NCAAF
Armadillo's Write-Up
Week 2
Friday’s games
Wake Forest gave up 596 yards but beat Utah State 38-35 at home LW; Aggies threw for 416 yards, WF 401. Rice lost its opener 14-7 at Army; total yardage was 284-243- Owls threw for only 62 yards. Wake plays local rival North Carolina Thursday; since 2010, Wake is 1-4 ATS as a road favorite. Last three years, Owls are 5-4 as home underdogs. Deacons (-27) beat Rice 56-24 in last meeting. Wake has more experienced OL (82 returning starts to 32). Last four years, ACC teams are 11-5 vs spread when playing a C-USA opponent.
Trap game for Boise State after their emotional comeback win at Florida State. Broncos have solid young QB in freshman Bachmeier; he threw for 407 yards at FSU last week. Under Harsin, Boise is 17-21 ATS as a home favorite- they’re 14-10 ATS in last 24 non-league games. Marshall whacked a I-AA team in their opener; hard to tell much about that. Since ’12, Marshall is 11-4-1 as a road underdog. Both teams have 100+ returning stats on their OL; Conference USA teams covered seven of last nine games as an underdog vs Mountain West opponents.
Saturday’s top 13 games
Syracuse blanked I-A newcomer Liberty 24-0 LW, holding Flames to 234 yards; over last decade, Orange are 8-3 ATS as road favorites. Syracuse has new QB and has only 48 returning starts on its OL. Maryland beat a terrible I-AA team LW; can’t tell anything about that. Terps won last series game 34-20 (+2.5) in Carrier Dome five years ago. Last five years, Maryland is 5-9 ATS as a home underdog. Since 2014, ACC teams are 13-18-1 vs spread when playing a Big 14 opponent.
Missouri got beat last week as an 18-point favorite at Wyoming, giving up 297 yards rushing; they were -3 (0-3) in turnovers. West Virginia snuck by I-AA JMU 20-13; they were outgained 328-294 by the Dukes, but were +3 in turnovers. Under Odom, Tigers are 10-7 ATS as home favorites. West Virginia covered four of last five games as a road underdog; since 2012, they’re 10-15 as a road underdog. WVU won last series game 26-11 (-10) three years ago. Since 2014, Big X teams are 8-6-1 ATS when playing a Big 14 opponent.
Cincinnati beat UCLA 24-14 in its opener, holding Bruins to 156 TY with four takeaways (+2). Under Fickell, Bearcats are 5-3 as road underdogs; they’re 5-4 ATS in last nine non-league games. Ohio State ld FAU 28-0 after 8:10 of play in, jogged to 45-28 win in its opener; since ’15, OSU is 11-16 as home favorites;- they’re 17-11 in last 28 non-league games. Buckeyes won last series meeting 50-28 (-17) in 2014; both sides changed coaches since then. Last four years, AAC teams are 9-5 vs spread when playing a Big 14 opponent.
Nebraska won its opener 35-21, scoring two defensive TD’s and also scored on a punt return. Cornhuskers covered 11 of their last 15 road games; last three years, they’re 3-0 as road favorites, but covered only one of last six non-league games. Colorado won its opener 52-31 but gave up 500+ yards. Last three years, Buffs are 9-4 as home underdogs; they’re 3-9-1 ATS in last 13 games as an underdog. Since 2013, Colorado is 12-7-1 ATS outside Pac-12. This was a big rivalry when teams were in Big 8 Conference.
Clemson jogged 52-14 in its opener, piling up 632 yards; Tigers are 21-17-1 ATS in last 39 games as a home favorite- since 2013, they’re 20-13 ATS outside the ACC. Last two years, Texas A&M is 6-3-1 ATS as an underdog; they’re 9-1-1 ATS in last 11 non-SEC games. Underdogs covered four of Jimbo’s last five games with Clemson. Tigers won 28-26 (-12) at Texas A&M in teams’ last meeting, despite being outgained by 88 yards; they were +2 in TO’s that day. SEC teams covered nine of last games against ACC teams.
Mississippi State has various players suspended for first few games; they beat Louisiana 38-28 in Superdome LW, running ball for 261 yards. Bulldogs covered eight of last 11 tries as a home favorite, 8 of last 11 non-SEC tilts. Last five years, Southern Miss is 13-8 in last 21 games as road underdogs; they’re 5-3 ATS in last eight non-league games. USM jogged over a I-AA team LW. This is first series meeting in four years; State won last two, 34-16/49-0, but both teams changed coaches since then. Last four years, SEC clubs are 18-14-1 ATS vs C-USA teams.
