Saturday 09/01/2018 ... Comps / Bonus Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Requests Etc.

[bmd1803]

Preview: Alcorn State at Georgia Tech
Gracenote
Aug 28, 2018

Georgia Tech hosts Alcorn State in Saturday’s season opener, hoping the return of eight offensive starters translates into a winning season and a bowl invitation -- once-annual benchmarks that were not met in a disappointing 2017. The Yellow Jackets endured a miserable ending to last season, losing five of their final seven contests, but return an intriguing mix of key cogs from the nation’s ninth-best rushing offense and hopes for improved defense under new coordinator Nate Woody.

“We’ve got a lot of young guys that, the more reps you get, the better,” Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson told the media Sunday. “You always like to be better than what you are, but overall, I can’t complain.” Senior quarterback TaQuon Marshall rushed for 1,146 yards and 17 touchdowns while spearheading the run-heavy triple-option attack, but completed only 37.1 percent of his passing attempts. The Yellow Jackets had reached a bowl game in 18 consecutive seasons before falling short in 2015 and 2017, finishing with losing records in both seasons after ending below .500 once (2010) since 1996. The Braves return 12 starters as they look to win the Southwestern Athletic Conference East Division title for the fifth year in a row.

TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, FS South, ACC Sports Network. LINE: None

ABOUT ALCORN STATE (2017: 7-5): Junior quarterback Noah Johnson passed for 782 yards and rushed for 333 yards a season ago, and has 31 total touchdowns in his first two seasons. Senior running back P.J. Simmons averaged 8.6 yards per carry last season and finished with 687 yards and seven touchdowns. Senior defensive back Brady Smith and junior defensive back Javen Morrison anchor the secondary, combining for 95 tackles in 2017.

ABOUT GEORGIA TECH (2017: 5-6): Returning with Marshall in the backfield are fullback KirVonte Benson and wingbacks Qua Searcy and Nate Cottrell as Benson rushed for 1,053 yards a season ago, while Searcy and Cottrell each averaged more than six yards per carry. Defensively, the Yellow Jackets have to replace six starters but bring back senior linebackers Victor Alexander and Brant Mitchell, who combined for 111 tackles last season. Georgia Tech faces a difficult schedule with two home games against top 10 teams (No. 2 Clemson; No. 8 Miami), and trips to No. 17 Virginia Tech and No. 4 Georgia.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Johnson said Sunday he probably will not name a starting kicker – out of the group of Brenton King, Shawn Davis and Wesley Wells – until Wednesday or Thursday.

2. Special teams has been a big focus in preseason, considering the Yellow Jackets generated only two kickoff returns of 30-plus yards and gave up eight such returns a season ago.

3. The Yellow Jackets were 33rd nationally in yards allowed per game last season (354) but 64th in points allowed per contest (26.5).

PREDICTION: Georgia Tech 38, Alcorn State 10

 

[bmd1803]

Preview: Massachusetts at Boston College
Gracenote
Aug 28, 2018

Boston College has finished 7-6 in four of head coach Steve Addazio's five seasons, a run of relative mediocrity the program hopes to end in 2018. Much of the Eagles' success - or lack thereof - will depend upon the legs of bruising sophomore running back AJ Dillon, who leads his team into the season opener at home against in-state rival Massachusetts on Saturday.

Dillon ran for 1,589 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2017 despite opening the year as a backup and is poised to dominate once again behind an offensive line that returns all five starters. "We've got a dynamic running back," offensive coordinator Scot Loeffler told reporters of Dillon. "We have a few dynamic running backs in my mind. Any time the defense has to account for the run game, it makes our throw game much better." The Minutemen were the first team in college football to pick up a win when they crushed FCS squad Duquesne 63-15 last Saturday. Andrew Ford passed for 186 yards and two touchdowns while his backup Ross Comis accounted for three scores for UMass, which has won five of their last seven dating to 2017.

TV: 1 p.m. ET, ACC Network Extra. LINE: Boston College -18

ABOUT MASSACHUSETTS (1-0): The Minutemen are averaging more than 40 points over their last eight games as the offense continues to take shape under head coach Mark Whipple, but he knows the talent level is about to greatly increase. "BC is a different beast next week, not to take anything away from Duquesne," Whipple told reporters. "They have bigger guys who are faster." Bilal Ally gained 109 yards and a TD on the ground while Andy Isabella hauled in five passes for 131 yards and two scores in the rout.

ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (2017: 7-6): Anthony Brown showed flashes of potential as a freshman quarterback - including a breakthrough game at Virginia in which he threw for 275 yards and three TDs - before a knee injury in November ended his campaign, and the New Jersey native looks to be on target with his rehab. "I've said it a lot, I'm going to say it again: a lot has to do with that trigger man," Addazio told reporters. "Anthony looks great. Hopefully he'll continue on his course back and be ready in the appropriate amount of time." Defensive lineman Zach Allen emerged as a force in 2017 with a team-high six sacks for a unit that held its final five regular-season opponents to 20 points or fewer.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Boston College TE Tommy Sweeney returns after leading the team with 512 receiving yards and four TDs last year.

2. Ford has 11 TD passes and one interception over his last four games.

3. The Eagles won 26-7 in the most recent meeting in 2016.

PREDICTION: Boston College 42, Massachusetts 21

 

[bmd1803]

ATS Trends
Massachusetts

Minutemen are 6-0 ATS in their last 6 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game.
Minutemen are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games after accumulating more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
Minutemen are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.
Minutemen are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
Minutemen are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
Minutemen are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
Minutemen are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Minutemen are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.

