College Football Odds & Spreads

On any given Saturday during college football season, students meet in stadiums and on the gridiron in a display of pageantry, pride, and the desire to win. Because of the high emotions and explosive plays on the field, it’s no secret that NCAA football wagers are some of the most popular each week. That’s why it’s crucial to understand the college football odds and maximize your chances of winning big.

The good news is that you don’t have to go into each week overwhelmed by the sheer number of games available. With a Sports Information Traders package, you get deep analysis backed by a proprietary model to show you the sharpest plays week after week.

No matter who you root for, understanding how college football picks and odds work can help you consistently win in all the biggest rivalries. Here’s everything you need to know about college football odds and spreads.

How to Read College Football Odds

Like any other sports betting odds, college football odds are set every week by a set of experts at sportsbooks in Las Vegas and across the country. These analysts look at several different factors, including:

• The starting lineup
• Injuries and illness
• Performance in previous games
• Strength of their next opponent

From there, they will use exclusive algorithms to determine which teams are favored, and which teams have a lesser chance of winning.

The results are a set of weekly college football betting odds that show which teams have an advantage in their game. While each set of odds suggest a different winning aspect, the favorites are shown with a negative number, while the underdogs are designated by positive numbers. The plus (+) numbers for the lesser team suggest what they must overcome to win, while the negatives (-) suggest the handicap the preferred team would need for an even matchup.

Types of College Football Game Odds

While there are many different wagers you could take each week, it’s important to understand how betting odds work to determine your best possible plays. From betting against the spread to taking a live pick, knowing all the college football game odds empowers you to see the best opportunities for big gains.

NCAA Football Spreads

In any sport, the points spread shows the anticipated margin of victory between two teams. College football odds with spreads are no different: Each week, oddsmakers use their experience and models to predict how many points the favored teams will win by. From there, bettors can decide to take the favorite at the handicap or the underdog with points “spotted” to them.

For example: Team A has a -3.5 point spread over Team B. For a wager on Team A to pay out, they would have to win by more than a field goal over Team B. But if Team B wins the game or loses by less than 3 points, then they would “cover the spread,” with all bets on them paying out.

College Football Over/Under Scores and Odds

Over/Under scores and odds are one of the most exciting bets on college football odds because you are wagering on the total score of a game. Each week, the sportsbook sets a bar for the total score, with the choice to wager on a score over or under the line.

Let’s say the oddsmakers set the over/under line for an NCAA football game at 42. An “over” bet would win if the final combined score is more than six touchdowns. If the total points by both teams is less, then all “under” bets would win. If the final scores add up to exactly 42, it is considered a “push,” and all bets are refunded.

College Football Money Lines

Among all college football picks and odds, money line bets are the easiest to understand. By placing a money line wager, you are picking one team to win regardless of the points spread or total score.

Another advantage of money lines is knowing how much you would need to wager in order to win. For instance, if a favorite has money line odds of -110, you would need to bet $110 to earn $100. And if the dark horse has money line odds of +115, a winning $100 wager would yield $115.

College Football Live Betting

While many sportsbooks offer betting on set college football betting odds, some offer the chance to place bets on games as they happen. This practice is known as “live betting” adds a new dimension of excitement to a game.

With college football live betting, all of the odds – money line, points spread, and over/under scores – can change throughout the game. Thus, placing a “live bet” is a matter of playing the odds during the game.

For example: The points spread for a given game starts at 7.5 (-7.5 for Team A and +7.5 for Team B). By the fourth quarter, Team A has a four-point lead and the live betting spread reduces to 3.5. In this situation, placing a live bet on Team A suggests that the score won’t change and Team A will go on to win by the four-point margin or more.

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NCAA WEEK 14 PREVIEWS

Big Ten Championship Game: Northwestern vs. Ohio State

For the first time in school history, No. 19 Northwestern heads to the Big Ten championship game where it will face the 10^th-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. The Wildcats started the season 1-3 then went 8-1 to finish the year with the only loss to a now third-ranked Notre Dame. Ohio State shrugged off a midseason loss to Purdue and annihilated rival Michigan in its rivalry game last week to capture the East Division. The Buckeyes won 62-39, the most points ever scored against a Michigan defense.

For the Buckeyes, it’s all about an offense that scores 43.3 points and averages 543.9 total yards per game. The offense is led by QB Dwayne Haskins who is second in the nation with 4,003 passing yards. He broke Drew Brees Big Ten record when he threw his 41^st touchdown pass against the Wolverines last week. The Ohio State passing game averages 356 yards a game and is difficult to stop.

