The Bum's 2017 College Football Picks-Trends-News Etc. !

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Saturday's best
September 9, 2017

STARS

-Lamar Jackson, Louisville, accounted for 525 total yards and six TDs to help the No. 17 Cardinals pull away late and beat North Carolina 47-35.

-Shea Patterson, Mississippi, threw for a school-record 489 yards and five TDs as the Rebels rallied from a second-quarter deficit to defeat UT Martin 45-23.

-Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma, threw for 386 yards and three TDs as the No. 5 Sooners pulled ahead in the second half to knock off No. 2 Ohio State 31-16.

-Shane Morris, Central Michigan, threw for 467 yards and five TDs in a 45-27 victory over Kansas.

-Will Grier, West Virginia, threw for 352 yards and five TDs in a 56-20 victory over East Carolina.

-Royce Freeman, Oregon, rushed for 153 yards and two scores as the Ducks spoiled Mike Riley's state homecoming with a 42-35 victory over Nebraska.

-D'Angelo Brewer, Tulsa, rushed for a career-high 262 yards and three TDs to help the Golden Hurricane beat Louisiana 66-42.

-Daniel Jones, Duke, accounted for 413 yards and four TDs, and the Blue Devils cruised to a 41-17 victory over Northwestern.

-Patrick Laird, California, ran for 191 yards and three TDs to help the Bears overcome a lackluster performance with a late rally to beat lower-level Weber State 33-20.

-Josh Mack, Maine, ran for 255 yards and three TDs in a 60-12 win over Bryant.

-Josh Rosen, UCLA, was 22 of 25 for 329 yards and a career-high five touchdown passes as the Bruins defeated Hawaii 56-23.

-Jalen Hurts, Alabama, ran for 154 yards and two TDs, and passed for a third score in the top-ranked Crimson Tide's 41-10 victory over Fresno State.

-Bryan Schor, James Madison, threw for 304 yards and a career-tying five TDs in a 52-10 victory over East Tennessee State.

-Chris Warren III, Texas, ran for 166 yards and two TDs to help the Longhorns beat San Jose State 56-0.

-Tyler Rogers, New Mexico State, threw for 401 yards and four TDs to help the Aggies beat New Mexico 30-28.

-Lexington Thomas, UNLV, had a career-high 190 yards rushing and three TDs, leading the Rebels to a 44-16 win over Idaho.

-Grant Kraemer, Drake, tied a school record with six TD passes in a 55-14 win over NAIA Southwestern College.

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STELLAR JACKSON

Lamar Jackson shrugged off preseason questions about his chances of becoming only the second two-time Heisman Trophy winner, saying it wasn't a focus when he won it last year, nor would it be this fall.

That approach is working just fine, too.

Jackson accounted for 525 total yards and six touchdowns to help No. 17 Louisville pull away late and beat North Carolina 47-35 on Saturday, giving him more than 1,000 yards of total offense in two games.

The junior threw for 393 yards and three scores while also running for 132 yards and three TDs. The last came on a spinning-through-tacklers 11-yard run with 3:06 left to punctuate a dominant fourth-quarter effort by the Cardinals.

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PLANTING THE FLAG

After dismantling Ohio State on the road, Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield sprinted around the field waving a Sooners flag before stopping to emphatically plant it in the middle of the huge block ''O'' at midfield as his teammates cheered.

Mayfield figured he owed it to the Buckeyes, who beat up the Sooners in Norman last year and then stuck around to embarrass them by singing the Ohio State alma mater on the field. This time, Mayfield flipped the script, looking the part of a Heisman Trophy candidate in leading the No. 5 Sooners to a 31-16 thumping of the sluggish and mistake-prone No. 2 Buckeyes at Ohio Stadium.

Ohio State's title hopes didn't evaporate, but the Buckeyes will have to solve myriad offensive mistakes and play much better to get back in the hunt for the College Football Playoff.

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NUMBERS

7-Punt returns for touchdowns by Washington's Dante Pettis , a Pac-12 record, after racing 67 yards for a score in a 63-7 win over Montana.

14-Straight wins by James Madison , the longest winning streak in FBS or FCS.

60-Years since Maryland scored at least 63 points until a 63-17 rout of in-state foe Towson.

778-Total yards by Western Carolina in its 63-17 win over Davidson, breaking the school record.

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THIRD AND 93

An already tough day for Louisiana Tech got even worse Saturday when it lost an amazing 87 yards on a fumble in the fourth quarter.

Louisiana Tech was driving when a fumble at the 6-yard line set off a wild scrum as players grabbed at the football. Multiple Mississippi State players tried to pick it up, but instead ended up continually kicking it downfield until Louisiana Tech recovered at its own 7-yard line.

The result: 3rd and 93.

Not surprisingly, Louisiana Tech did not convert.

Mississippi State was leading 57-14 at the time of the fumble.

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PENN STATE'S PAYBACK

James Franklin kept trying to downplay the importance of Penn State's meeting with Pittsburgh. The most important game in the universe to be sure, the coach said in the run-up to the 98th meeting between the two schools just 140 miles apart. But only because it was the only one his team had this week.

Funny, Franklin's players didn't quite see it the same way.

A year after a loss to the Panthers ended up playing a role in keeping them out of the College Football Playoff, the fourth-ranked Nittany Lions exacted a bit of revenge with a 33-14 victory that looked more lopsided on the scoreboard than it appeared at times on the field.

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CFB Aug/Sept Best Bets: ( All Best Bets Based On 5 Units Per Play )

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

09/09/2017 19-21-3 47.50% -20.50

09/08/2017 4-0-0 100.00% +20.00

09/07/2017 0-1-0 0.00% -5.50

09/04/2017 1-1-0 50.00% -0.50

09/03/2017 3-1-0 75.00% +9.50

09/02/2017 11-21-0 34.38% -60.50

09/01/2017 6-3-0 66.67% +13.50

08/31/2017 9-4-0 69.23% +23.00

08/26/2017 5-5-0 50.00% -2.50

Totals:..........58 - 57 - 3........50.43%....-23.50

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Betting Recap - Week 2
September 10, 2017

Overall Notes

COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 2 RESULTS

WAGER Favorites-Underdogs
Straight Up 55-16
Against the Spread 28-42-1

WAGER Home-Away
Straight Up 46-25
Against the Spread 22-48-1

WAGER Totals (O/U)
Over-Under 23-48

The largest underdogs to win straight up
Texas-San Antonio (+11, ML +325) at Baylor, 17-10
Middle Tennessee (+8, ML +250) at Syracuse, 30-23
New Hampshire (+7.5, ML +250) at Georgia Southern, 22-12
New Mexico State (+7.5, ML +240) at New Mexico, 30-28
Oklahoma (+7.5, ML +250) at Ohio State, 31-16

The largest favorites to cover
Akron (-48.5) vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 52-3
Washington (-39) vs. Montana, 63-7
Kansas State (-34.5) vs. Charlotte, 55-7
Utah State (-34.5) vs. Idaho State, 51-13

Top 25 Notes

-- The big story of the weekend was Oklahoma handing Ohio State a loss in the Horseshoe, 31-16, avenging last season's embarrassing loss in Norman. Not only are the Sooners 2-0 SU, but they have covered each of their games, too. Next up is a meeting with Tulane, a side that is also surprisingly 2-0 ATS. ... In the battle of the Tigers in Death Valley it Clemson easing by Auburn in a low-scoring affair, 14-6. The defending national champions have allowed a total of three field goals through two games, going 2-0 ATS to start. ... Georgia fans and alumni were fired up for their trip to Notre Dame, and the Bulldogs treated their throng of supporters to an exciting 20-19 victory, as the Dawgs are 2-0 SU/ATS out of the chute. ... Southern California scored 14 points in the first, second and fourth quarters in their dismantling of Stanford, winning 42-24. The 'over' has connected in each of USC's games so far, as they're averaging 45.5 PPG through two.

