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Big 12 Report - Week 3
September 14, 2016

2016 BIG 12 STANDINGS

Team SU Conference ATS Over/Under

Baylor 2-0 0-0 0-2 0-2

Iowa State 0-2 0-0 0-2 0-2

Kansas 1-1 0-0 1-1 1-1

Kansas State 0-1 0-0 0-1 0-1

Oklahoma 1-1 0-0 0-2 1-1

Oklahoma State 1-1 0-0 1-1 1-1

Texas 2-0 0-0 2-0 1-1

Texas Christian 1-1 0-0 0-2 2-0

Texas Tech 1-1 0-0 1-1 1-1

West Virginia 2-0 0-0 1-1 1-1


Baylor at Rice (Fri. ESPN, 8:00 p.m. ET)

Baylor hits the road for Rice Stadium Friday night looking to move to 3-0. So far the Bears are unbeaten, but they have appeared slightly off while failing to cover either of their games. The 'under' is also 2-0 in Baylor's first two games, something we haven't been accustomed to seeing too frequently in recent seasons. Still, Baylor is averaging 47.5 points per game (PPG), and it's more the result of a strong defensive effort that the under has been coming through. Rice has been anemic on offense, mustering just 28 total points through two games at Western Kentucky and at Army, and they're also 0-2 ATS with a pair of under results. Last season it was Baylor humbling Rice 70-17 in Waco, posting 793 total yards of offense to just 246 for Rice. You can expect a similar result, with the Owls struggling to take flight. Baylor is a 30 1/2-point favorite as of Wednesday AM.

Kansas at Memphis (ESPNU, 12:00 p.m.)

The Jayhawks were feeling good about themselves, topping FCS Rhode Island in the opener after a winless 2015 season. Things were looking up heading into Game 2 against Ohio University, but after a loss it's the same old ugly feeling heading down to Memphis Saturday afternoon. KU is 9-26-1 ATS in their past 36 road outings, 4-12 ATS in the past 16 overall, 2-7 ATS in their past nine against teams with a winning record and 3-11-1 ATS in their past 15 non-conference tilts. Memphis is coming off a bye, and they're 5-1 ATS in their past six following a week off. They're also 15-5-1 ATS in their past 21 non-conference battles. Memphis failed to cover in their first game against FCS Southeast Missouri State, and they enter as a near three-touchdown favorite in this one.

Iowa State at Texas Christian (FOX Sports 1, 12:00 p.m. ET)

Iowa State has not fared well with teams from the Hawkeye state, so perhaps traveling outside of its borders will result in a better outcome. The Cyclones were surprised at home by FCS Northern Iowa, and they were absolutely blown out of Kinnick Stadium at Iowa last weekend, falling 42-3. TCU displayed plenty of chinks in the armor in a 59-41 win over FCS South Dakota State. Arkansas exploited those chinks and turned it into a 41-38 overtime victory last weekend over their former Southwest Conference rivals. TCU has allowed 41 points in each of their two games, and no surprise the 'over' is 2-0 in their first two games. Iowa State has scored a total of just 23 points in two games, so it's doubtful they'll be able to reach that level. The 'under' is 2-0 in I-State's first two outings. TCU opened at 22 1/2 and the line quickly escalated to 24. The total is set at 61.

Florida Atlantic at Kansas State (NO TV, 2:30 p.m. ET)

Florida Atlantic opened with a win over FCS Southern Illinois, and then went down to Miami and hung around with a strong defensive effort before the Hurricanes pulled away in the second half. K-State hasn't played in two weeks since their opening game loss at Stanford, when Heisman hopeful Christian McCaffrey ran wild. The Wildcats do not have to worry about any Owls running wild on them, but they will be tested by FAU's up-tempo, no-huddle offense which has them averaging 24.0 PPG. On the flip side, FAU is allowing 34.0 PPG while going 0-2 ATS so far this season.

Pittsburgh at Oklahoma State (ESPN, 3:30 p.m.)

The Panthers outlasted Penn State in an emotional rivalry game, and now turn around for another difficult matchup on the road. Oklahoma State was jobbed by the refs last weekend before falling on a miraculous hook and ladder play against Central Michigan that should have never been allowed to occur. OK State enters as a six-point favorite, and they should be mighty angry after their loss last weekend. Pittsburgh is 6-2 ATS in their past eight road games, but just 2-6 ATS in their past eight in September and 0-4 ATS in their past four non-conference tilts. OK State is 0-4 ATS in their past four against teams with a winning record, and 2-8 ATS in their past 10 after a straight-up loss.

Louisiana Tech at Texas Tech (NO TV, 7:00 p.m.)

It's the 'Tech Bowl', as the Bulldogs hit the road for Lubbock to battle the Red Raiders. Texas Tech was involved in an absurd game at Arizona State last weekend, falling 68-55 in the desert as the total of 80 was taken care of in the third quarter. Texas Tech has averaged 62.0 PPG on offense through two games. La. Tech will be hard-pressed to slow TTU down, although they did a good job holding Arkansas at bay in a near upset Sept. 3, losing 21-20 as 21-point underdogs. The Bulldogs rebounded last week and flexed a little muscle in a 53-24 win over South Carolina State, but their defense leaked a bit of oil. That cannot be good heading into a game with the Red Raiders, who are capable of 70 in this one. The Red Raiders are favored by just 10 1/2 with a total of 79 1/2.

Ohio State at Oklahoma (FOX, 7:30 p.m.)

One of the most anticipated matchups of the weekend comes from Norman, as Ohio State heads down to Oklahoma looking to deliver a knockout blow to the Sooners' playoff chances in mid-September. The Buckeyes have piled up 125 points through two games, routing Bowling Green 77-10 and shutting down a high-octane Tulsa offense 48-3 last week. Oklahoma rebounded after their stunning 33-23 loss to Houston, pounding on Louisiana-Monroe by a 59-17 count. Still, the Sooners are 0-2 ATS while the Buckeyes are 2-0 ATS. This is the first meeting between the schools. Ohio State was installed as a six-point underdog a few weeks ago, now they enter Norman favored by two.

Texas at California (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.)

The Longhorns are climbing in the rankings after spanking Texas-El Paso last week, covering for the second time in as many games. California will be back home after dropping one at San Diego State last week against Heisman dark horse Donnel Pumphrey. The Bears were locked in a shootout last week, losing 45-40, and they figure to see more of the same against a Texas team averaged 45.5 PPG. Remember, the last time these two teams faced each other Sept.. 19, 2015, it was Cal coming away with a 45-44 win in Austin courtesy of a missed extra point. In this one, Texas is a much better team, while California isn't nearly as dangerous. Texas opened as a touchdown favorite and the line climbed to eight. The total is just shy of 80.

Team on a bye

West Virginia

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Houston at Cincinnati
September 13, 2016

This week’s Thursday night game puts the American Athletic Conference in the spotlight in a rematch of one of the best games from the conference race last season.

Cincinnati has been consistently successful in the last decade but this year Houston is the team to watch after turning in a big opening week victory and currently sitting at #6 in the AP Poll.

Here is a preview of the Thursday night showcase game between Houston and Cincinnati.

Match-up: Houston Cougars at Cincinnati Bearcats
Venue: Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio
Time/TV: Thursday, Sep. 15, 7:30 PM ET – ESPN
Line: Houston -8, Over/Under 64
Last Meeting: 2015, at Houston (-9) 33, Cincinnati 30.

Current head coaches at Michigan State, Notre Dame, and Tennessee had success at Cincinnati before taking higher profile jobs as the program has had just one losing season in the last decade while posting nine or more wins in seven of those seasons. Cincinnati is certainly a program that will be considered in the Big XII expansion and has to be considered one of the top programs outside of the current five major conferences.

Tommy Tuberville had a fairly successful 10-year run at Auburn before leaving after a marginal 2008 season. He coached at Texas Tech for three seasons and then after the 2012 season he made what most considered at best a lateral move to Cincinnati. After a pair of 9-4 seasons the Bearcats slipped to 7-6 last season, falling short of AAC titles the past two seasons after finishing in a three-way tie for the title in 2014.

Hayden Moore filled in successfully as a freshman for Gunner Kiel and he hasn’t surrendered the starting quarterback job leading the Bearcats to a 2-0 start with wins over FCS Tennessee-Martin and a notable win at Purdue last week. An offense that averaged nearly 34 points per game hasn’t been quite as prolific so far this season but Moore has thrown for 510 yards with five touchdowns and senior running back Tion Green has 150 yards on 32 carries so far to lead the offense. All of the top receivers from last season’s squad departed but so far senior Nate Cole has stepped up with 12 catches including three for touchdowns.

Defense is generally the concern for Cincinnati as the Bearcats allowed over 31 points per game last season with particular struggles against the run, allowing 192 yards per game on the ground on nearly 5.0 yards per rush. Cincinnati’s worst losses came against teams that could run, notable against BYU and South Florida in double-digit defeats as well as struggling to contain the run in the matchup with Houston last season.

While last season Cincinnati had three early season losses to fall short of expectations, they went into Houston last November with the Cougars a top 20 team at 8-0 and nearly came away with the upset. Houston took a 30-14 lead in the third quarter with a safety but Cincinnati outscored Houston 16-3 the rest of the way to get within three points and the Bearcats had the ball back near midfield before running out of downs.

Houston had a 589-427 yardage edge but also had three turnovers and very little success running the ball as the Cougars had a 266-66 yardage edge on the ground. Cincinnati also had 11 penalties in the game and a big disadvantage in time of possession.