Tennessee lost at home as a 26-point favorite LW; is that enough to get DB Thompson back from suspension? Georgia State ran ball for 213 yards, converted 10-17 on 3rd down LW; Knoxville natives are not happy. Since 2012, Vols are 13-24 ATS as home favorites; they covered only two of last nine non-league games. BYU got whacked 30-12 by rival Utah LW; Utes ran ball for 262 yards. Cougars covered nine of last 11 games as road underdogs. BYU’s schedule is weird; they played Utah last week, play USC next week; tough start to year.
Texas hammered Louisiana Tech 45-14 LW, despite giving up 413 yards, 340 thru the air. LSU pounded Georgia Southern 55-3 LW; senior QB Burrow was 23-27/278 passing. Under Orgeron, Tigers are 3-2 as road favorites; they’re 4-7 ATS in last 11 non-SEC games. Since ’15, Texas is 5-0-1 as a home underdog; they covered six of last eight games as an underdog, five of last eight games outside Big X. These teams last met in 2003. Last eight years, SEC teams are 17-15 vs spread when facing a Big X opponent.
Road team won three of last four Arkansas-Ole Miss games, with all four games decided by 4 or fewer points, with an average total of 78.5. Razorbacks won last two visits to Oxford, 53-52/38-37. Arkansas has 11 new starters on offense; they slogged past I-AA Portland State 20-13 LW. Ole Miss lost 15-10 LW at Memphis- they were outgained 364-173. Rebels were only 1-10 on 3rd down, ran ball for only 80 yards. Last three years, Arkansas is 7-2-1 ATS as a road underdog. Ole Miss is 6-7 ATS in its last 13 games as a home favorite. You’re reading armadillo sports.com
Miami won its last two games with North Carolina, 47-10/24-19; UNC turned ball over six times in LY’s ugly loss. Hurricanes (+7) lost 24-20 at Florida LW, they were +3 in turnovers (4-1) but had 14 penalties for 118 yards. UNC came back to beat South Carolina 24-20 LW, after being down 20-9 after 3rd quarter— they outgained the Gamecocks 483-270. Over last nine years, Miami is 21-12 ATS as a single digit favorite in ACC games; since 2012, Miami is 14-9 ATS as road favorites. Tar Heels are 4-7 in last 11 tries as a home dog. Both teams have new head coaches this year.
Stanford won three of last four games with USC; home side won last three series games. USC lost its QB for season LW; his replacement was in high school LY, was 6-8/57 passing in relief vs Fresno LW- this will be his first college start. Trojans held off an inexperienced Fresno team 31-23, but gave up 462 yards. Stanford held Northwestern off 17-7 LW, scoring a defensive TD with 0:20 left- their offense struggled. Cardinal’s QB is a ?mark after he got a concussion LW. Last four years, Stanford is 13-9 ATS on true road games. USC covered only four of last 18 games as a home favorite.
California-Washington split their last four meetings; Cal upset the Huskies 12-10 (+11) LY. Cal had tough time with I-AA Cal Poly LW, finally winning 27-13; game was 13-13 with 4:00 left in 3rd quarter. Golden Bears ran ball for 233 yards but lost three fumbles. Huskies crushed a I-AA opponent LW; their OL has 107 returning starts, junior QB has 14 starts. Under Wilcox, Golden Bears are 6-3 ATS as road dogs- they covered 11 of last 16 tries overall as an underdog. Last three years, Washington is 9-11 ATS as a home favorite.
Fresno State lost 21-14 at Minnesota LY, Gophers scoring winning TD with 3:28 left; Fresno had ball on Minnesota 4-yard with 1:18 left, but a trick play blew up and Gophers escaped. Bulldogs lost 31-23 at USC LW, but their inexperienced offense gained 462 yards; Fresno covered their last six tries as a home underdog- they covered eight of last 10 non-conference tilts. Minnesota was outgained 367-308 in 28-21 win over I-AA South Dakota State LW; Gophers are 6-1 ATS in last seven games out of conference; since 2014, they’re 2-3 as road favorites.
