NCAAF Trends and Indexes - Week 1 (Thursday, August 28 - Monday, September 1)

[Udog]

NCAAF
Armadillo's Write-Up

Week 1

Saturday's action
Top 13 games
Central Florida (+4.5) won 34-31 at Penn State LY, running ball for 219 yards; total yardage was 507-455, but UCF has new QB, 3 new starters on OL. Lions have new HC in former Vandy mentor Franklin. Penn State lost 4 starters on OL; they're 2-4 in last six neutral field games; its soph QB had 12 starts LY. UCF covered four of last six on neutral field. This game is being played in Ireland, for some reason.

Ohio State lost senior QB Miller for season, a damaging blow; they beat Navy 31-27 (-22) in last meeting five years ago. Buckeyes are 5-8-1 vs spread in last 14 games as road favorite; they lost 4 starters on OL from LY. Middies have 15 starters back and junior QB with 21 starts- they're 20-9 as an underdog under coach Niumatololo. Buckeyes are in trouble at QB, experience-wise- they had 12 days to prep new QB to start.

UCLA has 17 starters back, a QB with 27 starts, an NFL HC and is 5-2 in last seven tries as road favorites; they covered seven of last eight out of conference games. Virginia is 4-8-1 in last 13 games as home dog; they have 3 starters back on OL, soph QB with 7 starts, are just 3-9-1 in last 13 non-ACC games. Long road trip for Bruins, who don't play Texas for two weeks, shouldn't be looking past Cavaliers.

Troy won four of last five games with UAB, with three of last four won by 3 or less points; Trojans are 2-3 in last five visits here, with underdog 3-2 vs spread in those games. Blazers have new coach, new QB, but also has 15 oiher starters back- they're 4-12 vs spread in last 16 games when favored. Troy has new QB, 6 starters back on both sides of ball- they are 5-2-1 in last 8 games as dogs. Average total last four series games, 61.8.

Northwestern (-5.5) won 44-30 at Berkeley in LY's opener, running ball for 209 yards. Wildcats were 5-0 as home favorites LY, after being 5-18 as HFs under Fitzgerald before that. NW has all five starters back on OL, but has senior QB with only 3 career starts. Cal has 4 starters back on OL; they're 2-7 in last nine games as road dogs. Bears have a soph QB with 12 starts- they had 460 passing yards in LY's game.

Notre Dame gets mobile QB Golson back after he was suspended LY; he led Irish to national title game in 2012. Irish have 3 starters back on OL, are 8-11-3 as home favorites under Kelly, 27-48 overall when favored in last decade. Rice covered six of last seven games as road underdog- they have 3 starters back on OL, junior QB is making only 2nd start. Notre Dame plays Michigan next week, figure to hold back a little here.

Alabama didn't name #1 QB this week; they've got three starters back on OL. Tide is 17-11 as road favorites under Saban, covering eight of last 10 on neutral fields, but are just 6-8 vs spread out of SEC last three seasons. West Virginia is 7-7 as underdogs under Holgorsen; they've got senior QB (9 starts) but only two starters back on OL. WVa is 8-16 vs spread in last 24 non-conference games.

Arkansas won four of last six games with Auburn; underdogs are 9-5 vs spread in last 14 series games, 5-2 in last seven here, with Hogs winning three of last four visits here. Marshalll will play but won't start at QB for Tigers after weed bust this spring. Auburn has 4 starters back on OL, is 22-12 vs spread in SEC last four years. Arkansas is 5-12 vs spread in last 17 games as underdog, 3-8 in last 11 games as a road dog.

Clemson (+2.5) beat Georgia 38-35 LY, first renewal since '03 of an old intense rivalry; Dawgs had 545-467 yardage edge LY, 222-197 running ball. Both sides have new QB; Georgia's QB is senior who made couple starts LY, including bowl loss to Nebraska. Dawgs are 5-8 as favorite at home since '12, 10-15 in non-league tilts since '09. Tigers are 6-3 as road underdogs under Swinney, 14-10 vs spread overall on foreign soil.

