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

[StarDust Bum]

STAT WATCH: Arizona backup Khalil Tate sets QB rushing mark
October 9, 2017

Arizona's Khalil Tate turned in the top rushing performance of the season in the Football Bowl Subdivision, piling up 327 yards on just 14 carries against Colorado. In all, nine of the top 27 rushing games came this past weekend.

Tate, who entered the Wildcats' 45-42 win on their first possession after starter Brandon Dawkins was injured, broke the FBS quarterback rushing record of 321 yards by Northern Illinois' Jordan Lynch in 2013.

Tate had touchdown runs of 58, 28, 47 and 75 yards, and his average of 23.4 yards per carry was a school record for at least 10 attempts in a game. He also threw for 142 yards.

For Colorado, tailback Phillip Lindsay amassed 281 yards on a school-record 41 carries and went over 3,000 yards for his career.

Tate (327) and Lindsay (320) racked up the Nos. 3 and 4 all-purpose yard totals of the season as the teams combined for 1,118 total yards.

The other 200-yard rushers:

Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor ran 25 times for 249 yards against Nebraska ; Appalachian State's Jalin Moore, 19-241 vs. New Mexico State; Hawaii's Diocemy Saint Juste, 25-241 vs. Nevada; Nevada's Kelton Moore, 19-216 vs. Hawaii; Navy's Zach Abey, 29-214 vs. Air Force; Auburn's Kerryon Johnson, 28-204 vs. Mississippi; and Old Dominion's Jeremy Cox, 22-202 vs. Florida Atlantic.

Moore is the only FBS player with three games of at least 240 yards rushing in his career. He had 244 at Idaho in 2015 and a career-high 257 at Akron last season.

Other notable statistical feats:

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INTERCEPTIONS GALORE

Four players have had three interceptions in a game this season, and two of them play on the same team. Appalachian State cornerbacks Clifton Duck and Tae Hayes each picked off three passes against New Mexico State. The Mountaineers' previous team record for interceptions in a game was five, set against Elon in 1968 and Mississippi College in 1991.

BIG KICK

Alex Kessman of visiting Pittsburgh set a Carrier Dome record with a 56-yard field goal against Syracuse. He tied Utah's Matt Gay for longest field goal this season.

32 CATCHES IN 2 WEEKS

SMU's Trey Quinn had 17 catches against Houston, tied for most in the country. Last week he had 15 receptions against Connecticut. The 32 catches in two weeks increased his season total to 54, two behind Syracuse's Steve Ishmael.

MEMPHIS MAYHEM

Memphis' Riley Ferguson tied a national high with seven touchdown passes against UConn, and Anthony Miller matched the high with a school-record four touchdown receptions in the 70-31 win. Ferguson tied Paxton Lynch's school record for TD passes, set in 2015. The Tigers had a school-record 711 yards of total offense and had 100 offensive plays for the second time in program history.

MAC-TION, INDEED

No surprise, Western Michigan's 71-68 seven-overtime win over Buffalo produced a plethora of records.

The combined 139 points were an FBS-era record, and the seven overtimes tied for longest game in history. Buffalo QB's Drew Anderson set a national season high and Mid-American Conference record with 597 yards passing, and his seven TD passes tied the national season high. The Bulls' nine touchdowns, 597 passing yards and 683 total yards were school records. Buffalo's 68 points were the most ever in a loss by an FBS team.

[StarDust Bum]

Tuesday’s six-pack

— Oregon State football coach Gary Anderson walked away from the school Monday, leaving $12.630,555 on the table. Chances are the story is not that simple.

— This is the 7th straight season Oklahoma’s football team lost a game when they were favored by double digits in that game.

— Minnesota Twins smartly gave manager Paul Molitor a 3-year contract extension.

— If I ran baseball for 24 hours, I’d ban coaches/managers from visiting the mound.

— Knicks’ Michael Beasley is 28— Knicks are his 6th NBA team, with 56+ games played at 4 of his other 5 stops.

— ESPN isn’t holding its 24-hour college hoop marathon this year; sounds like a 1-year thing, with the 16-team PK80 event in Oregon a one-time event honoring Nike’s Phil Knight.

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Tuesday’s List of 13: Nobody asked me, but……..

13) Connie Hawkins was the first basketball player I can remember palming the ball, just holding it in his hand like it was a softball. He had huge hands and was a great player— the Phoenix Suns jumped from 16-66 in their expansion season to 39-43 in his first NBA season, then 48-34 and 49-33 the next two years.

12) Suns lost a coinflip with the Milwaukee Bucks for the first pick in the 1969 NBA Draft- the Bucks took Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, one of 3 or 4 best players of all-time. Suns took a center from Florida named Neal Walk with the #2 pick, but the NBA also awarded them to rights to Hawkins, who played a couple years in the ABA after being wrongly banned from the NBA after a point-shaving investigation that never implicated him— he sued the NBA and collected $1.3M from the league, which was a boatload of money in the late 60’s.

11) Hawkins passed away over the weekend at age 75; he was Dr J before Dr J and ESPN— if he played today, he’d have a huge sneaker deal and would be on highlight shows every night. I’m trying to think of a modern comparison to him— Giannis Antetokounmpo comes to mind. Big wingspan, rangy, fun to watch.

As a little kid just learning basketball, Hawkins was great fun to watch. RIP, sir.

Elsewhere in the world……..
10) Alex, I’d like “Career Suicide for $200″, please: Miami Dolphins’ offensive line coach quit Monday after a video was released on social media showing him snorting a white powdery substance. Dolphins have scored three TD’s on 42 drives in their 2-2 start; this genius was making between $2.5M-$3M a year as a freakin’ assistant coach.

25 years as an NFL assistant coach; hope he saved some of that money.

9) Watched the Celtics-76ers preseason game Friday night; Sixers’ TV guys said the goal for Ben Simmons this year was “70% from the foul line.” Say what?

Simmons shot 67% from the line at LSU two years ago; the goal should be 75% or 80%, not 70%; what did he do all last year when he wasn’t playing? Should’ve been working on his shot, yes?

He can really pass the ball, he is a high-level passer, but he has to develop a pull-up jumper to make defenses respect him, which takes a defender out of passing lanes. He picked up at least two charging fouls against the Celtics.

Simmons is still a young guy (21) but if he wants to be a great player, his shooting has to improve.

8) UCLA held a outdoor practice at Venice Beach over the weekend; it is good to live in southern California. UNLV held an outdoor practice in downtown Vegas last year; its a cool gimmick to get the fanbase interested.

I’m curious to see UCLA without Lonzo Ball this year; he made all his teammates a lot better. They’re not going to get as many open looks this year without Ball running the offense.

7) Houston Rockets were sold this summer for $2.2B, thats how profitable NBA teams are now, with the worldwide appeal of the league.

6) Why the Sacramento Kings are almost always bad:

They had the 20th pick in the NBA Draft in June, and took Duke’s Harry Giles, who when he was a 9th grader, was the #1 player in the high school Class of 2016, but then he tore his ACL, MCL and meniscus in his left knee in 2013, then his ACL in his right knee in 2015..

In his one year at Duke, he averaged 3.9 ppg in 11.5 mpg, hardly numbers for a first round draft pick, but the Kings being the Kings, used the 20th pick on him.