-- Alabama rolled to a 41-10 win against Fresno State, although the visiting Bulldogs were able to pick up their second cover in as many weeks. The Crimson Tide defense has been stiff as usual, allowing just 8.5 PPG. The 'under' has connected in each of their outings todate.

-- Louisville posted an impressive 47-35 victory at North Carolina, led by defending Heisman Trophy champion QB Lamar Jackson. The Cardinals offense is not the problem, averaging 41.0 PPG, but their defense continues to be a question mark. Louisville has allowed 31.5 PPG, and that's something to watch heading into next week's showdown with Clemson.

-- Louisiana State were rude hosts to Chattanooga, winning 45-10. The Tigers are averaging 36.0 PPG while yielding just 5.0 PPG through two outings. TheTigers ended up pushing on a 35-point number at most shops, and they're now 1-0-1 ATS through the first two weekends.

-- Several games were impacted by Hurricane Irma, including the Miami (Florida)-Arkansas State, South Florida-Connecticut, Northern Colorado-Florida, La. Monroe-Florida State and Memphis-UCF games which were postponed. The game between Alcorn State-Florida International was pushed up to Friday night, with FIU earning the first win for Butch Davis as coach of the program.

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

-- Duke is off to a hot start. While their 60-7 win against FCS North Carolina Central last weekend was impressive, it paled in comparison to the sharp outing against Northwestern on Saturday. The Blue Devils allowed just 191 total yards, moving to 2-0 SU/ATS with the 'over' also going 2-0. ... Pittsburgh slipped behind 14-0 after the first quarter and they were unable to recover at Penn State, losing 33-14. The 'under' is 2-0 through two games for the Panthers, as their offense is averaging just 21.0 PPG. ... Wake Forest is off to a 2-0 start, routing Boston College by a 34-10 in the ACC opener for both teams. The Demon Deacons are 2-0 ATS, averaging 42.5 PPG.

-- After a disastrous 3-9 season in 2016, Michigan State looks to be back to normal. They topped a solid Western Michigan side by a 28-14 score, covering for the second consecutive week. The 'under' is also 2-0, as they have allowed just 12.0 PPG so far. ... In one of the more entertaining games of the day, Iowa erased a 10-point deficit to forced overtime, eventually winning 44-41. ... Maryland is off to a hot and expected start, topping FCS Towson by a 63-17 score. The Terps are 2-0 SU/ATS, avearging 57.0 PPG through two outings. ... Rutgers is off to an 0-2 SU start after falling at home to Eastern Michigan, 16-13. The 'under' is 2-0 so far for the Scarlet Knights.

-- Baylor continues their stumble out of the gate. Last week they were dropped by FCS Liberty. This week, it was Texas-San Antonio collecting its first-ever win against a Power 5 school, 17-10. The Bears are 0-2 SU/ATS. ... Kansas led 3-0 against Central Michigan after the first quarter, but they were pounded for 24 points in the second quarter and were never able to record. The Jayhawks still haven't won consecutive games since 2011. ... Texas Christian continues to play lockdown defense. While a 63-0 win against FCS Jackson State was impressive, a 28-7 win at Arkansas proved their defense is going to be solid. The 'under' has hit in each of TCU's two games so far.

-- UCLA didn't have any type of hangover after their excitcing win over Texas A&M last week. They fired out of the chute, grabbing a 14-0 lead over Hawaii after 15 minutes and they never looked back. The 'over' is 2-0 through two games for the Bruins, as they're averaging 50.5 PPG on offense. ... Oregon State had its doors blown off at home, losing to Minnesota 48-14 at home. The Beavers are a dismal 0-3 ATS so far, and the 'over' is 3-0. Their defense has been hammered for 46.0 PPG. Next up is a trip to Washington State, a team 0-2 ATS so far, but averaging 39.0 PPG.

-- Mississippi posted a 45-23 victory against Tennessee-Martin. Still, the Rebels are 0-2 ATS through their first two outings. ... Vanderbilt is averaging 35.0 PPG through two outings, and they have allowed just six total points. As such, the 'under' has cashed in each of their outings. ... Kentucky has scratched out a pair of wins through the first two weekends, but they've failed to cover in each. The 'under' is also a perfect 2-0 so far. ... South Carolina is off to an impressive start, posting a 31-13 win at Missouri. The Gamecocks held down a Tigers offense which had a 500-yard passer and 200-yard rusher last week. South Carolina is 2-0 SU/ATS, and the 'under' has also cashed in each of the battles.

Mid-Major Report

-- East Carolina's struggles continue, as they fell 56-20 at West Virginia. The Pirates are off to a horrendous 0-2 SU/ATS start, losing to the Mountaineers after getting whipped at home last week to FCS James Madison. ... Tulsa topped Louisiana-Lafayette 66-42, but they defense continues to struggle. The 'over' has connected in each of their outings. ... Houston had their opener postponed due to the aftermath from Hurricane Harvey, so they made their first appearance of the season in Arizona on Saturday. It was worth the wait, as the Cougars topped the Wildcats 19-16.

-- Charlotte slipped up 55-7 at Kansas State, as the 49ers are a dismal 0-2 SU/ATS while averaging just 7.0 PPG through two weekends. ... Middle Tennessee recovered after an opening game home loss to Vanderbilt, posting a 30-23 win at Syracuse as 7 1/2-point underdogs. The 'under' has cashed in each of their first two games, a departure from last season when the 'over' was 7-1 in the final eight games for the Blue Raiders.

-- Ball State whipped visiting Alabama-Birmingham by a 51-31 count, covering for the second time in as many outings. ... Bowling Green is off to a terrible start, and it got worse Saturday. They were tripped up 35-27 at home against FCS South Dakota. The Falcons are 0-2 SU/ATS, and the 'under' is 2-0 despite the fact they're allowing 35.0 PPG. ... Buffalo slipped to 0-2 SU on the season with a 21-17 loss at Army, but the Bulls are a solid 2-0 ATS. Their defense is allowing a respectable 19.0 PPG, so the 'under' is also 2-0.

-- New Mexico State fired out to a 30-5 lead at New Mexico heading to the fourth quarter, but they had to hang on. The Lobos cut the lead to 30-28 with 1:11 to go in regulation, but they failed on a two-point conversion to fall just short in their comeback. The Aggies are now a respectable 2-0 ATS so far. ... UNLV rebounded nicely in their trip to Idaho, winning 44-16 after being stunned at home by FCS Howard. Offense hasn't been a problem for the Runnin' Rebels, as they're averaging 42.0 PPG.