Kent State won four of last five games with Ohio U; underdogs covered three of last four. Bobcats lost last two visits here, both by an identical 28-6 score. Ohio is 1-6 as road underdogs since 2011; they've got a new QB but have 3 starters back on OL. Kent has 7 starters back on both sides of ball; they're 10-6 as home favorites since '09, 1-1 under Haynes, in his first year at Kent.

Purdue (-1.5) beat Western Michigan 37-32 in last meeting three years ago; Boilermakers have soph QB (7 starts), three new starters on OL, no senior starters on OL but are 5-4 in last nine tries as home favorite- they have 15 starters back overall. Western was 1-11 in Fleck's first year as HC; they're 8-6 as roads underdogs since '11. Broncos could go with a freshman QB, as new coaches usually prefer their own recruits.

Florida State returns Heisman winner Winston at QB, has four starters back on OL (5 senior starters) and has covered 12 of last 15 games on a neutral field. Seminoles are 13-11 vs spread away from home with Fisher as coach. Oklahoma State has junior QB (8 starts) but lost 3 starters on OL; they're 5-3 vs spread in last eight games as underdogs. OSU lost 7 starters on both sides of ball from last year.

LSU will use two QBs, but Jennings played in Outback Bowl win over Iowa LY; Tigers have 4 starters back on OL, are 7-6 in last 13 games as road favorites, 11-17 vs spread in last 28 non-SEC games. Wisconsin will use more mobile QB rather than experienced (19 starts) returning starter Stave. Badgers covered five of last seven games as underdogs, are 8-5-1 vs spread in last 14 games on neutral fields.

Notes on other Saturday games
-- Michigan is 11-7 as home favorites under Hoke, 6-3 in its last nine as a double digit favorite.
-- NC State is 11-4 as home favorites since 2010, but 5-9 in last 14 non-league games.
-- Florida Atlantic fired Bo Pelini’s brother as HC LY. You think Nebraska will run it up, if they can.
-- Boston College is 5-11 in last 16 non-league games, 3-13 as road favorite since 2006.

-- Marshall is 1-8-1 in its last ten games as a road favorite.
-- Louisiana Tech covered only four of last 18 games. Oklahoma covered nine of last 12 out of conference.
-- Florida is just 3-8 as a home favorite the last two seasons.
-- USC is 10-6 in last 16 games as a home favorite; they beat Fresno State 45-20 in Las Vegas Bowl last December.

-- Southern Miss is 6-18 vs spread since Fedora bolted for Chapel Hill; they’re 3-10 in last 13 tries as a road dog.
-- North Texas covered 11 of last 14 games; this is their Super Bowl, playing the Longhorns. First game at Texas for Charlie Strong, who has tossed seven players already.
-- New Mexico covered four of last five games as a home favorite

[Udog]

NCAAF

Saturday, August 30

Wind, chance of storms at this stadium Saturday

The Big House could be in store for some less-than-ideal weather conditions Saturday.

The Michigan Wolverines host the Appalachian State Mountaineers from Michigan Stadium and forecasts are calling for a 56 percent possibility of thunderstorms.

Furthermore, wind could play a factor as gusts are expected to hover around 12-to-15 mph, blowing toward the north endzone.

The Wolverines are currently 34-point home favorites for the matchup. The total is 54.5.


Over a hot bet when this school plays MAC teams

The Over is 4-0 in the last four games when the Purdue Boilermakers take on teams from the Mid-American Conference.

The Boilermakers will host the Western Michigan Broncos from Ross-Ade Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Purdue and the MAC's Northern Illinois Huskies played over the closing total of 59.5 last year with the Huskies prevailing 55-24.

The LV Superbook has tabbed the game with a total of 53.


This opening number too high for totals bettors

Despite being the top Over play last season, the opening number appears to be simply too high for the Troy Trojans' first game of the season versus UAB.

Offshore books posted a total of 67 to start with, but that has been in free-fall mode ever since, with most shops dealing a 63, the same number the LV Superbook opened with earlier this morning.

The Trojans were a spectacular 11-1 Over/Under last season, including a 34-31 victory over the Blazers in Week 1 last year. The 64 points finished over the closing total of 62.5.


