NCAAF Trends and Indexes - Week 5 (Thursday, September 26 - Saturday, September 28)

[Udog]

NCAAF

Saturday, September 28

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LSU at Georgia: What bettors need to know
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LSU Tigers at Georgia Bulldogs (-3.5, 62)

Louisiana State faces its toughest test on Saturday when the sixth-ranked Tigers travel to take on No. 10 Georgia in a Southeastern Conference showdown. The Tigers have outscored opponents 173-88 and have not trailed at any point, but they also haven't yet played in a hostile environment like they'll face between the hedges. The Bulldogs put a 14-game home winning streak on the line and are after their second home win over a top-10 opponent after a 41-30 victory over South Carolina two weeks ago.

It's a matchup of two of the league's top offenses this season, as quarterback Zach Mettenberger and LSU's surprisingly potent unit look to continue their success against a Georgia defense that has been susceptible against strong passing attacks. The Bulldogs had a tough time putting away North Texas last week, allowing the Mean Green to forge a tie in the second half before pulling away for a 45-21 win. The offense continued to roll, though, as Georgia ranks seventh in the nation in total offense (574 yards per game) and has scored 35 or more points in all three of its contests.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS.

LINE: Georgia opened -3 and is now -3.5. The total opened at 61.5 and currently sits at 62.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the mid-70s with clear skies.

ABOUT LSU (4-0, 1-0 SEC West): LSU's offense has taken flight under new coordinator Cam Cameron, as the Tigers have topped 30 points in their first four games for only the third time in history - and the first since 1928. Mettenberger (1,026 passing yards, 10 TDs) has blossomed under Cameron's tutelage, but LSU still boasts a powerful ground game with Jeremy Hill (117 yards per game, six TDs) leading the charge. The defense is no longer the Tigers' clear-cut strength, but the unit has been tough against the pass and has forced six turnovers.

ABOUT GEORGIA (2-1, 1-0 SEC East): Georgia's offense has been dynamic with quarterback Aaron Murray and running back Todd Gurley - the SEC's leading rusher at 125.7 yards per game. Murray faltered late in a season-opening loss at Clemson but rebounded with a stellar performance against South Carolina and passed for 408 yards and three touchdowns last week. The defense is still finding itself after losing two NFL first-round draft picks while featuring six new starters from a year ago.

TRENDS:

* Bulldogs are 5-0 ATS in their last five conference games.
* Over is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
* Tigers are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 conference games.
* Over is 4-0 in Tigers last four games overall.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. LSU, which has won 29 straight games in September dating to 2006, is off to a 4-0 start for the seventh straight year.

2. Murray (11,131) needs 23 passing yards to pass Eric Zeier for second on Georgia's all-time list. He is 397 yards behind career leader David Greene, who also holds the SEC record.

3. The Tigers have won 34 straight games when scoring 30 or more points. They are 62-4 under coach Les Miles when reaching the 30-point mark.


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[Udog]

NCAAF

Saturday, September 28

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Oklahoma at Notre Dame: What bettors need to know
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Oklahoma Sooners at Notre Dame Fighting Irish (+3.5, 50.5)

Notre Dame used a victory at Oklahoma last season to catapult itself into the National Championship discussion. The 12th-ranked Sooners will look to return that favor when they visit the 22nd-ranked Fighting Irish on Saturday. The 2013 Notre Dame squad is taking a little longer to find itself than the 2012 version, though the defense began to make some big strides last week.

Oklahoma is getting its biggest test of the first month and had an off week to prepare for the Fighting Irish after trouncing Tulsa on Sept. 14. The Sooners have a different look than last year’s squad as well but are already displaying the type of defensive intensity that could turn the rematch in their favor. Notre Dame exploded for 17 points in the final 5:05 last year at Oklahoma to turn a tie game into a 30-13 victory.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, NBC.

LINE: The Sooners opened as 3-point road faves and are now -3.5. The total opened at 48.5 and is up to 50.5.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the high-70s. Wind will blow from the south at 12 mph toward the north end zone.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA (3-0): The Sooners, like the Irish, are bringing a different starting quarterback into this matchup, with junior Blake Bell proving himself the starter after passing for 413 yards and four touchdowns in the win over Tulsa. Oklahoma had a 356-yard passing effort from Landry Jones in the matchup last season but struggled to convert third downs against Notre Dame’s bend-don’t-break defense. “We weren’t nearly as good as we needed to be, and they were better at getting the stop, and that was a big factor,” Sooners coach Bob Stoops said of the Irish defense.