These teams met in the regular season finale in 2014 with Cincinnati winning 38-31 at home in a win that gave the Bearcats a share of the AAC title. The stakes appear to be much higher for Houston this season, even though this is just the third game of the season.

After going 13-1 last season with a win over Florida State in the Peach Bowl the Cougars opened the season on the national radar and with an upset over Oklahoma in the opening week this is a team that continues to climb in the polls and most feel will have a shot to be undefeated.

The opening week win over Oklahoma was at NRG Stadium and despite falling behind early the Cougars rallied to take a lead at the half. The big play in the game was a third quarter return touchdown after a long field goal try for the Sooners that fell just short but Houston had eight more first downs in the game and more yardage as they shut down what was expected to be one of the nation’s top offensive teams. Quarterback Greg Ward Jr. kept up with Baker Mayfield throwing for over 300 yards and the lines on both sides of the ball had strong play.

Last week Ward did not play vs. FCS Lamar with a right shoulder injury as junior Kyle Potsma stepped in admirably as he did last season in a few instances. The running game led the way last week with 381 rushing yards and the defense was dominant in the shutout with just 73 yards allowed. Getting that type of performance will be a great challenge this week as Houston and second year head coach Tom Herman look to continue what they hope will be a special season.

Houston entered the season as the heavy favorite in the AAC West and the leading candidate to return to a major bowl game as the top Group of 5 squad. Those hopes are alive as Houston climbs the polls but down the road a perfect season may still not be enough as the schedule will be quite weak overall. This game projects to be the toughest road game of the season for Houston as the late season test against Louisville will be at home.

While the conversations about whether or not Houston has a chance at the College Football Playoff will be for another day, this Thursday night spotlight game is the matchup most expect to see again in December for the AAC title game. While more may be at stake for the Cougars this is a great opportunity for Cincinnati to get a signature win as well in what could be a bounce-back season for the program after last season’s mediocrity.

Historical Trends:

-- Last season’s win for Houston was the first in the series since 1999, snapping a five-game winning streak for Cincinnati.

-- Going back to 1993 Houston is just 3-8 S/U and ATS in this series with all of the S/U wins coming at home.

-- Six of the last eight meetings between these schools have been decided by seven or fewer points.

-- Since 1989 Cincinnati is 75-56-1 ATS at home with a 32-18 ATS mark as a home underdog.

-- Cincinnati was a 7-point favorite hosting this matchup in 2014 and has not been this big of a home underdog since ironically hosting Oklahoma (+14) in a 29-31 loss in 2010.

-- Going back to November of 2012 Houston is on a 15-1 ATS run as a road team with the only miss being the upset loss at Connecticut last November.

-- The Cougars are 6-1 S/U and ATS as a road favorite since 2013 and in that time the program has been among the nation’s best ATS performers at 28-14 ATS overall since the start of the 2013 season.

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Pac-12 Report - Week 3
September 14, 2016


2016 PAC-12 STANDINGS

Team SU Conference ATS Over/Under

Arizona 1-1 0-0 0-2 0-2

Arizona State 2-0 0-0 2-0 1-1

California 1-1 0-0 1-1 2-0

Colorado 2-0 0-0 2-0 1-1

Oregon 2-0 0-0 0-2 1-1

Oregon State 0-1 0-0 1-0 0-1

Southern California 1-1 0-0 1-1 1-1

Stanford 1-0 0-0 1-0 0-1

UCLA 1-1 0-0 0-2 1-0-1

Utah 2-0 0-0 0-2 0-2

Washington 2-0 0-0 2-0 2-0

Washington State 0-2 0-0 1-1 1-1


Arizona State at Texas-San Antonio (Fri. - ESPN2, 9:30 p.m. ET)

The Sun Devils hit the road for Texas-San Antonio after a 68-55 shootout win against Texas Tech, while UTSA looks to rebound after a 23-14 setback at Colorado State a week ago. The Roadrunners are 0-2 ATS and the 'under' has cashed in each of their two games. The 'under' hasn't been a problem for Arizona State, as they're averaging 56.0 PPG while allowing 34.0 PPG while covering each of their first two games. The Sun Devils are 2-6 ATS in their past eight road games, while going 2-6 ATS in their past eight in the month of September. The Roadrunners are 1-4 ATS in their past five non-conference games while going 1-6-1 ATS in their past eight overall.

Idaho at Washington State (Pac-12 Network, 2:00 p.m.)

Idaho was waffled at Washington by a 59-14 score last weekend in Seattle, now they take on the Evergreen State's other Pac-12 representative. The last time these teams matched up it was WaZu winning 42-0 Sept. 21, 2013. The Vandals are averaging just 17.0 PPG while allowing 38.0 PPG. The Cougars are searching for their first win of the season after losing to FCS Eastern Washington in the opener, and at Boise State last weekend. However, the Cougs were much better in Boise. They nearly pulled off the upset, losing 31-28 as a near two-touchdown underdog. The Vandals are 1-4 ATS in their past five against the Pac-12, and 1-8 ATS in their past nine in September. The Cougs are still 5-1 ATS in their past six at home despite their loss to EWU, and they're 10-2 ATS in their past 12 overall.

Colorado at Michigan (Big Ten, 3:30 p.m. ET)

The Buffaloes hit the road for the Big House to face the high-flying Wolverines. Seeing Colorado-Michigan on the schedule brings back memories of Kordell Stewart to Michael Westbrook on a Hail Mary to sadden Ann Arbor back in 1994. Colorado is off to a hot start, spanking Colorado State 44-7 and then punishing FCS Idaho State by a 56-7 count. So far the Buffs are 2-0 ATS, but they will face, by far, their stiffest test Saturday. Michigan is averaging 57.0 PPG while allowing just 8.5 PPG, and they have covered two spreads of 36 or more points with the 'over' cashing in each outing. Colorado is 3-1-1 ATS in their past five non-conference tilts, but they're 11-23-1 ATS in their past 35 road outings. Michigan has covered four straight non-conference games while going 7-3 ATS in their past 10 against teams with a winning overall record. However, they are 1-9 ATS in their past 10 tries against Pac-12 foes.

Oregon at Nebraska (ABC, 3:30 p.m.)

Perhaps this game doesn't have the interest of Florida State-Louisville, Ohio State-Oklahoma, etc. However, the Ducks meeting former Oregon State head coach Mike Riley, who is now the head man in Nebraska. How's that for a storyline? Riley coached Oregon State to a 4-10 record against Oregon. The Ducks are 27-10 ATS in their past 37 against teams with a winning record, and an amazing 22-5 ATS in their past 27 road games. However, they are 0-4 ATS in their past four non-conference games, including 0-2 ATS in their first two outings. The Huskers are 5-1 ATS in their past six non-conference battles while going 5-2 ATS in their past seven against a team with a winning record. Nebraska enters as a 3 1/2-point favorite. The 'over' is also 4-1 in Oregon's past five against a team with a winning record, and the over is 8-2 in Nebraska's past 10 non-conference games and 5-1 in their past six against teams with a winning overall mark.

Southern California at Stanford (ABC, 8:00 p.m.)

USC rebounded last week against Utah State, spanking the Aggies to make themselves feel better after being emasculated by Alabama in their opener. Stanford topped Kansas State and then had a week off, so they're fresh and ready for a visit from the Trojans. This line opened at 6 1/2 and quickly moved to 9 1/2 while the total holds steady at 53. USC is 2-6 ATS in their past eight overall, while going 7-19 ATS in their past 26 road outings. They're also 4-12 ATS in their past 16 road outings against a team with a winning home record. Stanford is 36-16-1 ATS in their past 53 conference games, and 39-18 ATS in their past 57 home games. The Trojans are 3-7 ATS in their past 10 against the Cardinal, while the road team is 9-3 ATS in the past 12 meetings. The underdog is also 8-2 ATS in the past 10 battles.

UCLA at Brigham Young (ESPN2, 10:15 p.m.)

UCLA heads to Provo looking to top BYU again. They held off the Cougars last season by a 24-23 score, averting a near disaster as 16 1/2-point favorites at the Rose Bowl. UCLA lost to Texas A&M in their opener, and rebounded with a win over UNLV. They have failed to cover in either of their outings, and they're 0-4 ATS in their past four non-conference games. BYU has covered both of their games, topping Arizona in the opener and then slipping up at Utah in the Holy War last week, electing to go for two in the final moments rather than kick an extra point and battle in overtime. The 'under' is 2-0 for BYU so far.

Texas at California (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.)

The Longhorns are climbing in the rankings after spanking Texas-El Paso last week, covering for the second time in as many games. California will be back home after dropping one at San Diego State last week against Heisman dark horse Donnel Pumphrey. The Bears were locked in a shootout last week, losing 45-40, and they figure to see more of the same against a Texas team averaged 45.5 PPG. Remember, the last time these two teams faced each other Sept.. 19, 2015, it was Cal coming away with a 45-44 win in Austin courtesy of a missed extra point. In this one, Texas is a much better team, while California isn't nearly as dangerous. Texas opened as a touchdown favorite and the line climbed to eight. The total is just shy of 80.

Hawai'i at Arizona (Pac-12 Network, 10:45 p.m.)

Hawai'i plays its fourth game of the season already, having lost to California in Sydney and Michigan in Ann Arbor. They are coming off a win against FCS Tennessee-Martin to make them feel better, but now it's back to reality in Tucson this weekend. Arizona was dumped by BYU in their opener before narrowly avoiding disaster against FCS Gramling State last weekend. The Wildcats have failed to cover in two games, and the 'under' has cashed in each outing. Hawai'i is 1-5 ATS in their past six road games, while going 1-7 ATS in their past eight overall. Arizona is just 2-9 ATS in their past 11 games in the month of September, while going 2-7 ATS in their nine non-conference battles.

