The Guru Panel is coming off a mixed performance in Week 1. The Gurus picked the correct winner on 84% of 62 games. However, the panel was only 50% on covers and 64% on over/under.
Week 2 has 50 games on tap. There are 20 Power 5 (P5) versus Group of Five (G5) matchups, 17 G5 versus FCS games, and 13 G5 versus G5 games.
Let’s take a look at some of the marquee G5-P5 games. First up is UAB at Georgia. UAB is a solid team, but the Dawg’s defense looks to be elite this year. We are going with the Dawgs to cover and points to be over the low 44.5 line. App State visits Miami, with the Canes giving up 7.5. While we believe the Apps will give Miami a fight, we are picking the Canes to cover in a higher scoring affair. Ball State visits Happy Valley and we believe the Nittany Lions will be ready. However, look for Ball State to cover in a lower scoring game. Virginia Tech, fresh off their upset of North Carolina hosts Middle Tennessee State. We believe the Hokies will have a bit of a let down, but will have enough to win, but not cover. Arizona and San Diego State should have a tight contest, with Arizona pulling out a win and covering the 1 point spread. South Carolina visits East Carolina in an intriguing matchup. We believe the Gamecocks will eke out a win, covering the 2 point line in a high scoring game. Finally, Utah visits BYU for an in-state rivalry tussle. BYU offense is still a bit green and we see the Utes prevailing by more than a touchdown.
In some of the G5 matchups we see Navy upsetting Air Force in a low-scoring game, Florida Atlantic getting a measure of revenge on Georgia Southern in another low scoring affair, and Houston rebounding to beat Rice in yet another low scorer. Liberty visits Troy. Troy is tough at home, but we believe the Flames have too much firepower and will win and cover. Arkansas State hosts Memphis in an SBC vs AAC matchup. We look for Memphis to win and cover and hold the Red Wolves in check. Western Kentucky and Army is a fascinating game, with two offenses at the opposite ends of the spectrum. We believe Army’s ball control offense can keep the Hilltoppers off the field enough to win and cover.
All of our picks for Week 2 are provided below.
| Group of Five Games | G5 Gurus Picks | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home | Visitor | Home Line | Ovr/Und | Pick | Cover | Ovd/Und | |
| Boise State | Texas-El Paso | -26.5 | 56.5 |  Boise State | Yes |  Under | |
| Coastal Carolina | Kansas | -27.0 | 53 | Coastal Carolina | No | Under | |
| Utah State | North Dakota | No Line | No Line | Utah State | |||
| Navy | Air Force | +6.5 | 42.5 | Air Force | Yes | Under | |
| Florida Atlantic | Georgia Southern | -7.0 | 48 | Florida Atlantic | Yes | Under | |
| Rice | Houston | +9.0 | 54.5 | Houston | No | Under | |
| Troy | Liberty | +5.5 | 60.5 | Liberty | Yes | Under |  |
| Arkansas State | Memphis | +5.0 | 65 | Memphis | Yes | Under | |
| New Mexico | New Mexico State | -18.5 | 53 | New Mexico | Yes | Under | |
| Southern Methodist | North Texas | -22.0 | 72 | Southern Methodist | Yes | Under | |
| Bowling Green State | South Alabama | +15.0 | 51.5 | South Alabama | No | Under | |
| Akron | Temple | +7.5 | 52 | Temple | Yes | Under | |
| Florida International | Texas State | -1.0 | 54.5 | Texas State | No | Under | |
| Army | Western Kentucky | -4.5 | 53 | Army | Yes | Under | |
| Northern Illinois | Wyoming | +5.5 | 45.5 | Wyoming | Yes | Over | |
| Georgia | Alabama-Birmingham | -26.0 | 44.5 | Georgia | Yes | Over | |
| Miami (FL) | Appalachian State | -7.5 | 54.5 | Miami (FL) | Yes | Over | |
| Penn State | Ball State | -22.0 | 54 | Penn State | Yes | Under | |
| Central Florida | Bethune-Cookman | No Line | No Line | Central Florida | |||
| Massachusetts | Boston College | +37.0 | 59 | Boston College | No | Under | |
| Nebraska | Buffalo | -12.0 | 52.5 | Nebraska | Yes | Over | |
| Fresno State | Cal Poly | No Line | No Line | Fresno State | |||
| Ohio | Duquesne | No Line | No Line | Ohio | |||
| Wisconsin | Eastern Michigan | -24.0 | 51 | Wisconsin | Yes | Over | |
| South Florida | Florida | +29.0 | 56.5 | Florida | Yes | Under | |
| Charlotte | Gardner-Webb | No Line | No Line | Charlotte | |||
| North Carolina | Georgia State | -25.5 | 61 | North Carolina | Yes | Over | |
| Southern Mississippi | Grambling State | No Line | No Line | Southern Mississippi | |||
| Old Dominion | Hampton | No Line | No Line | Old Dominion | |||
| Oregon State | Hawaii | -11.0 | 61 | Oregon State | Yes | Under | |
| Nevada | Idaho State | No Line | No Line | Nevada | |||
| Western Michigan | Illinois State | No Line | No Line | Western Michigan | |||
| Texas-San Antonio | Lamar | No Line | No Line | Texas-San Antonio | |||
| Minnesota | Miami (OH) | -20.5 | 56.5 | Minnesota | Yes | Under | |
| Virginia Tech | Middle Tennessee State | -19.0 | 54 | Virginia Tech | Yes | Under | |
| Tulane | Morgan State | No Line | No Line | Tulane | |||
| Cincinnati | Murray State | No Line | No Line | Cincinnati | |||
| Arizona State | Nevada-Las Vegas | -33.0 | 55 | Arizona State | No | Over | |
| Louisiana | Nicholls State | No Line | No Line | Louisiana | |||
| Marshall | North Carolina Central | No Line | No Line | Marshall | |||
| Connecticut | Purdue | +33.5 | 57.5 | Purdue | Yes | Under | |
| Central Michigan | Robert Morris | No Line | No Line | Central Michigan | |||
| Arizona | San Diego State | -1.0 | 48 | Arizona | Yes | Over | |
| East Carolina | South Carolina | -2.0 | 55.5 | South Carolina | No | Under | |
| Louisiana Tech | Southeastern Louisiana | No Line | No Line | Louisiana Tech | |||
| Notre Dame | Toledo | -17.5 | 53.5 | Notre Dame | Yes | Over | |
| Oklahoma State | Tulsa | -12.5 | 51.5 | Oklahoma State | Yes | Over | |
| Brigham Young | Utah | +6.5 | 47 | Utah | Yes | Over | |
| Colorado State | Vanderbilt | -5.5 | 49 | Colorado State | Yes | Under | |
| Kent State | Virginia Military Institute | No Line | No Line | Kent State | |||