Announcement

**StarDust Bum** · 08-30-2019, 03:39 AM

CFB AUGUST/ SEPT. OPINIONS AND BEST BETS: ALL BASED ON 5 UNITS

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

08/29/2019 6-6-0 50.00% -3.00

Totals...............6-6-0 50.00% -3.00

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

BEST BETS:

DATE........................ATS.............UNITS. ............O/U...............UNITS.............TOTALS

08/29/2019.............1 - 3.............-11.50.............4 - 1...............+14.50...........+3.00

Totals.....................1 - 3.............-11.50.............4 - 1...............+14.50...........+3.00

**StarDust Bum** · 08-30-2019, 03:43 AM

Friday’s 6-pack

NFL teams with most salary cap room:

$56.6M— Indianapolis

$37M— Houston

$34.6M— Cleveland

$26.1M— Dallas

$26M— Tennessee

$25.5M— San Francisco

Tweet of the Day
“My wife just told me she can’t talk right now because she’s too busy with one of her fantasy football drafts. I’ve never been prouder.”
ESPN’s Field Yates

Friday’s quiz
What is the only college that will have three alums starting at QB in NFL Week 1 games?

Thursday’s quiz
Roman Gabriel started the most games at QB for the Los Angeles Rams.

Wednesday’s quiz
Lovie Smith was the Chicago Bears’ coach last time they played in a Super Bowl.

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

Friday’s List of 13: Random stuff with weekend here……..

13) Saturday’s Boise State-Florida State game has been moved from Jacksonville to Tallahassee, because of the upcoming tropical storm. Kickoff was moved up to noon ET.

As a result, the line moved from Florida State -5 to 6.5; if you wagered on the game before the site changed, apparently those tickets are now void.

12) Speaking of noon ET starts, the Pac-12 is actually discussing having some of their teams play HOME games that start at 9am Pacific time, starting next season. Seriously.

Why would a fan want to go to a football game that starts at 9am on a Saturday? Just so teams can be seen on TV across the country earlier in the day? It makes no sense.

11) This is a tough week; between now and 4:00 Saturday, around 1,200 guys are going to get cut from NFL rosters. 300 or so of them will get re-signed to practice squads, another 300-400 will wind up playing in the XFL in February, but playing on fall Sundays is a player’s dream.

10) From Phil Rogers: Cleveland Indian starting pitchers have thrown 115+ pitches in 15 games this season, but Trevor Bauer had the first 13 of those— he’s on the Reds now.

No other team has had more than eight such games this year.

9) Random observation; hitters swing at 3-0 pitches a lot more than they used to.

8) Baseball stuff:
— Royals shelved P Brad Keller (innings limit) for the rest of the season.
— Oakland put DH Khris Davis on the paternity list.

7) Utah 30, BYU 12— Game was shortened by a lightning storm; wagers on the game will all be refunded, since game didn’t reach the last 5:00.

6) Cincinnati 24, UCLA 14— Yardage was 417-218 Bearcats; UCLA has a major problem- their QB isn’t very good. Bruins turned the ball over four times, twice in the red zone when their QB simply dropped the ball when he was preparing to pass- thats just not acceptable.

5) I have been critical of ESPN the last couple years, but the late SportsCenter with Scott Van Pelt is excellent television; he gets it. It is worth your time to watch; highlights, sometimes an obscure highlight, gambling-related tidbits, and just good solid sentiment about what life should be like. In short, a lot of thought goes into making this show every night.

4) Marlins 4, Reds 3 (12)— Aristides Aquino hit his 14th homer this month, the most homers a rookie has ever hit in one month. He hit .241 in AA last year. Go figure.

3) I’m probably late with this, but apparently there are places now where you can go and throw axes at targets, kind of like darts except you’re throwing freakin’ axes. Competitive axe throwing is a thing, and this is news to me. Do they serve alcohol at those places?

2) Glad to see that DirecTV has the local ABC affiliate back up and running in time for the college football season. Their business would take a hit if they’re blacking out stations that show football. Getting the Pac-12 Network would also be a help.

1) SouthPoint Casino posted a prop for Saturday’s college football; which team will score the first touchdown in the noon ET kickoffs?
Nebraska +$275
Ohio State 7-2
Ole Miss 4-1
Mississippi State 9-2
Memphis 7-1
Illinois 13-1
Indiana 14-1

**StarDust Bum** · 08-30-2019, 03:47 AM

2019 college football
Labor Day weekend’s top 13 games

Under Chryst, Wisconsin is 11-3 ATS as a road favorite; they’re 10-7 ATS in last 17 non-league games. Badgers have six starters back on both sides of ball; they’ll probably start a freshman QB, but their OL, normally a strength, has only 34 returning starts. South Florida has 91 starts back on its OL: they’ve got nine starters back on offense, have a senior QB- they’re 9-14-1 ATS as a home underdog (1-3 under Strong). Last three years, AAC teams are 8-4 vs spread when playing a Big 14 team.

Colorado won its last four games with Colorado State, last three by 14+ points; Buffs have a new coach, a senior QB (27 starts) and an OL with 63 career starts (2 senior starters)- they’re 11-9 vs spread in last 20 games as a favorite, 12-7-1 ATS in last 20 non-league games. State’s OL has only 26 returning starts; their junior QB has 8 starts. Rams covered 10 of last 14 games as an underdog; last three years, they’re 5-9 ATS outside the Mountain West. Last six years, Pac-12 teams are 36-33-1 vs spread when facing Mountain West teams.

Home side won last three Ole Miss-Memphis games; under Luke, Rebels are 3-4 ATS as a road underdog. Last three years, Ole Miss is 5-7 ATS outside the SEC. Rebels have a new QB, an OL with only 36 retuning starts- they’v got 10 starters back on defense, but only three on offense. Under Norvell, Memphis is 16-12 ATS as a favorite; Tigers have a junior QB (15 starts), an OL with 52 returning starts. Memphis is 6-8 ATS in its last 14 games outside AAC. Last three years, SEC teams covered five of six games vs AAC opponents.

South Carolina (-2) edged North Carolina 17-13 in last meeting in 2015; both teams changed coaches since then. UNC has Mack Brown back on sidelines; he has a new QB, an OL with 48 career starts but very little depth. USC has a senior QB (32 starts), an OL with 51 starts; under Muschamp, Gamecocks are 7-8 ATS outside SEC; they’re 2-5-1 in last eight games as a road favorite. Tar Heels covered six of last nine tries as an underdog; last five years, they’re 0-5-1 ATS on neutral fields. Last year, SEC teams were 8-1 ATS vs ACC foes (44-34-1 since ’11).

Over last decade, Northwestern is 24-9 ATS as a road underdog; they upset Stanford 16-6 (+10) in last meeting in 2015. Since ’14, Wildcats are 8-12-1 vs spread outside Big 14. Northwestern has a new QB, an OL with 48 starts (1 senior, 3 junior starters). Stanford has only nine starters back; their junior QB has 20 starts, their OL only 39 starts. Last three years, Cardinal is 6-10 ATS as a home favorite; they’re 10-13-1 ATS in last 24 non-league games. Stanford opens Pac-12 play with USC next week. Last four years, Big 14 teams are 16-8 ATS when playing a Pac-12 opponent.

Road team won four of last five Virginia Tech-Boston College games; Hokies won 23-10/26-10 in last two visits to Beantown. Favorites covered last four series games. Tech has 10 starters back on defense, a junior QB (20 starts), an OL with 51 starts- since 2012, they’re 6-16 ATS as a road favorite. BC has a junior QB (22 starts), an OL with 65 starts, but has only 3 starters back on defense. Last two years, Eagles are 4-1-1 vs spread as a home underdog.

Florida State is only 12-13 the last two years, with a -17 turnover ratio; Boise is +24 in turnovers the last two years. Seminoles have a soph QB (12 starts), an OL wth 58 career starts- FSU does have eight starters back on both sides of ball. Last three years, Seminoles are 9-13-2 ATS as a favorite; they’re 12-8 ATS in last 20 tilts outside the ACC. Boise State has new QB but an OL with 106 career starts (3 senior starters); over last decade, Broncos are 5-3 ATS as an underdog; under Harsin, they’re 14-10 ATS outside MW. Last four years, ACC teams are 5-3 vs spread when playing a Mountain West team.

Pittsburgh won its last four games with Virginia, winning 31-14/26-19 in last two played here; Panthers have a junior QB (15 starts), an OL with 37 starts- they’ve got only 11 of 22 starters back from LY. Virginia has a senior QB (13 starts), an OL with 46 starts; over last nine years, Cavaliers are 2-3 ATS as a road favorite. Last three years, Pitt is 5-3 vs spread as a home underdog. Overall under Narduzzi, Pitt is 17-11 ATS as an underdog.

Oregon has 153 returning starts on its offensive line, Auburn 104; nine of 10 starters are seniors. Oregon has 17 starters back, a senior QB (28 starts) and for first time in three years, they’ve got same coach as the year before. Last three years, Oregon is 3-11-1 ATS as an underdog; they’re 6-13-1 ATS in last 20 non-league games. Auburn has seven starters back on both sides of ball; they’ll have a new QB. Last five years, Tigers are 8-16-1 ATS outside the SEC; they’re 3-5 ATS in last eight neutral field games. Since 2011, SEC teams are 9-3 ATS vs Pac-12 opponents.

