#HLSBets CFB Week 2 Recap, Rundown, Top 25 and More!
Intro - Rundown
Welcome back to #HLSBets on HLS Entertainment today I am excited to breakdown this past crazy weekend of college football. I want to jump straight into the rundown but first I want to remind you to follow me on Twitter @HaroldLStokes and let you know this weekend is the LAST TIME you can buy in for the full CFB/NFL regular season #HLSBets Bonus Sheets for the special price. On to the rundown!
Things started firing hot out in Austin Texas where Alabama traveled to play Texas, Quinn Ewers sadly got banged up early we all hope he gets better quickly. In a tough defensive struggle Alabama hung around to win 20-19. Georgia scored 30 points before halftime on Samford then just had their offense weirdly fizzle out in the second half (Samford's never started), UGA 33-0. Arkansas State might have been just what the doctor ordered for this Ohio State offense that was struggling to find a rhythm as they pulled away to win 45-12. Michigan beat down on Hawaii 56-10 with their weak out of conference schedule.
Clemson, similarly to UGA, came out firing in the first half but then just had their offense fall off in the second as they handedly beat Furman 35-12. Man I love this App State team, filled to the brim with grit they traveled over to Texas A&M, took their 1.5 million, beat them at home, and stole their Gameday, App State won 17-14. Unlike Clemson and Georgia, Oklahoma's offense struggled out the gate but ignited in the third quarter for 24 points as they beat up on Kent State 33-3. Marshall joined App State in the Fun Belt take over as they also won on the road as underdogs just embarassing Notre Dame in a huge upset 26-21. This is not THAT big a deal for Notre Dame new coach just needs time, just remember even Nick Saban lost to Louisiana Monroe his first year at Alabama, no need to freak out.
I have been high on this Baylor team so I was disappointed they lost to BYU 20-26, but this Cougar team is earning a ton of respect this season and have a chance to earn every bit of it. Man oh man USC's offense was just outclassing Stanford in their 41-28 easy victory, but their defense has some serious questions. Oklahoma State took care of business at home against Arizona State in a fun game where their offense showed flashes of something really exciting as they win 34-17. Kentucky went into the Swamp and broke every Anthony Richardson fans hearts as they proved they were the much better team winning 26-16. Utah took care of business breaking Southern Utah's spirit 73-7.
Michigan State took Akron's lunch money 52-0. Miami played a solid game winning 30-7 at home over Southern Miss. In an EXTREMLY excited fourth quarter (37 points scored) Arkansas survived to beat South Carolina 44-30. Arkansas really needs to get it together quickly or one of these games they are going to lose. Speaking of getting things together, Tennessee failed to impress with their 34-27 overtime victory over a VERY overrated Pitt. NC State did what they were supposed to stomping Charleston Southern 55-3. Washington State walked into Wisconsin and wone an ugly game 17-14. Ole Miss offense lit up the scoreboard 59-3 on Central Arkansas. Sam Hartman returned which we all can be happy about and torched Vandy 45-25 with 300 yards through the air and 4 TDs. Houston kept slipping and when you slip up against a gritty team that's fighting for their coach right now it usually ends in an upset, Red Raiders win 33-30. Whew that was a lot, time for this week's updated Top 25!
#HLSBets Week 2 Top 25
1. Georgia W 33-0 over Samford (LW1)
2. Alabama W 20-19 over Texas (LW2)
3. Ohio State W 45-12 over Arkansas State (LW3)
4. Clemson W 35-12 over Furman (LW4)
5. Michigan W 56-10 over Hawaii (LW5)
6. Oklahoma W 33-3 over Kent State (LW7)
7. Michigan State W 52-0 over Akron (LW8)
8. BYU W 26-20 over Baylor (LW12)
9. USC W 41-28 over Stanford (LW20)
10. NC State W 55-3 over Charleston Southern (LW9)
11. Utah W 73-7 over Southern Utah (LW13)
12. Arkansas W 44-30 over South Carolina (LW14)
13. Kentucky W 26-16 over Florida (LW23)
14. Oregon W 70-14 over Eastern Washington (LW15)
15. Oklahoma State W 34-17 over Arizona State (LW16)
16. Tennessee W 34-27 over Pitt (LW21)
17. Miami W 30-7 over Southern Miss (LW17)
18. App State W 17-14 over Texas A&M (LWNR)
19. Florida L 16-26 to Kentucky (LW11)
20. Texas L 19-20 to Alabama (LW19)
21. Texas A&M L 14-17 to App State (LW6)
22. Baylor L 20-26 to BYU (LW18)
23. Wake Forest W 45-25 over Vanderbilt (LW24)
24. Mississippi State W 39-17 over Arizona (LW25)
25. Ole Miss W 59-3 over Central Arkansas (LWNR
Fell Out: Notre Dame (LW10), Wisconsin (LW22)
Bets I Should Have Won
UCF blowing the second half
Memphis @ Navy 49.5 UNDER
UCF's second half offense was just embarrassing to watch. UCF QB Plumlee is someone I want to give credit to because the team around him also sucks, but he just had a pitiful second half passing (first half wasn't great either). Those last few drives when they got a shot to score, and win were some of the most aggravating downs of football I watched all weekend.