Bruins cashing tickets outside of conference

The UCLA Bruins, lead by Heisman-hopeful Brett Hundley, open the season on the other side of the country Saturday, but they more prove to fruitful for bettors.

The Bruins are 4-0 against the spread in their last four non-conference games and are currently 20-point road faves at the Virginia Cavaliers of the ACC Saturday.

Bruins backers will hope for a start the new season reminiscent of last season, when UCLA began the season 5-0 ATS in their opening five games.

[Udog]

NCAAF

Saturday, August 30


Sloppy conditions could hit Ryan Field Saturday

According to weather forecasts, Saturday's game between the Cal Golden Bears and the Northwestern Wildcats at Ryan Field could be hit with thunderstorms.

Wunderground.com has a 50 percent possibility of thunderstorms before and throughout the course of the game in Evanston, Il. Also, wind will be blowing toward the northeast corner of the stadium at around 12 mph.

The Wildcats are currently tabbed as 10-point home faves for the game and oddsmakers have the total at 62.


This top five team a boon for bettors

The No.5 Auburn Tigers have been nothing but money for bettors. Over the past 16 games, Auburn is a stellar 13-3 against the spread and straight-up.

Auburn is hosting Arkansas as 18-point home favorites.


Wildcats been keeping offense to a minimum

The Northwestern Wildcats were under money to close out last season. In the final seven games the Wildcats went under six times for bettors.

The Wildcats averaged a mere 17 points per game, while allowing an average of 27 ppg.

Northwestern hosts Cal with a 62-point total.


Road team has not traveled well in past seasons

The Boston College Eagles have not traveled well in the past two seasons. Bettors who have taken the Eagles on the road have seen the team go a lousy 2-10 against the spread.

Boston College has been outscored by an average of 15 points per game over that span.

The Eagles are 17-point favorites against Massachusetts Saturday.


This Mississippi school has been bad for bettors

If you're looking for a solid road play, the Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles may be a pass. In the Golden Eagles' past 10 road games they are sporting a poor 2-8 record against the spread.

The Golden Eagles have averaged 17.2 points per game, which is greatly aided by a 62-point game, compared to allowing 44 ppg.

Southern Mississippi are +30 against Mississippi State Saturday.


SEC team powerhouse on the field, not at the window

The Georgia Bulldogs are coming off an 8-4 season and are entering this year ranked No. 12 in the Nation, but bettors know that they may not be the best play.

The Bulldogs were 3-9-1 against the spread last season, including dropping six straight in the middle of the year.

Georgia will face No. 16 Clemson as 7.5-point favorites Saturday.


Conference USA team money on the road

The Florida Atlantic Owls are in for a tough test against the Nebraska Cornhuskers Saturday, but bettors can't be blamed if they take the Owls plus points.

In the last 13 games on the road, the Owls are 12-1 against the spread (4-9 straight-up).

The Owls are currently +21.5 against the Cornhuskers.


This team could be tearing up the overs again

The Marshall Thundering Herd ended last season on a torrid offensive pace which was paying out big for bettors. In the final eight games Marshall played last season they went over seven times.

Over the final eight games Marshall averaged 46.6 points per game themselves, while their games ended in a combined 73 ppg. With most of the skill positions returning this season, bettors could be cashing in even more.

Marshal plays Miami (OH) with a current total of 60.


Bobcats have something to prove for bettors

The Ohio Bobcats have been abysmal for bettors against Kent State. In the past five games between the two teams, Ohio is 0-5 against the spread and 1-4 straight up.

The past five meetings between the two teams have seen Kent state average 26 points per game with Ohio averaging a mere 10.6.

Ohio is +2.5 against Kent State Saturday.

[Udog]

NCAAF
Armadillo's Write-Up

Week 1

Sunday's games
Utah State is 26-9 vs spread as a road underdog since '07; their senior QB Keeton has made 27 starts, though he missed most of last year with an injury. Aggies have four new starters on OL; they're 20-7 SU the last two years, beating MAC teams in bowls both years. Tennessee is only team in country without a returning starter on either line- Jones is 4th HC in last seven years; Vols are 2-8 as home favorites last two years- they have five starters back on both sides of ball, but do have QB with 10 career starts.

