Every FBS team has played at least one game, which means that the scrutiny has begun. There are some Week 2 lines that show some notable adjustments to teams that either struggled in Week 0 or Week 1 and some extreme adjustments to teams that struggled in both. This is going to be a recurring theme for the next couple of weeks as both bettors and bookmakers test the waters to see what the right power rating is for all 131 teams.
Now that we have a data point for each team, we’ve got something to go off of, but you never want to overreact to one game. Making adjustments is both an art and a science. It’s also imperfect. You may be right on some teams and wrong on others. The sportsbooks are going to be as well. The goal is to be right more often than they are so you can come out ahead and bet good numbers.
Before I list my 1 through 131 and my Week 2 spreads, I just want to remind everybody about my process for making adjustments. I compare my line with the closing line, analyze the box score for outliers and oddities and scour as many sources as I can for injury information. Then I try to figure out how much to adjust each team as a result of what I find. (Read about how I make my power ratings HERE and my home-field advantage values HERE.)
I may not adjust a team at all. If my line was right (or very close) and the game played to expectation, I won’t move a team up or down. Similarly, if my line was closer to how the game played out than the line or the line move, I’ll dig in a little bit and trust my numbers.
Here are my Week 2 Power Ratings:
|
Rank
|
Team
|
Conference
|
PR
|
HFA
|
|
1
|
Alabama
|
SEC
|
99.5
|
3.5
|
|
2
|
Georgia
|
SEC
|
97.5
|
3.5
|
|
3
|
Ohio State
|
Big Ten
|
96
|
3.5
|
|
4
|
Clemson
|
ACC
|
87.5
|
3.5
|
|
5
|
Michigan
|
Big Ten
|
86.5
|
3
|
|
6
|
Texas A&M
|
SEC
|
84.5
|
3.5
|
|
7
|
Notre Dame
|
Independent
|
84
|
3.5
|
|
8
|
Tennessee
|
SEC
|
83.5
|
2.5
|
|
9
|
Oklahoma
|
Big 12
|
83.5
|
3.5
|
|
10
|
Miami (FL)
|
ACC
|
83.5
|
2.5
|
|
11
|
Oklahoma State
|
Big 12
|
83
|
3
|
|
12
|
Utah
|
Pac-12
|
83
|
3.5
|
|
13
|
Michigan State
|
Big Ten
|
81.5
|
2
|
|
14
|
USC
|
Pac-12
|
81.5
|
2
|
|
15
|
Wisconsin
|
Big Ten
|
81
|
2
|
|
16
|
Ole Miss
|
SEC
|
81
|
2
|
|
17
|
Arkansas
|
SEC
|
81
|
2
|
|
18
|
Mississippi State
|
SEC
|
81
|
2.5
|
|
19
|
Texas
|
Big 12
|
80.5
|
2
|
|
20
|
BYU
|
Independent
|
80
|
2
|
|
21
|
NC State
|
ACC
|
80
|
3
|
|
22
|
Baylor
|
Big 12
|
80
|
2
|
|
23
|
Penn State
|
Big Ten
|
78.5
|
2.5
|
|
24
|
Oregon
|
Pac-12
|
78.5
|
3
|
|
25
|
Cincinnati
|
AAC
|
78
|
3.5
|
|
26
|
Florida
|
SEC
|
78
|
3
|
|
27
|
Auburn
|
SEC
|
78
|
3
|
|
28
|
Pitt
|
ACC
|
78
|
2
|
|
29
|
Kentucky
|
SEC
|
77
|
2
|
|
30
|
UCLA
|
Pac-12
|
77
|
2
|
|
31
|
Kansas State
