The Bum's 2016 College Football Best Bets,Trends,Stat, News !!

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Beavers look for statement against Boise
September 23, 2016

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) Buoyed by a victory that snapped a 10-game losing streak, the Oregon State Beavers are looking forward to the test that Boise State presents.

''Basically it's a statement game,'' Beavers safety Devin Chappell said. ''We've just got to play our game and we'll be fine.''

But no one has illusions about the challenge. The Beavers (1-1) are underdogs at home on Saturday, facing a Broncos team that has already defeated Louisiana and Washington State, and is getting votes in the AP Top 25.

Oregon State coach Gay Andersen calls Boise State a team with ''all the bells and whistles.''

''It will be a tremendous challenge for us, just as it always is when you play Boise,'' Andersen said. ''It's like I told our kids in the team meeting, if you're gonna beat Boise, you're gonna have to beat Boise. They're not going to beat themselves, that's for dang sure.''

Oregon State has some reason to be optimistic. The Beavers are coming off a confidence-boosting 37-7 victory at home over Idaho State that ended a losing streak dating to last season. They also challenged Minnesota in the opener, leading 23-17 after three quarters before ultimately falling 30-23 in Minneapolis.

The Beavers are also at home against the Broncos, where they've won all three previous meetings.

But Boise State is rested and coming off a bye after a close home-opening victory over the Pac-12's Cougars, who attempted a Hail Mary in the final moments but fell short 31-28. The Broncos sit at 2-0 at the start of the season for the first time since 2011.

Other things to consider on Saturday when the Beavers host the Broncos:

THE SERIES: It will be Boise State's fourth trip to Reser Stadium. The Broncos have fallen in each of the three previous visits to Corvallis, with the most recent a 30-27 loss in 2005. Overall, the teams have met eight times with the Beavers winning the last one 38-23 in the 2013 Hawaii Bowl.

The Broncos have won their last three games against Pac-12 opponents, including the victory at home over Washington State on Sept. 10.

TURNOVERS KEY?: Boise State sophomore quarterback Brett Rypien threw for 299 yards and a touchdown against the Cougars, but he also threw three interceptions. Senior cornerback Treston Decoud had his first two interceptions of his career at Oregon State in last weekend's victory over Idaho State, including one that he ran back 75 yards for a touchdown. It was the second-longest pick six in school history. He also had a pair of tackles and two pass breakups to earn Pac-12 defensive player of the week honors.

YES, THEY'RE RELATED: Brett Rypien is former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien's nephew.

INJURY LIST: Oregon State won't have starting H-back Noah Togiai and reserve safety Landry Payne because of knee injuries. Inside linebacker Manase Hungalu has a shoulder injury and his status isn't known.

On Boise State's side, tight end Jake Roh and linebacker Joe Martarano should both return from knee injuries.

''Right now, our injury list looks a lot better than it was, those guys were running around last week, the bye week,'' Broncos coach Bryan Harsin said. ''They'll be running around this week. Expect to be at full strength. We have nobody right now that's got an injury that's going to keep them out of the season.''

SURPRISE MOVE: Oregon State on Thursday lost athletic director Todd Stansbury to the job at his alma mater, Georgia Tech. Stansbury's move comes just 13 months after he assumed the AD post in Corvallis, replacing Bob De Carolis. The search for Stansbury's replacement has already begun.

That means that Andersen will have his third boss in just two seasons at Oregon State.

''It's a busy time of the year, obviously, but it's an unbelievably important hire for everybody - for every student-athlete here and for every coach and for Beaver Nation - to be able to get the right guy here,'' Andersen said.

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Washington gets first true test at Arizona
September 23, 2016

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) Washington has been dominant to open the season, picking teams apart with its passing game, shutting down opposing offenses with its cache of talented defensive players.

The competition level is about to ratchet up a few ticks.

After beating up on Rutgers, Idaho and Portland State, the ninth-ranked Huskies face their first true test of the season on Saturday night, when they head to the desert to play Arizona and its snap-before-they're-ready offense.

''We'll see if we're ready. That's easier said than done,'' Washington coach Chris Petersen said. ''It certainly feels better and different when in the fourth quarter you have a comfortable lead, as opposed to fighting and clawing all the way down. That does change things. That we haven't experienced.''

It has been relatively easy so far.

The Huskies (3-0) won their first three games by a combined score of 148-30 and its first-team defense has yet to allow a touchdown. Quarterback Jake Browning leads the nation in passing efficiency at 206.9, throwing for 12 touchdowns with one interception.

Continuing that type of success should be a little tougher in Tucson.

Arizona (2-1) had some early-season struggles on both sides of the ball, but seems to be getting the kinks worked out after rolling over Hawaii last week.

The Wildcats also have a knack for playing well against the best teams; they've knocked off a top-10 team each of the previous four seasons and are looking forward to this challenge.

''You come to this level to play in those games. You want to be one of those top-ranked teams,'' Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez said. ''When you play them, there should be a little extra juice because of the attention it will get and because of the challenge you are facing. If our guys want to prove that they can play at the highest level, they are going to get a chance.''

A few more things to look for when Washington faces Arizona on Saturday night.

ARIZONA'S QB: Sophomore Brandon Dawkins has played well in two games since Anu Solomon injured his knee in practice and will likely start again on Saturday. Solomon was limited in practice this week and is listed as questionable on Arizona's injury report. But Dawkins may have started anyway. The dual-threat QB has thrown for 458 yards and a pair of touchdowns, adding 215 yards and five more scores on the ground. The Huskies prepared as if Dawkins would be the starter.

HUSKY D: Facing Washington's defense can be an intimidating task. Rodriguez estimates the Huskies have up to seven potential NFL players on their defense, including safety Budda Baker, linebacker Joe Mathis and Sidney Jones. The Wildcats like to play fast and may need to ramp it up even more with these Huskies chasing them.

''They're probably as big and explosive as any team in the country,'' Rodriguez said.

TAYLOR'S TURN: Arizona became thin at running back after running back Orlando Bradford was dismissed from the team following his arrest on domestic violence charges. The Wildcats took another hit against Hawaii last week, when primary back Nick Wilson was injured in the first half. In stepped J.J. Taylor. The small but ultra-quick freshman ran his way through Hawaii's defense last week, racking up 168 yards on 18 carries, including one 61-yard touchdown dash down the sideline. Wilson is listed as questionable on the injury report and Arizona moved slot receiver Tyrell Johnson to running back to add depth.

FAMILIAR FOE: The Huskies will see a familiar face across the field Saturday night. New Arizona defensive coordinator Marcel Yates spent more than a decade at Boise State working under Petersen before Petersen left for Washington. With Yates at the helm last season, Boise State held Washington to 179 total yards in a 16-13 win in Idaho.

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Arkansas aims to end heartbreak vs. A&M
September 23, 2016

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) Say this about Arkansas and Texas A&M: The two schools have provided plenty of entertainment value since returning to AT&T Stadium two years ago.

Well, for the Aggies and their fans, at least.

The No. 17 Razorbacks (3-0) would like nothing more than to enjoy their own celebration at the giant home of the Dallas Cowboys when the two SEC foes meet on Saturday night. They'd also like to end their skid of four straight losses to No. 10 Texas A&M (3-0, 1-0 Southeastern Conference), the last two of which have come in overtime fashion.

''It wasn't a happy plane ride home for us the last two years,'' Arkansas quarterback Austin Allen said. ''We need to get a happy plane ride home this year.''

While the Razorbacks are focused on ending their recent woes against their former Southwest Conference rival, both schools hope to turn into SEC party crashers this weekend.

At the very least, a victory would give both a strong case as the early season second-best-in-the-West behind No. 1 Alabama.

The Aggies already own quality wins over both UCLA and Auburn this season, while Arkansas has won nine of its last 10 games - including 10 of 12 since last season's loss to Texas A&M. It was the second straight year the Razorbacks led in the second half before falling to the Aggies in overtime.

''We've lost it, but they've earned it,'' coach Bret Bielema said. ''One thing I've always said is, `You earn everything,' and we just haven't been at the point to close this baby out.''

Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin could do without the in-game suspense this time around.

''Do we want it to be as exciting as it has been?'' Sumlin said. ''Probably not, unless we win and then it can be as exciting as it wants to be.''

Some things to watch as Texas A&M tries to win its fifth straight against the Razorbacks:

KIRK'S REPEAT?

Texas A&M receiver Christian Kirk had eight catches for a career-high 173 yards receiving and two touchdowns against Arkansas last season. Kirk knows it's hard to predict if he'll have another big game against the Razorbacks, especially with an offense full of so many weapons.

''We're clicking as a whole right now as an offense, and anybody at any moment can have a breakout game,'' he said.

