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Tulsa at Temple
September 18, 2018
By Joe Nelson

This week’s Thursday night ESPN game comes out of the American Athletic Conference with a pair of 1-2 squads facing off in what will be a key win towards bowl eligibility for the victor. Tulsa and Temple haven’t had the September starts they envisioned but both still have a shot at a successful season.

Here is a look at this week’s Thursday night game to kick off the fourth big weekend of college football.

Matchup: Tulsa Golden Hurricane at Temple Owls
Venue: At Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Time/TV: Thursday, Sep. 20, 7:30 PM ET ESPN
Line: Temple -7½, Over/Under 55½
Last Meeting: 2017, Temple (-5½) 43, at Tulsa 22

After winning the AAC title in 2016 Temple lost head coach Matt Rhule to Baylor and hired Geoff Collins, who had been the defensive coordinator at Florida the previous two years. Last season the Owls slipped from the back-to-back 10-4 seasons they had in 2015 and 2016 but still managed a 7-6 season. Temple beat Tulsa on the road in the regular season finale to reach 6-6 before beating Florida International in the Gasparilla Bowl, all things considered a fairly successful first season with the coaching transition plus the loss of longtime quarterback Phillip Walker, a four-year starter that is the all-time passing leader for the Owls.

There were some important players that graduated for Temple last season, notably in the receiving corps but expectations were elevated with the Owls considered by many the favorite in the AAC East. The offense gained a spark when Frank Nutile took over at quarterback last season and the top rushers from last season returned along with several key starters on a defense that has been very effective in recent years.

Temple opened the season with a pair of home games and lost both games, falling 19-17 (-14½) to FCS Villanova and 36-29 (-4) to Buffalo. On its own neither loss was egregious as Villanova gave Temple a great battle early last season and is one of the better FCS programs. Buffalo meanwhile is considered one of the top MAC teams is off to a promising 3-0 start as it could be a more reasonable loss by season’s end.

Nutile struggled with four interceptions before being injured late in the Buffalo game. He may be healthy enough to return in the near future but he may not get his job back at Temple was rejuvenated last week under sophomore Anthony Russo who played well in the team’s 35-14 (+16) upset win at Maryland. The Owls took a 21-7 lead at halftime even with Russo throwing a pick-6 the other way. Early in the second half Russo hit a 47-yard touchdown pass and the Owls even survived a blocked punt returned for a touchdown in the fourth quarter to hold on for a 21-point win. Temple’s defense allowed just 195 yards and no offensive touchdowns as the Owls can feel confident heading into the conference season.

Tulsa has had a roller coaster run in now four seasons under Philip Montgomery, who was hired in 2015 after leading the Baylor offense under Art Briles. He inherited a 2-10 team and went bowling in year one, nearly upsetting Virginia Tech in the Independence Bowl to finish 6-7. In 2016 the Hurricane delivered a 10-3 campaign with a dominant bowl win. Last season everything went wrong as Tulsa inversed its record to just 2-10. A closer looks reveals a lot of narrow losses but also a major decline statistically on both sides of the ball.

Tulsa has decent returning experience and was universally projected for a season of improvement this season. How much Tulsa can improve remains to be seen. After being tested but winning 38-27 (-13) against FCS Central Arkansas in the opener, the Hurricane delivered a valiant comeback bid at Texas, losing by seven 28-21 (+21) despite falling behind 21-0 at halftime. Last week Tulsa had a big measuring stick game against Sun Belt power Arkansas State and came up short with a 29-20 (-1½) loss at home. Three turnovers were a factor as an interception return touchdown in the third quarter was a big blow ahead of Tulsa climbing back within seven points in the fourth quarter.

Luke Skipper was erratic as a freshman last season, starting six games including the upset win over Houston. He has been more accurate so far this season and already has more touchdown passes but he also has three interceptions after throwing only four in 127 attempts last season. His yards per attempt average is also down to 6.9 compared to 9.0 last season. Facing quality competition has been a factor and the challenge will be great this week with Temple featuring a reputation as a strong pass defense in recent years. Shamari Brooks leads Tulsa with 310 yards rushing so far this season as the Hurricane keep the ball on the ground almost twice as often as they throw.

The Tulsa defense has looked capable after allowing 37.5 points per game last season no foe has reached 30 against the Hurricane this season. Now 1-2 Tulsa is at a critical juncture in the season with three of the next four games on the road and the lone home game a difficult October game with South Florida. Tulsa isn’t likely to be favored in any of the next four games as bowl hopes could be extinguished without an upset along the way.

Skipper didn’t play in last season’s game as Tulsa saw a 7-0 lead a few minutes into the game disappear. Temple led 31-13 at the half and sealed the game with a punt return touchdown late in the third quarter in a 43-22 win. Temple had a 451-369 edge in yards with three Tulsa turnovers. Tulsa did rush for 5.8 yards per carry and 318 yards against a Temple defense that had good season numbers against the run as only Notre Dame ran for more yards against the Owls last season. Behind Chad President and Will Hefley Tulsa completed only six passes in the game while having two interceptions however. Nutile was sharp with one of his best games completing 20 of 28 passes with three touchdowns.

Up next Temple has another opportunity vs. a major conference team visiting Boston College and the Owls have a very tricky AAC road schedule this season playing at Navy, at UCF, and at Houston as it will be critical to take care of business at home. With a limited margin for error the rest of the way after 1-2 starts for both programs, this game could feel like a postseason elimination game already in September.

Historical Trends:

-- Temple has won the two recent meetings between these teams with wins in 2014 and 2017.

-- Tulsa won both meetings in 1987 and 1988 for a split in four games both S/U and ATS.

-- Tulsa is only 6-13 S/U on the road under Montgomery since 2015 but 14-5 ATS including 12-3 ATS as a road underdog and 5-1 ATS as an underdog of fewer than 10 points.

-- With a pair of losses already this season Temple is just 3-5 S/U and 2-6 ATS at home under Collins since 2017 though going back to 2014.

-- Temple is 17-10 S/U and 16-11 ATS in home games.

-- Temple has failed to cover in five games in a row as a home favorite and is just 6-9-1 ATS as a single-digit home favorite going all the way back to 1998.

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Washington State's Minshew is a QB to watch in the Pac-12
September 18, 2018
By The Associated Press

At the beginning of the season, Washington State coach Mike Leach played coy with the media - as he often does - over his choice for starting quarterback.

The Cougars had four candidates and Leach wryly said it would be a ''thrill a minute'' to discover which one would emerge.

Gardner Minshew II ultimately overcame the competition, taking on the tough job of replacing record-breaking starter Luke Falk while also stepping into a role meant for Tyler Hilinski, Falk's successor who took his own life in January.

Since then, Minshew has become one of the surprises in the current Pac-12 quarterback class as past stars like Washington's Jake Browning and Arizona's Khalil Tate have been uneven in the early going.

''You come into the game thinking, `Oh wow, finally, Luke Falk is gone' and maybe you're going to catch a break. But Gardner Minshew is just as good,'' said USC coach Clay Helton. ''What I've been extremely impressed with is not only is he making great decisions, I mean he's completing like 70 percent, but you can tell the confidence that the staff has in him. ... He's a special talent.''

The Trojans (1-2) will host Washington State (3-0) on Friday night.

Minshew is a graduate transfer who played the past two seasons at East Carolina. The mustachioed Mississippi native originally committed to Alabama, but changed his mind to play for Leach, who asked him ''How'd you like to lead the country in passing?'' the first time they met.

''I think the team just responded well to him,'' Leach said Tuesday about settling on Minshew as his starter.

Minshew completed an eye-popping 45 of 57 passes for 470 yards and two touchdowns in Washington State's 59-24 victory over Eastern Washington last weekend.

''Yeah man, it's awesome, it's so much fun,'' he said afterward. ''Winning, putting up 59 points, all that, it's all fun. Having receivers that make plays, the running backs, O-line - man, I'm having a blast right now.''

As a result of that performance he was named Pac-12 Player of the Week. Minshew also ranks third in the nation with 1,203 total passing yards this season, behind only Hawaii's Cole McDonald and Colorado State's K.J. Carta-Samuels.

