The Bum's 2015 College Football All You Need To Know- Trends, Picks, News Etc.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAFB MONEYLINE

CFB > (199) AIR FORCE@ (200) MICHIGAN ST | 2015-09-19 12:00:00 - 2015-09-19 12:00:00
Play ON MICHIGAN ST using money line in all lined games
The record is 17 Wins and 3 Losses for the last three seasons (+15.85 units)

CFB > (151) OLE MISS@ (152) ALABAMA | 2015-09-19 21:15:00 - 2015-09-19 21:15:00
Play AGAINST OLE MISS using money line in a road game where the total is between 45.5 and 49
The record is 2 Wins and 15 Losses for the since 1992 (-16.7 units)

CFB > (127) N ILLINOIS@ (128) OHIO ST | 2015-09-19 15:30:00 - 2015-09-19 15:30:00
Play ON OHIO ST using money line in games played on turf
The record is 52 Wins and 12 Losses for the since 1992 (+37.75 units)

CFB > (109) WAKE FOREST@ (110) ARMY | 2015-09-19 12:00:00 - 2015-09-19 12:00:00
Play AGAINST ARMY using money line in all games
The record is 4 Wins and 9 Losses for the last two seasons (-17.45 units)

CFB > (177) CONNECTICUT@ (178) MISSOURI | 2015-09-19 12:00:00 - 2015-09-19 12:00:00
Play AGAINST CONNECTICUT using money line in all lined games
The record is 7 Wins and 15 Losses for the last three seasons (-22.65 units)

CFB > (131) TULSA@ (132) OKLAHOMA | 2015-09-19 12:00:00 - 2015-09-19 12:00:00
Play AGAINST OKLAHOMA using money line in games played on a grass field
The record is 0 Wins and 3 Losses for the last two seasons (-22.2 units)

CFB > (201) WYOMING@ (202) WASHINGTON ST | 2015-09-19 20:30:00 - 2015-09-19 20:30:00
Play AGAINST WYOMING using money line in all games
The record is 7 Wins and 12 Losses for the last three seasons (-21.95 units)

CFB > (157) NEBRASKA@ (158) MIAMI | 2015-09-19 15:30:00 - 2015-09-19 15:30:00
Play ON MIAMI using money line in a home game where the total is between 56.5 and 63
The record is 11 Wins and 1 Losses for the since 1992 (+12 units)

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAFB FIRST HALF LINE

CFB > (169) TEXAS TECH@ (170) ARKANSAS | 2015-09-19 19:00:00 - 2015-09-19 19:00:00
Play ON ARKANSAS ?>in the first half versus the first half line in all games
The record is 13 Wins and 2 Losses for the last two seasons (+10.8 units)

CFB > (205) UTAH@ (206) FRESNO ST | 2015-09-19 22:30:00 - 2015-09-19 22:30:00
Play ON FRESNO ST ?>in the first half in games played on turf
The record is 17 Wins and 3 Losses for the since 1992 (+13.7 units)

CFB > (147) E CAROLINA@ (148) NAVY | 2015-09-19 15:30:00 - 2015-09-19 15:30:00
Play AGAINST E CAROLINA ?>in the first half against conference opponents
The record is 0 Wins and 8 Losses for the last three seasons (-8.8 units)

CFB > (195) STANFORD@ (196) USC | 2015-09-19 20:00:00 - 2015-09-19 20:00:00
Play ON USC ?>in the first half as a favorite vs. the 1rst half line
The record is 17 Wins and 4 Losses for the last three seasons (+12.6 units)

CFB > (185) SAN JOSE ST@ (186) OREGON ST | 2015-09-19 20:00:00 - 2015-09-19 20:00:00
Play ON OREGON ST ?>in the first half in a home game where the first half total is between 22.5 and 24.5
The record is 11 Wins and 1 Losses for the since 1992 (+9.9 units)

CFB > (163) SOUTHERN MISS@ (164) TEXAS ST | 2015-09-19 19:00:00 - 2015-09-19 19:00:00
Play ON TEXAS ST ?>in the first half in non-conference games
The record is 10 Wins and 1 Losses for the last three seasons (+8.9 units)

CFB > (199) AIR FORCE@ (200) MICHIGAN ST | 2015-09-19 12:00:00 - 2015-09-19 12:00:00
Play ON MICHIGAN ST ?>in the first half as a favorite vs. the 1rst half line
The record is 11 Wins and 2 Losses for the last two seasons (+8.8 units)

CFB > (137) NEVADA@ (138) TEXAS A&M | 2015-09-19 12:00:00 - 2015-09-19 12:00:00
Play AGAINST NEVADA ?>in the first half when playing on a Saturday
The record is 2 Wins and 11 Losses for the last two seasons (-10.1 units)

CFB > (135) NORTHWESTERN@ (136) DUKE | 2015-09-19 12:30:00 - 2015-09-19 12:30:00
Play ON DUKE ?>in the first half when playing on a Saturday
The record is 9 Wins and 1 Losses for the last two seasons (+7.9 units)

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAFB TOTALS

CFB > (139) GEORGIA ST@ (140) OREGON | 2015-09-19 14:00:00 - 2015-09-19 14:00:00
Play OVER OREGON on the total in non-conference games
The record is 22 Overs and 4 Unders for the since 1992 (+17.6 units)

CFB > (123) TROY@ (124) WISCONSIN | 2015-09-19 15:30:00 - 2015-09-19 15:30:00
Play OVER TROY on the total in non-conference games
The record is 29 Overs and 7 Unders for the since 1992 (+21.3 units)

CFB > (191) RUTGERS@ (192) PENN ST | 2015-09-19 20:00:00 - 2015-09-19 20:00:00
Play UNDER PENN ST on the total versus the first half line in all games
The record is 2 Overs and 13 Unders for the last two seasons (+10.8 units)

CFB > (133) C MICHIGAN@ (134) SYRACUSE | 2015-09-19 12:30:00 - 2015-09-19 12:30:00
Play UNDER SYRACUSE on the total when playing with 6 or less days rest
The record is 0 Overs and 8 Unders for the last two seasons (+8 units)

CFB > (177) CONNECTICUT@ (178) MISSOURI | 2015-09-19 12:00:00 - 2015-09-19 12:00:00
Play UNDER MISSOURI on the total versus the 1rst half line in home games
The record is 2 Overs and 13 Unders for the last three seasons (+10.8 units)

CFB > (189) UTEP@ (190) NEW MEXICO ST | 2015-09-19 20:00:00 - 2015-09-19 20:00:00
Play OVER NEW MEXICO ST on the total in non-conference games
The record is 13 Overs and 2 Unders for the last three seasons (+10.8 units)

CFB > (181) W KENTUCKY@ (182) INDIANA | 2015-09-19 16:00:00 - 2015-09-19 16:00:00
Play OVER INDIANA on the total after 2 or more consecutive straight up wins
The record is 16 Overs and 3 Unders for the since 1992 (+12.7 units)

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAFB TOP POWERLINES


CFB > (177) CONNECTICUT @ (178) MISSOURI | 2015-09-19 12:00:00 - 2015-09-19 12:00:00
Line: MISSOURI-21 BTB PowerLine: MISSOURI-33
Edge On: MISSOURI (12)