Baylor opens its new stadium here, vs SMU squad that is 5-11 as road dogs since 2010. Mustangs lost 59-24 here two years ago; they have six starters back on both sides of the ball, with two new starters on the OL. Bears covered 13 of last 15 tries as a home favorite in their old stadium- they're 16-9 as home favorites in Briles era. Baylor lost seven starters on defense; this is their toughest September game, as they break in lot of new players, but QB Petty threw 32 TDs LY, with only three INTs.

[Udog]

NCAAF

Sunday, August 31

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Game of the Day: SMU at Baylor
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Southern Methodist Mustangs at Baylor Bears (-33, 74.5)

Tenth-ranked Baylor feels like it still has something to prove when it opens its new $266 million on-campus McLane Stadium on Sunday against visiting Southern Methodist. The reigning Big 12 champion set an NCAA record by scoring 52.4 points per game and led the nation with 618.8 yards in 2013 but finished 2-2 - including a 52-42 loss to Central Florida in the Fiesta Bowl. The Bears' high-flying offense has to replace two running backs and a key lineman but senior quarterback Bryce Petty has lots of targets returning.

"Our offense is going to be unbelievable - faster, stronger and more physical," the Heisman hopeful told the media earlier this month. "We have more athletes than we've had in a long time." Sophomore Neal Burcham won the job to replace SMU quarterback Garrett Gilbert and the Mustangs need an improved defense to aid the transition. SMU's June Jones has never had back-to-back losing seasons in his 15 years as a coach.

TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1.

LINE HISTORY: A large portion of offshores opened the Bears as 31.5-point home faves, but that line is now Baylor -33. The total is currently 74.5.

INJURY REPORT: Mustangs - DB J.R. Richardson (Questionable, illness). Bears - WR Corey Coleman (Questionable, hamstring), WR Clay Fuller (Out indefinitely, collarbone).

WEATHER REPORT: Forecasts are calling for temperatures in the low-90s with wind blowing from the south at 13 mph.

ABOUT SOUTHERN METHODIST (2013: 5-7 SU, 6-6 ATS): Burcham started the final two games in place of injured Gilbert and finished the year completing 58.7 percent of his passes for 556 yards and two touchdowns. Junior receiver Darius Joseph (808 yards, five touchdowns) was ranked second in the American Athletic Conference last year with 103 catches and linebacker-turned-running back Kevin Pope will give the Mustangs depth in the backfield. SMU has three defensive line starters and linebacker Stephon Sanders (86 tackles, 13.5 tackles for loss) returning to a defense that allowed 412.6 yards and 33.3 points last year.

ABOUT BAYLOR (2013: 11-2 SU, 9-4 ATS): Petty (62 percent completions for 4,200 yards, 32 touchdowns, three interceptions) and the Bears have five of their top six receivers back, including Antwan Goodley (71 catches, 1,339 yards, 13 scores) and Levi Norwood (47, 733, eight), who is on a 27-game reception streak. Shock Linwood will be the primary back after rushing for 881 yards and eight touchdowns last year behind departed 1,000-yard rusher Lache Seastrunk. Linebacker Bryce Hager (71 tackles in nine games before a season-ending injury) and safety Terrell Burt (61 tackles, two interceptions) return to lead a young defense.

TRENDS:

* Favorite is 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings.
* Mustangs are 0-4 ATS in their last four non-conference games.
* Over is 4-0 in Bears last four non-conference games.
* Over is 21-5-1 in Bears last 27 home games.

CONSENSUS: Sixty-five percent of Consensus bets are backing Baylor.


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[Udog]

NCAAF

Sunday, August 31


Volunteers struggling outside of conference

The Tennessee Volunteers open their 2014 campaign versus Utah State Sunday evening, but are just 1-6 against the spread in their last seven non-conference games.

The Vols closed last season as a very cold bet as well, posting a 1-4 ATS record in their last five games of the season.