He's ranked first in the nation with an average of just over 401 passing yards a game. The next closest in the conference is Arizona's State's Manny Wilkins with 319.3. Minshew also tops the nation with an average of 39 completions a game.

Minshew has eight total touchdowns so far, tied with Colorado's Steven Montez and second only to Justin Herbert of Oregon (12), who have both seen early season success, too.

Montez and the Buffaloes have a bye this weekend but Herbert will play in the marquee Pac-12 matchup on Saturday between the No. 20 Ducks and No. 7 Stanford.

Browning, who faces Arizona State on Saturday, is coming off Washington's 21-7 victory over Utah. He completed 14 of 24 passes for 155 yards and a touchdown, while also running for another. He also threw an interception.

After the game, teammate Myles Gaskin took issue with the criticism Browning has endured.

''I feel like people don't respect Jake as much as they should. He's been a four-year starter, he's been a leader of this team for four years; he came in as a true freshman and played his heart out and has been playing his heart out this whole time,'' Gaskin said.

Tate tweaked his ankle in the Wildcats' opener against Houston and hasn't been able to rely on his explosive running ability. But he broke through with his arm last week, throwing for 349 yards and five touchdowns in a 62-31 victory over Southern Utah. Arizona visits Oregon State this weekend.

Minshew, who has said that someday he'd like to coach, said he's gaining confidence as the season progresses.

''Yeah, getting comfortable with the receivers, getting comfortable with our run checks, just operating the offense,'' he said. ''I feel like we're getting better as an offense each week.''

The only thing that has been lacking so far this season is a good nickname. Graduate assistant Drew Hollingshead dubbed Minshew ''Mississippi Moustache'' because of his distinctive facial hair and his home-state drawl.

Minshew was getting a little tired of the ''Napoleon Dynamite'' references.

''It's better than Uncle Rico, I'd say,'' he laughed.

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No. 7 Stanford gets Love back for showdown at No. 20 Oregon
September 18, 2018
By The Associated Press

STANFORD, Calif. (AP) Stanford will get star running back Bryce Love back for this week's Pac-12 North showdown against No. 20 Oregon but the seventh-ranked Cardinal will be without a key defensive player.

Coach David Shaw said Tuesday that outside linebacker Casey Toohill will miss the game against the Ducks (3-0, 0-0 Pac-12) with an undisclosed injury.

Shaw said Love was ''100 percent'' after resting some minor ailments last week when the Cardinal (3-0, 1-0) easily beat FCS-level UC Davis 30-10.

''Last week he was Coach Bryce, working with the other guys, telling them what he saw and walking around with a script,'' Shaw said. ''He still got his workouts in last week so he's physically ready this week. This week he doesn't need to coach anybody. He just needs to carry the ball.''

The Cardinal will be counting on Love in the tough environment of Autzen Stadium against a defense that has allowed opponents just 2.0 yards per carry and 77 yards per game on the ground.

Stanford hasn't hit its stride yet running the ball after last year's stellar campaign that made Love the Heisman Trophy runner-up. He ran for 2,118 yards a year ago for the most of any Power 5 player, averaged 8.1 yards per carry and set an FBS record with 13 runs of at least 50 yards.

Love ran for 147 yards and two TDs on 17 carries in last year's 49-7 win over Oregon.

He hasn't had as easy a go of it this year as defenses have loaded up the box to limit his production.

Love was held to 29 yards on 18 carries in a season-opening win over San Diego State. He fared much better in Week 2 with 136 yards on 22 carries against USC but has yet to break a long TD run this season.

As a team, the Cardinal are averaging just 3.8 yards per carry this season and haven't topped 160 yards on the ground in any of their three games.

''Two out of three games, the defenses were just saying, `We're going to put one more guy in the box than you can block,''' Shaw said. ''I'm stubborn enough to keep running it and try to establish the run game, knowing that we have a running back that even if they do load the box if we get a crease he'll still take it the distance.''

This will be the first time this year the Cardinal will have a healthy Love and starting center Jesse Burkett, who missed the first two games with injuries.

That leadership of a fifth-year senior anchoring the offense line will be important at the usually loud Autzen Stadium.

''There are things he'll see that a first-year starter is not going to see,'' Shaw said. ''There's some things he'll anticipate happening. There's also a command he has. ... That guy walks in and makes a call and if anybody has a question, he'll make it louder and you're going to do it.''

While the Cardinal should be healthier on offense, they will miss Toohill on defense. He has 14 tackles, two pass breakups, three quarterback hurries and one sack in three games this season as part of Stanford's best position group on defense. The Cardinal lead the nation in scoring defense at 7.7 points per game.

Toohill's injury will put Jordan Fox into the starting lineup against a challenging Ducks offense that features an athletic quarterback in Justin Herbert.

''It will be tough without Casey,'' linebacker Joey Alfieri said. ''He brings a lot to our defense. Jordan Fox will have to step up. ... We have a lot of young guys who have shown a lot of good ability in camp and in the first three games.''

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Ga Tech in deep hole, and it only gets tougher with Clemson
September 18, 2018
By The Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) Georgia Tech has put itself in a deep hole with two straight losses that could've gone the other way.

Especially considering who's up next.

No. 3 Clemson visits Atlanta on Saturday, and the mighty Tigers are heavily favored to send the Yellow Jackets tumbling to their first 1-3 start since 2003.

That would surely turn up the heat on coach Paul Johnson, who acknowledged that his team is in a precarious position after back-to-back defeats at South Florida and Pittsburgh.

''I think this team still has a chance to be pretty good,'' Johnson said Tuesday. ''But we've dug ourselves a hole. In my opinion, we should've won the last two games.''

The Yellow Jackets (1-2, 0-1 Atlantic Coast Conference) certainly had their chances.

At South Florida, they piled up 602 yards on offense and had a 10-point lead in the fourth quarter. But a crucial fumble ruined a potential game-clinching drive, allowing the Bulls to rally for a 49-38 victory .

The loss at Pittsburgh followed a different script.

Georgia Tech got off to a miserable start offensively, trailing 21-0 at halftime, but still had a chance to pull off the victory. Again, a crucial turnover in the fourth quarter ruined their hopes, only this time it was an interception caused by a miscommunication between quarterback TaQuon Marshall and his intended receiver.

The Yellow Jackets drove 99 yards for a touchdown in the final minute that made it close, but Pitt recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock for a 24-19 victory .

''We knew going in that we had a very tough schedule,'' Johnson said. ''We've still got nine games left. We've still got a chance. But we've got to go one game at a time. You don't give up. You just keep plugging. It's like I told the team this week. Our challenge is to play better, play consistent, and get better. We'll see what happens with the result. That's all you can do.''

Johnson's job might be in jeopardy if Georgia Tech doesn't turn things around. Since an 11-win season and No. 8 final ranking in 2014, the Yellow Jackets are 18-21 overall and 9-16 in the ACC.

The triple-option offense has always made Johnson a bit of a polarizing figure, and his long tenure - this is his 11th season on the Flats - has led some fans to grumble that it's time for a change. Athletic director Todd Stansbury, who returned to his alma mater less than two years ago, has given his full support to Johnson but may reconsider that position if the Yellow Jackets have another disappointing season.

The success of state rival Georgia - the Bulldogs are coming off a trip to the national championship game, and coach Kirby Smart appears to be building a program that will be a powerhouse for years to come - has only turned up the pressure on the Yellow Jackets.

"Definitely 1-3 is something we don't want to do,'' linebacker Jalen Johnson said. "We have an amazing opportunity. If we can upset Clemson, it could turn around the whole season.''

Certainly, Georgia Tech faces quite a challenge. The Tigers (3-0, 0-0) easily won the last three games in the series by a cumulative score of 93-41. They're a 17-point favorite for this one - the biggest spread against a Georgia Tech team during the Johnson era.

''This week will be a tremendous challenge,'' Johnson said. ''This might be as talented a team as we've played since I've been here. Defensively, they've got multiple first-round draft picks. Offensively, they've got a great deal of skill. I think their running backs and receivers are as good as anybody's in the country.''

Linebacker Brant Mitchell shrugged off the point spread.

