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

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Big 12's newest featured in Week 6
October 5, 2017

Some things to watch in the Big 12 Conference during Week 6:

GAME OF THE WEEK

No. 23 West Virginia (3-1, 1-0 Big 12) at No. 8 TCU (4-0, 1-0). They came into the Big 12 together in 2012, had identical records the first two years and their first three games against each other as conference foes were decided on the final play (two in overtime). Now West Virginia and TCU, both coming off open dates, meet in the only game nationally Saturday matching two Top 25 teams. The Mountaineers have scored at least 56 points in each of their three games since an opening loss to 16th-ranked Virginia Tech. The Horned Frogs have scored 119 points in their two home games and their two impressive road wins include at then-No. 6 Oklahoma State in their last game.

BEST MATCHUP

The defenses when Kansas State plays at Texas. Don't expect a typical high-scoring Big 12 game in Austin. While the Longhorns have struggled offensively even when winning, their defense is coming off an impressive performance in a 17-7 victory at Iowa State, which was held to 256 total yards after averaging more than 41 points in their first three games. While quarterback Jesse Ertz is also the top rusher for K-State, the Wildcats can rely on a defense that leads the Big 12, allowing only 15 points and 309 total yards per game.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

Texas Tech is 9-0 when playing at Kansas. ... The last two open dates for the Big 12 are this week, with 15th-ranked Oklahoma State and winless Baylor not playing. ... Oklahoma's Lincoln Riley is trying to become only the second head coach in school history to win his first five games. The other was V.L. Parrington, who started 6-0 from 1897-99. ... Texas has allowed only 34 points in the last three games after giving up 51 in the season-opening home loss to Maryland.

LONG SHOT

Iowa State got closer last year against third-ranked Oklahoma, losing by only 10 points at home after being outscored by an average margin of 41-9 the previous 11 meetings. But the rested third-ranked Sooners, averaging a nation-leading 606 total yards, are four-touchdown favorites in trying to extend their 14-game winning streak that is the longest in the country.

PLAYER TO WATCH

TCU sophomore running back Darius Anderson, getting plenty of chances with top returning rusher and pass catcher Kyle Hicks banged up, is averaging 106 yards rushing per game. Anderson had a career-high 26 carries for 160 yards and three touchdowns at Oklahoma State.

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No. 14 USC ready to rebound against Oregon State
October 6, 2017

LOS ANGELES (AP) Southern California won its final nine games last season after losing at Utah in quarterback Sam Darnold's first start.

The No. 14 Trojans will aim for another streak after falling at No. 11 Washington State. They play lowly Oregon State on Saturday. Coach Clay Helton has spent the last week emphasizing that every goal USC wants to accomplish can still be achieved.

''For us as a team, we're in a great situation right now. You are always trying to improve year in, year out, and I remember this time last year we're sitting at 2-3,'' Helton said.

But to meet those expectations, injury-riddled USC (4-1, 2-1 Pac-12) will need to get healthy. Right guard Viane Talamaivao is out for the season with a torn pectoral muscle that requires surgery, and his likely replacement, freshman Andrew Vorhees, was held out of practice Thursday with a tight back. However, he's still expected to play.

Right tackle Chuma Edoga is doubtful with a high-ankle sprain. The list of bumps and bruises seems to get longer every week.

Helton couldn't help but ruefully laugh when recounting how linebacker Jordan Iosefa and wide receiver Jalen Greene were injured when they accidentally collided during pregame warmups against the Cougars.

''I've never seen it in 23 years,'' Helton said. ''It was a bad deal. We've had some bad luck lately. That's about as much as I can take as far as injuries go.''

USC will handle those injuries without a bye week during the regular season. The struggling Beavers (1-4, 0-2) might be the closest thing to a win because of their own injury woes. Running back Ryan Nall is a game-time decision after spraining his ankle in a loss to Washington last week, and quarterback Jake Luton remains out indefinitely with a thoracic spine fracture.

Redshirt junior Darrell Garretson will start for Oregon State. In nine games since transferring from Utah State, Garretson has completed 50.6 percent of his passes for 711 yards, four touchdowns and four interceptions.

Oregon State has been outscored 200-71 in its four games against FBS teams. However, USC said it is not overlooking a team that will be desperate for an upset.

''USC is a lot of people's Super Bowl, especially a team like Oregon State, so we just got to stick to what we do,'' USC safety Chris Hawkins said.

Here are some things to watch as the Trojans and Beavers meet for the first time since 2014:

DARNOLD'S DOLDRUMS: Darnold threw for 164 yards against Washington State, his lowest total as a starter. Some of that can be attributed to an offensive line playing most of the game without three starters and facing a strong Washington State pass rush. Plus there's been turnover at wide receiver. Darnold will have reinforcements in both areas as left tackle Toa Lobendahn and wide receiver Steven Mitchell Jr. will return to the lineup this week. Lobendahn didn't play at Washington State due to a skin infection that required intravenous antibiotics. Mitchell has missed the last two games with a groin injury.

LA COLISEUM: Oregon State hasn't beaten USC in Los Angeles since 1960 and has lost 23 straight games at the Coliseum. Only five of those games have been decided by one possession, while USC has been ranked in the Top 25 in all but six of those meetings.

TYNER TIME: With Nall's status in doubt, senior running back Thomas Tyner could be in line for his most significant workload since playing for in-state rival Oregon against Ohio State in the 2015 national championship game. Tyner medically retired from the Ducks after shoulder surgery sidelined him for the 2015 season before transferring to Oregon State in May. A former five-star recruit, Tyner has rushed for 72 yards and one touchdown on 15 carries in three games this season. During two seasons at Oregon, Tyner rushed for 1,284 yards and 14 touchdowns, including 124 yards and two touchdowns in the 2015 Rose Bowl win over Florida State.

MISCUES: Oregon State has turned the ball over 14 times this season, the second-worst total in the FBS ahead of only San Jose State. Even worse, opponents have turned those four interceptions and 10 fumbles lost into 79 points (10 touchdowns, three field goals). The only time Oregon State hasn't allowed a score after turning the ball over came last week against the Huskies, when safety David Morris intercepted a pass to get the ball back after running back Artavis Pierce fumbled.

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Las Vegas massacre shadows UNLV vs No. 19 San Diego State
October 6, 2017

Before they play football Saturday night in Las Vegas, the UNLV Rebels and the No. 19 San Diego State Aztecs will pause to remember the victims of last weekend's mass shooting on the Strip and honor first-responders.

It's going to be emotional, particularly for players who grew up in Las Vegas.

''Vegas is real small, so a lot of people are connected somehow,'' senior defensive tackle Mike Hughes said. ''So you somehow know of somebody that may know somebody that was hurt in that situation. So I would say yeah, it's personal.''

The Rebels (2-2, 1-0 Mountain West) will wear black helmets with a large red ribbon decal with ''Las Vegas'' on them. The Aztecs players will wear red ribbon decals on their helmets.

There are Las Vegas connections with the Aztecs (5-0, 1-0), too. Star running back Rashaad Penny said he reached he reached out to extended family members in Las Vegas, and to the player he replaced as starter, D.J. Pumphrey, the NCAA's all-time rushing leader who grew up there.

''Just hearing about that was very sad,'' Penny said. ''This game is going to be even bigger. They're going to play with heavy hearts, as they should. Emotions are going to be, again, intense, just like last week's.

''We're all sorry to hear. We're all thinking about them in San Diego,'' Penny said. ''You never want to be in that situation, just seeing all that stuff. It's sad.''

Some things to know about UNLV hosting the undefeated Aztecs:

GETTING READY

While working through the massacre's aftermath, UNLV coach Tony Sanchez has to keep the Rebels focused on playing the league's dominant team.

''It's our job and it's the job of each and every one of us to get back up and to go back to work and to keep living our lives and to continue to celebrate and to do the things that these acts try to eliminate,'' said Sanchez, who coached at Las Vegas' Bishop Gorman High before being hired by the Rebels in December 2014.

''I think that's one of the biggest things we've learned as a nation is when these things happen, we need to grieve and we need to give it time, but we also need to keep living and keep loving and keep doing the things that make this country so great. We can never let that stop and that has to be our combined mission.''

PREGAME

UNLV will honor the victims of the shooting and people who helped in the aftermath.

''While football is just a game, it can also serve as a rallying point of unity and allow all of us to recognize the incredible heroism displayed by so many this week,'' athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois said. ''We are all extremely proud of our community's response over the last couple of days.''

A full-field flag will be unfurled for the national anthem. The flag is being lent to UNLV by San Diego's Holiday Bowl, with help from the Las Vegas Bowl.

Besides the players wearing ribbon decals on their helmets, both coaching staffs will wear the ribbons and they will be given to fans.

SDSU PERSPECTIVE

A week after beating Northern Illinois 34-28 in a heated, physical matchup, the Aztecs will experience different emotions.

''Obviously, it's a much different week than normal,'' coach Rocky Long said. ''The tragedy that's happened in Las Vegas has changed the feel of this game. Obviously it's going to be different than what we normally get ready for.''

Long noted that the Rebels started slow ''but are getting better and better as they go. They played well last week and we're tied for first in the Western Division of our conference so the winner of this is one up on the other. So the game is important, but it's not nearly as important as everything else that's going on.''

RUNNING BACKS

Penny ranks second nationally at 164.6 yards per game and UNLV junior Lexington Thomas ranks fourth at 142.8. Penny was held to a season-low 107 yards by NIU. He had his right eye gouged by Huskies LB Antonio Jones-Davis and finished the game wearing a visor in his facemask. Penny said his eye is OK and he won't wear the visor against the Rebels. Penny's output was hurt by the absence of senior RG Antonio Rosales, who could miss his second straight game with an ankle injury.

CHASING HISTORY

SDSU is looking for its first 6-0 start since 1975, when it opened 8-0 before losing its final three games. The Aztecs are also eyeing their third straight MWC title and their fans hope they can clinch the Group of Five's bid in a major bowl.

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No. 16 Virginia Tech vs Boston College used to be rivalry
October 6, 2017

BOSTON (AP) It wasn't so long ago that Boston College and Virginia Tech built a rivalry - first in the Big East and then in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

With quarterbacks like Michael Vick, Matt Ryan and Tyrod Taylor, the schools played some classic thrillers and met in back-to-back ACC championship games in 2007 and `08. Since then, both programs have struggled, and only one has managed to turn things around.

Virginia Tech is ranked No. 16 in The Associated Press Top 25, falling four spots after a loss to No. 2 and defending national champion Clemson. The Hokies (4-1, 0-1 ACC) will try to bounce back against BC (2-3, 0-2), a team they beat 49-0 last year in the biggest blowout in the history of the matchup.

''You kind of find out a little bit about yourself when you have a setback, a little bit of adversity, and our kids have always responded to that situation,'' Virginia Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster said this week. ''And we're going to have to this week, because we've got a team in BC that probably feels like they have to win.''

The Clemson loss left the defending Coastal Division champions looking up in the standings at four schools. The Hokies could still return to the ACC title game if they win out, but another loss could be devastating to those hopes.

''When you start getting into conference play, every game is a playoff game,'' Foster said. ''It's always been a tough environment for us to go up there and play, and it's going to be on a Saturday night and they'll have had a full day to get ready and rock `n' roll. So we're going to have to get ready to go play a heck of a football game.''

Here are some other things to look for in Saturday night's game between BC and Virginia Tech.

READING BETWEEN THE LINES?

Steve Addazio has a 26-30 record at BC, including a 2015 season in which the Eagles failed to win a single ACC game. A signature victory over a ranked team could help him convince new athletic director Martin Jarmond to keep him around.

Addazio made a not-so-subtle case to stay this week when he turned a question about the Virginia Tech rivalry into an ode to former Hokies coach Frank Beamer.

''They were on their last legs. And they hung in there with them, and he was able to build it and turn it around,'' Addazio said. ''And he would tell you that, that they hung in there with him and gave him an opportunity to recruit it and hang in there and build. And they got over the hump.''

DEFENSE RESTS

Boston College arrived at Lane Stadium last season with the nation's third-stingiest defense, allowing just 180 yards per game. But Jerod Evans threw five touchdown passes, and the Hokies racked up 476 total yards.

''We went down there in a pretty hostile environment, and we got beat. A lot of people got beat,'' Addazio said. ''Our goal is to learn from our mistakes. But dwell on them? No.''

ACTION JACKSON

Josh Jackson is a dual threat at quarterback for the Hokies and may use his feet more against the Eagles' highly ranked pass defense. Since running for 101 yards in the Hokies' opener against No. 23 West Virginia, Jackson has added just 56 more rushing yards in the last four games.