-- Georgia Southern was tripped up by FCS New Hampshire, 22-12. The Eagles are 0-2 SU/0-1-1 ATS and the 'under' is 2-0, as they've averaging just 9.5 PPG through two outings. ... Texas State was overmatched in their trip to Colorado, losing 37-3. The 'under' has hit in each of the first two games for the Bobcats.

Bad Beats

-- Oregon side bettors (+14) were feeling pretty good at halftime, as the Ducks lead the Cornhuskers by a 42-14 score. However, Nebraska turned the tables and outscored Oregon 21-0. A late turnover gave the Huskers a chance, down 14, and they took advantage, scoring with 1:11 to go in regulation.

-- Michigan scored 12 points in the final quarter, topping Cincinnati by a 36-14 score. 'Over' (50.5) bettors just came up short at most shops,

-- 'Under' (54.5) bettors were feeling good with 10:07 to go. Duke had just scored a touchdown, leading Northwestern 38-10. The Blue Devils kicked a field goal with 5:07 to go, still under the total. However, a 20-yard touchdown pass with 2:50 to go crushed the Wildcats and 'under' bettors.

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Missouri fires defensive coordinator Cross after slow start
September 10, 2017

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) DeMontie Cross was fired as Missouri's defensive coordinator after a year and two games in the position.

The school announced the move Sunday, a day after the Tigers (1-1) lost 31-13 to South Carolina and a week after they gave up 43 points to Football Championship Subdivision opponent Missouri State.

Cross' firing is effective immediately, and no immediate replacement was named in the school's announcement. It comes ahead of the Tigers matchup with Purdue on Saturday.

A former Missouri safety from 1994-96, Cross was stripped of his play-calling duties seven games into the 2016-17 season. Even after Odom took over play-calling, the Tigers finished the season ranked worst in the Southeastern Conference in yards allowed per game.

''I am very appreciative of all that DeMontie has done for Mizzou, and am sorry that this did not work out,'' Missouri coach Barry Odom said. ''However, after careful evaluation, I believe it is important to make this change now.''

Through two games in this season, Odom has continued to call plays with co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Ryan Walters, outside linebackers coach Brian Odom and defensive line coach Brick Haley looking on.

Cross continued to coach inside linebackers and focus on recruiting efforts after Odom took over play-calling.

He was hired to a three-year contract at Missouri worth $600,000 per year after a three-year stint at TCU, where he coached linebackers and was a co-defensive coordinator.

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ECU reassigns defensive coordinator
September 10, 2017

GREENVILLE, N.C. (AP) East Carolina's latest poor defensive performance has the Pirates changing coordinators.

Coach Scottie Montgomery says defensive coordinator Kenwick Thompson has been reassigned within the football program and will no longer coach and defensive line coach Robert Prunty has replaced him immediately.

Montgomery announced the changes Sunday, a day after a 56-20 loss at West Virginia in which the Pirates (0-2) fell behind 49-3 at halftime and allowed 619 total yards. East Carolina hosts No. 16 Virginia Tech this week.

East Carolina has the second-worst total defense in the FBS, allowing 616.5 yards per game. The Pirates gave up 614 yards in a season-opening, 20-point loss to reigning FCS champion James Madison .

Prunty spent three seasons as Cincinnati's co-defensive coordinator . Thompson came to ECU before last season from Vanderbilt.

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STAT WATCH: Rashaad Penny next up as Aztecs' do-it-all man
September 11, 2017

Now it's Rashaad Penny's turn in the spotlight for San Diego State.

Penny was a 1,000-yard rusher and the Mountain West Conference special teams player of the year in 2016, but he was overshadowed as teammate Donnel Pumphrey became the NCAA's all-time leading rusher.

Pumphrey is with the Philadelphia Eagles now, and Penny has stepped into his role as the Aztecs' main attraction. In a 30-20 win at Arizona State on Saturday, Penny broke a 95-yard run for his team's first touchdown and finished with a career-high 216 yards on 18 carries.

SDSU's second TD came on Penny's sixth career kick return for a TD, this one a 99-yarder. Penny later caught a 33-yard scoring from Christian Chapman.

Penny's 353 all-purpose yards were a national-high and third-most in a game by an SDSU player, behind Marshall Faulk's 422 against Pacific in 1991 and Darnay Scott's 354 against UTEP in 1992.

Other notable statistical feats:

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200-YARD CLUB

Joining Penny in the 200-yard rushing club were Tulsa's D'Angelo Brewer and Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor.

Brewer ran 38 times for a career and national season-high 262 yards and three touchdowns in the Hurricane's 66-42 win over Louisiana. Brewer's 50-yard run for his first TD was the longest run of his career until he went 60 yards to set up a score.

Taylor, Wisconsin's first true freshman to start at running back since Zach Brown in 2007, ran for 223 yards and three touchdowns in a 31-14 win over Florida Atlantic.

SACK ATTACK

Clemson's 11 sacks against Auburn matched the most in an FBS game in five years and were the Tigers' most since recording 11 against Utah State in 2004. Austin Bryant's four sacks matched the program record set by Keith Adams in 1999. Clemson recorded no sacks against Kent State in its opener.

SOMETHING IN THE AIR

New Mexico's Corey Bojorquez boomed a 77-yard punt in the second quarter against New Mexico State, the longest in the nation this season. Last year Bojorquez had an 80-yarder against Colorado State. There were four other punts of 70 yards or longer in the FBS on Saturday.

THAT'S A DEEP BALL

East Carolina's Gardner Minshew threw a 95-yard touchdown to Trevon Brown in a 56-20 loss to West Virginia, matching the season's longest play from scrimmage in the FBS. It was Brown's first touchdown since 2015. He was ineligible last season.

ILLINI `D' SHOWS UP

Illinois, which went into its home game against Western Kentucky of Conference USA as an underdog, held the Hilltoppers to 6 yards rushing on 16 attempts in a 20-7 win. It was Western Kentucky's lowest output on the ground since at least 2000. The Illini did it with two true freshman defensive line starters for the first time since 1980.

DEFENSELESS

Nebraska and California, both moving to 3-4 defenses under new coordinators, are the only power-five conference teams allowing more than 500 yards a game. Coordinator Bob Diaco's Cornhuskers surrendered an average of 531.5 yards against Arkansas State and Oregon; coordinator Tim DeRuyter's Bears gave up an average of 505.5 yards to North Carolina and Weber State.

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PICK SIX: Longhorns are among teams facing QB quandaries
September 11, 2017

Nothing raises the antennas of college football fans more than uncertainty at the quarterback position, and there's plenty of that at about a half-dozen Power Five schools after the second week of the season.

The most high-profile situation is Texas, which visits No. 4 Southern California this week. The Longhorns don't have an all-out controversy, mind you, but first-year coach Tom Herman does have a quandary.

Shane Buechele, who has started all 13 games in his career, still hasn't recovered from the bruised shoulder he got against Maryland. First-time freshman starter Sam Ehlinger was more than solid in a 56-0 win against overmatched San Jose State on Saturday. Jerrod Heard, who moved from quarterback to receiver last season, also took some snaps in short-yardage situation and in the red zone and ran for two touchdowns.

If Buechele isn't fully healed, how close to 100 percent does he need to be?