"I know we're the underdog, but I love that. I'd rather be the underdog any day,'' he said. "The whole country knows they've got some of the best skills players in the nation. But we're going to have something for `em. As long as we play to our ability, we'll be just fine.''

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No. 24 Michigan State again has to shake off an early loss
September 18, 2018
By The Associated Press

Win or lose, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio understands the importance of moving on.

That's part of the reason his program has been so successful.

''I've said this before: What are you going to do after big moments? What are you going to do after you win a big game? How are you going to respond the next week?'' Dantonio said Tuesday. ''Same thing when we've lost a game, when we've lost a moment. You know, how do you handle yourselves? What's the next step for you as a person?''

The 24th-ranked Spartans are facing the latter of those two challenges after dropping a game at Arizona State on Sept. 8. Michigan State had an open date last weekend, but now its Big Ten schedule begins Saturday night at Indiana in what could be a difficult game on the road. The Spartans have recovered nicely from early-season losses in the past under Dantonio.

Michigan State doesn't treat every game the same - just ask rival Michigan - but Dantonio has been able to keep his team reasonably even keeled through the years. Some of the Spartans' best seasons came after September defeats that could have derailed things.

The Spartans lost to Notre Dame in 2011 and still went to the Big Ten title game. They lost to the Irish again in 2013 but ended up in the Rose Bowl. A loss at Oregon in 2014 didn't stop Michigan State from making it to the Cotton Bowl.

Last season, it was Notre Dame again that handed the Spartans an early loss, but Michigan State was still in the mix for the Big Ten title in November.

The loss to Arizona State gave the Spartans a tougher road to the College Football Playoff, but Michigan State can certainly still have a fine season.

''I think most people in life really genuinely handle adversity,'' Dantonio said. ''At least their intentions are good. Now, can they handle it or not? But they get ready to go to their next challenge and that's what we're going to do. That's what we've done in the past and that's our intent.''

Michigan State is 8-1 against Indiana under Dantonio, but the games have been more competitive of late. From 2007-15, the Spartans scored at least 42 points six times in seven meetings with the Hoosiers, surpassing 50 in four of those matchups. Then Indiana beat Michigan State 24-21 in overtime in 2016, and the Spartans won 17-9 last year.

Michigan State was down 9-3 last season before scoring two touchdowns in the final 5:59.

''Kind of struggled to move the ball a little bit - got stopped on third down a lot, made some plays at the end of the game,'' quarterback Brian Lewerke said. ''We made plays at the end to get a win, that was kind of the story last year. Hopefully we don't have to do that sort of thing again this year.''

The matchup Saturday will be another night game, the third in a row for Michigan State to start this season. It's the first time in school history the Spartans will play three straight regular-season night games.

Dantonio said night games have their appeal, but it's tough having to get back home so late.

''That takes a toll on you, not just from a football standpoint but from an academic standpoint, as well. I think you really see that in basketball,'' Dantonio said. ''I talk to Coach (Tom) Izzo all the time. ... He's always talking about their night games and what time he has to get home and how the guys have classes in the morning and things of that nature, so it becomes a little bit difficult. ... This is our third straight night game. I believe in repetition makes you better, so we'll see.''

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No. 17 TCU focused on Big 12 play after loss to Ohio State
September 18, 2018
By The Associated Press

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) Within minutes after TCU's loss to Ohio State, coach Gary Patterson was asked what he would want people to say about that game should the 17th-ranked Horned Frogs go on to win the Big 12 title and be in consideration for a spot in the College Football Playoff.

''They said that they shouldn't hold it against Washington because they played a really good football team,'' Patterson said, referring to the No. 10 Huskies' season-opening loss to Auburn in another off-campus game and adding that TCU should get similar credit.

''We've got a lot of good people we've got to play before we get to that point,'' Patterson said. ''So right now, I won't worry about that. If we can get to the first of December, we can have that conversation. But right now, it's Texas.''

The Frogs (2-1) play Saturday at Texas, a team they have outscored 153-33 in their only four-game winning in the series since 1935-38 - that was during the era of Sammy Baugh and Heisman Trophy winner Davey O'Brien, and when TCU won its only AP national title.

Patterson says if he could only win one of those games - Ohio State or Texas - he would want it to be the Longhorns. Sure, there is that instate rivalry, and the rare streak on the line. More importantly, it is the Big 12 opener.

''If you don't win conference, don't win games in the conference schedule, it doesn't make any difference,'' Patterson said Tuesday.

TCU lost 40-28 on Saturday against Ohio State, which trailed 21-13 before scoring three touchdowns in a four-minute span early in the second half to go ahead to stay.

The Buckeyes' first touchdown came on a strip-sack of Shawn Robinson in the first quarter. While that play wasn't challenged or questioned then, replays shows that an Ohio State defender appeared to touch the ball while his feet were out of the end zone before the fumble was recovered for a touchdown. That could have made it a safety instead.

Even after that, the Frogs recovered to go ahead before the quick scoring spurt by Ohio State after halftime.

Washington (2-1) is still a Top 10 team, having rebounded from that 21-16 loss to Auburn with wins over North Dakota and its Pac-12 opener against Utah. And the Tigers (2-1) also remain in the Top 10 after a home loss to LSU on a game-ending field goal last weekend.

TCU is leaving the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex to play for the first time this season. The Frogs won their season opener 55-7 at home over FCS team Southern University, before a rainy 30-point win at SMU and the loss against the Buckeyes in the home stadium of the Dallas Cowboys about 20 miles from the TCU campus - and where the Big 12 championship game is played.

''There's a big jump between the first two and the other one (Ohio State), so I think reality's somewhere in between,'' Patterson said. ''We've got to go on the road to a very good Texas team's place, Austin's always tough to play in.''

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Hawkeyes find rhythm in passing game with Wisconsin next
September 18, 2018
By The Associated Press

It appears that Iowa has more than enough skill and talent on defense to compete for the Big Ten West title.

What the Hawkeyes really need to do is sort out their passing game and there were indications last weekend that they're getting closer to finding a rhythm through the air.

After sluggish efforts in its first two games, Iowa (3-0) threw for 338 yards and a pair of touchdowns in a 38-14 win over Northern Iowa in the final tune-up before Saturday's showdown with No. 18 Wisconsin (2-1). The Badgers shut out the Hawkeyes on offense a year ago and might end up being the toughest defense they face in 2018.

''They have a certain temperament they play with,'' Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. ''They're a team that plays with excellent technique. They're rarely out of place. They work hard to the ball. Everybody on that team works hard to the ball.''

Junior quarterback Nate Stanley entered the season with some wondering if he might be a potential early entrant in the NFL draft. That talk faded after Stanley, who threw 26 TD passes in 2017, had just one in wins over Northern Illinois and Iowa State. Ferentz said Stanley was ''pressing'' earlier this season before getting things going against the Panthers.

Stanley was 23 of 28 passing for 309 yards and two touchdowns in just about three quarters. By then the Hawkeyes - who had beaten Northern Iowa by just 20 combined points in three previous meetings - were up 38-0.

''I think we just consistently hit some passes early in the game, and that gave us a lot of momentum, allowed us to open up some things, especially with the longer passes that we hit. It allowed us the opportunity to just for catches and runs on shorter passes later in the game,'' Stanley said.

Perhaps the biggest key to Iowa's success against the Panthers was getting senior receiver Nick Easley the ball as much as possible.

Stanley, who had 51 catches a year ago, had only one reception against the Huskies and Cyclones. It was different last weekend, with Easley finishing with a career-high 10 catches for 107 yards and a third-quarter TD.

If the Hawkeyes can pair a defense ranked second in the country (allowing 8 points per game) with an improving offense, they've got a shot at a special season.

Iowa also expects explosive sophomore Ihmir Smith-Marsette, an all-purpose threat, back this weekend. He missed the Northern Iowa game with a shoulder injury.

''We all know we're fully capable. We just had to go out there and do it, and we were able to get that started,'' Easley said. ''It was frustrating coming out of the first two games and not throwing the ball well, just because we saw what we were capable of and what we could do. But no one panicked.''