|
Big 12
|
76.5
|
2
|
|
32
|
UCF
|
AAC
|
76.5
|
3.5
|
|
33
|
Iowa
|
Big Ten
|
76
|
3
|
|
34
|
Minnesota
|
Big Ten
|
76
|
2
|
|
35
|
Florida State
|
ACC
|
76
|
2
|
|
36
|
TCU
|
Big 12
|
75
|
2
|
|
37
|
Iowa State
|
Big 12
|
75
|
2.5
|
|
38
|
LSU
|
SEC
|
75
|
2.5
|
|
39
|
Maryland
|
Big Ten
|
74.5
|
2
|
|
40
|
Fresno State
|
Mountain West
|
74
|
2.5
|
|
41
|
Oregon State
|
Pac-12
|
74
|
2
|
|
42
|
Purdue
|
Big Ten
|
74
|
2
|
|
43
|
Washington
|
Pac-12
|
74
|
2
|
|
44
|
Air Force
|
Mountain West
|
73.5
|
2.5
|
|
45
|
Louisville
|
ACC
|
73.5
|
2
|
|
46
|
South Carolina
|
SEC
|
73
|
2
|
|
47
|
Missouri
|
SEC
|
73
|
2.5
|
|
48
|
Houston
|
AAC
|
72.5
|
2
|
|
49
|
SMU
|
AAC
|
72.5
|
3.5
|
|
50
|
North Carolina
|
ACC
|
72.5
|
2
|
|
51
|
Nebraska
|
Big Ten
|
72.5
|
1.5
|
|
52
|
Boise State
|
Mountain West
|
71.5
|
2.5
|
|
53
|
Appalachian State
|
Sun Belt
|
71.5
|
3.5
|
|
54
|
Wake Forest
|
ACC
|
71
|
2.5
|
|
55
|
Virginia
|
ACC
|
70
|
3
|
|
56
|
Boston College
|
ACC
|
69.5
|
2
|
|
57
|
West Virginia
|
Big 12
|
69.5
|
2.5
|
|
58
|
Illinois
|
Big Ten
|
69
|
1.5
|
|
59
|
Texas Tech
|
Big 12
|
69
|
2
|
|
60
|
East Carolina
|
AAC
|
69
|
1.5
|
|
61
|
Arizona State
|
Pac-12
|
68.5
|
2.5
|
|
62
|
Coastal Carolina
|
Sun Belt
|
68
|
2
|
|
63
|
UTSA
|
Conference USA
|
68
|
2
|
|
64
|
UAB
|
Conference USA
|
68
|
3.5
|
|
65
|
California
|
Pac-12
|
68
|
2
|
|
66
|
Stanford
|
Pac-12
|
68
|
2
|
|
67
|
Army
|
Independent
|
67.5
|
3
|
|
68
|
Virginia Tech
|
ACC
|
67.5
|
2
|
|
69
|
Syracuse
|
ACC
|
67.5
|
2
|
|
70
|
Tulane
|
AAC
|
67.5
|
3
|
|
71
|
Marshall
|
Sun Belt
|
67
|
2
|
|
72
|
Indiana
|
Big Ten
|
67
|
2
|
|
73
|
Northwestern
|
Big Ten
|
66.5
|
2
|
|
74
|
Arizona
|
Pac-12
|
66.5
|
2
|
|
75
|
Toledo
|
MAC
|
66
|
2.5
|
|
76
|
Memphis
|
AAC
|
65.5
|
3.5
|
|
77
|
Tulsa
|
AAC
|
65.5
|
2
|
|
78
|
San Diego State
|
Mountain West
|
65
|
2
|
|
79
|
Rutgers
|
Big Ten
|
65
|
1.5
|
|
80
|
Georgia State
|
Sun Belt
|
65
|
2
|
|
81
|
Western Kentucky
|
Conference USA
|
64.5
|
2
|
|
82
|
Louisiana
|
Sun Belt
|
64
|
3
|
|
83
|
Washington State
|
Pac-12
|
64
|
3
|
|
84
|
Central Michigan
|
MAC
|
63.5
|
2.5
|
|
85
|
Utah State
|
Mountain West
|
63
|
2
|
|
86
|
Troy
|
Sun Belt
|
62
|
2
|
|
87
|
South Florida
|
AAC
|
62
|
2
|
|
88
|
Miami (OH)
|
MAC
|
62
|
3
|
|
89
|
Florida Atlantic
|
Conference USA
|
62
|
3
|
|
90
|
James Madison
|
Sun Belt
|
61.5
|
2
|
|
91
|
Georgia Tech
|
ACC
|
61
|
2
|
|
92
|
Liberty
|
Independent
|
61
|
3.5
|
|
93
|
Western Michigan
|
MAC
|
60
|
2
|
|
94
|
Colorado State
|
Mountain West
|
60
|
1.5
|
|
95
|
Northern Illinois
|
MAC
|
59.5
|
2
|
|
96
|
Colorado
|
Pac-12
|
59
|
2
|
|
97
|
North Texas
|
Conference USA
|
59
|
2
|
|
98
|
Southern Miss
|
Sun Belt
|
59
|
2
|
|
99
|