''We've got to make sure that Shane can do everything he's capable of doing and doing it at an elite level before we throw him back in there because, A, you don't want a setback from a health standpoint from him,'' Herman said. ''And, B, you don't want the pride of getting him in to inhibit the offense's production.''

A look at some other tenuous quarterback situations:

BAYLOR

The Bears are 0-2 for the first time since 2003, and Arizona transfer Anu Solomon was not sharp at all in a 17-10 loss to Texas-San Antonio. Zach Smith started the last four games in 2016 and put up good numbers. He certainly would not be overwhelmed by playing in a road environment against Duke this week.

BOSTON COLLEGE

Three interceptions got Anthony Brown the hook in the third quarter of a 34-10 loss to Wake Forest and Darius Wade finished up. Brown, a redshirt freshman, won the job in the preseason and was decent in a 23-20 opening win over Northern Illinois. He clearly has the greater upside compared with Wade, a backup since 2014.

KANSAS

Peyton Bender beat out Carter Stanley in the preseason, and he won over FCS Southeast Missouri State in the opener. But Bender had difficulty handling Central Michigan's pressure in a 45-27 loss, needed a school-record 62 attempts to complete 32 passes for 323 yards, and he threw two interceptions that led to CMU touchdowns.

PITTSBURGH

Coach Pat Narduzzi said Max Browne is still his starter after a 33-14 loss to Penn State, but the firmness of Browne's grip on the job is unknown. Browne was picked off twice and victimized by dropped passes. Ben DiNucci ran for a 3-yard TD on his only play of a series after Browne got his helmet knocked off, and he was in for Pitt's final possession and was 5 for 9 for 49 yards. Narduzzi said DiNucci gave the Panthers a spark.

TEXAS A&M

Nick Starkel broke his ankle in the opener against UCLA and might be out the rest of the season. Freshman Kellen Mond started against Nicholls State and was replaced in the second half by senior Jake Hubenak, who threw for two touchdowns and helped the Aggies win 24-20. Coach Kevin Sumlin said the QB situation is still sorting itself out. Who starts against Louisiana this week is anyone's guess.

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McGlinchey takes blame for Irish loss
September 10, 2017

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) As Saturday night turned into Sunday morning following Georgia's 20-19 victory over Notre Dame, Fighting Irish offensive lineman Mike McGlinchey took the blame.

''It's awful, absolutely awful ... it came down to execution at the end and I blew it,'' said McGlinchey, a 6-foot-8 1/4, 315-pound left tackle who turned down the NFL to try to help Notre Dame rebound from a 4-8 season.

McGlinchey held himself responsible for missing the block that led to Georgia linebacker Davin Bellamy's sack of quarterback Brandon Wimbush and linebacker Lorenzo Carter's fumble recovery that ended Notre Dame's chance of rallying past the No. 13 Bulldogs. The loss dropped the Irish (1-1) out of the Associated Press Top 25 rankings. Notre Dame is at Boston College next week.

''Our defense played its heart out. Everyone had their doubts about them and they stepped up,'' McGlinchey said. ''That last play was my fault. We played our hearts out in the fourth quarter.''

Coach Brian Kelly, who was brusque in ending his postgame conference, insisting things won't ''snowball'' as they did in 2016 when Notre Dame lost seven of its eight games by eight points or fewer, was in a better mood Sunday and didn't fault McGlinchey.

''I've never felt like there's one play that determines a game,'' Kelly said. ''It was just a one-on-one scenario. That's a guy (Bellamy) that's going to be playing in the NFL.''

After rushing for 422 yards and five touchdowns on 44 carries against Tempe in the opener, Notre Dame had 55 yards on 37 carries and one touchdown, a 1-yard run by redshirt junior quarterback Brandon Wimbush, who managed 1 net yard rushing on 16 attempts but completed 20 of 40 passes for 210 yards.

''It's a combination of everybody doing their job,'' Kelly said, ''and, again, we've got to get better at it. We've got to coach it better, and we've got to play better, and we will next week.''

Defensively, new coordinator Mike Elko's 4-2-5 scheme allowed Georgia 185 yards (73 on 13 carries by senior Sony Michel) but surrendered runs of 30 (senior Nick Chubb) and 40 yards (freshman D'Andre Swift). Notre Dame limited true freshman quarterback Jake Fromm, who was making his first start, to 141 yards on 16-of-29 passing with two sacks and an interception.

''We're headed in the right direction,'' said Notre Dame senior linebacker Greer Martini, who had six stops. ''Last year in the fourth quarter we would have fallen apart. We came out and got the ball back for the offense.''

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ONE-MAN JOB: Tre Bryant carrying RB load for Huskers so far
September 11, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) Nebraska coach Mike Riley meant it when he said in the preseason that he wanted one of his three top running backs to do most of the work.

Tre Bryant has 51 carries in two games, Mikale Wilbon has five and Devine Ozigbo has none.

Change might be coming for this week's game against Northern Illinois (1-1). Bryant aggravated his right knee against Oregon on Saturday, and Riley said Monday it would be mid-week until he knows whether the sophomore can play against the Huskies. Riley said Bryant's knee issue has more to do with wear-and-tear than a specific injury.

''His knee is older than his age,'' Riley said. ''We have from the beginning of camp managed Tre in a way we don't overwork him.''

Bryant ran 31 times for a career-high 192 yards in the opener against Arkansas State , and Riley said in retrospect that number of carries ''might be at the high end of what he should do.'' Bryant had 20 carries for 107 yards against Oregon before leaving early in the fourth quarter of the 42-35 loss .

If Bryant can't play, Wilbon would make his first career start and be backed up by Ozigbo. True freshman Jaylin Bradley will go into the week preparing as the No. 3 running back.

The Huskers' decision to not play Ozigbo has been a bit of a mystery. Last year, he appeared in 11 games and had the third-most carries on the team, at 97. So far, he's yet to get on the field in any capacity.

''We're not into the rotation deal like we have been in the past,'' Riley said. ''We made a decision to play Tre and then we had to make a decision on who to spell him with, and we chose Wilbon. All three of the backs are improved players from a year ago. Our thought is that whenever Devine is called upon, he will play well, so we just keep coaching him and get him ready.''

Riley, as coach at Oregon State for 14 years, typically relied on one back to get the vast majority of carries. He said he's found that backs tend to get stronger as the game continues.

Bryant has been one of the early surprises for the Cornhuskers (1-1). Last year, he totaled 172 yards on 43 carries as the backup to Terrell Newby and Ozigbo. Bryant's two-game average of 149.5 yards ranks second behind Wisconsin freshman Jonathan Taylor's 155 yards a game and ninth nationally, and he's broken runs of 24, 35 and 25 yards so far.

Riley said he knows not playing has been difficult for Ozigbo.

''He has played, he's a good player, he's worked hard, he's gotten better, (but) so has everybody else,'' Riley said. ''We made a decision. It's outside of anything he can do about it. So what are you going to do? Are you going to pout? If you pout, when your chance comes, chances are you won't be ready because you've been thinking about this instead of getting ready for that.

''It's one of those hard things in life. I know it's hard because he cares and he works hard and he's a great guy. But he'll be ready.''