Other Games

Idaho State at Oregon State (Pac-12 Network, 5:00 p.m.)
Portland State at Washington (Pac-12 Network, 8:00 p.m.)
Utah at San Jose State (CBS Sports Network, 10:30 p.m.)

Other Games -- NOTES

Oregon State is looking to rebound after a loss at Minnesota in their opener Sept. 1. They've had 16 days to rebound and get prepare for Idaho State in what should be their first win of the season. Idaho State was hammered last weekend by Colorado by a 56-7 score last weekend. ... Portland State heads to Seattle to battle U-Dub for the first time since Sept. 15, 2012 when the Huskies came away with a 52-13 win. That Washington team paled in comparison to this season's squad, which has lofty expectations. Washington has covered both of their games while averaging 53.5 PPG and allowed 13.5 PPG and the 'over' has cashed in each. ... Utah heads to the Bay Area to meet San Jose State, and they enter as near two-touchdown favorites. The Utes are 4-1 ATS in their past five battles against Mountain West foes, and they're 11-3 ATS in their past 14 non-conference games. The Spartans are 1-1 ATS in two non-conference games this season, and 19-9 ATS in their past 28 outside the MWC. They're just 2-9 ATS in their past 11 against teams with a winning overall mark.

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Houston, Cincy possible Big 12 tilt?
September 14, 2016

CINCINNATI (AP) Sure, the Big 12 will be watching when two of the American Athletic Conference's top teams kick off on Thursday night. No. 6 Houston and Cincinnati haven't hidden their desires to jump to a Power Five league.

And now they get to show head-to-head how they match up in football, which is the sport driving conference realignment.

''I would imagine all those decisions are already made,'' Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville said. ''I don't think that (game) has got a lot to do with it. This is one game, the third game of the season. A lot is on the line for us, obviously, but we don't look at it that way.''

The Bearcats (2-0) have a chance to make themselves relevant again after a 7-6 season. They're coming off a 38-20 win at Purdue, Cincinnati's first victory over a current Big Ten team in 59 years.

The Cougars (2-0) have a top 10 ranking in September for the first time since 1980. They started the season with an attention-grabbing 33-23 win over No. 3 Oklahoma and are trying to open AAC play with their first win in Cincinnati since 1971.

''You embrace it,'' Houston linebacker Tyus Bowser said. ''We have worked so hard to get to this point. We prepare and train for this type of moment.''

Some things to watch at Nippert Stadium on Thursday night:

WARD'S WEEK OFF

Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr. was held out of a 42-0 win over Lamar last Saturday because of a sore shoulder. He's expected to be back to full strength against Cincinnati, looking for another big game against a defense that had five interceptions at Purdue. Ward has developed from a run-first threat into an all-around quarterback. He completed 23 of 40 throws for 321 yards with a pair of touchdowns in the win over Oklahoma.

''He's a quarterback that extends plays,'' Tuberville said. ''This is a Big 12 offense. When I was at Texas Tech, you saw this every week. They have it all.''

CAN'T RUN ON THE COUGARS

Houston has held its last four opponents under 100 yards rushing, the longest such streak in the country. Lamar managed only 73 yards in all - the best showing by a Houston defense in school history - and failed to cross midfield. In the last four games, the Cougars have held Temple, Florida State, Oklahoma and Lamar to a total of 199 yards rushing. Cincinnati rushed for 262 yards at Purdue, with dual-threat quarterback Hayden Moore throwing for three touchdowns and running for two more.

GET USED TO IT

The Cougars play the first of four weeknight games. They also host Connecticut and Louisville in Thursday night games. They finish the regular season at Memphis on a Friday night.

''I understand why they do it,'' coach Tom Herman said. ''The (television) ratings are off the charts when you play these Thursday night games, and we're in the entertainment business. But we play four of these. ... We're playing four games in 20 days. You do the math. That's a lot of pounding on a young man's body in a short amount of time.''

BEARCAT SELF-DESTRUCTION

During a 33-30 loss at Houston last season, Cincinnati had a punt blocked, fumbled into the end zone, botched an onside kick, got tackled for a safety and gave up a 51-yard interception return for a touchdown. No surprise, then, that one of its main points of emphasis this week is to keep its composure.

CAN MOORE ELEVATE HIS GAME?

Moore, a redshirt sophomore, has never face a defense the caliber of Houston's unit. He was ragged in the first half of a season-opening 28-7 win over Tennessee-Martin, but showed a lot of poise during the win at Purdue. Moore completed 19 of 32 passes for 250 yards and three touchdowns, and he ran 13 times for 71 yards and two more scores. The Bearcats need him to be steady against a defense that leads the nation with 111 forced turnovers since the start of the 2013 season.

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Houston-Cincinnati Capsule
September 14, 2016

No. 6 Houston (2-0, 0-0 American Athletic) at Cincinnati (2-0, 0-0), 7:30 p.m. (ESPN).

Line: Houston by 8.

Series Record: Houston leads 14-10.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Houston has more riding on a matchup between two schools campaigning to get into the Big 12. The Cougars are ranked in the top 10 for the first time since 1980. Cincinnati is looking for a signature win that would get the Bearcats back in the national conversation coming off a 7-6 season.

KEY MATCHUP

Redshirt sophomore QB Hayden Moore vs. the Houston defense: Moore regrouped from a sloppy opening game and accounted for five touchdowns during a 38-20 win at Purdue. He's never faced a defense like the Cougars' unit, which hasn't allowed another team to rush for 100 yards in the last four games and leads the nation with 111 forced turnovers since 2013.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Houston: QB Greg Ward Jr. sat out a 42-0 win over Lamar with a sore shoulder. He has grown from more of a running threat into a complete quarterback, completing 23 of 40 passes for 321 yards and a pair of TDs in an opening 33-23 win over No. 3 Oklahoma.

Cincinnati: S Mike Tyson. He had three of Cincinnati's five interceptions in the win at Purdue, including one in the end zone and one at the Cincinnati 15-yard line. The Bearcats have seven interceptions in the first two games. It took them nine games last season to get that many.

FACTS & FIGURES

The last three games in the series have been decided by 18 points total, with Houston winning 33-30 last season. ... Cincinnati has won six straight over Houston at Nippert Stadium, where the Cougars haven't won since 1971. ... Cincinnati's last win over a top 10 team came against Rutgers in 2006. ... The Cougars held Lamar to 73 total yards, a school-record low for their defense. Lamar didn't cross midfield. ... In the last four games, Houston has held Temple, Florida State, Oklahoma and Lamar to a combined 199 yards rushing.

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Oklahoma, Ole Miss facing potential September elimination
September 14, 2016

Top-ranked teams facing enormous road tests. Potential playoff elimination games. Crucial conference contests. Intriguing nonconference matchups.

The stakes are so high it's hard to believe it is only week three of the college football season.

Where to start? How about this? For the first time in the history of the AP college football poll, the Nos. 1, 2 and 3 teams will all be playing ranked teams in true road games. For two of the teams hosting those games, a loss likely means scratching at least one goal for this season off the list.

No. 19 Mississippi (which faces No. 1 Alabama) and No. 14 Oklahoma (which faces No. 3 Ohio State) each opened the season with high-profile losses. A second will make reaching the College Football Playoff a very long shot. You can throw No. 18 Notre Dame (1-1), which faces No. 12 Michigan State at home, into that category, too. Though be careful to bury a team with two losses.

Last season, Stanford with two losses found itself on the edge of playoff contention, in need of just a few Championship Saturday upsets, to have a strong case to make the field. As Power Five teams play more conference games and take on tougher nonconference challenges, it seems inevitable that a team with two losses will make the playoff at some point.

And if any of the Sooners, Rebels or Fighting Irish loses on Saturday, all will try to convince themselves that they will become the first two-loss team to make the playoff.

The picks:

COUGAR TRAP?

No. 6 Houston (minus 8) at Cincinnati

The Bearcats can score and the Cougars have a couple of aching stars in QB Greg Ward and RB Duke Catalon for their AAC opener ... HOUSTON 41-28.

FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS

No. 21 Baylor (minus 30+) at Rice

OK, Owls, win as a four-plus-touchdown underdog and you're in the Big 12 ... BAYLOR 45-20.

MAIN EVENTS

No. 1 Alabama (minus 10) at No. 19 Mississippi

The last team to beat one of Nick Saban's squads three straight seasons was Purdue (1997-99) when he was Michigan State coach. So how hard can it really be? ... ALABAMA 35-21.

No. 2 Florida State (minus 2) at No. 13 Louisville

As far as Heisman campaigns go, this is QB Lamar Jackson's New Hampshire primary after a strong showing in Iowa. Put up big numbers this week and he will be a serious contender for the long run ... FLORIDA STATE 38-31.

No. 3 Ohio State (minus 1+) at No. 14 Oklahoma

The Buckeyes have won 18 straight games on the opponents' home field ... OHIO STATE 30-28.

No. 12 Michigan State (plus 7+) at No. 18 Notre Dame

On the 50th anniversary of the Game of the Century this is certain: the Spartans and Fighting Irish won't play to a tie ... NOTRE DAME 27-21.

UNDERCARD

Southern California (plus 8+) at No. 7 Stanford

No team in the country could use a big victory more than the Trojans ... STANFORD 34-27.