Last nine years, USC is 11-24 vs spread outside Pac-12; last two years, Trojans are 3-9 ATS as a home favorite. USC has a soph QB (11 starts); their OL has 63 starts- they lost half their 22 starters from LY. Fresno lost 13 starters from LY, has only three back on offense; Bulldogs have a new QB- their OL has only 31 starts, but they’ve covered eight of last 10 non-MW games, and are 22-6 SU last two years. USC (-20) hammered Fresno 52-13 in last meeting five years ago; both teams changed coaches since then. Last six years, Pac-12 teams are 36-33-1 vs spread when facing Mountain West teams. USC opens Pac-12 play with Stanford next week.

Houston has a senior QB (18 starts), an OL with 101 starts and Holgorsen is new coach; he was 0-6 vs Oklahoma in his last job (WVU), allowing 44+ points in each of last five meetings. Cougars are 7-1-1 ATS in last nine games as a road underdog- they’ve got only four starters back on defense. Sooners’ new QB is Alabama transfer Hurts (26-2 as starter); their OL has only 36 starts. Under Riley, Oklahoma is 8-5 ATS as a home favorite, 5-3 ATS outside Big X. Houston (+12) upset Oklahoma 33-23 in last meeting 33-23 in 2016; both teams changed coaches since then. Last two years, Big X teams are 7-3 ATS when playing an AAC team.

Louisville went 2-10 LY after going 57-21 the previous six years, so they changed coaches; Cardinals have 10 starters back on defense, a junior QB (9 starts), an OL with 57 starts- they covered once in last five tries as a home underdog. Last three years, Louisville is 3-11 ATS outside the ACC. Notre Dame has a junior QB (10 starts), an OL with 60 starts. Irish is 5-3-1 ATS in last nine games as a road favorite. Louisville (+3) won last meeting 31-28, five years ago.

**StarDust Bum** · 08-30-2019, 03:58 AM

Friday, August 30

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

RICE (2 - 11) at ARMY (11 - 2) - 8/30/2019, 6:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
ARMY is 1-0 against the spread versus RICE over the last 3 seasons
ARMY is 1-0 straight up against RICE over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

UTAH ST (11 - 2) at WAKE FOREST (7 - 6) - 8/30/2019, 8:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
WAKE FOREST is 1-0 against the spread versus UTAH ST over the last 3 seasons
WAKE FOREST is 1-0 straight up against UTAH ST over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WISCONSIN (8 - 5) at S FLORIDA (7 - 6) - 8/30/2019, 7:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TULSA (3 - 9) at MICHIGAN ST (7 - 6) - 8/30/2019, 7:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MASSACHUSETTS (4 - 8) at RUTGERS (1 - 11) - 8/30/2019, 7:15 PM
Top Trends for this game.
MASSACHUSETTS is 8-20 ATS (-14.0 Units) as an underdog of 10.5 to 21 points since 1992.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

COLORADO ST (3 - 9) vs. COLORADO (5 - 7) - 8/30/2019, 10:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
COLORADO is 2-0 against the spread versus COLORADO ST over the last 3 seasons
COLORADO is 2-0 straight up against COLORADO ST over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

PURDUE (6 - 7) at NEVADA (8 - 5) - 8/30/2019, 9:30 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

OKLAHOMA ST (7 - 6) at OREGON ST (2 - 10) - 8/30/2019, 10:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OREGON ST is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
OREGON ST is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
OREGON ST is 6-15 ATS (-10.5 Units) as an underdog over the last 3 seasons.
OREGON ST is 5-15 ATS (-11.5 Units) in games played on turf over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.

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

NCAAF

Week 1

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, August 30

Rice @ Army
Rice
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Rice's last 6 games when playing Army
Rice is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Army
Army is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Army is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home

Tulsa @ Michigan State
Tulsa
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Tulsa's last 9 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Tulsa's last 11 games
Michigan State
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Michigan State's last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Michigan State's last 5 games at home

Wisconsin @ South Florida
Wisconsin
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Wisconsin's last 6 games
Wisconsin is 16-5 SU in its last 21 games on the road
South Florida
South Florida is 14-4 SU in its last 18 games at home
South Florida is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games

Massachusetts @ Rutgers
Massachusetts
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Massachusetts's last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Massachusetts's last 13 games
Rutgers
Rutgers is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Rutgers's last 6 games

Utah State @ Wake Forest
Utah State
Utah State is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games
Utah State is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road
Wake Forest
Wake Forest is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Wake Forest is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games

Purdue @ Nevada
Purdue
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Purdue's last 11 games on the road
Purdue is 14-5 ATS in its last 19 games on the road
Nevada
Nevada is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Nevada is 9-2 ATS in its last 11 games at home

Colorado State @ Colorado
Colorado State
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Colorado State's last 5 games when playing Colorado
The total has gone UNDER in 8 of Colorado State's last 11 games
Colorado
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Colorado's last 5 games when playing Colorado State
Colorado is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Colorado State

Oklahoma State @ Oregon State
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma State is 18-7 SU in its last 25 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Oklahoma State's last 7 games on the road
Oregon State
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Oregon State's last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 12 of Oregon State's last 16 games

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

NCAAF
Dunkel

Week 1

Friday, August 30

Rice @ Army

Game 145-146
August 30, 2019 @ 6:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Rice
53.275
Army
85.181
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Army
by 32
54
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Army
by 23 1/2
50
Dunkel Pick:
Army
(-23 1/2); Over

Wisconsin @ South Florida

Game 149-150
August 30, 2019 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Wisconsin
93.499
South Florida
73.703
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Wisconsin
by 20
61
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Wisconsin
by 12 1/2
57 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Wisconsin
(-12 1/2); Over

Tulsa @ Michigan State

Game 151-152
August 30, 2019 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Tulsa
70.652
Michigan State
100.269
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Michigan State
by 29 1/2
51
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Michigan State
by 22 1/2
47 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Michigan State
(-22 1/2); Over

Massachusetts @ Rutgers

Game 153-154
August 30, 2019 @ 7:15 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Massachusetts
68.605
Rutgers
73.760
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Rutgers
by 5
34
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Rutgers
by 15 1/2
57
Dunkel Pick:
Massachusetts
(+15 1/2); Under

Utah State @ Wake Forest

Game 147-148
August 30, 2019 @ 8:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Utah State
92.730
Wake Forest
98.165
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Wake Forest
by 5 1/2
66
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Wake Forest
by 3 1/2
63 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Wake Forest
(-3 1/2); Over

Purdue @ Nevada

Game 157-158
August 30, 2019 @ 9:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Purdue
87.405
Nevada
87.806
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Nevada
Even
55
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Purdue
by 10
59
Dunkel Pick:
Nevada
(+10); Under

Colorado State @ Colorado

Game 155-156
August 30, 2019 @ 10:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Colorado State
70.456
Colorado
79.879
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Colorado
by 9 1/2
51
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Colorado
by 12 1/2
58 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Colorado State
(+12 1/2); Under

Oklahoma State @ Oregon State

Game 159-160
August 30, 2019 @ 10:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Oklahoma State
90.180
Oregon State
77.338
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Oklahoma State
by 13
71
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Oklahoma State
by 16
73 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Oregon State
(+16); Under

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

**StarDust Bum** · 08-30-2019, 04:00 AM

Army hosts Rice riding a winning streak
August 29, 2019
By The Associated Press

WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) Army is very much at home on the banks of the Hudson.

The Black Knights take a 13-game winning streak over two seasons into Friday night's season opener against Rice at Michie Stadium.

''It's been a good run and I hope it will continue,'' Army coach Jeff Monken said. ''That is a source of pride. That's something we talk about as a program and make a goal that we want to go undefeated at home.''

The Black Knights, who finished last season ranked No. 19, also have won nine straight games. That's the second longest active winning streak in college football, behind only national champion Clemson.

''I think this team can be very special,'' Army quarterback Kelvin Hopkins Jr. said. ''It's a lot of guys that want to leave a good legacy.''

This will be the ninth time the teams have played. The Owls lead the series 4-3-1, but the Black Knights have won the last two. In the previous meeting in 2017, Army forced six turnovers and won 49-12 on the road, the largest margin in the series.

Second-year Rice coach Mike Bloomgren was on the Stanford staff when the Cardinal defeated Army two straight times - 34-20 at Michie Stadium in 2013, Rich Ellerson's last season at Army, and 35-0 in 2014, Monken's rookie year at the school. Stanford was ranked both times and Army was stuck in a five-year rut that produced just 14 wins against 46 losses.

A lot has changed.

Since the start of the 2017 season, the Black Knights, with their ground-control option attack, have won 21 of 26 games - an .807 winning percentage - and posted back-to-back seasons of double-digit wins for the first time, including a program-record 11 last season, capped by a stunning 70-14 victory over Houston in the Armed Forces Bowl .

''What coach Monken and his staff have done to get better talent than they ever have and to play better than they ever have, it's so impressive to me,'' said Bloomgren, who guided the Owls to a 2-11 record last season. ''This is a different team, night and day, from when we played them at Stanford. Just the talent level. It's so much different. They are really good at what they do, to say the least.''

Other things to know when Rice visits Army on Friday night:

CAPTAIN KELVIN

A year ago, Monken had to replace star quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw, the catalyst that helped Army snap its 14-game losing streak to archrival Navy in 2016. He chose Hopkins, who responded by becoming the first player in academy history to rush for 1,000 yards and pass for 1,000 yards.