Making matters worse for Northwestern is a two-headed running game that features leading rusher J.K. Dobbins, who has 961 yards, and Mike Weber who has 807. Ohio State averages nearly 200 yards per game rushing and having two backs like Dobbins and Weber makes head coach Urban Meyer’s offense hard to slow down.

In its last five wins, Northwestern has not allowed an opponent more than 17 points. Two of those wins were against ranked opponents – Iowa and Wisconsin. The Wildcats give up almost 373 yards per game on defense, but they don’t break. Head coach Pat Fitzgerald and his defense will have to find a way to slow down Ohio State and at the same time figure out how to score against a very talented defense.

The Wildcats offense is solid, but does not score a lot of points. In fact, their 23.7 points per game ranks Northwestern 108^th in the nation. Quarterback Clayton Thorson has thrown for 2,675 yards and he is four –year starter. The running game is led by Isaiah Bowser who has 736 yards and six touchdowns. When called upon, the Wildcats have produced. Ohio State will be looking for its second consecutive Big Ten title. A win will likely put the Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff.

SEC Championship Game: Alabama vs. Georgia

Once again, it is Georgia that stands in the way of Alabama’s quest for yet another national title. This time, the stakes are a little different as the top-ranked Crimson Tide and the No. 5 Bulldogs play for the SEC championship. For Georgia, it is a must-win. Win and the Bulldogs are in the College Football Playoff. Lose and they are out.

Alabama, on the other hand, is unbeaten at 12-0 and clearly has been the nation’s best team all season. A win definitely puts head coach Nick Saban in the CFP, but a loss to Georgia doesn’t necessarily eliminate the Tide. A 12-1 Alabama could go to the CFP if say Northwestern won the Big Ten championship game or Texas won the Big 12.

Regardless, Saturday’s SEC title game should be one of the best games of the 2018 season. Both teams check in with capable offenses and stout defenses. Alabama is one of the most prolific offenses in the country led by QB Tua Tagovailoa, a Heisman Trophy candidate. The Crimson Tide averages 49 points and 538 yards per game on offense. Tagovailoa has thrown for 3,189 yards and 36 touchdowns. Even more impressive is the fact that he has thrown just two interceptions.

Alabama can run the ball too. The Tide averages over 205 rushing yards per game led by Damien Harris’s 719. Najee Harris has 664 and Josh Jacobs has contributed 412 and a team-best nine touchdowns. Saturday’s game could come down to the team that has more success running the football. Alabama outrushed Georgia 184 to 133 in last year’s national championship game.

The Georgia offense is just as talented though it is focused more on the run. The Bulldogs average 259.8 rushing yards per game. Just like last year, Georgia has a two-headed running game with D’Andre Swift (962 yards, 9 TDs) and Elijah Holyfield (896 yards, 7 TDs). Both backs average nearly seven yards per carry for a Georgia offense that scores 40.1 points per game.

Quarterback Jake Fromm is as good as they come and has 2,236 yards passing and 24 touchdowns. He has made very few mistakes this season as evidenced by his five interceptions in 12 games.

Alabama has won the last four meetings between the two teams. Georgia last beat Alabama in 2007 winning 26-23 in overtime.

ACC Championship Game: Clemson vs. Pittsburgh

For the fourth straight season, Clemson will play for the ACC championship and a berth in the College Football Playoff. The Tigers will take on Coastal Division champion Pittsburgh (7-5) on Saturday night. The Tigers are 12-0 and have won three straight ACC titles and have an amazing 52-4 record with a national championship over the past four seasons. It is the first-ever trip to the ACC title game for the Panthers.

One of Clemson’s four losses over the past four seasons was to Pittsburgh in 2016. The Tigers rolled up 630 yards of offense but turned the ball over three times and gave up 10 fourth-quarter points in a 43-42 loss. A 48-yard field goal on the game’s final play proved to be the difference. The Panthers certainly remember that victory and will not be intimidated by the Tigers.

For Pittsburgh to have success, they will have to rely on what they do best – run the football. The Panthers average 232.7 yards a game on the ground. Head coach Pat Narduzzi has two capable backs in Qadree Ollison (1,134 yards, 10 TDs) and Darrin Hall (935 yards, 9 TDs). Running the football will help keep the ball away from a Clemson offense that scores 45.7 points per game. Pittsburgh QB Kenny Pickett has managed games well and has 1,825 passing yards, 12 touchdowns, and five interceptions.

