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

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 28
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

MISS at MSST 07:30 PM

MISS +1.5

U 58.5

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Ole Miss falls in Egg Bowl after urinating dog celebration
November 28, 2019

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) Luke Morgan missed a 35-yard extra point after Mississippi receiver Elijah Moore was penalized for celebrating a touchdown by crawling and pretending to urinate like a dog, and Mississippi State ended up with a 21-20 victory Thursday night in the 116th Egg Bowl.

Ole Miss (4-8, 2-6 Southeastern Conference) pulled within a point with 4 seconds remaining on Matt Corral's 2-yard pass to Moore, but Logan hooked the extra point after Moore cost the Rebels 15 yards.

Mississippi State (6-6, 3-5 Southeastern Conference) beat Ole Miss at home for the first since 2013.

The teams combined for seven sacks and 17 tackles for loss, and Mississippi State won the turnover battle 3-1.

The Bulldogs scored two first-half touchdowns, the first on Nick Gibson's 27-yard run and the second on the next possession on quarterback Garrett Shrader's 1-yard run. Ole Miss responded with two touchdowns of its own, with J.R. Plumlee scoring on a 2-yard run and Jerrion Ealy on a 5-yarder to tie it at 14 at the half.

Midway through the third quarter, the Bulldogs sacked Plumlee three times on the same drive, the third forcing a fumble. Seven plays later, Shrader scored on a 5-yard run to put Mississippi State up 21-14.

On the final drive of the game, Mississippi State committed three of its five total penalties and Ole Miss ran nine plays inside the 15 before eventually connecting for the touchdown.

THE TAKEAWAY

Ole Miss: The Rebels are young and continue to show signs of life under coach Matt Luke, but inconsistent play and the lack of a clear offensive strategy are the biggest reasons they'll be sitting at home this bowl season.

Mississippi State: After a long season that fell well short of expectations, an emotional home win over a hated rival might just be enough to keep second-year head coach Joe Moorhead from losing his job. But maybe not.

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CFB NOVEMBER OPINIONS AND BEST BETS: ALL BASED ON 5 UNITS

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD


11/28/2019...........2-0-0.......100.00%.........+10.00
11/26/2019...........2-2-0..........50.00%..........-1.00
11/23/2019........33-42-0.........44.44%..........-66.00
11/22/2019...........0-2-0..........00.00%.........-11.00
11/21/2019...........2-0-0........100.00%.........+10.00
11/20/2019...........1-3-0.........25.00%..........-11.50
11/19/2019...........3-1-0.........75.00%...........+9.50
11/16/2019........32-30-1.........51.61%...........-5.00
11/15/201.............3-1-0..........75.00%..........+9.50
11/14/2019...........1-3-0..........25.00%...........-11.50
11/13/2019...........3-1-0..........75.00%...........+9.50
11/12/2019...........2-2-0..........50.00%............-1.00
11/09/2019........32-27-0..........54.24%...........+11.50
11/08/2019...........2-2-0...........50.00%...........-1.00
11/06/2019...........2-0-0.........100.00%..........+10.00
11/05/2019...........1-3-0...........25.00%..........-11.50
11/02/2019........29-28-0,,,,,,,,,,50.88%............-9.00
11/01/2019.......... 1-1-0 ..........50.00%.......... -0.50

Totals................151-148-0....... 50.50%...........-62.00


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BEST BETS:

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

11/28/2019.............1 - 0............+5.00.............1 - 0...............+5.00...............+10.00
11/26/2019.............1 - 1.............-0.50.............1 - 1................-0.50................-1.00
11/23/2019............17 - 20...........-25.00..........12 - 10.............+5.00...............-20.00
11/22/2019.............0 - 1..............-5.50............0 - 1...............-5.50.................-11.00
11/21/2019.............1 - 0.............+5.00...........1 - 0...............+5.00................+10.00
11/20/2019.............1 - 1..............-0.50............0 - 2...............-11.00...............-11.50
11/19/2019.............2 - 0..............+10.00..........1 - 1..............-0.50.................+9.50
11/16/2019............20- 12............+40.00..........6 - 7...............-8.50................+31.50
11/15/2019.............2 - 0.............+10.00...........1 - 1...............-0.50................+9.50
11/14/2019.............1 - 1..............-0.50.............0 - 2...............-11.00...............-11.50
11/13/2019.............2 - 0.............+10.00...........1 - 1...............-0.50.................+9.50
11/12/2019.............2 - 0.............+10.00...........0 - 2...............-11.00...............-1.00
11/09/2019............13 - 14...........-12.00............4 - 2...............+9.00...............-3.00
11/08/2019.............2 - 0.............+10.00...........1 - 1................-0.50...............+9.50
11/06/2019.............1 - 0.............+5.00.............1 - 0...............+5.00..............+10.00
11/05/2019.............1 - 1..............-0.50.............0 - 2...............-11.00..............-11.50
11/02/2019............12 - 16...........-28.00............8 - 4...............+18.00.............-10.00
11/01/2019.............1 - 0.............+5.00.............0 - 1................-5.50...............-0.50

TOTALS.................76 - 66...........+37.50...........38 - 38............-8.00...............+29.50


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OCTOBER BEST BETS AND OPINIONS:
Totals...................142-133-0.........51.63%............-21.50

OCTOBER BEST BETS:
Totals....................73 - 57.........-79.30.............48 - 32............+36.50............-42.80

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Friday’s 6-pack

College hoop teams who are forcing the most turnovers:

— Arizona 27.6%

— Tulane 27.7%

— Arkansas/VCU 29.2%

— Kansas State 29.3%

— Stephen F Austin 31.4%

— Eastern Michigan 31.7%

Quote of the Day
“This is not the time for me [to make a coaching change]. I’m looking ahead at another ballgame. I’m looking ahead at winning four or five straight and helping write a story they will talk about, how it looks like you’re down and out. And I mean that. That’s the way that I’m operating. Every decision that I make over the next month will be with an eye in mind to get us in the Super Bowl now.”
Jerry Jones, after Thursday’s loss to Buffalo

Friday’s quiz
Which two college football teams play annually for the Old Oaken Bucket?

Thursday’s quiz
In bowling, if you get a turkey, it means you rolled three strikes in a row.

Wednesday’s quiz
Georgia basketball coach Tom Crean was Dwyane Wade’s college coach.

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

13) Buffalo 26, Dallas 15:
— 9-3 Bills might be the most unheralded 9-3 team ever.
— The next few weeks are going to be a good time for Lincoln Riley’s agent, because it is hard to believe that Jason Garrett will be the Cowboys’ coach next year.

12) Saints 26, Falcons 18:
— New Orleans wins NFC South, is first team to qualify for playoffs.
— Atlanta outgained Saints, 348-280, but turned ball over three times in 2nd half.

11) Chicago 20, Detroit 17:
— Lions’ first two drives: 13 plays, 153 yards, two TD’s.
— Lions’ last eight drives: 54 plays, 211 yards, one FG.

10) Lions are 9-18-1 under 2nd-year coach Matt Patricia, who got hired because he worked for New England- they win a lot. Problem is, Patricia didn’t bring Tom Brady with him to Detroit.

Lions fired Jim Caldwell, who went 36-28 in four years with Detroit, making the playoffs twice in those four years. Still an interesting decision, two years later.