Boston College

Eagles are 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 games on fieldturf.
Eagles are 8-1-1 ATS in their last 10 games overall.
Eagles are 4-1-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
Eagles are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
Eagles are 10-4-1 ATS in their last 15 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Eagles are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games in September.

OU Trends
Massachusetts

Over is 7-0 in Minutemen last 7 non-conference games.
Over is 4-0 in Minutemen last 4 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
Over is 5-0 in Minutemen last 5 games on fieldturf.
Over is 5-0 in Minutemen last 5 games following a ATS win.
Over is 7-1 in Minutemen last 8 games overall.
Over is 5-1 in Minutemen last 6 games following a straight up win.
Over is 4-1 in Minutemen last 5 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
Over is 4-1-1 in Minutemen last 6 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game.
Over is 6-2 in Minutemen last 8 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
Over is 8-3 in Minutemen last 11 games after accumulating more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
Over is 7-3 in Minutemen last 10 road games.
Over is 9-4 in Minutemen last 13 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.

Boston College

Under is 5-1 in Eagles last 6 games in September.
Under is 19-7 in Eagles last 26 home games.
Under is 31-13 in Eagles last 44 non-conference games.
Under is 24-11-1 in Eagles last 36 games overall.
Under is 43-20-2 in Eagles last 65 games on fieldturf.
Under is 33-16-2 in Eagles last 51 vs. a team with a winning record.

Head to Head
No trends available.

 

[bmd1803]

Preview: Washington vs. Auburn
Gracenote
Aug 28, 2018

An early-season showdown between two marquee teams is on tap when No. 6 Washington faces No. 9 Auburn in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game on Saturday in Atlanta. The Huskies are a combined 22-5 over the past two seasons, while Auburn is looking to post a second straight 10-win campaign.

Washington was part of the College Football Playoff two seasons ago and the preseason belief is the Huskies must beat the Tigers to have a chance at making another visit. "I think our guys are always excited to play," Huskies coach Chris Petersen told reporters. "They know how good Auburn is. They're not dumb. They've seen tape." Tigers junior quarterback Jarrett Stidham sees the intersectional showdown as a terrific opportunity for both programs. "It's going to be a great situation for us, a great situation for Washington," Stidham told reporters. "Whoever comes away with the win will have a little bit of an edge throughout the rest of the season. The good thing about this game, it doesn't have any conference implications. You should go and play this game, leave it all on the line, whether you're Auburn or Washington in my opinion. It's going to be a lot of fun."

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: Auburn - 1.5

ABOUT WASHINGTON (2017: 10-3): Senior quarterback Jake Browning holds the school record of 78 touchdown passes, ranks second with 9,104 passing yards and has been intercepted just 24 times in 1,095 career attempts. Senior running back Myles Gaskin has topped 1,300 rushing yards in each of his three seasons and is just 52 yards away from surpassing the school career mark held by Napoleon Kaufman (4,106 from 1991-94). The Huskies have a strong secondary featuring sophomore cornerback Byron Murphy (three interceptions in 2017) and junior free safety Taylor Rupp (five career picks) and also have two productive senior linebackers in Tevis Bartlett (team-high 12 tackles for loss last season) and Ben Burr-Kirven (team-best 84 tackles).

ABOUT AUBURN (2017: 10-4): Stidham was just the second quarterback in school history to top 3,000 passing yards in a season as he finished with 3,158 and 18 touchdowns against six interceptions. Junior Kam Martin (453 rushing yards last season) will have the first shot to replace departed Kerryon Johnson (1,391) as the feature back while senior wideout Ryan Davis looks to build on a superb 2017 campaign in which he caught a school-record 84 passes for 815 yards and five scores. Junior defensive tackle Derrick Brown (nine tackles for loss last season), senior nose tackle Dontavius Russell (37 career starts) and senior inside linebacker Deshaun Davis (team-best 82 stops last season) are among the defensive stalwarts.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Washington and Auburn are meeting for the first time - the Huskies are 2-11 against teams currently in the SEC and the Tigers are 8-3 versus foes currently in the Pac-12.

2. The Tigers will be without junior WR Eli Stove (29 catches last season) and senior WR Will Hastings (26 receptions, 20.2 average) for the beginning of the campaign after both players tore ACLs in spring drills.

3. Gaskin needs 16 rushing touchdowns to surpass the Pac-12 career mark set by Oregon's Royce Freeman (60 from 2014-17).

PREDICTION: Washington 30, Auburn 27

 

[bmd1803]

ATS Trends
Washington

Huskies are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games on grass.
Huskies are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games.

Auburn

Tigers are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games.
Tigers are 0-5-1 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games.

OU Trends
Washington

Over is 4-0 in Huskies last 4 games overall.
Under is 8-3 in Huskies last 11 games on grass.
Under is 5-2 in Huskies last 7 neutral site games.
Over is 7-3 in Huskies last 10 non-conference games.

Auburn

Under is 4-0 in Tigers last 4 games overall.
Under is 4-0 in Tigers last 4 games on grass.
Under is 5-0-2 in Tigers last 7 neutral site games.
Under is 12-3-2 in Tigers last 17 non-conference games.
Under is 5-2 in Tigers last 7 games in September.