NOTES: Safety Joshua Kalu (hamstring) and offensive lineman David Knevel (ankle) are doubtful for the Northern Illinois game. ... After the loss to Oregon, Riley said, ''We should be so hungry to practice today. When they look at that film, they should just be sick, and they should want to get out there and work to be better than that.''

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4th Quarter Covers - Week 2
September 11, 2017

Glancing at the scoreboard won’t tell you the whole story in most games. Here are some of the games that went down to the wire relative to the spread in the fourth quarter last week in the second big college football weekend. Each week there are several teams that cover despite not necessarily deserving it, as well as other teams that played much better than the final score shows.

Oregon (-11) 42, Nebraska 35: The line on this Pac-12/Big Ten clash dropped from as high as -14 but it didn’t look like it mattered at halftime as Oregon led 42-14. Nebraska put together a good fight in the second half to climb within 14 in the first seven minutes before scoring halted on both sides with Oregon ending successive drives with an interception, a failed 4th-and-short, and a missed field goal. Nebraska wasn’t able to take advantage as it looked like Oregon would be able to run out the clock. With just over five minutes to go the Ducks fumbled in their own territory. Many watched with great interest as Nebraska went for it on 4th-and-4 from inside the Oregon 20-yard-line in the final minutes, converting and eventually finding the end zone for the backdoor cover. Nebraska actually got the ball back in decent field position with about two minutes to go but any hopes of tying the game ended quickly with an interception.

Old Dominion (-3½) 17, Massachusetts 7: Old Dominion had a 10-0 lead at halftime but two offensive plays into the second half the Minutemen were within three and within the spread with a 60-yard passing touchdown. Seven consecutive punts followed before the Monarchs seemed ready to put the game away but a 16-play, 93-yard drive came up empty with Massachusetts getting three straight stops on the one-yard-line. Pinned deep the Minutemen couldn’t advance and in great field position after a short punt Old Dominion would find the end zone again, going up by 10 with just over six minutes to go in the game. Massachusetts entered Old Dominion territory on its final two possessions but could not add points, falling to 0-3 S/U and ATS on the season despite three competitive games.

Michigan (-33) 36, Cincinnati 14 (49½): As a heavy favorite Michigan was never a threat to cover, leading by only three points well into the second half before pulling away. The total however brought some fourth quarter excitement with a number that fell from just above 50 to just below 50 by kickoff. There were just 24 points at halftime but 38 points through three quarters. Michigan settled for a very short field goal with about nine minutes to go and then scored twice on defense in the final seven minutes with a safety and the team’s second interception return touchdown of the game for the scoring to close right on 50.

Louisville (-11½) 47, North Carolina 35: Louisville led by 13 early in the third quarter, past a road favorite spread that reached as high as -12½. That lead didn’t last long as the kickoff was returned for a touchdown to bring the Tar Heels within six and later in the third quarter North Carolina took a 28-27 lead. Louisville would score three touchdowns in a 10-minute span in the fourth quarter to lead by 19 with about three minutes to go but North Carolina scored a touchdown with 31 seconds remaining to make the final margin 12, right near the number.

Iowa (-3½) 44, Iowa State 41: This rivalry game lived up to the billing with an exciting back-and-forth contest. Iowa had a 21-10 lead halfway through the third quarter but Iowa State scored three consecutive touchdowns to take a 31-21 lead early in the fourth quarter. Iowa tied the game with the help of the lone turnover in the game getting a short field goal to knot the game at 31-31 with about five minutes to go but Iowa State quickly hit a 74-yard pass play to go up by seven. With just over a minute to go Iowa hit a 46-yard pass to force overtime. The Cyclones went first in the extra session and had to settle for a field goal, Iowa was able to convert a big 3rd down play and hit for the game winning score, not needing the extra-point that those on the Hawkeyes needed for the closing line cover, though a push was certainly a common result.

Colorado (-37) 37, Texas State 3: The Buffaloes were in command with a 31-3 edge through three quarters but they settled for a field goal with about 10 minutes remaining to sit short of the hefty favorite spread. A Texas State fumble handed Colorado the ball right back at the Texas State 24-yard-line but the Buffaloes again had to settle for a short kick, leaving them just short of the elevated spread. Colorado would get the ball back and opted to go for it on 4th-and-6 from deep field goal range, falling a yard short and winding up just short of the number.

Penn State (-18½) 33, Pittsburgh 14: The Nittany Lions jumped out to a 14-0 lead but they couldn’t pull away from rival Pittsburgh, leading just 21-6 through three quarters before scoring early in the fourth quarter to get past the spread with a 28-6 edge. The line on this game reached as high a -20½ before dropping before kickoff and the timing wound up being rather critical as Pittsburgh closed the margin to 14 points with a touchdown and a two-point conversion before Penn State added a late safety and a short field goal to win by 19 despite posting only 312 total yards in the game. Pittsburgh had a chance to convincingly steal the cover on any price but in the final seconds Ben Dinucci was sacked and fumbled on 4th-and-goal from the 8-yard line.

Navy (-8) 23, Tulane 21: This game featured a line as high as -14 before steadily falling all the way down to a closing number of -8. The middle was momentarily there with Navy leading by 10 heading into the fourth quarter after scoring nine points on defense in the third quarter. Tulane scored two minutes into the final frame and hit the two-point conversion for a two-point game having to play much of the way with a back-up quarterback. The Wave failed on a pair of fourth down attempts late in the game as Navy was able to run out the clock for the win.

Tulsa (-14) 66, UL-Lafayette 42: Tulsa led by just three points late in the third quarter but wound up scoring four touchdowns in the final 19 minutes, including a rush with their starting quarterback with less than a minute to go for an eventual 24-point final margin, slipping past the favorite spread in a game where the yardage edge wasn’t dramatic with Tulsa posting 667 yards compared to 596 for the underdog Ragin’ Cajuns.

Toledo (-11) 37, Nevada 24: Toledo led by 17 on three separate occasions but Nevada hit a 75-yard pass play late in the third quarter to climb within the spread trailing by 10 entering the fourth quarter. The Rockets missed a field goal but Nevada had turnovers on its next two possessions, allowing the Rockets to get three with a short drive with just over four minutes remaining. It looked like the favorite cover was in jeopardy as Nevada reached the red zone on its final possession but failed on 4th-and-2.

Houston (-1½) 19, Arizona 16: Finally on the field for the first time this season Houston started strong at Arizona taking a 17-10 lead into halftime and adding an early third quarter safety to lead by nine as a very slight road favorite. Arizona had a great late third quarter drive but ultimately had to settle for a short field goal to trail by six. Midway through the fourth quarter an interception helped Arizona cut the margin in half with another field goal and the Wildcats had the ball back after forcing a quick Houston punt. With a fresh set of downs at the Houston 32-yard line Khalil Tate was intercepted with fewer than four minutes remaining and Houston was to pick up a first down and shift the field position to hold off the Wildcats for a narrow win and road favorite cover.

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CFB notebook: Ga. Tech-Central Florida game canceled
September 11, 2017

Georgia Tech's game at Central Florida on Saturday has been canceled in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, the schools announced Monday.

The schools discussed rescheduling the game later in the season but were unable to do so because the teams do not share a mutual bye week.