9) Michigan 73, North Carolina 64— Wolverines went on a 19-0 run early in 2nd half; they made 11-26 on the arc, and are now 6-0 under rookie coach Juwan Howard.

8) Long Beach State 66, Providence 65— 49ers were a 16.5-point underdog; they were down 17 early in second half. Friars turned ball over 21 times; this is a bad loss for then.

7) Gonzaga 73, Oregon 72 OT— Zags led 24-7 early, but for second day in row, Oregon stormed back and erased a big lead- they led by 4 in OT, but Gonzaga ended game on a 7-2 spurt and will play Michigan in the Atlantis finals Friday afternoon.

6) Marquette 73, Davidson 63— Wildcats had made a 3-pointer in 809 consecutive games, but went 0-15 in this game, which ends the streak. Markus Howard scored 40 for Mar quote, which made 27-38 on foul line (Davidson was 15-23).

Rising star in TV business is former Cincinnati/Ole Miss coach Andy Kennedy, who is working the Orlando tournament this weekend. Smart, funny and knows when to be quiet.

5) Harvard 62, Texas A&M 51— Crimson were a perfect 22-22 on foul line, offsetting their 6-29 day on the arc. Harvard moves on to play Maryland Friday.

4) Virginia’s 2nd-leading scorer Braxton Key is out indefinitely after having wrist surgery this week. Cavaliers are 7-0 after smothering Maine 46-26 Wednesday.

3) Patriots kicker Nick Folk had an appendectomy, will miss this week’s game in Houston; former Redskins kicker Kai Forbath is expected to be his replacement.

2) Mississippi State 21, Ole Miss 20— With 0:04 left in the Egg Bowl, Ole Miss WR Elijah Moore caught a 2-yard touchdown pass that cut Mississippi State’s lead to 21-20; the PAT would tie the game.

After he scored, Moore lifted his leg like a dog and pretended to urinate after his score, and got an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for excessive celebration, pushing the PAT back 15 yards.

The kicker missed the PAT, Miss State won 21-20 and is now bowl eligible.

1) Penn 68, Central Florida 67— Kid on UCF thought he hit the game-tying 3 at the buzzer, but he was standing behind the wrong arc, and was standing on the 3-point arc. With so many different 3-point lines, he got confused. Good day for the Ivy League.

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Friday's MAC Best Bets
November 26, 2019
By Matt Blunt

Cold weather and poor offensive play got the better of both teams in last week's Colorado State/Wyoming contest, killing any chance the 'over' had to get there by halftime. It was the lone scenario I outlined that would lead to a Wyoming and 'under' result, as even though it ended as a 10-point victory for the Cowboys, it was a close game that Wyoming never trailed in throughout, and that was the best case scenario for an 'under' to come in.

This week we get a slew of college football games all throughout the day on Friday, as the annual post-Thanksgiving card is always heavy with collegiate football action. This year is no different, and who doesn't like to replenish some of those Black Friday funds the early morning shopping seemingly everyone wants to have some part in.

Hopefully this week's plays will help you recoup some of that dough spent on Black Friday deals, as I've got a favorite, underdog, and total play to break down. And while there are some games on Friday that feature more prominent programs, if you are a fan of MACtion, then this piece is for you.

Miami-Ohio at Ball State (CBSSN, 12:00 p.m. ET)
Favorite Best Bet: Ball State (-3)
On the surface, seeing a 4-7 SU Ball State team flat out laying the consensus home field advantage number (-3) against a 7-4 SU Miami (OH) team may seem a bit puzzling to some. After all, Miami (OH) is the MAC East champion this year and have rolled through conference play with a 6-1 SU record. But it's precisely that fact that the Redhawks are division champions that makes Ball State a great play.

Miami (OH) has absolutely nothing to play for in this game as they've got bigger fish to fry next week (MAC Title game) and it's a spot where the Redhawks could simply be out there going through the motions, not trying to get hurt. They've blown out Ball State the past two years – as expected with SU and ATS wins laying -17 and -15.5 – won this rivalry game the past three years, and can't be excited for this game at all considering what they've got on deck.

Conversely, Ball State may not be a great team, but this is what they've got to consider as their “Bowl game” in an otherwise down year. The season hasn't finished out how they would have liked with four straight losses coming into this game – the last three of which came by 4 points or less – and this final game presents them with one final opportunity to end the year on a high note. Beating a rival is always nice, but beating a rival that was a division champion tends to feel that extra bit sweeter for a team like the Cardinals that knows their season is over after this one.

This line tells you all you need to know about the motivation levels and overall prospects for both teams involved, as Ball State should win this game by at least a TD.

Toledo at Central Michigan (ESPNU, 12:00 p.m. ET)
Underdog Best Bet: Toledo (+9.5)
The focus on the MAC continues with this play, as this Toledo/Central Michigan game has some concerning motivational aspects involved with it as well.

It all starts with whether or not Central Michigan really wants to be here, as pending Tuesday's result in the Western Michigan/Northern Illinois game, they could have a lot, or nothing at all to play for. A SU loss by Western Michigan in that game means that the MAC West title is still in play for Central Michigan, and all they would need is an outright win. If that scenario comes to fruition, it means that the pressure to win becomes that much greater for the Chippewas, and pressure can do some funny things when you are essentially a double digit favorite.

Yet, this play is on the basis of making an educated guess that Western Michigan – who's laying nearly double digits themselves on Tuesday night – will come away with the win over Northern Illinois and wrap up the MAC West crown. That means that Central Michigan has absolutely nothing to play for in this game, and chances are we see this number come crashing down. I'm looking to stay ahead of the market in that respect and looking to take the best of it while I can.

Granted, a Western Michigan loss on Tuesday would likely influence this line the other way and it won't be the best of the number at all, but sometimes in this business you've got to fire with incomplete information at your disposal to get the best of it, and as I said earlier, I expect Western Michigan to take care of their business, meaning that I do believe this game means nothing for Central Michigan. And while it can be argued that it means little to Toledo – who is already Bowl eligible with six wins – this Rockets team is in dire need of a confidence boost going into all those December practices.

Conference play has not been kind to Toledo this year, as they've got a losing record in conference play (3-4 SU), and nothing has come easy. They had one of the losses of the year in college football when they lost 20-7 to Bowling Green as -26.5 chalk, a game that they haven't been able to live down. That defeat sparked a 2-4 SU run coming into this game, and both wins were by three points or less. Understandably, all of this could be part of a case for betting against Toledo here, especially when their previous three road conference games have all resulted in SU losses by at least 13 points.

However, given the even worse spot for Central Michigan (in all likelihood), taking the points is something I prefer to do here, especially when you see the majority of action already on the Chippewas – betting percentage numbers currently at VegasInsider.com have Central Michigan taking a healthy 80%+ of action right now – and the number hasn't moved.

Toledo would love to feel better about their overall game heading into Bowl season, and hanging tough against a decent team is a great way to do that. Pending Tuesday's result with Western Michigan, this line for Toledo/Central Michigan will likely see some movement, and I'm betting now that it will move the Rockets way.
Kent State at Eastern Michigan (ESPN+, 12:00 p.m.)
Total Best Bet: Kent State/Eastern Michigan Over 65
Rounding off this card with one final MACtion play, and it's another one that currently shows a strong majority of the action going the other way with the number yet to move.