Head to Head
No trends available.

 

[bmd1803]

Preview: Austin Peay at Georgia
Gracenote
Aug 28, 2018

There is no quarterback controversy at fourth-ranked Georgia entering Saturday’s season opener at home against Austin Peay, but nonetheless there is intrigue on who last season’s national runner-up will deploy under center. Sophomore Jake Fromm, who directed the Bulldogs to the SEC championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff title game as a freshman, has worked with the first-team offense, but highly recruited freshman Justin Fields likely will see playing time.

“I think the game will dictate how we get to play those guys,” Georgia coach Kirby Smart told the media Monday, refusing to name a starter at quarterback or any position. “I don’t know how that’s going to come out. There’s no plan, ‘this is when he’s going to play'.” The more pressing need is behind the quarterback, where Georgia must replace Sony Michel and Nick Chubb - who combined for 8,407 career yards and 77 rushing touchdowns - but has plenty of depth in sophomore D’Andre Swift, and juniors Elijah Holyfield and Brian Herrien. Georgia allowed only 16.4 points per game a season ago and while it lost its trio of starting linebackers, the secondary is led by All-American defensive back Deandre Baker. The Bulldogs, who fell in overtime to Alabama in the national title game, play four of their first six games at home, including home dates with Austin Peay and Middle Tennessee State in the season’s opening three weeks.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: None

ABOUT AUSTIN PEAY (2017: 8-4): The Governors are ranked No. 23 in the FCS preseason coaches poll entering the season and return quarterback Jeremiah Oatsvall, who passed for 1,148 yards last season to win the Ohio Valley Conference Freshman of the Year award. Leading rusher Ahmaad Taylor (697 yards, eight touchdowns) also is back, but second-leading rusher Kentel Williams is suspended. Defensive end Jaison Williams recorded five sacks and forced three fumbles a season ago to highlight the defensive returners.

ABOUT GEORGIA (2017: 13-2): Fromm took over as starter in week one and passed for 2,615 yards and 24 touchdowns, earning SEC Freshman of the Year honors. Swift served as a valuable third option at running back a season ago, rushing for 618 yards and three touchdowns, and California transfer Demetris Robertson (767 yards receiving as a freshman in 2016) joins a receiving corps highlighted by Terry Godwin and Mecole Hardman. Georgia also figures to be strong on special teams again, led by kicker Rodrigo Blankenship, who hit 20-of-23 field goals last season while recording a school-record 67 touchbacks.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Godwin, who finished with 38 receptions for 639 yards and six touchdowns in 2017, is questionable for Saturday with a left knee injury.

2. Georgia scored on 96 percent of its red-zone possessions a season ago, recording a touchdown 71 percent of the time.

3. Austin Peay has scored in double figures in its past five games against FBS opponents, including 33 points in a loss to UCF last season.

PREDICTION: Georgia 47, Austin Peay 13

 

[bmd1803]

Preview: Central Michigan at Kentucky
Gracenote
Aug 28, 2018

Terry Wilson will be the starting quarterback when Kentucky opens its season Saturday in a non-conference game against visiting Central Michigan, but the focus of the offense will once again be Benny Snell, Jr. The junior running back will look to get off to a strong start in his bid for a third straight 1,000-yard season for the Wildcats, who have won all six prior meetings with the Chippewas.

Snell is the top returning rusher in the SEC after logging 1,333 yards and a conference-best 19 touchdowns a season ago. The 5-11, 223-pound native of Westerville, Ohio, was the 19th player in SEC history to reach 2,000 career yards prior to his junior season and joined Georgia's Herschel Walker and Knowshon Moreno as the only players to have at least 1,000 yards and 13 touchdowns in his freshman and sophomore seasons. Already the program leader in rushing touchdowns with 32, Snell needs 1,412 yards to surpass Sonny Collins, who accrued 3,835 yards from 1972 to 1975, as the school's all-time leading rusher. Central Michigan will also have a new starting quarterback in sophomore Tony Poljan, who saw limited action under center and at wide receiver last season for fourth-year coach John Bonamego.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: Kentucky -17

ABOUT CENTRAL MICHIGAN (2017: 8-5): The Chippewas have a polished runner of their own in junior Jonathan Ward, who churned out 1,017 yards on the ground and caught 48 passes for 470 yards while amassing 13 total touchdowns last season. In his team's eight wins, Ward went for 836 yards on 121 carries (6.9 average) but was limited to 181 yards on 58 runs (3.1) in five losses. Poljan, the Michigan Gatorade Player of the Year in 2015, can also run despite his 6-7, 235-pound frame as he had more than 3,000 yards and 58 touchdowns on the ground at Lansing Catholic.

ABOUT KENTUCKY (2017: 7-6): Wilson spent a redshirt season at Oregon in 2016 before heading to Garden City Community College in Kansas and was the No. 5 rated junior college player by ESPN. The sophomore dual-threat quarterback, who chose the Wildcats over Florida and Nebraska, threw for 2,113 yards and 26 touchdowns and ran 518 yards and five scores for Garden City last season. Wilson beat out sophomore Gunnar Hoak, who redshirted in 2016 and practiced but did not see any action last season for Kentucky, which has won nine straight against teams from the Mid-American Conference and 19 of 22 overall.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Wildcats senior LB Josh Allen, who has racked up 20.5 tackles for loss and 14.5 sacks in three seasons, and senior S Mike Edwards, who became the fourth player in school history to lead the team in tackles and interceptions, join Snell on the preseason All-SEC first team.