HISTORY STREAK

Arkansas holds the longest winning streak in the series between the schools that dates to 1903. The Razorbacks won nine straight games against the Aggies from 1958-66, while Texas A&M's current streak against Arkansas is its longest since six straight from 1938-43.

AWESOME ALLEN

In his first year as the starter, Allen leads all SEC quarterbacks in passer rating (160.9) after three weeks. The Razorbacks junior threw for three touchdowns and ran for another in a win at TCU two weeks ago, and he's completing 67.1 percent (53 of 79) of his passes this season.

GRABBING GARRETT

Aggies DE Myles Garrett is arguably the nation's best pass rusher, and if he leaves school early he's likely to be a top-10 pick in next year's draft. When you have credentials like that, it's sure to garner a little extra attention from the opposing team. Sometimes it seems to the Aggies that those going against him might get away with a little holding on Garrett.

''We've sent our concerns in to the proper authorities, I'll put it that way,'' Sumlin said.

WILLIAMS WORKLOAD

Arkansas running back Rawleigh Williams is third in the SEC in rushing with 354 yards after three games, and he's tied with Georgia's Nick Chubb for the most carries (71). The sophomore has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the last two weeks.

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UCLA hopes to end long skid vs Stanford
September 23, 2016

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) UCLA has lost eight consecutive matchups with No. 7 Stanford, and every Bruin knows it.

Some UCLA players attempt to portray Saturday night's game as just another evening at the Rose Bowl. Coach Jim Mora ascribes no special importance to the streak that annoys his fans more than perhaps anything else about his largely successful program.

Running back Nate Starks is perhaps a bit more honest about the pressure bearing down on the Bruins (2-1).

''Every time this week comes up, everybody is on edge,'' Starks said. ''Coaches on edge. Players on edge. Everybody wants to get this done. ... We haven't beat them. I haven't beat them since I've been here. I know Coach Mora hasn't. We want to show that we can play with guys like that. We're always the underdog in this game. We want to show we can play and beat these guys.''

The Bruins really could use a breakthrough victory to establish themselves as a serious contender for the Pac-12 title in their conference opener. No opponent would be better to beat than the powerhouse Cardinal (2-0, 1-0 Pac-12), who have their longest winning streak in a rivalry series that has happened every year since the 1920s, except during World War II.

''We'll always want to be kings of Cali, especially since we have a lot of guys from different parts of California,'' Stanford star Christian McCaffrey said.

McCaffrey was spectacular against the Bruins last season, racking up a school-record 243 yards rushing and 369 all-purpose yards in Stanford's 56-35 victory. The Bruins' defensive line is bigger and tougher this season with Eddie Vanderdoes and Eli Ankou up front, but only part of McCaffrey's game involves going between the tackles.

UCLA has focused its game-planning on the versatile back, even while recognizing the relative futility of the endeavor.

''He can't be all of our focus, but he has to be our main focus,'' Mora said. ''In my opinion, it's not even arguable that he's the top player in college football. I think that he was last year, and I think this year he has been as well.''

Here are more things to know about the schools' 88th meeting:

SLOWING ROSEN: Stanford's defense has its own daunting chore in stopping UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen, who could use a breakout performance against an elite opponent to cement his rise to the top ranks of his position. Rosen feels he has been inconsistent this year, throwing four interceptions along with his four touchdown passes, but he has completed 60.5 percent of his passes for 917 yards in three games. Stanford coach David Shaw relishes the defense's challenge. ''You can't trust the quarterback's eyes,'' Shaw said. ''He can look one way, and then shift and throw the other way. You have to be conscious of your zone and who is in your zone. He can throw late and deep. You can never relax when you're playing defense against a quarterback like him.''

PASSING TIME: Stanford has thrown just 33 total passes in its two games this season, less than Rosen threw in each of the Bruins' first three games. The Cardinal are being cautious with new quarterback Ryan Burns, who threw for two TDs in those brief opportunities. UCLA will attempt to get pressure on the new starter - when it can keep the ball out of McCaffrey's hands.

CHANGING THE GAME: UCLA moved to a pro-style offense under new coordinator Kennedy Polamalu during the past offseason, emphasizing the running game and overall tough-nosed football. The change was inspired in part by Stanford's traditional approach to the game, with the Bruins hoping to match it. UCLA has produced more than 350 yards of offense in each of its first three games this season, yet labored to finish off victories over UNLV and BYU. UCLA still racked up 506 yards of offense against Stanford last season in its loss.

WELCOME HOME: Stanford is making its seventh trip to the Rose Bowl in six years, thanks to its string of Pac-12 titles. The Cardinal played in the venerated arena's New Year's Day bowl game in three of the past four seasons, winning twice - including last January's demolition of Iowa.

RANKING POINTS: UCLA has won an impressive seven of its last eight games against ranked opponents. That loss, of course, was against Stanford last season.

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Louisville 'business as usual' vs Marshall
September 23, 2016

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) No. 3 Louisville rocketed into the top 10 after pounding No. 13 Florida State and has a much-anticipated clash at No. 5 Clemson next week. Lamar Jackson is piling up more offense by himself than most FBS teams.

The Cardinals (3-0) are the talk of college football and they don't want it to continue for the wrong reason if they can't keep the domination going Saturday night at Marshall (1-1).

''Everything is just business as usual,'' said Louisville coach Bobby Petrino. ''We don't have that many games left, particularly our senior class. So we've got to go out and take advantage of every time we get to go out on the field and play.''

Thanks to a point-a-minute offense led by Heisman Trophy candidate Jackson, Louisville has matched its highest ranking in school history. Now they'll head east on Interstate 64 to play an underdog Marshall team that stumbled badly a week ago.

Jackson has 608 passing yards, 464 rushing and has thrown or run for 18 touchdowns. His performances have been eye-opening but he's not an overnight star. He had a breakout game in the Music City Bowl in December against Texas A&M when he both threw and ran for more than 200 yards. Johnny Manziel and Vince Young were the only other quarterbacks to do that in a bowl game.

''I've just really enjoyed how much he's improved, how hard he pushes himself, and how much he's grown as a leader for our football team,'' Petrino said.

Jackson said after last week's 63-20 win over Florida State that he tries to stay humble and not give in to the attention. He has yet to give his individual performances a perfect grade.

''We've got to score every drive,'' Jackson said. ''That's my goal. We haven't done it yet.''

Jackson's 459 yards of total offense per game are more than 87 other FBS teams. He'll get plenty of opportunities to thrive against a Marshall secondary whose most experienced player has just five career starts.

''I'm not sure I've seen a quarterback like Jackson that takes over a game like he does,'' said Marshall coach Doc Holliday. ''That's going to be a great challenge for us. Florida State's got guys that can run, and he's runs away from them.''

Marshall gave up 65 points and 524 yards last week to an Akron team that was a double-digit underdog.

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Some other things to know about the matchup between schools 190 miles apart:

WEST VIRGINIA TIES: Louisville co-offensive coordinator Lonnie Galloway had two stints as wide receivers coach at West Virginia. During Galloway's first stint from 2008-10, current Marshall coach Doc Holliday was West Virginia's recruiting coordinator and associate head coach before leaving for Huntington in December 2009. Galloway was hired at Louisville just before the start of spring practice this year.

NOT JUST JACKSON: Louisville's Brandon Radcliff is getting yards in chunks after a slow start in the season opener. Radcliff ran for 118 yards against Florida State and 156 yards against Syracuse, averaging more than 11 yards per carry over that stretch.

YELLOW HANKIE ALERT: Marshall was penalized 17 times for 180 yards against Akron and has 250 penalty yards through two games.

TALE OF TURNOVERS: Marshall scored two touchdowns on fumble returns in its opener against FCS Morgan State. Last week against Marshall , Akron returned a blocked punt, a fumble and an interception for scores.

SOLID IN SACKS: Louisville has 13 sacks spread out among eight players. James Hearns leads the way with 3.5. Devonte Fields, Jonathan Greenard and Josh Harvey-Clemons have two apiece.

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No. 14 Vols try to end 11-year skid against No. 19 Gators
September 23, 2016

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Tennessee doesn't believe Florida holds any sort of mental edge whenever these two teams stage their annual matchup.

Recent history suggests otherwise.

No. 19 Florida (3-0, 1-0 SEC) has beaten No. 14 Tennessee (3-0, 0-0) each of the last 11 years. Three times in the last four years, Tennessee was favored in the days leading up to the game but still found a way to lose. Tennessee is favored again in Saturday's meeting at Neyland Stadium, though the spread has dropped from 10 points to 6 +.

''We've got a bunch of confident guys on our team,'' Tennessee defensive tackle Kendal Vickers said. ''I don't think there's any mental edge anywhere.''