The Eagles are fourth nationally in pass defense efficiency and 12th in the country in passing yards allowed per game. But they have allowed 29 points per game, 12th in the ACC alone.

WOUNDED LION

With the loss to Clemson, the Hokies are behind Georgia Tech (2-0 in the ACC) and No. 13 Miami (1-0) in the division. Virginia Tech plays both on the road this season.

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Wash. State's first road trip at Oregon
October 6, 2017

Heading into the half-way mark of the season, 11th-ranked Washington State hits the road for the first time for Saturday's game against the Oregon Ducks.

Due to fluky scheduling, the Cougars played their first five games at home in Pullman. Coach Mike Leach was asked this week whether it's weird to be leaving Martin Stadium for the first time in October.

''Yeah a little bit, I think everybody's kind of anxious for it at this point, you know, and looking forward to it,'' Leach said. ''This is a funny conference, teams on the road play well.''

The Cougars (5-0, 2-0 Pac-12) are coming off a statement-making 30-27 victory over then-No. 5 USC last Friday. Washington State has opened the season 5-0 for the first time since 2001 and the team is enjoying its highest ranking since the end of the 2003 season.

Oregon (4-1, 1-1) is also coming off a win, but it was costly. The Ducks lost starting quarterback Justin Herbert in the first quarter with a broken collarbone in a victory over California.

Backup quarterback Taylor Alie left the game against Cal in the fourth quarter, paving the way for true freshman Braxton Burmeister to make his first appearance in a game. They combined for 90 total yards passing, with the Ducks turning to their running game.

Alie and Burmeister practiced this week. Coach Willie Taggart was confident in both quarterbacks.

''We're not going to sit around and feel sorry for ourselves. Washington State, or anyone else, is not going to feel sorry for us. Next guy up and go practice. Make sure we're ready to play,'' Taggart said.

FALK STOCK: Washington State quarterback Luke Falk's profile was raised - again - against USC, when he threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns. With the Heisman buzz growing louder, the senior has thrown for 16 TDs with just two interceptions this season. He's ranked fifth nationally with 1,178 passing yards, an average of 343.6 per game (sixth nationally).

AUTZEN SHADE? Leach acknowledged that Autzen Stadium in Eugene is the loudest stadium in the Pac-12, but then went reeled off a long list of stadiums that are louder .

''Oklahoma's louder, A&M's louder, Texas is on the bubble, Nebraska was definitely louder. ... LSU's is louder. I never went to Alabama. We beat Alabama, but it was at Kentucky,'' he said. ''Depending or not whether you add the cowbells, Mississippi State's comparable, Georgia's louder, Florida's louder. Definitely that one end zone of South Carolina's louder. Tennessee's louder.''

''Little Rock Arkansas, that's the loudest place I ever played. Entirely concrete structure. It's as if you held a football game in the neighbor's basement and all the kids were yelling louder than hell,'' he added.

The Cougars have piped in noise at practice to prepare. Leach said the team is always working on its nonverbal communications.

ANOTHER LEACHISM: Washington State fans rushed the field in Pullman following Friday night's victory, and Leach drew laughs when he described the celebration.

''It's like Woodstock, except everybody's got their clothes on,'' he said.

In the end, though, the Pac-12 fined Washington State $25,000 for the postgame celebration. The league cited safety in adopting a rule last year on fines for both court and field storming.

WOUNDED DUCKS: In addition to Herbert, the Ducks lost running back Royce Freeman and receiver Dillon Mitchell to injury in the first half against Cal. Both Freeman and Mitchell are starters. Oregon was already missing receiver Charles Nelson because of a right ankle sprain.

Taggart officially listed those players as ''day-to-day'' earlier in the week, although Freeman practiced on Thursday. Herbert's broken collarbone will keep him out for ''a while,'' the coach said.

Junior linebacker Kaulana Apelu fractured his ankle against the Golden Bears and is out for the season.

CHEESEBURGER, CHEESEBURGER: What does going on the road mean to Cougars running back Jamal Morrow? Cheeseburgers.

The team is treated to burgers on its Alaska Airlines flights for road games. ''I'm really excited to play an away game,'' Morrow said.

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Virginia expecting stronger performance by Duke quarterback
October 6, 2017

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) Virginia knows Duke quarterback Daniel Jones is a different - and more improved - player than he was a year ago.

Jones was just a freshman last season when Virginia traveled to Duke, and the Cavaliers' plan to pressure and rattle the young quarterback worked. He threw five interceptions and fumbled the ball away once, and in a season when the Cavalier won just one other game, they rolled over the Blue Devils, 34-20.

''Last year he was young but he's gotten a lot of experience,'' defensive end Juwan Moye said this week. ''He likes to run a lot. He's really confident in his game. He's a solid piece. Like last year we knew that if we got to him we could own the game. I think we're going to have to have the same game plan, but he's going to be a lot tougher.''

The Cavaliers (3-1, 0-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) look to be as well. They are off to their best start after four games in a decade, but have no expectations that it will be an easy game against Duke (4-1, 1-1) on Saturday.

Jones has 172 rushing yards, third on the Blue Devils, and has run for three touchdowns.

But Virginia is feeling better about itself than it has in quite some time. The Cavaliers are coming off a 42-23 victory at Boise State two weeks ago - the Broncos' worst home loss in 16 years - and had last weekend off.

Their play has gotten the attention of coach David Cutcliffe and his players.

''We have reason to prepare well, because they're a solid football team with a quarterback playing well,'' Curcliffe said, speaking of Kurt Benkert. ''They've got a running game, they've got skill people. ... They're very systematic, do a good job of it. Defensively, they are as consistent with their system as anybody we will play.''

As for Jones, Cutcliffe's approach is pretty much that that was last year.

''You know he knows in his mind what happened and he wants to prove himself and play better,'' he said. ''What Daniel's got to do is make sure the people around him are in position to make plays and just do what he does best.''

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Here are some other things to watch when Duke visits Virginia:

MOMENTUM KILLER? Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall would have preferred not to have an open week after the victory at Boise State. But in an effort to keep the Cavaliers focused, he had them working in pads all last week like it was the preseason rather than allowing them to bask in the victory. ''I think we're doing well. I think our coaches are doing well too, making sure that we're grinding every day,'' Benkert said.

JONES KEEPING UP: Since his six-turnover debacle last year, Jones has impressed opposing coaches with his toughness and his efficiency. In 12 games since, he's thrown just four interceptions with 15 touchdowns passes.

HOME SUPPORT: It might be a bit early for Virginia's players to start looking for fans to start piling on the bandwagon, but they said this week they notice the empty seats while also saying they have felt a buzz around campus. Still, They have drawn fewer than 40,000 to a 61,500-seat stadium in each of their first three games.

STOP THE BIG PLAYS: Duke's improved defense has allowed seven touchdowns of at least 40 yards, and has given up at least one of them in four of five games. Three came against Baylor and two against North Carolina. Safety Alonzo Saxton II called it ''kind of the recurring theme'' and added that ''it's hard to stay focused on every play throughout the whole game and not lose your eyes one time or miss an assignment there, but that's still what we're trying to work towards is perfection on every play.''

JUST FOR KICKS: If the game comes down to a field goal, significant advantage Duke. Austin Parker has made nine of 11 tries, with a long of 45. Virginia A.J. Mejia is 2 for 3 with his longest coming from 28 yards.


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No. 25 UCF tries to move up vs struggling Cincinnati
October 6, 2017

CINCINNATI (AP) The biggest game in UCF's two-year turnaround ended in an unexpected blowout win. The most surprising part? None of the Knights seemed all that surprised.

Two years after they failed to win a game, the Knights (3-0 , 1-0 American Athletic) are back in the Top 25 and off to their best start since 2013. They moved into the rankings at No. 25 after a 38-10 win at Maryland and a 40-13 victory over Memphis , one of the preseason favorites in the AAC.

''They weren't shocked that they did what they did in Maryland,'' second-year coach Scott Frost said. ''And they weren't shocked by what happened on Saturday. They weren't shocked; they were happy. This team expected to win those games.

''Boy, that's a fast turnaround from where we were to this point, where they expect to beat some really good teams.''

They'll try to keep climbing Saturday night on the road against a team that's really struggling. Cincinnati (2-3, 0-1) is coming off a home loss to Marshall that showed they've got a long way to go under first-year coach Luke Fickell.

''That's the situation we're in now,'' Fickell said. ''We're trying to find ways to create momentum and generate energy. And right now, it's very difficult on Saturdays.''

A victory over a ranked team would give the Bearcats a starting point. The following week, they play at No. 18 South Florida, getting the conference's two best teams back-to-back. So, there's extra motivation for Cincinnati.

''Success is going to lead to people playing up when they play us,'' Frost said, ''but we're only three games into this thing right now. We've got to go prove ourselves again.''

A fast start on the road would help, and the Bearcats have shown a propensity for letting opponents take control early. They've been outscored 42-17 in the first quarter, forcing them to play from behind. They turned the ball over on the second play of the game, helping Marshall take control on its way to a 38-21 victory.

''At some point in time, we say: How do we create some positive energy and not always play off the negative energy?''' Fickell said. ''It's draining. It's some difficult stuff.''

The Knights don't have that problem.

''Everyone is hungry, so every practice we're just full of energy,'' running back Adrian Killins Jr. said. ''So the next opponent, I feel sorry for them because this team is out for revenge.''

Some things to watch Saturday at Nippert Stadium:

RUNNING AWAY: Killins had an 87-yard touchdown run at Michigan last season. Against Memphis, he broke a 96-yard touchdown run, the longest rush in AAC history. He'll be facing a defense that's had big problems against the run. Navy rushed for 569 yards in a 42-32 win over the Bearcats. Killins and dual-threat quarterback McKenzie Milton will give them another tough challenge. Milton threw for three touchdowns and ran for 88 yards against Memphis as the Knights piled up 603 yards, including 350 rushing.

TAKE IT AWAY: UCF leads the nation in turnover margin at 2.33 per game. The Knights got four turnovers in their opener against FIU, a pair of interceptions at Maryland, and five takeaways against Memphis. The Bearcats are prone to turnovers - they had three against Marshall that set up 21 points, including that turnover on their second play. ''We had about everything that could go wrong, go wrong,'' Fickell said.

RARE BALANCE: The Knights have outscored opponents 139-40. They rank in the top 10 nationally in both scoring offense and scoring defense. Alabama and Washington are the only other teams in the top 10 in both categories. The Knights have scored at least 38 points each game and given up no more than 17.

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Colorado mired in 2-game skid heading into Arizona game
October 6, 2017

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) Steven Montez's remedy for soreness after a recent loss was to pour a little more salt into the wounds.

Epsom salt, more specifically - in a bath. It worked like a charm for the Colorado quarterback who absorbed some big hits in a 27-23 loss at UCLA last weekend.

Now, he's hoping to help heal the Buffaloes (3-2, 0-2 Pac-12), who've dropped two straight conference games in their defense of the Pac-12 South crown.

Next up , Arizona (2-2, 0-1) and its improved defense on Saturday. The Wildcats have forced 20 three-and-outs this season. Not bad, considering the team had 30 in a dozen games a year ago.

''They're a good defense,'' Montez said. ''We're just going to do what we do on offense, and hopefully we get some things going.''

Montez and the offense remain a work in progress. He was 17 of 36 for 243 yards along with 108 yards rushing against the Bruins. He's trying to stay in the pocket more instead of looking to run.

He's taken quite a few wallops this season.

''I'm feeling good,'' Montez said. ''I mean, we're playing football. It's not like golf where you're standing out there swinging clubs. No offense to Tiger (Woods), Rory (McIlroy) and all them, they're freak athletes too, but it's a contact sport so you're going to be a little sore after games. I'm not anymore sore than I've been.''

On the other side of the ball, the Buffaloes defense has their hands full with a dual threat in Brandon Dawkins, a quarterback who reminds Buffaloes coach Mike MacIntyre of Colin Kaepernick. MacIntyre had to scheme against Kaepernick while he was coaching at San Jose State and Kaepernick was under center with Nevada.

''(Dawkins) is athletic, fast and he can throw the ball forever. He has great arm strength,'' MacIntyre said. ''That's what Kaepernick would do in college. He'd run everywhere and do that kind of thing. We've got to be able to stop their running game and hopefully corral Dawkins.''

That hasn't been an easy assignment. Dawkins leads the team with 341 yards rushing and six TDs. He's also thrown for 670 yards and five scores.

Dawkins is coming off game in which he threw three interceptions during a 30-24 loss to No. 20 Utah on Sept. 22.

''It's the big mistakes that have been hurting us, but he's not the only one making mistakes,'' Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez said at his weekly news conference. ''We've all made them. Brandon knows that we can't have a big mistake, and can't have turnovers. We have to capitalize on opportunities of big, potential plays.''