2. Redshirt freshman Naasir Watkins or sophomore transfer E.J. Price will play left tackle for Kentucky after starter Landon Young was lost for the season with a right knee injury.

3. Snell will attempt to join Artose Pinner (2002), Moe Williams (1995) and Collins (1973) as the only Kentucky players to lead the SEC in rushing yards.

PREDICTION: Kentucky 27, Central Michigan 16

 

[bmd1803]

ATS Trends
Central Michigan

Chippewas are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
Chippewas are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
Chippewas are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games on grass.
Chippewas are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games in September.
Chippewas are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games.

Kentucky

Wildcats are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 vs. MAC.
Wildcats are 6-18 ATS in their last 24 home games.
Wildcats are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
Wildcats are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games.
Wildcats are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games on grass.

OU Trends
Central Michigan

Over is 6-0 in Chippewas last 6 games overall.
Over is 4-0 in Chippewas last 4 road games.
Over is 6-2 in Chippewas last 8 games on grass.

Kentucky

Under is 6-0 in Wildcats last 6 non-conference games.
Under is 5-1 in Wildcats last 6 games in September.
Under is 4-1 in Wildcats last 5 vs. MAC.

Head to Head
No trends available.

 

[bmd1803]

Preview: Tennessee vs. West Virginia
Gracenote
Aug 29, 2018

Dana Holgorsen has changed his scheduling philosophy since taking over West Virginia eight years ago, trading in early-season contests against FCS foes for the likes of Virginia Tech, Penn State and Alabama in an attempt to build a national powerhouse. The 17th-ranked Mountaineers open this season against a Power 5 opponent for the fourth time in five years Saturday when they play a Tennessee program coming off a school-record eight losses in the Belk College Kickoff in Charlotte, N.C.

“Obviously we like it - and it’s not going to end anytime soon,” Holgorsen told reporters. “If you talk non-conference schedules in general, I think there needs to be more of a uniformed policy across the country for people doing this. ... I think the biggest thing is we’ve got 11 Power 5 games on our schedule and there are some other teams out there that have eight.” Holgorsen has his best team since arriving in Morgantown in 2011 and it is led by Heisman hopeful Will Grier, who ranked second in the country with 34 touchdown passes and third with 3,490 yards passing last season before suffering a season-ending broken finger in November. New Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt, a former defensive coordinator at Alabama, takes over a defense that was besieged by injuries last season, allowing 29.1 points per game - its most since 2012 - and a gaudy 251 yards rushing per contest. The Volunteers also had problems on offense, ranking last in the SEC in scoring at 19.8 points - down from 36.4 the previous season - and total offense at 291 yards per game while going over a month without scoring an offensive touchdown.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: West Virginia -10.

ABOUT TENNESEE (2017: 4-8): Jarrett Guarantano, who went 4-2 as a starter last season and completed 62 percent of his 139 passes for 997 yards with four TDs and two interceptions, is expected to start at quarterback. Graduate transfer Keller Chryst, 11-2 as starter at Stanford the last two years (54.2 completion percentage, 962 yards, eight TDs, four Interceptions) is also expected to contribute. With John Kelly (778 yards, nine TDs) off to the Los Angeles Rams, sophomore Ty Chandler (305 yards, 4.3 yards per carry) will have a chance to take over as the feature back and take a crack at a West Virginia defense that yielded 204 yards per game in 2017.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA (2017: 7-6): Grier (64.4 completion percentage, 12 interceptions) will have two big-time targets returning: senior wide receiver David Sills V (60 receptions, 960 yards), who tied for the national lead with 18 TD receptions last season, and Gary Jennings Jr. (Big-12 leading 97 receptions, 1,096 yards).The Mountaineers return four offensive line starters - three earning preseason Big 12 recognition - to open holes for running backs Kennedy McCoy (596 yards, 4.8 yards per carry, seven TDs), Martell Pettaway and freshman Alec Sinkfield. If West Virginia is going to contend for the Big 12 title, Holgorsen and defensive coordinator Tony Gibson need to improve a defense that surrendered 31.5 points and 446 yards per game - both most since 2013.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Both teams enter on three-game losing streaks; the Vols lost seven of their last eight and were 0-8 in conference play last season.

2. Tennessee OL Trey Smith, second-team All-SEC and freshman All-American last season, is expected to play either guard or tackle Saturday. He missed spring practice after suffering blood clots in his lungs.

3. Tennessee has won nine straight openers but is 6-34 against ranked teams over the last eight seasons.

PREDICTION: West Virginia 42, Tennessee 24

 

[bmd1803]

ATS Trends
Tennessee

Volunteers are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 neutral site games.
Volunteers are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games on grass.
Volunteers are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games overall.
Volunteers are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games in September.

West Virginia

Mountaineers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games.
Mountaineers are 3-13 ATS in their last 16 neutral site games.
Mountaineers are 2-9 ATS in their last 11 games on grass.
Mountaineers are 1-5-1 ATS in their last 7 games overall.

OU Trends
Tennessee

Under is 4-0 in Volunteers last 4 games in September.
Over is 9-0 in Volunteers last 9 neutral site games.
Under is 5-2 in Volunteers last 7 non-conference games.
Under is 7-3 in Volunteers last 10 games on grass.