Armadillo's Write-Up
Week 2
Friday’s games
Wake Forest gave up 596 yards but beat Utah State 38-35 at home LW; Aggies threw for 416 yards, WF 401. Rice lost its opener 14-7 at Army; total yardage was 284-243- Owls threw for only 62 yards. Wake plays local rival North Carolina Thursday; since 2010, Wake is 1-4 ATS as a road favorite. Last three years, Owls are 5-4 as home underdogs. Deacons (-27) beat Rice 56-24 in last meeting. Wake has more experienced OL (82 returning starts to 32). Last four years, ACC teams are 11-5 vs spread when playing a C-USA opponent.
Trap game for Boise State after their emotional comeback win at Florida State. Broncos have solid young QB in freshman Bachmeier; he threw for 407 yards at FSU last week. Under Harsin, Boise is 17-21 ATS as a home favorite- they’re 14-10 ATS in last 24 non-league games. Marshall whacked a I-AA team in their opener; hard to tell much about that. Since ’12, Marshall is 11-4-1 as a road underdog. Both teams have 100+ returning stats on their OL; Conference USA teams covered seven of last nine games as an underdog vs Mountain West opponents.
Saturday’s top 13 games
Syracuse blanked I-A newcomer Liberty 24-0 LW, holding Flames to 234 yards; over last decade, Orange are 8-3 ATS as road favorites. Syracuse has new QB and has only 48 returning starts on its OL. Maryland beat a terrible I-AA team LW; can’t tell anything about that. Terps won last series game 34-20 (+2.5) in Carrier Dome five years ago. Last five years, Maryland is 5-9 ATS as a home underdog. Since 2014, ACC teams are 13-18-1 vs spread when playing a Big 14 opponent.
Missouri got beat last week as an 18-point favorite at Wyoming, giving up 297 yards rushing; they were -3 (0-3) in turnovers. West Virginia snuck by I-AA JMU 20-13; they were outgained 328-294 by the Dukes, but were +3 in turnovers. Under Odom, Tigers are 10-7 ATS as home favorites. West Virginia covered four of last five games as a road underdog; since 2012, they’re 10-15 as a road underdog. WVU won last series game 26-11 (-10) three years ago. Since 2014, Big X teams are 8-6-1 ATS when playing a Big 14 opponent.
Cincinnati beat UCLA 24-14 in its opener, holding Bruins to 156 TY with four takeaways (+2). Under Fickell, Bearcats are 5-3 as road underdogs; they’re 5-4 ATS in last nine non-league games. Ohio State ld FAU 28-0 after 8:10 of play in, jogged to 45-28 win in its opener; since ’15, OSU is 11-16 as home favorites;- they’re 17-11 in last 28 non-league games. Buckeyes won last series meeting 50-28 (-17) in 2014; both sides changed coaches since then. Last four years, AAC teams are 9-5 vs spread when playing a Big 14 opponent.
Nebraska won its opener 35-21, scoring two defensive TD’s and also scored on a punt return. Cornhuskers covered 11 of their last 15 road games; last three years, they’re 3-0 as road favorites, but covered only one of last six non-league games. Colorado won its opener 52-31 but gave up 500+ yards. Last three years, Buffs are 9-4 as home underdogs; they’re 3-9-1 ATS in last 13 games as an underdog. Since 2013, Colorado is 12-7-1 ATS outside Pac-12. This was a big rivalry when teams were in Big 8 Conference.
Clemson jogged 52-14 in its opener, piling up 632 yards; Tigers are 21-17-1 ATS in last 39 games as a home favorite- since 2013, they’re 20-13 ATS outside the ACC. Last two years, Texas A&M is 6-3-1 ATS as an underdog; they’re 9-1-1 ATS in last 11 non-SEC games. Underdogs covered four of Jimbo’s last five games with Clemson. Tigers won 28-26 (-12) at Texas A&M in teams’ last meeting, despite being outgained by 88 yards; they were +2 in TO’s that day. SEC teams covered nine of last games against ACC teams.
Mississippi State has various players suspended for first few games; they beat Louisiana 38-28 in Superdome LW, running ball for 261 yards. Bulldogs covered eight of last 11 tries as a home favorite, 8 of last 11 non-SEC tilts. Last five years, Southern Miss is 13-8 in last 21 games as road underdogs; they’re 5-3 ATS in last eight non-league games. USM jogged over a I-AA team LW. This is first series meeting in four years; State won last two, 34-16/49-0, but both teams changed coaches since then. Last four years, SEC clubs are 18-14-1 ATS vs C-USA teams.