No. 11 Texas (minus 8) at California

The Bears have the worst rushing defense in the nation, allowing 6.85 yards per carry ... TEXAS 42-35.

No. 22 Oregon (plus 3) at Nebraska

Two fragile fan bases, with much skepticism for their coaches. Mental health on the line in Lincoln ... NEBRASKA 38-32.

UPSET ALERTS

North Dakota State (no line) at No. 13 Iowa

Normally we skip the FBS-FCS matchups, but the five-time defending national champion Bison are the Hawkeyes' toughest opponent to date ... IOWA 31-17.

No. 25 Miami (minus 3+) at Appalachian State

The Hurricanes are the biggest thing to hit Watauga County, North Carolina, since Daniel Boone ... MIAMI 28-24.

CONFERENCE CALLS

No. 16 Georgia (minus 6) at Missouri

Bulldogs freshman QB Jacob Eason, who needs to loosen up a Tigers' defense focused on RB Nick Chubb ... GEORGIA 21-14.

No. 17 Texas A&M (plus 3+) at Auburn

When assessing the longtime security of Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin and Tigers coach Gus Malzahn, this game could really sting the loser ... TEXAS A&M 28-24 UPSET SPECIAL.

Mississippi State (plus 12+) at No. 20 LSU

The Tigers turn to Purdue transfer Danny Etling to fix their QB issues; it could be one of the stories of the season or one of the last straws for Les Miles ... LSU 28-14, BEST BET.

BLOWOUTS

Colorado (plus 20) at No. 4 Michigan

Kordell Stewart and Michael Westbrook aren't walking through that tunnel for the Buffaloes ... MICHIGAN 42-17.

Georgia State (plus 34) at No. 9 Wisconsin

Last tuneup for the Badgers before a daunting stretch against Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Iowa and Nebraska. ... WISCONSIN 45-17.

Ohio (plus 27) at No. 15 Tennessee

The Vols get serious next week against Florida ... TENNESSEEE 45-13.

North Texas (plus 36+) at No. 23 Florida

Luke Del Rio's 320 yards passing against Kentucky last week was the most for a Gators QB in an SEC game since 2004 ... FLORIDA 56-14.

Texas State (plus 31) at No. 24 Arkansas

Arkansas OT Dan Skipper, who is 6-foot-10, has six blocked kicks in his career ... ARKANSAS 48-14

TWITTER REQUEST

Pitt (plus 6) at Oklahoma State - (at)nashman92

Forget the playbook. Cowboys needed to study up on the rulebook this week ... OKLAHOMA STATE 31-28.

Temple (plus 8+) at Penn State - (at)TheShlembear

Penn State will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Joe Paterno's first game as Nittany Lions coach ... PENN STATE 31-20.

UCLA (minus 3+) at BYU - (at)barredindc

Third straight Pac-12 opponent for the Cougars (1-1) and one of six games against Power Five opponents. Who needs the Big 12? ... UCLA 28-27.

Western Michigan (minus 3) at Illinois - (at)amygillsports

The Broncos look to go 2-0 against the Big Ten West after beating Northwestern to start season ... WESTERN MICHIGAN 30-23.

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Record: Last week 12-3 straight; 8-6-1 vs. points.

Season: 24-9; 16-16-1.

Upset specials: 0-2.

Best bets: 0-2.

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UPDATE CFB BEST BETS:

WLT PCT UNITS

ATS Picks 62-44-3 58.49% +6800

O/U Picks 21-18-0 53.85% +600

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Armadillo's Writeup:

Thursday’s games

Houston QB Ward (shoulder) sat out last week’s cakewalk; he is expected back here. Cougars lost five of its last six vs Cincinnati, losing last four visits here (0-3-1 vs spread) by average score of 44-30. Underdogs are 6-2-1 vs spread in last nine series games. This figures to be Houston’s toughest game until Nov 19 game vs Louisville. Bearcats had 262 rushing yards in 38-20 win LW at Purdue, but Boilers also threw for 401 yards, red flag vs Ward. Cincy was +5 in TOs last week.

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

HOU at CIN 07:30 PM

CIN +8.0

O 64.0

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Ward leads Houston in rout at Cincy
September 15, 2016

CINCINNATI (AP) Greg Ward Jr. threw an interception in the end zone. Cincinnati responded by going down the field, getting a touchdown and grabbing the lead and the momentum.

For the first time this season, No. 6 Houston was on the road and feeling the pressure. How would the Cougars respond?

Ward ran for two fourth-quarter touchdowns, and the Cougars' fabulous defense returned a couple of interceptions for touchdowns as they pulled away to a 40-16 victory over Cincinnati on Thursday night.

''The fourth quarter exemplified a veteran team that's played in big games,'' coach Tom Herman said. ''They go down and score and we come back and take the lead.''

Nobody was under the spotlight more than Ward, who sat out a 42-0 victory over Lamar on Saturday because of a sore shoulder. He came through pregame warmups without an issue, and got treatment on the sideline between series.

''They were keeping my shoulder warm on the sideline,'' Ward said. ''It tends to get tight. I was thankful to be out there.''

The Cougars (3-0, 1-0 American Athletic) trailed 16-12 early in the fourth quarter before Ward and the defense took over.

Ward dispelled any worries about his arm with a 39-yard touchdown pass on the Cougars' second series. He was 24 of 36 for 326 yards with two interceptions, and he ran 26 times for 73 yards.

''We put in a defense just for him, some guys that were faster,'' Cincinnati coach Tommy Tuberville said. ''We did a good job in pass coverage and he'd just pull it down and run. That's hard to defend.''

Houston's defense took away any semblance of a running game from Cincinnati (2-1, 0-1) and accounted for 16 points on its own - a safety and the two interception returns by Steven Taylor and Howard Wilson.

The Cougars haven't allowed any of their last five opponents to rush for 100 yards. Cincinnati managed only 30 yards rushing, putting too much pressure on redshirt sophomore Hayden Moore, whose two fourth-quarter interceptions allowed the Cougars to pull away.

Moore had never faced a defense so good. He made an impact early with a 61-yard touchdown pass , but the lack of a running game was tough to overcome. Moore finished 21 of 37 for 275 yards with two touchdowns, two interceptions and three sacks.

''You can't beat any good team if you can't run the football,'' Tuberville said. ''They put all the pressure on our quarterback and receivers and they dictated the game to us.''

THE TAKEAWAY

HOUSTON: Oh that defense. The Cougars didn't need to get a lot out of their offense - and Ward wasn't at his best - in order to win a tough league game on the road. That's another good sign in a season that opened with a 33-23 win over Oklahoma.

''It was ugly for a long time,'' Herman said. ''I think we'll be OK if we can take care of the self-inflicted wounds.''

CINCINNATI: The Bearcats have been overly reliant on a pass-heavy offense the last two years. The defense's showing on Thursday was encouraging - it simply wore down. The defense also looked solid during a 38-20 win at Purdue on Saturday, coming up with five interceptions.

''We got a little tired at the end,'' Tuberville said. ''The defense was out there forever.''

POLL IMPLICATIONS

HOUSTON: The Cougars have their highest ranking since they were No. 3 in 1990. Any chance to move up? The top three teams in the poll - Alabama, Florida State, Ohio State - all play road games against ranked teams this week, while Michigan and Clemson are at home.

CINCINNATI: The Bearcats got one vote in this week's poll, and did nothing to suggest they deserve more.

UP NEXT

HOUSTON: The Cougars will be looking for another easy time at Texas State on Sept. 24. Last year, Ward led them to a 59-14 win by throwing for four touchdowns and running for two more as Houston piled up 689 yards.

CINCINNATI: The Bearcats host Miami of Ohio on Sept. 24 for the Victory Bell. They've won 10 in a row over their local rival, although Moore had to overcome four fourth-quarter turnovers last year to pull out a 37-33 win in Oxford.

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Big Ten Report - Week 3
September 15, 2016

2016 BIG 10 STANDINGS
Team SU Conference ATS Over/Under
Illinois Fighting Illini 1-1 0-0 1-1 1-1
Indiana Hoosiers 2-0 0-0 1-1 0-2
Iowa Hawkeyes 2-0 0-0 1-1 1-1
Maryland Terrapins 2-0 0-0 1-1 0-2
Michigan Wolverines 2-0 0-0 2-0 2-0
Michigan State Spartans 1-0 0-0 0-1 0-1
Minnesota Golden Gophers 2-0 0-0 1-1 1-1
Nebraska Cornhuskers 2-0 0-0 2-0 1-1
Northwestern Wildcats 0-2 0-0 0-2 0-2
Ohio State Buckeyes 2-0 0-0 2-0 1-1
Penn State Nittany Lions 1-1 0-0 1-1 2-0
Purdue Boilermakers 1-1 0-0 0-2 1-1
Rutgers Scarlet Knights 1-1 0-0 0-2 2-0
Wisconsin Badgers 2-0 0-0 2-0 1-1

Ohio State: Urban Meyer takes his Buckeyes into Oklahoma as a favorite. It’s the first time since 2000 that the Sooners have been a home underdog. Since Stoops took over in 1999, the Sooner have been a home dog just 2 times winning both those games outright in easy fashion 51-6 & 31-14. Oklahoma has a home record of 96-8 since Stoops took over…Urban Meyer, however, is a remarkable 18-0 in road games since taking over at Ohio State back in 2012. The Buckeyes have averaged 41 PPG in those 18 road games and were held under 28 points only twice…After 2 games OSU is 2nd nationally in scoring offense averaging 62.5 PPG and 5th in total offense putting up 596 YPG…