ABOUT NOTRE DAME (3-1): The Irish used their passing game to stretch Michigan State and put pressure on the cornerbacks last week, drawing several penalties that kept drives alive and helped lead to a 17-13 triumph. Quarterback Tommy Rees was not the starter last year at Oklahoma but has plenty of experience, leaving the defense the biggest question mark. “We’re going up against an extremely skilled and talented football team,” coach Brian Kelly said of Oklahoma. “Their offensive depth at the skill position is as good as I’ve seen across the country.”

TRENDS:

* Fighting Irish are 0-4-1 ATS in their last five games overall.
* Under is 5-1 in Sooners last six non-conference games.
* Under is 4-1 in Fighting Irish last five vs. Big 12.
* Sooners are 8-3 ATS in their last 11 non-conference games.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Notre Dame is looking for its 11th straight home win.

2. The Sooners have not lost a regular-season game since falling to the Irish (8-0).

3. The Irish are 27-4-1 all-time against schools that currently make up the Big 12.


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[Udog]

NCAAF

Saturday, September 28

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Mississippi at Alabama: What bettors need to know
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Mississippi Rebels at Alabama Crimson Tide (-14, 55)

Top-ranked Alabama survived the first major test of its latest title defense and looks to clear another hurdle when it hosts No. 21 Mississippi on Saturday. The Crimson Tide rolled to a 31-6 win over Colorado State last week after escaping with a 49-42 victory at Texas A&M a week earlier. The Rebels are after their first 4-0 start since 1970, but haven't beaten Alabama since 2003 and have only one victory in 25 trips to Tuscaloosa, Ala.

It's the first time the long-time rivals have met when both were undefeated since 1982, and that's only the case because the Rebels have staged two second-half rallies. After coming back from an 11-point halftime deficit for a 39-35 win over Vanderbilt in their season opener, they outscored Texas 27-0 in the second half of a 44-23 win two weeks ago. Alabama's defense and special teams have excelled en route to a 3-0 start for the 10th straight season.

TV: 6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE: Alabama opened as a 17-point fave and is now -14. The total opened at 57 and has come down to 55.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the high-70s with clear skies.

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI (3-0, 1-0 SEC West): Ole Miss has found balance on offense by using a combination of pass-first quarterback Bo Wallace and run-first backup Barry Brunetti. The Rebels also have an explosive star in running back Jeff Scott, who set career highs in rushing yards (164) and all-purpose yards (243) against Texas and ranks fifth in the SEC in rushing (110 yards per game) and fourth in all-purpose yards (151.7 per game).

ABOUT ALABAMA (3-0, 1-0): The Crimson Tide's offense has been inconsistent and struggled to get going in last week's win over Colorado State. Christion Jones, who turned the tide of Alabama's 33-14 win over Ole Miss a year ago with 99-yard kickoff return touchdown, has helped salvage the lack of offense by returning a kickoff and a punt for scores to go along with a touchdown reception. The defense has not been as dominant as in years past, but Vinnie Sunseri has a pair of interception returns for touchdowns to contribute to five non-offensive touchdowns in three games.

TRENDS:

* Rebels are 6-1 ATS in their last seven road games.
* Crimson Tide are 0-4 ATS in their last four games in September.
* Over is 6-1 in Rebels last seven games overall.
* Rebels are 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings in Alabama.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Alabama has won 42 consecutive games when it commits fewer turnovers than its opponent.

2. Ole Miss is 0-9 all-time against top-ranked teams and 1-12 against defending national champions.

3. The Crimson Tide are 52-0 since the start of the 2008 season when rushing for at least 140 yards.


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[Udog]

Essential betting tidbits for Week 5 of college football

We dug up these vital betting tidbits for some of Saturday's college football action that will help you make the right call before kickoff.

- The South Florida Bulls are have just a 20 percent conversion rate on third downs. Only Florida International and Miami (OH) are worse. The Bulls are 19-point home dogs with the Miami Hurricanes in town.