"We are in complete agreement with the decision to cancel Saturday's game," Georgia Tech athletic director Todd Stansbury said. "While we're disappointed for both teams' student-athletes, coaches and fans, recovering from the effects of Hurricane Irma should be and is the top priority for UCF and the entire state of Florida at this time. We wish them the very best in their recovery efforts and look forward to meeting on the gridiron down the road."

The UCF campus in Orlando, Fla., will remain closed through Wednesday, the school announced Sunday. The Knights canceled last week's home game against Memphis.

UCF is hosting up to 1,000 National Guard members and 250 vehicles on its campus and using its stadium to stage recovery operations.

"We're honored to host the National Guard and play a part in helping our community and state recover from Irma," Central Florida athletic director Danny White said. "On behalf of our student-athletes, athletics staff and fans, I promise the Knights will do everything we can to assist in recovery efforts."

--Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield apologized for celebrating the 31-16 victory over Ohio State by planting a Sooners flag at midfield at Ohio Stadium.

A year after hearing chants of "O-H, I-O" inside their own stadium, the Sooners got revenge on Saturday night as the Heisman Trophy hopeful threw for 386 yards and three second-half touchdowns.

Mayfield sprinted around the field waving a Sooners flag before stopping to emphatically plant it in the middle of the huge block "O" logo at the 50-yard line as his teammates cheered.

"I didn't mean for it to be disrespectful to any Ohio State people at all, especially the team or the players, because they're a great team and a great program," Mayfield told reporters Monday. "It was an emotional game. I knew that it was going to have a lot of implications on the playoffs. ... I got caught up in an emotional win. Yeah, it should've been something I did in the locker room. So I apologize for doing it in the middle of the field."

--No. 12 LSU is expecting to have All-SEC outside linebacker Arden Key back from injury for its conference opener at Mississippi State on Saturday, coach Ed Orgeron said.

Key, who set a school record with 12 sacks last season, underwent offseason shoulder surgery in early June. He was limited through camp and did not play in the Tigers' 2-0 start to the season.

"Arden Key has been cleared to play this week," Orgeron said. "He's going to work hard all week in full contact, and we're going to play him as much as we can. We'll see during the week how much he can do."

--The Southeastern Conference is discussing the effects of Hurricane Irma on the ability of No. 24 Florida to host No. 23 Tennessee on Saturday in Gainesville, Fla.

The game is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. ET.

"Now that the storm has passed through Gainesville, the University of Florida is working with local authorities to assess the effect of the storm on the campus and the Gainesville community, at the same time ensuring the appropriate security and local officials are available to host a game," SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said in a statement.

--The Baylor Bears are making a quarterback change after starting out 0-2, including a shocking upset loss to Liberty.

New coach Matt Rhule told reporters that sophomore Zach Smith will start Saturday at Duke.

Smith will replace Anu Solomon, who Rhule said was "banged up" in Saturday night's 17-10 loss to UT-San Antonio. It was UTSA's first-ever win over a Power Five team.

The Bears are 0-2 for the first time since 2003 and have lost eight consecutive regular-season games, including the 48-45 loss to FCS Liberty in the season opener.

--Rutgers offensive coordinator Jerry Kill suffered a minor seizure Sunday and remained hospitalized, head coach Chris Ash said.

"Coach Kill had a minor medical setback," Ash announced at his weekly press conference. "He is going to be fine. Saturday, early in the game after the first drive, he got tumbled up. He was really discombobulated in the first half from it and had some headaches Saturday night.

"It hasn't been confirmed or identified as the reason yet, but he had a minor seizure (Sunday) morning. But he is fine. He is still waiting to be released from the hospital. He will be back here this afternoon or tomorrow whenever he feels up to the task."

Ash said that Kill took a fall during Saturday's 16-13 loss to Eastern Michigan when a play reached the sideline and Rutgers quarterback Kyle Bolin took a late hit out of bounds.

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QB Falk will start for Washington State
September 11, 2017

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) Luke Falk will remain the starting quarterback when No. 21 Washington State hosts Oregon State on Saturday.

Falk struggled in the second half of Saturday's victory over Boise State and was removed from the game. He later came back but was knocked out of action by the Boise State defense.

Tyler Hilinski led the Cougars to a 47-44 victory in triple overtime.

Coach Mike Leach said Monday that Falk played slow and conservative last weekend. Leach also complained about poor play by the offensive line.

Falk, a senior, holds numerous Washington State passing records. But the Washington State offense did not score a touchdown until the fourth quarter with Hilinski at quarterback.

Hilinski threw for 240 yards and three touchdowns in erasing a 21-point deficit.

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Louisville loses RB Smith (foot) for season
September 11, 2017

Louisville reserve running back Jeremy Smith is done for the season due to a fractured bone in his right foot, Cardinals coach Bobby Petrino said Monday.

Smith was injured in practice last week and sat out No. 14 Louisville's 47-35 victory over North Carolina on Saturday.

"He is out for the year," Petrino said of Smith, who rushed for 382 yards and eight touchdowns last season.

Malik Williams replaced Smith against North Carolina and rushed for a career-high 149 yards on 13 carries. Reggie Bonnafon, still listed as the starter, was limited to 22 yards on 10 carries.

Colin Wilson, a highly touted freshman from Florida, also is close to joining the backfield as he nears a return from hand surgery.

The Cardinals, led by Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Lamar Jackson, host third-ranked and defending national champion Clemson on Saturday.

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California loses running back Tre Watson for rest of year
September 11, 2017

BERKELEY, Calif. (AP) California running back Tre Watson will miss the rest of the season because of an apparent right leg injury.

The senior got hurt after catching a screen pass from Ross Bowers late in the first quarter of California's 33-20 win over Weber State on Saturday. Watson limped off the field but returned in the second quarter and carried once before going down again, this time for good.

''You feel for a guy like that that's put in so much time and effort into the program,'' Bears coach Justin Wilcox said Monday. ''We'll have his back. Now it's going to be the next man up at that positon. He'll bounce back from this but it's never easy going through that.''

Watson wore a thick black brace on his right leg and used crutches Monday. He spoke briefly with Wilcox at the end of practice but did not stick around to talk to reporters.

Wilcox declined to discuss specific details about Watson's injury or whether it would require surgery.

Patrick Laird replaced Watson and rushed for 191 yards and three touchdowns on 12 carries against Weber State and likely will continue to get the bulk of playing time.

Watson was expected to be a centerpiece of California's offense after rushing for 709 yards and four touchdowns in 2016.

A preseason candidate for the Doak Walker and Paul Hornung awards, Watson entered the season as Cal's active career leader in rushing and all-purpose yards. He ran for 52 yards and had another 32 yards receiving against North Carolina in the season opener.

Watson got off to a decent start against Weber State with 31 yards on six carries before he got hurt.

''It's tough,'' Wilcox said. ''You put so much into it and you feel for a guy that goes through that. It's an unfortunate reality of this sport, that those things happen. He's a guy that will be able to come back from it, though. He's just got that about him. He'll be moving forward as soon as they start the process and then we'll be there for him.''