Here are things to know heading into a game where the Wildcats have won two straight at Folsom Field:

YOUNG CATS: The Wildcats have played 27 freshmen, including 17 true freshmen. Tight end Bryce Wolma leads the team in receptions with 15, while linebacker Colin Schooler has recorded 11 tackles, an interception and a forced fumbled over his last two games. ''I have been pleasantly surprised with some of the young players that haven't made as many mental mistakes, which is good,'' Rodriguez said.

MUCH RESPECT: Count Rodriguez as a fan of Buffaloes tailback Philip Lindsay, who's rushed for 529 yards this season. He's 196 yards away from moving into the top five on Colorado's all-time rushing list. ''He's a big-time player,'' Rodriguez said.

FAMILY WEEKEND: Colorado junior receiver Jay MacIntyre may not get to spend all that much time with his father as part of Family Weekend festivities. That's fine, he sees enough of his dad/coach in practice anyway. Here's a stat about Family Weekend in coach Mike MacIntyre's favor: The Buffaloes are 18-7 since celebrating what was once known as Parent's Weekend.

SOMETHING HAS TO GIVE: The Buffaloes are one of nine teams in the nation that hasn't allowed a kickoff return longer than 22 yards. On the flip side, the Wildcats are averaging 25.9 yards, which is 17th in the country.

STATS, STATS, STATS: The Wildcats have outscored opponents by a 76-36 margin in the second half ... The Buffaloes are two wins shy of No. 700 in school history. They're 698-496-36.

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Muschamp remains confident in struggling Gamecocks' offense
October 6, 2017

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) South Carolina coach Will Muschamp still has confidence in his offense even with the struggles it has had the past three games.

The Gamecocks have had difficulty scoring the past month, falling to 13th in the Southeastern Conference in points scored and 11th in the league in yards gained. South Carolina (3-2, 1-2 SEC) will try and get things going against Arkansas (2-2, 0-1) on Saturday.

Some frustrated Gamecock fans have pointed the finger at offensive coordinator Kurt Roper, who was on Muschamp's final staff at Florida before he was let go in 2014.

''We have a very competent offensive staff and competent offensive coordinator and those guys do a good job,'' Muschamp said. ''We have to be more productive. They don't disagree. They think we need to be more productive, and they are working tirelessly to make sure that happens.''

South Carolina looked like it was heading in the right direction its first two weeks, winning games over North Carolina State and Missouri with 66 points combined. The Gamecocks have scored just 47 points in the three games since, including league losses to Kentucky and, last week, Texas A&M .

Gamecocks quarterback Jake Bentley believes in what Roper and the offensive staff are building. Bentley said it's up to the Gamecocks to execute the plays they're given.

''I don't think we need anything that's different or try to do too much,'' Bentley said. ''We've just got to, if anything, we probably need to narrow it down and just perfect the plays that we know we can run and just execute them at a high-level.''

Arkansas coach Bret Bielema is wary that Bentley's strong arm might spark up the Gamecocks attack and hurt the Razorbacks.

''Tell you what, they're quarterback's a really, really good player,'' Bielema said. ''He makes plays.''

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Some other things to watch for when Arkansas faces South Carolina:

OFFENSIVE LINE: South Carolina played without three starters on the offensive line last week in tackles Zack Bailey and Malik Young, and guard Cory Helms. Gamecocks coach Will Muschamp said Bailey, who missed the past two games with an ankle injury, is the closest among the three of returning this week.

WILLIAMS' RETURN: Arkansas running back David Williams will make a homecoming of sorts on Saturday, returning to South Carolina after playing his first three seasons with the Gamecocks. The senior signed with the Razorbacks as a graduate transfer during the summer, and he's quickly become part of an Arkansas backfield trio along with sophomore Devwah Whaley and freshman Chase Hayden. The 6-foot-1, 229-pound Williams is averaging 4.7 yards per attempt and rushed for a season-high 68 yards in an overtime loss to Texas A&M two weeks ago.

BAD RUN: South Carolina is among the worst rushing teams in the SEC , 12th in the league and averaging about 84 yards per game. Last week, the Gamecocks gained just 23 yards in 26 attempts, although the seven sacks worth 56 yards allowed came off that total. Part of the reason has been offensive line injuries. But tailback Rico Dowdle said the running backs are plan to stick with it and get the ground game on track.

KICKING WOES: After junior kicker Cole Hedlund missed field goals attempts of 23 and 20 yards in a loss to No. 8 TCU, Arkansas hasn't attempted a kick in each of its last two games - entering Saturday without a made field goal this season. Sophomore Connor Limpert has made all 11 of his extra-point attempts since taking over for Hedlund, but Arkansas coach Bret Bielema decided to go for it on fourth down twice in last week's win over New Mexico State rather than attempt kicks from 40 and 30 yards. ''I'll take touchdowns over field goals any day,'' Bielema said.

WE REMEMBER YOU: The Gamecocks and Razorbacks, once dubbed ''permanent'' cross-divisional SEC opponents, have not met since 2013. South Carolina has won the past two meetings in 2012 and 2013, matching its longest run of success ever over Arkansas.

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No. 13 Miami, Florida State look to get ground games going
October 6, 2017

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) The running game has been an important factor in the Miami-Florida State series.

In the past 30 meetings between the Sunshine State rivals, the team with the most rushing yards has won 22 times. It will likely be a determining factor again on Saturday when the 13th-ranked Hurricanes visit the Seminoles.

Miami's Mark Walton leads the Atlantic Coast Conference in rushing yards per game, averaging 134.3. Florida State's duo of Jacques Patrick and Cam Akers combined for 178 yards last week as the Seminoles got their first win at Wake Forest .

Walton, a 5-foot-9, 205-pound junior, has been somewhat limited due to an ankle injury that he suffered in the Sept. 23 win over Toledo. He was held to 51 rushing yards in last week's win at Duke but did have four receptions for 79 yards.

Florida State coach Jimbo Fisher said Walton is as good as any back they will face this season.

''He's consistent and doesn't have many plays that go for negative yards,'' Fisher said. ''Last week he did as much damage out of the backfield catching the ball. Our defense is going to be challenged.''

The Seminoles (1-2, 1-1 ACC) will need more from their ground game in order to take the pressure off freshman quarterback James Blackman. Patrick, who is also a junior, rushed for 120 yards and a touchdown at Wake, but more than half of his yards came on a 69-yard carry in the first quarter.

Akers, who was touted as one of the nation's top recruits last year, has been tentative at times and slow to see openings for big gains.

''Patrick is a big back, who runs hard, falls forward on contact, and Akers has quick feet and can run out of a tackle,'' Miami defensive coordinator Manny Diaz said. ''We have to make sure that you are in your gap and fit all the responsibilities in their runs.''

Florida State has a seven-game winning streak over Miami (3-0, 1-0), but the last three meetings have been decided by a total of 10 points. The game was originally scheduled for Sept. 16 but was pushed back due to Hurricane Irma.

''Rivalry games are important. They're better rivalries when there's some winning and losing on both sides, and that hasn't happened lately,'' Miami coach Mark Richt said.

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Some other things to know about this game:

NEEDING MOMENTUM: Florida State was ranked third in the preseason poll, but a season-ending knee injury to quarterback Deondre Francois and its first 0-2 start since 1989 made them tumble out of the rankings. The Seminoles were also reeling going into last year's game at Miami, but the 20-19 win turned their season around and started a run where they won seven of their last eight.

FAST START FOR ROSIER: Miami quarterback Malik Rosier, who won a four-man battle for the spot in the preseason, leads the ACC in pass efficiency (167.0) along with throwing for eight touchdowns and only two interceptions. He's also done a nice job of getting everyone involved in the passing game as six players have five receptions or more.

RECEIVERS ON DISPLAY: Florida State's Auden Tate and Miami's Braxton Berrios look to keep their touchdown streaks alive. Tate has caught a TD in the first three games, becoming the first FSU receiver to do that in four years. Berrios has a touchdown in four straight games dating back to last season, which is the school's longest streak since 2012.

IN THE TRENCHES: Florida State's offensive line continues to struggle as the Seminoles had 17 plays result in negative yards last week. It doesn't get any easier with Miami tied for second nationally in tackles for loss (9.0 per game). The Hurricanes also have 10 sacks in their first three games.

KEEP AN EYE ON: The kickers since this rivalry has a history of being defined by them. Florida State's Ricky Aguayo has made eight straight this season while Miami's Michael Badgley, who had an extra point blocked last year that would have sent the game into overtime, is 4 of 5.

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Franklin sees possible trouble at NW
October 6, 2017

EVANSTON, Ill. (AP) Penn State coach James Franklin sees the talent Northwestern has and the success the Wildcats have experienced under Pat Fitzgerald.

That's why he sees potential trouble for the Nittany Lions.

No. 4 Penn State looks to remain unbeaten and in line for a playoff spot when it visits Northwestern on Saturday.

''I think whenever you're at an academic school like Northwestern ... everybody just likes the story to be that you don't have the same type of athletes,'' said Franklin, who coached Vanderbilt before taking the Penn State job in 2014. ''I don't know if I necessarily would agree with that.''

The Nittany Lions (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) have been rolling along, racking up more points and yards than any other team in the Big Ten except Ohio State. They are also allowing a league-low 9.4 points.

Running back Saquon Barkley keeps padding his Heisman Trophy resume. Trace McSorley so far is the Big Ten's leading passer.

Four of Penn State's wins were by at least comfortable margins. The exception came at Iowa two weeks ago, when Juwan Johnson caught a 7-yard TD pass as time expired to give the Nittany Lions a 21-19 victory.

Yet if Franklin is feeling a little uneasy, the reasons go beyond his 0-3 record against Northwestern (2-2, 0-1). That includes two losses coaching Penn State.

''I think they are a blue-collar (team), hard-nosed, tough, smart and talented in my opinion, and that's why they are a tough out because they have all the necessary ingredients to be successful,'' he said.

Northwestern finished strong after a 1-3 start last year and finds itself hoping to do the same this time. The Wildcats lost 33-24 at Wisconsin last week after a rally came up short.

Here are some things to know as the Nittany Lions try to stay unbeaten while the Wildcats look to pull off a surprising win:

DO IT ALL

Tops in the nation at 243.6 all-purpose yards per game, Barkley has been doing it all for Penn State. He has scored rushing, receiving and return touchdowns, and he ran back the opening kickoff 98 yards for a score against Indiana last week.

''He's got great vision, he's got great balance, he's got great speed, and he's got great toughness,'' Fitzgerald said. ''Amazing vision, and he's just durable, he's tough. And then he catches the ball the same way; he returns the ball the same way.''

RECORD IN REACH

With 4,402 yards rushing, Northwestern's Justin Jackson needs 83 to tie Damien Anderson's school record.

''Everyone keeps bringing it up a lot,'' he said. ''Our goals as a team are to win the Big Ten West and obviously last week wasn't what we wanted.''

Jackson ran for 25 yards against Wisconsin after missing practice all week because of a leg injury.

''He's obviously a really good running back,'' Penn State defensive end Ryan Buchholz said. ''He has good size and speed for that offense, and the offensive line moves really well.''

GESICKI UPDATE

Star tight end Mike Gesicki apparently will be available for Penn State. Franklin said he expects him to play after he left last week's game with an upper body injury. He exited after taking a hard hit following a short reception in the second quarter against Indiana.

TOUGH STRETCH

Penn State is off next week. After that comes a tough combo: The Nittany Lions host Michigan on Oct. 21 and visit Ohio State on the 28th.

SHAKY HAND

Northwestern quarterback Clayton Thorson completed a career-high 29 passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns against Wisconsin. But he also got picked off twice. Thorson has almost as many interceptions (five) as touchdown passes (seven).

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Army seeking first road win, travels to Rice
October 6, 2017

HOUSTON (AP) The road hasn't been kind to Army in two tries so far this season. Coach Jeff Monken is intent on changing that.

''We'd like to win a road game. We haven't done that this year,'' Monken said. ''I talked to the guys about that.''

The Black Knights (3-2) have won all three of their games at home, including a comeback 35-21 victory last week over winless UTEP on a windswept day at Michie Stadium. Next up is Rice (1-4), which is coming off a 42-10 loss at Pittsburgh .

The Panthers did what the Owls have become accustomed to, scoring on their first three possessions to quickly take control of the game. Rice registered only 14 first downs and was forced to punt seven times as Pitt held the ball for nearly 10 minutes longer.

''We only had two three-and-outs on the day, but a lot of our issues have been self-inflicted wounds,'' Rice coach David Bailiff said. ''It's a receiver with a procedure penalty. That's focus. It's a running back on the wrong side of the quarterback. That's focus issues. We have to continue to work on focusing during the tough times. You can't have those times of breakdowns that are self-inflicted.''

