By Jacob Seliga
College Football Writer
Welcome to the Seliga 5.
Every week, Hypamark's College Football Writer Jacob Seliga will choose five games to watch this weekend. He will also include his best bet. Tail if you'd like, or just enjoy some great action.
Here are the games he is excited to see this week.
No. 3 Texas (-7.5) AT No. 10 Michigan O/U: 42.5, 9 AM, Fox
This is the undisputed game of the week that couples as the ultimate litmus test. For Michigan, Week 1 was a lackluster victory against a solid Fresno State team meanwhile Texas rolled with ease over Colorado State. The expectation for most is that Michigan doesn’t have the returning production or the staff to compete for the Big-10 title and the national championship.
Texas is one of the heavy favorites to make it to Atlanta in January and possibly win the national title. The offense of the Longhorns is led by Heisman trophy candidate Quinn Ewers who alongside wide receiver Isaiah Bond form one of the most formidable duos in the nation.
Best Bet: Texas -7.5, Over 42.5
No. 17 Kansas State (-9.5) at Tulane O/U 47.5, 9 AM, ABC
This is one of the underrated matchups of the weekend. Tulane is one of the possible candidates to be the Group of Five auto bid into the first-ever 12 team playoff bracket with one of the most experienced teams in the nation around redshirt freshman quarterback Darian Mensah.
Kansas State is one of the contenders to win the Big-12 and make a possible playoff run behind quarterback Avery Johnson who earned the job after a stellar 2023 campaign leading to the transfer of Will Howard. The Wildcats have a potent offense that returned most of their production and should continue to roll.
Best Bet: Over 47.5
No. 14 Tennessee (-9.5) vs No. 24 NC State O/U 60.5, 4:30 PM ABC
The offense on Rocky Top is a sight to behold. After an explosive start to 2024, Nico Iamaleava looks to build upon his week one success against a stingy Wolfpack defense. He has one of the strongest arms in the country and his ability to make an almost perfect throw every time leaves defenses in disarray.
NC State struggled last week to get into a rhythm against Western Carolina before pulling away late. The offense looked stagnant but Coastal Carolina transfer quarterback Grayson McCall was able to torch the WCU defense in the 4th quarter to extend the lead. His connection with wide receiver Kevin Concepcion has the ability to break defenses all year long especially in this one.
Best Bet: NC State +9.5
Colorado at Nebraska (-7.5) O/U 57.5, 4:30 PM Fox
Year two of the Deion era in Boulder got off to an exciting yet disappointing start. The offense led by the connection Sheduer Sanders has with receivers Jimmy Horn Jr and Travis Hunter was firing on all cylinders but the defense against a North Dakota State team that wasn’t at full strength wasn’t up to par at all. The offense will score in bunches but the defense will need to step it up.
The Dylan Raiola era in Lincoln got off to a flying start in week one. The true freshman made jaw dropping throws that drew comparisons to his friend/inspiration Patrick Mahomes. The offense for the first time in a while looks the part for the Cornhuskers and with all the pressure on Nebraska to get a signature win this could be a tight one until the very end.
Best Bet: Colorado +7.5, Over 57.5
Boise State at No. 7 Oregon (-18.5) O/U 60.5, 7PM Peacock
After a fantastic offense performance in Week one, Boise State looks to shore up a defense that was torched by Georgia Southern. Ashton Jeanty is widely considered the best running back in the country and looked the part, scoring six touchdowns in the Broncos first game. Boise State will have the offense to keep up but whether or not their defense can contain Oregon who had a great performance yardage wise with long drives is a tough ask.
Oregon will be the first to tell you their first game was not what they expected at all. A slugfest with Idaho that saw the Ducks score only 24 points but get close to 500 passing yards from Dillon Gabriel. The Ducks couldn’t move the ball on the ground however their offensive line has worn shirts this week with “2.9” on them which equaled their yards per carry against Idaho. This looks to be a bounce back spot.
Best Bet: Oregon -18.5, Over 60.5
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