- The West Virginia Mountaineers had six turnovers last week versus Maryland and are averaging 3.7 giveaways per game. Only Hawaii, Southern Mississippi and Western Kentucky are worse.

- Oklahoma State is tied for 10th in the nation in scoring with 45.3 ppg. The Cowboys are 19-point road faves at West Virginia Saturday.

- The worst offensive unit in the country? That would be the Miami (OH) Red Hawks who have just 448 total net yards through three games. Florida International is next-to-last with 603 total yards. The Red Hawks are 25-point road dogs at Illinois.

- Central Florida is a 7-point home dog with South Carolina visiting. The Knights will have to put their unblemished 3-0 ATS mark on the line without starting LB Willie Mitchell who will miss his second straight game following his DUI arrest on Sept. 7.

- The SMU Mustangs are 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings with TCU. The Horned Frogs are 19.5-point home faves Saturday.

- Northern Illinois and Purdue have met once before. NIU won 28-21 and covered as 9.5-point dogs back in 2009. The Huskies are 3.5-point road faves Saturday.

- The Tennessee Volunteers host the South Alabama Jaguars Saturday. Tennessee is 8-0 all time against teams from the Sun Belt Conference and is an 18.5-point fave.

- Pitt is a 5.5-point home fave with the Virginia Cavaliers visiting on Saturday.

- The UNC Tar Heels are 12-point home faves versus East Carolina. The Heels are 6-0 ATS in the past six meetings with the Pirates.

- Navy is the No. 1 rushing team in the nation with 398 yards per game. Western Kentucky's defense allows 200 rushing yards per game which ranks them 89th in the country. The Midshipmen are 3-point road faves.

- The favorite is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings between Bowling Green and Akron. The Falcons are 14-point favorites at home.

- The Colorado Buffaloes have not played a game since Sept. 7. Their game versus Fresno State was postponed due to weather. The Buffaloes are 11-point dogs at Oregon State.

- The Duke Blue Devils are coming off a 58-55 loss to Pitt in the second-highest scoring game in ACC history. The host the Troy Trojans with a total of 68.5.

- The road team is 5-0 ATS in the last five meetings between Toledo and Ball State. The Cardinals are 2-point home faves Saturday.

- Buffalo hosts UConn with the game currently a pick. The Huskies are 7-1 ATS in the last eight meetings with the Bulls.

- Clemson hosts Wake Forest with the total currently sitting at 58.5. The Under is 5-0 in the last five meetings between these two teams.

- The Colorado State Rams lead the all-time series with UTEP 24-10. The Rams are favored by two touchdowns at home Saturday.

- The Oklahoma Sooners haven't lost a regular season game since losing to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 30-13 in Week 9 last season. The Sooners are 3.5-road dogs at South Bend.

- The Iowa Hawkeyes are one of four teams with an Over/Under record of 4-0 (LSU, New Mexico State, Troy). The Hawkeyes are on the road to face Minnesota with a total of 46 Saturday.

- The North Carolina State Wolpack have played under the total in eight straight home games. They've allowed an average of 16.6 points in those eight home games. The Wolfpack host Central Michigan and the total is currently 52.

- Florida State QB Jameis Winston leads the nation with a 78.1 completion percentage and is second with a 210.5 QB rating. Winston will look to build on those numbers in Boston as the Noles are 23-point road faves at Boston College.

- A pair of SEC heavyweights face off as Georgia hosts LSU Saturday. The over is 5-1 in the last six meetings and Saturday's total is currently 62.

- Army and Louisiana Tech play in Dallas Saturday. The Under is 4-0 in Army's last four neutral site games. Total is 52.5.

- The UTSA Road Runners are one of five teams to start the season 4-0 ATS. Dating back to last season, the Road Runners are 8-0 ATS in their last eight games overall. UTSA is a 2.5-point home dog with the Houston Cougars in town Saturday.

- The Temple Owls are one of 10 squads that have failed to successfully kick a field goal. They are 0-4 this season. Temple is a 7-point road fave against Idaho with a total of 55.5.

- One of the most anticipated matchups of the weekend is Ole Miss at Bama. The Rebels are 14-point dogs, but are 4-0 ATS in their last four games at Alabama.