Betting percentages currently show a healthy 75%+ on the low side of this total, and I'm not entirely sure why. Weather forecasts for Friday appear to be fine, and while 65 is the highest total Eastern Michigan has seen for one of their games this year, it's not like it's insurmountable.

Eastern Michigan has put up 40+ points in each of their past two games, and 34 or more in four of their last five. They are on a 4-0-1 O/U streak during that span, and while defensively they've tightened things up of late in allowing 14 and 17 points respectively – possibly a reason behind 'under' support – with six wins already themselves, a sense of urgency to get key stops may not necessarily be there for them this week. Eastern Michigan's defense has brought it the past two weeks, and now that those games, both on the road, resulted in wins to get them Bowl eligible, they could be out there looking to play in a track meet style game.

If that's the case, Kent State won't mind, as they've gone 3-0 O/U in their last three games overall, and three of their last five contests have finished with 68 or more points. In fact, if you eliminate their road game against arguably the worst team in all of college football – Akron – the Golden Flashes have allowed an average of 42.6 points per game. In conference road games (excluding Akron again) that number dips to 40 points allowed per contest, and with the Eagles hitting that mark the past two weeks, getting 35-40 points from Eastern Michigan in their 'loosey goosey' role of potentially wanting to pad stats, I don't believe that's a huge ask.

At the same time, Kent State needs a SU victory here to get Bowl eligible themselves, and they know that the strength of their team is on offense. They've put up 30 or more in their last three games and four of five, and have gone 4-0 ATS in those four contests.

That's not to say they will cover the number here, but they have tended ot have their most success this season in MAC play when they are putting up 30 or more. Considering Eastern Michigan has allowed 33 points/game in conference home games this season, the Eagles aren't opposed to playing that style of game on their turf either.

With Kent State on a 4-1 O/U run on the road against a winning home team, 6-1 O/U when coming off a SU win, and Eastern Michigan on a 4-1 O/U run off a win of 20+, going against the early majority of support on this total appears to be the way to go.

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Total Moves - Week 14
November 28, 2019
By Matt Blunt

Not sure I could have been more wrong in going against the move to the 'over' last week in the UCLA/USC game, as that was about as easy of a win as it gets for 'over' backers. Thankfully, the SMU/Navy game managed to stay 'under' all of their numbers in the 35-28 Navy win to salvage a split for the card.

As we arrive at the final week of the regular season this week, hopefully we can end the season on a high note with this week's two plays, and erase what's been a bad month with these selections. Sweeping the board will mitigate some of the damage the past few weeks have brought, and it would be a nice way to end a holiday weekend. YTD: 12-15 ATS

Week 14 Total move to disagree with:

Texas A&M/LSU from 61 to 64
At 7-4 SU, the Texas A&M Aggies may not look like they've had a great season to some, but when you consider their four defeats came to Georgia, Alabama, Auburn, and Clemson – all teams currently ranked in the Top 15 and three of them ranked in the Top 5 – that perspective should be easy to change. Jimbo Fisher's squad has made the most of what was a brutal schedule coming in, and they've got one more stiff challenge in #2 LSU this week. At this point, if LSU, Clemson, and Georgia all hold their current positions and make the CFB playoff, you'd better believe that Jimbo Fisher is probably going to field some calls about scouting those teams from others involved.

But the common thread in nearly all of those games against top teams is that they were lower scoring games for the Aggies. Yes, they went 2-2 O/U against Clemson, Alabama, Auburn, and Georgia, but only the Alabama game was a relative shootout (47-28) and that came after a bye week for the Aggies. The other three games finished with 48 points or less scored, and even including the Alabama result, the average points put up in those games clocks in at 47.25 per game. You don't hang tough against those types of quality opponents (Texas A&M went 2-2 ATS in those games) without a stout defense yourself, and going up against the Heisman front-runner in QB Joe Burrow this week will be a challenge I expect the Aggies to be ready for.

I would guess that a big part of this 'over' move has more to do with LSU and their explosive offense, as they've put up plenty of points on everyone this year. The Tigers have scored 40 or more points in all but two of thier games this season, and have hit 50 or more five times. It hasn't really mattered who they've faced, they've managed to score and that's likely a big driving force behind this total bump.

Another potential reason for the spike is the fact that these two played that epic 7-OT game last year that ended 74-72 in Texas A&M's favor and forced the OT rules to be changed this season. It's hard to forget outlier games like that as a bettor, and when this rivalry has gone 'over' the total in three straight years and at least 66 points have been scored in all of them, it's easy to look at the 'over' here, especially with LSU's offense being what it is this season.

But with the SEC championship game on deck, there is a scenario where LSU may not be as sharp as many expect on offense for this game, if they indeed are looking at what lies ahead for them. Even far from their best, the Tigers should be able to get the SU win here, but as the Aggies have shown against these quality foes, they won't go down easy. They'll look to shorten the game when they can to keep Burrow and company on the sidelines, and if this game is played where the winner ends up in the high-20's or mid-30's, that's where the Aggies would prefer it.

All three of the Aggies true road games this year have been easy 'under' winners – which suggests their defense knows how to travel – and even going back multiple years, the Aggies are on a 8-20 O/U run on the road against a foe with a winning record at home.

If Burrow and LSU's offense goes off then so be it, this 'under' play likely won't get there, but I don't believe that will be the case against a battle-tested team like the Aggies. I've got this game peaking in the high-50's when all is said and done, and the 'over' move to the current number gives that line of thought too much wiggle room to pass up.

Week 14 Total move to agree with:
Indiana/Purdue from 56 to 57
This total initially received some 'under' action before being bumped up to it's current number, and the move upwards is one I've got to agree with.

Indiana is a team that's seen either themselves or their opponent (or both) put up 30+ points in every single game this year, while Purdue has had at least one team in their game put up at least 24 points in every single one of their games this year. Given that the spread is Indiana -7 currently, getting at least a 30-24 type game right off the bat is a pretty good starting point for this 'over' play.

You would still need another score to surpass this total though, and that shouldn't be a problem, as neither team is all that exceptional on defense, and that's especially the case for the Hoosiers on the road. Indiana gives up 422.2 yards per road game this year, basically the same number Purdue allows overall (428.5 yards allowed/game) which suggests we should get upwards of 850 total yards of offense in this game. Barring numerous red zone turnovers, 800+ yards offensively should lead to seeing at least 60 total points scored.

Finally, this rivalry has had some interesting results over the years in terms of totals, and it all depends on who is at home. This year it's Purdue, and the last four times the Boilermakers have been hosts, the 'over' has gone 4-0. That run should continue to hold true this season.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL WEEK 14 BONUSES

Other Notable Moves

Up
Wake Forest-Syracuse: 67 to 69

Down
Middle Tennessee State-Western Kentucky: 49.5 to 46.5
Fresno State-San Jose State: 65.5 to 62.5
Notre Dame-Stanford: 51 to 47.5
Miami, Fl.-Duke: 47 to 45

[StarDust Bum]

Little at stake this time as Washington hosts Washington St
November 28, 2019
By The Associated Press

SEATTLE (AP) Chris Petersen made it clear that Washingtonâ??s season will be viewed as an underachievement no matter what happens in the Apple Cup. Such is the case of raised expectations after three straight appearances in New Yearâ??s Six bowl games.

â??We should compete for the Pac-12 championship. Thatâ??s the goal, and thatâ??s what we should be able to do,â?? the Huskies coach said.