Each of the last two seasons, Florida has come from behind in the fourth quarter to beat Tennessee by a single point. The Gators won 10-9 in 2014 and 28-27 last year .

To end the streak, Tennessee must find a way to move the ball against a Florida team that leads the nation in total defense and scoring defense.

Gators cornerback Quincy Wilson boldly predicted a Florida victory by saying that ''nobody has ever seen a duck pull a truck. Florida Gators are going to win, simple as that.''

''It's just something that we have instilled in us here at Florida that we just don't lose to Tennessee,'' Florida running back Jordan Scarlett said.

Tennessee has reason to believe it could end the streak this year.

Florida must turn to backup quarterback Austin Appleby for Saturday's game after usual starter Luke Del Rio injured his left kn ee last week in a 32-0 victory over North Texas. Tennessee has its own injury issues with cornerback Cam Sutton and linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr. sidelined by ankle injuries.

Tennessee has won nine straight games over the last two years. Tennessee coach Butch Jones believes his team gained strength in coming from behind to beat Appalachian State and Virginia Tech and by withstanding injuries to defeat Ohio .

''Our team is very confident,'' Tennessee coach Butch Jones said. ''You don't win nine games in a row by not having confidence. We've suffered some adversity. A lot of the adversity, some of it we created for ourselves. But I think that's healthy because our football team could have quit under some adverse situations, and they've never blinked.''

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Some things to watch when Tennessee hosts Florida.

WELCOME BACK: Florida should have its leading receiver back for this game, as Antonio Callaway has returned to practice after missing the North Texas game with a deep thigh bruise. Tennessee offensive tackle Chance Hall likely will make his first appearance of the season Saturday after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery last month.

FLORIDA PASS RUSH: Florida has 16 sacks to lead all Football Bowl Subdivision teams. Five different Gators have recorded at least two sacks each. Tennessee gave up three sacks against Ohio last week and has struggled to come up with the right combination of five linemen to have on the field.

CONTAINING DOBBS: Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs only threw for 87 yards against Florida last season, but he also rushed for 136 yards and had a 58-yard touchdown catch. ''We know how much of a threat he is and how much he can hurt you if you allow him to,'' Florida linebacker Jarrad Davis said. ''Last year he put a hurting on us pretty bad.''

ANOTHER BACKUP QB: Appleby, a graduate transfer from Purdue, will try to continue a recent tradition in this rivalry. Two of the last three years, a backup quarterback has helped Florida beat Tennessee. Tyler Murphy replaced an injured Jeff Driskel and led Florida to a 31-17 triumph in 2013 . Treon Harris took over for an ineffective Driskel and rallied the Gators in 2014.

FAMILY CONNECTIONS: Tennessee defensive coordinator Bob Shoop is the brother of John Shoop, who worked with Appleby as Purdue's offensive coordinator in 2013-15. Shoop acknowledged he had spoken to his brother this week and heard the former Purdue assistant's impressions of the 6-foot-4 Appleby. ''My brother gave him a tremendous compliment, he compared (Appleby) to Ben Roethlisberger in the pocket,'' Shoop said. ''He said (Appleby's) a big, strong kid. We're very well aware of that. You get him in the pocket, he's got people hanging on his body and can throw the ball.''

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No. 1 Alabama's 'machine' faces Saban alma mater Kent State
September 23, 2016

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) Kent State coach Paul Haynes has been on the other side of these powerhouse-versus-underdog games.

The former Ohio State assistant is bringing his team in to face No. 1 Alabama on Saturday as the David in this battle with a college football Goliath. He isn't banking on catching Nick Saban's team unprepared even for a game against a six-touchdown underdog while coming off an emotional win over No. 23 Mississippi.

''As a coach you worry about these as far as preparation,'' Haynes said. ''I think that's what (Saban) has mastered. I think that's what he does the best of anyone in the country, that it doesn't matter who they play, they're never out of the game and they always prepare a certain way. They don't have choices. He doesn't give them a lot of choices. This is the way they do it, and that's why the machine keeps rolling the way it is.''

This game with Kent State (1-2) might be viewed as a respite for the Crimson Tide (3-0) after that 48-43 win over the Rebels, but it's got a special element for Saban. He's a 1973 Kent State graduate who played on the Golden Flashes' only conference champion as a senior.

Tide players insist they're not relaxing for this game, and not just because it's the head coach's alma mater.

''There are no down shifts,'' Tide linebacker Ryan Anderson said. ''We're going to practice this week like we're preparing for the national championship. That's the only way we're going to get better as a team. You can't down shift and then pick it back up. You just can't do it.''

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Some other things to know about this game:

WAXING NOSTALGIC: Saban said it's been awhile since he's been able to visit Kent State, but he speaks fondly of his time there, especially that championship season. Coach Don James talked a reluctant Saban into working as a graduate assistant, starting a coaching career that's led to five national championships so far. At the time, he wasn't sure he wanted to coach or go to graduate school. ''There's a lot of things that impacted my life in a very positive way because of the people and the relationships that were developed there,'' Saban said.

INJURED RECEIVERS: Alabama receivers ArDarius Stewart and Robert Foster are both questionable for the game with knee injuries. Stewart, who was hurt in the Ole Miss game, is one of the SEC's top receivers with 13 catches for 205 yards and three touchdowns. Foster, a former starter, was injured in practice Tuesday.

SABAN VISIT: Saban took some time out to chat with a fellow Kent State alum when Haynes visited one spring five or six years ago, even delaying a staff meeting to continue the talk. Then at Ohio State, Haynes was visiting the Tide's then-director of football operations Todd Alles when Saban walked in and said he had some time to talk. ''So we went in his office and probably met for about an hour one on one and just talked DB stuff and defensive philosophy-type stuff,'' Haynes said. ''They had a staff meeting so coaches started coming in and he kind of held off the staff meeting and everybody was kind of looking at me like, `Who is this dude?'''

TOP DEFENDERS: Alabama's not the only team with star defenders. Kent State safety Nate Holley's 15.7 tackles per game ranks second nationally and he's tops in solo tackles averaging nine a game. Defensive end Terence Waugh's five sacks are tied for second in the nation.

YOUNG QBS: Tide freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts is expected to start for the third straight game, though Saban hasn't made any kind of announcement on the topic. Kent State starts a redshirt freshman QB in Mylik Mitchell. Both have thrown only one interception so far.

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Tar Heels host Panthers in key ACC tilt
September 23, 2016

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) North Carolina improved enough defensively last season to edge Pittsburgh on the way to winning an Atlantic Coast Conference division championship.

Roughly a year later, it's unclear if the Tar Heels are capable of doing it again.

The teams that finished 1-2 atop the Coastal Division meet in their league openers Saturday, with the Tar Heels facing the familiar challenge of trying to hold up physically against the Panthers' pounding ground game. But unlike last year - when the Tar Heels' defense went from awful to adequate - that unit doesn't enter the game with many positives.

They're coming off a performance coordinator Gene Chizik described as ''soft.''

''Soft defense is a choice, and that's the choice we made,'' Chizik said. ''We've got to improve this week or this game could get ugly.''

UNC (2-1) ranks 106th nationally against the run (226.7) and allows 28 points per game. That includes last weekend's 56-28 win against James Madison in which the Championship Subdivision team scored touchdowns on its first three drives, while both Chizik and head coach Larry Fedora later noted they didn't remember the Tar Heels making a good defensive play until the second quarter.

Pitt (2-1) is ranked 21st nationally in rushing (239 yards per game), with tailback James Conner cracking the 100-yard mark in each of the past two games. Two years ago, Pitt ran for 305 yards at UNC - Conner had 220 yards and four touchdowns - but the Tar Heels held Pitt to 153 in last year's 26-19 road win while Conner was out recovering from a knee injury and being treated for lymphoma.

Pitt has its own defensive concerns after allowing 640 yards in a loss at Oklahoma State.

''After a loss last week, I think we respond well to adversity,'' Panthers defensive end Ejuan Price said, ''and we're not thinking so much about redemption but about getting on the track.''

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Some other things to know about Saturday's Pittsburgh-North Carolina matchup:

TRUBISKY'S ROLL: UNC quarterback Mitch Trubisky enters with momentum. He completed 24 of 27 passes for a career-high 432 yards last week. That included setting a single-game program record by completing his last 18 passes. He enters this one with a program-record 156 throws without an interception. And he's coming off a game when he finally connected on the deep ball.

PITT'S PASS DEFENSE: The Panthers were especially vulnerable to the pass last week, surrendering 541 yards through the air - including a national-best 296 yards receiving by James Washington. So how will Pitt handle UNC's attack if Trubisky is connecting with deep threat Mack Hollins or receiver Ryan Switzer? ''Fundamentally you have to play with good technique,'' Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. ''That's what we try to play at every position on the field. You better play good technique when you're playing against great wide receivers.''