Now Sacramento says Giles is out until at least January, to “improve his overall health.” Oy.

5) Sacramento’s record the last 10 years:
33-49, 38-44, 17-65, 25-57, 24-58, 22-44, 28-54 (twice), 29-53, 33-49, 32-50.

4) 76ers gave Joel Embiid a 5-year, $148M contract extension; he played 25.4 mpg in 31 games LY, scoring 20.2 ppg, grabbing 7.8 rpg. Missing 51 games is a red flag; wonder what kind of games played incentives are in the contract.

Embiid scored 11.2 ppg in 23.1 mpg in his one season at Kansas, then sat out his first two years in the NBA with injuries- he is 23 years old.

3) Big 14’s conference basketball tournament is leaving the midwest and is headed to Manhattan in March; thats New York City, not Manhattan, Kansas.

Because the Big East has Madison Square Garden in Championship week, the Big 14 agreed to have its tournament a week earlier than normal, which means their teams will all play a couple of conference games the first week in June, to make up for the week the league loses in March due to moving the tournament up.

This is a 5-game stretch of Indiana’s schedule in late November/early December:
Nov 29- Duke, Dec 2- @ Minnesota, Dec 4- Iowa, Dec 9- @ Louisville, Dec 16- Notre Dame. Tough stretch of games for the Hoosiers.

2) Washington State football coach Mike Leach played rugby, not football, in his college days at BYU. He is one of only four I-A head coaches who didn’t play college football.

BYU had great passing teams in those days; Leach credits LaVell Edwards for having a big influence on the Air Raid offense Leach runs now.

1) Baseball playoffs:
Astros 5, Red Sox 4— Houston moves on to ALDS, using Justin Verlander in relief.
Cubs 2, Nationals 1— Chicago takes 2-1 lead in this series.

[StarDust Bum]

Kansas, K-State both face QB situations
October 10, 2017

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) The culprit at Kansas has been ineffectiveness.

Down the road at Kansas State, the problem has been health.

Either way, the two Power Five schools in the Sunflower State are in the most unenviable of situations: They are stuck in sticky quarterback situations as they plunge into the meat of the Big 12 schedule, the Jayhawks trying desperately to turn their season around and the Wildcats fighting to get on track.

Kansas coach David Beaty refused to announce a starter for Saturday's game at Iowa State this week after Peyton Bender, who won the job out of fall camp, was benched in the second half of last weekend's blowout loss to Texas Tech. Carter Stanley performed reasonably well in relief, but last year's starter did not do enough to guarantee him the job going forward.

''Quarterback play's so important to the efficiency of your offense,'' said Beaty, whose background is on that side of the ball. ''Those guys, they've shown that they're very capable of doing it. We'll get back to the drawing board and get them on track as we go to this next one.''

Kansas State coach Bill Snyder was equally unequivocal in describing his quarterback situation on Tuesday after starter Jesse Ertz was banged up in last weekend's double-overtime loss to Texas.

Ertz was sidelined two years ago by a knee injury, and last year he played much of the season with a bum throwing shoulder. But while it's unclear exactly what was amiss against the Longhorns, the reality is Ertz was struggling to make plays, while backup Alex Delton provided a pronounced spark that could be helpful facing sixth-ranked TCU on Saturday.

''Playing both was a good thing. I'm pleased that Alex had a chance to get into the ball game,'' Snyder said, ''but by the same token, we're not really a two-quarterback system. It depends on whether Jesse is totally capable of going or not. We want to make sure he's healthy.''

There's an old adage that goes something like this: ''If you have two quarterbacks, you don't have any.'' The idea is that it's better to have a clearly defined starter, the best one on the field.

Especially when you're in the middle of the conference grind.

But the Jayhawks (1-4, 0-2 Big 12) and Wildcats (3-2, 1-1) hope they can dispel that notion, and there is reason to believe their respective quarterback shake-ups can turn out to be a positive.

Bender and Stanley waged a nip-and-tuck battle throughout fall camp for the starting job, so it's not as if a gulf exists between them. Bender has the big arm better suited to the ''Air Raid'' system of new offensive coordinator Doug Meacham, but Stanley has the kind of natural moxie and gamesmanship that brings back memories of former Jayhawks quarterback Todd Reesing.

The numbers didn't reveal a clear-cut No. 1 last Saturday. Bender was 12 of 24 for 146 yards with a touchdown and a pick against the Red Raiders, while Stanley was 11 of 19 for 110 yards with an interception.

''Felt good to be out there, no doubt, running the offense,'' Stanley said. ''Just try to go out there and give it my best shot. Try to produce, move the ball down the field.''

Beaty intended to use both quarterbacks, and he started off the game rotating freely. But he made the decision in the locker room to go with Stanley exclusively in the second half.

''Carter did some good things and then some things that he has to knock the rust off of a little bit,'' Beaty said. ''He still had two turnovers in the game and we have to manage those. He did some good things as well just like Peyton. Peyton did some good things in that game as well. We're going to need both of them as we go down the stretch.''

Ertz has been the unequivocal starter at Kansas State, particularly after offseason shoulder surgery was supposed to leave him healthy for the first time in years. But Ertz's play this season has been erratic and underwhelming, not only in a dismal road loss to Vanderbilt but also a home win over Baylor.

Delton, whose running ability reminds many Kansas State fans of Ell Roberson, provided a spark of his own against Texas. He ran for 79 yards and a pair of touchdowns after taking over.

''He had a lot more speed and he was very patient with his blocks,'' Texas linebacker Malik Jefferson said. ''He made it very difficult on our defense.''

He might give the Wildcats the lift they need heading into a crucial game against TCU, too.

''(Ertz) is our starter. That's defined,'' Snyder said, ''but only if his health is in shape.''

[StarDust Bum]

Gamecocks defense starting to click
October 10, 2017

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) South Carolina's defense is making its mark at the right time, forcing turnovers and stuffing opponents to be the driving force in the Gamecocks' surprising start.

South Carolina (4-2, 2-2 Southeastern Conference) forced four turnovers last week, including three it returned for touchdowns in a 48-22 blowout of Arkansas last week. The Gamecocks have cut down on yardage allowed and points given up from a year ago and lead the SEC with 13 turnovers.

''We just love the ball,'' Gamecocks defensive end Dante Sawyer said Tuesday.

That was not always the case a year ago in coach Will Muschamp's first season. South Carolina's defense looked slow and generally a step behind opponents much of the year, infuriating Muschamp at times with their inability to keep opponents out of the end zone.

In the season finale, a 56-7 loss at Clemson, Muschamp gritted his teeth in the postgame when asked how to fix the Gamecocks. ''Go to work,'' he said.

South Carolina has taken that to heart. The Gamecocks are 11th nationally with 13 turnovers forced with seven interceptions and six fumbles. They'll take that ball-hawking approach into Tennessee (3-2, 0-2) on Saturday.

Linebacker Skai Moore began the defensive touchdown barrage against Arkansas with a 34-yard interception return to put the Gamecocks up 27-10. Moments later, Stephen Montac took an apparent fumble 38 yards for another touchdown, but that got overturned on review.