Michigan: The Wolverines are now 2-0 beating Hawaii & UCF by a combined score of 114-17…Those games provided a “perfect storm” for Michigan blowouts as Hawaii had nothing left in the tank after playing in Australia vs Cal a week earlier and UCF is implementing a new fast-paced offense which plays right into the hands of the much more talented Wolverines…Michigan’s defense has allowed their first two opponents to complete only 18 total passes however, their rush defense also allowed UCF to run for 6.0 yards per carry last Saturday…Talk about a favorable schedule? Michigan doesn’t leave Ann Arbor until venturing to New Jersey to play Rutgers on October 8th…Colorado is 2-0 and entered the season with more returning starters (18) and more returning lettermen (63) than any other Power 5 Conference team…The Buffs have outscored their first 2 opponents (Colorado State & Idaho State) 100 to 14…

Michigan State: Sparty had a bye last week after an uninspiring 28-13 win over Furman in week 1. The Paladins actually had the ball in the 4th quarter with a chance to tie the game with the score at 21-13. That’s a Furman team that was just 4-7 the previous season…Notre Dame has won 4 of the last 5 in this series with MSU’s only win during that stretch coming in 2010 by a final score of 34-31…After playing each other for 16 consecutive seasons from 1997 – 2013, these two did not face each other the last 2 seasons…The Spartans have been an absolute money maker as an underdog with a spread record of 13-3-1 their last 17 in that role – including 11 outright wins during that stretch…Dating back to 1980, when Michigan State is a dog of a TD or more they are 55-35-2 ATS (61%)…MSU has won 39 of their last 44 games dating back to November of 2012…Notre Dame is now 1-1 with a 3-point loss at Texas and an easy win last week at home vs Nevada…Irish are just 11-23-1 ATS as a home favorite of -7 or more dating back to the 2006 season…Irish WR Torii Hunter Jr said he expects to play on Saturday after missing last week’s game after sustaining a concussion at Texas…

Nebraska: The Huskers are 2-0 on the season but led Fresno just 21-10 entering the 4th quarter and were up just 24-17 last week vs Wyoming entering the 4th quarter. NU ended up burying each of those opponents outscoring by them by a combined 50-0 in the 4th quarter…The Huskers have outgained ther first two opponents by a combined total of 818 yards to 463 and they are also already +7 in turnover margin…These two haven’t faced each other since 1986, however Nebraska head man Mike Riley will have a good idea of what he needs to do against Oregon having coached at Oregon State for 14 years prior to taking the job at Nebraska. Riley’s Beavers went 4-10 SU & 5-7-2 ATS vs the Ducks during his tenure…The Ducks have been a fabulous underdog going 31-13 ATS the last 44 times they’ve been getting points…Even more impressive, of those 44 times they’ve been tabbed a dog by the oddsmakers, Oregon has won 25 of those games outright…Oregon is averaging 48.5 PPG on a whopping 8.1 yards per play…Only Marshall & Louisville have a better YPP average…

Wisconsin: Starting RB Corey Clement was held out of last week’s 2nd half vs Akron after sustaining an ankle injury. He said following the game he could have played if needed. He has been held to limited duty so far in practice this week and may not play on Saturday…Wisconsin is a 34 point favorite this week vs Georgia State and it looks warranted. After 2 games, Georgia State is dead last in the NCAA in rush defense allowing 395 YPG and dead last in time of possession. Not a great recipe when playing Wisconsin…The Panthers have been outgained 986 to 441 in their 2 losses to Ball State & Air Force. Tough travel spot for Georgia State (based in Atlanta) after traveling west to play Air Force last week and now north to play Wisconsin this week…

Penn State: Penn State made a valiant comeback last week at Pitt but fell just short. The Nittany Lions fell behind 28-7 and came back to cut the lead to 42-39 late in the game. PSU had the ball on Pitt’s 30-yard line late before throwing an interception to end the comeback…The Penn State offense has topped 30 points in each of their first 2 games after topping 30 just 3 times all last season…Heading into last year’s meeting with Temple, the Lions were 25-0 all-time vs the Owls. Temple won last year’s meeting 27-10 to get their first win every in this Pennsylvania series. Temple’s defense held PSU to just 183 total yards in that win…Temple is 1-1 this year with a home loss to Army and home win vs Stony Brook. The interesting point in their home loss to Army is the fact that the Cadets were 1-25 their previous 26 road games before that win…

Illinois: The Illini are actually a 3-point home dog in this one…Illinois has won 5 straight games vs MAC teams. The last time they lost to a MAC team was in 2008 vs this Western Michigan team…Last week’s home loss to North Carolina (46-23 final) was actually a one score game in the 4th quarter with the Illini trailing 31-23…Western Michigan already played at a Big Ten venue and beat Northwestern on the road as a 5-point underdog…The Broncos are 2-0 beating Northwestern as we mentioned and then clobbering North Carolina Central 70-21…WMU returns most of their key offensive players from a team that went 8-5 last year and averaged 36 PPG on nearly 500 YPG…Dating back to 1950, Big Ten teams are 273-49-2 vs MAC teams…

Maryland: After winning only 3 games all of last season, the Terps are already 2-0 under new head coach DJ Durkin…Much of last year’s struggles were due to mistakes as Maryland threw a whopping 29 interceptions in 2015. This year they have yet to turn the ball over in their first 2 games…The Terps are traveling to Florida for the 2nd straight week after beating FIU in Miami last week 41-14. This week they are 9-point favorites at UCF…Entering this season Maryland had been tabbed a road favorite only 5 times over the last 7 seasons. They are now favored on the road in back to back weeks…The Maryland offense has put up 519 yards & 477 yards in their first 2 games vs Howard & FIU. To put that in perspective, coming into this season the Turtles had topped 500 yards just once in their previous 35 games…UCF has implemented a new “fast-paced” offense under new head coach Scott Frost. The Knights are averaging 80 offensive plays per game so far this year…UCF lost 51-14 at Michigan last week but averaged 6 yards per carry on 46 carries vs Michigan’s defense…

Rugers: The Knights bounced back with a win over Howard last week after getting whipped at Washington in week 1. Their blowout loss to the Huskies (48-13 final) was actually not as bad as it seemed. Rutgers was only -76 total yards in that game and they ran 29 more offensive plays. How did they lose so badly you ask? Big plays. The Knights gave up 2 special teams TD’s and 3 TD passes of 38, 43, and 50 yards…The Knights will face a completely different offense this week as they prepare for New Mexico’s 3 back triple-option attack. The Lobos do it with a twist however as their QB Apodaca operates out of the pistol formation. Rutgers defensive coaches this week have stated that this offense is really hard to emulate in practice…New Mexico is coming off a rivalry loss to New Mexico State last weekend 32-31 as the Lobos blew a 9-point 4th quarter lead…Dating back to the 2007 season, Rutgers is 12-21 ATS as a home favorite of -3 or higher…

Northwestern: The Wildcats have started the season in disappointing fashion losing each of their first two games to Western Michigan & Illinois State. The Cats were favored in both games. They lost those 2 games by a combined 3 points…Neither loss was a fluke as NW was had fewer first downs and were outgained in both games. For the season, mind you after playing WMU & Illinois St, two teams they expected to beat, the Cats are -21 first downs and -192 yards…Duke was upset at home last week by Wake Forest losing 24-14 as a 7-point chalk. The Devils offense moved the ball well (370 yards of offense) but shot themselves in the foot with 2 missed FG’s and 2 turnovers in Wake territory…NW beat Duke on the road last year 19-10 as a +4.5 point dog. The Cats had just 1 offensive TD, a 55-yard run, and scored on a 98 yard kick return. Duke outgained NW by 56 yards…These two top notch academic institutions have met 11 times on the gridiron since 1996 with Northwestern winning 9 of those games…

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Pac-12 Report - Week 3
September 14, 2016

2016 PAC-12 STANDINGS
Team SU Conference ATS Over/Under
Arizona 1-1 0-0 0-2 0-2
Arizona State 2-0 0-0 2-0 1-1
California 1-1 0-0 1-1 2-0
Colorado 2-0 0-0 2-0 1-1
Oregon 2-0 0-0 0-2 1-1
Oregon State 0-1 0-0 1-0 0-1
Southern California 1-1 0-0 1-1 1-1
Stanford 1-0 0-0 1-0 0-1
UCLA 1-1 0-0 0-2 1-0-1
Utah 2-0 0-0 0-2 0-2
Washington 2-0 0-0 2-0 2-0
Washington State 0-2 0-0 1-1 1-1

Arizona State at Texas-San Antonio (Fri. - ESPN2, 9:30 p.m. ET)
The Sun Devils hit the road for Texas-San Antonio after a 68-55 shootout win against Texas Tech, while UTSA looks to rebound after a 23-14 setback at Colorado State a week ago. The Roadrunners are 0-2 ATS and the 'under' has cashed in each of their two games. The 'under' hasn't been a problem for Arizona State, as they're averaging 56.0 PPG while allowing 34.0 PPG while covering each of their first two games. The Sun Devils are 2-6 ATS in their past eight road games, while going 2-6 ATS in their past eight in the month of September. The Roadrunners are 1-4 ATS in their past five non-conference games while going 1-6-1 ATS in their past eight overall.