Army's triple option continues to purr behind senior quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw and its hard-running fullbacks. The Black Knights rank third nationally in rushing, averaging 363.6 yards and 6.2 per carry. The latter figure is tops among the three service academies.

''They're relentless offensively,'' Bailiff said. ''They're averaging 33 minutes a game (possession time). So our offense, when we have the ball, has got to score points because you don't have the ball a lot.''

Other things to know when Army visits Rice on Saturday:

SPUTTERING OWLS

Rice has scored more than one touchdown just once this season and has been unable to execute the ball-control style Bailiff strives for and Army thrives on. The Owls have been outscored 59-3 in the first quarter and 55-14 in the second. Against Pitt, Rice QB Jackson Tyner hit Austin Walter for a 70-yard touchdown. Take away that score and Tyner finished 14 of 31 for 152 yards with three interceptions.

''If you watch us, if we catch the ball for 10 yards, we're tackled at 10 yards,'' Bailiff said. ''It's the same with the running backs. We're not getting a lot of yards after contact. We've got to start getting those. We've got to pick up those yards that everybody in the country is getting.''

SECRET WEAPON

Army failed to complete a pass in two of its first four games, but things have suddenly changed for the better. Bradshaw completed 3 of 5 throws for 80 yards against UTEP, including a 42-yard TD to Jordan Asberry. It was Bradshaw's first scoring pass of the season.

FULLBACKS GALORE

Army's array of fullbacks includes Darnell Woolfolk, Andy Davidson, Calen Holt, and Connor Slomka, and they, along with Bradshaw, make the triple option go. Woolfolk is the starter, but he sat out the past two games with an injury and won't play Saturday. Davidson, Holt and Slomka have picked up the slack. Each scored against UTEP and they have combined to rush for 596 yards on 103 carries, an average of 5.8 yards a carry.

IBE'S TIME

Rice cornerback J.T. Ibe had 13 tackles against Pitt and also forced and recovered a goal-line fumble. The redshirt junior leads the Owls with 24 solo tackles and is second overall in tackles with 30.

''He is playing really, really special football right now,'' Bailiff said. ''I'm really thrilled with how he is progressing.''

OWLS RULE

This will be the eighth meeting all-time between the teams, and Rice leads the series 5-2. Army won the first meeting, 14-7, in 1958, the last time the Black Knights finished undefeated. Army broke a five-game slide in the series last year with a 31-14 victory at Michie Stadium.

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Unbeaten Navy looking for revenge in clash with Air Force
October 6, 2017

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo didn't need to assemble the team together to inform them the importance of Saturday's game against Air Force.

''The Commander-in-Chief's Trophy and winning the conference are our two biggest goals,'' Niumatalolo said. ''This is the first leg and it's going to be a battle, a real tough game.''

Air Force holds the Commander-in-Chief's Trophy after sweeping Army and Navy last season. The Falcons pretty much dominated the Midshipmen in a 28-14 victory in Colorado Springs.

''These kids are a lot smarter than me,'' Niumatalolo said. ''If I have to remind them of that, they probably couldn't have gotten into the Naval Academy.''

This marks the 50th meeting between Navy (4-0) and Air Force (1-3). The winner has gone on to capture the coveted Commander-in-Chief's Trophy every year since 1997.

Navy won seven straight in the series from 2003 through 2009. However, Air Force holds a 4-3 advantage since 2010. The Falcons and Midshipmen have traded the trophy back and forth the past four seasons, a trend the Annapolis contingent would like to continue.

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Some other things to know about Saturday's game:

BAD TASTE: Fourteen years. That's how long Navy went without losing to Air Force and Army in the same season. Getting swept by their service academy rivals was the low point of an otherwise successful 2016 season for the Midshipmen. ''This is a new year. We're not even thinking about last year. We're just trying to get this one,'' Niumatalolo said.

HARD TO RUN: Air Force and Navy both employ option offenses so it was the rare meeting between the rivals last year in which much of the damage was done through the air. The Midshipmen were forced to throw the ball after having no success on the ground. Will Worth completed 17 of 30 passes for 260 yards, but also tossed two interceptions. The Falcons finished with 257 yards passing, although that production was bolstered by 173 yards rushing. ''I think a lot of it is that we're both so aggressive. Air Force puts a lot of defenders on the line of scrimmage. We threw a lot to try to back them up,'' Niumatalolo said.

Junior Arion Worthman starts at quarterback for Air Force and Tim McVey leads the Falcons in rushing with 278 yards and three touchdowns. Worthman has run for 250 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 396 yards and six scores.

IN NEED OF A WIN: Air Force is on a three-game losing streak after getting blown out by New Mexico 56-38 on Saturday night. It was a surprising result considering Air Force had played fairly well in consecutive losses to a pair of ranked opponents in No. 7 Michigan (29-13) and No. 22 San Diego State (28-24 ). ''We've got to beat Navy. There's no question,'' Worthman said. ''This game is our season. It's our Super Bowl. It's a must-win.''

SERIES NEWCOMER: Navy quarterback Zach Abey will be facing Air Force for the first time. The 6-foot-2, 212-pound junior leads the Midshipmen in rushing with 656 yards and seven touchdowns on 117 carries. Abey was named American Athletic Conference Co-Offensive Player of the Week after leading Navy to a 31-21 victory over Tulsa last Saturday. He ran for 185 yards and three touchdowns and was not stopped for a loss on 36 rushing attempts.

CAN'T WAIT: Navy hadn't even shed its dirty uniforms last week before turning its attention to Air Force. ''It's great to get off to a strong start, but right now we have to focus on Air Force,'' Abey said after the Tulsa game. ''That's going to be a huge game, it's at home and we lost to them last year. So we're going to try to get to 5-0.''

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No. 21 Notre Dame looks to keep running at North Carolina
October 6, 2017

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) Notre Dame has leaned on its running game to spark a turnaround from a four-win season. Now the 21st-ranked Fighting Irish bring one of the nation's best ground attacks to face a North Carolina run defense that has struggled for stops.

Notre Dame (4-1) enters Saturday's game at UNC ranked second nationally with 20 rushing touchdowns, third in yards per carry (7.14) and seventh in rushing yards per game (301.4). Those numbers are all up significantly from last season, and coach Brian Kelly points to that success as a reason why the Irish has been one of the nation's best red-zone offenses, too.

''I think it has a lot to do with the running of the football and then what we're setting up off of the run, more so than trying to take shots on first down in the end zone,'' Kelly said. ''We're staying ahead of the chains there.''

Junior running back Josh Adams has led that attack, ranking third nationally by averaging 131.6 yards per game. Quarterback Brandon Wimbush - whose role is in question Saturday due to a foot injury - is second at better than 80 yards per game.

Compare that production to 2016, when Notre Dame averaged just 163.6 yards rushing and had 18 touchdowns on the ground for all last season. The Irish averaged about 31 points per game, roughly 10 points fewer than this season.

''I think as an offense, I think we know we can do more,'' Adams said. ''I think we have guys that want to do more. We're never just satisfied with where we're at. We always want to do better. We always want to improve. I don't think we're even close to being at the level we know we can be at.''

Notre Dame could be set for a big afternoon against North Carolina (1-4), which ranks 112th nationally by allowing nearly 222 yards rushing per game. The Tar Heels surrendered 403 yards rushing to Georgia Tech's triple-option attack last week.

''You're going to have to do the best job we can,'' UNC coach Larry Fedora said. ''We're going to have to be very disciplined in our gaps. Our guys are going to have to get off the blocks and our guys are going to have to get multiple hats to the ball. We need to create turnovers and limit their possessions.''

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Here are some other things to know about Saturday's Notre Dame-UNC game:

WIMBUSH'S STATUS: Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly has said he won't name a starting quarterback until kickoff as starter Brandon Wimbush deals with a right foot strain. Wimbush has been limited in practice while sharing reps with Ian Book.

SURRATT'S DEVELOPMENT: Redshirt freshman quarterback Chazz Surratt has seized control of the starting job for the Tar Heels, though they're coming off their worst performance (247 yards) of the season at Georgia Tech. The Tar Heels could use more of Surratt's big-play ability through the air and on the ground.

BANGED-UP TAR HEELS: North Carolina has an injury problem. The Tar Heels had 13 players listed on last week's injury report as being out with season-ending injuries, including starters such as receiver Austin Proehl and linebacker Andre Smith.

MISSING MOMENTUM: The Tar Heels have been struggling dating to the final month of last season. North Carolina has lost seven of nine games since beating Georgia Tech last November, which was the program's last win against a power-conference opponent.

TURNOVER EDGE: Notre Dame has a clear edge on opponents when it comes to dealing with turnovers. The Irish is plus-6 in turnover margin this season, has scored 70 points off 11 turnovers by opponents and allowed just three points off their five turnovers.

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Vanderbilt expecting to play vs No. 5 Georgia's freshman QB
October 6, 2017

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason isn't buying any of Kirby Smart's talk about not knowing whether Jake Fromm or Jacob Eason will start at quarterback for the fifth-ranked Bulldogs on Saturday.

Mason expects the freshman Fromm to start.

''I mean he's not fooling me if that's what we think we're doing here,'' Mason said of Smart not naming a starter. ''That young man Fromm has won ballgames. He just came off a (41-0) win. Listen, we can quit coaching dramatics. When it's all said and done, they're 5-0. They're a good football team with a lot of talent. They're playing extremely well. Hat's off to Kirby.''

Smart insists he's not concerned with Mason's comments.

''Derek Mason is entitled to his opinion,'' Smart said. ''Derek Mason is not at our practices. He doesn't watch our practice tape that I know of.''

The Bulldogs (5-0, 2-0) might be rolling off a couple big wins to kick off their Southeastern Conference schedule, including last week's 41-0 rout of Tennessee that was the Vols' worst home loss since 1905. Georgia has some extra motivation coming into Nashville after Mason got his first SEC road win in Athens last year, edging the Bulldogs 17-16 .

''There were a lot of errors in that game,'' Smart said.

Still, Georgia is looking for another win to match the Bulldogs' best start since 2012 when they earned a spot in the SEC championship. Junior tight end Jackson Harris says the Bulldogs are focused on Vanderbilt (3-2, 0-2), not Georgia's gaudy ranking or all the attention they're getting.

''Honestly, we don't even pay attention to it,'' Harris said.

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Here are some other things to know about Georgia's visit to Vanderbilt:

FOUR-HEADED MONSTER: Mason may be expecting Fromm at quarterback, but Vanderbilt is preparing for what the coach called a ''four-headed monster'' thanks to seniors Nick Chubb and Sony Michel leading a talented group of running backs. Georgia is averaging 237.4 yards on the ground led by Chubb with 480 yards and six touchdowns this season. Michel is averaging 5.4 yards per carry with D'Andre Smith picking up 7.3 yards on each of his runs. ''They've got a boatload of talent in the backfield,'' Mason said.

STINGY D: Georgia comes in having given up just three points in the past two games with a six-quarter scoreless streak . That has the Bulldogs ranked second nationally in scoring defense giving up a mere 9.2 points per game. They rank behind only Alabama, which shut out Vanderbilt 59-0 last month.

DORES' CHALLENGE: Vanderbilt ranked among the nation's best in scoring defense too before starting a grueling stretch featuring four ranked teams in as many weeks. Now the Commodores rank 45th nationally in total offense but have been gashed by the run where they're giving up 204.6 yards per game. But they do have linebacker Charles Wright leading the SEC with six sacks.

TALENTED QUARTERBACKS: Fromm has taken good care of the ball for Georgia, throwing for 734 yards with eight touchdowns and only two interceptions. Junior Kyle Shurmur is off to the best season of his career, tied for the SEC lead with 11 TD passes, and he has only been intercepted once. His teammates have given him decent protection too, allowing him to be sacked only three times. Smart said Shurmur was still growing as a quarterback when these teams last met.

''He will be the best pure passing quarterback that we have played against,'' Smart said.

ROUGH STRETCH: Not only is Vanderbilt playing four ranked teams in consecutive weeks for the first time in school history, that stretch also includes two of the nation's top five programs. The schedule started with a win over then-No. 18 Kansas State, the loss to Alabama, a 38-24 loss at then-No. 21 Florida and now Georgia. Vandy hasn't beaten the Bulldogs in consecutive games since 1956-58. Mason says the tough competition will help his Commodores build the character they will need to play well down the stretch.

[StarDust Bum]

Clemson coach Dabo Swinney respects improved Wake Forest
October 6, 2017

CLEMSON, S.C. (AP) Clemson coach Dabo Swinney isn't taking a Wake Forest football team that is on the rise for granted. He doesn't want his players to either.