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The key: Jeff Thomas turning into a star for No. 21 Miami
September 18, 2018
By The Associated Press

CORAL GABLES, Fla. (AP) There's only one method of slowing down Miami wide receiver and returner Jeff Thomas that's been absolutely proven so far this season.

Thing is, breaking his car key isn't really an option for Hurricane opponents.

While juggling a schedule Tuesday that was already loaded with morning practice, a midday test and afternoon class time, Thomas - the most explosive player for No. 21 Miami through three games - couldn't actually get anywhere. The ignition key to his car somehow got bent, and Thomas broke it into two pieces while trying to straighten it back out.

So that left him going nowhere. But on the field, as one of the nation's leaders in all-purpose yardage, it's a very different story.

''It's really been fun so far,'' Thomas said. ''This year, I just want to show people what I can do, both when I have the ball in my hands and when I don't have the ball.''

He's been showing plenty so far, and will look to do so again Saturday when the Hurricanes (2-1) host FIU (2-1) in the first matchup of the schools with campuses eight miles apart since 2007.

Thomas ranks sixth among all FBS players in all-purpose yards per game while averaging just 19 touches. The five players ahead of him in that stat category have averaged three times as many touches - 57 per game.

He's averaging more than 28 yards per catch and return, the best among all FBS players with at least 10 opportunities so far in 2018, and the speedster from East St. Louis already has five plays that have gone for more than 40 yards.

''If it's a `go' ball, he's tracking 95 percent of those down,'' Miami quarterback Malik Rosier said. ''He's just a guy that has elite speed. The problem with that for defenders is you can't put one-on-one coverage - which means you have five people in the box, because now you're double-covering our slot receiver. He does a good job of running routes and he's just getting better and better.''

Thomas will be the first to say that he had a great teacher.

He has essentially moved into the role that was vacated after last season by the graduation of slot receiver and returner Braxton Berrios, who arguably was Miami's most important player a year ago when the Hurricanes went to the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game and the Orange Bowl. Thomas saw 64 percent of his touches last season come off kickoff returns; this season, he's still doing that along with a good bit of everything else.

His 27.7 yards per catch leads all FBS players. But Miami is being somewhat judicious with Thomas; he's on the field for a ton of plays, but the Hurricanes aren't forcing the ball his way unnecessarily.

''So far he's been very productive as a return man, as a ball-catcher and as a runner,'' Miami coach Mark Richt said. ''If we keep that up for a whole season, that's a wonderful season.''

Some of Thomas' catches have been spectacular - a few leaping along the sideline, a couple others coming after spinning around at the end of a route in an effort to find exactly where the ball was. Teammates have marveled, noting that he's already made some catches on balls that looked like they would be falling incomplete.

Thomas is enjoying the attention, but insists that he doesn't think he's peaked yet.

''It's a good start, but that's all it is,'' Thomas said. ''I've just got to stay positive and keep working, so I can get to the top.''

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Noland steps up at QB for Iowa State
September 18, 2018
By The Associated Press

AMES, Iowa (AP) Zeb Noland always understood his responsibility as Iowa State's backup quarterback.

Be prepared, because you never when you'll become the starter.

It has happened to Noland twice and he has responded both times, most recently with a career-best performance in the Cyclones' 37-27 loss to No. 5 Oklahoma last Saturday. He has kept the starting job this week as Iowa State prepares for Saturday's home game with Akron.

''I think if you watch football long enough you realize as a backup quarterback your time may come,'' Noland said Tuesday. ''It doesn't really matter what level of football you're at, if you continue to tell yourself to be ready and always prepare like you're going to be ready, most of the time when you get your shot you're going to be ready.''

He certainly was ready against the Sooners, completing 25 of 36 passes for 360 yards and two touchdowns, both to Hakeem Butler on plays covering 51 and 57 yards. Noland played with poise, threw accurate, catchable passes and looked as though he had command of the offense.

It helped having a full week to prepare as the starter. He was thrown into the fray in the previous game, a 13-3 loss at Iowa, after starter Kyle Kempt injured his left knee late in the third quarter.

''At Iowa, as the backup, you sit there every single play thinking the next play could be my play,'' he said. ''And this week, it was my play. Every play was my play. You've just got to take it one snap at a time whether you're thrown in there at the very end of the game to make a Hail Mary pass or if you're at the first play of the game and you've got to just do your job.''

As a freshman last year, Noland was rushed into a Nov. 11 game against Oklahoma State after Kempt injured a shoulder. He started the next game, a 23-13 victory over Baylor, then returned to his backup role the following week because Kempt was healthy enough to play.

Kempt became the starter last year when Jacob Park left the team after starting the first four games and made a memorable debut in an upset victory at Oklahoma, throwing for 343 yards and three touchdowns. Noland would have been in line for the starting job this season until Kempt was granted a sixth year of eligibility.

It has been a relief for coach Matt Campbell that both were ready when their number was called.

''I think it's such a big lesson for all of our players, not only at quarterback, especially because you don't rotate guys for the most part, but for all of our guys,'' Campbell said. ''When that opportunity comes along and you get your shot at it, are you going to take advantage of it? Obviously Kyle doing that a year ago and Zeb doing that this past Saturday I think has shown that our kids are really starting to buy into that belief and understanding that value.''

Had Kempt not been injured last year, Noland likely would have seen little more than mop-up duty. The experience he ended up gaining was invaluable, he said.

''The game's really fast,'' he said. ''You can try to imitate it in practice as much as you can, but when the live bullets are coming and they aren't just running by you and tagging you on the shoulder as a sack, that's a whole lot different than those guys running right at you and having the offensive line actually retreating toward you and not just going around you,'' he said.

''You see a coverage in practice against the scout team, it looks totally different sometimes when you're playing against the actual guys that are out there.''

[StarDust Bum]

Syracuse on a roll under coach Babers
September 18, 2018
By The Associated Press

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (AP) When the clock ticked to zero on Saturday and Syracuse had beaten another marquee team at home, Orange coach Dino Babers didn't have to flinch.

''I didn't get hit with any ice or water,'' said Babers, in his third season at Syracuse. ''That means that they expected to win. A lot of guys thought that we could do that, thought we had a chance. It was good to see them follow through.''

In retrospect, Babers probably would have enjoyed an icy bath - the temperature in the Carrier Dome was stifling, hovering near 90 degrees after the Orange had soundly defeated Florida State 30-7 with backup quarterback Tommy DeVito at the helm in the decisive second half.

Syracuse (3-0, 1-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) now sits in an uncustomary spot in the conference - tied for first (with Boston College) in the Atlantic Division - after snapping its five-game ACC losing streak. It's just the Orange's eighth 3-0 start since 1942.

Critics of the Seminoles complained that they were throttled by one of the worst defenses in the nation - Syracuse entered the game ranked 108th, but the figures were skewed by one forgettable quarter in a season-opening victory at Western Michigan. The Orange's secondary was caught off-guard during a 28-point third-quarter surge by the Broncos, getting torched for 336 yards. WMU had plays of 21, 31, 37, 59, 64 and 84 yards before quarterback Eric Dungey rescued the Orange in the fourth in a 55-42 triumph.

This week, Syracuse stands 78th in total defense and ranks second nationally, behind No. 21 Miami, in third-down conversion defense. The Orange have allowed eight conversions in 42 tries on third down after limiting the Seminoles to 1 of 14. FSU had seven three-and-outs and faced six third downs of 10 yards or more.

The Orange defense had several standout performances: DE Kendall Coleman had a career-high two sacks; LB Kielan Whitner registered a career-high 11 tackles; DB Evan Foster made 10 stops; and DB Christopher Fredrick made his first career interception, the Orange's sixth pick of the young season.

''This performance shows a lot of growth from the team we were two years ago and the team we were last year,'' Coleman said. ''It means everything going forward because this is going to be big for establishing who we are this season.''

The victory for the Orange, who have beaten both Clemson and Virginia Tech at home since Babers took over, earned Syracuse a couple of votes in this week's AP Top 25 poll. It also snapped a 10-game losing streak against FSU dating back more than half a century, and Babers made a point of emphasizing that in another raucous postgame celebration.