San Jose State
|
Mountain West
|
59
|
2
|
|
100
|
Old Dominion
|
Sun Belt
|
59
|
2
|
|
101
|
Vanderbilt
|
SEC
|
58.5
|
1
|
|
102
|
South Alabama
|
Sun Belt
|
58
|
2
|
|
103
|
Kansas
|
Big 12
|
58
|
1
|
|
104
|
Wyoming
|
Mountain West
|
57
|
2.5
|
|
105
|
Middle Tennessee
|
Conference USA
|
56.5
|
2.5
|
|
106
|
Eastern Michigan
|
MAC
|
56.5
|
2
|
|
107
|
Duke
|
ACC
|
56.5
|
2
|
|
108
|
Ohio
|
MAC
|
56
|
2
|
|
109
|
UTEP
|
Conference USA
|
56
|
1
|
|
110
|
Louisiana Tech
|
Conference USA
|
55.5
|
2
|
|
111
|
Kent State
|
MAC
|
55.5
|
2.5
|
|
112
|
Navy
|
AAC
|
55.5
|
2
|
|
113
|
Bowling Green
|
MAC
|
54.5
|
1
|
|
114
|
Buffalo
|
MAC
|
54
|
3.5
|
|
115
|
UNLV
|
Mountain West
|
53.5
|
1
|
|
116
|
Georgia Southern
|
Sun Belt
|
52
|
2.5
|
|
117
|
Nevada
|
Mountain West
|
51.5
|
3
|
|
118
|
Ball State
|
MAC
|
51
|
2
|
|
119
|
Texas State
|
Sun Belt
|
51
|
1.5
|
|
120
|
New Mexico
|
Mountain West
|
50
|
1
|
|
121
|
Charlotte
|
Conference USA
|
50
|
2
|
|
122
|
Rice
|
Conference USA
|
50
|
1
|
|
123
|
Arkansas State
|
Sun Belt
|
49.5
|
2
|
|
124
|
Louisiana-Monroe
|
Sun Belt
|
49
|
2
|
|
125
|
Temple
|
AAC
|
47.5
|
2
|
|
126
|
Akron
|
MAC
|
46.5
|
1
|
|
127
|
Hawaii
|
Mountain West
|
45
|
2
|
|
128
|
UConn
|
Independent
|
44.5
|
1
|
|
129
|
New Mexico State
|
Independent
|
43.5
|
2
|
|
130
|
FIU
|
Conference USA
|
43
|
2
|
|
131
|
UMass
|
Independent
|
41
|
1.5
|
Here are the Week 2 adjustments that I made:
Up: Tennessee + 1, Oklahoma State + 2, West Virginia + 1, Missouri + 4, UCF + 1, Duke + 2, TCU + 1.5, Syracuse + 1, Maryland + 1.5, Rutgers + 1, James Madison + 3.5, Miami (OH) + 1.5, SMU + 2, Ohio + 2, USC + 2, Washington + 2, Georgia + 2, Alabama + 1, Tulane + 2, East Carolina + 1.5, UConn + 2, Iowa State + 2, Arizona + 2, Vanderbilt + 2, Mississippi State + 1, Duke + 4
Down: Pitt -2, Ball State -1, Penn State -2, Louisiana Tech -1, Northern Illinois -1.5, San Jose State -2, Temple -2, Colorado -1, Charlotte -5, Old Dominion -1, Utah -1.5, Louisville -2, Buffalo -1, Middle Tennessee -2, Kentucky -1.5, NC State -2, Utah State -3, UTEP -1.5, Houston -2, Hawaii -2, Iowa -2, Navy -2, Nebraska -1, Washington State -2, Boston College -1.5, San Diego State -3, Ohio State -1.5, UMass -3, Louisiana -1, Memphis -1.5, South Carolina -1, Boise State -2, San Jose State -2, Oregon -2.5, Liberty -3 (Brewer inj.), LSU -3
Questionable: Southern Miss (QB Keyes inj - concussion): -3
A few notes on some of the biggest adjustments:
Charlotte (-5): The 49ers have had two horrific data points. They lost by 30 to FAU (who lost as a favorite at Ohio) and then lost by 17 to William & Mary. Based on this week’s line, five points isn’t enough, but I think anything more than that is a bit of an overreaction.