West Virginia

Over is 5-0-1 in Mountaineers last 6 games in September.
Under is 4-1 in Mountaineers last 5 games overall.
Over is 5-2-1 in Mountaineers last 8 games on grass.
Over is 5-2 in Mountaineers last 7 vs. SEC.

Head to Head
No trends available.

 

[bmd1803]

Preview: Northern Illinois at Iowa
Gracenote
Aug 28, 2018

Kirk Ferentz may not see himself as belonging in the same class as Iowa coaching legend Hayden Fry, but he finds himself on the brink of passing his predecessor in the only category that usually matters to coaches. The dean of FBS football coaches attempts to pass Fry for the most wins in school history Saturday when his Hawkeyes host Northern Illinois.

The only active coach in FBS to take over his program before the turn of the century, Ferentz improved to 143-97 at Iowa following his team's 27-20 victory over Boston College in the Pinstripe Bowl to cap off the program's 14th winning season in 19 years under his direction. "In a lot of ways, I see myself just like I did in 1981. I just hope I'm more aware now, because I had no clue what was going on back then," Ferentz told ESPN in a recent interview. The 63-year-old can move into sole possession of fifth place in conference history with his next win - trailing only Amos Alonzo Stagg, Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler and Joe Paterno - but could have his hands full against the Huskies, who have been a thorn in the side of Big Ten opposition in recent years. Under sixth-year coach Rod Carey, Northern Illinois is 4-1 in such contests - including a 21-17 victory at Nebraska last season.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Iowa -10.5

ABOUT NORTHERN ILLINOIS (2017: 8-5): Predicted to win the West Division of the Mid-American Conference, the Huskies return 17 starters overall, including all five starting offensive lineman and Marcus Childers, who finished with 21 total touchdowns (16 passing) while starting the final eight games of the season. The 2017 MAC Freshman of the Year will have his top two targets returning in Spencer Tears (44 catches) and D.J. Brown (42), but the team will have to replace tight end Shane Wimann's team-leading seven receiving scores. Junior defensive end Sutton Smith led the nation with 14 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss in 2017, spearheading a Northern Illinois defense that posted league-best marks by allowing 22 points and 338.5 yards per game.

ABOUT IOWA (2017: 8-5): Sophomore Ivory Kelly-Martin is expected to get the first opportunity to replace last year's leading rusher Akrum Wadley and add some juice to a ground game that ranked 97th nationally with 139.2 yards per game in 2017. While the rushing attack will remain the focal point of the offense, Iowa returns junior quarterback Nate Stanley and preseason All-American Noah Fant, who set a Big Ten record for tight ends last season with 11 receiving scores. The Hawkeyes will be shorthanded in the opener, however, as two offensive linemen (Alaric Jackson and Tristan Wirfs) and two defensive linemen (Cedrick Lattimore and Brady Reiff) will serve suspensions for violating team rules.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Iowa will open the season without a linebacker with a single career start for the first time under Ferentz.

2. Carey's first victory as a head coach came in a 30-27 upset at Iowa in 2013 - the Hawkeyes' only season-opening loss since 2001.

3. Stanley's 26 passing TDs last year were the second-most in a season in school history.

PREDICTION: Iowa 27, Northern Illinois 24

 

[bmd1803]

ATS Trends
Northern Illinois

Huskies are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games in September.
Huskies are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games.
Huskies are 16-5 ATS in their last 21 vs. Big Ten.
Huskies are 34-16-3 ATS in their last 53 road games.
Huskies are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games overall.
Huskies are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games on fieldturf.

Iowa

Hawkeyes are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 home games.
Hawkeyes are 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 games on fieldturf.
Hawkeyes are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games in September.
Hawkeyes are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 vs. MAC.

OU Trends
Northern Illinois

Over is 4-0 in Huskies last 4 games overall.
Over is 4-0 in Huskies last 4 games on fieldturf.
Under is 4-1 in Huskies last 5 games in September.
Under is 5-2 in Huskies last 7 vs. Big Ten.

Iowa

Over is 4-1 in Hawkeyes last 5 games overall.
Over is 4-1 in Hawkeyes last 5 vs. MAC.
Under is 6-2 in Hawkeyes last 8 home games.
Under is 5-2 in Hawkeyes last 7 non-conference games.
Under is 33-16-2 in Hawkeyes last 51 games in September.

Head to Head
No trends available.

 

[bmd1803]

Preview: Appalachian State at Penn State
Gracenote
Aug 28, 2018

No. 9 Penn State said goodbye to perhaps the most dynamic player in college football but they have plenty in place to stay at or near the top of the Big Ten. The Nittany Lions begin another season with high expectations with a tricky opener when they play host to Appalachian State on Saturday.