- The Over is 6-0 in the last six meetings between Arizona and Washington. Saturday's total is currently 61.

- A pair of anemic offenses take the field as Kent State visit Western Michigan. The Golden Flashes are ranked 120 on offense and the Broncos are ranked 115 on offense. The Broncos are 2.5-point home faves with a total of 49.5.

- The Florida Gators are 6-0 ATS in their last six games versus the Kentucky Wildcats. The Gators are 12-point road faves Saturday.

- Texas A&M, a 14-point road fave at Arkansas Saturday, has scored 40 points in its first four games of the season for the first time in school history.

- Florida Atlantic are 14-point underdogs at Rice Saturday, but are 9-0 ATS in their last nine road games.

- Wyoming is currently the top consensus pick (75%) as a 12-point road fave at Texas State Saturday.

- Louisiana-Monroe was a 63-10 winner at Tulane in Week 5 last year. The Warhawks are 12.5-point home faves in this weekend's matchup.

- The Missouri Tigers are 2-0 against Arkansas State, winning in 2004 and 2005 by a combined score of 96-37. Mizzou is favored by 21.5 at home against the Red Wolves.

- Vanderbilt WR Jordan Matthews needs one TD reception to become the school's all-time leader. He'll look get that against UAB who come in as a 19.5-point road dog at Vandy.

- Air Force will begin life without starting QB Jeleel Awini versus Nevada Saturday. The sophomore is "no longer a cadet in good standing and not eligible to represent the academy in any outside activities." Awini replaced No. 1 QB Kale Pearson who is out for the season with a knee injury. The Falcons have just two QBs left on the roster and are 11.5-point road dogs at Nevada.

- A pair of winless programs go face-to-face as San Diego state plays New Mexico State. The Aggies are 17.5-point home dogs and are 0-8 in their last eight games overall.

- UNLV and New Mexico have played under in the last four meetings in New Mexico. The total for Saturday is currently 54.

- An interesting Big Ten matchup has Wisconsin at Ohio State. The underdog is 10-3 ATS in the last 13 meetings and the Badgers are 6.5-point road dogs.

- The Stanford Cardinal are 7-1 ATS in their last eight games at Washington State. Stanford is a 9.5-point road fave Saturday night.

- Southern Miss has played Over in nine of its last 11 road games. The Golden Eagles are on the road at Boise State with a total of 49.5.

- The total for the Cal versus Oregon game currently sits at 82. Since 1985, there have been 11 games with totals of at least 80 points. Six of them have gone under.

- USC and Arizona State square off in a Pac-12 battle Saturday Night at Sun Devil Stadium. The Trojans are 3.5-point road dogs and are 0-8 ATS in their last eight games overall.

- Fresno State is 4-0 ATS in the last four games in Hawaii. The Bulldogs are big 17.5-point road dogs in the Aloha State.

[Udog]

Where the action is: Saturday's NCAAF line moves

Week 5 of the college football season is going to be awesome. If the bevy of big-name matchups wasn’t evidence enough, the furious amount of action coming in at sportsbooks is. We talk with oddsmakers about the biggest line adjustments heading into the weekend and where those odds will end up come kickoff Saturday:

Florida State Seminoles at Boston College Eagles – Open: +22.5, Move: +23, Move: +21.5

This line has bounced between 23 and 21.5 points, with some markets opening on the low end and moving up to Florida State -22. According to Michael Stewart of CarbonSports.ag, semi-sharp action took the home side, trimming the line a bit before a wave of public money stormed in on the Noles.

“Combine the public perception that Boston College stinks, with the fact that they've been blown out in this series the past two years by a combined 75 points, it's understandable that this line has moved a bunch, “Stewart tells Covers. “We're currently dealing FSU -24 as 88 percent of all the early action is on the road favorite.”


Iowa Hawkeyes at Minnesota Golden Gophers – Open: -1, Move: +2

The Golden Gophers 4-0 record isn’t fooling wiseguys. Minnesota is undefeated against the likes of UNLV, New Mexico State, FCS Western Illinois and San Jose State. Action has moved this game off the fence and towards the visitor.