He's a senior team captain now.

''We're in an entirely different position right now than we were a year ago,'' Monken said. ''A year ago we didn't know if he'd be the starter. I had no idea that he would be capable of doing that. He earned the job, had a great season, and so at this point just the confidence that we have and his teammates have in him as a leader and as a performer makes it different.''

THREE IS NOT NECESSARILY A CROWD

Rice had three starting quarterbacks last season. Wiley Green threw for 621 yards and three scores with four interceptions in four games as a freshman and has earned the start against Army, with graduate transfer Tom Stewart (Harvard) and Evan Marshman at the ready.

''I think Evan and Tom have thrown the ball extremely well. They've earned this staff's trust,'' Bloomgren said. ''Their leadership is what we want from all three of those guys.''

EFFICIENCY A MUST

Army led the nation in possession time last season (38:33), epitomized in an overtime loss at Oklahoma . The Black Knights had the ball for 44:41 and ran 87 plays to Oklahoma's 40.

That sort of play leaves little margin for error.

''You can't waste plays against this team because it's all about negative plays,'' said Bloomgren, who has added seven graduate transfers to the roster with a total of 202 games of college experience. ''If they get you in negative plays and make you go three and out, you may not get the ball for 12 minutes. They've proven that time and time again on film.''

LET'S GET PHYSICAL

Army thrives on its physicality and aims to wear down opponents in the fourth quarter. It's what the Black Knights train for at the end of every practice.

The Owls figure they'll fight fire with fire.

''I think it's the only way to play Army,'' Bloomgren said. ''I think Army absolutely feasts on finesse teams. That's what they want. They want people that aren't willing to stand in front of them and throw punch after punch after punch. What they're going to see is that we are going to be willing. We're going to fight.''

**StarDust Bum** · 08-30-2019, 04:02 AM

Moore leads Purdue against Nevada
August 29, 2019
By The Associated Press

RENO, Nev. (AP) Purdue receiver Rondale Moore and Nevada running back Toa Taua each made a big mark on his respective team as a freshman.

Now it's time to see what they'll do for an encore, beginning Friday night when Nevada hosts Purdue in the season opener for both teams.

Moore became the first true freshman in Big Ten history to be named a consensus All-American. He caught 114 passes for 1,258 yards and 12 TDs last season while helping lead the Boilermakers to their first back-to-back bowl trips since the 2011-12 seasons.

Taua rushed for 872 yards and six TDs last year as Nevada went 8-5 and ended a two-year bowl drought that had been preceded by a decade during which the Wolf Pack were a postseason regular.

''This will be a great test for us to go on the road, see where we stack up,'' said Purdue coach Jeff Brohm, whose two-deep chart includes 15 freshmen. ''We've been trying to gain experience as fast as we can. There's not one team on our schedule that if we don't play well and attack that we're going to beat. Nevada is in the same boat.''

Nevada coach Jay Norvell agreed there are similarities.

''In many ways they are very similar to us - a program that is growing with their roster and their coaching staff, dynamic offensively,'' he said.

Other things to know heading into Friday night's matchup in Reno:

MOUNTAIN WEST HIGH

It's only the 18th time in school history that Purdue will play in the Pacific Time Zone, where the Boilermakers are 5-10-2.

Nevada, 1-6 all-time against Big Ten foes, was one of only two NCAA teams that played in five different time zones last year, each trip requiring three days' travel.

''That takes a toll on your kids after a while,'' Norvell said. ''We're excited Purdue has to come to the West Coast and play us at night at our stadium. To play at 4,000 feet of elevation, I think that will be different for them.''

The Boilermakers called around to get suggestions about how best to get acclimated to Reno, where Friday's high is forecast to be in the 90s, and decided to leave Wednesday instead of the customary day before kickoff.

''I think we're aware of what we're getting into,'' Brohm said. ''That's one reason we're going out a little bit early, to make sure we get adjusted ... get a feel of the temperature and the heat, the altitude, the air level.''

AIRING IT OUT

Purdue's passing attack, ranked 11th nationally last year, has added freshmen David Bell and Milton Wright to a talented receiving corps that includes standout tight end Brycen Hopkins. The biggest challenge for Nevada will be corralling the 5-foot-9 Moore.

''He's not very tall, but he is very quick and elusive,'' Norvell said. ''He's very hard to bring down.''

Nevada counters with a combination of former Wolf Pack coach Chris Ault's Pistol Offense and the Air Raid attack used by Mike Leach at Washington State.

''We call it the `Air Pistol,''' Norvell said. ''We still want to throw the ball and spread the ball to our skill people... (but) we think it's important to run the ball physically. Some Air Raid teams don't.''

SINDELAR WATCH

Purdue quarterback Elijah Sindelar threw three interceptions in the first two games last season and never took another snap as he recovered from tendinitis in his surgically repaired knee.

The strong-armed, fifth-year senior who's now the undisputed starter has talked all summer about how different it feels not to worry about whether the next bad throw will put him on the sideline. He believes it will give him the freedom to take more chances.

''He's played some really good football,'' Brohm said. ''We have to do our job to put him in the best position for success. He has to take the reins and run with it.''

YOUTH MOVEMENT

Injuries and graduation have forced Brohm to reconstruct his offense with a young line and unproven backfield combination.

Redshirt freshman tackle Will Bramel and sophomore center Viktor Beach are expected to fill two of the three openings up front. With projected starting running back Tario Fuller out (fractured jaw), the revamped line will be opening holes for sophomore running back Zander Horvath and freshmen King Doerue and Da'Joun Hewitt.

**StarDust Bum** · 08-30-2019, 04:04 AM

Love, Utah State kickoff season at Wake
August 29, 2019
By The Associated Press

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) Before he blossomed into a Heisman Trophy candidate, Utah State quarterback Jordan Love threw his first career touchdown pass at Wake Forest.

He's looking to toss a few more in his return trip - and to finish with a different result.

Love looks to begin his Heisman push Friday night when the Aggies open the season against a Demon Deacons team coming off its third straight bowl victory.

''I'm excited to go back down there and show them what we're really all about now,'' Love said. ''It's going to be a different story this time when we go down there.''

Love caught the attention of NFL draft gurus last season by throwing for school records of 3,567 yards and 32 touchdowns with only six interceptions and leading Utah State to an 11-2 record, a No. 22 final ranking and a rout of North Texas in the New Mexico Bowl. The school has launched a Heisman campaign for its quarterback - complete with packets of candy hearts stamped with his name and number, playing off his last name.

Two years ago, Love was merely a little-known freshman who was inserted into the second half of a blowout in Winston-Salem. He threw a 77-yard scoring pass to Gerold Bright for the Aggies' only touchdown of a 46-10 loss.

So that's one big thing the Demon Deacons have going for them - they know firsthand how capable Love can be, and sixth-year coach Dave Clawson says Utah State ''has certainly earned our respect.''

''This is the toughest opener we have had since I have been here, in terms of the quality of the opponent,'' he said.

Some other things to know about the Utah State-Wake Forest opener:

WAKE'S BIG CHALLENGE

Wake Forest enters this season as an under-the-radar pick to challenge for second place in the ACC's Atlantic Division behind reigning national champion Clemson, if not push the perennial power Tigers. Clawson says this team has the maturity and experience to handle the challenge of Love and the Aggies in the opener.

''I think where we were before, when we were really young, you almost wanted to be able to make some mistakes and still be able to find a way to win,'' Clawson said. ''You would try to play a lot of players. Where we are now, I think opening with a game like this is something that we can handle. The focus of preseason camp is much more intense and much more focused when you open with a team that won 11 games.''

HELLO, NEWMAN

Jamie Newman will begin this season the same way he ended the last one - as Wake Forest's starting quarterback. Newman and Sam Hartman spent the preseason battling for the job both of them held at times in 2018. Hartman started the first nine games last season before suffering a season-ending leg injury, and Newman took over and led the Demon Deacons to a road upset of North Carolina State, a rout of rival Duke and a victory over Memphis in the Birmingham Bowl.

WELCOME BACK, GARY

Gary Andersen is back for a second stint as the Aggies' head coach. Andersen, who coached Utah State from 2009-12 before taking the Wisconsin job, takes over for Matt Wells, who left for Texas Tech. He went 26-24 during his first run with the Aggies.

QUICK HITS

The Demon Deacons open with three straight Friday night games, visiting Rice next week and playing host to North Carolina on Sept. 13 in a game that won't count in the ACC standings. ... This is the third game in the series and the home teams won the first two, with Utah State claiming a 36-24 win in Clawson's first season in 2014 and Wake Forest rolling two years ago. ... Wake Forest has won nine straight home openers. ... Utah State has averaged 42.2 points in Love's 19 career starts.

**StarDust Bum** · 08-30-2019, 04:06 AM

Wisconsin faces test from USF in opener
August 29, 2019
By The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst likes the idea of a good early season test when the 19th-ranked Badgers visit South Florida.

The Badgers, who've played in the Big Ten championship game three of the past five years, entered last season with expectations of contending for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Instead, they slipped to 8-5 and failed to win 10 or more games for first time under Chryst.

''Every first game, you're going to find out a lot about yourself,'' Chryst said. ''You're going to get tested in ways that maybe you could anticipate and don't anticipate.''

South Florida is not a typical challenge for a program the caliber of Wisconsin, which rarely hits the road so early to face a non-Power Five conference opponent as talented as the Bulls.