Saquon Barkley, who electrified the Penn State program while scoring a school-record 51 touchdowns in three years, is now a rookie with the New York Giants, yielding the full glow of the limelight to senior quarterback Trace McSorley - the second-leading passer in program history. A late collapse and a one-point loss at Ohio State followed by a last-second defeat at Michigan State kept the Nittany Lions from a chance at a second straight Big Ten title last year, but they've won 14 straight at home. The Mountaineers are no pushover after picking up 30 wins - including a 3-0 bowl record - over the last three years and garnering six first-place votes in the Sun Belt Conference preseason coaches' poll. They pulled off one of the biggest upsets in college football history exactly 11 years to the day with a 34-32 triumph at a highly-ranked Michigan team.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Penn State -24

ABOUT APPALACHIAN STATE (2017: 9-4): Zac Thomas will take over under center and can lean heavily on senior running back Jalin Moore, who had 1,037 yards and 12 touchdowns on the ground last year. Thomas Hennigan hauled in seven TD catches as a freshman in 2017 and will lead a talented receiving corps. The defensive side features a standout in the secondary in Clifton Duck, who led the Sun Belt with six interceptions as a sophomore last year after winning league Freshman of the Year honors the prior season.

ABOUT PENN STATE (2017: 11-2): McSorley lost three of his top four targets and Barkley yields to Miles Sanders, who averaged 6.2 yards per carry as his backup a year ago. "I can't wait," Sanders told reporters of his chance to start. "I don't like doing too much talking. That's never been me. I'm just ready to show what I can do, show the Big Ten, show everybody." Juwan Johnson (701 receiving yards) and DeAndre Thompkins (443) step into the spotlight in the passing game, while a committee of tight ends is expected to try to fill the void left behind by Mike Gesicki, the program's all-time leader in catches, yards and TDs at the position.

EXTRA POINTS

1. McSorley (7,369 career passing yards) needs 1,089 to pass Christian Hackenberg and become the school's all-time leader.

2. Moore has 3,170 rushing yards, 688 behind the school's all-time leader (Marcus Cox, 2014-16).

3. This will be the first meeting between the teams.

PREDICTION: Penn State 42, Appalachian State 16

 

[bmd1803]

ATS Trends
Appalachian State

Mountaineers are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Mountaineers are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games.

Penn State

Nittany Lions are 4-0-1 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games.
Nittany Lions are 10-2-2 ATS in their last 14 home games.
Nittany Lions are 12-3-2 ATS in their last 17 games on grass.
Nittany Lions are 18-6-2 ATS in their last 26 games overall.
Nittany Lions are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 games in September.

OU Trends
Appalachian State

Under is 4-1 in Mountaineers last 5 games on grass.
Under is 7-2 in Mountaineers last 9 road games.
Under is 10-3 in Mountaineers last 13 games in September.
Under is 11-5 in Mountaineers last 16 non-conference games.

Penn State

Over is 6-1 in Nittany Lions last 7 games overall.
Under is 4-1 in Nittany Lions last 5 games in September.
Over is 4-1 in Nittany Lions last 5 games on grass.
Over is 6-2 in Nittany Lions last 8 non-conference games.

Head to Head
No trends available.

 

[bmd1803]

Preview: Washington State at Wyoming
Gracenote
Aug 28, 2018

Washington State has been the third winningest program in Pac-12 play over the last three years, but the Cougars are entering a season of uncertainty. They’ll begin to find some answers Saturday afternoon in the season opener at Wyoming.


Coach Mike Leach already faced a tall task in replacing three-year starting quarterback and Pac-12 all-time leading passer Luke Falk. But then the program was rocked by the news in January that backup Tyler Hilinski, who started for the injured Falk in the Holiday Bowl, had committed suicide. An offseason of healing has followed, and now the Cougars are beginning anew, likely with East Carolina-transfer Gardner Minshew II taking over the controls of Leach’s Air Raid attack. Wyoming, meanwhile, got an early jump on the new season/post-Josh Allen era Saturday, using a punishing ground attack and a stout defense to dominate host New Mexico State 29-7.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: Washington State -1.5


ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE (2017: 9-4): Leach hasn’t officially named his new starting QB, but most signs point to Minshew, a senior who threw for 3,487 yards and 24 TDs in 17 games at East Carolina. There will be ample targets to throw to as three of the Cougars’ top six pass catchers return in running back James Williams along with wideouts Kyle Sweet and Renard Bell. Defensively, Washington State has had to replace coordinator Alex Grinch and six starters, but brings back its top two tacklers in All-Pac 12 second-team safety Jalen Thompson and linebacker Jahad Woods.

ABOUT WYOMING (1-0): Freshman Tyler Vander Waal got the start in the opener replacing Allen, the seventh overall pick in last spring’s NFL Draft, but it was a rushing attack that rolled up 312 yards on 57 carries that did most of the damage against the Aggies. Nico Evans led the way, rushing for 190 yards and two scores on 24 attempts. The Cowboys were stifling on defense, not allowing New Mexico State across midfield until the game’s waning minutes and limiting the Aggies to seven first downs and 135 total yards - including minus-9 rushing yards on 16 attempts.


EXTRA POINTS

1. Washington State has lost of five of its six season openers under Leach with its only win coming last season in a 31-0 shutout of visiting Montana State of the FCS Big Sky Conference.

2. The Cougars have four of their six meetings with Wyoming, with the latest being a 31-14 home win in 2015.

3. Evans entered Saturday’s opener with 108 career rushing yards on 36 attempts over his first three seasons but eclipsed that total by 82 yards against New Mexico State.


PREDICTION: Washington State 23, Wyoming 21

 

[bmd1803]

ATS Trends
Washington State

Cougars are 5-2 ATS in their last 7 games in September.
Cougars are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Cougars are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 vs. MWC.
Cougars are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 road games.
Cougars are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games.