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Opening Line Report - Week 3
September 11, 2017

Clemson, coming off a 14-6 win over Auburn, opened as a 3.5-point road favorite Sunday at the Wynn for its ACC showdown at Louisville, a 4.5-point swing from Louisville -1, the number the Westgate SuperBook was dealing on its Games of the Year lines this summer.

Bettors took Louisville +3.5 minutes after Week 3 college football lines were posted at the Wynn, prompting an adjustment to 3.

“I’m impressed with what I’ve seen from Clemson so far,” Wynn oddsmaker John Avello said of his opening number. “They didn’t score a lot of points (vs. Auburn), but they did win and their defense played real well. You miss a guy like (Deshaun) Watson, but the kid (junior Kelly Bryant) has stepped in and he’s capable of leading the team to a lot of wins.”

The Westgate’s Ed Salmons was surprised Clemson opened as the favorite of a field goal-plus and still believes his Game of the Year line was the better number.

“I think the line is going to close Louisville a favorite,” Salmons said. “I think Louisville will go off (-1). I don’t understand the line.”

Avello concedes Louisville has two big advantages in this contest (Saturday, 8:00 p.m. ET, ABC) – Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson and revenge. In one of the best games of last season, the Cardinals lost a heartbreaker at Clemson, 42-36.

“They probably should have won that game last year,” Avello said. “They’ve had this game circled on their schedule since then.”

Said Salmons, “Deshaun Watson is not at Clemson anymore. Last year, Louisville was every bit as good as Clemson. (Cardinals receiver James Quick) just misjudged where he was on the field and stepped out a yard before the first-down marker (on 4th-and-12 inside the 5-yard line with about 30 second left on the clock). If he didn’t, they would have won that game.”

Salmons believes Saturday’s matchup favors the Cardinals.

“The teams that give Louisville the most problems are teams that can overwhelm their defense – their defense isn’t the greatest, but I don’t think they’ll get overwhelmed with Clemson.”

Here are Avello’s and Salmons’ thoughts on three more key games on Saturday’s Week 3 card.

Oklahoma State (-14) at Pittsburgh - (ABC, 12:00 p.m. ET)

Highly-regarded Oklahoma State was bet from -11 to -14 by Monday morning at the Wynn against a Pittsburgh team that has failed to impress though two weeks.

The Cowboys’ two wins have come against non-Power 5 programs Tulsa and South Alabama, but Avello likes what he has seen from Mike Gundy’s group.

“They’ve certainly got a very potent offense, and we kind of new that coming in,” Avello said.

In fact, while Oklahoma State has yet to get into the meat of its schedule, Avello says it’s conceivable for this team to run the table.

Pittsburgh, on the other hand, has disappointed thus far. The Panthers struggled with Youngstown State in a 28-21 win at home in their season opener, and then lost at in-state rival Penn State, 33-14.

“Penn State could have won the game by more, but they knew they had the game under control so they just went through the motions,” Avello said.

“Maybe they’ll play better,” he added of Pitt ahead of their matchup against Okie State “They’re an 8-win team the last couple of years, they play pretty good football at home, so we’ll see if this team can get a little bit better here, because they’re going to have to facing this giant .”

Salmons is high on Oklahoma State as well, rating the Cowboys as the second best team in the Big 12, behind Oklahoma. Still, two touchdowns feels like an overlay to him.

“This one seems just a little bit on the high side,” he said of the 14-point spread.

Tennessee at Florida (-5.5) - (CBS, 3:30 p.m. ET)

This line and any analysis that comes with it has asterisk attached, as there’s a chance the game will be moved because of Hurricane Irma, but Florida opened -4.5 at the Wynn and was bet up to -5.5 by Monday.

Florida’s football program has already been affected by Irma, as its Week 2 game against Northern Colorado was cancelled. That leaves the Gators’ Week 1 game against Michigan as the only true contest by which to measure them this season.

It wasn’t pretty. Florida lost 33-17, gained just 192 yards and nine first downs, was shutout in the second half and failed to score an offensive touchdown.

Avello and Salmons offered different takes on Florida’s showing against the Wolverines.

“Their offense just looked terrible,” Avello said. “They were lost at the quarterback position.”

Asked if that was a function of Florida’s offensive unit or Michigan’s defense, Avello said, “I wasn’t that impressed with the Michigan defense. I think they’ll get better as the year goes on. At the end of the year, who knows, they could be national championship contenders. But it looked to me that the Florida offense was struggling, that they were trying to find their way.”

Avello said he would have tended to open Florida a bigger favorite vs. Tennessee had it not been for that performance in addition to missing the chance to get things right vs. Northern Colorado.

Salmons noted two of Florida’s primary offensive weapons were suspended for the Michigan game – wide receiver Antonio Callaway and running back Jordan Scarlett – “not that it would have made a huge difference because they couldn’t block Michigan that game,” he said.

Salmons, though, expects a good performance from Florida this week.

“They’ve had huge success against Tennessee at home (six straight wins dating back to 2005), so I expect them to bounce back and win, and I think they’ll look much better this week,” Salmons said. “That (Michigan) game was really just a poor performance more than Florida being down. I think they’ll be above the level they’ve played the last couple of years.”

Texas at USC (-17) - (FOX, 8:30 p.m. ET)

While the Wynn and Westgate both hung 17 on this game, the line was as high as 17.5 elsewhere around town Monday, and as low as 15.5 Sunday. Whatever the iteration, it’s a big number – the Westgate was dealing 11.5 on its Games of the Year board – but the teams appear to be heading in opposite directions, and Longhorns QB Shane Buechele is questionable after missing last week’s game against San Jose State with a shoulder issue.

“The Southern Cal stock has certainly gone up,” Avello said. “Last week, they looked great offensively (in a 42-24 win against Stanford). Their quarterback (Sam Darnold), he’s good, isn’t he? I mean, he just looked really, really good.”

Avello said Texas’ Week 1 loss to Maryland “made their stock go down. It’s like two stocks going in different directions. This spread would have never been this high going into the season.”

Should Buechele be able to go, Salmons doesn’t believe there’s a large enough talent gap between USC and Texas to justify a spread this big.

“Provided the quarterback plays this week, I don’t see much of a difference between Texas and Stanford (USC closed -4 at home vs. Stanford). (Texas’) first game was just one of those crazy games. Sometimes, you’re just going to have a crazy game. There were so many weird things that happened to them that game, and I think they were confused by what Maryland was doing offensively. Tom Herman is too good of a coach to allow that to happen to them.

“It’s hard to judge last week because they played such a bad team (Texas beat San Jose State 56-0), but I don’t see a 15.5-point difference between the talent level of Texas and USC.”