Memphis 37 Navy 13. Pain. That is all I have to say.
Bets I am Excited For
I have a couple of BIAEFs this week starting off with I am throwing a few bucks on Stetson Bennett +1,200 to win the Heisman. If the other top tier QBs do not separate themselves from the pack and Georgia is clearly the best team come December, he will be stealing some votes if he keeps up his pace. I have been very pleasantly surprised how Bennett has continued to use his legs as well as his arm and I am rooting to see how well he can do this season. What a story that would be for him to win.
This team is NOT my favorite to win the conference but if it isn't Clemson, it will be Miami +450 to win the ACC this year. I choose to put this here this week specifically because say they beat Texas A&M this weekend and Clemson doesn't impress; I imagine those odds get worse and the number drops even more. Speaking of conference winners, I said it last week I have seen enough of App State to go ahead and crown them then they did THAT, so I am putting more on +200 for them to win the Fun Belt.
Heisman Frontrunners
CJ Stroud +200
Caleb Williams +300 (was +900 LW)
Bryce Young +300
We see CJ and Bryce are really holding steady but looking at numbers that is based off name brand and recognition alone. Meanwhile Caleb Williams and USC are skyrocketing up the ranks and Caleb Williams is putting on a show. As you can see from the rankings above I am turning into a USC believer. I said before the season they had a shot but refused to be someone who just put them in the top 10 before even seeing the team prove themselves. They have shown at the very least this offense is a force of nature, I have serious questions about their defense still. But we are here talking about Caleb Williams, and he has taken another step forward and looks like a stud, and his odds are only going to get worse.
Back to CJ and Bryce, both have near identical numbers (CJ about 100 yards more through the air but Bryce makes up for it on the ground adding a rushing TD as well) and neither have put on a dominating performance that matters yet. Bryce will get the stack some numbers this next two weeks against Louisiana Monroe and Vandy before facing a real matchup with Arkansas. CJ gets his chance against Toledo to load up some stats before getting to beat down on Wisconsin next week.
Sell Stock In
The SEC?
My Buy Stock In list - Florida and Notre Dame lost after being on it last week
Man what is going on in the SEC right now? The mighty conference has shown some serious chinks in the armor this season. Alabama barely escaping a road trip to Texas, Texas A&M losing at home to App State, Florida blows their shot to join the top 10 (but Kentucky improves), Arkansas was thought to be taking another step but has struggled to prove their might. Tennessee went to overtime with a Pitt team that seriously downgraded this season, and the mighty Vandy loses by 20 to Wake Forest after starting 2-0. This is more of an eyebrow raise than anything, but I have got my eye on the SEC tripping up.
Last week my Buy Stock In list might as well have been a jinx list (fingers crossed for those I talk about below). Both Notre Dame and Florida were teams I felt deserved praise and then both immediately lost in games they very well could (should have in ND's case) have won. I mean there isn't anything wrong with Florida losing to a good Kentucky squad, the real shame is how embarassing it was for Notre Dame to lose to Marshall.
Buy Stock In
Texas Tech
BYU
Miami
Texas Tech head coach Joey McGuire seems to have this program bought in. I am not sitting here saying they are going to pull an upset this weekend against NC State (though it is possible), I am just applauding what this staff and team are doing after being such a crap show pretty much since firing Mike Leach in 2009. They have ended the season above .500 once since 2016 and this team should celebrate every win it gets.
I am putting BYU here instead of Bets I Should Have Won because they earned that overtime win over a good Baylor team. Taking down one solid top 25 team and now they get their chance with a second taking on Oregon this weekend on the road. BYU has a prove it schedule this season, meaning that they can control their destinies this season playing multiple top 25 teams (including Arkansas on 10/15) and they get Notre Dame at home in their first October game.
Miami gets their shot at copying App State for a signature win over Texas A&M this weekend. Miami is another team like USC where I refused to immediately buy into the hype until seeing them prove it on the field. If they can survive this road trip, then this next stretch of 7 games could be a breeze if they really are that great of a team.
Outro-Games I'm Looking Forward To
Miami @ Texas A&M
Michigan St @ Washington
Texas Tech @ NC State
Mississippi St @ LSU
BYU @ Oregon
These are 5 of the most important games of the weekend for their dramatic impact to the CFB world they each can have. If Miami beats A&M that solidifies them as a serious team this season and puts Jimbo Fisher in a very dangerous spot having a pitiful start to the season. Michigan State can pad their resume going on the road beating a power 5 team, or they could slip up in this potential trap game before they start their conference schedule. Texas Tech is grinding right now and are fun to watch, meanwhile NC State is looking to reaffirm their position in the polls. Miss State and LSU both have a crossroads game for their seasons, this could be a turning point for both. And the game of the weekend BYU @ Oregon is the one I am most excited for. Oregon can prove they are still a squad to be feared, and BYU can prove they are for real and build their resume even more.
Thank you so much for reading! Please be sure to follow me on Twitter @HaroldLStokes where you can get each weeks free public betting sheets and dm for more information about #HLSBets Bonus Sheet that has even more games and full breakdowns of each!