''The last time it happened, the Beatles were hot. The last time it happened, the '66 Mustang was the baddest thing on the road,'' Babers shouted afterward in the jubilant locker room. ''I'm telling you now, I'm telling you now, you just put yourself on the map.''

Babers said Monday there were no concerns about Dungey, who sat out the second half against FSU after getting poked in the eye and suffering blurred vision that has since cleared up. Dungey also appeared to have an issue with his right (throwing) arm early in the game, something that first surfaced in the season opener. Babers downplayed that, calling it an ''owie,'' and Dungey is listed as the starter on the depth chart for Saturday at home against UConn (1-2).

Syracuse's veteran offensive line has performed well, too, giving the running game a boost. The Orange are averaging 257 yards rushing per game and 4.8 yards per carry behind the duo of Moe Neal and Dontae Strickland. Against the Seminoles, freshman Jarveon Howard got a chance late in the third quarter and delivered a 45-yard run that set up a touchdown.

The 5-foot-10, 210-pound Howard, who did not play in the season opener, has rushed for 124 yards on 18 carries, an average of 6.9 yards, and likely will see more action as the season progresses.

''Jarveon obviously showed that he needs to have some more carries to see if he can continue to do what he's done, or is it just luck?'' Babers said. ''The first two guys ... have proven that they can do it. If somebody gets hot, we've got to go with the hot-hand guy.''

[StarDust Bum]

ODU gets rare home game vs Top 25
September 18, 2018
By The Associated Press

A rare chance for Old Dominion to host a Top 25 team is also an opportunity that hasn't come along in while for No. 13 Virginia Tech: A chance for the Hokies to play in one of Virginia's most fertile recruiting areas.

The Hokies (2-0) haven't played in the Tidewater region since a 1986 matchup against Temple in Norfolk, but that will change on Saturday as they face the Monarchs at Foreman Field.

Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente downplayed the idea that playing in the region that has been so productive for the Hokies on the recruiting trail is a major motivation. The coach instead focused on the opportunity to support an in-state program, and the Hokies' fan base in the area.

''I don't know that I've ever sat in front of a kid and he said, `I'm coming there because you have one game scheduled three years from now in my backyard,''' Fuente said this week. ''I don't know that that has ever been the straw that put the kid over the top, but I do think it's good. I think it's great for our fan base.''

The Tidewater region has long been a favorite target of the Hokies, and the likes of NFL Hall of Famer Bruce Smith, Michael Vick and countless other high school players from the area have gone on to star in Blacksburg.

For the Monarchs (0-3), it's an historic opportunity, coach Bobby Wilder said.

Wilder is in his 12th year as the Monarchs coach, having been hired nearly two years before the program played it first game in the 2009 season. The game is the second of 13 meetings with the Hokies over the next 14 years. Six will take play in Norfolk.

''I never could've imagined when I was hired here that we would be hosting Virginia Tech, one of the top programs in the country and has consistently been a good program and the fact that this is the first of a number of times they will come to Old Dominion is exciting for all of us,'' Wilder said. ''... We're looking forward to it but the number one thing were focused on right now is playing better football at Old Dominion that's what we need to do.''

This might be a difficult week for Wilder's team to feel like it has made improvement.

Virginia Tech is coming off an unexpected off-week produced when East Carolina pulled out of its game in Blacksburg early last week, citing fears over making the trip with Hurricane Florence taking aim at the state.

Before that, they opened on the road and beat ACC rival Florida State 24-3 , then beat William & Mary 62-17.

Old Dominion, meanwhile, is off to its worst start since resuming football. The Monarchs trailed Liberty just 14-10 at halftime, but lost 52-10; they led 17-0 at home against FIU but faded and lost 28-20; and they led Charlotte 18-13 early in the third quarter last week before the 49ers rallied for a 28-25 victory .

The struggles have caused Wilder to reopen the competition for playing time at several positions.

Fuente, meantime, said his team is well aware that taking care of the next game is priority one, even with a prime-time matchup with Duke and then a visit from No. 8 Notre Dame the next two games on the horizon.

''The thought of us just focusing on the next task is not foreign,'' Fuente said. ''We do it in everything we do. In offseason, in spring, in fall camp, the notion of taking it one step at a time is not new to us.

''Look across college football and see what happened last week.''

North Texas won 44-17 at Arkansas , Troy won 24-19 at Nebraska and Fresno State beat UCLA 38-14.

The chance to bring their game to fans in an area that is, at minimum, a 4-hour drive from Blacksburg, Fuente said, is a great way to reward them for their loyalty. But, he added: ''We'll have to be ready to play.''

[StarDust Bum]

RB Williams giving Kansas a big lift early
September 18, 2018
By The Associated Press

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) Pooka Williams had just taken a handoff from Kansas quarterback Peyton Bender in the second half of their game Saturday when he saw a host of Rutgers defenders converging on him.

So the 5-foot-9 freshman reversed field and headed toward the Jayhawks' sideline, then found some open space and turned on the jets, only to see another defender standing in his path. There was no going around him, so Williams did the only sensible thing: He tried to go over him.

Nearly made it, too.

Williams' hurdle attempt may have been the Jayhawks' biggest highlight in a 55-14 rout of the Scarlet Knights, one that gave them back-to-back wins for the first time in seven years - and a whole bunch of momentum heading into their Big 12 opener at Baylor this weekend.

''I was probably like, 10 yards behind. Kind of lost him when he got to the sideline,'' Bender said, ''then saw him kind of pop up over everybody, saw the ball go flying. It was almost an incredible play.

''Still an incredible play, but if he would've made it over him it would've been pretty sweet.''

In more ways than one, Williams has provided Kansas quite a lift.

The four-star prospect from Boutte, Louisiana, arrived over the summer with plenty of hype, but nobody was certain whether he would live up to it. There have been other highly touted players to join the Jayhawks over the years, but most of them failed to pan out - a big reason why the Jayhawks have gone through such a prolonged stretch of doldrums.

But after Williams was held out of a season-opening loss to Nicholls amid eligibility concerns, he has quickly put any of those concerns to rest. He had a pair of long TD runs in a victory over Central Michigan that snapped the Jayhawks' 46-game road losing streak, then ran for 158 yards with another long score in their victory over the Scarlet Knights.

It is the first time anybody at Kansas, which has produced such legendary runners at Gale Sayers and John Riggins, has had back-to-back 100-yard games to start their career.

''It's incredible, especially just how fast he is,'' fellow running back Dom Williams said. ''That hurdle, he completely just like cleared the guy. I thought that he got up there, and I thought it was - I haven't seen something like that in, like, a live game.''

It is not the first time he's pulled the trick. Plug his name into Google and you will find a video of Williams attempting the same feat in a high school game.

He didn't make it that time, either, instead karate-kicking the defender in the chest. But the confidence and, well, sheer audacity to try such an eye-popping play stands out.

''I just hope he keeps the ball tight, because I already know coach is going to get on him for jumping with the ball out,'' said Khalil Herbert, another of the Jayhawks' running backs. ''I'm not surprised, though, because he's got bunnies.''

Williams is able to run a 4.3-second 40-yard dash and leap tall defenders in a single bound despite missing all the toes on one of his feet.

At the age of 9, Williams was mowing the yard with a cousin who was hurrying to get done before a storm. Williams got in the way and the mower ran over his foot, severing all five toes.

Doctors said at the time he wouldn't walk again, much less run or play football. But he was back on the youth field the following season, and was so impressive his freshman year of high school that even his coach didn't know he was missing toes until halfway through the season.

''The thing I'm most proud about him is the maturity that I see in a young guy,'' Kansas coach David Beaty said this week. ''We were talking on the bus ride (Saturday) and I asked him where did you get your football and aptitude? And he talked about his dad made him study. When most kids were out playing, they were watching video and watching tape about where is his primary key and where is his secondary key.

''We start hearing him talk about how he's looking and what he's looking at,'' Beaty continued, ''and for a young guy that's not, that's not usually normal.''

Neither is jumping over a defender standing in the way.

''I've seen guys try to jump over folks,'' Beaty said with a smile. ''We may be starting to institute a new kind of stiff leg, instead of a stiff arm. We'll see.''