Swinney said the second-ranked Tigers (5-0, 3-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) will get everything they can handle against Wake Forest (4-1, 1-1) on Saturday, especially after the Demon Deacons took Florida State to the wire a week ago before falling 26-19.

''They've got great energy and great toughness,'' Swinney said. ''And I just want to make sure everyone understands the type of team that's rolling in her this week. We need to wake up, show up and be ready to go.''

Swinney's never lost to Wake Forest - and perhaps owes them a huge ''Thank you!'' for getting him the Clemson job. It was the Demon Deacons last win in the series, 12-7 in 2008, that led to coach Tommy Bowden being let go and then athletic director Terry Don Phillips elevating the personable receivers coach to the head office.

Since then, Swinney is 8-0 against the Deacons and has won three ACC titles and a national championship.

Maybe part of Swinney's message stems from their home game against Boston College two weeks back. The Tigers, coming off a victory at Louisville, played a midday contest with the Eagles and were off their game for the first three quarters. Clemson eventually scored four touchdowns in the fourth quarter to win 34-7. Swinney worries the Tigers might not be overcome a slow start this time.

''That's what it takes every single week, putting your best foot forward in consistency or performance,'' Swinney said.

Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson wondered if this might be the year to catch the Tigers with so many NFL players like quarterback Deshaun Watson, receiver Mike Williams and tailback Wayne Gallman gone this season.

''Somehow, someway, they lose all these really good players and then come back and are just as good, if not better,'' Clawson said. ''Right now, they are probably playing better overall football now than when we played them a year ago.''

The same might be said for Wake Forest, which is looking to start 5-1 for the first time since it won the ACC title in 2006.

''I think it might be shocking to other people, but it's not shocking to us,'' Demon Deacons offensive lineman Phil Haynes said.

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Some other things to watch when Wake Forest visits No. 2 Clemson:

O'DANIEL'S RUN: Senior linebacker Dorian O'Daniel is cramming years of potential into his fifth season. O'Daniel has had two ''pick six'' touchdowns this season at Louisville on Sept. 16 and at Virginia Tech last Saturday night. He also recovered a fumble, had a sack and made 14 tackles in the win over the Hokies.

WAKE UP CALL? A look at the stat sheet from last week and it would be easy to think the Demon Deacons had beaten Florida State instead of losing for the first time this year. Wake Forest outgained the Seminoles by 100 yards and registered 17 tackles for loss, one shy of the school record.

MAKING A MARK: Clemson has certainly made an impact on the college football rankings. There are a total of six losses among the top 17 teams in this week's Top 25 and the Tigers have accounted for three of them with wins over No. 12 Auburn, No. 16 Virginia Tech and No. 17 Louisville.

WHAT A KICK! Wake Forest kicker Mike Weaver is 10-of-10 on field goals this season. His 48 points (he also has hit 18 of 20 extra points) leads the team and ACC kickers in scoring.

CLEMSON D: The Tigers defense has been stout so far this season, fourth in the country in scoring allowed (10.8 points a game) and seventh nationally in overall yards (250 per game). Both marks are better than the Tigers' 2014 defense which featured current Atlanta Falcons Vic Beasley and Grady Jarrett and ended the season as college football's No. 1 group.

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LSU can make tumultuous week better or worse against Florida
October 6, 2017

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) LSU's tumultuous week is about to take a turn - for better or worse.

The Tigers had one of the more chaotic stretches in recent program history, including a stunning home loss to Troy, two players-only meetings and another involving the athletic director, the head coach and both coordinators.

How LSU responds will be determined Saturday at No. 21 Florida (3-1, 3-0 Southeastern Conference). Anything short of a victory could push the Tigers (3-2, 0-1) toward more drama and maybe even some difficult decisions down the road.

''I know people are not happy, but we have to make sure that we take the criticism and we have to understand that LSU is a premier football program and we've got to make sure when things like this happen we have to bounce back,'' LSU defensive end Christian LaCouture said. ''We can't focus on this last game.''

The Tigers might want to draw from last year, though.

Florida escaped Tiger Stadium with a 16-10 victory last November thanks to a goal-line stand in the final seconds. Star running back Leonard Fournette watched from the sideline as teammate Derrius Guice was stuffed short of the end zone on a botched fourth-down play.

The Gators clinched the SEC East and celebrated wildly on the field, in the locker room and during the trip home. It capped six weeks of angst stemming from the game's postponement and relocation from Gainesville to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, because of Hurricane Matthew. The Tigers suggested Florida was hoping to cancel the game or avoid playing it on the road.

It created a tense atmosphere and plenty of motivation for the Gators.

A year later, the Tigers seemingly have more at stake.

Two weeks after a 30-point drubbing at Mississippi State - LSU's most lopsided setback in series history - the Tigers lost to a non-conference opponent at home for the first time since 2000.

Embattled coach Ed Orgeron was clearly the focal point of all the heat. Orgeron held a meeting with team leaders, who then had the first of two players-only sessions. Athletic director Joe Alleva also met with Orgeron, offensive coordinator Matt Canada and defensive coordinator Dave Aranda to iron out differences. Orgeron got involved with the offense during the 24-21 loss to Troy and wanted to simplify Canada's scheme by reducing pre-snap motions.

Alleva ''wanted to know what was going on, what we could do better,'' said Orgeron, who's in his first season after serving as interim coach in 2016. ''Let's all get on the same page. It was a very positive meeting.''

Florida, which has endured its own issues this season, kept track from afar.

''They're just trying to set the Gators up, right?'' coach Jim McElwain said. ''Anytime there's a transition, you go through a learning curve. These guys will be coming in here crazed, nuts, ready to go to prove all the naysayers or whatever you want to do, but that's why you play.''

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Here are some other things to know about LSU and Florida:

GETTING HEALTHY: LSU expects to have several key players back this week, including Guice, defensive end Rashard Lawrence and nose tackle Ed Alexander. Senior right tackle Toby Weathersby, who also did not play last week, is questionable.

FRANKS RETURNS: Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks, who was once committed to LSU, regains his starting job this week following a season-ending injury to Luke Del Rio. Franks started the first three games of the season, but was benched in two of those.

LINE ITEMS: LSU's offensive line has been a glaring weak spot the past three games and faces a tough test at Florida. Against Troy, the Tigers started two freshmen - right guard Ed Ingram and right tackle Saahdiq Charles - on the offensive line for the first time since 1986.

CLEVELAND OUT: Florida will be without big-play receiver Tyrie Cleveland because of a high-ankle sprain to his right foot. Cleveland leads the team in every receiving category, recording 15 catches, 326 yards and two touchdowns.

RECORD WATCH: The Gators can break an NCAA record Saturday by scoring in their 366th consecutive game. Florida is currently tied with Michigan, which set the mark between 1984 and 2014. The Gators haven't been shut out since a 16-0 loss to Auburn on Oct. 29, 1988.

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Georgia LB Patrick arrested on marijuana charges
October 6, 2017

Georgia linebacker Natrez Patrick was arrested by police late Thursday night on a misdemeanor possession of marijuana charge.

The 20-year-old Patrick, a junior from Atlanta, was arrested in Athens, Ga., and charged with misdemeanor possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and prohibited stopping, standing or parking, according to Athens-Clarke County Jail records. He was booked at 11:37 p.m. and released on $1,500 bond early Friday morning.

The 6-foot-3, 234-pound Patrick had a previous run-in with police. He was suspended one game in 2015 during his freshman season after being arrested on misdemeanor marijuana charges.

Patrick has started every game for the Bulldogs this season and is tied for third on the team with 17 tackles.

The No. 5 Bulldogs (5-0) play at Vanderbilt (3-2) on Saturday afternoon.

The school thus far has not made an announcement about Patrick's status for the game. The university's student-athlete handbook calls for a four-game suspension for football players who incur a second marijuana violation, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.


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Deep coaching ties in Washington-Cal
October 6, 2017

SEATTLE (AP) California coach Justin Wilcox is on his own little reunion tour through the Pac-12 Conference.

Seeing old faces is the least of Wilcox's concerns at this point, with California having lost two straight and facing another major challenge on Saturday at No. 6 Washington.

Last week, Wilcox returned to his alma mater Oregon and watched the Ducks hand the Golden Bears a 45-24 setback. Now it's a trip north to Seattle and a matchup with his former employer - in multiple ways. Wilcox served as the defensive coordinator for Washington coach Chris Petersen for four seasons at Boise State. Wilcox was also the defensive coordinator at Washington for two years when Steve Sarkisian was the head coach.

''I just think he's a good football coach,'' Petersen said of Wilcox. ''I've known that for a long time, whether he's running the defense or a whole team. He knows how to coach the guys, get them going.''

Petersen and Wilcox were brief in their comments about each other this week. They're dealing with their own team issues.

Washington (5-0, 2-0 Pac-12) would like to end a string of sluggish starts. A year ago, Washington dominated most of its opponents early and cruised to victories. This year has been more of a struggle in the first half, highlighted by holding just a 7-0 lead at halftime last week at lowly Oregon State. The Huskies erupted for 35-point second half against the Beavers, but the slow starts are a concern for Petersen.

''We're going to address it. We'll talk to our guys,'' Petersen said. ''How do you fix the turnover situation when it's not going in your favor? It's the same thing - you practice on it, move things up in practice and get it going a little bit more. It's not because they are not trying, so you're always trying to be creative as coaches to fix every single problem that you have.''

California (3-2, 0-2) opened with three straight wins, but the Bears have since lost to Southern California and Oregon.

''We've got to execute more consistently. We've played well in spurts,'' Wilcox said. ''We just have to play better. It's a matter of doing the same thing over and over and over and executing at a high level more than sometimes.''

Here's what else to watch as the Bears and Huskies meet for the 98th time:

RUNNING DOWN A DREAM: Washington discovered its run game, which lagged through the first three weeks of the season.

Myles Gaskin is coming off consecutive 100-yard games after rushing for 113 yards on 15 carries last week against the Beavers. Lavon Coleman returned after missing the win over Colorado to add 70 yards against the Beavers. The Huskies are averaging nearly 5.9 yards per carry the past two weeks. Stopping the run remains a weakness for California. The Bears are giving up nearly 175 yards per game on the ground.

HOMECOMING: It will be a major homecoming for two of Cal's most important players. Quarterback Ross Bowers is from nearby Bothell, Washington, and linebacker Devante Downs is from Mountlake Terrace, Washington. Bowers had a great start to the season but has been prone to mistakes the last couple of weeks as the competition improved. Bowers threw four interceptions against USC and was sacked against Oregon seven times.

Downs leads the Pac-12 in tackles, averaging 10.8 per game.

''It's cool to see my family and friends, but it's just another week,'' Downs said.

TURN IT OVER: California forced nine turnovers in the first three games and won the turnover battle in each game. Not surprisingly, the Bears started 3-0. During the two-game losing streak, the Bears have committed eight turnovers in the two losses.

FULL MOON FEVER: Washington is getting a little tired of late kickoffs, but there's not much relief soon. The Huskies will play consecutive games that kickoff at 7:45 p.m. PT. They've yet to play a game that started earlier than 5 p.m. local time. Petersen complained this week that the late starts are impacting the Huskies exposure.

Wilcox, too, wasn't a fan of the late start. The Bears already have a late kickoff scheduled for next Friday when they host Washington State.

''They tell us when the games are. If it was up to us, we wouldn't choose 7:45 p.m. But it's not up to us,'' he said.

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No. 9 Badgers looking to continue dominance over Nebraska
October 6, 2017

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) No. 9 Wisconsin has won four straight and five of six against Nebraska, and the Badgers enter the game Saturday night as the biggest favorite of any visiting team at Memorial Stadium in 43 years.

Badgers coach Paul Chryst isn't that impressed.

''History doesn't matter to the players,'' he said. ''The thing that matters most is the type of team you're playing and the atmosphere you're playing in. We know it's going to be a great atmosphere. It's an historic stadium and a team that's playing well now. We have to put our focus and energy on being as prepared as possible.''

Sole possession of first place in the Big Ten West will be at stake when Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0) and Nebraska (3-2, 2-0) meet with members of the Cornhuskers' 1997 national championship team on hand as part of its 20-year reunion.

The Huskers have beaten conference lightweights Rutgers and Illinois since their stunning home loss to Northern Illinois. Now they enter a crucial stretch, with back-to-back home games against Wisconsin and No. 10 Ohio State and a trip to improved Purdue.

''I think everything goes up in terms of intensity,'' quarterback Tanner Lee said. ''You're heightened level of focus, your preparation, everything needs to take a step up when you're playing a team like Wisconsin, or any team that is ranked as high as they are and has won games like they have. It's going to take an all-out effort and is something we're looking forward to.''