CFB > (137) NEVADA @ (138) TEXAS A&M | 2015-09-19 12:00:00 - 2015-09-19 12:00:00
Line: NEVADA BTB PowerLine: NEVADA-26
Edge On: NEVADA (9)

CFB > (113) UNLV @ (114) MICHIGAN | 2015-09-19 12:00:00 - 2015-09-19 12:00:00
Line: UNLV BTB PowerLine: UNLV-26
Edge On: UNLV (9.5)

CFB > (139) GEORGIA ST @ (140) OREGON | 2015-09-19 14:00:00 - 2015-09-19 14:00:00
Line: OREGON-42.5 BTB PowerLine: OREGON-62
Edge On: OREGON (19.5)

CFB > (171) MEMPHIS @ (172) BOWLING GREEN | 2015-09-19 15:00:00 - 2015-09-19 15:00:00
Line: MEMPHIS BTB PowerLine: MEMPHIS17
Edge On: MEMPHIS (13.5)

CFB > (111) TEMPLE @ (112) MASSACHUSETTS | 2015-09-19 15:00:00 - 2015-09-19 15:00:00
Line: TEMPLE BTB PowerLine: TEMPLE22
Edge On: TEMPLE (9)

CFB > (115) BALL ST @ (116) E MICHIGAN | 2015-09-19 15:00:00 - 2015-09-19 15:00:00
Line: BALL ST BTB PowerLine: BALL ST15
Edge On: BALL ST (10.5)

CFB > (123) TROY @ (124) WISCONSIN | 2015-09-19 15:30:00 - 2015-09-19 15:30:00
Line: WISCONSIN-28.5 BTB PowerLine: WISCONSIN-41
Edge On: WISCONSIN (12.5)

CFB > (161) UTAH ST @ (162) WASHINGTON | 2015-09-19 17:00:00 - 2015-09-19 17:00:00
Line: WASHINGTON-7 BTB PowerLine: WASHINGTON-16
Edge On: WASHINGTON (9)

CFB > (173) COLORADO @ (174) COLORADO ST | 2015-09-19 19:00:00 - 2015-09-19 19:00:00
Line: COLORADO ST3 BTB PowerLine: COLORADO ST-12
Edge On: COLORADO ST (15)

CFB > (117) CHARLOTTE @ (118) MIDDLE TENN ST | 2015-09-19 19:00:00 - 2015-09-19 19:00:00
Line: MIDDLE TENN ST-18 BTB PowerLine: MIDDLE TENN ST-27
Edge On: MIDDLE TENN ST (9)

CFB > (169) TEXAS TECH @ (170) ARKANSAS | 2015-09-19 19:00:00 - 2015-09-19 19:00:00
Line: ARKANSAS-9.5 BTB PowerLine: ARKANSAS-18
Edge On: ARKANSAS (8.5)

CFB > (187) SMU @ (188) TCU | 2015-09-19 20:00:00 - 2015-09-19 20:00:00
Line: TCU-37 BTB PowerLine: TCU-52
Edge On: TCU (15)

CFB > (167) IOWA ST @ (168) TOLEDO | 2015-09-19 20:00:00 - 2015-09-19 20:00:00
Line: TOLEDO-6.5 BTB PowerLine: TOLEDO-17
Edge On: TOLEDO (10.5)

CFB > (189) UTEP @ (190) NEW MEXICO ST | 2015-09-19 20:00:00 - 2015-09-19 20:00:00
Line: UTEP BTB PowerLine: UTEP10
Edge On: UTEP (8)

[StarDust Bum]

EVENING RATED PLAYS:


Murray State - 7:00 PM ET Murray State +32.5 500
Western Michigan -

Missouri State - 7:00 PM ET Missouri State +22.5 500
Arkansas State -

Charlotte - 7:00 PM ET Charlotte +18.5 500 DOUBLE PLAY
Middle Tennessee -

Southern Mississippi - 7:00 PM ET Southern Mississippi +1 500 TRIPLE PLAY
Texas State -

North Carolina State - 7:00 PM ET Old Dominion +17.5 500
Old Dominion -

Texas Tech - 7:00 PM ET Texas Tech +9.5 500
Arkansas -

Western Carolina - 7:00 PM ET Tennessee -35 500
Tennessee -

Colorado - 7:00 PM ET Colorado State +3 500 DOUBLE PLAY
Colorado State -

Florida - 7:30 PM ET Kentucky +4 500
Kentucky -

California - 7:30 PM ET California -5 500
Texas -

South Alabama - 8:00 PM ET San Diego State -17.5 500 BLOW OUT
San Diego State -

Texas El Paso - 8:00 PM ET Texas El Paso -2.5 500
New Mexico State -

San Jose State - 8:00 PM ET San Jose State +6.5 500
Oregon State -

Iowa State - 8:00 PM ET Toledo -7 500
Toledo -

Southern Methodist - 8:00 PM ET Southern Methodist +37 500 DOUBLE PLAY
Texas Christian -

Maine - 8:00 PM ET Tulane -11.5 500 *****
Tulane -

Stanford - 8:00 PM ET Stanford +9.5 500 TRIPLE PLAY
Southern California -

Rutgers - 8:00 PM ET Penn State -8.5 500
Penn State -

Pittsburgh - 8:00 PM ET Pittsburgh +4 500
Iowa -

Wyoming - 8:30 PM ET Washington State -25.5 500 TRIPLE PLAY
Washington State -

Mississippi - 9:15 PM ET Mississippi +9 500 BLOW OUT
Alabama -

Brigham Young - 10:30 PM ET Brigham Young +16.5 500 DOUBLE PLAY
UCLA -

Utah - 10:30 PM ET Utah -13.5 500 DOUBLE PLAY
Fresno State -

Northern Arizona - 11:00 PM ET Northern Arizona +35 500
Arizona -

UC - Davis - 11:59 PM ET Hawaii -25.5 500 *****
Hawaii -

[StarDust Bum]

RECAPPING SATURDAY'S ACTION :

CFB: 15 - 18 -0 SATURDAY ( 09/19/15 )



COLLEGE FOOTBALL RECORD:

single play:.......................................15 - 15 - 1
double play:......................................23 - 21
triple play:........................................15 - 12
blow out:..........................................7 - 7
gow:.............................................. . ..0 - 0
gom:.............................................. . .0 - 0
goy............................................... . ..0 - 0

[StarDust Bum]

Betting Recap - Week 3

September 20, 2015


Overall Notes

COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 3 RESULTS

Wager Favorites-Underdogs

Straight Up 59-8
Against the Spread 30-35-2

Wager Home-Away

Straight Up 47-20
Against the Spread 25-40-2

Wager Totals (O/U)

Over-Under 27-25

The largest underdog to win straight up

Furman (+24.5, ML +1565) at UCF, 16-15

The largest favorite to cover

Mississippi State (-38.5) vs. Northwestern State, 62-13


Top 25 Notes

-- After a couple of weeks with few upsets to the top teams, it was topsy-turvy Saturday from coast to coast, and it almost came to the doorstep of the national champs. Ohio State entered their game as a 34 1/2 point favorite, but they had to hang on for dear life against Northern Illinois, 20-13. The MAC contender had several chances to extend the game, but the champs pulled through. ... Alabama wasn't as lucky in their SEC opener against Mississippi. Ole Miss fired ahead 30-13 before a spirited comeback by the Tide. After some late scores, an onside kick and some questionable clock management by Hugh Freeze and company, the Rebels were able to notch their second straight victory against the Tide. ... It wasn't quite shades of 2007 for Southern California, but Stanford paid a visit as a 10-point underdog and came out of the Coliseum with a victory. USC looked like one of the most complete teams, but facing Arkansas State and Idaho is obviously quite different than a conference foe. ... Missouri was a three-touchdown favorite against Connecticut, but fell behind 6-2 at halftime before eeking out a 9-6 win. ... In a battle of Top 15 teams it was Louisiana State pulling away from Auburn, 45-21. The Tigers probably should have lost last week to FCS Jacksonville State, outlasting them in overtime. In this battle of Tigers they weren't even in the same class. The major players in the state of Alabama went 0-2, as both the Tide and Tigers slipped up.