[Udog]

NCAAF
Dunkel

Week 4

Thursday, September 20

Tulsa @ Temple

Game 303-304
September 20, 2018 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Tulsa
80.112
Temple
80.920
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Temple
by 1
52
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Temple
by 7 1/2
55 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Tulsa
(+7 1/2); Under



Friday, September 21

Florida Atlantic @ Central Florida

Game 305-306
September 21, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Florida Atlantic
84.458
Central Florida
100.290
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Central Florida
by 16
84
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Central Florida
by 13 1/2
77
Dunkel Pick:
Central Florida
(-13 1/2); Over

Penn State @ Illinois

Game 307-308
September 21, 2018 @ 9:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Penn State
116.270
Illinois
79.790
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Penn State
by 36 1/2
55
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Penn State
by 28
60 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Penn State
(-28); Under

Washington St @ USC

Game 309-310
September 21, 2018 @ 10:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Washington St
90.176
USC
95.671
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
USC
by 5 1/2
58
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
USC
by 3 1/2
53
Dunkel Pick:
USC
(-3 1/2); Over



Saturday, September 22

Akron @ Iowa State

Game 311-312
September 22, 2018 @ 12:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Akron
84.725
Iowa State
93.584
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Iowa State
by 9
52
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Iowa State
by 18 1/2
45
Dunkel Pick:
Akron
(+18 1/2); Over

NC State @ Marshall

Game 313-314
September 22, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
NC State
91.223
Marshall
88.041
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
NC State
by 3
51
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
NC State
by 6
57
Dunkel Pick:
Marshall
(+6); Under

Charlotte @ Massachusetts

Game 315-316
September 22, 2018 @ 3:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Charlotte
58.494
Massachusetts
63.935
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Massachusetts
by 5 1/2
71
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Massachusetts
by 9 1/2
58 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Charlotte
(+9 1/2); Over

Michigan State @ Indiana

Game 317-318
September 22, 2018 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Michigan State
91.072
Indiana
89.851
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Michigan State
by 1
38
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Michigan State
by 4 1/2
48 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Indiana
(+4 1/2); Under

Minnesota @ Maryland

Game 319-320
September 22, 2018 @ 12:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Minnesota
92.872
Maryland
76.034
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Minnesota
by 17
42
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Maryland
by 3
47
Dunkel Pick:
Minnesota
(+3); Under

Western Kentucky @ Ball State

Game 321-322
September 22, 2018 @ 3:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Western Kentucky
67.691
Ball State
72.155
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Ball State
by 4 1/2
58
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Ball State
by 2 1/2
55
Dunkel Pick:
Ball State
(-2 1/2); Over

Boston College @ Purdue

Game 323-324
September 22, 2018 @ 12:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Boston College
99.478
Purdue
89.836
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Boston College
by 9 1/2
72
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boston College
by 6 1/2
68
Dunkel Pick:
Boston College
(-6 1/2); Over

Connecticut @ Syracuse

Game 325-326
September 22, 2018 @ 4:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Connecticut
61.121
Syracuse
97.111
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Syracuse
by 36
64
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Syracuse
by 27 1/2
76 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Syracuse
(-27 1/2); Under

FIU @ Miami-FL

Game 327-328
September 22, 2018 @ 3:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
FIU
79.643
Miami-FL
103.061
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Miami-FL
by 23 1/2
62
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Miami-FL
by 26 1/2
58 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
FIU
(+26 1/2); Over

Pittsburgh @ North Carolina

Game 329-330
September 22, 2018 @ 12:20 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Pittsburgh
83.796
North Carolina
82.812
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Pittsburgh
by 1
43
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Pittsburgh
by 4 1/2
48 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
North Carolina
(+4 1/2); Under

Northern Illinois @ Florida

Game 331-332
September 22, 2018 @ 3:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Northern Illinois
75.393
Florida
87.161
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Florida
by 12
40
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Florida
by 9 1/2
45
Dunkel Pick:
Florida
(-9 1/2); Under

Miami of Ohio @ Bowling Green

Game 333-334
September 22, 2018 @ 3:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Miami of Ohio
71.010
Bowling Green
62.320
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Miami of Ohio
by 9
59
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Miami of Ohio
by 4 1/2
56 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Miami of Ohio
(-4 1/2); Over

Tulane @ Ohio State

Game 335-336
September 22, 2018 @ 3:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Tulane
77.254
Ohio State
117.485
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Ohio State
by 40
75
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Ohio State
by 35
66 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Ohio State
(-35); Over

Clemson @ Georgia Tech

Game 337-338
September 22, 2018 @ 3:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Clemson
107.297
Georgia Tech
86.841
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Clemson
by 20 1/2
48
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Clemson
by 16 1/2
52 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Clemson
(-16 1/2); Under

Ohio @ Cincinnati

Game 339-340
September 22, 2018 @ 12:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Ohio
76.945
Cincinnati
82.183
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Cincinnati
by 5
59
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Cincinnati
by 8 1/2
53 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Ohio
(+8 1/2); Over

East Carolina @ South Florida

Game 341-342
September 22, 2018 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
East Carolina
72.586
South Florida
96.360
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
South Florida
by 24
63
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
South Florida
by 22
69
Dunkel Pick:
South Florida
(-22); Over

Notre Dame @ Wake Forest

Game 343-344
September 22, 2018 @ 12:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Notre Dame
98.785
Wake Forest
88.395
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Notre Dame
by 10 1/2
53
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Notre Dame
by 7 1/2
61
Dunkel Pick:
Notre Dame
(-7 1/2); Under

Nevada @ Toledo

Game 345-346
September 22, 2018 @ 12:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Nevada
70.392
Toledo
89.815
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Toledo
by 19 1/2
75
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Toledo
by 10
69 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Toledo
(-10); Over

Louisville @ Virginia

Game 347-348
September 22, 2018 @ 12:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Louisville
82.338
Virginia
90.343
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Virginia
by 8
50
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Virginia
by 5
54 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Virginia
(-5); Under

Western Michigan @ Georgia State

Game 349-350
September 22, 2018 @ 2:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Western Michigan
76.339
Georgia State
67.650
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Western Michigan
by 8 1/2
66
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Western Michigan
by 7
63
Dunkel Pick:
Western Michigan
(-7); Over

Buffalo @ Rutgers

Game 351-352
September 22, 2018 @ 12:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Buffalo
81.912
Rutgers
69.022
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Buffalo
by 13
57
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Buffalo
by 5 1/2
49 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Buffalo
(-5 1/2); Over

Arizona @ Oregon State

Game 353-354
September 22, 2018 @ 4:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Arizona
82.719
Oregon State
73.897
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Arizona
by 9
70
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Arizona
by 6
75 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Arizona
(-6); Under

Stanford @ Oregon

Game 355-356
September 22, 2018 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Stanford
102.596
Oregon
89.323
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Stanford
by 13
66
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Stanford
by 2
57 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Stanford
(-2); Over

Florida @ Tennessee

Game 357-358
September 22, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Florida
89.733
Tennessee
78.736
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Florida
by 11
43
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Florida
by 4 1/2
47
Dunkel Pick:
Florida
(-4 1/2); Under

Mississippi St @ Kentucky

Game 359-360
September 22, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Mississippi St
103.557
Kentucky
91.039
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Mississippi St
by 12 1/2
60
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Mississippi St
by 9 1/2
55 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Mississippi St
(-9 1/2); Over

Nebraska @ Michigan

Game 361-362
September 22, 2018 @ 12:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Nebraska
75.839
Michigan
104.324
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Michigan
by 28 1/2
47
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Michigan
by 19
50 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Michigan
(-19); Under

Kansas State @ West Virginia

Game 363-364
September 22, 2018 @ 3:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Kansas State
91.562
West Virginia
93.170
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
West Virginia
by 1 1/2
65
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
West Virginia
by 16 1/2
60 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Kansas State
(+16 1/2); Over

Kent State @ Mississippi

Game 365-366
September 22, 2018 @ 12:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Kent State
58.365
Mississippi
96.242
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Mississippi
by 38
72
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Mississippi
by 28 1/2
77 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Mississippi
(-28 1/2); Under