Where the Panthers will have to step up is on defense. They allow roughly 400 yards of offense and 28 points per game. The Tigers have one of the best and most balanced offenses in the country. They average 256.3 yards a game on the ground and 282.8 in the air. True freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence has done a spectacular job of running the Tigers offense. He has 2,488 yards passing, 22 touchdowns, and has thrown just four interceptions since taking over as the starter earlier in the season.

The Clemson running game is very hard to stop. Travis Etienne leads the Tigers with 1,307 yards and 19 touchdowns. Three other Tigers have at least 350 rushing yards. Ask South Carolina how good Clemson’s running game is. In the season-ending rivalry game last week, the Gamecocks gave up 351 yards on the ground to Clemson. This is Clemson’s fifth trip to the ACC title game. The Tigers are 4-1.

Big 12 Championship Game: Texas vs. Oklahoma

It’s a rematch of the Red River War played back in early October and won by Texas. The 19^th-ranked Longhorns will try and win a Big 12 conference championship as they take on the 11-1 Oklahoma Sooners. Head coach Lincoln Riley and the Sooners will do their best to avoid the three turnovers they committed in the first meeting with the Texas. The Longhorns survived a furious Oklahoma comeback to win 48-45 on Cameron Dicker’s 40-yard field goal with nine seconds left in the game.

This time around, expect more of the same – tons of offense. The two teams combined for over 1,000 yards of total offense in the first meeting. The Sooners have won their previous four games in a row becoming the first team in NCAA history to do so while giving up 40 or more points in the process. If the Sooners have an Achilles heel it is on defense. Oklahoma allows 449 yards of offense and nearly 33 points per game.

What the Sooners are very good at though is moving the football and scoring points. Quarterback Kyler Murray is outstanding. The first-round MLB draft pick has thrown for 3,674 yards and 37 touchdowns this season. In last week’s win over West Virginia, Murray was 20-of-27 for 364 yards and three touchdowns and he ran nine times for 114 yards and another score. The Texas defense will have its hands full.

Texas (9-3, 7-2) suffered back-to-back losses to Oklahoma State and West Virginia in its quest for a Big 12 title in head coach Tom Herman’s second year. Quarterback Sam Ehlinger (2,774 passing yards) keys a Longhorns offense that scores over 31 points per game. Herman has a star in the making in WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey who has 72 catches for 1,058 yards and eight touchdowns. He will certainly need to be a factor on Saturday if the Longhorns are going to pull the upset.

With a win, the sixth-ranked Sooners will have a shot at the College Football Playoff. A loss would ruin their hopes.

NCAA WEEK 13 PREVIEWS

West Virginia @ Oklahoma

It’s was supposed to be the first of a consecutive week double-header. West Virginia, No. 12 in the latest AP poll, would face No. 6 Oklahoma in the final regular season game and then face them again a week later in the renewal of the Big 12 championship game. That changed when the Mountaineers lost in the final minutes at Oklahoma State last week.

Now, head coach Dana Holgorsen and West Virginia must beat the Sooners in order to face them again on Dec. 1 for the Big 12 title. If Oklahoma wins on Friday, the Sooners will get a much-anticipated rematch with Texas should they win their final regular season game against Kansas. The Longhorns gave Oklahoma its only loss of the season in the annual Red River Rivalry back in early October.

Friday’s matchup will feature two of the most prolific offenses in the FBS. Oklahoma leads the nation in total offense (576 yards per game) and scoring offense (49.5 points per game). Quarterback Kyler Murray is a Heisman Trophy candidate who has thrown for 3,310 yards and 34 touchdowns this season. His top receiving target is Marquise Brown who has 59 receptions for 1,021 yards and eight touchdowns.

Oklahoma has won five straight since losing to Texas. The Sooners represent the Big 12’s best chance at getting a College Football Playoff bid. At 10-1, the Sooners would need to beat West Virginia and then win the Big 12 title game to get to the CFP.

The Mountaineers (9-2) also have an outstanding offense. West Virginia averages 502 yards of offense per game and scores 40.9 points. Their quarterback, Will Grier, is also a Heisman candidate with 3,325 yards passing and 33 touchdowns. David Sills V, who led the nation last year in touchdown receptions, has 13 this season. West Virginia must win to have a shot at making the Big 12 title game.