PETERMAN PROGRESSING: Narduzzi is quick to defend quarterback Nate Peterman, who passed for a season-high 237 yards against Oklahoma State with a touchdown and an interception while completing less than 50 percent of his passes (14 of 29). Narduzzi said Peterman has played ''above average the last two weeks,'' adding: ''If he continues to do that, we will be fine.''

DEFENSIVE HEALTH: UNC has been shorthanded on the defensive line, but could be close to full strength. Two-year starter Dajaun Drennon practiced fully this week after missing the first three games with an undisclosed injury and could play, while junior tackle Naz Jones is listed atop the depth chart after missing last week with an apparent concussion.

FRIENDLY RIVALS: Conner and Switzer have struck up a friendship over the years, with Switzer even paying tribute to Conner last fall after the 2014 ACC player was diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma by writing #ConnerStrong on his cleats before the 2015 ACC title game.

That friendship takes a breather as Conner and the Panthers try to snap a three-game series skid. ''He's one of my better friends,'' Conner said of Switzer, ''but I know he wants to take some kicks back on us.''

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Duke, Notre Dame looking for answers
September 23, 2016

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) Duke and Notre Dame are looking to stop being consistently inconsistent.

The Fighting Irish and Blue Devils are off to 1-2 starts. The Irish fell behind by double digits in losses to Texas and Michigan State and rallied in both games but couldn't pull out victories. Coach Brian Kelly blames a lack of urgency for Notre Dame's uneven play.

''We do some really good things, and then we do some really sloppy things. To be the kind of football team we want to be, we have to eliminate that,'' he said.

Duke coach David Cutcliffe is looking for more consistency offensively and cutting down on turnovers with 10 so far, second most among FBS schools.

''If we can accomplish those two things, we have a chance of having a really good offensive football team,'' he said.

Quarterback Daniel Jones said the Blue Devils need to execute better.

''It doesn't really matter who the opponent is or kind of what they're doing. It's about us executing every single play and raising our level of consistency,'' he said.

Defensively, the Blue Devils gave up seven passes that produced 245 yards in a 24-13 loss to Northwestern last week. Cutcliffe said those few plays have overshadowed better defensive play.

''We're playing better defense and people that don't know us might look at me like I have three heads,'' he said.

Other things to watch for when Duke plays at Notre Dame:

KICKS OFF

Duke's kickers are struggling. AJ Reed has missed all three field goals he's tried and also has missed a point-after attempt. Punter Austin Parker has twice fumbled snaps, including one against Northwestern with the score tied 7-7 and he was tackled on the 44-yard line. Northwestern scored on the next play. Cutcliffe said he's trying not to make an issue of either.

''As soon as you make it a huge issue, then you have people trembling,'' he said.

THIRTY SOMETHING

The 36 points scored by Michigan State last week were the fewest allowed by the Irish against Power Five conference opponents in four games dating back to last season. Overall, the Irish have given up 30 or more points in six of its past eight games against Power Five teams.

WELCOME BACK

Cutcliffe worked briefly at Notre Dame during Charlie Weis' first season in 2005, but resigned about five months later because he hadn't fully recovered from triple bypass surgery. Cutcliffe said he was involved mainly in recruiting. He was asked this week about how fervent the Irish fan base is. He told reporters it might be a better question for athletic director Kevin White, who was athletic director at Notre Dame from 2000-08.

''I have one response: Not a chance,'' White said.

Cutcliffe said he has great respect for Notre Dame and said the pressure to perform at any traditional football power is intense. He said fans expect teams to be ''near perfect.''

''The pace Alabama's been on over the last few years has put the onus on all (the) elite 10-15 teams,'' he said.

SACK DISCREPANCY

Duke is tied for third in the nation with 14 sacks while the Irish are tied for last with none. DeVon Edwards, a 5-foot-9, 180-pound safety, has three of Duke's sacks. Cutcliffe describes Edwards as ''unbelievably strong.''

''So when he does get his hands on the quarterback, they're going down,'' he said.

CLEARED TO PLAY

Kelly said the school has held disciplinary hearings for four players who were arrested in August on misdemeanor charges of marijuana possession along with safety Max Redfield, who was dismissed from the team. He said starting linebacker Te'von Coney and three reserves - running back Dexter Williams, wide receiver Kevin Stepherson and cornerback Ashton White - all remain eligible to play.

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Ohio State says circus catch 'no big deal'
September 23, 2016

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Noah Brown's circus TD catch against Oklahoma last Saturday was replayed over and over and retweeted for days, but his Ohio State teammates weren't as impressed as everyone else. They've seen it all before.

Brown, a wide receiver who'd caught one pass at Ohio State prior to this season, had four touchdown receptions in the Buckeyes' 45-24 victory over the Sooners. But the one everyone is still talking about happened at the end of the first half when Brown grabbed a J.T. Barrett pass and hugged the ball against the back of defensive back Michiah Quick as they fell out of bounds.

A great catch? Sure, said Barrett, but not a huge deal. The quarterback has been raving about Brown's suction-cup hands for months already.

''I guess that's the funny thing, we see him practice so it's almost like it's no big deal,'' Barrett said. ''And then it happens in a game, when everybody else sees it in the country and it's blown up like that, I guess we forget that not everybody has seen that.''

Brown, a 6-foot-2 New Jersey native, saw limited playing time as a freshman in the 2014 national championship season and was expected to play a huge role last year before breaking a leg during fall training camp. This year, he's second on the team with nine catches for 134 yards, and he leads the way with five touchdowns.

But the catch with Quick draped all over him in a nationally televised Saturday night game suddenly put him on college football's radar.

''Any time J.T. puts the ball in the air he's putting trust in me, and I try to come down with the ball for him,'' Brown said. ''I have to have my quarterback's back. It felt good to make that play and put some points on the board for us.''

Like Barrett, coach Urban Meyer said he already knew what Brown could do. And he also knows that Brown is still recovering from the broken leg that sidelined him all of last season.

''He's still not at the top end of speed,'' Meyer said. ''He still not quite 100 percent, which shows you just how good he can become. We all know he has the ability, but I'd say the quality of competition he did it against is always a little shocking when you have that kind of night.''

WORKING ON THE LITTLE THINGS

Ohio State players said they are using the off week to work on their mistakes and try to improve before embarking on the grueling nine-game Big Ten schedule beginning Oct. 1. Ohio State is No. 2 in the AP Top 25 Poll .

Barrett said he's working on communicating better with receivers who had trouble getting lined up in time at various points during the Oklahoma game, leading to forced time outs and a delay-of-game penalty. Also he's striving to get the ball out of his hands quicker and trust his playmakers.

''Everybody is looking for ways to get better,'' said H-back Curtis Samuel, who leads the team in receiving yards and is second in rushing behind tailback Mike Weber. ''Nobody is satisfied with where they're at. Everybody is just looking to push each other and get each other to that point where they can really explode and really show their talents.''

HUG A BIG GUY

Barrett said he didn't even want to think about what would happen if an Ohio State player dropped the ball right before crossing the goal line. There has been an epidemic the last couple of weekends of players nonchalantly letting go of the ball a stride before crossing the plane.

''I can only imagine what that day would be like for that man, the rest of the year, from coach Meyer,'' Barrett said with a grin. ''I couldn't tell you how awful that might be.''

Replays showed Oklahoma's Joe Mixon dropping the ball early on a 97-yard kick return, but the officials didn't catch it. The gaffe has already cost Clemson and California touchdowns this season.

The Buckeyes even have a rule about it.

''We always make sure we keep the ball high and tight,'' Samuel said. ''That's coach Meyer, keep the ball high and tight. After you score, give the ball to the official and go hug a big guy. That's what we do.''

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Saturday's NCAAF Top 25 betting cheat sheet and odds: Week 4

Stanford hit the betting board as 3-point road favorites for its game Saturday night vs UCLA and the line has not budged all week.

We're on to Week 4 of the college football season and the full slate of games can be tough to navigate for bettors. So we bring you our Top 25 betting cheat sheet to handicap the best games of the day.

Kent State Golden Flashes at No. 1 Alabama Crimson Tide (-44, 50)

* The Golden Flashes are allowing 320 yards per game and have two highly productive defensive players in senior safety Nate Holley and senior defensive end Terence Waugh. Holley (47 tackles) ranks second in the nation with 15.7 stops per contest while Waugh has eight tackles for loss and ranks second in the nation with five sacks. Redshirt freshman quarterback Mylik Mitchell has passed for 353 yards and five touchdowns against one interception while freshman Justin Rankin leads the squad with 178 rushing yards.

* Freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts proved he was ready for the big stage with 304 yards of total offense (158 passing, 146 rushing) while rallying the Crimson Tide from a 21-point deficit versus Ole Miss. Hurts has thrown four touchdown passes against one interception while receiving offensive support from sophomore running back Damien Harris (327 yards) and sophomore receiver Calvin Ridley (19 catches for 219 yards). Senior defensive end Jonathan Allen has a team-best three sacks (and 21 for his career) and returned an interception 75 yards for a touchdown against Ole Miss, while senior safety Eddie Jackson (nine career interceptions) and senior linebacker Reuben Foster (team-high 22 tackles) are also playing superbly.

LINE HISTORY: Alabama opened this one as big home favorites at -43 and they have been bet even higher - currently sitting at -44. The total opened at 52 and has come down a couple of points throughout the week to its current number of 50. View complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Golden Flashes are 1-6 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Crimson Tide are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.
* Under is 8-1-1 in Golden Flashes last 10 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
* Under is 4-1 in Crimson Tide last 5 games following a ATS loss.

No. 11 Georgia Bulldogs at No. 21 Mississippi Rebels (-7, 62)

* The Bulldogs were torched for 376 passing yards last week and face another high-powered passing offense this week, but jump-starting a struggling running game is just as important heading into Saturday. Nick Chubb ranks 13th nationally at 121.7 yards per game but only rushed for 63 yards against Missouri. Eason completed 29-of-55 passes and fired three touchdowns, the most attempts by a Georgia quarterback in 16 years, and receiver Isaiah McKenzie – who caught the game winner – leads the Bulldogs with 18 catches for 305 yards and four scores.

* Quarterback Chip Kelly has plenty of targets, as seven players have caught a touchdown pass through three games and Engram leads the team with 20 receptions and 302 receiving yards. While Kelly has averaged 318 passing yards per contest and threw for a career-high 421 last week, he also has six turnovers. Junior defensive end Marquis Haynes recorded his 19th career sack against Alabama, but the Rebels are 104th nationally in third-down defense and have surrendered 72 first downs in three games.

LINE HISTORY: The line for this one opened with Ole Miss as 7.5-point favorites. The line came down a little bit throughout the week, hitting its lowest number of -6.5 on Thursday morning. However, by Thursday evening the line returned to the key number of -7. The total hit the board at 60.5 and steadily increased until settling at the current number of 62. View complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Bulldogs are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games.
* Rebels are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing more than 40 points in their previous game.
* Under is 9-1 in Bulldogs last 10 games overall.
* Under is 7-0 in Rebels last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.

No. 25 Iowa Hawkeyes at Rutgers Scarlet Knights (+13.5, 56.5)

* Beathard (seven TD passes, one interception) struggled with a shoulder injury last week after getting hit hard several times, but is expected to healthy enough to try and improve on his 15-3 record as a starter. Running backs LeShun Daniels Jr. and New Jersey native Akrum Wadley, who have both scored three times on the ground, hope to rebound after a rough week and receiver Matt VandeBerg (15 catches, 267 yards, three TDs) looks to continue a strong start. Coach Kirk Ferentz told reporters the defense must improve after surrendering 239 rushing yards last week.

* Laviano has thrown for four touchdowns and been intercepted just once in the last two games and has produced 457 yards through the air overall. Grant is averaging 9.5 yards per carry with three scores and junior running back Robert Martin boasts a team-high 252 yards rushing – 169 in the 37-28 win over New Mexico last week. Grant also has 15 receptions to lead the team while sophomore Jawuan Harris is making an impact with 140 yards on five catches and two touchdowns for an offense that totaled 89 points the last two games.

LINE HISTORY: The Iowa Hawkeyes opened the betting week as 14-point road dogs. As the week went on their number dropped - getting as low as 12.5 at one point - but eventually came back up to settle at 13.5. The total opened at 55.5 and came up a full point to the current number of 56.5. View complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Hawkeyes are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 road games.
* Scarlet Knights are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 conference games.
* Over is 6-1 in Hawkeyes last 7 games after accumulating less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
* Over is 8-2 in Scarlet Knights last 10 games after allowing more than 450 total yards in their previous game.

No. 1 Wisconsin Badgers at No. 8 Michigan State Spartans (-4, 42)

* Wisconsin is unbeaten and averaging more than 30 points, but the Badgers are still very concerned about their play in the red zone this season. Chryst’s squad is 91st in the nation in touchdowns scored per red-zone trip at 53.3 percent (8-for-15), so the head coach was understandably perturbed when asked about it in the week before the matchup with the Spartans. Last year, the team scored a touchdown on 64.8 percent of its trips into the red zone, a percentage the Badgers will need to get much closer to if they hope to contend in the Big Ten West.

* A big question for Michigan State entering the season was the play at quarterback, with Tyler O’Connor taking the reins of the defending league champion’s offense. But two games in, and O’Connor has shown poise, even on the road in front of a raucous crowd in South Bend, Ind., and his numbers have been solid (431 yards, five TDs, two interceptions). With the Spartans’ running game getting in gear and O’Connor having targets like R.J. Shelton and emerging freshman Donnie Corley to throw to, the quarterback could end up being one of coach Mark Dantonio’s smallest worries going forward.

LINE HISTORY: Michigan State opened the betting week as 6-point favorites for their big matchup with Wisconsin. The betting public has been pushing the Badgers and by Friday afternoon has taken the line all of the way down to -4. The total opened at 43.5 and has dropped down to 42. View complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Badgers are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Spartans are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games in September.
* Under is 5-1 in Badgers last 6 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Over is 9-2 in the last 11 meetings.

No. 14 Florida State Seminoles at South Florida Bulls (+5, 61)

* Junior running back Dalvin Cook came into the season as a Heisman Trophy candidate, but has not been as dominant as expected with 228 yards rushing in three games. Freshman quarterback Deondre Francois has thrown for 782 yards and six scores in the early going and has solid veteran receiving threats in Travis Rudolph (15 catches, 219 yards, three TDs) and Jesus “Bobo” Wilson (14, 186). The underachieving defense is without one of its top performers as safety Derwin James is lost for five to seven weeks after knee surgery.

* The Bulls showed character last week by digging out of an early 17-0 hole with a big day from Adams, who ran for two scores and caught a touchdown pass. Flowers has been outstanding the last two weeks while completing 33-for-57 passes for five TDs and no interceptions, and has run for 150 yards in three games. Mack returned last week after missing a game with concussion symptoms to rush for 115 yards with a pair of touchdowns, and leads a ground attack averaging 247 yards (5.9 per attempt) with 10 total TDs from four different players.

LINE HISTORY: Florida State opened the betting week as 6-point road favorites against their in-state rivals from South Florida. The point spread was quickly bumped up to 7 but money flowed in fast on the home dogs, forcing the spread down to its current number of 5. The total opened at 61 and hasn't moved all week. View complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Seminoles are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up loss of more than 20 points.
* Bulls are 7-1-1 ATS in their last 9 home games.
* Under is 5-1 in Seminoles last 6 road games.
* Over is 5-0 in Bulls last 5 home games.

No. 16 Florida Gators at No. 12 Tennessee Volunteers (-6.5, 43)

* Loaded with talent and depth, Florida leads the nation in fewest points allowed (4.7 per game), total defense (129.7 yards) and is second in rushing defense (38.3 yards). Led by linemen Caleb Brantley and Jordan Sherit, linebackers Alex Anzalone and Jarrad Davis and a secondary that includes preseason All-American Teez Tabor, the Gators set a school record by holding North Texas to 53 yards of total offense as they tuned up for the Vols. Florida had four running backs - Jordan Scarlett, Mark Thompson, Lamical Perine and Jordan Cronkrite - score against North Texas, and with the change at quarterback, coach Jim McElwain will likely lean on the ground game, which produced 255 yards against the Mean Green and is averaging 202 yards.

* The Vols are just 101st nationally in total offense (351 yards per game) but led by the elusive Dobbs, who rushed for 136 yards against the Gators last season, they are capable of quick-strike touchdowns -- their scoring drives have averaged only 2 minutes. Junior running back Jalen Hurd, who rushed for 106 yards in Tennessee's 45-24 comeback win over Virginia Tech, and junior wide receiver Josh Malone (21.8 yards per catch) are the other offensive playmakers. The defense, which recovered five fumbles including a school-record three by free safety Micah Abernathy to key the rally against the Hokies, will be without star cornerback Cameron Sutton (broken ankle), but standout linebacker Jalen Reeves-Maybin (shoulder ailment) is excepted to be available.

LINE HISTORY: Everybody's favorite college football team right now seems to be the Tennessee Vols. They opened as 8-point home favorites over Florida but the point spread took a sharp turn down to -6.5 at the beginning of the week and hasn't come back up as of Friday afternoon. The total opened at 43.5 and was dropped a half point to 43. View complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Gators are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 road games.
* Volunteers are 5-0 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Under is 7-1 in Gators last 8 games on grass.
* Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings.