Duke (+ 4): Duke really impressed me against Temple. The Owls are awful, but Duke looked really competent and I think Mike Elko just might be a hell of a coach.
Missouri (+ 4): It seemed like I was a bit low on Missouri coming into the season and my line was five points light last week against Louisiana Tech. I’d rather catch up on a team like that early because I was off preseason and also off in Week 1.
James Madison (+ 3.5): James Madison didn’t just beat Middle Tennessee, the Dukes dominated. JMU held MTSU to 2.05 yards per play. The defense is for real. I don’t know if the offense really is, but the defense is clearly FBS-caliber. My line was also badly off on this game and I lost with MTSU in that one.
LSU (-3): My line was actually a little lower than the closing number here, but LSU got dominated by a Florida State team that hasn’t looked very good the last few seasons. I felt it best to move LSU now and adjust later if they show better moving forward.
Southern Miss (-3?): The Golden Eagles had to go full-on wildcat when Ty Keyes got hurt against Liberty (who also lost starting QB Charlie Brewer). It’s a concussion for Keyes, so who knows what happens as the week goes along, but it’s pretty clear that they have QB depth issues if they couldn’t really use one when the starter went out. I’ll keep an eye on the situation throughout the week.
As you can see, many of my adjustments were under three points. I don’t want to throw away my preseason work based on one or two games.
Here are my Week 2 spreads (sorted by Rotation Number):
|
Date
|
Away
|
Home
|
My Line
|
|
9/9
|
Louisville
|
UCF
|
-6.5
|
|
|
Boise State
|
New Mexico
|
+ 20.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
9/10
|
Arkansas State
|
Ohio State
|
-50
|
|
|
North Carolina
|
Georgia State
|
+ 5.5
|
|
|
Ohio
|
Penn State
|
-25
|
|
|
UTSA
|
Army
|
-2.5
|
|
|
Southern Miss (w/ Keyes)
|
Miami (FL)
|
-27
|
|
|
Duke
|
Northwestern
|
-12
|
|
|
Missouri
|
Kansas State
|
-5.5
|
|
|
South Carolina
|
Arkansas
|
-10
|
|
|
Alabama
|
Texas
|
+ 17
|
|
|
Wake Forest
|
Vanderbilt
|
+ 11.5
|
|
|
South Alabama
|
Central Michigan
|
-8
|
|
|
Western Michigan
|
Ball State
|
+ 7
|
|
|
Marshall
|
Notre Dame
|
-20.5
|
|
|
Maryland
|
Charlotte
|
+ 22.5
|
|
|
Tennessee
|
Pitt
|
+ 3.5
|
|
|
Memphis
|
Navy
|
+ 8
|
|
|
Colorado
|
Air Force
|
-17
|
|
|
App State
|
Texas A&M
|
-16.5
|
|
|
Washington State
|
Wisconsin
|
-19
|
|
|
Middle Tennessee
|
Colorado State
|
-5
|
|
|
Akron
|
Michigan State
|
-37
|
|
|
Virginia
|
Illinois
|
-0.5
|
|
|
UNLV
|
Cal
|
-16.5
|
|
|
Houston
|
Texas Tech
|
+ 1.5
|
|
|
Iowa State
|
Iowa
|
-4
|
|
|
Old Dominion
|
East Carolina
|
-11.5
|
|
|
Kansas
|
West Virginia
|
-14
|
|
|
UAB
|
Liberty
|
+ 3.5
|
|
|
Kentucky
|
Florida
|
-4
|
|
|
UMass
|
Toledo
|
-27.5
|
|
|
Syracuse
|
UConn
|
+ 22
|
|
|
Kent State
|
Oklahoma
|
-31.5
|
|
|
Eastern Michigan
|
Louisiana
|
-10.5
|
|
|
Northern Illinois
|
Tulsa
|
-8
|
|
|
FIU
|