USF started 7-0 and climbed into the Top 25 before finishing last season on a six-game losing streak, a collapse that coach Charlie Strong has difficulty explaining. The Bulls were a combined 21-4 the previous two years.

''We're not going to let that define us and how good we can be,'' said Strong, entering his third season at USF ''I like the (mind-set) we're in.''

Wisconsin is the highest ranked team USF has faced in a season opener at home. The Bulls are 0-3 vs. Top 25 opponents under Strong. They're 11-25 all-time against ranked teams, with seven of those victories coming at Raymond James Stadium.

STOP ME IF YOU CAN

Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor led the nation in rushing last season, finishing with 2,194 yards and 16 touchdowns. The 5-foot-11, 219-pound junior has produced 4,171 yards since the start of 2017. It's the most by a FBS runner in the first two years of a career.

''Wisconsin is an unbelievable football team, a well-coached football team,'' Strong said. ''They are going to tell you they are going to run the football and tell you you've got to go stop it.''

That's something the Bulls didn't do well a year ago, when they yielded 247.5 yards per game on the ground to rank 11th among 12 teams in the American Athletic Conference.

NEW OFFENSE

USF's collapse prompted Strong to make several changes, including hiring Division II national championship-winning coach Kerwin Bell as offensive coordinator. Bell has installed the up-tempo system that produced prolific numbers at Valdosta State, which averaged 523.9 yards and 52 points en route to winning last year's D-II title.

''It's a very dynamic offense. There's a lot of moving parts to it, but when things are part together well, it's something special,'' Bulls quarterback Blake Barnett said. ''I think things came together well in fall camp, and the jump from spring to now has been tremendous.''

Chryst said Wisconsin's defense will be challenged.

''I know a little bit about Kerwin and what he's done. He's a good football coach. It's going to be a good plan,'' he said. ''The same thing on defense. They're going to have a good plan and good players.''

BIG OPPORTUNITY

USF has won five in a row against Power Five conference opponents, including Illinois and Georgia Tech last season. The Bulls' lone loss in their last eight vs. Power Five schools was a 55-35 home loss to Florida State in 2016.

''In order to take this program where you want to take it, we have to play these games,'' said Strong, whose team will face Georgia Tech on the road next week. ''Our guys understand that challenge.''

**StarDust Bum** · 08-30-2019, 04:10 AM

Friday's Tip Sheet
August 27, 2019
By Matt Blunt

We've got to wait a week before we get those stand alone Friday night affairs in college football this year, but that's not necessarily a bad thing as the opening Friday of the season is never short on action. This year we get eight games of FBS action to help further along that great first weekend of college football, and with the market place geared up for these games for months now, all eight will see significant action.

However, with seven of the eight games having double-digit favorites currently listed, how competitive these eight games on Friday end up being is up for debate. Three of the seven teams laying double-digits are doing so on the road, with Big 10 teams Wisconsin and Purdue being two of those three. Michigan State is another Big 10 team in action, laying 20+ and climbing at home against Tulsa.

With plenty of action available out there, there are a few games that deserve at least some discussion, so let's take a look at a few different spots out there on Friday night.

Massachusetts at Rutgers (-15.5), Total 55.5
Rutgers as a double-digit favorite? Is it warranted?
It's not often that Rutgers gets to be laying points against anyone in a given year, but they do tend to be double-digit chalk at least once per season, and it's usually in these early season games against FCS competition often times. U Mass moved up from that classification early on in this decade, but they are still far from competitive and that will likely be the case in 2019 as well.

It's still Rutgers laying this big number though, and it's one that's been bet up since opening around -12. Rutgers is not expected to be all that competitive in the Big 10 either, but early action and market adjustment suggests laying it with Rutgers is the way to go. After all, they are 3-2 ATS the past four years as a double-digit favorite (2-0 ATS last two seasons), and the two ATS defeats were by the hook at -13.5 in a 13-point win, and a 38-point victory that fell short of covering -42. Rutgers may not be a great upset candidate in Big 10 play, but when they are projected to win easily, that's what they tend to do.

Definitely tough to lay it now with the best of the number long gone and it still saying “Rutgers” beside that point spread, but don't be surprised to see Rutgers feeling extra confident going into Iowa next week off a blowout 20+ point win this week.

Oklahoma State (-14.5) vs Oregon State, Total 74

Too far to travel for Oklahoma State out of the gate?
The betting market has already shown support for Rutgers and their chalk this week, but the same can't be said for Oklahoma State and their chalk out on the road in Corvallis. An opening line of -16.5 saw quick resistance at -17, before even more action started to settle on the Beavers, knocking it down to it's current state of -14.5. That's a move that does look a bit more significant then it really is – moves tend to be multiple points between the key numbers of -14 and -17 – but is this move going to be the right one?

You never know how the actual game will play out, but on the surface, taking a home dog at more then two TD's against a team that's got to travel a long way and has a history of shooting itself in the foot at times does make a lot of sense. But then it puts you on this Oregon State Beavers program who's likely to struggle again this season.

The Beavers do have more experience on offense that will help them be a bit more competitive in the end, but not necessarily the firepower that OK State brings to the party. With a total in the mid-70's, can you really trust that Oregon State will score 30+ here? Oregon State managed to hit that mark in their first three games a season ago vs Ohio State, Southern Utah, and Nevada, but it's not a thing I'd count on regularly from this team, even if it is against an OK State team that gave up 32.5 points/game a season ago.

It still is the Cowboys on the other side of the field though, and they are no strangers to losing games outright as multiple score favorites. It is a long way for them to travel to not really increase the standing of their potential 2019 resume much (it may be a Pac-12 team, but it's still Oregon State), and if the offense doesn't find itself in sync, can a defense that's been bad for years really carry the load? Not something I'm willing to risk a unit on to find out, as this game could end up landing rather close to either side of this current number.

Colorado State vs Colorado (-13.5), Total 57
The annual tradition of Colorado and Under in this rivalry game
The Colorado/Colorado State game has opened up the season for these two programs in nine of the past 11 years, but as is the case whenever these two meet up, support for Colorado and the 'under' always takes center stage.

While totals for some of these games have been out for weeks and line moves over that kind of time span are going to generally be greater, this total opened up at 64.5 at the beginning, and apart from a blip of 'over' money a few days ago, it's all 'under' money on this total. Considering that of those past 11 matchups between these two instate rivals, the 'under' has gone 10-1 against the number, it's easy to see why that side of the total is getting support. The hatred seems to never take a summer break for these schools and they bring it in terms of physicality every year. Oddsmakers continue to put out totals that get pounded to the 'under' and keep having to pay out.

Backing Colorado ATS is the yearly tradition as well, and with a 7-3-1 ATS record the past 11 years in this game – including entering this year on a 3-0 ATS run – the Pac-12 team has lived up to the general belief that nearly all Power 5 conference teams should be able to beat the non-Power 5 schools. This spread has really only seen Colorado money since coming out at -11, and we could end up seeing this game close at greater than two TD's.

However, eventually one of these initial numbers that oddsmakers put out on this yearly contest is going to be more accurate then the market continues to think, and of determining whether to go against the recent runs of Colorado and the 'under' in these games, it would be the total streak that I believe will get snapped.

Colorado is going to be much more consistent on offense this year, and the defense will continue to not be great. Colorado State is in a similar position this year as well, so when you've got the strengths of both sides going up against the weaknesses on both sides, chances are siding with the former will work out better.

Colorado State already gave up 42.5 points per non-home game last year, and last year's game, despite cashing the 'under' easily with a 45-13 score staying well below the 65.5 total, that final score this season would now hit current 'over' bets. It's not like it's rare for these CFB totals with major moves to land somewhere in the middle of those moves, leaving a lot of initial steam chasers left in the dark.

But having hitting that key number of 57 (and even lower in some places), I think we see these two rivals bring out the points this year, in a game that in all likelihood results in another Colorado win.

Best Bet: Over 57 points

**StarDust Bum** · 08-30-2019, 04:10 AM

Friday's Tip Sheet
August 27, 2019
By Matt Blunt

We've got to wait a week before we get those stand alone Friday night affairs in college football this year, but that's not necessarily a bad thing as the opening Friday of the season is never short on action. This year we get eight games of FBS action to help further along that great first weekend of college football, and with the market place geared up for these games for months now, all eight will see significant action.

However, with seven of the eight games having double-digit favorites currently listed, how competitive these eight games on Friday end up being is up for debate. Three of the seven teams laying double-digits are doing so on the road, with Big 10 teams Wisconsin and Purdue being two of those three. Michigan State is another Big 10 team in action, laying 20+ and climbing at home against Tulsa.

With plenty of action available out there, there are a few games that deserve at least some discussion, so let's take a look at a few different spots out there on Friday night.

Massachusetts at Rutgers (-15.5), Total 55.5
Rutgers as a double-digit favorite? Is it warranted?
It's not often that Rutgers gets to be laying points against anyone in a given year, but they do tend to be double-digit chalk at least once per season, and it's usually in these early season games against FCS competition often times. U Mass moved up from that classification early on in this decade, but they are still far from competitive and that will likely be the case in 2019 as well.