Penn State Nittany Lions at No. 5 Michigan Wolverines (-18.5, 56.5)

* Super sophomore Saquon Barkley rushed for 68 yards and a score in the victory against Temple to give him six touchdowns in his first three games, which is the most for a Penn State player since 1971. Nyeem Wartman-Wright will be sidelined for the remainder of the season after suffering a knee injury in the first quarter against Temple, leaving an already-thin linebacking corps without many viable options. Jason Cabinda hasn't played since suffering a thumb injury in Week 1 while Brandon Bell missed the win over Temple with a lower-body injury and both linebackers could miss the trip to Ann Arbor.

* Jabrill Peppers was named the co-Walter Camp FBS Player of the Week after registering 204 all-purpose yards, including a 54-yard punt return touchdown, nine tackles and a sack in the win against Colorado. Wilton Speight struggled in his first real test of the season as he was limited to 229 yards on 16-of-30 passing and failed to complete any deep throws against a talented Buffaloes secondary. Harbaugh is "hopeful" that All-American cornerback Jourdan Lewis is ready to return after missing the last three games with a muscle strain while defensive end Taco Charlton could also be back after suffering an ankle injury in the season opener.

LINE HISTORY: Michigan opened as 16.5-point favorites and the spread skyrocketed up as high as -19 early in the week. Since that initial boost, the line has simply waivered between -19 and -18.5 (which is the current number as of Friday afternoon). The total hit the betting board at 58.5 and, after an initial bump to 60, has steadily fallen to the current number of 56.5. View complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Nittany Lions are 3-13-2 ATS in their last 18 road games.
* Wolverines are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games following a ATS loss.
* Over is 6-1 in Nittany Lions last 7 games overall.
* Over is 11-0 in Wolverines last 11 games overall.

No. 17 Louisiana State Tigers at Auburn Tigers (+3.5, 44)

* Fournette ran for 228 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-21 win against Auburn last season and is coming off a 147-yard, two-touchdown effort versus Mississippi State. Etling, who was making his first start for LSU after transferring from Purdue, said, "I continue to get more and more comfortable with the first team guys" after going 19-of-30 for 215 yards. Etling hopes to have his offensive line intact this week after four linemen limped off against the Bulldogs, forcing a variety of movement across the unit, including Ethan Pocic moving from center to tackle.

* The Tigers' lone win is a rout over Arkansas State, although they lost by six against Clemson in their opener and fell in a hard-fought contest against Texas A&M last weekend. Sean White managed the game for Auburn while his teammates combined for 238 rushing yards on 46 carries. Kamryn Pettway has run for 152 and 123 yards in the last two weeks, respectively, earning high praise from wideout Ryan Davis, who called him "the perfect back that you would want."

LINE HISTORY: LSU opened the betting week as 2.5-point favorites over their fellow SEC West Tigers and throughout the week the line has been bumped up a couple of times to sit at it's current position of 3.5. The total opened at 45, went up as high as 46, and has come back down late in the week to the current total of 44. View complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* LSU Tigers are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games in September.
* Auburn Tigers are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a double-digit loss at home.
* Under is 7-1 in LSU's last 8 games overall.
* Under is 9-2-1 in Auburn's last 12 home games.

No. 1 Houston Cougars at Texas State Bobcats (+34.5, 63)

* Ward (657 passing yards and three TDS, 74 rushing yards and two TDs) threw for 326 yards and accounted for three scores against Cincinnati after missing the week before with a shoulder injury. Linell Bonner (15 catches, 228 yards) and Steven Dunbar (11 catches, 150 yards) lead the receiving corps but haven't found the end zone. Senior linebacker Steven Taylor leads the country with 5.5 sacks and had one of the Cougars' two fourth-quarter interceptions returned for a score last week.

* Senior quarterback Tyler Jones (501 yards, four TDs, three interceptions) is third in school history in career TD passes (48) and total offense (8,082). Running back Stedman Mayberry has nine catches for 60 yards, joining Eric Luna (11 catches, 99 yards, TD) and Elijah King (eight catches, 129 yards, two TDs) as Jones' favorite targets. Junior-college transfer Gabe Loyd has 18 tackles after recording eight tackles at Arkansas.

LINE HISTORY: The heavily hyped Houston Cougers opened as 34.5-point road favorites for this matchup with the Texas State Bobcats and the line hasn't moved all week. The total opened at 63 and has taken a sharp jump up to 65. View complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Cougars are 22-4-1 ATS in their last 27 road games.
* Bobcats are 0-4 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Under is 7-1 in Cougars last 8 games following a straight up win.
* Under is 4-0 in Bobcats last 4 home games.

Oklahoma State Cowboys at No. 15 Baylor Bears (-9, 73.5)

* The Cowboys bounced back from the Central Michigan fiasco -- the officials incorrectly gave the Chippewas an extra play after the Cowboys had seemingly won the game with a pass out of bounds to run out the clock that was ruled intentional grounding -- to defeat Pittsburgh 45-38 last Saturday. Quarterback Mason Rudolph led the way, completing 26-of-46 passes for a school-record 540 yards and two touchdowns while wide receiver James Washington caught nine passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns, including a 91-yarder on the very first play of the game. Linebacker Jordan Burton leads the defense with 20 tackles while defensive ends Cole Walterscheid and Jarrell Owens top the Cowboys with two sacks each and corner Ramon Richards has a team-best two interceptions.

* The Bears have failed to score in the first quarter of each of their last two games, a minor catastrophe for a team that has led the NCAA in total and scoring offense each of the last three years. Quarterback Seth Russell, who sat out the end of the 2015 season with a neck injury, has been inconsistent at times but still has completed 62-of-105 passes for 761 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions while three running backs -- Shock Linwood, Terence Williams and JaMycal Hasty -- are averaging at least 71 yards rushing per game. Acting head coach Jim Grobe switched to a 3-4 defense this season, and it has paid off with impressive results so far as Baylor is allowing only 249.3 yards per game which ranks seventh nationally.

LINE HISTORY: The home team Baylor Bears opened as 10-point favorites at the beginning of the betting week and by Wednesday the spread was all of the way down to -7.5. Since hitting that low point of -7.5 the faves have rebounded slightly to settle at the current number of -9. The total hit the board at 74.5, peaked at 76 on Wednesday, and dropped way down to 73.5 during the second half of the week. View complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Cowboys are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in September.
* Bears are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
* Over is 6-0 in Cowboys last 6 conference games.
* Under is 7-1 in Bears last 8 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.

No. 20 Nebraska Cornhuskers at Northwestern Wildcats (+9, 47.5)

* Senior quarterback Tommy Armstrong Jr. embodied the resolve of the team last weekend, scoring the game-winning 34-yard touchdown with 2 1/2 minutes remaining despite fighting through severe leg cramps for most of the second half. Jordan Westerkamp, whose 47-yard Hail Mary catch as time expired in 2013 gave the Cornhuskers a 27-24 win over Northwestern, is coming off the first two multiple-touchdown games of his career and ranks third in school history with a catch in 29 consecutive games. Nebraska has yielded only two TD passes through three games after surrendering 25 in 13 contests a season ago and ended the Ducks' FBS record-setting streak of 82 straight games with at least one passing score.

* Sophomore quarterback Clayton Thorson, who ran for a personal-best 126 yards in last year's 30-28 victory, erupted for a career-high 320 passing yards against Duke and ranks second in the Big Ten in passing yards (707) but is completing only 49 percent of his passes. Although junior running back Justin Jackson is tied for second in the conference with 260 yards on the ground, five other Wildcats have combined to run for only 35, leading to a conference-worst 98.3-yard average. Given those struggles, the Cornhuskers' primary focus on defense figures to be senior receiver Austin Carr, who leads the Big Ten with 283 yards receiving and is tied for first with 18 catches.

LINE HISTORY: Nebraska opened as 6.5-point road favorites at the beginning of the week and by Friday afternoon that line had been bet all of the way up to its current number of 9. The total opened at 48 and dropped slightly to 47.5 by the end of the week. View complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Cornhuskers are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 games on grass.
* Wildcats are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 conference games.
* Over is 5-0 in Cornhuskers last 5 games on grass.
* Under is 6-1 in Wildcats last 7 games overall.

No. 4 Louisville Cardinals at Marshall Thundering Herd (+27, 74.5)

* Jackson, who is only the second player in school history to score four rushing touchdowns in consecutive games (Fred Koster, 1926), ranks second in the nation in rushing (464 yards) and spearheads an offense that has run for at least 250 yards in five straight contests for the first time in school history. Junior running back Brandon Radcliff is averaging 11 yards per carry - better than Jackson's 9.5 - and a significant part of the reason why the Cardinals lead FBS in rushing touchdowns (16), yards per carry (8.2) and most runs of at least 20 yards (14). Louisville is tied for fifth in the country with 13 sacks and has collected at least four sacks in four consecutive contests for the first time since 2000.