Wyoming

Cowboys are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 games after accumulating less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
Cowboys are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a ATS win.
Cowboys are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 home games.
Cowboys are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games following a straight up win.
Cowboys are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games on turf.
Cowboys are 9-2 ATS in their last 11 games overall.
Cowboys are 3-1-1 ATS in their last 5 vs. Pac-12.
Cowboys are 9-4 ATS in their last 13 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
Cowboys are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games in September.

OU Trends
Washington State

Over is 4-0 in Cougars last 4 road games.
Over is 4-1 in Cougars last 5 games overall.
Under is 4-1 in Cougars last 5 vs. MWC.
Over is 4-1 in Cougars last 5 vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 6-2 in Cougars last 8 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 5-2 in Cougars last 7 games in September.
Under is 5-2 in Cougars last 7 non-conference games.

Wyoming

Under is 5-0 in Cowboys last 5 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Cowboys last 4 games following a straight up win.
Under is 4-0 in Cowboys last 4 games after accumulating less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
Under is 4-0 in Cowboys last 4 games on turf.
Under is 4-0 in Cowboys last 4 vs. Pac-12.
Under is 5-0 in Cowboys last 5 games following a ATS win.
Under is 7-1 in Cowboys last 8 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
Under is 6-1 in Cowboys last 7 games in September.
Under is 5-1 in Cowboys last 6 games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
Under is 13-3 in Cowboys last 16 games overall.
Under is 8-2 in Cowboys last 10 home games.
Under is 7-2 in Cowboys last 9 non-conference games.

Head to Head
No trends available.

 

[bmd1803]

Preview: Albany at Pittsburgh
Gracenote
Aug 29, 2018

Despite a defense that returns nine starters from a squad that showed tremendous improvement in the second half of last season and a quarterback with a full offseason under his belt, Pittsburgh can't afford to look past visiting FCS foe Albany in the season opener on Saturday. In the Panthers’ last six meetings against FCS schools, they have three wins by eight points or fewer and one loss - 31-17 to Youngstown State in 2012.

A promising Pittsburgh defense returns its top six linemen, top five linebackers and six of eight defensive backs. That unit yielded 6.7 yards per play, a 60 percent completion rate and a 151 passer rating over the first seven games, but 4.9 yards per play, a 50 percent completion rate and a 119.5 passer rating over the last five. “We've got some guys. But then you've got to go out and show it on game day,” Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi told reporters Monday. “You can have all the "P" you want as far as "Potential," but, we've got to go out and play like we're a good defense, and that's - you can tell at the end of the year - it's hard.” The Panthers struggled last season trying to replace 2016 starter Nathan Peterman, finally settling on true freshman Kenny Pickett, who led Pitt to a 24-14 upset in the season finale against Miami.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN3. LINE: None

ABOUT ALBANY (2017: 4-7): The Great Danes will be guided by Vince Testaverde, the son of the former Heisman Trophy winner and a 21-year veteran of the NFL. The redshirt senior hasn’t played in a game since 2014 and has thrown just 26 passes in his stops at Texas Tech and Miami (Fla.) before spending last season as Albany’s scout team quarterback. Running back Elijah Ibitokun-Hanks, who ran for a Colonial Athletic Association-leading 1,401 yards and scored 16 touchdowns in 2016, returns after playing just one game last season due to a knee injury.

ABOUT PITTSBURGH (2017: 5-7): Pickett (39-of-66, 509 yards, one TD and one interception in 2017) threw for 193 yards and a touchdown against no interceptions versus the Hurricanes in his first start after almost rallying the Panthers to a victory against Virginia Tech the previous week. Senior running back Darrin Hall came on strong last season, rushing for 486 of his team-high 628 yards in three late-season contests. He's scheduled to split carries with fellow senior Qadree Ollison, who ran for 1,121 yards in 2015 as a freshman but just a combined 525 the last two years.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Pittsburgh had a streak of nine straight bowl appearances snapped in 2017.

2. The Panthers averaged 23.9 points and 366 total yards last season after averaging a school-record 40.9 points and 447 yards in 2016.

3. The 6-1, 211-pound Testaverde went 11-of-18 with two touchdowns in the spring game, beating out Will Brunson, who started all 11 games last season and threw for 1,889 yards and nine TDs.

PREDICTION: Pittsburgh 36, Albany 12

 

[bmd1803]

Preview: UNLV at USC
Gracenote
Aug 28, 2018

No. 15 USC will have a distinctive new look when it takes the field for its opener with UNLV on Saturday afternoon, and it won't just be the ongoing $300 million renovation of the historic Los Angeles Coliseum. The Trojans will also unveil their new starting quarterback who will try and fill the big shoes of No. 3 NFL Draft-pick Sam Darnold.