Across the state, Mike Leach is likely feeling the same at Washington State after three straight years of the Cougars being in the hunt for a Pac-12 North title.

Itâ??s with a backdrop of disappointment for both programs that Washington and Washington State meet Friday for the 112th time in the Apple Cup. After three straight years of some of the most anticipated matchups in the history of the rivalry, this yearâ??s meeting is a collective dud.

Washington (6-5, 3-5) has lost three of four, including last weekâ??s offensive flop at Colorado. Washington State (6-5, 3-5) became bowl eligible thanks to Max Borghiâ??s last-second TD run to give the Cougars a 54-53 victory over Oregon State last Saturday.

The lack of importance has created little buzz about the matchup. Maybe thatâ??s to be expected after the recent history when they couldnâ??t be much higher. But outside of bragging rights and perhaps a better bowl game destination, there is little at stake this time around.

â??I think itâ??s really big between the fans. You hear about it all the time,â?? Leach said. â??I think the players, weâ??re trying to improve and thatâ??s the biggest thing we can do this week.â??

The loser will end up tied for last in the Pac-12 North. And for Washington State, it is trying to snap a six-game losing streak to the Huskies. A win by Washington this year would be the longest streak by either side since the Huskies won eight straight between 1974-81.

â??Weâ??re going to do everything we can to earn that seventh win and the fact that itâ??s Washington, weâ??ve struggled in the past, but as a team weâ??re really taking it on ourselves to not make this game anything more than it is,â?? Washington State quarterback Anthony Gordon said. â??Itâ??s just another opportunity to improve.â??

MR. 5,000

Gordon already owns the conference record for TD passes in a season at 45. He needs 80 yards passing to post the 16th 5,000-yard passing season at the FBS level. This will be Gordonâ??s first and only Apple Cup appearance after waiting his turn in Washington Stateâ??s quarterback hierarchy.

Heâ??s hoping to have far better success than other Cougars QBs in recent seasons against the Huskies. In the past three meetings, Luke Falk and Gardner Minshew were held to 263 yards passing and threw eight interceptions.

Gordon has been a little sloppy with ball protection, throwing 14 interceptions. He also will be facing a Washington pass defense that while still good isnâ??t quite the elite group from recent seasons.

â??I think we need to just ride the wave that weâ??re on,â?? Washington State wide receiver Renard Bell said.

OFFENSIVE WOES

Can Washington put together some offensive consistency thatâ??s been lacking for big chunks of the season? The Huskies will have a chance against a Washington State defense that is giving up more than 31 points per game and ranks near the bottom of the conference in passing defense (ninth) and rush defense (11th). The Huskies have scored just 33 offensive points in the past eight quarters. Jacob Eason is completing just 56% of his passes and has thrown five interceptions in the past three games.

While Washington played well in its loss to Oregon, it hasnâ??t shown a major offensive punch since the second half of its win at Arizona.

â??When we do get into a rhythm, when we do stay on the field, we can be pretty darn productive and good at times,â?? Petersen said.

GROUND GAME

Whether itâ??s Borghi for the Cougars or Salvon Ahmed for Washington, the running backs are likely to get plenty of touches this week. Borghi has 740 yards rushing and 10 rushing touchdowns, to go along with 69 receptions and four more scores. Ahmed needs 85 yards to reach 1,000 rushing for the season. He was shut down last week by Colorado but two games ago had a career-high 174 yards against Oregon State.

SCORE EARLY

With the exception of the 2013 matchup, Washington has dominated the first half during its six-game winning streak over the Cougars. Combined over the six games, Washington is outscoring Washington State 107-30 in the first half. The only time Washington State led was when the Cougars had a 10-3 halftime edge in 2013.

The Cougars havenâ??t scored a first-quarter touchdown against Washington since 2012.

[StarDust Bum]

Much has changed for the Beavers and the Ducks over 4 years
November 28, 2019
By The Associated Press

Four years ago, Oregon State pulled off a 34-24 victory over Oregon in the Civil War, snapping an eight-game losing streak in the series. It was also the Beaversâ?? last win in the rivalry game.

So much has changed since then for both programs.

In the days following the game, Oregon dismissed coach Mark Helfrich after a disappointing 4-8 season. The Ducks hired Willie Taggart, who lasted a year on the job before bolting for Florida State. That made way for current coach Mario Cristobal.

Oregon Stateâ??s coach in 2016 was Gary Andersen, who was in his second season. The Beavers also ended the year 4-8 but at least won the statewide bragging rights that go with a Civil War victory.

A year later, Andersen resigned midseason and the Beavers won just one game. Former quarterback Jonathan Smith took over the next year.

Even though theyâ??re 20-point underdogs this season, the Beavers (5-6, 4-4) have plenty of motivation going into the 123th Civil War game. Theyâ??re just a win away from bowl eligibility and Saturdayâ??s game at Autzen Stadium in Eugene marks the teamâ??s last chance to reach the postseason for the first time since 2013.

â??Thereâ??s been a lot of work and progress this year to get to this point where weâ??re still playing for the postseason,â?? Smith said. â??So really proud of the effort of our players and coaches through this thing. Itâ??s always a big game, but thatâ??s not going to change our preparation leading up to it.â??

Fourteenth-ranked Oregon (9-2, 7-1, No. 14 CFP) already has clinched the Pac-12 North for a spot in the league championship, but its chances of reaching the College Football Playoff this season were thwarted by a loss at Arizona State last weekend.

â??It should be incredibly intense, it should be incredibly physical, and I donâ??t think either side would want it any other way,â?? Cristobal said. â??Thatâ??s what we all want toward the end of November, last game of the season, the Civil War. Itâ??s going to be a great afternoon.â??

While the Ducks were only slight favorites in that 2016 game, and it was in Corvallis, it sure felt like an upset for the fans at Reser Stadium, who rushed the field and hoisted Ryan Nall, who ran for 155 yards and four touchdowns in the victory.

Justin Herbert started in that game as a true freshman and threw for 180 yards and a touchdown. Saturdayâ??s game will be his final one at Autzen.

Some other notable upsets and near-upsets in Civil War history:

THE FLY SWEEP: The Beavers snapped a 10-game winning streak for the home team in the 2007 Civil War when freshman James Rodgers scored on a fly sweep for a 38-31 double-overtime victory at Autzen. On Oregon's chance to answer, the Beavers stopped Jonathan Stewart on fourth-and-1 from the 16.

THE INTERCEPTION: The visiting Beavers stunned the Eugene crowd in 1953 when Oregon quarterback Barney Holland's pass bounced off the hands of George Shaw - the first pick of the 1955 NFL draft by the Baltimore Colts - and was intercepted by Oregon State's Tommy Little. He returned it 30 yards for the only touchdown in a 7-0 victory.

FINISHING BIG: In his first year with the Beavers, coach Jerry Pettibone led Oregon State to a victory after 10 straight losses to start the 1991 season. Ian Shields, playing with a broken big toe, scored on a 6-yard bootleg for the go-ahead touchdown. Oregon State won 14-3, the Beavers' first victory in Eugene in 18 years.

HARRINGTON TEARS: In 2000, the No. 8 Beavers denied the fifth-ranked Ducks a trip to Pasadena with a 23-13 victory in the War for the Roses. Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington uncharacteristically threw five interceptions and afterward cried in the arms of his father. Smith was Oregon Stateâ??s quarterback. The Beavers, who won a program-record 11 games that season, went on to play in the Fiesta Bowl and finished the year ranked No. 4 in the country. The Ducks went to the Holiday Bowl.