Rice @ Southern Miss

Game 367-368
September 22, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Rice
62.309
Southern Miss
73.747
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Southern Miss
by 11 1/2
49
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Southern Miss
by 14 1/2
54 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Rice
(+14 1/2); Under

Arkansas @ Auburn

Game 369-370
September 22, 2018 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Arkansas
67.917
Auburn
107.092
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Auburn
by 39
64
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Auburn
by 30
57 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Auburn
(-30); Over

Texas Tech @ Oklahoma State

Game 371-372
September 22, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Texas Tech
93.609
Oklahoma State
109.603
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Oklahoma State
by 16
82
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Oklahoma State
by 13
77 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Oklahoma State
(-13); Over

Navy @ SMU

Game 373-374
September 22, 2018 @ 12:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Navy
84.802
SMU
71.180
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Navy
by 13 1/2
61
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Navy
by 6
65
Dunkel Pick:
Navy
(-6); Under

Coastal Carolina @ LA-Lafayette

Game 375-376
September 22, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Coastal Carolina
74.162
LA-Lafayette
65.298
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Coastal Carolina
by 9
58
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA-Lafayette
by 4
64 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Coastal Carolina
(+4); Under

TCU @ Texas

Game 379-380
September 22, 2018 @ 4:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
TCU
97.870
Texas
102.985
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Texas
by 5
43
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
TCU
by 3 1/2
47 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Texas
(+3 1/2); Under

Army @ Oklahoma

Game 381-382
September 22, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Army
87.143
Oklahoma
114.406
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Oklahoma
by 27
71
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Oklahoma
by 32
63
Dunkel Pick:
Army
(+32); Over

Louisiana Tech @ LSU

Game 383-384
September 22, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Louisiana Tech
82.674
LSU
101.023
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
LSU
by 18 1/2
39
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LSU
by 21
48
Dunkel Pick:
Louisiana Tech
(+21); Under

Kansas @ Baylor

Game 385-386
September 22, 2018 @ 3:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Kansas
83.196
Baylor
83.803
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Baylor
by 1
63
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Baylor
by 8 1/2
57 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Kansas
(+8 1/2); Over

South Carolina @ Vanderbilt

Game 387-388
September 22, 2018 @ 4:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
South Carolina
93.661
Vanderbilt
88.716
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
South Carolina
by 5
50
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
South Carolina
by 2
54 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
South Carolina
(-2); Under

South Alabama @ Memphis

Game 389-390
September 22, 2018 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
South Alabama
64.915
Memphis
98.107
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Memphis
by 33
73
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Memphis
by 28
67
Dunkel Pick:
Memphis
(-28); Over

Air Force @ Utah State

Game 391-392
September 22, 2018 @ 10:15 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Air Force
79.286
Utah State
93.362
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Utah State
by 14
71
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Utah State
by 10 1/2
62 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Utah State
(-10 1/2); Over

New Mexico St @ UTEP

Game 393-394
September 22, 2018 @ 7:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
New Mexico St
59.292
UTEP
51.630
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
New Mexico St
by 7 1/2
44
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
New Mexico St
by 3 1/2
48 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
New Mexico St
(-3 1/2); Under

Texas State @ TX-San Antonio

Game 395-396
September 22, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Texas State
59.910
TX-San Antonio
62.430
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
TX-San Antonio
by 2 1/2
55
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
TX-San Antonio
by 7 1/2
50
Dunkel Pick:
Texas State
(+7 1/2); Over

Troy @ LA-Monroe

Game 397-398
September 22, 2018 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Troy
78.249
LA-Monroe
75.189
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Troy
by 3
59
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Troy
by 6
64
Dunkel Pick:
LA-Monroe
(+6); Under

Virginia Tech @ Old Dominion

Game 399-400
September 22, 2018 @ 3:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Virginia Tech
103.031
Old Dominion
55.852
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Virginia Tech
by 47
55
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Virginia Tech
by 27 1/2
51 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Virginia Tech
(-27 1/2); Over

North Texas @ Liberty

Game 401-402
September 22, 2018 @ 6:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
North Texas
85.208
Liberty
70.150
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
North Texas
by 15
62
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
North Texas
by 12 1/2
70 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
North Texas
(-12 1/2); Under

Georgia @ Missouri

Game 403-404
September 22, 2018 @ 12:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Georgia
115.341
Missouri
96.342
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Georgia
by 19
69
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Georgia
by 14
64 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Georgia
(-14); Over

Texas A&M @ Alabama

Game 405-406
September 22, 2018 @ 3:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Texas A&M
97.510
Alabama
128.612
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Alabama
by 31
58
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Alabama
by 27
61 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Alabama
(-27); Under

Wisconsin @ Iowa

Game 407-408
September 22, 2018 @ 8:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Wisconsin
102.200
Iowa
97.241
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Wisconsin
by 5
47
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Wisconsin
by 3
43 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Wisconsin
(-3); Over

Arizona State @ Washington

Game 409-410
September 22, 2018 @ 10:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Arizona State
85.955
Washington
110.960
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Washington
by 25
40
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Washington
by 17
50
Dunkel Pick:
Washington
(-17); Under

Eastern Michigan @ San Diego St

Game 411-412
September 22, 2018 @ 10:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Eastern Michigan
76.428
San Diego St
94.492
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
San Diego St
by 18
54
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
San Diego St
by 10 1/2
48
Dunkel Pick:
San Diego St
(-10 1/2); Over

Illinois State @ Colorado State

Game 413-414
September 22, 2018 @ 3:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Illinois State
77.870
Colorado State
69.581
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Illinois State
by 8 1/2
54
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Colorado State
by 6 1/2
58
Dunkel Pick:
Illinois State
(+6 1/2); Under

Maine @ Central Michigan

Game 415-416
September 22, 2018 @ 3:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Maine
64.020
Central Michigan
74.021
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Central Michigan
by 10
47
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Central Michigan
by 7 1/2
55
Dunkel Pick:
Central Michigan
(-7 1/2); Under

NC Central @ Duke

Game 417-418
September 22, 2018 @ 3:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
NC Central
46.366
Duke
102.502
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Duke
by 66
66
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Duke
by 47 1/2
53
Dunkel Pick:
Duke
(-47 1/2); Over

Gardner-Webb @ Appalachian St

Game 419-420
September 22, 2018 @ 3:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Gardner-Webb
47.411
Appalachian St
87.361
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Appalachian St
by 40
53
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Appalachian St
by 44 1/2
56
Dunkel Pick:
Gardner-Webb
(+44 1/2); Under

McNeese St @ Brigham Young

Game 421-422
September 22, 2018 @ 6:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
McNeese St
70.346
Brigham Young
86.317
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Brigham Young
by 16
44
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Brigham Young
by 19
39 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
McNeese St
(+19); Over

Texas Southern @ Houston

Game 423-424
September 22, 2018 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Texas Southern
40.314
Houston
82.622
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Houston
by 42 1/2
71
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Houston
by 49 1/2
61 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Texas Southern
(+49 1/2); Over

Duquesne @ Hawaii

Game 425-426
September 22, 2018 @ 12:00 am

Dunkel Rating:
Duquesne
44.392
Hawaii
84.805
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Hawaii
by 40 1/2
64
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Hawaii
by 37
67
Dunkel Pick:
Hawaii
(-37); Under

[StarDust Bum]

Stanford at Oregon
September 19, 2018

By Tom Wilkinson

College Football Preview – Stanford Cardinal at Oregon Ducks

One of the best matchups in college football in Week 4 is in the Pac-12, as the No. 7 Stanford Cardinal visit the No. 20 Oregon Ducks on ABC. It is still early, but the winner of this game will take a firm hold of the Pac-12 North and put themselves into College Playoff contention.

There has already been some line movement on this game, as the Ducks opened as a one-point favorite and now it is Stanford favored by two points. Let’s look at this contest and college football picks.