Texas State
|
-9.5
|
|
|
San Jose State
|
Auburn
|
-22
|
|
|
Georgia Southern
|
Nebraska
|
-22
|
|
|
USC
|
Stanford
|
+ 11.5
|
|
|
Arizona State
|
Oklahoma State
|
-17.5
|
|
|
Hawaii
|
Michigan
|
-44.5
|
|
|
Boston College
|
Virginia Tech
|
PK
|
|
|
New Mexico State
|
UTEP
|
-13.5
|
|
|
Baylor
|
BYU
|
-2
|
|
|
Oregon State
|
Fresno State
|
-2.5
|
|
|
Mississippi State
|
Arizona
|
+ 13
|
Remember, it is much more notable to have a difference of a few points with a single-digit or small double-digit line than it is with a big spread (like my difference between Hawaii and Michigan or Arkansas State and Ohio State).
Based on my power ratings, here are some bets on my radar:
Georgia State + 8.5 (+ 5.5) vs. North Carolina: South Carolina scored two touchdowns on special teams, as the Panthers held the Gamecocks to just 4.43 yards per play. I know UNC’s offense is a lot better, but the Tar Heels defense is terrible. We’ve seen indications of this line coming down and I think it continues.
Missouri + 8.5 (+ 5.5) vs. Kansas State: What’s interesting here is that if I didn’t adjust Missouri up three points, I’d be on the market number. Was I originally right or am I right to adjust the Tigers now? I’m not sure I can fire here as a result, but it is an interesting internal dialogue to have.
Wake Forest -7 (-11.5) vs. Vanderbilt: The Demon Deacons still won’t have Sam Hartman back here, but are we sure we want to get excited about Vanderbilt after facing Elon and Hawaii? This line looks cheap and I think it will move off of 7 pretty quickly.
Pitt + 6.5 (+ 3.5) vs. Tennessee: Tough game here. If I can get up to 7 or more with Pitt, I’ll be on it. My line is 3.5, but I had Pitt lined wrong last week. I moved Tennessee up and Pitt down and I’m still low here. Again, power ratings are a work in progress, but I think the Volunteers hype is getting a little too high. And I say that as somebody with them ranked in the top 10, so it’s not like I’m down on this team.
Virginia + 4.5 (+ 0.5) vs. Illinois: I felt like I was high on the Illini coming into the season, but here I am with some value on Virginia. Brennan Armstrong is the best player on the field and I think UVA hangs in here.
Oklahoma State -11.5 (-17.5) vs. Arizona State: This is one of my biggest overlays of the week. I purposely wanted to come into the season looking to fade Arizona State and I think I’ve got a chance here.
Mississippi State -9 (-13) vs. Arizona: I think this game gets to double digits by Monday evening. Arizona scored a really nice win over San Diego State, but that program is in a bad way right now with no QB play and the rape investigation surrounding Matt Araiza. This is a huge step up in class for the Wildcats, who I was high on coming into the season. I think this closes 11 or 11.5, if not more.
I’m open to questions and happy to do what I can to help. Hit me up on Twitter, @SkatingTripods, or aburke [at] vsin dot com via email.