It's still Rutgers laying this big number though, and it's one that's been bet up since opening around -12. Rutgers is not expected to be all that competitive in the Big 10 either, but early action and market adjustment suggests laying it with Rutgers is the way to go. After all, they are 3-2 ATS the past four years as a double-digit favorite (2-0 ATS last two seasons), and the two ATS defeats were by the hook at -13.5 in a 13-point win, and a 38-point victory that fell short of covering -42. Rutgers may not be a great upset candidate in Big 10 play, but when they are projected to win easily, that's what they tend to do.

Definitely tough to lay it now with the best of the number long gone and it still saying “Rutgers” beside that point spread, but don't be surprised to see Rutgers feeling extra confident going into Iowa next week off a blowout 20+ point win this week.

Oklahoma State (-14.5) vs Oregon State, Total 74

Too far to travel for Oklahoma State out of the gate?
The betting market has already shown support for Rutgers and their chalk this week, but the same can't be said for Oklahoma State and their chalk out on the road in Corvallis. An opening line of -16.5 saw quick resistance at -17, before even more action started to settle on the Beavers, knocking it down to it's current state of -14.5. That's a move that does look a bit more significant then it really is – moves tend to be multiple points between the key numbers of -14 and -17 – but is this move going to be the right one?

You never know how the actual game will play out, but on the surface, taking a home dog at more then two TD's against a team that's got to travel a long way and has a history of shooting itself in the foot at times does make a lot of sense. But then it puts you on this Oregon State Beavers program who's likely to struggle again this season.

The Beavers do have more experience on offense that will help them be a bit more competitive in the end, but not necessarily the firepower that OK State brings to the party. With a total in the mid-70's, can you really trust that Oregon State will score 30+ here? Oregon State managed to hit that mark in their first three games a season ago vs Ohio State, Southern Utah, and Nevada, but it's not a thing I'd count on regularly from this team, even if it is against an OK State team that gave up 32.5 points/game a season ago.

It still is the Cowboys on the other side of the field though, and they are no strangers to losing games outright as multiple score favorites. It is a long way for them to travel to not really increase the standing of their potential 2019 resume much (it may be a Pac-12 team, but it's still Oregon State), and if the offense doesn't find itself in sync, can a defense that's been bad for years really carry the load? Not something I'm willing to risk a unit on to find out, as this game could end up landing rather close to either side of this current number.

Colorado State vs Colorado (-13.5), Total 57
The annual tradition of Colorado and Under in this rivalry game
The Colorado/Colorado State game has opened up the season for these two programs in nine of the past 11 years, but as is the case whenever these two meet up, support for Colorado and the 'under' always takes center stage.

While totals for some of these games have been out for weeks and line moves over that kind of time span are going to generally be greater, this total opened up at 64.5 at the beginning, and apart from a blip of 'over' money a few days ago, it's all 'under' money on this total. Considering that of those past 11 matchups between these two instate rivals, the 'under' has gone 10-1 against the number, it's easy to see why that side of the total is getting support. The hatred seems to never take a summer break for these schools and they bring it in terms of physicality every year. Oddsmakers continue to put out totals that get pounded to the 'under' and keep having to pay out.

Backing Colorado ATS is the yearly tradition as well, and with a 7-3-1 ATS record the past 11 years in this game – including entering this year on a 3-0 ATS run – the Pac-12 team has lived up to the general belief that nearly all Power 5 conference teams should be able to beat the non-Power 5 schools. This spread has really only seen Colorado money since coming out at -11, and we could end up seeing this game close at greater than two TD's.

However, eventually one of these initial numbers that oddsmakers put out on this yearly contest is going to be more accurate then the market continues to think, and of determining whether to go against the recent runs of Colorado and the 'under' in these games, it would be the total streak that I believe will get snapped.

Colorado is going to be much more consistent on offense this year, and the defense will continue to not be great. Colorado State is in a similar position this year as well, so when you've got the strengths of both sides going up against the weaknesses on both sides, chances are siding with the former will work out better.

Colorado State already gave up 42.5 points per non-home game last year, and last year's game, despite cashing the 'under' easily with a 45-13 score staying well below the 65.5 total, that final score this season would now hit current 'over' bets. It's not like it's rare for these CFB totals with major moves to land somewhere in the middle of those moves, leaving a lot of initial steam chasers left in the dark.

But having hitting that key number of 57 (and even lower in some places), I think we see these two rivals bring out the points this year, in a game that in all likelihood results in another Colorado win.

Best Bet: Over 57 points

**StarDust Bum** · 08-30-2019, 04:13 AM

Wisconsin faces test from USF in opener
August 29, 2019
By The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst likes the idea of a good early season test when the 19th-ranked Badgers visit South Florida.

The Badgers, who've played in the Big Ten championship game three of the past five years, entered last season with expectations of contending for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Instead, they slipped to 8-5 and failed to win 10 or more games for first time under Chryst.

''Every first game, you're going to find out a lot about yourself,'' Chryst said. ''You're going to get tested in ways that maybe you could anticipate and don't anticipate.''

South Florida is not a typical challenge for a program the caliber of Wisconsin, which rarely hits the road so early to face a non-Power Five conference opponent as talented as the Bulls.

USF started 7-0 and climbed into the Top 25 before finishing last season on a six-game losing streak, a collapse that coach Charlie Strong has difficulty explaining. The Bulls were a combined 21-4 the previous two years.

''We're not going to let that define us and how good we can be,'' said Strong, entering his third season at USF ''I like the (mind-set) we're in.''

Wisconsin is the highest ranked team USF has faced in a season opener at home. The Bulls are 0-3 vs. Top 25 opponents under Strong. They're 11-25 all-time against ranked teams, with seven of those victories coming at Raymond James Stadium.

STOP ME IF YOU CAN

Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor led the nation in rushing last season, finishing with 2,194 yards and 16 touchdowns. The 5-foot-11, 219-pound junior has produced 4,171 yards since the start of 2017. It's the most by a FBS runner in the first two years of a career.

''Wisconsin is an unbelievable football team, a well-coached football team,'' Strong said. ''They are going to tell you they are going to run the football and tell you you've got to go stop it.''

That's something the Bulls didn't do well a year ago, when they yielded 247.5 yards per game on the ground to rank 11th among 12 teams in the American Athletic Conference.

NEW OFFENSE

USF's collapse prompted Strong to make several changes, including hiring Division II national championship-winning coach Kerwin Bell as offensive coordinator. Bell has installed the up-tempo system that produced prolific numbers at Valdosta State, which averaged 523.9 yards and 52 points en route to winning last year's D-II title.

''It's a very dynamic offense. There's a lot of moving parts to it, but when things are part together well, it's something special,'' Bulls quarterback Blake Barnett said. ''I think things came together well in fall camp, and the jump from spring to now has been tremendous.''

Chryst said Wisconsin's defense will be challenged.

''I know a little bit about Kerwin and what he's done. He's a good football coach. It's going to be a good plan,'' he said. ''The same thing on defense. They're going to have a good plan and good players.''

BIG OPPORTUNITY

USF has won five in a row against Power Five conference opponents, including Illinois and Georgia Tech last season. The Bulls' lone loss in their last eight vs. Power Five schools was a 55-35 home loss to Florida State in 2016.

''In order to take this program where you want to take it, we have to play these games,'' said Strong, whose team will face Georgia Tech on the road next week. ''Our guys understand that challenge.''

**StarDust Bum** · 08-30-2019, 04:13 AM

Wisconsin faces test from USF in opener
August 29, 2019
By The Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst likes the idea of a good early season test when the 19th-ranked Badgers visit South Florida.

The Badgers, who've played in the Big Ten championship game three of the past five years, entered last season with expectations of contending for a spot in the College Football Playoff. Instead, they slipped to 8-5 and failed to win 10 or more games for first time under Chryst.

''Every first game, you're going to find out a lot about yourself,'' Chryst said. ''You're going to get tested in ways that maybe you could anticipate and don't anticipate.''

South Florida is not a typical challenge for a program the caliber of Wisconsin, which rarely hits the road so early to face a non-Power Five conference opponent as talented as the Bulls.

USF started 7-0 and climbed into the Top 25 before finishing last season on a six-game losing streak, a collapse that coach Charlie Strong has difficulty explaining. The Bulls were a combined 21-4 the previous two years.

''We're not going to let that define us and how good we can be,'' said Strong, entering his third season at USF ''I like the (mind-set) we're in.''

Wisconsin is the highest ranked team USF has faced in a season opener at home. The Bulls are 0-3 vs. Top 25 opponents under Strong. They're 11-25 all-time against ranked teams, with seven of those victories coming at Raymond James Stadium.

STOP ME IF YOU CAN

Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor led the nation in rushing last season, finishing with 2,194 yards and 16 touchdowns. The 5-foot-11, 219-pound junior has produced 4,171 yards since the start of 2017. It's the most by a FBS runner in the first two years of a career.

''Wisconsin is an unbelievable football team, a well-coached football team,'' Strong said. ''They are going to tell you they are going to run the football and tell you you've got to go stop it.''

That's something the Bulls didn't do well a year ago, when they yielded 247.5 yards per game on the ground to rank 11th among 12 teams in the American Athletic Conference.

NEW OFFENSE

USF's collapse prompted Strong to make several changes, including hiring Division II national championship-winning coach Kerwin Bell as offensive coordinator. Bell has installed the up-tempo system that produced prolific numbers at Valdosta State, which averaged 523.9 yards and 52 points en route to winning last year's D-II title.

''It's a very dynamic offense. There's a lot of moving parts to it, but when things are part together well, it's something special,'' Bulls quarterback Blake Barnett said. ''I think things came together well in fall camp, and the jump from spring to now has been tremendous.''