BEAVERS DENIED: In 2008, the Beavers were looking at their first Rose Bowl in 44 years with a victory in the final game when the Ducks romped to a 65-38 win in Corvallis. The next year the game was dubbed the "War of the Roses" because the winner was guaranteed a Rose Bowl berth. Oregon won 37-33.

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Boise on cusp of its 1st unbeaten MW mark
November 28, 2019
By The Associated Press

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) Howâ??s this for motivation: The Boise State Broncos are poised to do something no other Boise State Broncos team has ever accomplished.

Not the team of Kellen Moore and Doug Martin. Not the squads of Jay Ajayi or Brett Rypien, either.

With a win Friday at Colorado State, the 20th-ranked Broncos can go undefeated through Mountain West regular season play for the very first time.

So, no, the Broncos (10-1, 7-0, No. 20 CFP) arenâ??t looking past the Rams (4-7, 3-4) and on to the championship game the following week against Hawaii.

â??Around here, letâ??s be honest, thereâ??s not a lot of things that you get a chance to do for the first time,â?? Boise State coach Bryan Harsin said. â??Thereâ??s been a lot of success at Boise State over the years. When you get a chance to talk about doing something for the first time, if that doesnâ??t fire you up as a competitor, then something is wrong with you.â??

Boise State has finished Mountain West play with one loss five times since joining the league in 2011. That includes in 2017, when a team that had Rypien (now with the Denver Broncos) and linebacker Leighton Vander Esch (a first-round pick by Dallas in â??18) lost the regular-season finale to Fresno State. The following week, the Broncos beat the Bulldogs in the leagueâ??s title game.

â??Everybodyâ??s attention is on what we need to do this week,â?? Harsin said. â??Itâ??s all about us finishing. Thatâ??s our mindset.â??

This sure got Colorado Stateâ??s attention: Boise State storming out to a 49-point lead on Utah State last weekend as the team cruised to a 56-21 win.

â??They jumped on Utah State so quick I had to turn the channel and wait until the next day before I started watching Boise a little more,â?? said Rams coach Mike Bobo, who could be on the hot seat after a second straight losing season.

Boise Stateâ??s offense can take off in a hurry - no matter whoâ??s playing quarterback for the Broncos. Jaylon Henderson directed the offense to precision at Utah State as he threw three TD passes. He was stepping in with starter Hank Bachmeier and backup Chase Cord banged up.

The Rams are 0-8 all-time against Boise State on the gridiron. They did throw a scare at the Broncos in 2017, when they led 35-10 before falling 59-52.

The Broncos remember that well.

â??We watched it in the past to show what happened,â?? Harsin said. â??We came back to win it, but that was as ugly as can be early on. Thereâ??s no one in this room that wants to see that happen again.â??

SLOPPY CONDITIONS

A blizzard Tuesday dropped more than a foot of snow in Fort Collins, which could make the conditions sloppy. The weather forecast for Friday is temperatures in the low 30s with a possible light snow/rain mix in the afternoon.

â??Sometimes when itâ??s sloppy it gives a team thatâ??s an underdog a better advantage,â?? Bobo said. â??But weâ??re going to have to play in it, too.â??

BOBOâ??S CREW

The Rams will honor 13 seniors as they try to send them out on a winning note. Some of them were part of Boboâ??s early recruiting class.

â??It does take you back,â?? Bobo said. â??You realize youâ??ve been here a while and seen guys grow up. I wish they would have been able to leave with a chance to play for a championship.â??

RANKED FOES

Colorado State is looking for its first win over a ranked opponent since beating No. 22 Virginia and No. 7 Colorado to start the 2002 season. The Rams are 13-34 against ranked teams since 1993.

â??Any time youâ??re playing somebody thatâ??s considered one of the best teams in the country, it gives you an extra incentive as a football team to go out and prove that you can play with anybody,â?? Bobo said.

HARSINâ??S RUN

Under Harsin, the Broncos have turned in five 10-win seasons and are about to make their fourth trip to the leagueâ??s championship game. On Dec. 7, they will host Hawaii, a team they beat 59-37 on Oct. 12 in Boise.

â??Weâ??re not playing the championship game this week. Weâ??re playing Colorado State,â?? Harsin cautioned. â??Weâ??ll get to the championship game. We all know weâ??re in it.â??

ROAD SCHOLARS

Boise State closed the regular season with back-to-back road games. Itâ??s the first time the Broncos have done that since 1991 and only the fourth time in school history.

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Memphis, Cincy play to host title game
November 28, 2019
By The Associated Press

The 17th-ranked Memphis Tigers have a chance to do something for the first time in program history.

So does No. 18 Cincinnati.

The chance to host the American Athletic Conference championship will be on the line Friday when the Bearcats visit Memphis for the first time since 2015. The winner also has a shot at possibly playing in the Cotton Bowl as the best of the Group of Five leagues this season.

Memphis (10-1, 6-1, No. 18 CFP) can win a third straight West Division title and set up a rematch with Cincinnati, the East Division champ. A loss would leave Memphis hoping Houston beats Navy to clinch the West in a tiebreaker.

Memphis coach Mike Norvell isn't looking that far ahead.

''You can't allow it to,'' Norvell said. ''We have to throw everything we have into this opportunity, so we can discuss that next week. Right now it's all about this one game, this opportunity.''

A 10th straight victory will allow Cincinnati (10-1, 7-0, No. 19 CFP) to host the title game at Nippert Stadium where the Bearcats have won 13 straight.

''There's blood in the water, man,'' Cincinnati senior guard Chris Ferguson said.

Memphis has beaten Cincinnati three straight and four of the last six with the teams sharing the league title with UCF in 2014. The Tigers lost in the title game each of the past two years on the road at UCF, including last season when they blew a 38-21 halftime lead. Memphis is undefeated at home this season.

''We're taking it I think to new heights, and we got an opportunity to do that with something that's never been done here come Friday,'' Norvell said.

Some other things to know about Friday's Cincinnati-Memphis showdown:

POTENTIAL REMATCH

If Memphis and Cincinnati play again next week for a title, it won't be the first time that's happened. Middle Tennessee beat UAB in the regular season finale last year only to lose the rematch and the Conference USA title. In 2017, Fresno State took the first game only to see Boise State win the Mountain West Conference championship. Stanford won in UCLA in 2012 before winning the Pac-12 title on its home field.

CLOSE CALLS

Cincinnati hasn't lost since being routed by Ohio State in September, and the Bearcats are the only AAC team undefeated in league play. That doesn't mean it's been easy for the Bearcats. They had to rally from 12 points down in the fourth quarter to beat East Carolina 46-43 on a late field goal. They rallied from 10 down in the second half to win at South Florida on another last-second field goal.

They edged Temple 15-13 last week needing to block an extra point returned for 2 points that wound up the winning margin. Coach Luke Fickell says that's a mark of the AAC's strength.

''We've kind of gone through the ups and downs,'' Fickell said. ''I think emotionally, it's taken a little bit of a toll. But again, these guys find a way to endure. Whether or not it's the prettiest thing in the world, we find a way to win.''