Nebraska has won 20 straight night games at home since 2008. But the Huskers are listed as 11-point underdogs. According to Omaha World-Herald research, Nebraska hasn't been that big an underdog at home since Oklahoma was a 14-point favorite in 1974.

Wisconsin has won nine of 10 true road games in three seasons under Chryst, including a 23-21 win on a field goal with 4 seconds left in its last trip to Lincoln in 2015.

Some things to know:

---

OLD FRIENDS FACE OFF

Nebraska coach Mike Riley will go against one of his best coaching friends in Chryst. Riley hired Chryst as an assistant with San Antonio of the old World League of American Football in 1991. Chryst, 51, later was Riley's offensive coordinator at Oregon State and tight ends coach with the San Diego Chargers.

''I won't say I taught him,'' said Riley, 64. ''Paul and I did a lot of work together strategically, conceptually on football for many years. It was a great mutual educational experience in football working with him.''

FREEDOM TROPHY

Wisconsin is 3-0 against Nebraska since the teams started playing for the Freedom Trophy in 2014. The Badgers have won 14 of their last 15 trophy games since 2010, going 7-0 against Minnesota and 4-1 against Iowa.

''We want to keep all three trophies in our locker room,'' linebacker Garret Dooley said. ''That's part of our goals. So everyone has to come out with their heads on fire and go out and play the kind of football we're used to.''

INJURY UPDATE

Wisconsin TE Troy Fumagalli (leg) and DE Isaiahh Loudermilk (leg) are questionable. Nebraska CB Chris Jones (knee) practiced in pads this week for the first time since getting hurt in July and has been cleared to play in the game. S Joshua Kalu (hamstring) and OLB Marcus Newby (hamstring) are expected to play.

IMPROVING DEFENSE

Nebraska's defense has improved since allowing 42 points in the first half of the loss at Oregon on Sept. 9. Opponents have returned three interceptions for touchdowns since then, but the defense has allowed just 23 points in the past 14 quarters. The Huskers held both Rutgers and Illinois under 200 yards of total offense.

DOMINANT DEFENSE

Wisconsin's eight sacks against Northwestern last week were its most in a game since 2001.

''The numbers are great, but our D-line and linebackers pride themselves on getting to the quarterback,'' linebacker T.J. Edwards said. ''I'd love if we could do that every game, but it's going to be tough as the games go on.''

The Badgers are allowing just 247 yards a game to rank fourth nationally in total defense. Since going to the 3-4 defense in 2013, the Badgers have allowed just 16.4 points a game. Only Alabama (14.6) has given up fewer points over that span.

[StarDust Bum]

Memphis routs Connecticut, 70-31
October 6, 2017

EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Memphis quarterback Riley Ferguson found favorite target Anthony Miller early and often on Friday night, setting records in the process.

Ferguson threw for 431 yards and seven touchdowns, four of them to Miller, as Memphis routed UConn 70-31.

Ferguson, who played just three quarters, completed 34 of 48 passes and the Tigers put up 711 yards of total offense.

The seven touchdown throws tied Paxton Lynch's school and conference record. Ferguson was 26 of 37 for 325 yards and five touchdowns in the first half alone.

Miller had 15 receptions for 224 yards for Memphis (4-1, 1-1 American Athletic Conference). His four TD catches also tied an AAC record and set a school mark.

Ferguson and Miller connected on scores from 17, 8 and 40 yards in the first half, and the Tigers went into the break ahead 35-24. Memphis then scored the first 28 points of the second half, highlighted by a 32-yard catch from Miller over a defender in the back of the end zone.

''Ever since I've gotten here, that's a guy who has stayed with me after practice and we throw every single day,'' Ferguson said. ''I think just on a daily basis our chemistry is building even more than it already is.''

The win came a week after the Tigers were blown out 40-13 by UCF. But this time, they were playing the worst pass defense in the FBS. The Huskies came in giving up 542 yards a game, with a secondary that has four freshmen in the two-deep depth chart.

''I think we came out here kind of mad and when we came out here we took it out on the other team - UConn,'' said Miller, who now has a catch in all 30 games he has played and has multiple catches in 13 straight games.

The 70 points were the most the Huskies have given up since the school started playing football in 1896.

''All I can say is embarrassment, disappointment,'' said defensive back Anthony Watkins. ''It hurts a lot.''

Bryant Shirreffs threw for 310 yards for UConn (1-4, 0-3) and the Huskies got 114 yards rushing and two touchdowns from Arkeel Newsome.

Doroland Dorceus had 22 carries for 122 yards for Memphis. His two rushing touchdowns and all but 23 of his yards came in the second half.

THE TAKEAWAY

UConn: The Huskies have now lost eight straight conference games. Connecticut's last conference win and last win over an FBS opponent came a full year ago, Oct. 8, 2016, when the Huskies beat Cincinnati 20-9 in East Hartford.

Memphis: It was the third time Ferguson has thrown for at least six touchdowns. It was his second 400-yard passing game (409 against Houston last season) and his 10th with at least 300 yards. The only Tiger with more is Lynch, who had 12.

''I look up to Paxton,'' said Ferguson. ''Just the fact that I'm even in the same sentence with Paxton Lynch means a lot to me.''

TURNOVERS

Ferguson was coming off a game against UCF in which he threw three interceptions and lost a fumble. The Tigers did not turn the ball over in this one. UConn strip sacked Ferguson in the third quarter, but the ball bounced right back into his arms while he was on the ground. The Tigers scored 14 points on three UConn turnovers.

TARGETING

Memphis linebacker Austin Hall, the Tigers leading tackler coming in, was ejected on a targeting call in the first quarter, lunging to tackle running back Kevin Mensah. The Tigers were already missing linebacker Curtis Akins with an injury and linebacker Jackson Dillon who was lost for the season after being hurt in the Tiger's opener.

''I know the intent was not there,'' said coach Mike Norvell. ''I just hate to see a young man lose a game when I know his intent was not to target or to try and harm somebody.''

UP NEXT

UConn: The Huskies travel to Philadelphia to take on Temple next Saturday.

Memphis: The Tigers return home to face Navy at the Liberty Bowl.


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Mattison's career-high 118 yards leads Boise St by BYU 24-7
October 7, 2017

PROVO, Utah (AP) Alexander Mattison ran for a career-high 118 yards and two touchdowns, Brett Rypien threw his first TD pass of the season and Boise State beat BYU 24-7 on Friday night.

Boise State scored 17 straight points in the second quarter to take a 10-point lead into halftime.

Mattison took a direct snap in a wildcat formation and ran it in from the 12 to tie it at 7 in the second quarter. After Kekoa Nawahine intercepted BYU's pass and returned it 51 yards to the Cougars 22, Boise State settled for a short field goal and a 10-7 lead.

Boise State took a two-score lead with 36 seconds left in the half on Sean Modster's first career touchdown catch. Mattison scored the only points of the second half on a 2-yard run early in the fourth to cap an 82-yard drive.

Rypien completed 12 of 19 passes for 125 yards and one touchdown for Boise State (3-2).

Tanner Mangum was 18-of-33 passing for 164 yards and two interceptions for BYU (1-5), which lost its fifth straight for the first time since 1970. Ula Tolutau opened the scoring in the first quarter with a 3-yard touchdown.

[StarDust Bum]

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

Aug/SeptTotals:.......154 - 145 - 9.....51.50%....-27.50

Best Bets:*****
Best Bets :........................ATS............TOTALS.... .............O/U................TOTALS

Aug/Sept Totals:...........41 -33 - 2...........+30.50...............13 - 18.............- 25.50

********************************

CFB Ocotber's Best Bets & Opinions ( All Best Bets Based On 5 Units Per Play )

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

10/06/2017 3-1-0 75.00% +9.50
10/05/2017 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
10/04/2017 1-1-0 50.00% - 0.50

Total.................6-2...........75.00%.....+ 19.00


Best Bets:*****
Best Bets :........................ATS............TOTALS.... .............O/U................TO
TALS
10/06/2017......................2 - 1.............+1.75...................3 - 1................+9.50
10/05/2017......................1 - 0.............+5.00...................1 - 0................+5.00
10/04/2017......................0 - 1..............-5.50...................1 - 0................+5.00

Totals..............................3 - 1..............+1.25...................5 - 1................+19.50

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday’s six-pack

Some more NFL trends to ponder with Week 5 upon us……..

— Chargers are 0-8-1 vs spread in their last nine games.

— Panthers are 16-6 in last 22 games as a road underdog.

— Jets are 4-10-3 in last 17 games as a road underdog.

— Steelers are 10-3 vs spread in last 13 games as a non-divisional HF.

— Cincinnati is 7-14 vs spread in its last 21 games.

— Bears are 6-1-1 in last eight games as a home underdog.


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Saturday’s List of 13: Clearing out a cluttered mind……..

13) I made a rare appearance in the Hannaford grocery store near my home Thursday; I eat out just about every day, so I don’t need a lot of groceries, but I had 5 or 6 items as I went to the checkout aisles. (If you must know, had Fig Newtons, Cherry Coke, hamburger rolls, Rice Krispies, hot dog rolls and milk.)

One aisle had 6 or 7 people waiting on line, so that wasn’t an option; I’m not fond of waiting on lines. The other aisle was the Express Aisle; 14 items or less. My kind of aisle, I was there.

I’m behind one woman in line, a woman with an entire shopping cart full of items. She starts taking the items out, and she obviously has more than 14, and thats counting the five 2-liter bottles of Pepsi as one item. She has 23 items; how do I know this? I counted them.

12) Now I’m annoyed, because it is just a lack of respect for anyone other than herself; she looks to be around 50, a normal suburban person, except for the fact that she is taking 23 items thru the Express Aisle (14 items or less). I look at the young kid working the register, debating whether to make a fool of myself and call her on this indiscretion. I would’ve laughed if the cashier had refused to wait on Ms 23Items- he didn’t.

I’m bailed out by two other aisles being opened up just as I was about to make a decision; rather than create a scene, I just scoot over to the next aisle— I was out of the store before Ms 23Items got her bags into her shopping cart.

11) In the larger scope of life, obviously none of this is important, but it points out how the basic respect we have for each other is decaying throughout society. No one cares about anyone except him/herself. We need to have more respect for other humans; it doesn’t cost anything, and it improves everyone’s quality of life. Less stress equals a better life.

Elsewhere in the world…….
10) Watching Justin Verlander pitch in the playoffs Thursday gave me the creeps; he’s made five playoff starts against the A’s and was 4-0, 1.23 in those games- the one game he didn’t win was when the A’s rallied from behind in the late innings to beat Detroit’s bullpen.

Verlander is two decent years away from being a Hall of Famer.

9) How offense in the NFL is changing; the receiving leader for 7 of the 32 NFL teams is a running back. Teams are running ball less but are using RB’s out of the backfield to beat linebackers in individual matchups.

His first two years in the NFL, Todd Gurley caught 64 passes for 515 yards (8.0 yds/rec) in 29 games, with no touchdowns. In four games this year, he’s caught 20 passes for 234 yards (11.7 yds/rec), three TD’s. Twice as many catches per game, 46% more yards per catch.

8) Tampa Bay Bucs lost Thursday night, but now they get 10 days off before their next game, which is especially helpful in their case, since they already had their bye week in Week 1, because of the hurricane damage in Florida caused their game with Miami to be moved to Week 11.

7) I’d love to see a team playing New England let the QB call his own plays, just in case they’re still doing any BS stealing signals (chances are they are). They couldn’t do it if the QB called his own plays- no signals to steal.

Of course, that would greatly reduce substitutions by the offense, but the coach could send in personnel groupings and let the QB pick what plays he wanted that used those groupings.

6) Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan owns a ship that is 312 feet long (almost an entire football field) and cost $200M to build. You can rent this ship, for $1.2M a week, plus expenses.

If you’re wondering, $1.2M a week works out to $7,142.86 an hour for the week.

5) Toronto Raptors signed 3rd-year guard Norman Powell to a 4-year, $42 million contract extension; Powell has started 42 games in two years, averaging 16.7 mpg in his 125 NBA games.

$10.5M a year to a guy who has played 16.7 minutes a game? Wow.

4) Was glad to find a Golden State-Minnesota game on TV live from China in the middle of the night Tuesday—game started at 2am Wednesday morning here in NY. The reason substitutes like Powell make $10.5M a year is that the NBA is wildly popular world-wide, which makes all the teams extremely profitable.

3) Charlotte Hornets’ Nicolas Batum tore ligaments in his elbow and will be out for six weeks or so. Batum averaged 15.1 ppg and 5.9 assists a game last year.

2) Former NBA star Walt Frazier still does Knicks games on MSG TV in New York City; he is very good. The other night, he was talking about how some NBA teams have only 3-4 preseason games this year, due to the shortened preseason.