* Despite piling up 560 yards, 31 first downs and holding a 13 1/2-minute advantage in time of possession, the Thundering Herd lost convincingly against Akron after allowing three return touchdowns (fumble, interception, blocked punt), committing four turnovers and drawing 17 penalties for 180 yards. Sophomore quarterback Chase Litton ranks sixth in FBS with 361 passing yards per game, keying an attack that sits 12th in the country in total offense (545 yards) and sixth in scoring (50 points per game). Tight end Ryan Yurachek added five catches for 65 scoreless yards in the loss to the Zips, ending the nation's longest active streak of games with at least one touchdown at six.

LINE HISTORY: Louisville opened as 24-point road favorites and the line quickly spiked to 26. From there the point spread wobbled between 24.5 and 27 all week long and currently sits at 27 on Friday afternoon. The total opened at 74.5 and took a slight drop to 73.5 in the middle of the week before settling back to the opening number on Thursday morning. View complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Cardinals are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games in September.
* Thundering Herd are 15-2-1 ATS in their last 18 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
* Over is 7-1 in Cardinals last 8 games overall.
* Under is 7-1 in Thundering Herd last 8 games following a straight up loss of more than 20 points.

No. 6 Stanford Cardinal at UCLA Bruins (+3, 46.5)

* Senior quarterback Ryan Burns has completed nearly 70 percent of his passes for the Cardinal, who are seeking their ninth straight win over the Bruins. Stanford’s running attack features McCaffrey along with backup Bryce Love, who gained 51 yards on 11 carries in his season debut last week. Safety Zach Hoffpauir has recorded a team-high 11 tackles to lead the defense, which allowed Rosen to throw for 325 yards and three touchdowns last October but could receive a boost Saturday with the anticipated return of Harrison Phillips after the nose tackle missed last week’s game due to a knee injury.

* Rosen posted his eighth career 300-yard passing performance last Saturday against BYU while completing passes to 12 different receivers - including Darren Andrews, who led the Bruins with four catches for 91 yards and a touchdown. UCLA’s deep collection of running backs includes Nate Starks, Bolu Olorunfunmi and leading rusher Soso Jamabo, who did not suit up for last week’s game for an undisclosed reason but is expected to play Saturday. The defense matches up well against the Cardinal up front, with Eddie Vanderdoes and Eli Ankou along with linebacker Jayon Brown, who ranks among the league’s leading tacklers at 7.7 per game.

LINE HISTORY: Stanford hit the betting board as 3-point road favorites and the line has not budged all week. The total opened at 47.5 and dropped a full point to 46.5 on Tuesday morning. View complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Cardinal are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games.
* Bruins are 0-7 ATS in their last 7 games on grass.
* Over is 9-2 in Cardinal last 11 vs. a team with a winning record.
* Cardinal are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 meetings.

No. 18 Arkansas Razorbacks vs No. 13 Texas A&M Aggies (-6, 49)

* First-year starter Austin Allen has quickly established himself as a solid quarterback for the Razorbacks and passed for a career-high 241 yards and a pair of touchdowns against Texas State after totaling four scores (three passing, one rushing) the previous week. Allen is getting plenty of support from the ground game and sophomore Rawleigh Williams III, who has rushed for 354 yards and three touchdowns. Defensive ends Jeremiah Ledbetter and Deatrich Wise Jr. recorded at least a half-sack in each of the first three games to lead the defensive line.

* The Aggies are breaking in their own first-year starter at quarterback in Oklahoma transfer Trevor Knight, who has yet to complete 60 percent of his passes in a game and went 20-of-40 at Auburn without an interception. Knight is also helping out with 151 yards and three TDs on the ground but the star of the rushing attack is freshman Trayveon Williams, who needed only eight attempts to churn out 127 yards and a TD last week. Star defensive lineman Myles Garrett got off to a bit of a slow start in the first two games but recorded a pair of sacks at Auburn to lead the defense.

LINE HISTORY: The Aggies opened as 6-point favorites and the line has been up and down all week - ranging between -6.5 and -5. As of Friday afternoon the line had settled back to the opening number of -6. The total kicked off the betting week at 50.5 and currently sits at 49. View complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Razorbacks are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 conference games.
* Aggies are 1-5 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Under is 5-1 in Razorbacks last 6 games in September.
* Under is 7-0-1 in Aggies last 8 games overall.

No. 9 Washington Huskies at Arizona Wildcats (+14, 58)

* Sophomore quarterback Jake Browning has passed for 744 yards and 12 touchdowns against one interception and his nine scoring passes over the past two games are the most in back-to-back games in school history. The Huskies are still waiting for sophomore tailback Myles Gaskin (217 yards, two touchdowns) to increase his production after last season's 1,302-yard campaign, while big-play junior receiver John Ross has 13 receptions for 167 yards and four touchdowns. Washington has been flirting with using standout junior safety Budda Baker on offense but he remains the top player on a defense that is receiving strong play from junior linebacker Azeem Victor (team-best 21 tackles) and sophomore tackle Greg Gaines (team-best 4 1/2 tackles for loss).

* Sophomore Brandon Dawkins, who has passed for two touchdowns and rushed for five, will make his third consecutive start if Solomon isn't cleared to return. The Wildcats are also short-handed at running back with junior Nick Wilson (257 yards, three touchdowns) highly questionable due to an ankle injury, and that would leave freshman J.J. Taylor (168 yards versus Hawaii last Saturday) and junior kick returner Tyrell Johnson - being converted from slot receiver to tailback this week - as the main ball carriers. Standout junior linebacker DeAndre' Miller (four tackles for loss) is questionable with a foot injury while sophomore free safety Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles and senior linebacker Paul Magloire Jr. (team-best 20 tackles) are also playing well.

LINE HISTORY: The much-hyped Washington Huskies opened this matchup as 11-point road favorites and the public quickly jumped all over the No. 9 team in the nation. The point spread moved from 11 to 12 to 13 to the current number of 14. The total hit the board at 58 and hasn't moved as of Friday afternoon. View complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Huskies are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
* Wildcats are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
* Over is 6-1 in Huskies last 7 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game.
* Home team is 7-1 ATS in their last 8 meetings.

[StarDust Bum]

Plenty of betting action and line moves on Saturday's college football slate

“There’s been money for Wisconsin, and I can’t blame them. Michigan State is coming off a monster win. It could be a letdown spot.”

Week 4 of the college football season features several games that have seen significant line moves, including some of Saturday’s bigger matchups. We talk about where the action is with Nick Bogdanovich, director of trading for William Hill US in Las Vegas.

No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers at No. 8 Michigan State Spartans – Open: -6.5; Move: -4

An early-season matchup of Big Ten unbeatens is among the noon Eastern kickoffs. Wisconsin (3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS) is coming off a very lackluster 23-17 home win over Georgia State as a massive 35.5-point favorite, but the Badgers opened the year with a big 16-14 upset of Louisiana State as a 12.5-point underdog at Lambeau Field.

Michigan State (2-0 SU, 1-1 ATS) bolted out to a 36-7 lead at Notre Dame last week and held on for a 36-28 upset as a 7.5-point ‘dog.

“This is one of the better games of the day, for sure, a huge Big Ten game,” Bogdanovich said Friday afternoon. “There’s been money for Wisconsin, and I can’t blame them. Michigan State is coming off a monster win. It could be a letdown spot.”

Bogdanovich noted the line movement stemmed mostly from sharp action on the Badgers.

No. 4 Louisville Cardinals at Marshall Thundering Herd – Open: +24.5; Move: +26.5

Quarterback Lamar Jackson and the Cardinals are all the rage after a 3-0 SU and ATS start in which they’re averaging 65 points per game. That includes last week’s shocking 63-20 beatdown of then No. 2 Florida State as a 2-point home chalk.

So even though Marshall (1-1 SU and ATS) has only two outright losses over the past two-plus seasons at home – one of them being last week’s blowout upset, 65-38 at the hands of 17.5-point ‘dog Akron – this game has a huge number that continues to rise.

“We’ll probably go even higher,” Bogdanovich said of the line on today’s 8 p.m. Eastern game. “Louisville is the darling right now, scoring 70 points every game. I wouldn’t be surprised if we go up to 28. That’s a big public game. It’ll be one of our bigger decisions tomorrow.”