Tennessee lost at home as a 26-point favorite LW; is that enough to get DB Thompson back from suspension? Georgia State ran ball for 213 yards, converted 10-17 on 3rd down LW; Knoxville natives are not happy. Since 2012, Vols are 13-24 ATS as home favorites; they covered only two of last nine non-league games. BYU got whacked 30-12 by rival Utah LW; Utes ran ball for 262 yards. Cougars covered nine of last 11 games as road underdogs. BYU’s schedule is weird; they played Utah last week, play USC next week; tough start to year.
Texas hammered Louisiana Tech 45-14 LW, despite giving up 413 yards, 340 thru the air. LSU pounded Georgia Southern 55-3 LW; senior QB Burrow was 23-27/278 passing. Under Orgeron, Tigers are 3-2 as road favorites; they’re 4-7 ATS in last 11 non-SEC games. Since ’15, Texas is 5-0-1 as a home underdog; they covered six of last eight games as an underdog, five of last eight games outside Big X. These teams last met in 2003. Last eight years, SEC teams are 17-15 vs spread when facing a Big X opponent.
Road team won three of last four Arkansas-Ole Miss games, with all four games decided by 4 or fewer points, with an average total of 78.5. Razorbacks won last two visits to Oxford, 53-52/38-37. Arkansas has 11 new starters on offense; they slogged past I-AA Portland State 20-13 LW. Ole Miss lost 15-10 LW at Memphis- they were outgained 364-173. Rebels were only 1-10 on 3rd down, ran ball for only 80 yards. Last three years, Arkansas is 7-2-1 ATS as a road underdog. Ole Miss is 6-7 ATS in its last 13 games as a home favorite. You’re reading armadillo sports.com
Miami won its last two games with North Carolina, 47-10/24-19; UNC turned ball over six times in LY’s ugly loss. Hurricanes (+7) lost 24-20 at Florida LW, they were +3 in turnovers (4-1) but had 14 penalties for 118 yards. UNC came back to beat South Carolina 24-20 LW, after being down 20-9 after 3rd quarter— they outgained the Gamecocks 483-270. Over last nine years, Miami is 21-12 ATS as a single digit favorite in ACC games; since 2012, Miami is 14-9 ATS as road favorites. Tar Heels are 4-7 in last 11 tries as a home dog. Both teams have new head coaches this year.
Stanford won three of last four games with USC; home side won last three series games. USC lost its QB for season LW; his replacement was in high school LY, was 6-8/57 passing in relief vs Fresno LW- this will be his first college start. Trojans held off an inexperienced Fresno team 31-23, but gave up 462 yards. Stanford held Northwestern off 17-7 LW, scoring a defensive TD with 0:20 left- their offense struggled. Cardinal’s QB is a ?mark after he got a concussion LW. Last four years, Stanford is 13-9 ATS on true road games. USC covered only four of last 18 games as a home favorite.
California-Washington split their last four meetings; Cal upset the Huskies 12-10 (+11) LY. Cal had tough time with I-AA Cal Poly LW, finally winning 27-13; game was 13-13 with 4:00 left in 3rd quarter. Golden Bears ran ball for 233 yards but lost three fumbles. Huskies crushed a I-AA opponent LW; their OL has 107 returning starts, junior QB has 14 starts. Under Wilcox, Golden Bears are 6-3 ATS as road dogs- they covered 11 of last 16 tries overall as an underdog. Last three years, Washington is 9-11 ATS as a home favorite.
Fresno State lost 21-14 at Minnesota LY, Gophers scoring winning TD with 3:28 left; Fresno had ball on Minnesota 4-yard with 1:18 left, but a trick play blew up and Gophers escaped. Bulldogs lost 31-23 at USC LW, but their inexperienced offense gained 462 yards; Fresno covered their last six tries as a home underdog- they covered eight of last 10 non-conference tilts. Minnesota was outgained 367-308 in 28-21 win over I-AA South Dakota State LW; Gophers are 6-1 ATS in last seven games out of conference; since 2014, they’re 2-3 as road favorites.