Idaho at Washington State (Pac-12 Network, 2:00 p.m.)
Idaho was waffled at Washington by a 59-14 score last weekend in Seattle, now they take on the Evergreen State's other Pac-12 representative. The last time these teams matched up it was WaZu winning 42-0 Sept. 21, 2013. The Vandals are averaging just 17.0 PPG while allowing 38.0 PPG. The Cougars are searching for their first win of the season after losing to FCS Eastern Washington in the opener, and at Boise State last weekend. However, the Cougs were much better in Boise. They nearly pulled off the upset, losing 31-28 as a near two-touchdown underdog. The Vandals are 1-4 ATS in their past five against the Pac-12, and 1-8 ATS in their past nine in September. The Cougs are still 5-1 ATS in their past six at home despite their loss to EWU, and they're 10-2 ATS in their past 12 overall.

Colorado at Michigan (Big Ten, 3:30 p.m. ET)
The Buffaloes hit the road for the Big House to face the high-flying Wolverines. Seeing Colorado-Michigan on the schedule brings back memories of Kordell Stewart to Michael Westbrook on a Hail Mary to sadden Ann Arbor back in 1994. Colorado is off to a hot start, spanking Colorado State 44-7 and then punishing FCS Idaho State by a 56-7 count. So far the Buffs are 2-0 ATS, but they will face, by far, their stiffest test Saturday. Michigan is averaging 57.0 PPG while allowing just 8.5 PPG, and they have covered two spreads of 36 or more points with the 'over' cashing in each outing. Colorado is 3-1-1 ATS in their past five non-conference tilts, but they're 11-23-1 ATS in their past 35 road outings. Michigan has covered four straight non-conference games while going 7-3 ATS in their past 10 against teams with a winning overall record. However, they are 1-9 ATS in their past 10 tries against Pac-12 foes.

Oregon at Nebraska (ABC, 3:30 p.m.)
Perhaps this game doesn't have the interest of Florida State-Louisville, Ohio State-Oklahoma, etc. However, the Ducks meeting former Oregon State head coach Mike Riley, who is now the head man in Nebraska. How's that for a storyline? Riley coached Oregon State to a 4-10 record against Oregon. The Ducks are 27-10 ATS in their past 37 against teams with a winning record, and an amazing 22-5 ATS in their past 27 road games. However, they are 0-4 ATS in their past four non-conference games, including 0-2 ATS in their first two outings. The Huskers are 5-1 ATS in their past six non-conference battles while going 5-2 ATS in their past seven against a team with a winning record. Nebraska enters as a 3 1/2-point favorite. The 'over' is also 4-1 in Oregon's past five against a team with a winning record, and the over is 8-2 in Nebraska's past 10 non-conference games and 5-1 in their past six against teams with a winning overall mark.

Southern California at Stanford (ABC, 8:00 p.m.)
USC rebounded last week against Utah State, spanking the Aggies to make themselves feel better after being emasculated by Alabama in their opener. Stanford topped Kansas State and then had a week off, so they're fresh and ready for a visit from the Trojans. This line opened at 6 1/2 and quickly moved to 9 1/2 while the total holds steady at 53. USC is 2-6 ATS in their past eight overall, while going 7-19 ATS in their past 26 road outings. They're also 4-12 ATS in their past 16 road outings against a team with a winning home record. Stanford is 36-16-1 ATS in their past 53 conference games, and 39-18 ATS in their past 57 home games. The Trojans are 3-7 ATS in their past 10 against the Cardinal, while the road team is 9-3 ATS in the past 12 meetings. The underdog is also 8-2 ATS in the past 10 battles.

UCLA at Brigham Young (ESPN2, 10:15 p.m.)
UCLA heads to Provo looking to top BYU again. They held off the Cougars last season by a 24-23 score, averting a near disaster as 16 1/2-point favorites at the Rose Bowl. UCLA lost to Texas A&M in their opener, and rebounded with a win over UNLV. They have failed to cover in either of their outings, and they're 0-4 ATS in their past four non-conference games. BYU has covered both of their games, topping Arizona in the opener and then slipping up at Utah in the Holy War last week, electing to go for two in the final moments rather than kick an extra point and battle in overtime. The 'under' is 2-0 for BYU so far.

Texas at California (ESPN, 10:30 p.m.)
The Longhorns are climbing in the rankings after spanking Texas-El Paso last week, covering for the second time in as many games. California will be back home after dropping one at San Diego State last week against Heisman dark horse Donnel Pumphrey. The Bears were locked in a shootout last week, losing 45-40, and they figure to see more of the same against a Texas team averaged 45.5 PPG. Remember, the last time these two teams faced each other Sept.. 19, 2015, it was Cal coming away with a 45-44 win in Austin courtesy of a missed extra point. In this one, Texas is a much better team, while California isn't nearly as dangerous. Texas opened as a touchdown favorite and the line climbed to eight. The total is just shy of 80.

Hawai'i at Arizona (Pac-12 Network, 10:45 p.m.)
Hawai'i plays its fourth game of the season already, having lost to California in Sydney and Michigan in Ann Arbor. They are coming off a win against FCS Tennessee-Martin to make them feel better, but now it's back to reality in Tucson this weekend. Arizona was dumped by BYU in their opener before narrowly avoiding disaster against FCS Gramling State last weekend. The Wildcats have failed to cover in two games, and the 'under' has cashed in each outing. Hawai'i is 1-5 ATS in their past six road games, while going 1-7 ATS in their past eight overall. Arizona is just 2-9 ATS in their past 11 games in the month of September, while going 2-7 ATS in their nine non-conference battles.

Other Games
Idaho State at Oregon State (Pac-12 Network, 5:00 p.m.)
Portland State at Washington (Pac-12 Network, 8:00 p.m.)
Utah at San Jose State (CBS Sports Network, 10:30 p.m.)

Other Games -- NOTES
Oregon State is looking to rebound after a loss at Minnesota in their opener Sept. 1. They've had 16 days to rebound and get prepare for Idaho State in what should be their first win of the season. Idaho State was hammered last weekend by Colorado by a 56-7 score last weekend. ... Portland State heads to Seattle to battle U-Dub for the first time since Sept. 15, 2012 when the Huskies came away with a 52-13 win. That Washington team paled in comparison to this season's squad, which has lofty expectations. Washington has covered both of their games while averaging 53.5 PPG and allowed 13.5 PPG and the 'over' has cashed in each. ... Utah heads to the Bay Area to meet San Jose State, and they enter as near two-touchdown favorites. The Utes are 4-1 ATS in their past five battles against Mountain West foes, and they're 11-3 ATS in their past 14 non-conference games. The Spartans are 1-1 ATS in two non-conference games this season, and 19-9 ATS in their past 28 outside the MWC. They're just 2-9 ATS in their past 11 against teams with a winning overall mark.

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ACC Report - Week 3
September 14, 2016

2016 ACC STANDINGS
Team SU Conference ATS Over/Under
Boston College 1-1 0-1 1-0-1 0-2
Clemson 2-0 0-0 0-2 0-2
Duke 1-1 0-1 1-1 0-2
Florida State 2-0 0-0 1-0 1-0
Georgia Tech 2-0 1-0 0-0-1 0-1
Louisville 2-0 1-0 2-0 2-0
Miami (Fla.) 2-0 0-0 2-0 1-1
North Carolina 1-1 0-0 1-1 1-1
North Carolina State 1-1 0-0 1-1 1-0-1
Pittsburgh 2-0 0-0 0-2 1-1
Syracuse 1-1 0-1 1-1 1-1
Virginia 0-2 0-0 1-1 0-1-1
Virginia Tech 1-1 0-0 0-2 1-1
Wake Forest 2-0 1-0 1-1 0-2

Florida State at Louisville (ABC, 12:00 p.m. ET)
We're going to find out a lot about Louisville Saturday afternoon, as ESPN's College Gameday visits for the first time in the program's history. More importantly, we're going to find out if Lamar Jackson is ready for prime time or still needs some seasoning. He has been putting up video game-like numbers in the first two outings, but a visit from Florida State's battle-tested defense is a different story. The Seminoles opened as 3 1/2-point favorites and it has been bet down to 2 at most shops, with more movement to come. The 'Noles are 4-1 ATS in their past five ACC games, and 5-2 ATS in their past seven road outings against teams with a winning home record. The Cardinals are 5-2 ATS in their past seven home games dating back to last season. The 'over' is 7-2 in FSU's past nine on fieldturf, while the 'under' is 9-3 in their past 12 ACC battles. The 'over' is 4-0 in the past four on fieldturf and 4-0 in the past in the ACC for the Cards.

Miami-Florida at Appalachian State (ESPN, 12:00 p.m. ET)
Miami invades Kidd Brewer Stadium in Boone, N.C. for perhaps the biggest game in Appalachian State's history. Well, the biggest game outside of their upset win at Michigan as an FCS squad. App State is an FBS team now in the Sun Belt Conference, and they're looking to make headlines again. The Mountaineers nearly pulled off an upset at Tennessee, taking the Vols to overtime before succumbing 20-13. Miami has rolled through Florida A&M and Florida Atlantic at home, going 2-0 ATS in the process. The line for this game opened at 4 1/2 and slipped to 3 1/2 as of Tuesday night. Can the Mountaineers shut down the speedy Hurricanes? Miami is 5-1 ATS in their past six games in September, while App State is 0-5 ATS in their past five following a straight up win and 1-4 ATS in their past five at home.