Michigan @ Ohio State

It is finally here and both No. 4 Michigan and No. 10 Ohio State know that a loss on Saturday ruins any hopes at the Big Ten championship as well as a shot at the College Football Playoff. Both teams had some issues last week but enter Saturday at 10-1. The winner will face Northwestern on Dec. 1 in the Big Ten championship game. Should either the Wolverines or Buckeyes win that game, they would likely earn a berth in the upcoming CFP.

Michigan had issues in the red zone last week in a 31-20 win over Indiana. Kicker Jake Moody set a school record with six field goals against the Hoosiers. If head coach Jim Harbaugh’s Wolverines had converted any one of those drives, the final result would have been much worse for the Hoosiers. The Michigan running game was outstanding again accumulating 257 yards led by 101 from senior RB Karan Higdon.

Harbaugh’s offense is well-balanced averaging 219.2 yards per game on the ground and 210.5 passing. Quarterback Shea Patterson has been masterful with 2,177 yards, 18 touchdown passes, and just four interceptions. The Wolverines do not make many mistakes on offense and the defense might be the nation’s best.

Michigan allows an NCAA-best 235 yards per game and just 13.5 points (4^th in the FBS). They will face possibly their toughest test on Saturday when they take on a Buckeyes offense that averages nearly 42 points and 542 yards a game. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins is third in the nation in passing yards with 3,685. He has thrown 36 touchdowns this season.

Ohio State also has an outstanding running game with two backs over 700 yards. J.K. Dobbins leads the Buckeyes with 915 yards and Mike Weber has 711. The pair has combined for 12 rushing touchdowns. Ohio State will need to keep the Wolverines off balance in order to move the football.

The Buckeyes have ruled the series over the past decade-plus. Ohio State has won the last six straight against Michigan and the Wolverines have just one win over the Buckeyes in the past 14 seasons.

Washington @ Washington State

The Pac-12’s only hope for a College Football Playoff bid finishes its season with its annual Apple Cup rivalry game. Washington State hosts Washington in both team’s final regular season matchup. With a win, the Cougars will take on Utah in the Pac-12 title game. A Washington win would put the 8-3 Huskies into the conference championship and would end any hopes that the conference has in getting a team into this year’s CFP.

At the beginning of the 2018 season, it was Washington that most thought would be the conference’s best chance at earning a trip to the CFP. The Huskies lost their season opener to a then-ninth-ranked Auburn, but it was the midseason loss to Oregon that ended Washington’s national title hopes. Then, the Huskies found a way to lose to Cal 12-10 a few weeks later. Now at 8-3, Washington can salvage its season by beating its rival and ending up in the conference championship.

To do so, the Huskies will need outstanding performances from QB Jake Browning who has 2.485 yards passing and 16 touchdowns and RB Myles Gaskin who leads the team with 906 yards on the ground. Both Browning and Gaskin are four-year starters.

The Cougars (10-1, 7-1) surprised everyone when, after losing to USC 39-36, they ripped off seven straight wins, including two straight over ranked opponents (Oregon, Stanford). Head coach Mike Leach’s offense has been unstoppable at times and the defense has stepped up allowing 22.6 points per game.

Leach’s quarterback Gardner Minshew is leading the nation in passing yards with 4,325. In last week’s win over Arizona, Minshew completed 43-of-55 passes for 473 yards and seven touchdowns. The Cougars offense averages 40.5 points and 482.3 yards per game. Washington has been one of the nation’s better defenses over the past few years. The Huskies allow just 192.8 passing yards per game this season. They will be tested on Friday.

Washington has ruled the Apple Cup series over the last decade. The Huskies have won eight of the last nine including the five in a row. A 15^th-ranked Washington won last year at home 41-14. The Cougars last win against Washington came in 2012 at Pullman, a 31-28 victory in overtime.

Utah State @ Boise State

It’s a de facto Mountain West Mountain Division championship game as No. 23 Utah State travels to No. 21 Boise State on Saturday night. The Aggies (10-1, 7-0) are unbeaten in conference play while the Broncos are 9-2 overall and 6-1 in the Mountain West. Head coach Bryan Harsin and the Broncos lost to San Diego State 19-13 at midseason, the team’s only loss in MWC play.

Utah State has quietly reeled off 10 straight wins after losing a close one, 38-31, to Michigan State in its season opener. The Aggies have the Mountain West’s best offense led by QB Jordan Love and RB Darwin Thompson. Love has 2,845 passing yards and 25 touchdowns while Thompson is the Aggies leading rusher with 890 yards. He also has 14 touchdowns for an offense that averages 49.3 points per game. Utah State has scored 56 or more points in six of their ten wins.