Chryst said Wisconsin's defense will be challenged.

''I know a little bit about Kerwin and what he's done. He's a good football coach. It's going to be a good plan,'' he said. ''The same thing on defense. They're going to have a good plan and good players.''

BIG OPPORTUNITY

USF has won five in a row against Power Five conference opponents, including Illinois and Georgia Tech last season. The Bulls' lone loss in their last eight vs. Power Five schools was a 55-35 home loss to Florida State in 2016.

''In order to take this program where you want to take it, we have to play these games,'' said Strong, whose team will face Georgia Tech on the road next week. ''Our guys understand that challenge.''

**StarDust Bum** · 08-30-2019, 02:16 PM

FRIDAY, AUGUST 30
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

RICE at ARMY 06:00 PM
U 47.5

WIS at USF 07:00 PM
USF +10.5
U 59.0

TLSA at MSU 07:00 PM
O 47.0

MASS at RUTG 07:15 PM
U 54.0

USU at WAKE 08:00 PM
WAKE -4.0
U 59.5

PUR at NEV 09:30 PM
PUR -11.0
U 58.5

CSU at COLO 10:00 PM
COLO -13.5
O 56.0

OKST at ORST 10:30 PM
OKST -13.5
U 71.0

**StarDust Bum** · 08-31-2019, 03:23 AM

Taylor scores 4 TDs, No. 19 Wisconsin routs USF 49-0
August 30, 2019
ShareFacebookTwitterDiggMySpace

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Jonathan Taylor is off and running.

Catching, too.

Taking up where he left off a year ago, when he led the nation in rushing with 2,194 yards and 16 touchdowns, Taylor ran for 135 yards and accounted for four TDs to help No. 19 Wisconsin open the season with a 49-0 rout of South Florida on Friday night.

The junior scored on runs of 37 and 38 yards and also had the first two receiving TDs of his career as the Badgers strive to become a more balanced team on offense.

''You work all offseason like I did, and to have that receiving touchdown come to life, I'm really excited about that,'' said Taylor, who scooted 36 yards up the left sideline after taking a quick flip from Jack Coan in the second quarter. ''It motivates you to see that hard work pay off.''

Taylor's second TD reception gave the Badgers a 28-0 lead just before halftime. He finished with two catches for 48 yards after having just eight for 60 yards last season.

''Jonathan was good in a lot of different ways. He was awfully patient on one run, and he had the little screen that he took,'' Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said. ''You get him in space and he's pretty good.''

Wisconsin's defense delivered a dominating performance, too, limiting South Florida to 157 yards total offense and forcing three turnovers, including a fumble that Matt Henningsen returned 16 yards for a second quarter touchdown.

The loss was the seventh straight for USF, which dropped the final six games of 2018 after starting 7-0 and climbing into the Top 25.

''A very disappointing, very embarrassing loss,'' USF coach Charlie Strong said. ''As a head coach, I thought I had them ready to play and I guess I didn't. And we showed it.''

Blake Barnett completed 13 of 30 passes for 109 yards for the Bulls. He was intercepted twice.

''The team that played out there tonight is not the team that we are,'' the quarterback said. ''A lot of mental errors, lack of execution, lack of effort. It stems from everyone, that's myself included.''

THE TAKEAWAY

Taylor joined Melvin Gordon (2014) and Ron Dayne (1996, 1999) as the only Badgers to top 2,000 yards rushing in a season in 2018, and he looks like he's primed for another big year after gaining 100-plus for the 23rd time in 28 career games. Coan carried his share of the load, too, rebounding from overthrowing a couple of open receivers deep in the first half to finish 19 of 26 for 199 yards without an interception.

Last season's collapse prompted Strong to make several changes, including hiring NCAA Division II national championship-winning coach Kerwin Bell as offensive coordinator. The Bulls were held to 26 yards rushing and outgained 433 to 157 overall.

WEATHER DELAY

The start of the game was delayed 55 minutes because of lightning.

RARE COMPANY

Taylor rushed for 4,171 yards as a freshman and sophomore, most ever by a Football Bowl Subdivision player in the first two years of a career. With 135 Friday night, he moved within 694 of joining Dayne, Georgia's Herschel Walker and Oregon's LaMichael James as the only players to rush for over 5,000 through their junior season.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Realistically, minimal. The Badgers opened with a true road game for the first time since beating UNLV 41-21 in Las Vegas in 2010. And while Chryst welcomed what he anticipated would be a good test from USF, the Bulls were overmatched from the start.

OUCH

The 49-point setback was the worst in the 23-year history of USF's program, surpassing a 42-3 loss to Arkansas in 2002. The Bulls were shut out for the first time since falling 16-0 at home to UCF in 2014.

UP NEXT

Wisconsin: Home opener vs. Central Michigan on Sept. 7.

South Florida: Travel to Georgia Tech next Saturday for rematch of game Bulls won 49-38 in Tampa last year.

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

No. 18 Michigan State shuts down Tulsa in 28-7 win
August 30, 2019
ShareFacebookTwitterDiggMySpace

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) Raequan Williams knocked the ball out, and Kenny Willekes recovered it in the end zone.

When Michigan State's defensive linemen are playing like this, the Spartans' offense has plenty of margin for error.

Willekes recovered two fumbles, including one for a touchdown, and No. 18 Michigan State manhandled Tulsa 28-7 on Friday night. Willekes, back on the field after breaking his leg in last season's Redbox Bowl, was part of a swarming Michigan State defense that held the Golden Hurricane to minus-73 yards rushing.

The touchdown by Willekes came after he and Williams sacked Zach Smith near the goal line. The ball came free, and Willekes came up with it to put Michigan State up 22-0.

''Thank you Raequan for my first touchdown,'' Willekes said. ''It speaks to how, I think, the chemistry on our defense, how much work we put in this offseason - you see how dominant we are when we play together, we all do our job.''

The Spartans (1-0) still had their problems offensively, but that made little difference on this night.

Tulsa (0-1) botched two shotgun snaps in the second quarter - part of the reason its rushing total ended up so far below zero. One of those loose balls went out of the end zone for a safety.

''This may be the best defensive line we faced as a whole since I've been here,'' said Philip Montgomery, now in his fifth season as Tulsa's coach. ''We've played some very good teams obviously. This group that we faced tonight, there's guys that everybody across the board is a big deal player.''

The big question coming into this game was how Michigan State's offense would look after the Spartans scored only 32 points over the final four games of 2018. Coach Mark Dantonio shuffled roles around among his offensive assistants, making Brad Salem the offensive coordinator.

''Obviously, our defense played outstanding,'' Dantonio said. ''I thought our offense went down the field the first series, and then stalled out after that. Too many missed opportunities.''

Michigan State got the ball first and capped a penalty-aided drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Brian Lewerke to Connor Heyward. Then the defense - which was No. 1 in the nation against the run last season - took over.

Tulsa went with Smith, a Baylor transfer, at quarterback over returning sophomore Seth Boomer. It would have probably been a long night no matter who was in. Michigan State was up 25-0 before the Golden Hurricane scored. Smith threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Sam Crawford late in the second quarter.

The Spartans have won 21 straight home openers.

RECORDS

Tulsa's rushing total set a school record for each team. It was the lowest rushing total for the Golden Hurricane, breaking the mark of minus-56 from the Humanitarian Bowl against Georgia Tech in 2004.

It was the lowest total allowed by the Spartans, who held Pittsburgh to minus-63 in a 1950 game.

''Our defensive line is dominant,'' Dantonio said. ''I mean, they're good. I think they handled the line of scrimmage, and we tackled well.''

FLAGS

On Michigan State's second play from scrimmage, Tulsa was called for holding and a personal foul on the same play. That set the tone for the evening. The Golden Hurricane finished with eight penalties for 80 yards, and Michigan State had 14 for 122.

THE TAKEAWAY

Tulsa: The Golden Hurricane had trouble running and passing, and they didn't help themselves with three first-half turnovers. The final score could have been a lot worse.

''They're a really good defense. We knew that coming in, and we knew we couldn't shoot ourselves in the foot,'' Smith said. ''That's exactly what we did. We shot ourselves in the foot too many times.''

Michigan State: The Spartans were never in much danger of losing this one, but in the end, they scored only one offensive touchdown. The offense failed to take full advantage of great field position in that second quarter, and there was some grumbling from fans at Spartan Stadium at various points in the night.

''The crowd reacts how they want, and you can't really control that,'' Lewerke said. ''It's probably right for them to do so, in a sense. The offense was lacking. We've just got to be better.''

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Michigan State was in the Top 25 despite all the concerns about the offense, and this comfortable win isn't likely to threaten that ranking.

UP NEXT

Tulsa visits San Jose State next Saturday night.

Michigan State hosts Western Michigan next Saturday night.

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

Army holds off Rice 14-7
August 30, 2019
ShareFacebookTwitterDiggMySpace

WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) Stymied off and on by a swarming Rice defense in a tight game, Army quarterback Kelvin Hopkins Jr. finally did what he's become so accustomed to doing - guiding a time-consuming scoring drive that sank the hard-luck Owls.

Army converted five third downs on an 18-play, game-winning drive that took over 9 minutes of the fourth quarter and left the Owls in a hole they couldn't climb out of in the season opener for both teams. Hopkins hit Kell Walker with a 17-yard touchdown pass with 3:48 left and Army escaped with a 14-7 victory on Friday night at Michie Stadium.