RUNNING TIME

Both teams are really good at running the ball: Cincinnati ranks 34th in the nation averaging 197.3 yards per game and Memphis at 35 with 196.2 yards per game. Michael Warren II leads Cincinnati with 939 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns, while Memphis now has plenty of options with senior running back Patrick Taylor back from an injury that kept him out most of the season.

Taylor ran for 95 yards and three TDs last week as Memphis routed South Florida 49-10. Kenneth Gainwell ranks ninth nationally with 1,294 yards rushing with his seventh 100-yard rushing game in last week's win.

ACHING QB

Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ritter has been limited by an injured throwing shoulder the past two games. He threw for just 78 yards against South Florida, then managed only 62 yards passing with an interception despite playing the whole game against Temple. Fickell said Ridder couldn't practice early last week.

SLOWING WHITE

Memphis quarterback Brady White has 30 TD passes this season and is completing 67.1 percent of his passes. He has the Tigers averaging 292 yards passing, which is 20th in the nation. Cincinnati comes in ranked 69th against the pass, allowing 231.5 yards a game.

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App State closes regular season at Troy
November 28, 2019
By The Associated Press

TROY, Ala. (AP) Appalachian State coach Eliah Drinkwitz wants his players to â??clear the clutterâ?? and focus on their regular season finale.

The 22nd-ranked Mountaineers have already clinched a spot in the Sun Belt Conference championship game against Louisiana entering Fridayâ??s game at Troy. But the game does have some things at stake, from Appalachian Stateâ??s national and College Football Playoff rankings to home-field advantage in the title game.

The Mountaineers (10-1, 6-1 Sun Belt, No. 25 CFP) will host the league championship game with a win over the Trojans (5-6, 3-4) or a Louisiana loss Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe.

â??Our message to our team has been very clear,â?? Drinkwitz said. â??Weâ??re not done yet.

â??Thereâ??s more for us to accomplish. The seasonâ??s not over, and we need to finish it the right way.â??

The Trojans, meanwhile, must win to become bowl eligible and earn a chance at their fourth straight postseason trip in coach Chip Lindseyâ??s debut season. Theyâ??re coming off a 53-3 loss at Louisiana in a performance that Lindsey called â??unacceptable.â??

â??Weâ??ve had a reality check this week and I think our team will respond the right way,â?? Lindsey said.

Appalachian State is a 13-point favorite. The Mountaineers are seeking their second straight 11-win season and third since 2015.

â??When you look at App State on film you see why theyâ??re 10-1 and the Sun Belt East Division winners,â?? Lindsey said. â??They��re a really well-rounded football team, which is why theyâ??re 10-1 and going to play for a conference championship.â??

Some other things to know about Fridayâ??s Appalachian State-Troy matchup:

MISSING SUTTON

Appalachian Stateâ??s leading receiver Corey Sutton suffered a torn ACL in the last game against Texas State. The Kansas State transfer had 41 catches for 601 yards and seven touchdowns in nine games. He had eight catches for 183 yards and three touchdowns against Georgia State.

â??We are definitely going to miss Corey Sutton,â?? Drinkwitz said. â??Thatâ??s going to be a very significant loss.â??

HOMECOMING

Appalachian State has four players from Alabama, including quarterback Zac Thomas (Trussville), safety Josh Thomas (Montgomery), offensive lineman Cole Garrison (Pinson) and injured running back Camerun Peoples (Lineville).

MALZAHN TIES

Both head coaches formerly worked under Auburn coach Gus Malzahn. Drinkwitz was a quality control assistant during the Tigersâ?? 2010 national championship season when Malzahn was offensive coordinator. He was Malzahnâ??s running backs coach two years later at Arkansas State. Lindsey was Malzahnâ??s offensive coordinator in 2017 and 2018.

ROAD SUCCESS

Appalachian State has won seven straight road games, which is tied with No. 5 Alabama for the second-longest active streak. No. 3 Clemson has won 11 straight road games. Only eight FCS teams are unbeaten on the road this season.

RANKED VISITORS

Appalachian State is only the third Top 25 team to visit Veterans Memorial Stadium. The Trojans beat No. 17 Missouri 24-14 in 2004 and lost to No. 22 Boise State 56-20 last season.

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TCU hosts West Virginia again having to win finale for bowl
November 28, 2019
By The Associated Press

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) Garret Wallow and TCU are in the same position again, having to win their last regular season game just to get bowl eligible.

''It's definitely like last year's situation. Definitely very intense,'' said Wallow, the junior linebacker and Big 12 leading tackler. ''It's on the line, so all of us want to make it to a bowl game, all of us want to give the seniors the best season they can have.''

While the current seniors made it to the Big 12 championship game in 2017, this could be the third time in four years that TCU finishes the regular season with exactly six wins - just enough to get to a bowl

The Horned Frogs (5-6, 3-5 Big 12) have to win Friday at home against West Virginia (4-7, 2-6), or will miss a bowl for only the third time in coach Gary Patterson's 19 seasons. They had to win their final two games last year, and did that before beating California in the Cheez-It Bowl.

Five of their six losses this season are by a touchdown or less, including 28-24 at No. 7 Oklahoma last Saturday night, when the Frogs thought they had forced a fourth down late before the reviewed spot gave the Sooners a first down and allowed them to run out the clock.

''It means that we're close, it means we haven't made enough plays,'' Patterson said of all the one-score games. ''It means that you have enough ability to be close, but ... either we're screwing things up or we're not making the right calls, or we're not right there yet to be able to make those plays.''

West Virginia's bowl hopes under first-year coach Neal Brown, the former Texas Tech offensive coordinator, ended last week in a 20-13 home loss to No. 21 Oklahoma State.

''I believe our guys will show up and play hard. ... I think it's about two things from a motivational factor: sending the seniors out on a positive manner and having a building block going into our offseason,'' Brown said. ''We need to finish this on a positive note.''

OFFENSIVE SPARK

Bowling Green transfer quarterback Jarret Doege is 59-of-85 passing (69.4%) for 660 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions in three games. He started the last two, and will retain his eligibility as a junior next season even after playing the finale.

''I think they like the way he throws the ball around. They've changed the offense,'' Patterson said.

FINDING POSITIVES

Brown has had to deal with youth, injuries and some players leaving the team. He did find a positive in the Oklahoma State loss, with the Cowboys getting held to 285 total yards and national rushing leader Chuba Hubbard's 106 rushing yards being his fewest since early September.

''Defensively, overall, a really good performance. We got fatigued in the fourth quarter,'' Brown said. ''Some of that is because we don't have a whole lot of depth. The defensive line and the secondary, it's kind of a culmination into Week 11 playing a lot of snaps.''

TOO MANY TACKLES?

Wallow leads the Big 12 with 10.3 tackles per game, and his 113 total tackles (68 solo, 45 assists) are nearly twice as many as the next-closest TCU player: sophomore safety Trevon Moehrig has 58.

''It's not a good thing when somebody has this many tackles. That means a lot of guys are not making tackles,'' Patterson said. ''In respect to Garret, is you have the ability to make those tackles. ... He's one of our leaders. He's been a captain all year and we're glad he's coming back next year.''

MAKING THEM COUNT

West Virginia receiver George Campbell, a graduate transfer from Florida State, has 19 receptions this season. Seven have gone for touchdowns, and he averages 24.7 yards per catch.

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Hokies, Cavs battle for Coastal Division
November 28, 2019
By The Associated Press

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) Virginia is hoping the third time is the charm they face No. 23 Virginia Tech.