Boise State entered the 2018 campaign returning 10 of 11 defensive starters. The Broncos allow just over 22 points per game and the defense has played well the last three weeks. Boise State has not given up over 17 points in those three games.

The Broncos are no slouch on offense either averaging 37.4 points per game led by four-year starting quarterback Brett Rypien. The senior has 3,270 yards passing and 28 touchdowns. Running back Alex Mattison has his second straight 1,000-yard season (1,015) and WR Sean Modster leads the Broncos with 59 catches for 852 yards.

In last year’s game against the Aggies, Rypien threw three touchdown passes and Mattison ran for 110 yards in a 41-14 win. The Broncos defense held Utah State to just 279 total yards. Head coach Matt Wells and the Aggies are much better in 2018. Saturday night’s winner will play Fresno State for the Mountain West championship.

NCAA WEEK 12 PREVIEWS

Iowa State @ Texas

No. 22 Iowa State heads to No. 19 Texas in a Big 12 matchup that could see the winner playing for a Big 12 title. Both teams are 5-2 in conference play. The top two teams at the end of the regular season will play against each in the renewal of the Big 12 championship game this season. The loser of Saturday’s Cyclones-Longhorns game will be eliminated and the winner will need some help to get to the final.

The Cyclones have been hot ever since installing true freshman Brock Purdy as the starting quarterback. Purdy is 5-0 as the starter after last week’s 28-14 victory over Baylor. The win did come at a cost though as RB David Montgomery – the team’s leading rusher with 765 yards – was ejected for fighting and will miss the first half of Saturday night’s game with Texas. Even with Montgomery in the lineup, Iowa State struggles to run the football. Head coach Matt Campbell’s squad averages just 128.8 yards rushing per game, 110^th in the nation.

Purdy and company will face a Longhorns’ defense that does give up a lot of points though. In the past three games, Texas has allowed 38, 42, and 34 points and is giving up 27.5 per game for the season. The Longhorns defense allows over 426 yards of total offense per game. While they do give up a ton of points, the offense has improved immensely as the season has progressed.

Quarterback Sam Ehlinger threw for 312 yards and four touchdowns in last week’s win over Texas Tech. His final scoring toss to Lil’Jordan Humphrey with 21 seconds remaining proved to be the game-winner. Ehlinger has completed 64.3 percent of his passes this season for 2,483 yards and 20 touchdowns. Humphrey is the team’s leading receiver with 947 yards and seven touchdowns on 63 catches.

Herman and the Longhorns rose into the Top 10 after winning six in a row including a huge win over then-No. 7 Oklahoma. Texas is 1-2 in its last three games, but still has hope for a Big 12 title game berth. After Iowa State, the Longhorns finish the season with Kansas.

Cincinnati @ UCF

Should No. 12 Central Florida pull out its 10^th win of the season on Saturday night against 9-1 Cincinnati, fans will surely be clamoring for the Knights to be included in the College Football Playoff’s Top 4. UCF has the nation’s longest winning streak at 22 games and has yet to win the respect of the CFP committee. The committee does have point though as UCF’s biggest win might be a 45-14 demolition of Pitt, which is now 6-4 and is on its way to an ACC Coastal Division title.

Regardless, the Knights will get a chance to show if they are for real in prime time in front of a national audience on Saturday night. Their opponent, Cincinnati, is no slouch either. The Bearcats are 9-1, their lone loss coming at Temple (6-4, 5-1) at midseason. Cincinnati averages 35 points a game on offense with a talented, balanced attack. The Bearcats average 235.8 yards rushing (17^th in the nation) and 212.0 in the air. Running back Michael Warren II is already over 1,000 yards (1,082 on 206 carries) and has 17 touchdowns. Freshman Desmond Ridder is a dual-threat quarterback that has 1,897 yards passing and 486 more on the ground. Ridder has 20 total touchdowns.

What may be even more impressive is the Bearcats defense. Head coach Luke Fickell’s unit is seventh in the nation in scoring defense allowing just 14.9 points a game. Cincinnati has two shutouts and has held four opponents to a single score or less. The Bearcats defense held Navy, the nation’s third-best rush offense, to just 124 yards on the ground.