-- Georgia continues to make noise in the SEC East, dumping disappointing South Carolina by a 52-20 score. The Bulldogs are now 3-0 SU/2-1 ATS with the 'over' connecting in two of their three games.

-- I attended the Northwestern-Duke game Saturday, and it was throwback weekend at Wallace Wade Stadium. It was a throwback game, too, as the Wildcats defense looked sharp, and so did the Blue Devils. There was plenty of 'three yards and a cloud of dust' football, hard hits and solid special teams. Neither team is likely to be a serious contender for a championship, but these are two solid bowl teams. The Wildcats are now 3-0 SU/ATS, and the 'under' has hit in each of their three contests to date.

-- The magic finally ran out for Brigham Young in their trip to UCLA. However, they easily covered the 16 1/2-point number at the Rose Bowl, falling 24-23 after a last-second interception. For the third straight game the 'under' cashed for the Bruins. For BYU, they moved to 3-0 ATS heading into their game next weekend at Michigan.

-- Notre Dame has had a ton of injuries, including the quarterback position, but good teams find a way to plug holes. DeShone Kizer stepped in for the injured Malik Zaire and led the Irish to a 30-22 win against Georgia Tech, and it might not even have been that close.

Big Five Conference Report (ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Pac-12, SEC)

-- There were mixed results in the Atlantic Coast Conference this weekend. Clemson scratched out a 20-17 road win in the conference opener at Louisville, although the Cardinals covered in the low-scoring game. ... Florida State had it on lockdown at Boston College Friday night, scoring once offensively and once defensively in a 14-0 win. The under has hit in two straight games for FSU, and their defense is allowing just 10.0 PPG. ... Syracuse continues to do it with mirrors, moving to 3-0 SU. They failed to cover for the first time in their overtime win against Central Michigan, but the extra session did help the over come in for the third time is as many games. ... North Carolina State hit the road for Old Dominion, and they continue to shine. The Wolfpack has scored at least 35 points in each of their three games, covering in each outing.

-- Michigan State edged Air Force 35-21, as the Spartans failed to cover for the third time in as many games. They face Central Michigan next Saturday in East Lansing. ... Minnesota struggled against Kent State, edging the Golden Flashes 10-7 despite being a 24-point favorite. The Golden Gophers have won two in a row, but they are 0-2 ATS. The one consistent play in Minnesota games is the under, going 3-0 so far. ... Maryland managed a solid 35-17 rebound win against South Florida, covering for the second time in three outings. The over is now 2-0-1 for the Terps heading into their rivalry game at West Virginia next weekend. ... Indiana has an awful defense, outstanding offense and they're a great over play. The Hoosiers edged Western Kentucky 38-35 to barely cover a 2 1/2-point number. The over is also 3-0 ATS heading into next weekend's game at Wake Forest.

-- The Oklahoma State offense finally came alive with 69 points in their win against Texas-San Antonio. It was their first cover after a pair of subpar performances against Central Michigan and Central Arkansas. ... Texas Tech fired out to a 35-24 win at Arkansas. The Red Raiders are now 2-0-1 ATS in three games, averaging 57.6 PPG heading into their showdown with TCU next weekend. ... Texas slipped up 45-44 in a home game against California. See more on this game in the bad beats section. ... Iowa State fell 30-23 in double-overtime at Toledo, but the under still hit and is 2-0-1 through three games.

-- Colorado posted a second straight impressive win and cover, this time dropped rival Colorado State in overtime by a 27-24 count. The under still connected despite the extra session, and is now 2-1 through three games for the Buffs. ... After a setback to FCS Portland State, Washington State finally appears to be untracked. They pushed aside Wyoming 31-14, and they're now 2-1 SU/1-2 ATS with the under 2-1. They have two weeks to prepare for a trip to California as they look to avenge a 60-59 setback on the Palouse last season. ... Oregon piled up 61 points in a win against Georgia State, and the 'over' is now 2-0 in two home games for the Ducks this season.

-- Some things never change. Florida has now won 29 straight games against Kentucky, outlasting the Wildcats 14-9 at Commonwealth Stadium in Lexington. After a shootout in their opening game, the under has hit in each of South Carolina's conference games to date.

Mid-Major Report

-- The MAC had a so-so week, making plenty of headlines for close calls. NIU nearly pulled off a giant shocker but fell short. Central Michigan was tripped up at Syracuse in overtime, and Bowling Green stumbled 44-41 against Memphis at home. Miami-Ohio also nearly dumped Cincinnati, but fell 37-33. The over has cashed in two in a row for the Red Hawks. ... Toledo followed up their win at Arkansas with the 2OT win over Iowa State. For the first time in school history the Rockets have beaten two Power 5 Conference teams in the same season.

-- Louisiana Tech fell just short in an overtime road loss at Kansas State, 39-33. The Bulldogs have posted atl east 33 points in each of their three games, and the over has hit in each outing. ... Buffalo picked up a 33-15 win at Florida Atlantic, as the Owls are now a dismal 1-2 ATS after a hot start to the season. For the Bulls of the MAC, they're now 3-0 ATS through three games heading into their til against Nevada next week.

-- It wasn't a good week for the Mountain West, as they went 2-10 SU. That includes an embarrassing home loss for San Diego State against South Alabama, a 17 1/2-point underdog. The Aztecs are 0-3 ATS through three games heading into their road game against Penn State next week. ... San Jose State slipped up 35-21 at Oregon State, and the Spartans are 0-2 SU/ATS in two road games this season. They're on the road Oct. 3 at Auburn and Oct. 10 at UNLV, so remember their struggles when the time comes.

-- Texas State was involved in one of the highest-scoring games of the season, falling 56-50 at home to Southern Mississippi. The over has cashed in each of Texas State's three games. ... Texas-El Paso outlasted New Mexico State 50-47 in overtime. The Aggies have allowed at least 34 points in each of their three games, going 0-3 ATS while the over has connected in three in a row.

Bad Beats

-- In the bad beat department, there are all kinds of things wrong with the California-Texas game. For anyone who took a chance on Texas on the moneyline, it was an excruciating game. First off, Cal fired out to a 45-24 lead heading into the fourth quarter. ML bettors likely wrote the game off, but they were given hope when Texas rallied to make it 45-44 with 71 seconds remaining in regulation. However, a missed extra point meant a win for Cal, and it was almost like losing twice if you have the Longhorns on the moneyline. The 20-point fourth quarter was also a bad beat for Cal bettors who laid the five.