''I told the ref he could've let me score,'' Montac said with a smile.

The Gamecocks did not let the reversal set them back as linebacker T.J. Brunson pounced on a loose ball a few plays later and went 73 yards for a touchdown.

The defensive scoring ended with Keisean Nixon's 45-yard pick six in the fourth quarter. The three defensive scores a South Carolina record and one shy of the NCAA mark accomplished several times, including by Auburn and Florida.

Muschamp said turnovers come with effort and identifying vulnerable offensive players not protecting the ball the way they should that may be ripe for coughing one up.

''It is so important to be a ball hawk defensively,'' Muschamp said ''And our defensive staff does a good job of emphasizing that.''

South Carolina quarterback Jake Bentley said his defense does the same thing to him and the offense during practice.

''I just like to say that they know our plays at practice,'' Bentley said. ''That's my excuse.''

Gamecocks defenders are constantly looking to dislodge the ball during drills, jumping pass routes and getting into the end zone, Bentley said. Their efforts help South Carolina's offense better prepare to secure the ball.

''It's exciting to see them get after the ball and create turnovers for us,'' he said.

Tennessee offensive coordinator Larry Scott recalled Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Jon Gruden telling his defense if they thought they were so good, ''Why don't you score some touchdowns?''

Scott, the former Miami head coach, believes Muschamp has instilled that same philosophy on the Gamecocks.

''They feel like they can score points, make plays and do those things,'' Scott said. ''They're playing with a lot of energy.''

Moore, who missed last year because of neck fusion surgery, was frustrated at times last year watching from the sidelines because the Gamecocks were so close to making the plays they make each week this season. ''I knew that if we worked hard in the offseason, things would turn it around,'' he said.

[StarDust Bum]

AP All-America Watch: New star Bosa
October 10, 2017

The Associated Press has been honoring college football's best with an All-America team since 1925. This season, the AP released its first preseason All-America team and will also release a midseason team next week before the full, three-team All-America selections are unveiled in December. The fifth installment of the weekly All-America watch features a Buckeye following in his big brother's footsteps, a converted QB catching on at West Virginia and some struggles for the Heisman winner.

INTRODUCING

Nick Bosa, DE, Ohio State.

The little brother of former Ohio State All-American Joey Bosa, who was a first-round draft pick of the San Diego Chargers, is no secret to college football fans. Nick Bosa was a five-star recruit out of high school and a handful for opposing offenses as a freshman last year. This year, he might be the best player on one of the best defensive lines in the country. Bosa has 10 tackles for loss to lead a defense that is tops in the nation in that category. Like his brother, he is relentless with a good combination of quickness and strength.

Outlook: The Buckeyes are four-deep at defensive end in future NFL draft picks. Bosa doesn't necessarily need to play a lot of snaps but he's too good to keep off the field for too long and with tougher games coming for Ohio State - Nebraska, Penn State, Michigan State and Michigan - he should get plenty of chances to showcase his talents.

WHO'S HOT

David Sills V, WR, West Virginia.

In case you have not heard Sills' story: As a 13-year-old, he was a quarterback prodigy who was offered a scholarship by Southern California. In two stints at West Virginia, with a JUCO stop in between, he transitioned to receiver and is now one of the best in the Big 12. He caught two more touchdown passes against TCU on Saturday and has nine to lead the nation.

WHO'S NOT

Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville.

The 2016 Heisman Trophy winner and All-American still has numbers that rank among the best in the country (416.7 total yards per game). And that is while playing behind an offensive line that continues to provide lackluster protection. But the bottom line: In Jackson's last two games against FBS opponents (No. 2 Clemson and No. 20 North Carolina State) he has completed 53 percent of his passes and averaged 3.8 yards per carry.

ON THE LINE

(Former Auburn offensive lineman and ESPN analyst Cole Cubelic identifies an o-lineman worth watching)

Chukwuma Okorafor, OT, Western Michigan.

The 330-pound senior is strong at the point of attack and shows good mobility and range in pass protection. Many will bring up the level of competition playing in the Mid-American Conference but Okorafor handles it the way he should: he dominates. He helps pave the way for the MAC's best running game.

FABULOUS FRESHMEN

True freshmen don't often become All-Americans but these players have a chance:

- Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin. The Badgers' next great back is fourth in the nation in rushing at 153.4 yards per game.

- C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida. The Gators' next great corner already has two picks-six touchdowns.

- Josiah Scott, CB, Michigan State. The Spartans put a lot on their cornerbacks and Scott has been one of the keys to a revitalized defense.

ALL-AMERCIA MATCHUP

Florida OT Martez Ivey vs. Texas A&M DE Landis Durham.

Intriguing matchup between a former five-star recruit who has been an inconsistent performer (Ivey) and one of the more surprising players in the Southeastern Conference this season (Durham).

Durham was a sparingly used linebacker the last two seasons. He moved to defensive end with the Aggies in need of replacements for draft picks Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall. Durham has steadily made his way up the depth charts with a team best 5.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.

Ivey, a 305-pound junior, played guard his first two seasons before sliding out to left tackle this year. The transition has been less than smooth, but he has an opportunity to finish strong.

[StarDust Bum]

Harris running like the SEC's top RB
October 10, 2017

A look at NFL prospects who helped and may have hurt themselves this past weekend:

Who helped themselves?

Damien Harris, RB, Alabama, JR. (5-10, 216, 4.55, #34)

It is tough for an Alabama running back to be "underrated" but that seems to be the case with Harris, sharing the backfield duties with Bo Scarbrough. In three games this season against SEC competition, Harris is averaging 10.4 yards per carry (33 carries for 342 yards and four touchdowns) with a pair of 100-yard rushing performances, including 124 yards in the win over Texas A&M on Saturday. Early in the first quarter, he set the tone for the game with a career-long 75-yard touchdown scamper, reading his blocks, quickly finding the cutback lane and then out-pacing the Texas A&M secondary to the end zone. As a runner, Harris does a great job marrying his feet with his eyes, trusting his vision and squaring his shoulders to create north-south momentum. Against the Aggies, he also showcased his skills as a blocker, mirroring blitzers in pass pro and stopping them cold with his upper body power. Harris isn't as flashy as other running back prospects, but he has few weaknesses and is making a strong case to be mentioned as one of the top prospects at the position not named Saquon Barkley.

Nyheim Hines, RB/WR, N.C. State, JR. (5-8, 197, 4.44, #7)

After dropping the season opener at South Carolina, the Wolfpack are 5-0, including two impressive victories at Florida State and this past weekend against Louisville. N.C. State has multiple weapons on both offense (HB Jaylen Samuels) and defense (DE Bradley Chubb), but Hines has consistently been a valuable player, accounting for at least 99 yards of total offense in five of the six games this season. Against the Cardinals last Thursday night, Hines rushed for 102 yards on only 18 carries (5.7 average) with a pair of touchdowns. One of the fastest players on the field, he is quick through the hole and hits the second level before defenders can adjust their path. He doesn't sport a traditional running back build, but runs with deceiving core strength and toughness and his combination of balance and play speed makes it a chore on defenders to finish him. The other key to Hines' skill-set is his versatility as a receiver and on special teams, both as a returner and gunner. With NFL teams searching for the "next" Tyreek Hill, Hines is a pro prospect who will continue to rise on draft boards.