Back when he played (late 60’s/early 70’s), Frazier said the Knicks played 16 preseason games, and sometimes traveled from City A to City B with their opponent, which had to be odd.

1) Washington Post reported this week that 78% of Americans do not own a gun; 19% of Americans own 50% of our country’s gun, while 3% of our population owns the other 50%.

3% of Americans own 50% of the guns. Think about that.

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday's Week 6 NCAAF Top 25 betting cheat sheet and odds

Wake Forest Demon Deacons at (2) Clemson Tigers (-21.5, 47.5)

* The Demon Deacons lead the nation with 10 tackles for loss per game. QB John Walford has already accounted for 12 touchdowns (eight passing, four rushing), just three fewer than he had all of last season

* The Tigers are one of only four FBS teams with at least 19 rushing touchdowns, joining Oregon (25), Notre Dame (20) and Tulsa (19). Clemson has converted on 49.3 percent of third downs, the 11th-best rate in Division I.

LINE HISTORY: The second ranked Tigers opened this game at most books as a 21.5-point home fave and that's where the number currently sits. The total has also not moved off its opening number of 47.5. Check out the complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Wake Forest is 6-1-1 ATS in its last eight conference games.
* Clemson is 6-1 ATS in its last seven games overall.
* Under is 4-0 in Wake Forest's last four road games.
* Over is 7-1 in Clemson's last eight games in October.

(6) Georgia Bulldogs at Vanderbilt Commodores (+17, 40)

* The Bulldogs are one of 12 FBS teams still perfect in red-zone scoring, converting 19 trips into 14 touchdowns and five field goals. Georgia ranks second nationally in scoring defense (9.2) and has allowed the fewest touchdowns in the nation (four).

* The Commodores are 18-for-42 on third-down conversions in their three wins and 4-for-23 in their two defeats. LB Charles Wright has racked up an SEC-best six sacks through five games.

LINE HISTORY: The undefeated Bulldogs opened as 15.5-point road chalk at most shops and have been bet as high as -17.5. The number is currently Georgia -17. The total opened at 41 and has been bet down to 40. Check out the complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Georgia is 5-0 ATS in its last five road games.
* Vanderbilt is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.
* Under is 6-0 in Georgia's last six conference games.
* Under is 9-1 in Vanderbilt's last 10 games in October.

Mississippi Rebels at (13) Auburn Tigers (-22.5, 56.5)

* Ole Miss enters the week ranked dead last in the FBS in rushing yards per game (74.3), averaging just 2.9 YPC with two scores on the ground. QB Shea Patterson has two touchdown passes and five interceptions over his past two games.

* The Tigers rank fifth nationally in fewest passing yards allowed (142.4) while also ranking among the NCAA leaders in opponent yards per attempt (4.8) and yards per completion (8.9). RB Kerryon Johnson has eight rushing scores in his last two games.

LINE HISTORY: Oddsmakers opened the Tigers as 21-point home chalk and they've been bet up a point and a half to the current number of 22.5. The total opened at 56.5 and was up to 57.5, before coming back down to the opening number. Check out the complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Mississippi is 1-10 ATS in its last 11 games overall.
* Auburn is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings.
* Over is 5-1 in Mississippi's last six games overall.
* Under is 8-2 in Auburn's last 10 games overall.

Iowa State Cyclones at (3) Oklahoma Sooners (-31, 62)

* The Cyclones are one of just eight teams in Division I that has yet to lose a fumble in 2017. Iowa State ranks 15th overall in tackles for loss per game (8.0) and its +17 TFL margin is fourth-best in the nation.

* The Sooners own the longest active winning streak in FBS, having won 14 straight games while outscoring opponents by 299 points over that stretch. Oklahoma averages a Division I-leading 9.1 points per play, well ahead of runner-up Miami (8.2).

LINE HISTORY: The Sooners hit the board as hefty 28-point home chalk and bettors didn't that was enough moving Oklahoma to the current number of -31. The total opened at 68.5 and it has been mostly Under money coming in, with the number all the way down to 62. Check out the complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Iowa State is 1-5 ATS in its last six meetings in Oklahoma.
* Oklahoma is 7-0 ATS in its last seven home games.
* Over is 4-1 in the last five meetings.
* Over is 5-1 in Iowa State's last six vs. a team with a winning record.

(4) Penn State Nittany Lions at Northwestern Wildcats (+13.5, 50.5)

* The Nittany Lions rank third in FBS in scoring defense (9.4) and have yet to surrender a first-quarter touchdown through five games. RB Saquon Barkley has six rushing touchdowns in his previous four true road games dating back to 2016.

* The Wildcats have converted 16 consecutive red-zone visits into points after failing to do so on their first trip of the season; 14 of those scores are touchdowns. Northwestern is allowing 13.5 points per game at home and 37 per game on the road.

LINE HISTORY: Penn State opened as a two touchdown favorite and were bet to -14.5, but since then the number has moved down to the current number of -13.5. The total hit the board at 55.5 and has seen mostly Under money, moving down five points to the current number of 50.5. Check out the complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Penn State is 12-2-2 ATS in its last 16 games overall.
* Northwestern is 5-1 ATS in its last six games following a SU loss.
* Under is 4-1 in Penn State's last five games overall.
* Over is 4-0 in the last four meetings in Northwestern.

(12) Miami Hurricanes at Florida State Seminoles (+3, 45.5)

* The Hurricanes have given up just 11 red-zone visits, but 10 of those have resulted in scoring plays - a 90.9-percent success rate that ranks outside the top 100 nationally. Miami's 7.5 YPC ranks second nationally, behind only Stanford.

* The Seminoles have held opponents to a 12-for-42 success rate on third downs, a 28.6-percent mark that ranks 20th in Division I. Florida State is the only team in the ACC averaging fewer than 100 rushing yards per contest (97.7).

LINE HISTORY: The Hurricanes hit the board favored by a field goal on the road and that's where the number currently sits. The total opened at 47.5 and has moved down two points to the current number of 45.5. Check out the complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Miami is 5-0 ATS in its last five conference games.
* Underdog is 15-3 ATS in the last 18 meetings.
* Under is 6-0 in the last six meetings.
* Under is 4-0 in Miami's last four road games.

(22) Notre Dame Fighting Irish at North Carolina Tar Heels (+14.5, 63)

* Fighting Irish QB Brandon Wimbush (783 passing yards, six TDs) is considered day-to-day after suffering a foot injury last weekend against Miami (Ohio). Notre Dame is one of only seven teams averaging more than 300 rushing yards per game.

* The Tar Heels are allowing opponents to convert 42.2 percent of their third-down chances, ranking them 94th in Division I. QB Chazz Surratt has seen his QB rating fall in three straight games, from 233.7 on Sept. 9 to 92.8 in last week's loss.

LINE HISTORY: Oddsmakers opened the Irish as two touchdown road faves in this matchup and were bet as high as -17, but since then they have come down to the current number of Notre Dame -14.5. The total has also seen plenty of action. After opening at 62 at most shops the number dropped as low as 57.5 before bouncing back to the current number of 63. Check out the complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Notre Dame is 1-6 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
* North Carolina is 1-4 ATS in its last five home games.
* Over is 6-1 in Notre Dame's last seven games overall.
* Under is 6-0 in North Carolina's last six games in October.

(23) West Virginia Mountaineers at (10) TCU Horned Frogs (-13, 67.5)

* The Mountaineers rank second in the nation in points per game (48.8) and yards per contest (594.8). West Virginia leads all Big 12 teams in three-and-outs forced per game (5.75).

* Horned Frogs QB Kenny Hill has completed 72.6 percent of his passes so far this season, the sixth-best rate in FBS. TCU has converted a whopping 63.2 percent of its third downs, far and away the best rate in Division I.

LINE HISTORY: The Horned Frogs opened as 12.5-point home faves and rose as high as -14, but since then they have come back down to the current number of TCU -13. The total hit the board at a big 73.5, but it's been almost all Under money, with the number coming down six points to the current number of 67.5. Check out the complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* West Virginia is 2-10 ATS in its last 12 games following a bye week.
* TCU is 1-10 ATS in its last 11 home games.
* Over is 3-0-1 in West Virginia's last four games overall.
* Under is 5-1 in TCU's last six games in October.

LSU Tigers at (20) Florida Gators (-2, 44)

* Tigers LB Devin White has an SEC-high 49 tackles, the second-most by an LSU player through five games since 2002. The Tigers have incurred just seven penalties through the past two games after being called for 30 in the first three contests.

* The Gators will be without WR Tyrie Cleveland, who is nursing an ankle injury; he ranks fourth in the conference in yards per reception (21.7). Feleipe Franks regains the starting quarterback job after Luke Del Rio suffered a season-ending injury last week.

LINE HISTORY: The Gators opened as 6.5-point favorites at most shops, but bettors like the Tigers in this matchup, moving the number down to Florida -2. The total opened at 46.5 and has been bet down to the current number of 44. Check out the complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* LSU is 4-1 ATS in its last five road games.
* Florida is 1-7 ATS in its last eight games following a ATS win.
* Under is 4-1 in LSU's last five vs. a team with a winning record.
* Under is 4-0 in Florida's last four games following a ATS win.

Maryland Terrapins at (9) Ohio State Buckeyes (-30.5, 60.5)

* The Terrapins haven't allowed a 100-yard rusher in eight consecutive games. Maryland has outscored opponents 45-7 in the opening quarter, with those seven points coming courtesy an interception return for a TD in the season opener.

* The Buckeyes have limited opposing pass attacks to fewer than 100 yards in three consecutive games. Ohio State running backs have lost just two yards on 127 total carries on the season.

LINE HISTORY: The Buckeyes opened at a very chalky -31, but have been bet down slightly to the current number of -30.5. The total opened at 58.5 and has been bet up to the current number of 60.5. Check out the complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Maryland is 4-17 ATS in its last 21 games following a SU win.
* Ohio State is 0-4 ATS in its last four home games.
* Over is 5-1 in Maryland's last six road games.
* Over is 5-1 in Ohio State's last six conference games.

Oregon State Beavers at (15) USC Trojans (-33, 57)

* The Beavers have been successful on all 10 trips to the red zone in 2017, scoring nine touchdowns (six rushing, three passing) and one field goal. Oregon State's 25:40 average time of possession ranks 120th out of 129 Division I schools.

* Trojans offensive lineman Viane Talamaivao, who started 37 games in his collegiate career, has a torn pectoral muscle and will miss the remainder of the season. USC ranks fourth in the nation in interceptions (eight) and 12th in sacks per game (3.2).

LINE HISTORY: The Trojans hit the board as big 34-point home favorites and have been bet down slightly to the current number of USC -33. The total opened at 59.5 and has been bet down to 57. Check out the complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Oregon State is 0-5 ATS in its last five games overall.
* USC is 1-5 ATS in its last six games overall.
* Under is 5-1 in the last six meetings.
* Over is 8-2 in Oregon State's last 10 games following a ATS loss.

(19) Virginia Tech Hokies at Boston College Eagles (+16.5, 46.5)

* Seven different Hokies players have rushed for at least one touchdown. WR Cam Phillips is tied for third in the nation in receiving yards (597) but has gone consecutive games without a TD for the first time since last November.

* The Eagles' 90.64 pass efficiency against is the fourth-best mark in Division I. Boston College's offensive line has surrendered just five sacks through the first five games of the season.

LINE HISTORY: Virginia Tech opened as 16-point favorites and are now at -16.5. The total hit the board at 48 and is down to the current number of 46.5. Check out the complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Virginia Tech is 4-0 ATS in its last four games following a straight up loss.
* Boston College is 3-9-1 ATS in its lat 13 conference games.
* Over is 4-0 in Virginia Tech's last four games following a double-digit loss at home.
* Over is 4-1-1 in the last six meetings.

(1) Alabama Crimson Tide at Texas A&M Aggies (+25.5, 55)

* The Crimson Tide has outscored foes by an average of 37.6 points per game while outgaining them on the ground by nearly 242 yards per contest. Alabama's defense hasn't allowed a touchdown in SEC play since last Oct. 22.

* The Aggies defense has produced a 3-and-out on nearly 41 percent of opponent drives so far in 2017. Texas A&M is averaging 301.3 rushing yards against Power 5 schools, the fifth-best mark in the nation.

LINE HISTORY: The No. 1 team in the country opened this game as 25.5-point road faves and were up to -26.5, before returning to the opening number. The total opened at 54 and got as high as 57 before coming back down to the current number of 55. Check out the complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Alabama is 8-1 ATS in its last nine conference games.
* Texas A&M is 1-6-1 ATS in its last eight home games.
* Over is 4-1 in Alabama's last five conference games.
* Over is 4-1 in Texas A&M's last five games following a SU win.