-- Iowa State nearly connected as a touchdown underdog at Toledo, but their kicker missed a medium-range field goal with :00 left in regulation which could have won it. I-State ended up falling in double-overtime. If you were laying seven, the touchdown in double-overtime was bad news since it turned what could have been a win into a push.

-- Iowa held a 24-17 lead with :52 left in regulation before Pittsburgh struck for a game-tying touchdown to make it 24-24. The game appeared headed for overtime, but Iowa's Marshall Koehn knocked through a 57-yard field goal at :00 to stun the Panthers. Worse yet, the Hawkeyes failed to cover their six-point spread when they allowed the late, game-tying touchdown. Pittsburgh's touchdown with 52 seconds left meant the total would go 'over', too, after the 'under' looked good for most of the evening.

[StarDust Bum]

Ole Miss jumps to No. 3 in AP poll

September 20, 2015

Mississippi is on the rise again after knocking off Alabama in a game full of turnovers and lucky bounces.

The Rebels ran off to a big lead and then held on for a 43-37 win in Tuscaloosa on Saturday night that made a huge impression in the college football rankings.

The victory saw Ole Miss (3-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference) jump 12 spots to No. 3 in the AP Top 25 poll Sunday.

It's the second straight season the Rebels look capable of making a serious run in the SEC West. Last year's surprising hot start, though, fizzled late in the season after close losses and key injuries.

The Rebels say they're ready to be one of the nation's elite after their first win in Tuscaloosa since 1988.

''It feels so comfortable, the team's so comfortable with each other, and we're not worried about anybody else or even the West rankings,'' Ole Miss defensive tackle Robert Nkemdiche said. ''We're just worried about being in this moment and savoring it. Everybody's believing it.''

It's easy to understand why Ole Miss feels so confident.

The offense has scored at least 43 points in three straight games for the first time. Transfer quarterback Chad Kelly was superb in his first big game, throwing for 341 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions.

Laquon Treadwell leads a deep group of receivers that includes Cody Core, Quincy Adeboyejo and Damore'ea Stringfellow. Treadwell made his first big play since breaking a leg last year, catching a 24-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter that gave the Rebels a 43-24 lead.

There's also the defense. It gave up some points and yards to Alabama, but also forced five turnovers. Tony Bridges had a crucial interception in the fourth quarter to end one Tide drive in the fourth quarter. The Rebels played solid team defense in the final minute, forcing Alabama's Jake Coker into four straight incompletions to seal the victory.

And then, of course, there was a little luck.

Adeboyejo's 66-yard touchdown catch was on a ball Kelly probably shouldn't have thrown. He flung the ball into the air as he was about to be sacked and the ball was tipped before Adeboyejo came down with it and outran everyone to the end zone.

''I grabbed it, and everything from there, I just had to go score,'' Adeboyejo said.

Now Ole Miss is among the early favorites to win the West.

The Rebels have a fairly manageable schedule over the next month, though road games against Florida and Memphis could be tricky.

''Our schedule's still really tough,'' Ole Miss running back Jordan Wilkins said. ''We've got to keep rolling. We're all excited, but this definitely showed what we're capable of doing.''

[StarDust Bum]

Stressful days with sloppy 1-2 Huskers

September 20, 2015

Mike Riley's first season at Nebraska has already become a stress test.

After the Cornhuskers erased a 23-point fourth-quarter deficit to force overtime against Miami, only to lose 36-33, Riley joked that he might have to start working out again to strengthen his 62-year-old heart.

No one reasonably expected Nebraska to win a Big Ten championship this year, but the Huskers' first 1-2 start since 1981 is causing mild anxiety among a fan base unaccustomed to losing twice in September.

Nebraska opened with a loss at home to BYU on a Hail Mary, built some confidence with an easy win over South Alabama and then overcame a long string of mistakes to force overtime against Miami before self-destructing at the end. Nebraska finishes nonconference play at home this week against Southern Mississippi (2-1).

Riley pointed out to his players in the locker room they are less than a minute away from being 3-0. That doesn't change the fact this is only the second time since 1960 the Huskers have lost two of their first three.

''You can't help but appreciate what happened in the second half,'' Riley said after Saturday's game. ''But there's always going to be something that gnaws at you because you know it doesn't have to be this way.''

There's lots of room for improvement.

Using a hybrid of the previous staff's spread offense and the pro-style system Riley prefers, the Huskers lead the nation with 70 plays of 10 yards or longer, and Tommy Armstrong Jr. is throwing for 299 yards a game.

But three of his five interceptions came against Miami, including a bad one in overtime that helped set up the Hurricanes' winning field goal.

The Huskers also had seven dropped passes and were penalized twice for having 12 men on the field and twice for illegal formations.

''High school and middle school mistakes,'' Armstrong said.

Defensively, the Huskers have given up 13 plays of 30 yards or longer through three games. Only UTEP and SMU have allowed more. Nebraska is surrendering 357 yards a game through the air, the most by any team other than Indiana. Nebraska also is the fourth-most penalized team in the nation at 10.3 a game.

Offensive lineman Alex Lewis was flagged three times against Miami. The most egregious was an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty in overtime after he shoved Corn Elder when he was out of bounds after intercepting Armstrong. That penalty let Miami start its overtime drive from the 12-yard line instead of the 25.

Lewis, a team captain, took to social media early Sunday to blast fans who blamed him for the loss.

He wrote on Facebook that he's going to prove to himself and his family that he's ''better than these fair-weather fans.'' He added: ''You will kiss my feet when im done with you! So screw everyone who ever doubts me.''

The tweet linking to his Facebook post was deleted by late morning.

[StarDust Bum]

Bring on conference play (and gladly)

September 20, 2015

(STATS) - Maybe all the talk about the wide-open national picture means we're getting ahead of ourselves.

No need to think big picture when the conference title races are promising to be exceptional this season.

All that was needed Saturday night were two eye-opening results to change the feel of races in a couple top FCS conferences:

In CAA Football, defending champion New Hampshire fell to Stony Brook 31-6. Down in the Southland Conference, Lamar pulled off a 49-46 surprise at No. 3 Sam Houston State. UNH and Sam Houston were both national semifinalists last season.

UNH was forced to try to win on the road without starting quarterback Sean Goldrich, but the Wildcats' loss had as much to do with Stony Brook's stout defense, which continues to be one of the nation's best (All-American end Victor Ochi had 3½ sacks).

Meanwhile, Sam Houston had little excuse in losing after an extra week of preparation, but Lamar quarterback Carson Earp and running back Kade Harrington proved to be just as good as the Bearkats' many skills position players.

Both games served as reminders that teams within conferences are closer than perceived.

Defending champs North Dakota State and Eastern Washington brought a little normalcy back to a typical Saturday in the Missouri Valley and Big Sky, respectively. But both conferences have had six teams in the FCS Top 25 in each of the first two regular-season polls, so there's reason to anticipate competitive races there.

The CAA could bunch up if Villanova has to spend significant time without star quarterback John Robertson, who injured his right knee in a narrow win over Delaware. Meanwhile, Big Sky power Montana lost both a game and its starting quarterback (Brady Gustafson to a broken leg) Saturday night.

Parity on the national scene? There should be parity in many back-and-forth conference races, too.

