College football odds, picks, predictions: Ohio State vs. Texas leads Week 2 slate

Key Points:

• The Week 2 college football schedule features a high-stakes top-5 matchup with No. 1 Ohio State visiting No. 4 Texas, a game that could set viewership records and serves as a critical test for Texas coach Steve Sarkisian.
• Other key matchups include No. 11 Oklahoma at Michigan, No. 12 Alabama at Kentucky, and No. 10 Texas A&M hosting Arizona State, with analyses highlighting offensive and defensive strengths and potential game-deciding factors.
• Predictions suggest close contests, with Texas favored to narrowly defeat Ohio State at home, Oklahoma expected to win against Michigan, and Alabama projected to edge Kentucky despite a strong defensive showing.
• Analysts note the importance of individual player performances, such as Texas' defense against Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith and Arizona State’s quarterback Cutter Boley facing Texas A&M’s secondary.
• The games also serve as early indicators for team trajectories this season, with some coaches and programs under pressure to prove their capabilities in these marquee matchups.