The Cavaliers (8-3, 5-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) have twice previously played the Hokies with the ACC's Coastal Division title on the line, and neither went well. They lost 33-21 in 2007 and 38-0 in 2011, with both games at Scott Stadium. Virginia will be home again on Friday with the Coastal Division title on the line.

After a slow start to the season, the Hokies (8-3, 5-2) are the ACC's hottest team besides No. 3 Clemson, having won six of seven. The change started when they switched to Hendon Hooker at quarterback - he's 6-0 as the starter - and includes back-to-back shutouts against bowl-bound Wake Forest (45-0) and Pittsburgh (28-0) in the past two weeks.

The Hokies have also won the last 15 in the series, including a heartbreaker for the Cavaliers a year ago in Blacksburg, so their surge this season is attention-getting.

''I think Virginia Tech's brand has become stronger this year as they played, and their identity has become clearer of how their offense, defense and special teams fit together,'' said Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall, who has identified beating Virginia Tech as a top priority since his arrival four years ago. ''I think their defense is gaining momentum, doing a nice job over the last three weeks especially. Again, clarity on who they are, how they're going to play.''

The Cavaliers' loss last season came after they settled for a field goal to go ahead 31-25 with 2:41 to play. The Hokies' Hezekiah Grimsley recovered a fumble in the end zone to tie the game with 1:51 to play. The Cavaliers limited Virginia Tech to a field goal in overtime, but were unable to score themselves in the Hokies' 34-31 victory.

While he'd like to keep Virginia Tech's winning streak going, Hokies coach Justin Fuente knows the competitiveness in the series is a positive.

''I do think it's good that there is a lot at stake no matter what,'' Fuente said. ''We understand that, but it's good for the commonwealth that the teams are fairly successful. The thing about competition and rivalries and all that sort of stuff is when you are in it, it still comes down to execution.''

Some other things to watch when Virginia Tech and Virginia meet Friday for the Commonwealth Cup:

SIGNAL CALLERS

Quarterback play is critical in every game, but it's magnified in this one. Hooker is not only unbeaten as a starter, but he's thrown for 10 touchdowns without an interception. Virginia's Bryce Perkins leads the ACC with 3,161 yards of total offense, but also was charged with the fumble that ended last year's game in overtime.

SACK EXCHANGE

Both defenses rank among the nation's top 20 in sacks per game. Virginia is tied for eighth with 3.36 per game, and the Hokies are 12th with 3.18 per game. While Perkins is more dangerous when he tucks the ball to run, Hooker has also had success running and similar success would free things up for their other offensive weapons.

EMOTIONS

It will be senior day for Virginia with all fourth- and fifth-year player introduced along with their families before the game. It also will be the last matchup with Virginia for Hokies longtime defensive coordinator Bud Foster, who is retiring at season's end. Virginia Tech has a 21-3 record against Virginia with Foster as coordinator.

FANDOM

The crowd for these matchups at Scott Stadium has often featured a sizable Virginia Tech contingent decked out in maroon. Virginia's attendance and fan involvement have improved greatly this season, so even the players and coaches are likely to take note is they are greeted by a sea of maroon before kickoff.

FACTS AND STATS

Retiring Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster's defense has registered 36 shutouts in his 33 years at Virginia Tech. ... Virginia Tech is averaging 197 rushing yards and has 14 rushing touchdowns during its five-game ACC winning streak. ... The Hokies have outscored Virginia 436-180 during their streak. ... Virginia's Joe Reed needs 11 kickoff return yards to reach 3,000 for his career. ... Virginia has never won the Coastal Division and, with a win, would give each of the seven teams in the division one title in the last seven years.

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Texas needs win over Red Raiders to guarantee winning season
November 28, 2019
By The Associated Press

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Trying to avoid a losing season is not how Texas expected to spend its Thanksgiving weekend.

Yet, that is what faces the Longhorns on Friday as they host Texas Tech. Beat the Red Raiders and they guarantee coach Tom Herman's third season will at least finish above .500. Lose and they head into a panicky bowl season.

That's quite a fall for a team that began the season ranked in the top 10 and was among the favorites for the Big 12 title. Texas (6-5, 4-4 Big 12) limps into the game having lost two straight and four of its last six games.

Herman this week declared his program is heading into ''big-time evaluation mode,'' from analyzing play calling and game-planning, to recruiting and player development. He still thinks his team will be ready to play.

''I think the biggest motivation is the winning record,'' he said.

While Texas frets a season lost, the Red Raiders (4-7, 2-6) have a chance to end a frustrating 2019 with a boost for first-year coach Matt Wells. The only Texas Tech coach to beat Texas in his debut season was David McWilliams in 1986. Texas hired McWilliams the next season.

''Our bowl game will be this week in Austin and that's how we'll treat it,'' Wells said. ''And our guys will be absolutely ready to go.''

UPTIGHT TEXAS

Herman said he expects his team to be loose but there are reasons to be uptight. The possibility of a losing season looms heavy, the assistant coaches are on notice that their jobs could be on the line and even Herman is facing intense criticism over play calling. And fan apathy could be strong with a Friday morning game the day after a holiday in a disappointing season.

''We're all in this together, but at the end of the day the buck stops with me. So that is a big charge of mine in the offseason is to find a way to get these guys better developed and put them in better positions to succeed,'' Herman said.

LONGHORNS OFFENSE

The Texas offense has done one of the great disappearing acts of the season. The defense that was so bad early in the season has tightened up, but the offense that was so good early hasn't reached 30 points in the last four games. Quarterback Sam Ehlinger is completing just 57% of his passes over that stretch with six interceptions. Last week against Baylor was the first time this season Ehlinger didn't throw or run for a touchdown.

SLOW STARTS

Texas hasn't scored a touchdown in the first quarter of the last four games. The opening drives of the last three games have netted a total of six first downs and no points.

LATE COLLAPSE

Texas Tech has lost five games it led in the fourth quarter or overtime, with four conference losses by three points or less. The Red Raiders just haven't been able to make the winning play at the end.

''Shows you the unpredictability of college football and the parity of this league,'' Wells said. ''What if things turned different in one of those games or two of those games?''

BIG PLAY TURNER

Texas Tech's R.J. Turner has emerged as the team's big play receiver of late. He leads the Red Raiders with 619 yards receiving has touchdowns of 70 and 58 yards the last two weeks.

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Friday's Essentials
Tony Mejia

Here’s a look at what must be considered before wagering on Friday's slate in select FBS vs. FBS matchups:

Early Starts

Virginia Tech (-2/47) at Virginia, 12 p.m. ET, FOX: The Hokies are sending Bud Foster out in style, but let’s be clear – Foster is doing his part to ensure an exit befitting his legacy as his final days coordinating the defense for Virginia Tech play out. He announced prior to the season that this would be it following a health scare, so his 290th game in his current position will be his final one outside of a bowl game. If his team can pull an upset in Charlottesville, he’ll cram one more assignment in since the winner of this game will be the Coastal Division representative opposite Clemson in the ACC Championship game in Charlotte on Dec. 7.