Tennessee opened as 6.5-point faves in Las Vegas earlier this month, but with kickoff just hours away, they are now down to -5.


Early college football betting trend

With the majority of the first weekend of college football in the books there was one interesting betting trend that emerged at the early start of this season.

It was home underdogs that come through for bettors Saturday, going 8-3 against the spread, hitting just over 72 percent to start the season.

[Udog]

NCAAF

Monday, September 1

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Game of the Day: Miami at Louisville
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Miami Hurricanes at Louisville Cardinals (-3.5, 54)

Louisville begins the second Bobby Petrino era - and its inaugural season in the Atlantic Coast Conference - when Miami (Fla.) pays a visit on Monday night in a rematch of last season's Russell Athletic Bowl. Petrino, who coached the Cardinals from 2003-06, returned to Louisville after Charlie Strong became the head coach at Texas. However, the excitement surrounding Petrino's return was tempered somewhat by the loss of star wideout DeVante Parker, who broke his foot in practice Aug. 22 and will miss up to eight weeks.

"We're fortunate that we have a lot of experienced players," Petrino said after losing Parker, who had 55 catches for 885 yards and a school-record 12 touchdowns last season. "You're never going to replace a guy like DeVante with just one guy. You've got to do it collectively with all the weapons that we have, stepping up and making more plays." Perhaps nobody will be more affected by the Parker injury than sophomore quarterback Will Gardner, who was just named Louisville's starter last week. Miami has a challenging quarterback situation of its own as freshman Brad Kaaya takes over behind center with starter Ryan Williams sidelined with a torn ACL.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN.

LINE HISTORY: The Cardinals opened as 2.5-point favorites and have been bet up slightly now sitting at -3.5. The total has risen slightly from 53.5 to 54.

INJURY REPORT: Miami: QB Kevin Olsen - out (suspension). Louisville: RB Michael Dyer - questionable (quadriceps)

WEATHER REPORT: There will be a nine mile per hour wind blowing towards the north end zone at Cardinal Stadium. There will also be a 20 percent chance of rain and a chance of thunderstorms.

ABOUT MIAMI (2013: 9-4, 5-8 ATS): While all eyes will be on Kaaya, the bulk of Hurricanes' heavy lifting on offense will likely be handled by junior running back Duke Johnson, who ranked third in the nation in all-purpose yards per game (174.1) before breaking his ankle in early November. “We have the potential to be great," Johnson said, “but what I’m hoping for is to finally win the Coastal Division and the Atlantic Coast Conference championship. If I need to carry the load then I will, no problem. But I believe I have enough weapons around me to where I don’t have to." Among the weapons that surround Johnson is wideout Stacy Coley, who led the team with seven receiving touchdowns as a freshman in 2013.

ABOUT LOUISVILLE (2013: 12-1, 6-7 ATS): The Cardinals, who are beginning play in their third conference in as many years, are coming off a season in which they only suffered one defeat - a three-point loss to Central Florida in mid-October - and closed the campaign by routing the Hurricanes, 36-9. Star quarterback Teddy Bridgewater is now with the Minnesota Vikings, leaving Petrino to put his faith in Gardner, who was impressive in limited action last season (8-of-12, 112 yards, two touchdowns, zero interceptions). On defense, Louisville has to replace seven starters but does return its two starting cornerbacks in upperclassmen Charles Gaines and Terell Floyd.

TRENDS:

* Hurricanes are 1-7 ATS in their last eight games overall.
* Cardinals are 13-3 ATS in their last 16 conference games.
* Over is 4-0 in the Hurricanes last four conference games.
* Under is 5-1 in the Cardinals last six games overall.

CONSENSUS: The consensus is close in this matchup with just over 51 percent of wagers on the Hurricanes at +3.5. The consensus is very slightly favoring the over 54.