No. 16 Florida Gators at No. 12 Tennessee Volunteers – Open: -6.5; Move: -5

Both these teams are 3-0 SU and 1-2 ATS heading into a key SEC East showdown at 3:30 p.m. Eastern. Tennessee held off Ohio last week 27-19, far short of cashing as 27-point home chalk, while Florida blanked North Texas 32-0, just short of the 32.5-point spread.

“It just looked like there should be some money for the ‘dog,” said Bogdanovich, noting it was definitely sharp money that lowered the number. “Florida hasn’t given up anything (14 points in three games), and Tennessee has been overpriced. It’s not a shock to see that line come down.”

Syracuse Orange at Connecticut Huskies – Open: -3.5; Move: -5.5, -3.5

UConn (2-1 SU and ATS) has played a trio of tight games, edging Virginia last week 13-10 on a late field goal to push as a 3-point home fave. Conversely, Syracuse (1-2 SU and ATS) enters off back-to-back blowout losses, including 45-20 to South Florida catching 12.5 points at home last week.

Bogdanovich noted the line has bounced around a lot on this 1 p.m. Eastern matchup.

“We opened UConn -3.5, then went as high as 5.5, now we’re down to -3,” he said. “There’s been a double-move on that game, and I think there’s still some movement to come. I don’t know which side the wiseguys are on. But sometimes, there are multiple sharp people out there who end up on different sides.”

Mississippi State Bulldogs at Massachusetts Minutemen – Open: +23.5; Move: +21.5

The Bulldogs (1-2 SU and ATS) gave LSU all it could handle last week before losing 23-20 as a 13-point road pup. The Minutemen (1-2 SU, 2-1 ATS) nabbed their first win last week, 21-13 getting 1 point at home against Florida International, and bettors seem to like UMass in the 3:30 p.m. Eastern kickoff.

“There has been money on the ‘dog,” Bogdanovich said. “Some sharp group likes the ‘dog in that one.”

No. 9 Washington Huskies at Arizona Wildcats – Open: +11; Move: +14

Washington (3-0 SU, 2-1 ATS) has posted three blowout victories, albeit not against quality competition, while Arizona (2-1 SU, 0-3 ATS) is dealing with quarterback injuries. Starter Anu Solomon suffered a knee injury in a Week 1 loss at BYU and didn’t start as the Wildcats won the past two weeks behind Brandon Dawkins, including Saturday’s 47-28 win over Hawaii laying 23.5 points at home.

“Arizona’s got a quarterback situation, so a lot of that movement had to do with information,” Bogdanovich said of 10:30 p.m. Eastern kickoff. “They’re doing a lot of two-stepping down there.”

Other Saturday games seeing significant line movement, based on odds from Wynn Las Vegas, which posts college lines each Sunday, earlier than most Las Vegas books:

• Virginia Tech opened as 9.5-point chalk hosting East Carolina and is now up to 12.5 points.
• No. 5 Michigan went as high as a 19-point home favorite vs. Penn State, after opening at 15.5. The Wolverines are now at -18.
• West Virginia has moved from a 3.5- to a 7-point fave at home against Brigham Young.
• No. 13 Texas A&M opened as a 3-point home favorite and has been bet up to 6 against No. 18 Arkansas.
• Western Michigan is now a 7-point home chalk against Georgia Southern, after opening at -4.
• Nebraska was installed as a 6.5-point fave at Northwestern and is now up to 8.5.

[StarDust Bum]

CFB BEST BETS:

WLT PCT UNITS

ATS Picks 88-77-5 53.33% +1650

O/U Picks 30-35-1 46.15% -4250


SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

IOWA at RUTG 12:00 PM

IOWA -14.0

FSU at USF 12:00 PM

USF +5.0

NEV at PUR 12:00 PM

NEV +5.5

O 60.0

SJSU at ISU 12:00 PM

ISU -6.5

O 54.0

CSU at MINN 12:00 PM

CSU +17.0

WIS at MSU 12:00 PM

MSU -3.5

O 40.5

UGA at MISS 12:00 PM

MISS -7.0

KENT at ALA 12:00 PM

KENT +44.0

U 50.0

CHAR at TEM 12:00 PM

TEM -27.0

ECU at VT 12:30 PM

ECU +12.5

CMU at UVA 12:30 PM

CMU -3.5

SYR at CONN 01:00 PM

SYR +3.0

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NCAAF

Saturday, September 24

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Saturday's NCAAF Game of the Day: Oklahoma State at Baylor
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Baylor quarterback Seth Russell has been inconsistent at times but still has completed 62-of-105 passes for 761 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions.

Baylor will be looking to start 4-0 for a program-record fourth straight year when it hosts Oklahoma State in the Big 12 opener for both teams Saturday night. The 15th-ranked Bears will also be looking to extend a 11-game September winning streak which dates back to 2012.

Baylor is the lone remaining undefeated team in the Big 12 thanks in part to what most would argue was the conference's softest non-conference schedule starting with a 55-7 win over Northwestern State, a FCS school, followed by back-to-back blowouts over SMU (40-13) and Rice (38-10). Now the Bears host an Oklahoma State squad that is one controversial Hail Mary throw at the end of a 30-27 loss to Central Michigan away from entering the game undefeated itself. "The best measuring stick is going to be on the field," Baylor wide receiver Lynx Hawthorne told the Waco Tribune when the topic of the Bears' weak non-conference schedule was brought up. "We'll hopefully come together and put some points on the board and get our first conference win."

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

LINE HISTORY: The home team Baylor Bears opened as 10-point favorites at the beginning of the betting week and by Wednesday the spread was all of the way down to -7.5. Since hitting that low point of -7.5 the faves have rebounded slightly to settle at the current number of -9. The total hit the board at 74.5, peaked at 76 on Wednesday, and dropped way down to 73.5 during the second half of the week. Check out the complete line history here.

INJURY REPORT:

Oklahoma State - .DE J. Brailford (Questionable Saturday, leg), RB C. Carson (Out Indefinitely, hand), WR M. Ateman (Out Indefinitely, foot).

Baylor - .WR P. Stricklin (Questionable Saturday, shoulder), CB R. Reid (Questionable Saturday, ankle), S O. Stewart (Questionable Saturday, ribs), RB J. Jefferson (Out For Season, personal), DT B. Bonds (Out Indefinitely, knee).

WEATHER REPORT: .There is a 25 percent chance of some thunderstorms developing in the Waco area during this game at McLane Stadium. The temperatures at game time will be in the 90's and humidity levels will be up around 70 percent.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (2-1, 2-1 ATS, 2-1 O/U): The Cowboys bounced back from the Central Michigan fiasco -- the officials incorrectly gave the Chippewas an extra play after the Cowboys had seemingly won the game with a pass out of bounds to run out the clock that was ruled intentional grounding -- to defeat Pittsburgh 45-38 last Saturday. Quarterback Mason Rudolph led the way, completing 26-of-46 passes for a school-record 540 yards and two touchdowns while wide receiver James Washington caught nine passes for 296 yards and two touchdowns, including a 91-yarder on the very first play of the game. Linebacker Jordan Burton leads the defense with 20 tackles while defensive ends Cole Walterscheid and Jarrell Owens top the Cowboys with two sacks each and corner Ramon Richards has a team-best two interceptions.

ABOUT BAYLOR (3-0, 0-3 ATS, 0-3 O/U): The Bears have failed to score in the first quarter of each of their last two games, a minor catastrophe for a team that has led the NCAA in total and scoring offense each of the last three years. Quarterback Seth Russell, who sat out the end of the 2015 season with a neck injury, has been inconsistent at times but still has completed 62-of-105 passes for 761 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions while three running backs -- Shock Linwood, Terence Williams and JaMycal Hasty -- are averaging at least 71 yards rushing per game. Acting head coach Jim Grobe switched to a 3-4 defense this season, and it has paid off with impressive results so far as Baylor is allowing only 249.3 yards per game which ranks seventh nationally.

TRENDS:

* Cowboys are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games in September.
* Bears are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
* Over is 6-0 in Cowboys last 6 conference games.
* Under is 7-1 in Bears last 8 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
* Cowboys are 8-2 ATS in their last 10 meetings.

CONSENSUS: The Oklahoma State Cowboys are being favored by the public with 56 percent of the picks and Over is grabbing 64 percent of the wagers.

[StarDust Bum]

NOON GAMES


WVU at BYU 03:30 PM

WVU -7.0

M-OH at CIN 03:30 PM

M-OH +14.0

PITT at UNC 03:30 PM

UNC -7.0

WAKE at IND 03:30 PM

WAKE +7.0

PSU at MICH 03:30 PM

MICH -16.5

U 55.5

FLA at TENN 03:30 PM

TENN -5.5

MSST at MASS 03:30 PM

MSST -22.5

APP at AKR 03:30 PM

AKR +5.0

O 55.0