Head coach Clay Helton announced Sunday night that 18-year-old true freshman JT Daniels, who was Gatorade's National Player of the Year after leading Mater Dei High School of Santa Ana, Calif., to a 15-0 record and the mythical national championship, will be the man to take over for Darnold, who set a school single-season record with 4,143 passing yards last season. Daniels, who graduated a year early from Mater Dei so he could enroll at USC in the summer, beat out redshirt freshman Jack Sears, who succeeded Darnold at San Clemente High School, and redshirt sophomore Matt Fink, who saw action in three games in mop-up duty. "He's a very mature kid, both physically and mentally," Helton told the Los Angeles Times of Daniels. "Our goal with all freshmen is to come in and not (just) learn but compete when they come into camp. And obviously, he's doing a nice job competing." The game is a homecoming for UNLV quarterback Armani Rogers who helped lead Los Angeles Hamilton High School to an L.A. City title as a junior in the Coliseum.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network LINE: USC -25.5

ABOUT UNLV (5-7 in 2017): The Rebels have improved by one win each season under fourth-year head coach Tony Sanchez, which means it's bowl game or bust this year. Rogers, the reigning Mountain West Conference Freshman of the Year, and explosive senior Lexington Thomas, a first team All-Mountain West pick who rushed for 1,336 yards and averaged 6.3 yards per carry in 2017, headline an offense that returns seven starters and ranked 18th nationally in rushing with an average of 240.2 yards per game. Sanchez brought in Florida linebackers coach Tim Skipper as defensive coordinator and try to upgrade a defense that allowed 458.7 yards and 31.8 points per game and gave up 43 points in a shocking home loss to Howard.

ABOUT USC (11-3 in 2017): Beside Darnold, the Trojans also must replace dependable Ronald Jones II who ran for 3,619 yards in three seasons. However, the cupboard is hardly bare with talented sophomore Stephen Carr, who had 119 yards in their Pac-12 opening win against Stanford last season, and senior Aca'Cedric Ware returning. Daniels' top target at Mater Dei, freshman Amon-Ra St. Brown, joins sophomore Tyler Vaughns and junior Michael Pittman Jr. to give the Trojans what should be one of the Pac-12's top wide receiving corps while the defense will be led by a trio of future high NFL Draft picks in middle linebacker Cameron Smith, outside linebacker Porter Gustin and cornerback Iman Marshall.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Matt Barkley, like Daniels and 2004 Heisman Trophy winner Matt Leinhart is a Mater Dei High School grad and is the only other USC true freshman to start a season opener at quarterback.

2. USC is 30-1-1 (.953) against current Mountain West teams (not including two wins vacated due to NCAA penalty) with the lone loss coming to Fresno State in 1992.

3. USC has won the only previous meeting between the two schools, 35-21 in 1997 in the Coliseum which also was the 100th collegiate coaching victory for future Rebels head coach John Robinson.

PREDICTION: USC 38, UNLV 20

 

[bmd1803]

ATS Trends
UNLV

Rebels are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 road games.
Rebels are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games on grass.
Rebels are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games in September.
Rebels are 1-4-1 ATS in their last 6 vs. Pac-12.

Southern California

Trojans are 2-5-1 ATS in their last 8 games on grass.
Trojans are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games.
Trojans are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games in September.
Trojans are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 games overall.
Trojans are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 non-conference games.

OU Trends
UNLV

Over is 8-1 in Rebels last 9 non-conference games.
Over is 5-1 in Rebels last 6 vs. Pac-12.
Over is 7-2 in Rebels last 9 games in September.
Over is 21-10 in Rebels last 31 games overall.

Southern California

Over is 5-1 in Trojans last 6 games on grass.
Under is 4-1-1 in Trojans last 6 vs. MWC.
Over is 6-2 in Trojans last 8 games overall.
Over is 11-5-1 in Trojans last 17 non-conference games.

Head to Head
No trends available.

 

[bmd1803]

Preview: Eastern Illinois at Arkansas
Gracenote
Aug 29, 2018

The Chad Morris era begins on Saturday, as Arkansas opens the season at home against Eastern Illinois. The new-look Razorbacks hope Morris’ up-tempo offense steals the spotlight and pumps some life into a program that needs a rebirth.


Morris took over as coach during the offseason after Bret Bielema was fired following a disappointing 4-8 campaign. During the last eight seasons as the offensive coordinator at Clemson and head coach at SMU, Morris’ offenses averaged 460.5 yards and 35.4 points. The Panthers are coached by former Arkansas receiver Kim Dameron and run a similar hurry-up offense to Morris’ up-tempo scheme. “I can assure you, we’re going to get their absolute best,” Morris told reporters. “There’s no doubt about that. This is a very scary football team.”

TV: 4 p.m. ET, SEC Network. LINE: None


ABOUT EASTERN ILLINOIS (2017: 6-5): The Panthers have installed the Air Raid offense, but they haven’t yet committed to which quarterback will run it. Transfers Johnathan Brantley (Tulane) and Harry Woodbery (Navarro JC) have competed for the job, and both are likely to see action Saturday. The defense lost its top three tacklers from last season and will start five sophomores.

ABOUT ARKANSAS (2017: 4-8): Morris hands the reins of his high-powered offense to Cole Kelley, who took over as the starting quarterback late last season when Austin Allen was injured. Four starting offensive linemen are back in front of Kelley, who has a talented receiving corps to target, but the question is whether or not the Razorbacks can outscore anyone. Linebackers Dre Greenlaw and De’Jon Harris, who combined for 218 tackles last season, return to anchor a defense that allowed an SEC-high 36.2 points per game in 2017.


EXTRA POINTS

1. Arkansas has won 19 of its last 21 season openers and 11 straight home openers.

2. The Razorbacks are 5-0 against current Ohio Valley Conference teams.

3. Eastern Illinois’ six wins last season came by a total of 15 points, with the largest margin being three.


PREDICTION: Arkansas 49, Eastern Illinois 27