SECOND AND 10

Ten more observations from the FCS weekend:

- In its debut atop the FCS poll, Jacksonville State played like a true No. 1, which is saying a lot considering the up-and-down nature of top 10 teams early this season. The depth of the Gamecocks' running game (349 yards) continues to set up quarterback Eli Jenkins and the passing game. Plus, the defensive line has to be the best in the FCS, with Darius Jackson adding significantly to a unit that already had three Ohio Valley standouts. If the Gamecocks win at UT Martin next Saturday, the defending conference champions should get on a nice roll considering their schedule.

- A perfect weekend is rare for any conference when all the teams are in action, but the Big South netted a 7-0 record led by No. 15 Liberty's 31-21 win over No. 8 Montana in one of the better intersectional matchups this season. Big South teams are 9-2 at home.

- The Big Sky didn't have it so good in a weekend of high-profile matchups. In addition to the Montana loss, No. 17 Cal Poly came up short against No. 9 Northern Iowa and North Dakota was gobbled up by North Dakota State. The game everybody is still talking about is No. 14 Eastern Washington's 55-50 non-conference win over No. 11 Montana State, which saw the two teams rack up 1,385 yards. In their win, the Eagles averaged 11.7 yards on 57 plays, recovered two onside kicks and stopped a pair of two-point PAT attempts.

- Montana State quarterback Dakota Prukop accounted for 549 total yards and five touchdowns, and Eastern Washington signal caller Jordan West (21 of 24, 410 yards, six TDs) had an improbable 313.5 passer efficiency in the score-athon. Some of the weekend's other big statistical performances came from: Dayton workhorse running back Connor Kacsor (40 carries, 244 yards, three TDs) against Duquesne; Lamar running back Kade Harrington (230 rushing yards, 313 all-purpose yards, three total TDs) against Sam Houston; Eastern Washington wide receiver Cooper Kupp (12 receptions, 201 yards, three TDs) against Montana State; Weber State defensive back Jawian Harrison (three interceptions against Sacramento State) and Sacramento State linebacker Darnell Sankey (27 tackles) in the same game; Stony Brook defensive end Victor Ochi (nine tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss) against New Hampshire; and Coastal Carolina kickoff returner Devin Brown (five returns, 195 yards, 93-yard TD return).

- Ivy League teams went 4-4 in their opening weekend, but the play was way beyond average. While the wins came from the top four teams in the league's preseason poll (Harvard, Dartmouth, Yale and Princeton), Brown lost by only four points to Northeast Conference favorite Bryant and Columbia hung close for over three quarters with Patriot League favorite Fordham. Plus, there was terrific play by the league's starting quarterbacks (Brown's Marcus Fuller had 403 passing yards). The teams picked for the Ivy's second tier returned a high number of starters this season, so there figures to be some upsets in the league schedule.

- The FCS Game of the Week wasn't a three-point difference for the first time this season, but Chattanooga quarterback Jacob Huesman is worth way more than a field goal. The No. 10 Mocs won one of the bigger games on their schedule, 31-21 at Samford, to get a jump on a Southern Conference it didn't lose against last year. Huesman had 331 total yards and three total touchdowns, became the third player in SoCon history to record 4,000 yards passing and 3,000 yards rushing in a career, and staked an early claim to a three-peat for conference offensive player of the year. It's an improved conference, however.

- That the SoCon is rebounding was evident in Saturday's most competitive FCS-FBS matchups. Jon Croft Hollingsworth's 55-yard field goal early in the fourth quarter proved to be the winning margin in Furman's 16-15 win at UCF - the fifth by an FCS team over an FBS opponent this season and the Paladins' first since 1999. Wofford's triple option put a scare into Idaho with 326 yards and four touchdowns on the ground, but the Terriers fell 41-38. The overall results are still one-sided, though, as the FCS went 1-16 on the weekend and fell to 5-85.

- Idaho State of the Big Sky saw first-hand why schools have greener pastures in mind when they make a move from the FCS up to the FBS. The Bengals were routed 52-0 by Boise State, the one-time Big Sky program which has enjoyed unbelievable success since making the move in 1996. Schools know they won't duplicate what the Broncos have done, but coming close is not even fathomable today. Most potential risers have to decide whether they want to be a big fish in a smaller pond or a small fish in a vast pond.

- North Dakota State athletics couldn't confirm on Saturday whether the Bison have ever given up fewer than the 66 yards that North Dakota squeaked out in a 34-9 rout between the two rivals, who met for the 111th time but the first since 2003. But it was certain the Bison issued a statement with their dominating performance. The leading names may be different for a defense which returned only four starters from last season's unit that fueled a fourth straight FCS national title, but the likes of Nick DeLuca, Jordan Champion and Nate Tanguay surely have some more bruisings in them.

- The Northeast Conference has been on the rise since gaining an automatic bid to the playoffs in 2010, but Saturday's results were disappointing for the conference. Two-time defending champion Sacred Heart and Duquesne - both off to 2-0 starts - lost to non-scholarship Pioneer Football League squads, Marist and Dayton, respectively. Plus, Brandon Dagnesses' late interception in the Bryant end zone was needed for the preseason favorite to hold off Brown from the non-scholarship Ivy League. Also, Wagner, which tied for last year's title, fell 31-16 at home to previously winless Monmouth, an NEC member until two years ago.

TOP 25 SCOREBOARD

No. 1 Jacksonville State (2-1, 1-0 OVC), beat Tennessee State (2-1, 0-1), 48-13

No. 2 Coastal Carolina (3-0), beat Western Illinois (1-2), 34-27

No. 3 Sam Houston State (0-2, 0-1 Southland), lost to Lamar (2-1, 1-0), 49-46

No. 4 North Dakota State (2-1), beat North Dakota (2-1), 34-9

No. 5 Illinois State (2-1), beat Eastern Illinois (0-3), 34-31, in OT

No. 6 Villanova (2-1, 1-0 CAA), beat Delaware (1-2, 0-1), 28-21

No. 7 South Dakota State (2-0), Idle

No. 8 Montana (1-2), lost to No. 15 Liberty (2-1), 31-21

No. 9 Northern Iowa (2-1), beat No. 17 Cal Poly (1-2), 34-20

No. 10 Chattanooga (2-1, 1-0 Southern), beat Samford (2-1, 0-1), 31-21

No. 11 Montana State (1-1), lost to No. 14 Eastern Washington (1-2), 55-50

No. 12 James Madison (3-0, 1-0 CAA), beat Albany (1-2, 1-1), 42-28

No. 13 New Hampshire (1-2, 0-1 CAA), lost to Stony Brook (2-0, 1-0), 31-6

No. 14 Eastern Washington (1-2), beat No. 11 Montana State (1-1), 55-50

No. 15 Liberty (2-1), beat No. 8 Montana (1-2), 31-21

No. 16 Youngstown State (2-1), beat Saint Francis (1-2), 48-3

No. 17 Cal Poly (1-2), lost to No. 9 Northern Iowa (2-1), 34-20

No. 18 Fordham (2-1), beat Columbia (0-1), 44-24

No. 19 Portland State (2-0), Idle

No. 20 Southeastern Louisiana (2-1), lost to Ohio (2-1), 35-14

No. 21 Eastern Kentucky (1-1), Idle

No. 22 Richmond (2-1), beat VMI (1-2), 42-10

No. 23 Indiana State (2-1), beat Southeast Missouri State (1-2), 29-28

No. 24 Northern Arizona (2-1), lost to Arizona (3-0), 77-13

No. 25 Harvard (1-0), beat Rhode Island (0-3), 41-10

A LOOK AHEAD

The fourth full week of the FCS season doesn't have as many top matchups as the prior weeks. It begins with a Thursday night matchup because Pope Francis' weekend visit to Philadelphia has moved up the date of Penn at Villanova. No word on whether the Pope has designed a Hail Mary pass for Villanova, the oldest Catholic university in Pennsylvania.