Virignia Tech has pulled off back-to-back shutouts, dominating Georgia Tech and Pitt by a combined margin of 73-0. The Hokies have won six of seven games, falling by just a single point at Notre Dame as a 17.5-point underdog to open the month. The Cavaliers opened 4-0, suffered through a rough patch and now look to finish the regular-season with a fourth straight win, which would be UVa’s first in a Commonwealth Cup since 2003. Virginia has really struggled in this matchup but nearly won last season, coming up just shot in a 34-31 OT loss after QB Bryce Perkins fumbled to spoil a day where he accounted for four touchdowns and nearly 400 yards of offense. While nowhere near as experienced, Virginia Tech QB Hendon Hooker is 6-0 in starts and hasn’t been intercepted in 110 passes and counting.

Texas Tech at Texas (-9.5/64), 12 p.m ET, FOX: The Red Raiders can’t get bowl eligible, so this trip to Austin will have to suffice as their exclamation point on the season. It hasn’t been a good one for Texas Tech, which struggled after losing QB Alan Bowman, derailing Matt Wells’ first season. Replacement Jett Duffey has been inconsistent but is certainly capable when in a groove, so Tech can be dangerous if the Longhorns allow him to buy time for his receivers. We’ll see how invested Texas’ defense is considering the team is already bowl-eligible and will be a non-factor in the Big 12 race. Only Texas Tech and Kansas have been scored upon more in Big 12 play, so it’s not like the group has played inspired ball.

Offensively, Sam Ehlinger and his group have had their moments but a lot of inconsistency has plagued that group too. Texas is coming off a 24-10 loss to Baylor, which came on the heels of their lowest-scoring output of the season in a 23-21 loss at Iowa State. When the Longhorns were last home, edging K-State, they still harbored conference title aspirations. We’ll see how they handle finishing the season at home after disappointing. The forecast calls for showers, adding to fun.

Toledo at Central Michigan (-11/65), 12 p.m. ET, ESPNU: There’s going to be a lot of people just realizing that Jim McElwain is coaching again today. The former Gators coach known mostly for going viral on social media has done a tremendous job in his first season in Mount Pleasant, where he’ll be looking to secure the school’s first trip to the MAC Championship since 2009. Yep, Antonio Brown’s Chips were the last team to win the West, as this group is trying to do.

The Rockets have been a mess this season but have survived injuries and still have a winning record, so they’re an interesting spoiler here since they’ve already secured bowl eligibility. Top dual-threat QB Mitchell Guadagni has missed the past few weeks and experienced backup Eli Peters won’t play here either, so the Rockets are going to be starting a third-stringer in snowy Mount Pleasant. Tennessee transfer Quinten Dormady threw for a career-high 356 yards in his most recent outing and is worth watching. There’s no question the spread here is inflated, but taking points means you’re relying on a relative unknown with either redshirt freshman Carter Bradley or true freshman Cross Wilkerson working.

Afternoon Delights

Iowa (-5.5/45) at Nebraska, 2:30 p.m. ET, BTN: The Hawkeyes are looking for their fifth straight win in this series, cutting into a ‘Huskers lead that they built up from 1893-1941. You can understand by Iowa fans take offense to Nebraska people thumping their chest at the thought of owning the edge in this rivalry, now known as the “Heroes Game” and being played for the 50th time Take it easy, Iowa, your team is favored on the road at Memorial Stadium, which tells you how Scott Frost’s restoration project is going.

A loss here means that Frost has begun his tenure at his alma mater with multiple losing seasons. The absence of QB Adrian Martinez has tempered momentum this season, but they did at least snap a four-game losing streak with last week’s 54-7 rout at Maryland that teases a turning of the corner. We’ll find out here. Iowa won last season’s game 31-29 despite fielding a better team than they’ve got this season, so Nebraska has a chance to break through and really rescue its season. Rain is expected to factor in throughout.

Cincinnati at Memphis (-12/58), 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC: This game has a much national impact as any since the winner places itself in the driver’s seat to represent the Group of Five leagues in the Cotton Bowl. The Tigers are looking for their third straight West Division title and would be at Navy’s mercy with a loss here. A victory would mean that the American Athletic title game would be played at the Liberty Bowl next week. Cincinnati, already locked in as the East Division champ, will host with a win.

The Tigers have won four of six, including three straight. The Bearcats have repeatedly bounced back after finding themselves down in games this season, so they may be worth an in-game play if getting points if down early in the game. Bearcats QB Desmond Ritter has been dealing with a shoulder injury, so look for a healthy dose of Michael Warren II here. Tigers QB Brady White has thrown 30 touchdown passes, but he’ll be facing the best defense he’s seen since losing 30-28 at Temple on Oct. 12. Memphis has won five straight games since, averaging over 45 points per game and topping 42 each time.

Boise State (-14/57) at Colorado State, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBSSN: The Broncos are looking for their 11th win here as they try to complete a perfect run through the Mountain West regular-season slate. Hawai’i has already secured its spot in the title game by winning the West Division and will play the Broncos next week. Colorado State has dropped consecutive games to Air Force and Wyoming and is stuck playing spoiler here to close out another losing season. As you would expect, the Rams are treating it as a home bowl game, looking to beat a nationally-ranked opponent for the first time since 2002. Boise has never been able to navigate its conference schedule unscathed, so it is hoping to make some history amid snowy conditions in Fort Collins QB Hank Bachmeier is expected to return from injury, but check prior to game-time to make sure.

Washington State at Washington (-7/63.5), 4 p.m. ET, FOX: This year’s Apple Cup lacks intrigue since neither team is playing for anything beyond rivalry pride, having already secured winning records and bowl bids despite disappointing seasons given preseason expectations. On paper, this could have been one of the day’s biggest games, but both teams lost to Utah and Oregon and fell in a few other games they had no business dropping, creating a situation where the loser falls to 6-6. The Huskies lost to Stanford, while WSU routed it 49-22 behind QB Anthony Gordon’s 520 passing yards and five touchdowns. The Cougs pulled out last week’s meeting against Oregon State 54-53 behind Gordon’s 50 completions and 606 passing yards, but he threw three picks and will be facing a secondary that can punish mistakes.

Washington won last season’s meeting 28-15, landing a Pac-12 Championship appearance, so we’ll see if Chris Petersen’s team can demonstrate similar focus with nothing on the line. The Huskies have won nine of 10 in the series, including six in succession. Mike Leach hasn’t won an Apple Cup since 2012 but has a quarterback set to top the 5,000-yard mark to try and help engineer an upset. Gordon and RB Max Borghi have keyed an attack averaging over 41 points per game, but a defense that has given up over 31 points will have to deal with a capable group led by QB Jacob Eason. Temperatures should be in the high 30’s throughout.

Primetime Matchup

South Florida at UCF (-23.5/62), 8 p.m. ET, ESPN: The Knights will look to keep hopes for another 10-win season alive while they try to extend a dominant run over rival South Florida, who once refused to play the university located roughly an hour to the north because it wasn’t competitive enough. The Bulls have only won four games under Charlie Strong this season and are a massive ‘dog. There have been some great UCF-USF matchups over the years, but this one has all the makings of a blowout. South Florida’s top rusher, Jordan Cronkite, has been ruled out and QB Jordan McCloud is nursing a sore thumb, so keeping pace with UCF in the “Bounce House” will require playing well over their heads.

Avoiding a letdown here and closing out a promising first season for freshman Dillon Gabriel is the mandate for the home team, which could be closing out the Charlie Strong era if South Florida elects to pay a buyout and seek a new head coach following another disappointment. The Knights have won 20 straight games at Spectrum Stadium and expect a full house despite falling short of their goal of competing for conference and national titles.