“Sharp money likes Iowa and the early post of Minny as a small fave has flipped,” says Aron Black of Bet365.com. “Our action sees both sides backed, but we’re considering the sharps on Iowa.”


Arizona Wildcats at Washington Huskies – Open: -7, Move: -10

Early money showed up on the home side and moved this spread off one key number to another. According to Black, the probable status of Huskies RB Bishop Sankey is behind this move along with some key injuries to Arizona. That kept steady action coming in on Washington.

The total has come down from 63.5 to as low as 61.5 with rain in the forecast for CenturyLink Field Saturday.


USC Trojans at Arizona State Sun Devils – Open: -7, Move: -3.5

Sharp action on the Trojans in their first true road test of the year has trimmed as many as 3.5 points off this line at some books. According to Stewart, CarbonSports.ag is dealing ASU -5 and says that the rest of the market may have taken on too much sharp action and expects wiseguys to buy back the Sun Devils at the discount price.

“I might be completely misreading the markets here, but I can't see why anyone would support USC in this game,” he says. “That said, while we've seen sharp action that drove our price from -6.5 down to -5, we've since booked a bunch of recreational action on the favorite and we're currently dealing ASU -5.5.”


Mississippi Rebels at Alabama Crimson Tide – Open: -17, Move: -14

There’s a chink in the Crimson Tide’s armor and bettors no longer believe Alabama is invincible. Early action has taken this down from one key number to the next, with money on Ole Miss swaying the market place.

“Money is coming in on both sides, and although Alabama has done nothing wrong, the sharp money likes Ole Miss plus the points,” says Black, who points out that the Rebels are 6-3 ATS in their last nine meetings with the Crimson Tide. “Bettors seem to like Ole Miss to at least cover. but Bama is a banker for SU parlay action, which is nothing new.”


Texas A&M Aggies at Arkansas Razorbacks – Open: +14, Move: +16

Arkansas QB Brandon Allen is expected to miss Saturday’s showdown with the Aggies, which kept books from posting a line of this game most of the week. That injury as well as the overall popularity of Texas A&M and reigning Heisman winner Johnny Manziel has made this a very one-sided handle.

“We couldn't stop the bleeding and we decided right then, this is going to be a runaway game where our customers are all going to line up and bet the road favorite,” says Stewart. “Currently over 85 percent of the early action is on Texas A&M and I wouldn't be surprised if we closed this line as high as -17.”

Stewart does report that since making a direct jump from Aggies -14.5 to -16, some sharp money has come back to take the Razorbacks at the discounted spread.


Air Force Falcons at Nevada Wolf Pack – Open: -7, Move: -10

This MWC matchup leapt from one key number to the next with the suspension of Air Force QB Jaleel Awini moving the line as many as three points. The Falcons are also missing WR Ty MacArthur due to a concussion. Nevada got good news pertaining to QB Cody Fajardo and RB Don Jackson, who are probable for Week 5.

“Action is quiet as it’s not a sexy matchup, but we are pretty split for what we have, and actually a bit more on Air Force,” says Black.

[Udog]

College football betting weather report: Saturday's forecasts

South Carolina Gamecocks at Central Florida Knights (+6.5, 54)

Temperatures will be in the low-80s with a 20 percent chance of showers and wind blowing diagonally out of the northeast at 13 mph.


Southern Methodist Mustangs at Texas Christian Horned Frogs (-17.5, 52.5)

Fans at Amon G. Carter Stadium should expect temperatures in the mid-80s with a 70 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms. Wind will blow from south to north at 9 mph.


Colorado Buffaloes at Oregon State Beavers (-12, 60)

Rain will fall throughout the afternoon at Reser Stadium with temperatures in the low-60s. Wind will blow diagonally out of the south at 15 mph.


Iowa Hawkeyes at Minnesota Golden Gophers (+2, 46)

Temperatures at TCF Bank Stadium will be in the high-50s with a 95 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms. Wind will blow from west to east at 11 mph.


Army Black Knights at Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (+2, 52)

Temperatures at the Cotton Bowl will be in the high-80s with a 60 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms.


Kent State Golden Flashes at Western Michigan Broncos (Pick, 50.5)

Temperatures will be in the high-60s with a 20 percent chance of showers. Wind will blow diagonally out of the south at 11 mph.