Big games on Saturday include: Big Sky, Cal Poly at Montana State and Northern Arizona at Montana; CAA Football, Stony Brook at William & Mary; Ivy League, Brown at Harvard; Ohio Valley, Jacksonville State at UT Martin; Southland, Stephen F. Austin at Abilene Christian; SWAC, Grambling State vs. Prairie View A&M in Dallas; and non-conference, Charleston Southern at The Citadel, Bryant at Coastal Carolina, Tennessee State at Florida A&M, Sacred Heart at Dartmouth, Chattanooga at Presbyterian and Liberty at Southern Illinois.

The FCS-FBS schedule includes Southern at Georgia, Delaware at North Carolina, Samford at Louisville, James Madison at SMU and Idaho State at UNLV.

[StarDust Bum]

Irish lose another player for season

September 20, 2015

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly is worried about the number of season-ending injuries hitting the sixth-ranked Fighting Irish.

''Certainly we can't afford to lose any more players at key positions: Quarterback, running back, you start to get into true freshmen, and that will be obviously a significant change in what we look like,'' Kelly said Sunday.

Sophomore safety Drue Tranquill became the sixth player for the No. 6 Fighting Irish to sustain a season-ending injury when he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee Saturday while celebrating a pass breakup in the end zone against Georgia Tech.

Tranquill sustained the injury just before halftime and spent the second half on the sideline on crutches with a brace on his knee as the Irish held on for the 30-22 victory.

Kelly said Tranquill is expected to undergo surgery within two weeks after doing some rehabilitation work. Tranquill was making his first start of the season after starting three games last season, when he missed the final two games with a torn ACL in his left knee.

''Drue Tranquill was a very important player in our back end of the defense because of his versatility. So there is a break point,'' Kelly said. ''We're still at a point where we have guys that can come in and step in, but there's no question that we have to be able to stem the tide here with the injuries.''

The injury leaves the Irish short-handed at safety, but Avery Sebastian, a transfer from California who broke a bone in his foot against Texas is expected to return in mid-October.

Kelly has said he doesn't believe there's anything that can be done about the rash of injuries, pointing out that the injuries have occurred in a variety of ways on grass and artificial surfaces.

Defensive lineman Jarron Jones was the first to go down in mid-August with a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee when at the end of a play Notre Dame tackle Mike McGlinchey pushed linebacker Joe Schmidt, who fell in to Jones. Freshman nickel back Shaun Crawford , who had been practicing with the starters, during a one-on-one drill when he was backpedaling, turned and planted and tore his ACL.

Running back Tarean Folston, who led the Irish in rushing last season, tore the ACL in his right knee on his third carry of the season against Texas. Quarterback Malik Zaire fractured his ankle when his leg got trapped under a Virginia player on a run. Tight end Durham Smythe tore the MCL in his right knee in the final minute when a teammate fell into his leg.

---

[StarDust Bum]

Ohio State, Michigan State top rankings

September 20, 2015

Ohio State is No. 1 and Michigan State is No. 2 in The Associated Press college football poll, giving the Big Ten the top two teams in the rankings for the first time since 2006.

The Buckeyes received 40 first-place votes after a lackluster victory against Northern Illinois on Saturday. Michigan State has seven first-place votes. The last time the Big Ten held the top two spots in the AP poll was November 2006 when Ohio State and Michigan went into their annual rivalry game Nos. 1 and 2, respectively.

No. 3 Mississippi made a big jump from 15 after winning at Alabama. The Tide dropped from No. 2 to No. 12. The Rebels received 11 first-place votes.

TCU is tied for third with Ole Miss and Baylor is No. 5.

Notre Dame is sixth, followed by LSU, Georgia, UCLA and Florida State. The Tigers receive one first-place vote.

---

POLL POINTS

Ohio State is No. 1 for the 99th time, passing Notre Dame for second place all-time. Oklahoma has the most weeks at No. 1 with 101.

101 - Oklahoma

99 - Ohio State

98 - Notre Dame

---

CONFERENCE COUTDOWN

Two weeks after having a record 10 ranked teams, the Southeastern Conference is down to six, matching the Pac-12 for the most of any league.

SEC - 6

Pac-12 - 6

Big 12 - 4

Big Ten - 4

ACC - 3

Independents - 2

---

UP

Northwestern moved up six spots to No. 17 after beating Duke on the road. The Wildcats' opening victory against Stanford is also looking a whole lot better after the Cardinal bounced back with two straight wins, including a 41-31 upset at USC on Saturday night.

---

DOWN

No. 19 Southern California dropped 13 spots after losing at home to the Cardinal.

---

IN

Stanford is back in the rankings at No. 21. The Cardinal win was part of a 6-0 Saturday for the Pac-12 North, which was considered the weaker of the two divisions.

---

OUT

Auburn, which started the season ranked No. 6, is out of the rankings after a losing to LSU. The Tigers probably qualify as the most disappointing team of September.

---

RANKED VS. RANKED

No. 9 UCLA at No. 16 Arizona. Pac-12 South contenders start knocking each other off.

No. 18 Utah at No. 13 Oregon. Utes looking to score one for the Pac-12 South over the North.

--

NEW VOTER

Daniel Berk of the Arizona Daily Star has changed jobs and is no longer voting in the AP Top 25. He has been replaced by Ryan Finley from the Arizona Daily Star.

[StarDust Bum]

Michigan State's Copeland out for the season

September 20, 2015

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) Michigan State cornerback Vayante Copeland will miss the rest of the season because of a fractured vertebra.

Coach Mark Dantonio says Copeland should heal fine and be back next spring, but he will not return this tear. Copeland, a redshirt freshman, did not play in Michigan State's victory over Air Force on Saturday. He started the first two games of the season.

The Spartans moved up to No. 2 in the AP poll after their victory over Air Force, but they've lost some key defensive players to injury. Linebacker Ed Davis went down with a season-ending knee injury before the season started.

[StarDust Bum]

NCAAF Opening Line Report: The Pac-12 shuffle

Freshman quarterback Josh Rosen and UCLA have opened as 4-point road favorites against Arizona

According to the preseason prognosticators, Oregon and Southern Cal were the two best teams in the Pac-12 Conference. And that may prove to be the case by season’s end.

But both those squads have already been dinged, quickly opening the door for other Pac-12 teams, with a couple of Week 4 matchups that could shuffle the deck or muddle the picture even more.

UCLA and Arizona are both off to 3-0 SU starts and moving up in the rankings, as the Bruins face their first conference game with the trip to Tucson. The Bruins (1-1-1- ATS) rallied to a squeak out a 24-23 victory over Brigham Young on Saturday, falling well short at the books as a 16.5-point home favorite.