Joel Lanning, LB, Iowa State, rSR. (6-2, 225, 4.79, #7)

Iowa State pulled one of the season's more improbable upsets on Saturday, defeating No. 3-ranked Oklahoma, 38-31, in Norman. The win was even more surprising considering the Cyclones lost their starting quarterback during the week after he left the team to attend to a medical situation. But that set the stage for Lanning, who moved from quarterback to linebacker for this season, to flash his versatility and importance to his team. He did a little bit of everything against the Sooners, playing 78 snaps (57 on defense, 13 on offense and eight on special teams) and finishing with eight tackles, one sack, one fumble recovery, 35 rushing yards and 25 passing yards. Over the summer, Lanning received "PFA" grades from NFL scouts and he remains a borderline draft pick at-best. However, if he can prove to be reliable on special teams, Lanning is the type of competitor who NFL coaches covet in the locker room and will give him a chance to stick on a NFL roster in training camp.

Frank Ragnow, OC, Arkansas, SR. (6-4, 319, 5.33, #72)

Arkansas is 0-3 this season vs. power-five opponents and it doesn't get any easier with Alabama and Auburn on the schedule the next two weeks. However, one of the bright spots for the Hogs has been Ragnow, the veteran center who is the glue of Arkansas' identity as a physical, run-first offense. He is quick to engage after the snap with the upper body strength and hand violence to sustain while keeping his balance. Ragnow is a mauler in the run game and keeps busy with the nasty demeanor needed to control and generate movement, creating openings for the ballcarrier. Arkansas is on pace for another 6-6 type of regular season and the future of head coach Bret Bielema in Fayetteville is anyone's guess. But regardless of the final record, Ragnow has cemented himself in the discussion to be the top center in the 2018 NFL Draft class, projecting as a future NFL starter.

Who hurt themselves?

Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville, JR. (6-2, 212, 4.42, #8)

With the Thursday night stage against a stingy defense filled with future pros, Louisville had a chance to rebound after the tough loss to Clemson two weeks ago - and for Jackson, a chance to impress with dozens of NFL decision-makers in the attendance. However, the Cardinals never led in the contest as N.C. State seemingly controlled the game for all four quarters. And for Jackson, the final passing yards (354) look great in the box score, but his struggles to complete passes down the field stood out. He attempted 11 throws of 16+ yards (not including throw-aways) and only one was an accurate pass (his second quarter touchdown pass). Jackson was much better on intermediate passes (6-15 yards), completing 73.9-percent of those throws in the game, but his lack of touch deep stood out. Full context, the Louisville offensive line struggled to block N.C. State's NFL-talented defensive line and the Cardinals were without Jaylen Smith, the team's top target. But for a potential first round quarterback, NFL teams want to see him overcome those obstacles. Jackson isn't going to fall down draft boards now, but his performances against Clemson and N.C. State were missed opportunities.

Other notes:

--One of the best prospect matchups of the weekend came in the Texas A&M-Alabama game when Aggies junior WR Christian Kirk (5-11, 200, 4.39, #3) lined up across from Crimson Tide DB Minkah Fitzpatrick (6-0, 201, 4.52, #29). Lining up almost exclusively in the slot, Kirk finished with four catches for 52 yards and one very impressive touchdown catch along the sideline in the end zone. But when facing Fitzpatrick, he struggled to find success as the talented Alabama defensive back flashed his instincts and athleticism in coverage. Fitzpatrick has excellent route anticipation with impressive secondary speed to close and make plays at the catch point. Kirk did get the best of Fitzpatrick on one play when he ran a hard inside route from the slot, enticing Fitzpatrick to bite on the dig before bursting back outside where Kellen Mond delivered a strike for the 25-yard gain. But overall, Fitzpatrick did his job and once again displayed the skill-set that will make him a top-10 pick next April.

--After a dreadful performance last week against UCF, Memphis redshirt senior QB Riley Ferguson (6-2, 208, 4.87, #4) rebounded nicely against a vulnerable UConn secondary. He finished 34-for-48 for 431 yards and seven touchdowns, which tied Paxton Lynch's school and conference record for passing scores. Ferguson relied on redshirt senior WR Anthony Miller (5-11, 190, 4.53, #3), who burned the Huskies' cornerbacks for 15 catches, 224 yards and school-record four touchdown grabs. For Ferguson, he showed why many in scouting circles believe he is a mid-round draft pick with the traits worth developing. For Miller, he is forcing teams to ask themselves: "Do we have him rated high enough?" Miller doesn't have elite size or speed, but his ball skills, route quickness and determination are above average, which is why he is a top-three senior wide receiver prospect.

--Entering the season, many NFL scouts pegged TCU redshirt senior WR Taj Williams (6-3, 184, 4.54, #2) as the program's top senior pro prospect. But through five games, Williams has been buried on the depth chart with minimal on-field snaps. Meanwhile, redshirt senior WR John Diarse (6-0, 209, 4.54, #9) leads the team with 171 receiving yards on 14 catches and one touchdown. The LSU transfer, who has passed Williams as the team's top senior receiver prospect, is athletic for his size and does an excellent job in 50-50 situations, finishing strong to the ball. Diarse also shows his physicality at the top of routes and as a ballcarrier, trampling defensive backs in his way. His draft arrow is pointing north.

--Unfortunate news for one of the most athletic running backs in college football: Miami (Fla.) junior RB Mark Walton (5-9, 195, 4.49, #1) injured his right ankle on Saturday and will undergo season-ending surgery. Walton is an exciting player with the ball in his hands and was expected to declare early for the 2018 NFL Draft, but his fourth quarter injury against Florida State could change his plans.

--Sometimes when players change positions, it allows them to go from little-known contributor to rising NFL Draft prospect. And that may be the case with Houston redshirt junior CB Isaiah Johnson (6-2, 198, 4.50, #14), who spent his first three years with the Cougars at receiver before switching to cornerback in the off-season. With Howard Wilson (2017 fourth round pick of the Cleveland Browns) catching most off-guard by declaring early for the draft, Houston had a need at cornerback and Johnson made the switch. He has started all five games this season and has been impressive, posting 26 tackles, four passes defended and one interception. Johnson has the blend of size and speed that immediately pops off the screen and his cover awareness at this point in his development is very encouraging. Keep an eye on No. 14 for the Cougars.

--Dane Brugler is senior analyst of NFLDraftScout.com, owned and operated

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Washington State QB began as a walk-on
October 10, 2017

PULLMAN, Wash. (AP) Luke Falk didn't draw a lot of interest coming out of high school in Logan, Utah.

At one point in his high school career, the quarterback seemed destined for Florida State, only to have that opportunity dissolve. In the end, his choices appeared to be Cornell, maybe Idaho and maybe Wyoming. Falk likely would have headed for the Ivy League if not for head coach Mike Leach's arrival at Washington State.

Even then, there was no guarantee of a scholarship or even an opportunity when Falk arrived in Pullman in 2013 and was seventh on the depth chart as a walk-on.

