading into the weekend. I will also throw in an upset of the week, which will be a team that is at least a touchdown underdog that I am picking to win outright.

I will also give you picks on other games involving potential College Football Playoff teams. Since just about everybody is technically a CFP candidate at the moment. So for the first few weeks of the season at least, I'll go with the current top 12 teams in the AP poll. With the expanded playoff this season, I'll go deeper into the rankings once we get a few games under our belts.

Games against FCS opponents are not considered.

I got off to a rough start in Week 1. The regular picks went 1-2 and I missed on the upset pick. This week will be better.

Odds via SportsLine consensus

Week 2 picks

Northern Illinois at No. 5 Notre Dame (-28.5)

Growing up in the Chicago area, I have always had a soft spot for the MAC and NIU, but this line doesn't make sense. Unless the Irish have a letdown following the big win at Texas A&M , I don't see how the Huskies get within four touchdowns of the Irish. If Notre Dame wants to be a playoff contender with its relatively soft schedule, it needs to send messages in games like this. I would really be surprised if Notre Dame had a letdown in its home opener and it is not likely it will be looking ahead to Purdue . Pick: Notre Dame -28.5

Texas Tech at Washington State (O/U 65.5)

I try not to overreact to Week 1 games, especially against FCS competition, but these two teams each played games with totals of at least 100 points. That tells us they are pretty effective offensively and still lost defensively. We do not need them to get to 100 this week, but 66 seems pretty likely. Pick: Over 65.5

UMass at Toledo (-17.5)

Future MAC member UMass is getting a taste of what league play will be like next season. The Minutemen opened at home with a 14-point loss to Eastern Michigan . Now they travel to the Glass Bowl to play one of the league's elite in Toledo. If UMass couldn't get any closer than 14 against the Eagles, there is no reason to think it will get within double that at Toledo. Pick: Toledo -17.5

Upset of the Week

Appalachian State at No. 25 Clemson (-17)

Clemson got drilled by No. 1 Georgia 34-3 to start the season. The Bulldogs do that to a lot of teams, but the Tigers did not look like a possible contender in the ACC. Although, to be fair, only No. 12 Miami has looked the part, so far. App State is considered a contender for the Group of Five spot in the College Football Playoff and has a history of noteworthy upsets. Most memorable was 2007's 34-32 upset at No. 5 Michigan while still a member of FCS. More recently, the Mountaineers won at No. 6 Texas A&M 17-14 in 2022. So some players still in the program have already done better than this. Pick: Appalachian State

Other CFP candidates

• Western Michigan at No. 2 Ohio State (O/U 54) Pick: Over
  
• No. 3 Texas (-7.5) at No. 10 Michigan Pick: Michigan +7.5
• USF at No. 4 Alabama (-30.5) Pick: Alabama -30.5
• Boise State at No. 7 Oregon (O/U 65.5) Pick: Over 65.5
  
• Bowling Green at No. 8 Penn State (O/U 49.5) Pick: Over 49.5
• Buffalo at No. 9 Missouri (-34.5) Pick: Missouri -34.5
• Baylor at No. 11 Utah (-14.5) Pick: Utah -14.5

Which college football picks can you make with confidence in Week 2? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread -- all from a proven computer model that has returned over $2,000 in profit since its inception -- and find out.