The Wildcats (2-1 ATS) will face their sternest test by far, having already played two FCS squads. They struggled in the season opener before putting away Stephen F. Austin 42-32 as a 32.5-point home fave, but drubbed visiting Northern Arizona on Saturday 77-13 laying 34.5 points.

Johnny Avello, executive director of race and sports for Wynn Las Vegas, opened UCLA as a 4-point favorite. The Bruins have won and covered their last three against the Wildcats.

“Yes, UCLA is 3-0, but nothing is going to come easy when conference play starts in the Pac-12. On Saturday, freshman QB Josh Rosen looked more like a freshman, the running game emerged and the Bruins prevailed over a very game BYU team,” Avello said. “Arizona has yet to play a top-50 team, but like last year, scoring is not an issue. Until the Wildcats move up an additional notch, they will continue to be home ‘dogs against the Pac-12’s Big Three – USC, UCLA and Oregon.”

Utah at Oregon

The Ducks (2-1 SU, 1-2 ATS), who reached the national title game last year, can’t be faulted too much for their lone loss this season – 31-28 at Michigan State as a 5-point underdog. Oregon got healthy by taking on overmatched Georgia State on Saturday, rolling to a 61-28 home win, but failing to cash as a massive 42.5-point chalk.

Utah (3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS) will be on the road for the second straight week, after besting Fresno State 45-24 Saturday giving 11.5 points. The Utes opened the season with a quality home win over Michigan, 24-17 laying 5 points.

Utah quarterback Travis Wilson suffered a shoulder injury in a Week 2 win over Boise State, so Avello is waiting to set the number until he knows whether Wilson will play, though he’s looking at a line of around Oregon -14.

“Even the very good defense that Utah has had over the past couple of years hasn't been able to slow down the Ducks,” Avello said, noting Oregon’s 51-27 road win last year and 44-21 home win in 2013. “Oregon is in great shape at the quarterback position and didn't miss a beat with Jeff Lockie starting over Vernon Adams Jr. (broken finger) this past week.

“Utah played very well on the road last year, winning at Michigan, UCLA and Stanford, so there will be no fear playing in Eugene, but the Utes better bring offensive firepower.”

Mississippi State at Auburn (-4)

For a team considered an SEC contender, Auburn (2-1 SU, 0-3 ATS) seems entirely out of sync right now. The Tigers needed overtime in Week 2 to beat Jacksonville State 27-20 as an overwhelming 44-point favorite, and then got blasted Saturday at Louisiana State 45-21 catching 6.5 points.

Mississippi State (2-1 SU and ATS) also fell to LSU, but in much more respectable fashion. The Bulldogs lost 21-19 in Week 2, covering as a 3-point home pup. On Saturday, the Bulldogs stuffed Northwestern State 62-13 laying 38.5 points at home.

“With Mississippi State QB Dak Prescott, you get mixed results from week to week. This past week against Northwestern State, you saw the positive ones,” Avello said. “Last year, this matchup took place in Week 6, and the Bulldogs beat Auburn 38-23. I don't believe this Bulldogs team is anywhere as talented as last year's squad.

“Auburn is really having major heartburn to start the season, but the Tigers will improve as the season progresses. This may be a good place to start.”

Brigham Young at Michigan (-3.5)

New Wolverines coach Jim Harbaugh has picked up two straight blowout wins after the season-opening loss at Utah. On Saturday, Michigan (2-1 SU, 1-2 ATS) won 28-7 laying 34 points at home against UNLV.

BYU (2-1 SU, 3-0 ATS) could easily be unbeaten, despite facing three stout teams. The Cougars let a 20-10 fourth-quarter lead slip away Saturday, losing 24-23 at UCLA but cashing as a hefty 16.5-point ‘dog.

“Wow, who orchestrated this opening schedule for the Cougars?” Avello said, noting BYU won at Nebraska and topped Boise State in Provo. “It would be beneficial to play this type of schedule if it were college basketball, to get battle tested and ready for the NCAA Tournament, but unfortunately, only four teams make it to the college football playoffs.

“With that said, the Cougars almost made it to 3-0. Michigan wasn't impressive against UNLV, which is not a very good team, and the Wolverines will find out what Nebraska, Boise State and UCLA did – BYU is menacing.”

[StarDust Bum]

College FB Week 3 Recap

Ohio State head coach Urban Meyer was asked if rotating his quarterbacks was ultimately hurting his offense. To be exact, the question pondered if it isn't time to give one guy all the reps, because currently, it's all diluted.

Meyer seemed amused by the phrase and nodded, repeated it out loud dubiously, "it's all diluted?" Then he answered honestly, as if it was something he couldn't get off his mind himself.

"There might be some truth to that," Meyer said. "Not that I'm going to call some armchair (analysts) and ask them what they think, but I do believe in game reps. That's how players get better, and that's something that I'm going to spend a lot of time thinking about."

A change is coming. After a productive debut on the opening Monday night against Virginia Tech, Cardale Jones has been brutal in disappointing wins over Hawai'i and Northern Illinois. Unlike the game against the Warriors where Barrett replaced him, there was no way Meyer could afford to ride with his wild inconsistency and risk losing to NIU. Jones finished 4-for-9 for 36 yards and two picks and sat on the bench by himself with a towel over his head. Ironically, J.T. Barrett wasn't much better, but Meyer stuck with him and trusts him more.

It would surprise me if Barrett didn't start this weekend's game against Western Michigan, another of the MAC's better teams. The Broncos, who opened as 28.5-point underdogs, have already played Michigan State, covering at home in Kalamazoo. The reason the week is so critical for the defending champs has less to do with who opens up under center than how it is received. This is a team that has been unified. Last year's run came in spite of superstar Braxton Miller being injured because the team galvanized and collectively dominated as an underdog. This year's team has a completely different dynamic, one that's clearly not an underdog by any definition of the word.

Meyer likes to ask his players whether they're a "problem or a solution." Wish I could bet on whether Jones is going to hear that nugget this week. If he can't handle a demotion as classily as Barrett managed the decision to have Jones start at Virginia Tech, there's a good chance the Buckeyes splinter. Nobody on that offense is playing well, but for Ohio State, it's all about staying afloat against inferior competition until November. Games against Michigan State and at Michigan close out the regular-season schedule and will define whether the Buckeyes will be playing for another title. Until then, it's all about sticking together. This week will test that.

A mishandling of their QB situation cost Alabama dearly in their loss to Ole Miss. Nick Saban and Lane Kiffin gave Cooper Bateman his first start and watched him sputter, allowing the Rebels to gain their footing on the road in a game where they never trailed. 'Bama committed five turnovers and senior Jacob Coker actually committed more than Bateman, but indecision displayed by the Crimson Tide coaching staff cost this team in what became their second loss in a four-game span and a second straight loss to Ole Miss for the first time in program history. It appeared obvious last week that Bateman is the preferred choice, but throwing him into a massive game instead of waiting until this week against UL-Monroe to get him his first start proved to be a massive error.