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[Udog]

NCAAF
Armadillo's Write-Up

Week 1

Monday's game
Louisville (-5) whipped Miami 36-9 in bowl game LY, outgaining them 554-174, Hurricanes struggled to come up with QB this year; a freshman beat out BYU/Kansas transfer Heaps for #1 job. Miami is 6-5-1 in last 12 games as road dogs; they've got three starters back on OL. Petrino is back as Louisville HC; Cardinals have four starters back on OL (total of 121 career starts) but a new QB- they went 15-29 vs spread at home in post-Petrino era. Now that he is back, will they dominate at home again? Louisville was +28 in turnovers last two years.

[Udog]

Week One Review: Sumlin makes the difference at Texas A&M

College football is mostly about two things. Quarterbacks. And the Southeastern Conference.

Nowhere did those two themes intersect better than in the first game of the season -- Texas A&M at South Carolina.

College football moved on from the Johnny Manziel era, leaving his every off-field move and on-field gesture as a concern for the NFL. But he still had the gravitational pull of a black hole in the offseason, pulling every question about Texas A&M into this singularity: How could the Aggies possibly replace Johnny Football and still be relevant?

It was the wrong question.

Give Manziel his due, but the immediate success of Texas A&M in the SEC had less to do with his improvisational skills and more to do with the man in charge of it all -- coach Kevin Sumlin. The question should have been: Have SEC foes figured out how to stop Sumlin?

Lesson No. 1 from the opening weekend of college football: Never doubt Sumlin's scheme.

He created a just-add-water Heisman candidate in sophomore Kenny Hill, who completed 44 of 60 passes for 511 yards, breaking the school single-game passing record of Johnny ... uh, what was that guy's name again?

Hill also threw for three touchdowns as he and the Aggies carved up the No. 9 Gamecocks 52-28.

Now, the opening weekend of the season always comes with a caveat -- avoid drawing too many conclusions based off one game. But the first impression screams that A&M's impressive performance wasn't a fluke.

Hill showed poise in the face of South Carolina's blitz. He is working behind an experienced offensive line, led by the team's next first-round left tackle -- Cedric Ogbuehi. Hill worked fast in the hurry-up offense and got the ball out quickly to an array of talented wideouts, including senior Malcome Kennedy and fab freshmen Ricky Seals-Jones and Speedy Noil. What we're saying is that the first-game numbers are sustainable.

Get used to the Aggies being back in the discussion in the wild SEC West and beyond. Their next four games are against Lamar, Rice, at SMU, and Arkansas. A&M should be 5-0 heading into an Oct. 4 game at Mississippi State, which is most definitely a team you don't want to sleep on.

Until then, just don't call the new quarterback Kenny Football. Perhaps Heis-Ken will do.

Five things we learned in week one

1. This is a corollary to the Kevin Sumlin clause: Never, ever, underestimate a Rich Rodriguez offense. He lost All-American running back Ka'Deem Carey and quarterback B.J. Denker, returning a Pac-12-low 23.6 percent of his offense. In Arizona's first game, a 58-13 win over UNLV, the Wildcats rolled up a school-record 787 total yards, 425 coming off the arm of redshirt freshman Anu Solomon. This Thursday's game at UTSA, which opened with a 27-7 win at Houston, could be better than you think.

2. Oklahoma State's defensive front is not good, it's great. Going against Florida State's best-in-the-nation offensive line, the Cowboys allowed just 106 rushing yards and had five tackles for loss, including two sacks from emerging sophomore star lineman Emmanuel Ogbah. After its close-call loss to No. 1 Florida State, young Oklahoma State has time to build before taking on a back-loaded schedule.

3. UCLA's 2014 potential problem is its 2013 Achilles' heel. Playing without two injured starters on the offensive line, the Bruins scored only one offensive touchdown in a 28-20 win at Virginia. The Cavs overwhelmed UCLA with their blitzes, coming up with 11 tackles for loss, including five sacks. Good news: UCLA might get back center Jake Brendel (knee) and left tackle Simon Goines (ankle) very soon. "I know that there is going to be a lot of concern about our offensive line, and it's warranted at this point," coach Jim Mora said. "Those of us that know we have a good group know that we just need to play better."