''The biggest thing is they gave me an equal opportunity,'' Falk said. ''A fair shot to compete with guys on scholarship.''

''The stars kind of aligned here at Washington State,'' he said.

For both Falk and the eighth-ranked Cougars.

Washington State (6-0, 3-0 Pac-12) is on a roll behind Falk, including a big 30-27 win over Southern California two weeks ago and a 33-10 win over Oregon last weekend that put the Cougars into the Top 10.

Through it all, Falk has continued to raise eyebrows across the college football world. The senior is threatening to break nearly every major passing record in the Pac-12 Conference - surpassing names like Marcus Mariota, Matt Barkley, Jared Goff and Sean Mannion.

Through the first six games of this season, Falk has thrown for 2,000 yards with 19 touchdowns and only two interceptions. He is completing 71.8 percent of his passes. He has thrown for 12,893 yards with 108 touchdowns for his college career, setting school records for career TD passes, passing yardage and total offense. Falk is tied with Jason Gesser as the winningest quarterback in program history with 24 victories.

Falk also already holds Pac-12 records for pass completions and total plays and is the NCAA active leader in passing yards and touchdowns. He is closing on Pac-12 career touchdown leader Matt Barkley of USC, who threw for 116.

''He's a special talent,'' Oregon coach Willie Taggart said. ''He's a kid who'll be playing on Sunday.''

Despite such accolades and ongoing Heisman talk, Falk remains a small-town boy who seems to fit in well in Pullman, which has only 30,000 residents - two-thirds of them Washington State students. He remains humble and approachable. He pauses to take selfies with fans. He still wears a battered baseball cap he bought his first day on campus.

He credits an embarrassing loss to FCS Portland State in 2015 with lighting a fire under the program.

Falk and the offense went silent during the first game of the 2015 season, and Portland State hung a 24-17 loss on the Cougars at home.

That could have knocked the program off the rails, but it didn't, Falk said.

''We reset,'' Falk said. ''There was nothing we could have done about that game. It was in the past.''

The Cougars played at Rutgers next, and Falk threw for 478 yards and four touchdowns in a comeback victory.

Since that loss, the Cougars have gone 23-8.

''We still have rough patches,'' Falk said. ''But we've hit our step and hit our stride and played with confidence.''

Falk is the latest in a string of record-setting quarterbacks produced by Leach, an architect of the Air Raid offense.

The Air Raid is well-suited to Falk's strengths, as he fires short passes all over the field. He doesn't run much, he finds the open receiver in a crowd, and he's tough enough to take the inevitable sacks.

He's drawn the admiration of Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll.

''Their quarterback is so good,'' Carroll said recently. ''We've been watching them for years and just watching him pull himself off the carpet so many times after getting pounded, and just hanging in there. He's a fantastic football player.''

Falk follows a long line of great quarterbacks to make their way through Pullman, a list that includes Jack Thompson, Mark Rypien, Drew Bledsoe, Ryan Leaf and Gesser. Yet none of them were asked to run a system as intricate as Leach's, which is why the coach regularly praises his quarterback for his smarts and comprehension.

''He's a constant achiever,'' Leach said recently.

Falk has also evolved.

''He's becoming more of a vocal leader,'' said running back Jamal Morrow. ''He's calm and relaxed.''

Falk is now considered a top NFL quarterback prospect for the 2018 draft after passing on a chance to leave after his junior season.

But hints of that long-ago walk-on remain. So don't expect him to give up that sweat-stained Washington State hat anytime soon.

''I take that hat everywhere,'' Falk said. ''My mom hates that hat, but I love that hat. It's a good reminder and I like the way it fits me.''

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Syracuse gets a night in the spotlight
October 10, 2017

Syracuse's Dino Babers has coached at 15 colleges since he started at Hawaii in 1984 as a graduate assistant, so he knows what he and his Orange will be up against with second-ranked Clemson.

''I played very, very, very good football teams before,'' Babers said. ''This Clemson team is like one of those teams.''

The reigning national champion Tigers (6-0, 4-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) visit the Carrier Dome on Friday night. The game offers the Orange (3-3, 1-1) a chance to be in the national spotlight in primetime - for one night at least.

There are dreams of an upset just like last year's Carrier Dome stunner against No. 17 Virginia Tech. That brought national attention to the Orange after Babers orchestrated a postgame rant that went viral . The Hokies were favored by just over 20 points in that one and Clemson is a 22 1/2-point favorite for this matchup.

''This is huge, to have the nation tuning in to the Carrier Dome,'' Babers said. ''It's a heck of a task, there's no doubt about it. But let's ... watch and see what can happen.''

Syracuse is coming off an important 27-24 win over Pittsburgh , which kept alive the Orange's hopes of playing in a bowl game.

Despite noticeable gains on defense (ranked 46th, allowing 357.7 yards per game) and special teams (Sean Riley has 399 return yards, punter Sterling Hofrichter is averaging 45 yards per kick, and placekicker Cole Murphy is 10 for 12 on field goals), the Syracuse offense still hasn't developed the sort of rhythm to consistently put defenses on their heels, though it has the components to do so. Senior wideout Steve Ishmael has 56 catches for 729 yards to lead the nation in both categories and sidekick Ervin Philips isn't far behind (52 catches, 475 yards).

Still, the uptempo offense behind quarterback Eric Dungey has struggled in each of the team's losses. That the Orange rank near the bottom of the FBS, averaging 7.5 penalties per game, has been a factor, and the mistakes have been magnified by the slim margins of defeat. All three losses - to Middle Tennessee, LSU and North Carolina State - have been by single digits.

''It's been a little bit frustrating,'' Ishmael said. ''We know that we're there. I feel like we are a team that can compete. We've just got to do the little things better.''

Against Pitt last Saturday, Dungey brought two more receivers into the mix. Junior college transfer Ravian Pierce had a team-high nine catches for 99 yards at tight end, with all but one reception coming in the decisive second half, and Devin C. Butler had seven catches for 64 yards and a score. Ishmael and Philips combined for 13 catches for 152 yards and one touchdown.

''It puts a lot of pressure on defenses when you not only have to cover Steve and Erv,'' said Dungey, who's averaging 300 yards passing per game and has thrown for nine TDs with four interceptions.

But this Clemson defense is not the norm. The Tigers are ranked eighth nationally in total defense, limiting opponents to an average of 264.3 yards per game, and their front four - Dexter Lawrence, Christian Wilkins, Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant - would rival most in the NFL.

The Tigers have given up just eight touchdowns all season, and six have come in the fourth quarter of games Clemson led by at least 20 points. No team has scored more than seven points against Clemson through three periods, and the Tigers are intent on keeping that trend going.

''We know the Syracuse offense presents a great challenge,'' Clemson linebacker Kendall Joseph said. ''They're very different. They're going to sling it about 50 times a game. They're going to have a chance to come up and make some noise.

''We've got to put down the confidence early and not give them hope. That's what we plan on doing.''

Standout safety Antwan Cordy, who suffered a hairline fracture in his lower right leg in the season opener, had vowed to be back in the Orange lineup for this game. Babers said that won't happen.

''Zero chance that he's out there,'' Babers said Monday.