Credit the Rebels for making the most of their opportunities, but I don't see how they're ranked ahead of LSU by five spots in the latest AP poll. Even Georgia is ahead of the Tigers, who held off Mississippi State and obliterated Auburn at home for a pair of impressive wins Ole Miss was out-gained 503-433 and capitalized on miscues and a fluke play to pull off a great upset, so catapulting them to No. 3 when the same voters had them at No. 15 last week was a massive overreaction.

Georgia has beaten Vanderbilt and South Carolina, the two weakest teams in the SEC, so to rank the Dawgs ahead of LSU is also puzzling. Les Miles' team moved up to No. 4 in the VI Power Rankings. They have the current Heisman frontrunner in Leonard Fournette and will be favored against everyone on their schedule until a trip to Tuscaloosa on Nov. 7. Count on LSU being a consensus top-four by then, not that they shouldn't be already.

Know what else LSU did that nobody but Georgia managed to among the nation's elite? They covered. Ohio State, TCU, Michigan State and idle Baylor, the consensus top four non-SEC schools, fell well short of expectations, spread-wise. The Buckeyes were 34.5-point favorites who won by 7. Sparty, favored by 24.5, won by 14. TCU closed as 38-point chalk and won by half that. Meanwhile, LSU (-6.5) blasted Auburn. Beat them by 24 in a game that wasn't even that close. This is the same Auburn team that was ranked No. 6 in the preseason, getting listed as high as No. 2 on some ballots. No, the AP poll makes absolutely no sense.

USC disappointed again when running up against Stanford, especially when you consider how poorly Steve Sarkisian and the Trojans managed the game when they went up double-digits. There didn't seem to be any adjustment to contain a Cardinal passing game that had managed little in underwhelming performances against Northwestern and UCF. Athough the Trojans have a lot of youth, they're by far more talented than the Cardinal, which is why they were favored by 10 at home. It will be very interesting to see how Southern Cal handles adversity as they hit the road for a challenging game at Arizona State where they've been installed as a road favorite (-6).

Due to UCLA surviving BYU, this week's showdown at Arizona now becomes the marquee game on the Pac-12 schedule, since both teams have an opportunity to close out September at 4-0 and position itself alongside Utah as the Pac-12 favorite in a season where it's starting to look like these teams are going to knock one another off and prevent a second consecutive league entry in the college football playoff.

Other tidbits that stood out on Saturday include Temple and Memphis surviving on the road against MAC schools in two of the best finishes the day produced. Cincinnati, which has already lost to the Owls, also found a way to hold off Miami (Ohio), but it's not a good look for the American Athletic Conference that its best teams had such issues with teams from a conference that's considered an upstart at best and an afterthought at worse in the national title picture. It's ugly that the UConn Huskies dragging Missouri down to their level in a 9-6 loss is considered a bright spot for the league. Meanwhile, the only team that's ever won a New Year's Day bowl as a member of the AAC lost to FCS lightweight Furman. UCF has a very young team and playing backups at quarterback, but that 16-15 loss was indefensible. It was not only a black eye for the American, but also for the Knights' aspirations of gaining a Big 12 invite. That league already has a Kansas.

NCAA Football Week 3 recap snapshot

Best games:

1. Ole Miss 43, Alabama 37, 2. Memphis 45 Bowling Green 42, 3.Kansas State 39 Louisiana Tech 33 (3OT)

Best players:

1. Fournette, LSU: 19-228 yds 3 TD, 2. Greyson Lambert, Georgia: 36-55 491 yds 6 TDs, 3. Trevone Boykin, TCU: 21-30 454 yds 5 TD, 1 TD rush

Best plays:

1. That Ole Miss TD needs a name. The "Blessing at Bama" is my submission. QB Chad Kelly did a great job fielding the bad snap, made an awful decision in heaving up a pass and got lucky LaQuon Treadwell was able to tip it forward for Quincy Adeboyejo, the most fortunate receiver in college football. The play was historic. 2. TCU's Boykin had a video game-like run vs. SMU. Words don't do it justice, but it featured a pump fake and spin move where he ducked out of a sack and him barreling into the end zone. 3. Notre Dame's CJ Prosise blew up Georgia Tech with numerous huge runs, but his 91-yard TD run to put the Yellow Jackets away qualifies as brilliant.

Best coaching jobs:

1. Sure, there was a fluke involved, but Hugh Freeze but snapping the Tide's 19-game home winning streak earns the top spot easily. 2. The Irish won impressively in spite of a backup QB at the controls and even more carnage as they suffered yet another season-ending injury. Brian Kelly has really kept his strong-minded team together and despite the cosmetic 30-22 final, teamed with DC Brian Van Gorder to lead Notre Dame to a dominant performance against Georgia Tech. 3. Northwestern's Pat Fitzgerald took his Wildcats on the road for the first time, overcame a halftime deficit and won at well-coached at Duke.

Worst coaching jobs:

1. We're piling on Bret Bielema like we're Texas Tech's Kliff Kingsbury. The Texas Tech coach minced no words in crushing the Arkansas' coach, who boasted in the offseason that his Hogs would crush any gimmicky team that wanted to throw the ball 50 times a game. How'd that work out? 2. George O'Leary's UCF Knights lost to Furman at home in falling to 0-3. Yes, starting QB Justin Holman is out with a hand injury, but the loss glaringly displayed a lack of depth at the position, not to mention numerous other spots. He's had his moments and will likely retire to serve as AD, but O'Leary knows his program should be above losing to FCS schools regardless of the circumstances. 3. South Alabama went all the way out to San Diego and defeated Rocky Long's Aztecs, overcoming a 17-10 halftime deficit and winning in OT. The Sun Belt-member Jaguars haven't had a winning season since moving up to the FCS level.

Steam plays:

Sharps were all over 'Bama, so they didn't enjoy the proceedings in Tuscaloosa at all. It was a poor week, especially since they faded Utah at Fresno State, rode UCF and had Michigan and Washington State covering. They were fortunate that the Huskers rallied late to force their loss at Miami to go over the posted total, as predicted. They also won taking points with Georgia State and New Mexico against Pac-12 powers.

Close calls and bad beats: Kansas State and Louisiana Tech had combined for just 19 points late in the third quarter, but wound up getting to OT at 23-all on a 45-yard field goal at the gun, crushing the souls of UNDER 52 players that looked golden for the better part of the afternoon. As if to pile on, the teams went three overtimes and combined for 26 points as the OVER reigned.

Air Force utilized a penalty-aided drive late to break the hearts of UNDER 54 players in their game, producing a 35-21 final. All the big plays that WR Aaron Burbridge made didn't help matters considering he kept the Spartans from having to settle for field goals with TD receptions of 28, 32 and 21 yards. Air Force's DJ Johnson scored from two yards out, completing an 87-yard drive with just 2:11 left.

Wisconsin (-24.5) sputtered for most of its contest against Troy in a game that featured two ejections and a delay caused by an errant fire alarm. The Badgers led just 14-3 at the half but wound up scoring with just 5:07 remaining on a two-play, 39-yard drive to cover the spread.

Key injuries:

Boston College QB Darius Wade (Fractured ankle, OFY), Wake Forest QB John Wolford (Ankle, Out indefinitely), Syracuse QB Eric Dungey (Concussion, Out indefinitely), Notre Dame S Drew Tranquill (ACL, OFY), Michigan State DB Vayante Copeland (Neck, OFY), Boise State QB Ryan Finley (Broken ankle, out 8 weeks).