Early lines moves

These games saw the point spread move 2 points or more in the favorite’s direction in the first 24 hours of wagering at the Wynn:

UMass vs. Temple
Open line: Temple -12
After 24 hours: Temple -14.5

Illinois vs. South Florida
Open line: USF -14
After 24 hours: USF -18

Kentucky vs. South Carolina
Open line: South Carolina -5
After 24 hours: South Carolina -7

Kent State vs. Marshall
Open line: Marshall -11.5
After 24 hours: Marshall -14.5

Oklahoma State vs. Pittsburgh
Open line: OSU -11
After 24 hours: OSU -14

Baylor vs. Duke
Open line: Duke -12
After 24 hours: Duke -14

Tulsa vs. Toledo
Open line: Toledo -7
After 24 hours: Toledo -9

Idaho vs. Western Michigan
Open line: WMU -14
After 24 hours: WMU -20.5

These games saw the point spread move 2 points or more in the underdog’s direction in the first 24 hours of wagering at the Wynn:

Notre Dame vs. Boston College
Open line: BC +15.5
After 24 hours: BC +13.5

Air Force vs. Michigan
Open line: Air Force +28.5
After 24 hours: Air Force +24.5

Middle Tennessee State vs. Minnesota
Open line: MTSU +12
After 24 hours: MTSU +8.5

Utah State vs. Wake Forest
Open line: Utah State +16
After 24 hours: Utah State +13.5

North Texas vs. Iowa
Open line: North Texas +24
After 24 hours: North Texas +22

SMU vs TCU
Open line: SMU +20
After 24 hours: SMU +18

Appalachian State vs. Texas State
Open line: Texas State +26
After 24 hours: Texas State +24

Rice vs. Houston
Open line: Rice +24.
After 24 hours: Rice +22

Odds Subject to Change

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Florida International-Indiana game called off
September 11, 2017

Indiana's home football game against Florida International on Saturday has been canceled, Hoosiers athletic director Fred Glass said in a statement Monday night.

Glass and FIU athletic director Pete Garcia had been in discussions since Sunday about whether to hold the game in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, which has caused problems for the Golden Panthers because of travel concerns and a campus that could remain closed through the week, according to the university.

The Hoosiers are looking to find a replacement game on Oct. 7, its scheduled bye week.

Indiana and FIU plan to schedule a matchup in a future season at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington, according to the release.

Indiana (1-1) will host Georgia Southern on Sept. 23. FIU (1-1) is scheduled to play at Rice on Sept. 23.

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No. 10 Badgers get Jonathan Taylor-made big plays from RB
September 11, 2017

MADISON, Wis. (AP) Running back Jonathan Taylor showed off his potential in preseason camp for No. 10 Wisconsin.

Two games into his college career, he looks more like a veteran than a freshman.

Taylor rushed for 223 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start in a 31-14 win in Week 2 over Florida Atlantic, becoming the fourth freshman in program history to rush for 200 yards in a game.

Fullback Austin Ramesh said Taylor's emergence during a simulation game in fall camp laid the groundwork for his spectacular debut.

''Every year it seems like we've got a few freshmen coming in who can make an impact. But what he's done, it's impressive,'' the senior said of Taylor, who ran for 87 yards and a touchdown on nine carries in the season opener.

''Having been in those shoes, trying to come in and play big-time football is quite the transition from high school,'' Ramesh said. ''He definitely stepped up and realized he could be a contributor this year.''

He has contributed a couple big plays already.

Taylor followed a 64-yard touchdown run with 10 minutes left in the first quarter against Florida Atlantic with a highlight-reel, 29-yarder less than four minutes later. He bowled over three would-be tacklers on that play.

Wisconsin (2-0) hits the road for the first time this weekend with a trip to Provo, Utah for a game against BYU. Taylor is again listed as a co-starter on the depth chart at running back along with junior Chris James and sophomore Bradrick Shaw, who missed the last game with a right leg injury.

''We like Bradrick and I thought Chris took some steps forward in certain areas,'' coach Paul Chryst said. ''When you see Jonathan come in and do what he's doing, I think it gives us depth, and I think he's capable of being a good football player for us.''

Taylor leads all FBS true freshmen in rushing at 155.0 yards per game. Receiver Jazz Peavy said Taylor's emergence could benefit the Badgers' passing game, too.

''He's been very impressive coming in as a true freshman, to be able to make explosive plays like that down the field and break tackles and score touchdowns,'' Peavy said. ''That's definitely huge and that's something defenses are going to have to account for and it opens it up for us on the outside.''

Chryst said Taylor's big plays have made an impact on his teammates in other ways.

''Big plays, you love getting them. But big plays happen when everyone executes together whether it's a run or a pass,'' Chryst said. ''Everyone understands you've got to play through the whistle and then you've got to do your job. If we all do that, then big plays are the byproduct of everyone doing the right thing.''

NOTES: DE Chikwe Obasih (left leg), a key member of the defensive line rotation, will miss a second straight game. ... Shaw was questionable for a second straight week. ... Starting OGs Beau Benzschawel (right leg) and Jon Dietzen (right leg) were also listed as questionable on the injury report.

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On defense, No. 7 Michigan is outscoring opposing offenses
September 11, 2017

ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) On defense, No. 7 Michigan has scored more points than it has given up.

The Wolverines (2-0) have scored three touchdowns on defense, tying Texas for the most in the nation. They have allowed opposing offenses to score just two TDs and a field goal.

''I'm not aware of that, but that's a good statistic that we'll try to keep as long as possible,'' defensive tackle Maurice Hurst said.

It will be very difficult for a young and talented unit to maintain that pace.

Michigan hosts Air Force (1-0) on Saturday, a day the service academy will have had two weeks to prepare for since beating VMI 62-0.

The Falcons will bring their unique, triple-option offense to the Big House, where an attacking defense will aim to slow down another offense and perhaps score some more.

Michigan limited then-No. 17 Florida to only a field goal on offense in a 33-17 season-opening win.

The Wolverines' offense had a relatively lackluster showing in a 36-14 win over Cincinnati , but their defense did its part. Tyree Kinnel returned an interception 28 yards for a score in the first quarter against the Bearcats and Lavert Hill's 24-yard interception return for a TD in the fourth sealed the rout.

Kinnel, a junior from Ohio, was named the Big Ten's defensive player of the week. In addition to his interception for a touchdown, he led the team with nine tackles, including the first sack of his career.

Michigan returned only one starter from last year's highly touted defense. It looks like a lot of talented players were pining for an opportunity, and they're making the most of it. And when one of them gets their hands on the ball, they're trying to take it to the house.

''We work on it in practice,'' Hill said. ''Every time we get a fumble recovery or something, we just pick it up and go to the end zone to get ready for Saturdays if that happens.''

Michigan has kept teams off balance defensive coordinator Don Brown orchestrating a scheme that has featured a three-man front with waves of blitzing linebackers in front of defensive backs fast enough to stay in one-on-one coverage. The defense has been able to shut down teams on the ground, ranking among the nation's best by allowing less than 40 yards rushing per game. That has allowed Brown to blitz, leading to the team ranking among the best in college football with five sacks a game.

Talent helps, too.

Hurst anchors a defensive line that has Rashan Gary, a top-rated recruit in 2016, on the outside. Linebacker Devin Bush has filled in well for Heisman Trophy finalist Jabrill Peppers, averaging nearly two tackles for losses a game. Even though teams have had to throw a lot, they're still not picking up many yards by averaging 157 yards passing per game.

''A lot goes to coach (Don) Brown and how he coaches the defense, just getting all the playmakers on the field at one time,'' Hill said. ''He coach pretty aggressive. He knows what he's doing and you can see that on the field.''

Jim Harbaugh sees it, too. The coach knows his defense won't be able to outscore offenses all season long, but he likes it so far.

''It's a good thing,'' Harbaugh said. ''Very good players and a good scheme. And, they work very hard at being good on defense.''