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Maryland QB quandary taking a toll
October 10, 2017

COLLEGE PARK, Md. (AP) Maryland coach DJ Durkin is delving deep into the playbook and combing the depth chart in an effort to improve an unproductive offense.

Before he gets too absorbed in that process, the second-year coach must first determine who will start at quarterback Saturday in a Big Ten matchup with visiting Northwestern.

Max Bortenschlager took a hit to the head last weekend at Ohio State and is still in recovery mode. If he can't go, North Carolina transfer Caleb Henderson will become the Terrapins' fourth different starter in six games.

''Max is a tough kid. If anyone can respond the right way to any sort of injury, it would be Max,'' Durkin said Tuesday. ''We'll keep evaluating him as we go through the week and see where we're at.''

Bortenschlager got his first start on Sept. 30 against Minnesota after starters Tyrrell Pigrome, then Kasim Hill, were lost for the season with knee injuries.

Bortenschlager engineered a win against the Golden Gophers , but was ineffective in a 62-14 loss to the Buckeyes before leaving late in the third quarter. Making his debut with Maryland, Henderson went 0 for 1 passing and was sacked once.

While the quarterback position remains up in the air, this much is certain: Maryland's offense is in dire need of an overhaul.

The Terps' rank 121st in passing yards among Football Bowl Subdivision teams, 126th in third-down percentage and 107th in total offense.

Against the Buckeyes, Maryland completed only three passes, totaled 66 yards in offense and got six first downs.

''A lot of things happened in that game that culminated in obviously a lackluster performance,'' Durkin said.

So, what now?

''We're looking into what we can scheme-wise differently, what we can do personnel-wise differently,'' Durkin said. ''All those things are on the table.''

The unit has plenty of talent - most notably D.J. Moore (32 catches, 414 yards, 5 TDs) and Ty Johnson (8.1 yards per carry, 4 TDs) - but lacks consistency at quarterback.

''We still have a very talented offense, I believe,'' Durkin said. ''You look at running back, receiver, offensive line. There are a lot of really good players. We've got to do a better job of putting them in position to be successful.''

The Terrapins (3-2, 1-1) hope to get back on track against Northwestern (2-3, 0-2). But first they've got to put that Ohio State embarrassment behind them.

''It kills you when you get beat as bad as we did last weekend,'' running back Jake Funk said. ''But you have to get over it, because if you let it linger it's just going to effect the next week. We got our butt kicked, and we just have to move on to Northwestern.''

And if Henderson is the quarterback, then the offense will just have to adjust.

''It's been tough, obviously, losing three quarterbacks in the first five games,'' Funk said. ''But it's the next man up. If that's Caleb this week, we have to be behind him because he's the guy.'

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UCLA out to keep Arizona's QB in pocket
October 10, 2017

LOS ANGELES (AP) UCLA is taking Arizona head coach Rich Rodriguez at his word.

The Wildcats' depth chart lists Khalil Tate or Brandon Dawkins as the starting quarterback, so the Bruins are preparing for both for their game on Saturday. That designation comes after Tate ran for 327 yards in a win at Colorado, the most yards rushing ever by an FBS quarterback.

''I think their offense is their offense. That's why they have those type of quarterbacks and that's what they want to do,'' UCLA defensive coordinator Tom Bradley said Tuesday. ''They are going to do the things that they like to do regardless of who's playing quarterback.''

Considering the trouble UCLA has had this season defending mobile quarterbacks that is a pretty reasonably position to take. Texas A&M freshman Kellen Mond rushed for 87 yards, not counting yardage lost on four sacks. Hawaii backup Cole McDonald had a 58-yard run on a keeper. And Colorado's Steven Montez rushed for 108 yards on 15 carries in UCLA's last game before a bye week, giving the defensive line fits as they failed to keep him in the pocket.

Knowing what Tate just did and what Dawkins can do, as the redshirt junior led Arizona in rushing last season with 944 yards and 10 touchdowns, makes containment the highest priority this week.

''You have to be very careful, very disciplined in your pass rush,'' Bradley said. ''Sometimes good pass rush isn't necessarily sacks. It's just making sure you are containing him and trying to keep him on your inside shoulder.''

UCLA does have some familiarity with Tate, who made his collegiate debut in the Bruins' 45-24 win last season. Tate was 5 of 9 passing for 72 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 79 yards on 15 carries.

While he showed off his strong arm at the Rose Bowl, Tate's record-setting performance against the Buffaloes was defined by explosive plays on the ground. Tate had touchdowns runs of 58, 28, 47 and 75 yards.

Stopping such explosive runs has been an issue for UCLA, with poor tackling and bad angles at fault. Bradley spent the open week examining whether the calls he has been making might be too complex for a defense that has been frequently shuffling its lineup because of injuries and ejections for targeting.

''Are we asking them to do too much? Where is the cutoff point, so we've really tried to discipline ourself into coming up with exactly what we need and not anything more,'' Bradley said.

Bradley will be leaning on linebacker Kenny Young to relay that message and keep Tate or Dawkins from breaking free. Young had been lining up in different positions this season before moving into his usual middle linebacker role, and Bradley likes how the senior has settled back in.

''I think Kenny feels natural back there. That's kind of his home for him,'' Bradley said. ''Moving him around I think has helped him, too, because he understands the whole package now and how we're doing things. It gives us more versatility as we move forward.''

Consistency has been the mantra for UCLA against Arizona under head coach Jim Mora, having won all five meetings while allowing 19.6 points per game. For that streak to continue, UCLA has to keep Tate or Dawkins from making the highlight-reel plays.

''They are fun to watch on film. They're not so fun to play against in person,'' Bradley said. ''They do a great job. They are both big, they are strong. I think they are elusive. They are not just one-dimensional type guys. They can throw it, too, so we definitely have our work cut out for us.''

NOTES: Running back Nate Starks is out for the season after undergoing knee surgery.

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After brutal 2-game stretch, Ole Miss looking for answers
October 10, 2017

Mississippi's two-game swing through the state of Alabama was largely a disaster.

But an encouraging second half during last weekend's otherwise forgettable 44-23 loss to Auburn has given the Rebels a little hope going into a stretch of three consecutive home games beginning with Vanderbilt on Saturday.

Ole Miss, which outscored Auburn 20-9 after halftime, is eager to pounce on even the slightest hint of momentum after three straight losses.

''We're going to build on the second half of Auburn,'' interim coach Matt Luke said. ''That's going to be the turning point of our season.''

Ole Miss was already reeling after a 66-3 loss to top-ranked Alabama on Sept. 30 and the first half of its game against Auburn last weekend was just as bad. The Tigers had a 35-3 halftime lead and the Rebels couldn't do anything right.

''If there was ever a time to quit, it was right then, and they didn't,'' Luke said. ''They didn't throw in the towel, they didn't go in the corner and cover up, they came out and they fought.''

Ole Miss (2-3, 0-2 Southeastern Conference) played much better in the second half, scoring three touchdowns. Quarterback Shea Patterson finished with 346 yards passing and two touchdowns - both to redshirt freshman receiver D.K. Metcalf.

There is a caveat to that success: Auburn had its backups on the field for a big portion of the second half. But for the first time in weeks, the Rebels' passing game was quick and effective.

