Even though the slate was stuffed with FCS vs. FBS matchups, Week 1 was a blast. Let’s run it back in Week 2. There are 9 teams ranked inside the new AP Top 25 who are favored by at least 28 points, and 3 other top-25 teams who are playing FCS schools. And yet, we also have a top-10 showdown in Ann Arbor, a ranked-on-ranked battle in Charlotte, another entry in the Cy-Hawk Series, and a sneaky fun game between Arkansas and Oklahoma State.

Here are my best bets for Week 2.

Tennessee -5.5 in the first half vs. NC State (-112 via DraftKings)

A flood of money on the Volunteers has pushed this line upwards of 9.5 at some books. On Monday, the Vols were a 7.5-point favorite. Tennessee looked wonderful in a season-opening beatdown of Chattanooga while NC State needed a fourth-quarter push to avoid an upset by FCS Western Carolina. Perception can get in the way, but I think the Vols are just a better team.

Western Carolina had a 14-7 lead after one quarter and a 21-17 lead going into the fourth quarter. The absence of linebacker Payton Wilson in the middle of the defense was profound. Not only was Wilson the Wolfpack’s leading tackler last season, he was also a rock in coverage.

Western Carolina quarterback Cole Gonzales killed the Wolfpack between the numbers in their game. Fifteen of his 22 completions came between the numbers and within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage. NC State’s linebackers were poor in coverage throughout most of the game. But the corners weren’t much better. Two-time All-ACC selection Aydin White gave up a 32-yard completion and allowed 5 total receptions on 11 targets. Western Carolina went right at him.

But White also dropped an interception. Starting linebacker Caden Fordham dropped an interception and then was ejected for targeting. Nickel Ja’Had Carter was unavailable for the opener and should be a starter against Tennessee. It’s possible the Wolfpack got caught looking ahead. Getting pieces back on defense would seemingly help NC State defensive coordinator Tony Gibson as he constructs a plan to flummox UT quarterback Nico Iamaleava.

The young quarterback was outstanding in the Vols’ opener, clinical in his placement and operation. I think Tennessee can put up some points early on against a defense that — with transfers and a couple new faces still getting acclimated — will still be trying to find its footing. Josh Heupel is money in first halves against the spread. Tennessee could ultimately roll the Wolfpack.

Appalachian State +17 vs. Clemson (-110 via FanDuel)

The Mountaineers scored 38 points in their opener as quarterback Joey Aguilar completed 22 of his 36 passes for 326 yards and 2 touchdowns. App State had 7 different players log rushing attempts and 7 different players catch a pass. They had explosive plays of 34, 47, 47 (run), and 83 yards in the game.

Week 1 was a concerning look for the Clemson offense, which struggled heavily to find anything downfield with the pass game. Everything was around the line of scrimmage or to the sidelines. Receivers couldn’t get open. While App State won’t have the kind of secondary talent Georgia does, if Week 1 was more about Clemson’s deficiencies, and App State is able to funnel everything into the middle of the field, I don’t like the prospects of Cade Klubnik throwing 50/50 balls in a game where he might have to keep up.

Since 2011, Clemson is 20-2 straight up after a loss. During that same time frame, the Tigers are 12-9-1 ATS. App State is also a program that has had recent success as a double-digit dog. Seventeen points is too many in this matchup.

Oregon team total over 40.5 vs. Boise State (-130 via DraftKings)

I’m going back to Eugene even though I got burned there last week.

The Ducks’ offensive line had an uncharacteristic day. The absence of Rimington Trophy-winning center Jackson Powers-Johnson was felt. Oregon was also missing its expected starter at right guard. That helped Idaho record 3 sacks against an Oregon team that gave up 5 total sacks all last season. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel got hit in the hand at one point in the first half and that affected the shot game in the second half.

Against Georgia Southern a week ago, Boise State’s defense gave up 45 points and really struggled to get off the field. Georgia Southern had a 20% explosive play rate, equally potent with the run and the pass. The Eagles converted 12 third downs and 1 of 2 fourth downs. They gained 15 first downs through the air and scored touchdowns on 6 of their 7 red zone trips.

Despite just 24 points on the scoreboard, the Ducks’ offense had no issues moving the football against Idaho, rolling up 487 yards at 5.6 per play. Gabriel says his hand is fine, and the offensive line has been squarely focused on the 2.9 yards-per-rush clip they had in Week 1. I like the Ducks to bounce back and be more effective in scoring positions. They should have plenty of opportunities against Boise State.

Oregon has been really good in this situation under coach Dan Lanning. It has failed to cover a spread 7 other times since Lanning took over. The Ducks are 6-1 ATS in the following week, beating the number by an average of 14.3 points in the 6 wins.

New Mexico State +22.5 vs. Liberty (-110 via ESPN Bet)

Liberty was in a 17-10 game with Campbell at halftime in its opener. Back-to-back touchdown runs midway through the fourth quarter helped Liberty seal the game. New Mexico State did nothing in the pass game in its 23-16 season-opening win over Southeast Missouri State, but the Aggies ran for 227 yards (adjusted for sacks), did well on third down on both sides of the ball, and were effective in the red zone on both sides.

The Flames went 2-0 against this team last season, but now hit the road for an early-season CUSA battle. This was a 16-point game last season in Lynchburg, Virginia, and a 14-point game in the CUSA title game. The since-departed Diego Pavia played a big role in both those, but NMSU was able to run on Liberty both times and that shouldn’t change.

Liberty was a 15-point favorite or more in 4 games last season and went 0-4 ATS in those games. It was a 41.5-point favorite in Week 1 and won by 17. Over the last 12 years, teams that played an FCS opponent in Week 1 and roll into a Week 2 conference game as a double-digit favorite are 1-7 against the spread. Fade the Flames and take the home dog.

Kentucky -10 vs. South Carolina (-110 via Caesars)

The Gamecocks had a plus-3 advantage in the turnover department at home against Old Dominion but needed a late comeback to win 23-19 at home. The offense was gross. South Carolina had 15 possessions in the game and only scored 2 touchdowns — both of which came from fumble recoveries inside the Old Dominion 10-yard-line.

New starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers looked unsettled and the Gamecock’s offensive line didn’t help. Old Dominion generated 10 tackles for loss and sacked Sellers 4 times on the day. Sellers was pressured on 11 dropbacks and only completed 1 pass when he was.

Kentucky, meanwhile, snatched the soul away from Southern Miss in a 31-0 game that was called with more than 9 minutes to play in the third quarter. The Wildcat defense posted a havoc rate of 29% while producing 2 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, and 11 total quarterback pressures. Two interceptions and a dominant run defense helped the Wildcats win the field position battle in a major way.

This is a bad spot for South Carolina. Kentucky should be able to get after a young quarterback.