4. Senior quarterback Blake Sims got more than a courtesy start at Alabama. Everyone expected Florida State transfer Jacob Coker to win the job, but Sims' four years in the system trumped Coker's three months on campus. Sims was 24-for-33 for 250 yards, with no touchdowns and one interception, in a 33-23 win over West Virginia. It was a respectable effort that should earn encores in the next two games against weaklings Florida Atlantic and Southern Miss.

5. It's going to be a wild ride in 2014. OK, we already knew that. But when the two teams most favored to get to the first title game of the College Football Playoff era -- Florida State and Alabama -- each struggle in openers against unranked opponents ... it's a clear sign that crazy twists and turns, and breathtaking freefalls, await.

Five important returns

1. Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson. Returning from academic exile, Golson looked as good as the new FieldTurf in Notre Dame Stadium, passing for 295 yards and running for 41. He had two long on-the-mark touchdown passes that each traveled about 60 yards in the air. It's in the DNA of coach Brian Kelly to fling the ball all over the yard, and Golson's arm and experience give him a chance to get back to those roots.

2. Texas quarterback David Ash. Last season's concussion problems, followed by a spring foot injury, put Ash on the long road back. If the Longhorns are to have any success in coach Charlie Strong's debut, Ash has to stay healthy and be effective. He was sporadic in a 38-7 win over North Texas, completing 19 of 34 passes for 190 yards, and taking a couple of big hits that had Burnt Orange Nation holding its breath. Honorable mention: Texas linebacker Jordan Hicks, coming off an Achilles injury, made his first career interception. He is the glue guy of the defense.

3. Arizona receiver Austin Hill. The senior, who missed all of last season because of an ACL injury, came back in style with a 92-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown on the first play of the second half against UNLV. He stiff-armed a defender after the catch to gain the separation he needed to race in untouched the rest of the way. Hill leads one of the deepest groups of receivers in the country.

4. Maryland receivers Stefon Diggs/Deon Long. The Terps should have one of the best receiving corps in the conference -- that's now the Big Ten, remember -- led by Diggs and Long, who returned to the starting lineup in a rout of James Madison after rehabbing together from broken legs suffered at midseason last year. Diggs had five catches for 53 yards and returned a kickoff 59 yards. Long made two catches for 48 yards, including a 41-yard score.

5. Alabama offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin. Fired as USC's head coach during last season, Kiffin was back on the sideline, calling plays under the watchful eye of Nick Saban. The Tide gained 538 yards against West Virginia, which is good, but Bama can do better. Alabama must stop embracing the "Dinosaur Age" of offense -- Saban's words -- and use more of the fast-paced, no-huddle attack that sparked the Tide late in the second half and helped get quarterback Blake Sims in rhythm.

Five players to watch

1. Georgia running back Todd Gurley. The junior had 198 yards rushing and a 100-yard kickoff return in a win over 12th-ranked Clemson. He'll end the two-year drought of no running back in the first round of the NFL Draft.

2. Penn State quarterback Christian Hackenberg. The sophomore threw for 454 yards and directed the game-winning drive that ended in a field goal in a 26-24 win over UCF in Dublin. Your No. 1 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft ...

3. Michigan receiver Devin Funchess. Now wearing Michigan's famed No. 1 jersey and no longer mis-labeled as a tight end, Funchess (6-5, 230) is still a matchup nightmare. He caught seven passes for 95 yards and three scores vs. Appalachian State.

4. BYU quarterback Taysom Hill. He ran for 1,344 yards last season, the question being whether he could improve his 53.9 completion percentage. Well, he was 28-for-36 in the opening win over UConn. This week: At Texas.

5. Oklahoma State all-purpose back Tyreek Hill. It took one game to make the junior college transfer the nation's most exhilarating player. The fastest man in college football posted 278 all-purpose yards, and his value as a decoy made the Cowboys' offense all the more unpredictable.

Five best Week 2 games

1. Michigan State at Oregon, Saturday, 6:30 p.m. ET., FOX. Thanks to its backfield depth, Oregon moved Byron Marshall to an all-purpose role in the opener, and he responded with 89 yards rushing and 138 yards on eight receptions over South Dakota. His versatility is worth watching against the Spartans' stout defense in a game with major College Football Playoff implications.