''It took us five games, but we got there,'' first-year offensive coordinator Phil Longo said. ''That's more of what I'm used to and I think it's what they're used to here. It definitely created some advantages for us.''

The Ole Miss defense - which has struggled for the better part of two seasons - also looked a little better. The unit gave up three field goals but no touchdowns in the second half.

''We had a heart to heart at halftime,'' Ole Miss defensive coordinator Wesley McGriff said. ''I told them there were no magical adjustments. There was nothing different we could call. You're not going to get a magical speech. You've just got to go out and play football.''

Vanderbilt (3-3, 0-3) is stuck in its own three-game losing streak after falling to Alabama, Florida and Georgia. The Commodores have been known for their defense under coach Derek Mason, but have surrendered 142 points over the past three weeks.

Just like Ole Miss, Vanderbilt is trying to concentrate on the positive and pull out of its skid.

''You have to refocus, you have to lock in and find a way to get our mojo back in a way that's on both sides of the ball and including special teams,'' Vanderbilt receiver C.J. Duncan said. ''There's a lot to learn from the previous three games, and I think we're going to prepare well enough to do what we have to do in Oxford.''

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Resurgent offense propels streaking Auburn into top 10
October 10, 2017

AUBURN, Ala. (AP) The Auburn Tigers have ridden an all-around offensive resurgence into the top 10.

Quarterback Jarrett Stidham and tailback Kerryon Johnson have delivered big plays, the young wide receivers have come through more consistently and the offensive line has undergone a shuffling.

With all that complementing a highly rated defense, the 10th-ranked Tigers ride a four-game winning streak into LSU on Saturday.

Coach Gus Malzahn chalks part of that slow start up to a having a new quarterback in Stidham and offensive coordinator in Chip Lindsey.

''Chip was brought in to provide balance and more shots down the field and he's done that,'' Malzahn said Tuesday. ''We've been able to hit some of those explosive pass plays. We've had explosive run plays too. Our tempo has gotten better.

''I think it's more kind of all of the above, everything kind of coming together, being more comfortable, kind of knowing who we are.''

There was plenty of cause for concern, if not panic, three games into the season. The Tigers managed just 117 total yards against No. 2 Clemson but also committed five turnovers against Mercer's much less heralded FCS defense the following week.

Auburn has since scored 144 points in its first three Southeastern Conference games. Johnson has run for 11 of his 12 touchdowns in those games to take the national lead after missing the Clemson and Mercer games with a right hamstring injury. Stidham, now the SEC's highest rated starting passer , threw for just 79 yards against Clemson.

''We've come a long way since the first couple of weeks of the season, but we're still looking to improve quite a bit,'' Stidham said. ''I think there's a lot of room to grow all the way around.''

Auburn hasn't played a defense anywhere near the caliber of Clemson since that 14-6 loss.

The offense has clearly made strides since then, though. Stidham hasn't been intercepted in the past three games and Johnson has kept the running game going with Kamryn Pettway missing two of them with a lower right leg injury. Malzahn said Pettway would likely practice Tuesday but that they won't play him until he's healthy.

On the line, Auburn moved Austin Golson from center to left tackle the past two games. Casey Dunn, a graduate transfer from Jacksonville State, replaced him at center.

The Tigers allowed 11 sacks against Clemson and only five in the four games since then.

They have also scored on their last 14 trips inside the opponents' 20-yard line, including 12 touchdowns.

LSU cornerback Donte Jackson praised Stidham's accuracy but noted that ''they didn't go against us yet.''

''They have the athletes, even on the outside,'' Jackson said. ''But they also have a great offensive game plan too.''

Sustaining the success in the second half of the season is a challenge, since opposing coaches mostly know what the offense does and doesn't do well, Malzahn said.

''This time of year it's about execution,'' he said. ''And it's more about execution right now than any other time because as a coach, whatever you're good at, you want to keep building upon those things.

''Well, other teams know that and they're going to try and stop it and you've got to have an answer when they try to do certain things like that. So really it's more about execution this time of year than it was the first half.''

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NC State pursuing extension for football coach Dave Doeren
October 10, 2017

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) North Carolina State is pursuing an extension for football coach Dave Doeren.

In a statement Tuesday, athletic director Debbie Yow says school officials ''want Dave here a long time and appreciate the progress that has been made.'' Doeren's contract with the No. 20 Wolfpack runs through the 2019 season.

N.C. State (5-1) is in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 2010 and has its first 3-0 start in Atlantic Coast Conference play since 2002.

Doeren's future was uncertain last year before Yow said he'd return for a fifth season following a win at rival North Carolina in the regular-season finale. That improved Doeren to 9-23 in ACC play and secured a third straight bowl trip.

Doeren is 30-27 with N.C. State, which visits Pittsburgh on Saturday.

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NCAAF opening line report: Big early wagers moving Week 7 pointspreads
Patrick Everson

"The early bettors jumped all over the opener of Cougars -12.5, moving the number quickly up to 14.5."

No. 9 Washington State Cougars at California Golden Bears (+12.5)

Washington State is unbeaten, already taking down previously perfect Southern California in Week 5, then ripping another good Pac-12 outfit in Week 6. The Cougars (6-0 SU, 4-2 ATS) went to Oregon as a 1.5-point favorite and hammered the Ducks 33-10.

California (3-3 SU and ATS) got out of the gate with three consecutive SU victories, then had a good showing in a home loss to USC. But the Golden Bears haven’t been able to keep up the past two weeks, losing at Oregon 45-24 as a 17-point underdog, then 38-7 at Washington catching 28.5 points.

“Washington State’s thrashing of Oregon last weekend was one of the biggest college winners of the weekend for the public,” Mason said. “This week, the early bettors jumped all over the opener of Cougars -12.5, moving the number quickly up to 14.5. It’s looking like the house will be rooting against Washington State again. Just 32 percent of the early bettors are taking the points.”

At one point, the line reached 16, before settling back to 14.5 late Sunday night.

No. 12 Oklahoma Sooners vs. Texas Longhorns (+10.5)

Oklahoma is still looking for the license plate of the bus it got hit by Saturday. The Sooners (4-1 SU, 3-2 ATS) had a bye week to prepare for Iowa State and led the Cyclones by 14 on three occasions in the first half, yet lost 38-31 as a massive 31-point home favorite.

Texas (3-2 SU, 3-1-1 ATS) looks to be pulling itself together after a season-opening home loss to Maryland. The Longhorns went on the road in Week 5 and beat that same Iowa State squad, then outlasted Kansas State in Week 6 with a 40-34 overtime victory to push as 6-point faves.

“It seems like the early bettors are off of the Oklahoma bandwagon, as 64 percent of them are counting on Texas to cover their fifth straight Red River Rivalry,” Mason said.

Indeed, the Sooners opened -10.5 in this neutral-site game at the Cotton Bowl, and they were bet down to 7.5 in a matter of minutes.

No. 23 Utah Utes at No. 13 Southern California Trojans (-13)

Southern Cal was supposed to be the Pac-12 darling, and may still be, but currently is looking up at aforementioned Washington State, along with Washington. The Trojans (5-1 SU, 1-5 ATS) bounced back from the loss to Wazzoo by rolling Oregon State 38-10 Saturday as a hefty 32.5-point home fave.