Vanderbilt at Georgia Tech (ACC Network, 12:30 p.m. ET)
Vandy goes from the capital of Tennessee to the capital of Georgia to battle the Ramblin' Wreck. Anyone going to this game have a slaw dog for me at The Varsity and tell me all about it. The Commodores are 14-6 ATS in their past 20 road games, and 12-4 ATS in their past 16 on the road against teams with a winning home record. The Yellow Jackets are 13-6-1 ATS in their past 20 in September, but just 1-4 ATS in their past five at home, 2-5 ATS in their past seven against the SEC and 1-9-1 ATS in their past 11 games overall. The trends point to an 'under' result, as the under is 7-1 in Vandy's past eight on the road and 7-2 in their past nine against teams with an overall winning record. The under is 5-1 in Ga. Tech's past six and 5-2 in their past seven against SEC foes. The line for this game is set at Georgia Tech -6 1/2 points and a total of 43.

Virgnia at Connecitcut (ESPN3, 1:30 p.m.)
Virginia heads to UConn searching for their first taste of victory after an extremely disappointing opening game loss to FCS Richmond, and a drubbing at the hands of Oregon at Autzen last weekend. UConn nearly met the same fate in their opener, edging FCS Maine 24-21 despite entering as a 27-point favorite. The Huskies played Navy tough in Annapolis, but were dumped 28-24. The 'over' has connected in each of UConn's first two games while going 0-2 ATS. The Cavaliers are also 0-2 ATS in their first two games, so something's gotta give. Connecticuts enters as 4 1/2-point favorite with a total of 48 1/2.

Boston College at Virginia Tech (ESPNU, 3:30 p.m.)
The Eagles head to Blacksburg for their second conference game of the season already, while the Hokies look to rebound after Tennessee raced past them at Bristol Motor Speedway last weekend. The Eagles have already been to Ireland and Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, and now head to Virginia, failing to play a game on campus yet. They're 5-1 ATS in their past six games on the road, including last weekend's cover against UMass. The Hokies have covered just once in the past five at Lane Stadium, and they're a dismal 5-16-1 ATS in their past 22 in the month of September. Boston College has owned this series, at least against the number, going 4-1 ATS in the past five, and 8-3 ATS in their past 11 trips to Blacksburg. The underdog is also 4-1 ATS in the past five.

Pittsburgh at Oklahoma State (ESPN, 3:30 p.m.)
The Panthers outlasted Penn State in an emotional rivalry game, and now turn around for another difficult matchup on the road. Oklahoma State was jobbed by the refs last weekend before falling on a miraculous hook and ladder play against Central Michigan that should have never been allowed to occur. OK State enters as a six-point favorite, and they should be mighty angry after their loss last weekend. Pittsburgh is 6-2 ATS in their past eight road games, but just 2-6 ATS in their past eight in September and 0-4 ATS in their past four non-conference tilts. OK State is 0-4 ATS in their past four against teams with a winning record, and 2-8 ATS in their past 10 after a straight-up loss.

South Florida at Syracuse (ACC Network, 3:30 p.m.)
South Florida tuned up Northern Illinois at the Ray Jay last weekend, now they hit the road for the Carrier Dome against a Syracuse team which served as punching bag for Lamar Jackson and Louisville last Friday. USF has been hot against the number, covering six of their past seven in the month of September, 6-2 ATS in their past eight non-conference games and 5-2 ATS in their past seven on the road. The Orange is still 5-2 ATS in their past seven against winning teams despite being manhandled last weekend, and they're 5-1 ATS in their past six under the dome. however, they are just 3-7 ATS in their past 10 games following a double-digit loss at home.

Old Dominion at North Carolina State (ACC Network, 6:00 p.m.)
Old Dominion pummeled FCS Hampton in their opener to cover a 24-point line, and then were smashed at App State 31-7. N.C. State returns home from the coastal plain after being dumped by East Carolina last weekend. These sides met last season in Virginia, with the Wolfpack pushing aside the Monarchs 38-14 to cover a 17-point number. The last time these teams met in Raleigh, ODU covered a 15 1/2-point number in a 46-34 loss, but that was also with their former dynamic QB Taylor Heinicke, who now carries a clipboard on Sundays for the Minnesota Vikings. N.C. State enters as a 21 1/2-point favorite with a total of 58. ODU is 1-7 ATS in their past eight non-conference tilts, and 1-5 ATS in their past six on the road. The Wolfpack are 8-2 ATS in their past 10 non-conference battles despite last weekend's debacle, but they're just 1-4 ATS in their past five at Carter-Finley.

Duke at Northwestern (Big Ten, 8:00 p.m.)
Duke looks to rebound after taking it on the chin 24-14 to Wake Forest in Durham. Northwestern has really struggled to open the season, falling by a point in their opener to Western Michigan before being stunned by FCS Illinois State in a defensive slog last weekend. The Wildcats are averaging 14.0 PPG with two 'under' results and they're 0-2 ATS. The Blue Devils have split their first two games with a pair of 'under' results. The last time these clubs met, it was Northwestern winning 19-10 at Wallace Wade Stadium Sept. 17, 2016, in a game I actually attended. You can expect another low-scoring battle in Evanston between two disjointed offensive units.

Other Games
South Carolina State at Clemson (ACC Network, 12:00 p.m.)
James Madison at North Carolina (ACC Network. 3:30 p.m.)
Delaware at Wake Forest (ACC Network, 6:30 p.m.)

Other Games -- NOTES
Clemson was nearly tripped up by Troy last weekend. Look for the Tigers, 0-2 ATS, to get on track against an in-state FCS foe. The last time these squads met it was a 73-7 lesson that the Bulldogs are likely still feeling. SCSU enters 0-2, having lost to UCF 38-0 in their opener Sept. 3, and 53-24 to Louisiana Tech last weekend. ... UNC handled their business, topping a Power 5 team on the road, albeit a bottom-feeder in Illinois. Now, the Tar Heels take another breather against the Dukes of James Madison. The Dukes are averaging 68.0 points per game, including an 80-spot against Morehead State in their opener. ... Wake Forest is suddenly thinking bowl after winning at Duke to move to 2-0. A win against the Blue Hens and they're halfway home to bowl eligibility in mid-September.

[StarDust Bum]

Best Bets - Week 3
September 15, 2016

There are some huge games on the college football schedule this week as potential playoff aspirations for the likes of Oklahoma and Notre Dame would be dashed with another loss.

Alabama is in Mississippi with double revenge after losing to Ole Miss the past two seasons, and we can't forget about the huge matchup between Florida State and Louisville.

Ranked vs. Ranked games typically generate the most headlines, but savvy college football bettors know that there is often much more value elsewhere on the board, and that's where I'm looking with this week's best bets.

Best Bet #1: Oklahoma State -4.5

By all accounts the Oklahoma State Cowboys got screwed out of a victory last week thanks to an improper application of a rule giving Central Michigan one untimed down. Central Michigan made the most of it with a Hail Mary-lateral play for the game winning TD, sparking a tremendous amount of controversy.

Even with the misapplication of the rules, Oklahoma State should have never put themselves in that position as they could have simply ran around the field on their 4th down play for 4 seconds to run out the clock, rather than simply chuck it up and get the intentional grounding flag.

It was poor game management by the entire OK State staff and players, and bettors are already looking to go against them this week (line has moved from -6.5 to current number) after that type of defeat.

However, going the other way and backing OK State is the better bet here as this team knows they were wronged and are anxious to take out their frustrations on somebody. Enter Pittsburgh, fresh off a 3-point victory over old rival Penn State.

Pittsburgh's offense surprised many by putting up 42 points on the Nittany Lions a week ago (the total in that game was 44), but they'll have a tough time matching points with a high-powered Cowboys team that is pissed off.

Pittsburgh is on an 0-4 ATS run in non-conference games and have a 1-4 ATS run going when coming off a win.

Stylistically this is a very tough matchup for Pitt and when you add in the mindset of this OK State team right now, expect the Cowboys to rattle off a double digit victory here.

Best Bet #2: California +7.5

Cal finally gets to play a home game this year after opening up the campaign in Australia a few weeks ago and losing (but covering) in San Diego State last week.

The Golden Bears welcome in a Texas team that has been a great story in CFB so far this year, but this is an absolutely brutal spot for the Longhorns to be laying more than a TD.

Texas has put up 91 points in their two victories so far and this game should be another high-scoring game. The Longhorns do have the revenge angle in their favor after losing 45-44 in a wild game vs. Cal last season, but with this being the start of a three-game road trip for Texas with Oklahoma State and Oklahoma on deck, there is a solid chance Texas has one eye on opening up their conference schedule next week.

If this game was in the -3.5 to -4.5 range the tune might be a little different, but Texas laying -7.5 points here is simply too much.

Texas is just 1-4 ATS in their last five on the road, and last week's cover vs. UTEP was just the third time in the past 12 games that Texas has won ATS after scoring 40+ points.

The Longhorns put up 40 points in last week's victory so that same negative scenario applies here.

[StarDust Bum]

Friday's Tip Sheet
September 14, 2016


**Baylor at Rice**

-- As of early Wednesday, most books had Baylor (2-0 straight up, 0-2 against the spread) installed as a 30.5-point favorite with a total of 65.5 points. One offshore shop, *** Global, had the Owls with 45/1 money-line odds.

-- After failing to cover in its first two games, Baylor is mired in a 2-7 ATS slump in its last nine outings dating back to last season.

-- Jim Grobe’s team beat Northwestern State 55-7 as a 50-point home favorite in its season opener on Sept. 2. The Bears led 48-0 at intermission and went ahead of the number with a 55-0 advantage on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Blake Lynch to Zach Smith with 11:13 left in the third quarter. However, the Demons scored late in the third quarter and they took the cash when both teams went scoreless in the final stanza.

