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With no upsets shaking up the field in Week 1, we turn our attention towards a trio of games that are poised to alter the trajectory of some CFB Playoff contenders. There’s a highly anticipated matchup between Oklahoma and Michigan, pitting two playoff hopefuls against each other who are in desperate need of securing the win before their conference schedule ramps up.
Week 2 CFB Playoff Picture – Teams to Watch
| Team | CFB Playoff Odds | Opponent | Time (ET) | 📺 | Spread | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
+160 |  |
12:00 p.m. | FOX | OU -5.5 | 43.5 |
 |
+270 |  |
3:30 p.m. | FOX | BYU -7.5 | 47.5 |
 |
+320 |  |
7:00 p.m. | ESPN | TENN -12.5 | 55.5 |
Oklahoma (-5.5) at Michigan
After barely squeaking past Western Michigan in controversial fashion, the Michigan Wolverines now host the Oklahoma Sooners in a matchup that is already considered an elimination game for the playoffs. Before Week 1, the Wolverines were projected to be the favorite with oddsmakers listing them at -1.5, now plummeting down to as low as +5.5.
Their stunning performance on offense raises serious red flags, primarily over Bryce Underwood who has shown no signs of improvement since last year’s disastrous marks in Pass Success Rate, EPA, and in Explosiveness. Against the Broncos, Underwood’s inconsistencies were on full display, throwing for 170 yards while completing just 54% of his passes.
Underwood’s struggles bodes well for Oklahoma, feeding into a defense who creates disruptions at a high rate per their top-5 mark in Havoc. Especially with the Sooners front four capable of collapsing their pocket shortly after the snap, forcing Underwood to get the ball out of his hands quicker than anticipated which will lower the quality of his throws. Barring a sudden turnaround, the Wolverines hopes of making the playoffs may be on life support just two weeks into the season.
BYU (-7.5) vs. Arizona
While Texas Tech hogged the spotlight during the offseason, BYU has quietly gone under the radar as a viable contender for the Big 12 title. Their conference schedule puts them in a great position to make a run to the title game, putting them in the driver’s seat for the playoffs. Bear Bachmeier flashed in his limited role in their season opener, throwing for 198 yards and 3 touchdowns in a dominant win against Utah Tech.
Heading into Week 2, Bachmeier will need to continue to play at a high level, battling it out against Arizona in a contest that could drastically swing their probability of playing in the conference championship. While a Week One matchup against Northern Arizona gives us little to go off of, Arizona’s continuity on defense gives us a good indication of how they will perform this season, fielding a group who ranks above league average in Def Finishing Drives and in Explosiveness.
On the other side of the field, BYU brings back a majority of their defense who excelled in coverage, a back end who ranked second overall in Def Pass EPA and 17th in Explosiveness. With Arizona’s ground game incapable of pulling BYU’s linebackers to the middle, the Cougars will be able to stretch out their second level and smother Noah Fifita’s passing lanes for the full duration of the contest.
Tennessee (-12.5) at Georgia Tech
Arguably no one entered the year with bigger question marks looming over their offense than Tennessee, waiting until the last second to announce who their starting quarterback would be this season. Faizon Brandon put the Vols fanbase at ease with his performance against Furman, throwing for 226 yards and 3 touchdowns while completing 76.47% of his passes.
While Tennessee has flashed their upside, Georgia Tech could not ask for a worse start to the season, losing to Colorado at home. Their offense was unable to find their footing, starting their year ranked near dead last in Success Rate and in Finishing Drives. Their lack of production on the ground turned them into a one dimensional unit with every player receiving a carry averaging less than 3.5 yards per attempt.
If the Vols defense can give them the production they need to be a well rounded unit, then they will be able to quickly pull away on the scoreboard and secure the win. Every win the Vols can get before conference play gets underway is crucial for their hopes of making the playoffs, drawing the likes of Texas, Alabama, Texas A&M, and LSU to end their year.
Photo Credit: REUTERS