(11) Washington State Cougars at Oregon Ducks (+3, 59.5)

* The Cougars are ranked seventh in the nation in sacks (17) and 15th in tackles for loss (38). Washington State's 414 passing yards per game rank second nationally, and its 53.8-percent third-down conversion rate is fourth-best in Division I.

* The Ducks have been the most penalized team in Division I, racking up 52 flags for 467 yards through five games. Oregon has an FBS-high 25 rushing touchdowns, with Royce Freeman (10) and Kani Benoit (eight) accounting for 76 percent of those scores.

LINE HISTORY: Most books opened the Ducks as 2-point faves, but the line has jumped the fence and Oregon is now a three-point home dog. The total hit the board at 65.5 and it's another game seeing plenty of Under money, moving the number to 59.5. Check out the complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Washington State is 7-0 ATS in its last seven meetings.
* Oregon is 1-7-1 ATS in its last nine games following a SU win.
* Over is 4-0 in the last four meetings in Oregon.
* Over is 4-0 in Washington State's last four road games.

(25) Central Florida Knights at Cincinnati Bearcats (+17, 53.5)

* The Knights' two leading rushers - Adrian Killins Jr. and McKenzie Milton - combine to average 9.2 YPC on 41 attempts. UCF is ranked seventh in both scoring offense and scoring defense, one of just three FBS teams to rank in the top 10 in both.

* At 25:14 time of possession, the Bearcats are one of only 11 Division I teams averaging less than 26 minutes per game. LB Jaylyin Minor averages 10.2 tackles per game, the second-highest rate in the American Athletic Conference.

LINE HISTORY: Central Florida opened this game favored by two touchdowns and have been bet up to the current number of UCF -17. The total opened at 58 and is down to 53.5. Check out the complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* UCF is 4-0 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.
* Cincinnati is 1-10 ATS in its last 11 home games.
* Under is 7-0 in UCF's last seven games following a ATS win.
* Under is 8-2 in Cincinnati's last 10 home games.

(8) Wisconsin Badgers at Nebraska Cornhuskers (+10.5, 45.5)

* The Badgers are surrendering just 247 yards per game, fourth-fewest in the nation. The Wisconsin offense has scored 30 or more points in four straight games and eight of its last nine contests dating back to 2016.

* The Huskers haven't allowed an offensive touchdown over its last seven quarters, and has given up just two offensive TDs in its last 14 quarters. QB Tanner Lee has thrown a Division I-high nine interceptions, two more than he threw all of last season.

LINE HISTORY: The Badgers have quietly climbed into the Top 10 one again and oddsmakers opened them as 11.5-point home favorites, were bet up to -12 and are now down to -10.5. The total opened at 47 and has come down slightly since then to 45.5. Check out the complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Wisconsin is 7-0 ATS in its last seven road games.
* Nebraska is 1-5-2 ATS in its last eight home games.
* Over is 5-0 in Wisconsin's last five conference games.
* Under is 7-1 in Nebraska's last eight home games.

Stanford Cardinal at (18) Utah Utes (+4, 52)

* Cardinal junior RB Bryce Love has had at least 160 rushing yards and one touchdown in all five games this season. Stanford is perfect in the red zone so far this season, with 15 touchdowns (eight receiving, seven rushing) and seven field goals in 22 trips.

* The Utes rank 10th in the nation in rushing yards allowed per game (87.0) and 18th in scoring defense (17.3). Utah has made 14 field goals - the most in Division I - and leads the nation in net punting (45.3 yards).

LINE HISTORY: It's the Utes who are ranked, but it's Stanford getting the points on the road. Utah opened as six-point home pups, but bettors think that's too many bringing the number down to Utah +3.5. The total opened at 51.5 and has been bet up slightly to the current number of 52. Check out the complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Stanford is 0-4 ATS in its last four games following a SU win.
* Utah is 5-1 ATS in its last six conference games.
* Under is 5-1 in Stanford's last six games following a bye week.
* Under is 6-1 in Utah's last seven games overall.

(21) San Diego State Atecs at UNLV Rebels (+8, 56.5)

* Rashaad Penny is the first Aztecs running back to begin a season with five consecutive 100-yard rushing games since Marshall Faulk in 1992. San Diego State's plus-9 turnover margin is tied for third-best in the nation.

* The Rebels average 305.5 rushing yards per game, the sixth-highest rate in Division I. The UNLV defense ranks 14th in opponent red-zone rate, allowing foes to score on just 68.2 percent of their red-zone visits.

LINE HISTORY: San Diego State opened as 10-point road chalk, but bettors like UNLV here, bringing the number down to -8. The total opened at 57 and has been bet down slihtly to the current number of 56.6. Check out the complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* San Diego State is 8-2 ATS in its last 10 games following a SU win.
* UNLV is 4-0 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
* Over is 6-1 in San Diego State's last seven conference games.
* Over is 13-3 in UNLV's last 16 home games.

California Golden Bears at (5) Washington Huskies (-28.5, 52)

* The Bears have produced 27 plays of 20-plus yards on the season, while surrendering just 17. The Cal defense has forced 12 turnovers, ranking in a tie for sixth in Division I.

* The Huskies defense has held opponents under 30 points in 19 consecutive games dating back to the end of the 2015 season. QB Jake Browning has thrown multiple TD passes in four of his first five games this season.

LINE HISTORY: Washington opened a big 26-point home faves for this Pac-12 showdown and have been bet up to -28.5. The total hit the board at 58 and bettors like the Under, bringing the number down to 52. Check out the complete line history here.

TRENDS:

* Cal is 1-5 ATS in its last six road games.
* Washington is 4-0 ATS in its last four conference games.
* Under is 4-0 in the last four meetings in Washington.
* Under is 5-0-1 in Washington's last six conference games.

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NCAAF

Saturday, October 7

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Saturday's NCAAF Game of the Day: MSU at Michigan
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Michigan State Spartans at Michigan Wolverines (-10, 40.5)

Seventh-ranked Michigan looks to keep its perfect record intact when it hosts Michigan State in the battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy on Saturday. The Wolverines have won their first four games of the season, including a 28-10 victory against Purdue, but will be without starting quarterback Wilton Speight, who suffered a neck injury against the Boilermakers, and John O'Korn hopes to rise to the occasion by leading Michigan to back-to-back wins against the Spartans for the first time since 2006-07.

"John's done a fantastic job ever since he got here," Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters. "He's acquitted himself very well including coming off the bench and leading our team to a victory against Purdue." Michigan State bounced back from a disappointing 38-18 home loss to No. 22 Notre Dame by shutting down Iowa 17-10. The Spartans, who held the Hawkeyes to just 231 total yards, are hoping for a repeat performance against Michigan's struggling offensive line, as they strive for their fifth win in their last six visits to Ann Arbor. "When you play in a rivalry game, it's just not another football game, it means more," Michigan State head coach Mark Dantonio told reporters. "My goal when I came here was to make it a rivalry and I think it's a rivalry so we'll leave it at that."

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

LINE HISTORY: The Wolverines opened as high as 14-point home chalk but bettors are backing the Spartans and the line now sits at 10 points. The total opened as high as 41.5 but most shops are dealing 39.5 or 40 points heading into the weekend.

INJURY REPORT:

Michigan - WR Kekoa Crawford (questionable, lower body), WR Oliver Martin (questionable, upper body), WR Nate Schoenle (questionable, foot), TE Nick Eubanks (questionable, head), DL Luiji Vilain (questionable, lower body), CB Nate Johnson (out for season, dismissed), QB Will Speight (out indefinitely, back).

Michigan State - G David Beedle (questionable, ribs), S Grayson Miller (questionable, undisclosed), TE Hussien Kadry (questionable, undisclosed), S Jalen Watts-Jackson (questionable, undisclosed), G Matt Carrick (questionable, undisclosed), T Mustafa Khaleefah (questionable, undisclosed), RB Weston Bridges (questionable, undisclosed).

ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (3-1 SU, 3-1 ATS, 1-3 O/U): Wide receiver Felton Davis was named the Big Ten's Co-Offensive Player of the Week after hauling in a career-high nine passes for 114 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Iowa. Brian Lewerke threw for 212 yards and two touchdowns to go along with another 42 on the ground to take his season total to 248 rushing yards, which is second best among Big Ten quarterbacks. Senior running back Gerald Holmes, who has rushed for 1,120 yards and 13 touchdowns in his career, and safety Matt Morrissey were named the team captains for Saturday's clash.

ABOUT MICHIGAN (4-0 SU, 2-2 ATS, 1-2-1 O/U): O'Korn came off the bench to replace Speight, who will miss "multiple weeks," according to Harbaugh, and put on an impressive display as he completed 18-of-26 passes for 270 yards and a touchdown in the win against Purdue. Defensive end Chase Winovich continues to terrorize opposing backfields as he registered eight tackles, including 3.5 for loss, and 2.5 sacks against the Boilermakers to give him five sacks on the season, which ranks second nationally. Defensive back Nate Johnson was dismissed from the team on Wednesday after he was charged with domestic violence.

TRENDS:

*MSU is 0-4 in its last four road games.
*Michigan is 0-5 ATS in its last five games following a bye week.
*Over is 18-7-1 in Wolverines' last 26 games overall.
*Spartans are 9-0 ATS in the last nine games against Michigan.

CONSENSUS: The road dogs are getting 52 percent of the support from users while the Over is receiving 63 percent of the picks.

[StarDust Bum]

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

Aug/SeptTotals:.......154 - 145 - 9.....51.50%....-27.50

Best Bets:*****
Best Bets :........................ATS............TOTALS.... .............O/U................TOTALS

Aug/Sept Totals:...........41 -33 - 2...........+30.50...............13 - 18.............- 25.50

********************************

CFB Ocotber's Best Bets & Opinions ( All Best Bets Based On 5 Units Per Play )

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

10/06/2017 3-1-0 75.00% +9.50
10/05/2017 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00
10/04/2017 1-1-0 50.00% - 0.50

Total.................6-2...........75.00%.....+ 19.00


Best Bets:*****
Best Bets :........................ATS............TOTALS.... .............O/U................TO
TALS
10/06/2017......................2 - 0.............+10.00.................1 - 1...............-1.00
10/05/2017......................1 - 0.............+5.00...................1 - 0................+5.00
10/04/2017......................0 - 1..............-5.50...................1 - 0................+5.00

Totals..............................3 - 1..............+9.50...................3- 1................+9.00

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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS
TLSA at TULN 12:00 PM
TULN -6.0
*****
TEM at ECU 12:00 PM
TEM -3.5

PSU at NW 12:00 PM
NW +14.0

ILL at IOWA 12:00 PM
IOWA -16.0
*****
UGA at VAN 12:00 PM
U 41.5
*****
MISS at AUB 12:00 PM
AUB -21.5
*****
ISU at OKLA 12:00 PM
ISU +31.5
*****
TTU at KU 12:00 PM
TTU -14.5

EMU at TOL 12:00 PM
EMU +13.5

WAKE at CLEM 12:00 PM
CLEM -21.0
*****
DUKE at UVA 12:20 PM
UVA +1.0

PITT at SYR 12:30 PM
O 64.0

CMU at OHIO 02:00 PM
OHIO -10.5
*****
BGSU at M-OH 02:30 PM
M-OH -16.0

[StarDust Bum]

FIU at MTU 03:00 PM

U 53.5

ULM at TXST 03:00 PM

TXST +6.5

WVU at TCU 03:30 PM

TCU -13.0 *****

O 67.5 *****

NMSU at APP 03:30 PM

NMSU +13.5 *****

AFA at NAVY 03:30 PM

NAVY -7.5 *****

MINN at PUR 03:30 PM

PUR -3.5 *****

LSU at FLA 03:30 PM

LSU +1.0 *****

ND at UNC 03:30 PM

UNC +13.0

KENT at NIU 03:30 PM

NIU -23.0 *****

WMU at BUFF 03:30 PM

O 50.0

MIA at FSU 03:30 PM

MIA -2.5 *****

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LT at UAB 04:00 PM

LT -10.5 *****

MD at OSU 04:00 PM

OSU -30.5

ORST at USC 04:00 PM

USC -33.0 *****

ARK at SOCAR 04:00 PM

U 44.5

CSU at USU 04:30 PM

USU +9.5 *****

ULL at IDHO 05:00 PM

IDHO -5.5 *****

MRSH at CHAR 06:00 PM

MRSH -14.0 *****

FAU at ODU 06:00 PM

O 58.5

ARMY at RICE 06:30 PM

RICE +11.5

GSU at CCAR 06:30 PM

O 49.0