College football predictions: JD PicKell gives picks for biggest Week 2 games

The college football season is fully underway and after a riveting set of games in Week 1, we get another chock-full slate in Week 2.

There are even some conference games among this week’s top games, so we’re getting into the part of the season where everything matters and each result will be meticulously analyzed and broken down.

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On3’s JD PicKell has already done a lot of the hard work for you, giving his predictions for this week’s top college football games. Let’s take a dive into his picks below.

Texas (-6.5) over Michigan

PicKell started off with some basic questions that could determine the outcome of the ESPN College GameDay game of the week. Can Texas establish enough on the ground to take some shots via play-action or RPO? That could go a long way toward establishing some consistent offense in the matchup.

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Another factor that plays into that is that Michigan wasn’t totally dominant defensively against Fresno State. PicKell wondered if that was Michigan keeping things vanilla ahead of the highly anticipated Week 2 college football showdown.

What happens in space between the two teams? Texas has some serious yards-after-the-catch threats at the skill positions. Meanwhile, can Michigan pound it downhill against a revamped Texas interior defensive line? When he does get shots, can Michigan quarterback Alex Orji hit downfield?

In the end, PicKell just sees Texas having more answers than Michigan, winning by a touchdown to cover the -6.5 spread.

Tennessee (-7.5) over NC State

The On3 college football analyst had a pretty simple prediction for this ACC vs. SEC matchup: This is the game where Nico Iamaleava and the Vols can prove they have playoff chops. On the flip side? NC State has the chance to go from good to great and establish itself as a potential threat in the ACC. This is a game that will tell us a lot about both teams.

As far as the keys to the game go, the biggest one PicKell circled was whether the Wolfpack can get Iamaleava out of control. NC State needs to go after him early to disrupt timing. To PicKell’s thinking, if you can mess with the quarterback in a Josh Heupel offense, you mess with the entire offense.

That’s probably a good idea, too, seeing as Iamaleava set a school record for passing yardage in a half last week with 314 in the opening two quarters against Chattanooga. He was electric, as he was in the bowl game last year.

As to the key on the other side of the ball, can Tennessee take away the run game and play-action from Grayson McCall? The pick is that they do just that, and the Vols win and cover -7.5.

Nebraska (-7.5) over Colorado

One thing immediately stood out to PicKell about this game: If Nebraska is building the way it’s supposed to be it wins this game. On the other hand, Colorado wants respect from the college football world at large but hasn’t earned it after winning four games last year, the On3 analyst said. So this game is about direction and tone.

As far as the football goes, PicKell outlined a few key areas. Can Nebraska keep up in the secondary? If the Cornhuskers sit in zone they’ll get carved up, so can they win in man-to-man? Or will Colorado win one-on-ones?

The danger for Nebraska here is allowing this game to turn into a shoot-out. But Colorado will lose some possessions here and there unless it can prove it has a viable run game. The Buffaloes need that to keep the Nebraska defense off-balance.

The final point raised by PicKell? Dylan Raiola changes the game from what it was a year ago. The On3 analyst likes Nebraska to win but thinks Colorado covers +7.5.

Kentucky (-9.5) over South Carolina

The final pick for PicKell this week is a conference matchup between South Carolina and Kentucky. South Carolina had rough Week 1 but can put all that to bed with a win over Kentucky. PicKell notes that the Gamecocks are going to try to dictate things with Rocket Sanders and the run game but must face Deone Walker inside. That is a big swing matchup in the game.

Kentucky is playing at home and will have the advantage of a loud Kroger Field. So what can the Gamecocks do? South Carolina has to get an extra possession or two, perhaps by way of Beamer Ball? They must also disrupt quarterback Brock Vandagriff to have a chance. On3’s college football analyst doesn’t see it happening and picks Kentucky to win and cover the -9.5.