Date and Time: Saturday, September 22, 2018, 8:00 p.m. ET
Location: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OR
College Football Odds at BetDSI: Stanford -2, O/U 56
Stanford vs. Oregon TV Coverage: ABC

Both Stanford and Oregon come into this game unbeaten, but they are winning in far different ways. The Cardinal are all about defense, as they are giving up just 7.7 points per game, the top mark in the country, while Oregon is all about offense, as they are scoring 51.7 points per game, 8th best in the nation.

Both teams have high profile players, as Stanford has running back Bryce Love, while Oregon has quarterback Justin Herbert. Before the season it was Love who was a Heisman Trophy candidate, but now it is Herbert who is more in the discussion.

Love has not had a good start to the season and he didn’t even play last week against UC Davis due to injury. Love is expected to play on Saturday and he had 147 yards and two touchdowns in Stanford’s 49-7 win over Oregon last season. Herbert was not at his best last week, as he threw two interceptions against a weak San Jose State team.

Stanford and Oregon were obviously looking ahead last week, as Stanford was unimpressive in a win over UC Davis and Oregon gave up too many points against San Jose State. Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal said to the media that his team is ready for the big game. "I don't think you shy away from the fact there is a lot of attention on the game," Cristobal said, "I don't think you hide GameDay. That is a great honor. We all know that. We all want that. We would like GameDay to be here every single week."

Matchup to Watch

This game is going to come down to how well Oregon stops the run. The Ducks were great last week in stopping the run, as they held San Jose State to just 29 yards. If the Oregon defense can shut down Love it will force K.J. Costello to throw. Costello has played well so far this season, but it won’t be easy on the road in a hostile environment on Saturday night.

Key Stats

Stanford with David Shaw as head coach has won four of six meetings against Oregon, including the last two. The Cardinal are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games in September. The Ducks are 6-13 ATS in their last 19 conference games. The Ducks are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 home games.

Looking at the total, the Under is 10-3 in Stanford’s last 13 games overall. The Under is 8-3 in the Ducks last 11 conference games. The Over is 5-1 in the last 6 meetings at Oregon.

Stanford vs. Oregon Picks

The wise guys are definitely on Stanford in this game and it is hard to argue, as the Cardinal win a lot of big games with Shaw as their head coach. Stanford has also done well recently in this series. I just don’t know that Oregon’s defense can keep Stanford’s offense in check. The Ducks do have a good offense, but they haven’t faced a defense that is anywhere close to Stanford. I will lay the small number and take the Cardinal to get the road win. I am also very surprised the total is so high, as I expect a tight game that stays under the total.

Stanford vs. Oregon Pick: Stanford -2 and Under 56 at BetDSI
Stanford vs. Oregon Score Prediction: Stanford 24, Oregon 20

[StarDust Bum]

Week 4 Upset Alerts
September 19, 2018
By Sportsbetting.ag

NCAAF Week 4 Upset Alerts

I'll have to admit that when I started these pieces at the beginning of the year, I never thought my most SU upset wins would come from the +10 range and above. Last week we saw a 21-point underdog in the Akron Zips beat a dysfunctional Northwestern team for my only outright victory.

Part of my surprise at these results is the fact that the underdogs in the +9 and lower range have yet to come through for me and even play a quality game. Rutgers was blown off the field against Kansas (Kansas of all programs), last week as a FG road underdog to keep my winless run (SU and ATS) on those small underdogs intact. Multiple underdogs win outright every week in college football and it's tough to hide my frustration that I haven't cashed on one of these small 'dogs yet.

However, it's a new week this week and there are plenty of games to get to, so let's do it:

Odds per - Sportsbetting.ag

Upset Alert #1: Underdogs in the +1 to +9 range

YTD: 0-3 SU; 0-3 ATS

Texas +3.5 over TCU
Louisiana-Monroe +6 over Troy

In an attempt to break open this goose egg I've got in the win column both SU and ATS, I'm going to give out two small home underdogs that I believe have a great shot at the outright upset.

Let's begin with the Texas Longhorns, fresh off a big win over USC last week, the Longhorns return home for a date with TCU. The Horned Frogs have spent the early part of this week licking their wounds from a 3rd quarter collapse against Ohio State last week in a case of what could have been.

TCU has owned this matchup in recent years as they've won by 17, 22, 43, and 38 points the last five years as Texas tries to find it's way back to the top. The Longhorns haven't scored more than 10 points in any of those five defeats as Gary Patterson's TCU defense routinely has locked them down, and with the betting percentages shown on VegasInsider.com currently in the 80% range of support for TCU, the majority of bettors expect the same this week.

Yet, while TCU did lose a week ago, it's going to be tough for them to mentally and emotionally “get up” for this Texas game after all the bright national spotlights (for both the game and College Game Day on campus) were beaming down on TCU. The Horned Frogs had to feel like that game was theirs for the bulk of it and I'm not sure how long it will take them to recover from that defeat. With this Texas program eager to get a leg up for once in this rivalry, I wouldn't be shocked to see the Longhorns use that big win over USC as a momentum builder this week and potentially the rest of the season.

Speaking of possible letdown spots, how can you not include the Troy Trojans in that group after they knocked off Nebraska outright a week ago. The Trojans were catching 13 points in that game and led the entire way. It was a huge win over a Power 5 school for Troy and I'm not sure how they can't have a letdown spot, even with it being the opener of Sun Belt play for them.

Louisiana-Monroe got blasted by Texas A&M last week but they were never expected to be in that game. This game is a much different story and they've already got extensive experience this year playing in close games as their two wins have come by a grand total of 4 points. But at home and catching nearly a TD against a team off a huge upset win is a spot I can't pass up this week with the Warhawks. And with the underdog 4-1 ATS the last five in this rivalry, the home dog is the way to go here.

Odds per - Sportsbetting.ag

Upset Alert #2: Underdogs in the +10 to +19 range

YTD: 1-2 SU; 2-1 ATS

Eastern Michigan +11 over San Diego State

Speaking off teams in possible letdown spots after a big win, we've got San Diego State in that role as well this week as they host Eastern Michigan. SD State knocked off Arizona State in their own letdown spot a week ago and I would not be surprised to see them fall victim to the same fate this week. The Aztecs are getting much more love this week (65-70% ATS) because of that win, but Eastern Michigan is a scrappy bunch that won't go away easily. Not only is this a potential letdown spot for the Aztecs, but with a trip to Boise State on deck, this contest looks like a sandwich game as well.

Eastern Michigan has to be a little salty after they lost their first MAC game of the year last week to Buffalo, but that defeat actually puts them in a great spot ATS here too. Eastern Michigan is 7-0 ATS as a program after failing to cover a spread their last time out, and are on a 8-1 ATS run off an outright loss. The Eagles are also on a 14-3 ATS run in non-conference games, and 9-1-1 ATS on the road against a winning home team, so this spot is quite favorable for the Eagles here too. Add in the great “fade” spot this is on the Aztecs and we could have another late-night upset on our hands this week in college football.

Odds per - Sportsbetting.ag

Upset Alert #3: Underdogs in the +20 and above range

YTD: 3-0 ATS

Louisiana Tech +20.5 vs LSU

Since letdown and sandwich spots appear to be a prevailing theme this week, I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't include LSU in that category as well. Without question the Tigers are riding high this week after knocking off Auburn a week ago, and now they return back to the Bayou for an in-state rivalry game with Louisiana Tech before jumping right back into SEC play next week with a home game against Ole Miss. Not only that, but Louisiana Tech had last week off as well, so not only is this a brutal spot for LSU to begin with, but their opponent has been waiting two weeks for this contest.

Louisiana Tech isn't a bad team this year either as they are expected to compete for a Conference USA crown this year. The Bulldogs are already 2-0 SU (1-1 ATS) this year as they've scored 44 points per game, and while that number will come down drastically against this LSU defense, Louisiana Tech's offense is no slouch and will have no problems taking advantage of their opportunities against a potentially sluggish and disinterested LSU team.

The Tigers had to spend a bit of time this week reading all of their press clippings – how could they not after that dramatic win over Auburn – and they know they've got bigger fish to fry down the road. Get the SU win, stay healthy, and move on, is the mantra for LSU this week, and with a 1-4-1 ATS mark in thier last six non-conference games, this is just too many points for this LSU team to be laying in such a brutal spot.