-- Baylor’s defense limited Northwestern State to 78 yards of total offense. Senior quarterback Seth Russell connected on 14-of-20 passes for 163 yards and four TDs without an interception. Shock Linwood rushed for 97 yards on nine carries, while Terrence Williams ran for 72 yards and a pair of TDs on 11 carries.

-- Baylor didn’t have it as easy when it hosted SMU in Week 2 last Saturday. In fact, the Mustangs advanced into the red zone twice in the first quarter, setting line for short field goals and a 6-0 lead. The Bears pulled even with Chris Callahan’s second field goal with 1:15 left until halftime. At this point, I was extremely tempted to fire down on Baylor as a 16.5-point favorite for second-half wagers, but I inexplicably passed on this great opportunity. The Bears scored three quick TDs to go ahead 26-6 with 4:55 left in the third quarter. The Mustangs would answer with a TD to trim the deficit to 26-13 with 2:40 remaining in the third quarter. But Baylor tacked on two more scores en route to a 40-13 victory. It failed to cover the number for the game (-34.5), but easily cashed tickets for second-half supporters.

-- Rice (0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS) has posted a pair of 10-win seasons during David Bailiff’s 10-year tenure. The Owls went to three consecutive bowl games from 2012-2014, but that streak was snapped when they limped to a 5-7 finish. They’ve been to the postseason four times under Bailiff, winning three bowl games.

-- Rice returned seven starters on offense and nine on defense from last year’s team. Nevertheless, it has lost both of its first two games by lopsided margins. In the opener at Western Ky. on a Thursday, the Owls lost 46-14 as 19-point road underdogs. Rice gave up 649 yards of offense to the Hilltoppers. Senior QB Tyler Stehling threw for 183 yards but was intercepted twice. Stehling rushed for a team-high 85 yards and one TD on just 11 carries.

-- Rice was on the road again last week, dropping a 31-14 decision at Army as an 8.5-point underdog. The Owls were minus two in the turnover department for a second straight week. Stehling completed 16-of-30 passes for 197 yards with one TD and an interception. Darik Dillard ran for a team-best 52 yards on eight carries.

-- The ‘under’ has cashed in both of Rice’s games to date.

-- Rice owns an 11-11-2 spread record in 24 games as a home underdog on Bailiff’s watch.

-- Baylor senior starting CB Ryan Reid is ‘questionable’ at Rice with an ankle injury. Reid has 69 career tackles, 20 passes broken up, three interceptions, three forced fumbles and one tackle for loss.

-- Since 1993, Baylor owns a 7-0 record both SU and ATS in head-to-head meetings against Rice, winning the last five games by 17 points or more. The Owls last beat the Bears in 1992 by a 34-31 count as 1.5-point home underdogs. These schools met last year in Waco with Baylor capturing a 70-17 victory as a 33-point home ‘chalk.’ Russell completed 12-of-16 passes for 277 yards and six TDs without an interception, while Shock Linwood rushed 16 times for 158 yards and one TD.

-- The ‘over’ is 3-1 in the last four head-to-head encounters between these in-state rivals.

-- Kickoff is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.

**Arkansas State at Utah State**

-- Two of college football’s top-tier mid-major programs are set to collide Friday night in Logan, with both schools in dire need of a victory. As of early Wednesday, most spots had the Aggies listed as nine-point favorites with a total of 56.5 points. The Red Wolves were available for a +280 payout if they win outright (risk $100 to win $280). For first-half bets, Utah State was favored by six at a few offshore shops, but there wasn’t a total yet.

-- Arkansas State (0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS) has to be one of the nation’s most disappointing teams at this early date. The Red Wolves brought back six starters on offense and seven on defense from a team that went 9-4 SU and 8-5 ATS. They also added a former five-star recruit in Alabama transfer DT Dee Liner, in addition to former All-American return man Cameron Echols-Luper from TCU. Other additions included QB Chad Voytik, a grad transfer and former starter at Pitt, and WR Kendall Sanders, a former four-star recruit who started seven games at Texas before sitting out last year per transfer rules.

-- Arkansas State opened the year at home as a 4.5-point favorite versus Toledo, which had run the Red Wolves out of The Glass Bowl by a 37-7 count in 2015. But the revenge angle didn’t matter, as the Rockets dealt out woodshed treatment again. This time around, Toledo easily won 31-10, cashing money-line tickets in the +160 neighborhood. The Rockets enjoyed 556-266 and 24-13 advantages in total offense and first downs, respectively. Voytik completed just 11-of-24 passes for 124 yards. The Red Wolves were plus two in turnover margin, but it didn’t help.

-- In Week 2, Blake Anderson’s squad took a 51-14 shellacking at Auburn as a 20.5-point underdog. The 65 combined points soared ‘over’ the 51-point total. Arkansas State allowed 706 yards of total offense to an AU team that hasn’t exactly been producing points galore recently. On the bright side, Voytik played better by connecting on 15-of-21 throws for 215 yards. He also ran for both of the Red Wolves’ TDs.

-- Liner hasn’t had much of an impact yet, recording four tackles and one QB hurry. Sanders has only one catch for three yards.

-- Arkansas State has posted a 2-4 spread record in six games as a road underdog during Anderson’s three-year tenure.

-- Utah State (1-1 SU, 1-1 ATS) trashed Weber State 45-6 in its opener as a 21-point home favorite. Devante Mays was the catalyst with 208 rushing yards and three TDs on 18 carries.

-- Matt Wells’s team went to The Coliseum to face Southern Cal in his first season in 2013, losing 17-14 but covering the number as a six-point underdog. But it was a different story last weekend when Utah State caught the Trojans in a foul mood one week after being decimated by Alabama at Jerry World. USC cruised to a 45-7 victory as a 15.5-point home ‘chalk.’ The 52 combined points dipped ‘under’ the 54.5-point total. Mays was limited to 24 yards on eight carries before he was forced to leave the game with an ankle injury. Kent Myers completed 25-of-37 passes for 204 yards with one TD and one interception.

-- Mays is ‘questionable’ vs. Arkansas State due to the ankle injury. Also, Utah State senior starting CB Daniel Gray (neck) is listed as ‘doubtful.’

-- Utah State owns a 9-7 spread record in 16 game as a home favorite during Wells’s tenure.

-- The CBS Sports College Network will provide the broadcast at 9:00 p.m. Eastern.

**Arizona State at Texas-San Antonio**

-- As of early Wednesday, most books had Arizona State (2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS) as a 19-point favorite with a total of 60. Sportsbook.ag had the Roadrunners with 10/1 odds to win outright (risk $100 to win $1,000).

-- Todd Graham’s squad picked up a solid non-conference win in Week 2 when it captured a 68-55 victory over Texas Tech as a one-point home underdog. The 123 combined points roared past and ‘over’ the 80-point tally. Manny Wilkins completed 28-of-37 passes for 351 yards and two TDs without an interception. Wilkins also ran for 55 yards on 10 totes. Kalen Ballage enjoyed a career night by rushing for seven TDs and 137 yards on just 13 carries. Demario Richard ran 30 times for 109 rushing yards, while Ballage also had two receptions for 48 yards and another TD. N’Keal Harry, the true freshman who was the prize of Graham’s 2016 recruiting haul, had six catches for 72 yards and one TD.

-- In its season opener, ASU thumped No. Arizona by a 44-13 score as a 27-point home ‘chalk.’ The 57 combined points remained ‘under’ the 76-point total. The Sun Devils led by just seven (10-3) at intermission and they weren’t looking good to cover with a 20-6 advantage going into the final stanza. But they outscored No. Arizona 24-7 in the fourth quarter to take the cash. ASU went ahead of the number for the first time with 2:46 left thanks to a 12-yard TD scamper from Nick Ralston. Wilkins threw for 180 yards and one interception, but he rushed for a team-high 89 yards and one score on 14 carries. Richard had 78 rushing yards and one TD on 19 totes, while Ballage had 56 rushing yards and one TD on 10 carries. Tim White had nine receptions for 95 yards.

-- ASU has compiled a 6-3 spread record in nine games as a road favorite during Graham’s five-year tenure.

-- ASU might be without its two leading tacklers from last season. LB Salamo Fiso remained suspended, while LB Christian Sam is ‘questionable’ with a foot injury. Fiso had 99 tackles, 15.5 TFL’s, 4.5 sacks and one interception in ’15, while Sam had 98 tackles, three sacks, three TFL’s and one interception last year.

-- UTSA (1-1 SU, 0-2 ATS) opened the year by beating Alabama State 26-13 as a 24-point home ‘chalk.’ Junior QB Dalton Sturm connected on 20-of-25 passes for 274 yards and two TDs with one interception. Sturm rushed for 52 yards and another score on just three attempts. Jalen Rhodes ran for a team-best 78 yards and one TD on 16 carries.

-- UTSA went on the road in Week 2 and dropped a 23-14 decision to Colorado State for a frustrating ATS loss as an 8.5-point underdog. The Rams covered the number thanks to a 46-yard field goal with 2:24 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Roadrunners went 0-for-3 on fourth-down plays. Sturm completed 15-of-23 passes for 176 yards and two TDs with one interception. The ground game for UTSA was a joke, though, as it had minus one yards on 34 attempts. Sacks led to Sturm accounting for -57 yards on 10 attempts. Rhodes was limited to 39 rushing yards on 13 carries, though he did have five catches for 54 yards.

-- UTSA is 5-5 ATS in 10 games as a home underdog in the program’s brief history.

-- Arizona State has lost outright in seven of its last eight road openers.

-- ESPN2 will have the telecast at 9:30 p.m. Eastern.