A false start on third down had pushed the ball back to a third-and-8 at the 17 before Hopkins found Walker all alone on the left side near the goal line with 3:58 left in the game.

''Honestly, it was just the mindset of the offense,'' Hopkins said. ''We knew that we were going to have to make a drive, make a push, especially with time winding down. Thirteen minutes, that's right around where we want to get the ball and hold it as long as possible. The defense was carrying us a lot at points. We were putting them in some bad spots.''

The Owls threatened one last time, driving into Army territory. Quarterback Wiley Green lost the ball while scrambling and Army's Jacob Covington nearly covered it before Aston Walter fell on it for Rice with just over a minute left. A last-gasp sideline pass on fourth down by Green was broken up by Jaylon McClinton at the Army 15 with seconds to play.

''It's all about staying composed,'' Army linebacker Cole Christiansen said. ''We're used to things like that happening. We thought we had won the game. I think it's a testament to our team.''

The Black Knights have won 14 straight games at home and 10 straight overall, the second longest active winning streak in college football, behind only national champion Clemson.

''That game could have gone either way,'' Army coach Jeff Monken said. ''Our guys in the end found a way. We just overcame a lot.''

Hopkins, who last year became the first player in academy history to run for 1,000 yards and pass for 1,000 yards in a season, finished with 80 yards rushing on 21 carries and was 3 of 8 passing for 53 yards as he operated with a new center and a new backfield.

Army, which finished last season ranked No. 19, lost a key part of its offense to graduation with the departure of fullbacks Darnell Woolfolk and Andy Davidson. Woolfolk was the workhorse, accounting for 956 yards and 14 TDs. Senior Connor Slomka (74 carries for 324 yards, 4.4 average and five TDs) and junior Sandon McCoy (16-65, 4.1) were being counted on to carry much of the load this season, but Slomka has been hobbled by an undisclosed injury and did not play.

The Owls, who started preparing for this game in the spring, held the Black Knights in check in the first half, limiting them to 120 yards on 30 plays, 103 of it on the ground on 27 carries, a 3.8-yard average. Last season, Army averaged 4.9 yards per carry, ranked second nationally with 312 yards per game, and won a school-record 11 games with its ball-control offense. The Black Knights finished with 231 yards rushing against the Owls, averaging 4.1 yards per carry.

''Obviously, a very tough loss and a game that we thought we could have won,'' said Rice linebacker Antonio Montero, who had a career-high 11 tackles. ''But this gives us a lot of confidence knowing that if we can hang in there with a really good team like Army we can win a lot of games this season and down the road.''

''I couldn't be prouder of these guys,'' Rice coach Mike Bloomgren added. ''That's a great team on the other sideline. They made a few plays. It's a credit to that team.''

Hopkins gave the Black Knights a 7-0 lead on a 2-yard run midway through the second quarter, and big plays set up the score in a drive that took 16 plays and lasted nearly 10 minutes. After Army converted twice on third down and once on fourth, wide receiver Christian Hayes ran a reverse right for 35 yards on a third-and-9 play. One play later Hopkins hit Hayes again, this time along the left side for 17 yards to set up the score.

Rice tailback Nahshon Ellerbe, who missed almost all of last year with a knee injury, tied it at 7-7 with a 54-yard touchdown run on the Owls' next possession.

Ellerbe finished with 103 yards rushing on nine carries and Walter had 72 yards rushing on 18 carries.

POOR FIELD POSITION

Army started three drives inside its own 10-yard line.

KICKING WOES

Rice place-kicker Will Harrison missed field goals of 26 and 44 yards.

NO TURNOVERS, PLEASE

Last year Army lost only five fumbles in over 900 plays, but the Black Knights were bitten once in this one. McCoy had a nice gain up the middle into Rice territory late in the third quarter, but defensive lineman Elijah Garcia stripped the ball and linebacker Blaze Alldredge recovered for the Owls.The Army defense forced a punt.

GAMBLING MAN

Last season, Army led the nation in conversions on third down (112 of 196, 57% success rate) and fourth down (31 of 36, 86%), coach Jeff Monken's mantra as a gambling man. Without its powerhouse backfield from last year, Army sputtered early. The Black Knights, at their own 15-yard line, were held for no gain on third and fourth downs on their first possession of the game, needing just a yard to convert. But they escaped when Rice kicker Will Harrison shanked a 26-yard field goal attempt.

''That's who they are,'' Bloomgren said. ''Our defense stood tall. It really should have changed the game. We should have got points on the board there. We missed an opportunity, for sure.''

THE TAKEAWAY

Rice: The Owls were 2-11 last season, the first under coach Mike Bloomgren, who used a slew of freshmen and redshirt freshmen to build experience into his system. He also added seven graduate transfers to the roster with a total of 202 games of college experience and 144 wins. That should help the Owls improve going forward.

Army: The Black Knights lost a lot in the run game, and Monken had little experience in the backfield with the 240-pound Slomka out. McCoy gained 70 yards on 20 carries, a nice showing. Monken said he expected Slomka back for practice this week.

UP NEXT

Rice: Owls host Atlantic Coast Conference foe Wake Forest next Friday night.

Army: Black Knights are at Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 7.

**StarDust Bum** · 08-31-2019, 03:23 AM

Taylor scores 4 TDs, No. 19 Wisconsin routs USF 49-0
August 30, 2019
ShareFacebookTwitterDiggMySpace

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) Jonathan Taylor is off and running.

Catching, too.

Taking up where he left off a year ago, when he led the nation in rushing with 2,194 yards and 16 touchdowns, Taylor ran for 135 yards and accounted for four TDs to help No. 19 Wisconsin open the season with a 49-0 rout of South Florida on Friday night.

The junior scored on runs of 37 and 38 yards and also had the first two receiving TDs of his career as the Badgers strive to become a more balanced team on offense.

''You work all offseason like I did, and to have that receiving touchdown come to life, I'm really excited about that,'' said Taylor, who scooted 36 yards up the left sideline after taking a quick flip from Jack Coan in the second quarter. ''It motivates you to see that hard work pay off.''

Taylor's second TD reception gave the Badgers a 28-0 lead just before halftime. He finished with two catches for 48 yards after having just eight for 60 yards last season.

''Jonathan was good in a lot of different ways. He was awfully patient on one run, and he had the little screen that he took,'' Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said. ''You get him in space and he's pretty good.''

Wisconsin's defense delivered a dominating performance, too, limiting South Florida to 157 yards total offense and forcing three turnovers, including a fumble that Matt Henningsen returned 16 yards for a second quarter touchdown.

The loss was the seventh straight for USF, which dropped the final six games of 2018 after starting 7-0 and climbing into the Top 25.

''A very disappointing, very embarrassing loss,'' USF coach Charlie Strong said. ''As a head coach, I thought I had them ready to play and I guess I didn't. And we showed it.''

Blake Barnett completed 13 of 30 passes for 109 yards for the Bulls. He was intercepted twice.

''The team that played out there tonight is not the team that we are,'' the quarterback said. ''A lot of mental errors, lack of execution, lack of effort. It stems from everyone, that's myself included.''

THE TAKEAWAY

Taylor joined Melvin Gordon (2014) and Ron Dayne (1996, 1999) as the only Badgers to top 2,000 yards rushing in a season in 2018, and he looks like he's primed for another big year after gaining 100-plus for the 23rd time in 28 career games. Coan carried his share of the load, too, rebounding from overthrowing a couple of open receivers deep in the first half to finish 19 of 26 for 199 yards without an interception.

Last season's collapse prompted Strong to make several changes, including hiring NCAA Division II national championship-winning coach Kerwin Bell as offensive coordinator. The Bulls were held to 26 yards rushing and outgained 433 to 157 overall.

WEATHER DELAY

The start of the game was delayed 55 minutes because of lightning.

RARE COMPANY

Taylor rushed for 4,171 yards as a freshman and sophomore, most ever by a Football Bowl Subdivision player in the first two years of a career. With 135 Friday night, he moved within 694 of joining Dayne, Georgia's Herschel Walker and Oregon's LaMichael James as the only players to rush for over 5,000 through their junior season.

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Realistically, minimal. The Badgers opened with a true road game for the first time since beating UNLV 41-21 in Las Vegas in 2010. And while Chryst welcomed what he anticipated would be a good test from USF, the Bulls were overmatched from the start.

OUCH

The 49-point setback was the worst in the 23-year history of USF's program, surpassing a 42-3 loss to Arkansas in 2002. The Bulls were shut out for the first time since falling 16-0 at home to UCF in 2014.

UP NEXT

Wisconsin: Home opener vs. Central Michigan on Sept. 7.

South Florida: Travel to Georgia Tech next Saturday for rematch of game Bulls won 49-38 in Tampa last year.

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

No. 18 Michigan State shuts down Tulsa in 28-7 win
August 30, 2019
ShareFacebookTwitterDiggMySpace

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) Raequan Williams knocked the ball out, and Kenny Willekes recovered it in the end zone.

When Michigan State's defensive linemen are playing like this, the Spartans' offense has plenty of margin for error.

Willekes recovered two fumbles, including one for a touchdown, and No. 18 Michigan State manhandled Tulsa 28-7 on Friday night. Willekes, back on the field after breaking his leg in last season's Redbox Bowl, was part of a swarming Michigan State defense that held the Golden Hurricane to minus-73 yards rushing.