Texas A&M Aggies at Arkansas Razorbacks (+14, 62)

Temperatures at Reynolds Razorback Stadium will be in the low-70s with a 60 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms.


Tulane Green Wave at Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (-12.5, 54.5)

There will be a 20 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms at James L. Malone Stadium. Temperatures will be in the high-70s.


Florida Atlantic Owls at Rice Owls (-14, 52.5)

Fans at Rice Stadium face a 30 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms with temperatures in the mid-80s.


Wyoming Cowboys at Texas State Bobcats (+12, 55.5)

Temperatures at Bobcat Stadium will be in the mid-80s with a 40 percent chance of showers or thunderstorms.


Arizona Wildcats at Washington Huskies (-9.5, 61)

Husky Stadium will see persistent rain throughout the evening with temperatures in the high-50s and wind blowing out of the southwest at 11 mph.


Stanford Cardinal at Washington State Cougars (+9.5, 46.5)

Temperatures at CenturyLink Field will be in the mid-50s with steady rain expected throughout the evening. Wind will blow out of the southwest at 11 mph.


California Golden Bears at Oregon Ducks (-37, 82)

Fans at Autzen Stadium face a 90 percent chance of showers with temperatures in the mid-50s and wind blowing out of the south at 12 mph.


** Odds and weather forecasts as of 7:25 p.m. ET Friday.

[Udog]

NCAAF

Saturday, September 28

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Wisconsin at Ohio State: What bettors need to know
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Wisconsin Badgers at Ohio State Buckeyes (-6.5, 55.5)

Few rivalries have produced more drama recently than the battles between Ohio State and Wisconsin. The third-ranked Buckeyes, who will host the No. 24 Badgers on Saturday in search of their BCS-best 17th straight victory, needed overtime in their second-to-last game last season to preserve a 12-0 campaign. In 2011, a six-win Ohio State team notched its biggest victory of the year over an 11-3 Wisconsin squad on a go-ahead 40-yard touchdown pass from Braxton Miller with 20 seconds remaining.

Ohio State cruised through its non-conference schedule and looks to end Wisconsin’s three-year run of Rose Bowl berths with its 2012 postseason ban no longer an issue. The Badgers rebounded from their controversial loss at Arizona State two weeks ago with a 41-10 rout of Purdue to open Big Ten play. "The fact that we have gone on the road once and traveled is big for us. … I know it's a tough place to play, but our kids will be prepared," first-year Wisconsin coach Gary Andersen said.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ABC.

LINE: The Buckeyes opened as 7-point faves at most shops and are currently -6.5. the total opened at 54 and is now 55.5.

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the low-70s with partly cloudy skies.

ABOUT WISCONSIN (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten): Melvin Gordon – the conference’s Offensive Co-Player of the Week – leads the nation with 624 yards on the ground while his seven rushing touchdowns rank third in the country. He is joined by senior running back James White – who is the FBS' active career leader in rushing yards (3,013) – and ranks 10th nationally this season with 442 yards, keying the third-ranked rushing attack in FBS. “They're great backs and both have a big part in the offense. … and will continue to. It's a great balance,” Andersen said.

ABOUT OHIO STATE (4-0, 0-0): Although backup Kenny Guiton has thrown for a school-record 12 touchdowns over the past three weeks in place of Miller (sprained left MCL), coach Urban Meyer will likely turn back to his regular starter. "If Braxton has a good week of practice, he will start. … he is 13-0 as a starter and has done very well with his improvements," Meyer said. Guiton, who shared last week’s conference honors with Gordon, led the Buckeyes to an average of 64 points in his two starts.

TRENDS:

* Under is 3-1-1 in the last five meetings.
* Badgers are 1-5 ATS in their last six meetings.
* Buckeyes are 4-1 ATS in their last five home games.
* Over is 20-8 in Badgers last 28 road games.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Gordon’s career per-carry average (9.9 yards) is the best mark of any player with at least 100 carries in the BCS era (1998-present).

2. Ohio State has the fourth-highest scoring offense in the country (52.5 points).

3. Wisconsin has rushed for 387 yards or more in three of its four games while the Buckeyes – the nation’s ninth-best run defense – have held three of their opponents below 73.


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