2. USC at Stanford, USC at Stanford, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC. Steve Sarkisian's new-to-USC up-tempo offense was an instant success, with the Trojans running a school-record 105 plays en route to 701 yards in a laugher against Fresno State. Stanford yawns. If the Cardinal can handle Oregon's attack, it won't be awed by USC's.

3. Michigan at Notre Dame, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET., NBC. A night game in South Bend wraps up this historic series until at least 2020 -- probably much longer, given the rhetoric on both sides. Enjoy while you can.

4. Virginia Tech at Ohio State, Saturday, 8 p.m. ET, ESPN. The Buckeyes could end up being just fine with redshirt freshman J.T. Barrett at quarterback, although his inexperience and shaky play from the offensive line led to conservative play-calling against Navy. A fast, physical Hokies defense, led by defensive tackle Luther Maddy, cornerback Kendall Fuller and safety Kyshoen Jarrett, will require more creativity from Urban Meyer.

5. East Carolina at South Carolina, Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU. The Gamecocks have to show resiliency after the humbling loss to A&M, while the Pirates are looking for big-bowl legitimacy, fueled by the prolific pass-catch combo of Shane Carden and Justin Hardy.


Senior Analyst Rob Rang's five takeaways on how prospects performed in their season openers. Players listed chronologically by game time this week, including position, school, year (Height, weight and current NFLDraftScout.com overall rating and by position).

1. QB Jameis Winston, Florida State (6-4, 235, #6/#2)

Winston's stats in Saturday night's victory over Oklahoma State included two interceptions, but that doesn't tell the full story. Both picks were thrown into single coverage, with defenders making spectacular plays on the ball. While Winston did stare down his targets, he generally makes excellent decisions with the ball and did so throughout this game, peppering the Cowboys with well-thrown short and intermediate routes and driving strikes down the alleys. He showed good touch on traditional deep balls, including a pair of 50-plus-yard completions in the first half.

2. WR Kevin White, West Virginia (6-3, 209, #296/#36)

White matched Alabama's preseason All-American Amari Cooper catch for catch, showing impressive hand-eye coordination and leaping ability to haul in several contested throws. The 6-foot-3, 209 pound White possesses a legitimate NFL frame with broad shoulders and good overall musculature. White used his size to overpower defenders on occasion, breaking tackles to gain yardage after the catch. He also showed agility and strength to gain a free release, smooth acceleration to push corners deep and the burst out of his breaks to gain separation.

3. QB Brett Hundley, UCLA (6-3, 227, #19/#3))

Hundley was held without a touchdown pass against Virginia. He did score on a six-yard scamper and completed 20 of 33 passes for 242 yards and showed composure down the stretch, rifling deep passes to the sidelines. And when protected, Hundley generally threw the ball well. He showed improved poise in the pocket from a year ago, scanning the field and occasionally stepping up in the pocket before delivering confident passes. He failed to look off defenders, at times, which contributed to three of his passes being deflected at the line of scrimmage.

4. RB Paul James, Rutgers (6-0, 210, #16 RB in 2016)

James, a 6-foot, 210-pound junior, routinely ran through arm tackles in Rutgers' victory over Washington State in Seattle, showing impressive leg drive, forward lean and enough burst to gain yardage in chunks. He lowers his shoulders on contact and spins off hits, keeping his feet moving and eyes searching for daylight. He showed better acceleration than his frame would indicate, breaking free for a 56-yard gain.

5. LT Cedric Ogbuehi, Texas A&M (6-5, 300, #3/#1)

A boisterous crowd at South Carolina on Thursday seemed to contribute to Ogbuehi getting an occasional late start. Rather than panic and lunge at his opponent, Ogbuehi showed off his rare skill set, accelerating while turning his shoulders to remain square to the pass rusher before extending his vine-like arms to latch on. Ogbuehi's agility and reach make him reliable in pass protection. He also showed quickness and agility in the running game and drove his assignment off the ball to clear the lane for A&M's first touchdown of the season, a 1-yard plunge off left tackle by Tra Carson.