Utah had hoped to head to SoCal with a perfect record, but Stanford had other plans in Week 6. The Utes (4-1 SU, 4-0-1 ATS) went off as 3-point home pups and the oddsmakers got it just right, as Utah lost 23-20.

“With a 1-5 ATS record, USC has not been kind to its loyal bettors this season. Utah, on the other hand, has been a covering machine,” Mason said. “This game isn’t getting a ton of early action, but 60 percent of the bettors so far are counting on another Utes cover.”

Those early wagers took the line from USC -13 to -11.5, but it rebounded to 13.5 late Sunday night.

No. 13 Auburn Tigers at Louisiana State Tigers (+4)

Auburn’s only loss this season was a more-than-respectable showing at Clemson in a 14-6 Week 2 setback getting 6 points. The Tigers (5-1 SU, 2-2-2 ATS) have won four in a row since then, including a 44-23 victory over Missouri on Saturday as a 21-point chalk.

Louisiana State suffered arguably the biggest upset of the season in Week 5, falling to Troy 24-21 as a 20.5-point favorite. But LSU (4-2 SU, 1-4-1 ATS) rebounded by squeaking past Florida 17-16 in Week 6 as a 1.5-point fave.

“Tons of movement on this one from the get-go, as Auburn moved from 4-point road chalk all the way to 9-point favorites,” Mason said. “This aggressive line move makes perfect sense considering that Auburn is taking on more early bets than any other team on the college betting board. Only 16 percent of early bettors believe that LSU can cover for just the second time this season.”

That said, LSU money started showing by mid-evening Sunday, drawing the line back down to Auburn -6.5.

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College football's biggest betting mismatches: Week 7
Monty Andrews

Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Miami Hurricanes (-6.5, 52.5)

Georgia Tech's third-down defense vs. Miami's drive extension struggles

The Hurricanes have done a fantastic job dealing with adverse circumstances, remaining unbeaten and leading the ACC-Coastal Division despite already having three games postponed or cancelled due to weather. Last weekend's pivotal 24-20 win over host Florida State made a major statement, but Miami could be in tough this weekend against Georgia Tech; not only did the Hurricanes lose leading rusher Mark Walton for the season, but they face a significant mismatch when it comes to third downs.

Georgia Tech has made a name for itself on offense by averaging a stunning 396 rushing yards per game; only Navy (414.2) averages more in Division I. But the Yellow Jackets have also made a major impact on the defensive side of the ball by limiting opponents to 11 third-down conversions on 46 opportunities - a 23.9-percent success rate that ranks fourth-best in the nation. North Carolina went just 2-for-12 on third downs in last weekend's 33-7 loss to Georgia Tech.

For all that Miami has done well this season, it has been slightly below average in converting on third down; the Hurricanes are 18-for-46 on the season, good for a 39.1-percent conversion that ranks 68th nationally. That includes an 11-for-29 stretch on third downs in wins over Kentucky and Florida State; the Hurricanes escaped with victories in both games, but a similar showing against the Yellow Jackets could result in this game being closer than oddsmakers anticipate.

Michigan Wolverines at Indiana Hoosiers (+6.5, 45.5)

Michigan's ground struggles vs. Indiana's stout run D

The Wolverines' national title hopes took a significant hit with last week's 14-10 loss to rival Michigan State; not only did Michigan lose the game, but will also be without starting quarterback Wilton Speight for "multiple weeks" as he recovers from a back injury. A solid bounceback effort against the Hoosiers is imperative for head coach Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines, but it won't be easy - particularly on the ground - against an Indiana defense that just pitched a shutout against Charleston Southern.

You can point to several areas in which Michigan underwhelmed against the Spartans, but the ground game was among the most disappointing. The Wolverines gained just 102 yards on a whopping 39 attempts - good for a paltry 2.6 YPC average. That dropped Michigan's YPC average below 4.0 yards for the season, while its six rushing scores rank higher than only the Spartans and Purdue Boilermakers. And with the switch to QB John O'Korn (505 yards, TD, 4 INT), the Wolverines need that run game even more.

Indiana has opened conference play with one-sided losses to Ohio State and Penn State, but is on a high after limiting Charleston Southern to 134 total yards - all on the ground - in a 27-0 triumph. The Buccaneers needed 44 carries to amass that yardage total, as the Hoosiers run defense continued its impressive stretch. Indiana is limiting foes to 3.6 YPC - tied for the sixth-best rate in the defense-heavy Big Ten - and has surrendered just five rushing touchdowns through its first five games.

Washington Huskies at Arizona State Sun Devils (+17, 62)

Huskies' relentless pass rush vs. Sun Devils' shaky O-line

The Washington Huskies are making a run toward the College Football Playoff - and it's thanks to sensational play on both sides of the football. The Huskies enter this week's showdown at Arizona State ranked tied for 11th in points per game (43.0) and third in the nation in points allowed (10.2). Arizona State is no slouch in the passing game, averaging nearly 300 yards per contest - but if it doesn't do a better job of protecting QB Manny Wilkins, it could be a long night at Sun Devil Stadium.

The Huskies have been the class of the Pac-12 in the majority of statistical categories, and are getting to the opposing quarterback at a breakneck pace. Washington is one of only seven Division I schools to have amassed at least 20 sacks so far, and its 3.33 sacks-per-game average ranks 10th nationally. As a result of that relentless pressure, teams are averaging just 150.3 passing yards per game against Washington, which has surrendered just three passing scores through six games.

Wilkins has been strong through his first five games of the season, ranking third in the conference in passing yards per game (290.3) and sixth in quarterback efficiency (153.9). But you have to wonder how much better he would be if the Sun Devils offensive line were stronger. Arizona State has already surrendered 22 sacks - fourth-most in Division I - and is averaging 4.4 sacks against per game, the second-worst rate in the nation. Look for that trend to continue against Washington's vaunted defense.

Kansas Jayhawks at Iowa State Cyclones (20.5, 68)

Jayhawks' possession issues vs. Cyclones' terrific turnover rate

Iowa State might have single-handedly ended Oklahoma's quest for the national title, posting one of the most notable upsets of the year with last weekend's 38-31 triumph over the Sooners. Next up: a home date with a Kansas Jayhawks team allowing the third-most points per game (44.0) in Division I. This one is expected to be a high-scoring affair, and that heavily favors the Cyclones - not only because they're the superior team, but because they have a significant edge in the turnover department.

The Jayhawks are hemorrhaging points like few other teams in the nation, and haven't done themselves any favors on the other side of the football. Kansas has already committed 13 turnovers - tied for seventh-most overall - while only six other Division I teams have racked up more interceptions than the Jayhawks' nine. Kansas has a minus-seven turnover differential on the season, with seven of their turnovers coming in their last two games.

The Cyclones have had an up-and-down season to date, and have failed to string together consecutive victories. But they're on the right track following last week's upset win over Oklahoma, and have the turnover ratio to suggest that their success is sustainable. Iowa State has forced nine turnovers through five games while committing only five itself - good for a plus-four differential that ranks inside the top 30 nationally. Even more impressively, the Cyclones have yet to lose a fumble.