The touchdown by Willekes came after he and Williams sacked Zach Smith near the goal line. The ball came free, and Willekes came up with it to put Michigan State up 22-0.

''Thank you Raequan for my first touchdown,'' Willekes said. ''It speaks to how, I think, the chemistry on our defense, how much work we put in this offseason - you see how dominant we are when we play together, we all do our job.''

The Spartans (1-0) still had their problems offensively, but that made little difference on this night.

Tulsa (0-1) botched two shotgun snaps in the second quarter - part of the reason its rushing total ended up so far below zero. One of those loose balls went out of the end zone for a safety.

''This may be the best defensive line we faced as a whole since I've been here,'' said Philip Montgomery, now in his fifth season as Tulsa's coach. ''We've played some very good teams obviously. This group that we faced tonight, there's guys that everybody across the board is a big deal player.''

The big question coming into this game was how Michigan State's offense would look after the Spartans scored only 32 points over the final four games of 2018. Coach Mark Dantonio shuffled roles around among his offensive assistants, making Brad Salem the offensive coordinator.

''Obviously, our defense played outstanding,'' Dantonio said. ''I thought our offense went down the field the first series, and then stalled out after that. Too many missed opportunities.''

Michigan State got the ball first and capped a penalty-aided drive with a 15-yard touchdown pass from Brian Lewerke to Connor Heyward. Then the defense - which was No. 1 in the nation against the run last season - took over.

Tulsa went with Smith, a Baylor transfer, at quarterback over returning sophomore Seth Boomer. It would have probably been a long night no matter who was in. Michigan State was up 25-0 before the Golden Hurricane scored. Smith threw a 28-yard touchdown pass to Sam Crawford late in the second quarter.

The Spartans have won 21 straight home openers.

RECORDS

Tulsa's rushing total set a school record for each team. It was the lowest rushing total for the Golden Hurricane, breaking the mark of minus-56 from the Humanitarian Bowl against Georgia Tech in 2004.

It was the lowest total allowed by the Spartans, who held Pittsburgh to minus-63 in a 1950 game.

''Our defensive line is dominant,'' Dantonio said. ''I mean, they're good. I think they handled the line of scrimmage, and we tackled well.''

FLAGS

On Michigan State's second play from scrimmage, Tulsa was called for holding and a personal foul on the same play. That set the tone for the evening. The Golden Hurricane finished with eight penalties for 80 yards, and Michigan State had 14 for 122.

THE TAKEAWAY

Tulsa: The Golden Hurricane had trouble running and passing, and they didn't help themselves with three first-half turnovers. The final score could have been a lot worse.

''They're a really good defense. We knew that coming in, and we knew we couldn't shoot ourselves in the foot,'' Smith said. ''That's exactly what we did. We shot ourselves in the foot too many times.''

Michigan State: The Spartans were never in much danger of losing this one, but in the end, they scored only one offensive touchdown. The offense failed to take full advantage of great field position in that second quarter, and there was some grumbling from fans at Spartan Stadium at various points in the night.

''The crowd reacts how they want, and you can't really control that,'' Lewerke said. ''It's probably right for them to do so, in a sense. The offense was lacking. We've just got to be better.''

POLL IMPLICATIONS

Michigan State was in the Top 25 despite all the concerns about the offense, and this comfortable win isn't likely to threaten that ranking.

UP NEXT

Tulsa visits San Jose State next Saturday night.

Michigan State hosts Western Michigan next Saturday night.

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

Army holds off Rice 14-7
August 30, 2019
ShareFacebookTwitterDiggMySpace

WEST POINT, N.Y. (AP) Stymied off and on by a swarming Rice defense in a tight game, Army quarterback Kelvin Hopkins Jr. finally did what he's become so accustomed to doing - guiding a time-consuming scoring drive that sank the hard-luck Owls.

Army converted five third downs on an 18-play, game-winning drive that took over 9 minutes of the fourth quarter and left the Owls in a hole they couldn't climb out of in the season opener for both teams. Hopkins hit Kell Walker with a 17-yard touchdown pass with 3:48 left and Army escaped with a 14-7 victory on Friday night at Michie Stadium.

A false start on third down had pushed the ball back to a third-and-8 at the 17 before Hopkins found Walker all alone on the left side near the goal line with 3:58 left in the game.

''Honestly, it was just the mindset of the offense,'' Hopkins said. ''We knew that we were going to have to make a drive, make a push, especially with time winding down. Thirteen minutes, that's right around where we want to get the ball and hold it as long as possible. The defense was carrying us a lot at points. We were putting them in some bad spots.''

The Owls threatened one last time, driving into Army territory. Quarterback Wiley Green lost the ball while scrambling and Army's Jacob Covington nearly covered it before Aston Walter fell on it for Rice with just over a minute left. A last-gasp sideline pass on fourth down by Green was broken up by Jaylon McClinton at the Army 15 with seconds to play.

''It's all about staying composed,'' Army linebacker Cole Christiansen said. ''We're used to things like that happening. We thought we had won the game. I think it's a testament to our team.''

The Black Knights have won 14 straight games at home and 10 straight overall, the second longest active winning streak in college football, behind only national champion Clemson.

''That game could have gone either way,'' Army coach Jeff Monken said. ''Our guys in the end found a way. We just overcame a lot.''

Hopkins, who last year became the first player in academy history to run for 1,000 yards and pass for 1,000 yards in a season, finished with 80 yards rushing on 21 carries and was 3 of 8 passing for 53 yards as he operated with a new center and a new backfield.

Army, which finished last season ranked No. 19, lost a key part of its offense to graduation with the departure of fullbacks Darnell Woolfolk and Andy Davidson. Woolfolk was the workhorse, accounting for 956 yards and 14 TDs. Senior Connor Slomka (74 carries for 324 yards, 4.4 average and five TDs) and junior Sandon McCoy (16-65, 4.1) were being counted on to carry much of the load this season, but Slomka has been hobbled by an undisclosed injury and did not play.

The Owls, who started preparing for this game in the spring, held the Black Knights in check in the first half, limiting them to 120 yards on 30 plays, 103 of it on the ground on 27 carries, a 3.8-yard average. Last season, Army averaged 4.9 yards per carry, ranked second nationally with 312 yards per game, and won a school-record 11 games with its ball-control offense. The Black Knights finished with 231 yards rushing against the Owls, averaging 4.1 yards per carry.

''Obviously, a very tough loss and a game that we thought we could have won,'' said Rice linebacker Antonio Montero, who had a career-high 11 tackles. ''But this gives us a lot of confidence knowing that if we can hang in there with a really good team like Army we can win a lot of games this season and down the road.''

''I couldn't be prouder of these guys,'' Rice coach Mike Bloomgren added. ''That's a great team on the other sideline. They made a few plays. It's a credit to that team.''

Hopkins gave the Black Knights a 7-0 lead on a 2-yard run midway through the second quarter, and big plays set up the score in a drive that took 16 plays and lasted nearly 10 minutes. After Army converted twice on third down and once on fourth, wide receiver Christian Hayes ran a reverse right for 35 yards on a third-and-9 play. One play later Hopkins hit Hayes again, this time along the left side for 17 yards to set up the score.

Rice tailback Nahshon Ellerbe, who missed almost all of last year with a knee injury, tied it at 7-7 with a 54-yard touchdown run on the Owls' next possession.

Ellerbe finished with 103 yards rushing on nine carries and Walter had 72 yards rushing on 18 carries.

POOR FIELD POSITION

Army started three drives inside its own 10-yard line.

KICKING WOES

Rice place-kicker Will Harrison missed field goals of 26 and 44 yards.

NO TURNOVERS, PLEASE

Last year Army lost only five fumbles in over 900 plays, but the Black Knights were bitten once in this one. McCoy had a nice gain up the middle into Rice territory late in the third quarter, but defensive lineman Elijah Garcia stripped the ball and linebacker Blaze Alldredge recovered for the Owls.The Army defense forced a punt.

GAMBLING MAN

Last season, Army led the nation in conversions on third down (112 of 196, 57% success rate) and fourth down (31 of 36, 86%), coach Jeff Monken's mantra as a gambling man. Without its powerhouse backfield from last year, Army sputtered early. The Black Knights, at their own 15-yard line, were held for no gain on third and fourth downs on their first possession of the game, needing just a yard to convert. But they escaped when Rice kicker Will Harrison shanked a 26-yard field goal attempt.

''That's who they are,'' Bloomgren said. ''Our defense stood tall. It really should have changed the game. We should have got points on the board there. We missed an opportunity, for sure.''

THE TAKEAWAY

Rice: The Owls were 2-11 last season, the first under coach Mike Bloomgren, who used a slew of freshmen and redshirt freshmen to build experience into his system. He also added seven graduate transfers to the roster with a total of 202 games of college experience and 144 wins. That should help the Owls improve going forward.

Army: The Black Knights lost a lot in the run game, and Monken had little experience in the backfield with the 240-pound Slomka out. McCoy gained 70 yards on 20 carries, a nice showing. Monken said he expected Slomka back for practice this week.

UP NEXT

Rice: Owls host Atlantic Coast Conference foe Wake Forest next Friday night.

Army: Black Knights are at Michigan on Saturday, Sept. 7.

Announcement

Cnotes 2019-2020 College Football Trends-News-Notes-Best Bets & Opinions !

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment

Comment