Cincinnati will have some work to do while trying to tame the Knights. UCF put up 52 points on Temple, the only team to beat the Bearcats. Quarterback McKenzie Milton is the catalyst of the nation’s eighth-highest scoring offense (44.2 points per game). Milton has 2,309 passing yards and 21 touchdowns as well as eight more scores on the ground. The UCF running game is outstanding and is the fourth-best attack in the country (271.4 yards per game). It is well-balanced with Greg McCrae (673 yards) the leading rusher. Adrian Killins Jr. has 546 and Taj McGowan, who leads all RBs with six touchdowns, adds 335.

A UCF win puts the Knights in the American Athletic Conference title game for a second consecutive season. A Cincinnati win creates a three-way tie in the AAC East Division.

Syracuse @ Notre Dame

Unbeaten and third-ranked Notre Dame faces yet another tough task as the Fighting Irish take on No. 13 Syracuse at Yankee Stadium on Saturday. Head coach Brian Kelly’s team needs a win over the Orange and another the following weekend against rival USC to assure itself a berth in the upcoming College Football Playoff. A loss makes it very difficult for Notre Dame and the CFP.

Syracuse head coach Dino Babers has done an admirable job of turning around the Orange program. With a hyper-speed offense that averages over 44 points a game, the Orange are on their second four-game winning streak of the season. Syracuse started 4-0 before back to back losses to No. 2 Clemson and Pitt, which just happen to be the two teams atop the two divisions of the ACC.

If Syracuse has an issue, it’s on defense. The Orange have averaged 46.5 points per game on offense in their last four wins, but they’ve given up an average of 31.2. With a defense that yields over 430 yards of offense per game, Syracuse needs to come up with some stops or the Notre Dame offense is going to have a field day.

At 10-0, the Irish do not have many deficiencies. They give up 18.7 points per game on defense and have a well-balanced offense that scores 34.3 points a game. Quarterback Ian Book, who has started six games this season, should be back and ready to go against Syracuse after missing last week with a rib injury. Book has 1,824 yards passing and 15 touchdowns since taking over for former starter Brandon Wimbush. It was Wimbush who led the Irish to victory last week over Florida State with three touchdown passes.

Running back Dexter Williams (770 yards) is Notre Dame’s leading rusher despite missing the first four games of the season. Williams had 202 yards and two touchdowns last week in the win over the Seminoles. The Irish have won the last two games in the series including a 50-33 win in 2016.

West Virginia @ Oklahoma State

The No. 9 Mountaineers are inching closer to a season-ending showdown with No. 6 Oklahoma. Both are the only teams remaining in the Big 12 with one loss. Before West Virginia jumps too far ahead though, they must get by a very powerful Oklahoma State team. The Cowboys and head coach Mike Gundy were a two-point conversion away from knocking off the Sooners last week. When OSU scored late in the fourth quarter last week to make the score 48-47, Gundy elected to go for the win but failed.

Now, the Cowboys have the opportunity to throw a wrench in West Virginia’s season. The Mountaineers and Sooners are the top two teams in the Big 12 and if they remain at season’s end they will play in the Big 12 championship game. A West Virginia loss to the Cowboys could make getting to the Big 12 title game a little tougher.

To do so, the Cowboys are going to have score…a lot. Gundy and quarterback Taylor Cornelius lead an offense that averages over 511 yards and 39 points per game ranking Oklahoma State among the top 15 in both categories. Gundy and OSU have put up 40 points or more in six of their 10 games. The problem for the 5-5 Cowboys is the defense. Oklahoma State gives up 31.7 points and over 426 total yards per game.

In West Virginia, the Cowboys will face one of the nation’s top quarterbacks in Will Grier and a receiving corps that may be the nation’s best unit. Grier is completing 69 percent of his passes for 2,961 yards and 31 touchdowns. David Sills IV (49 rec., 697 yds.), Marcus Simms (37-635), and Gary Jennings Jr. (40-600) all have at least 600 yards receiving. Sills, who led the nation in touchdown receptions last year, has 12 thus far this season and Jennings has 10.

The Mountaineers have scored 40 points-plus in each of their last three games, all victories which include a 42-41 win over then No. 17 Texas. Oklahoma State has won the last three games in the series and does play at home where they are 4-2 this season.

NCAA WEEK 11 PREVIEWS

Mississippi State @ Alabama

Coming off an impressive 29-0 win over then-No. 3 LSU last week, top-ranked Alabama faces another SEC West test when the Tide welcomes No. 18 Mississippi State to Bryant-Denny Stadium on Saturday. The Crimson Tide (9-0) rose to the challenge last week in a game that many thought would be the best chance for an Alabama loss this season. The Bulldogs (6-3) will get their shot at trying to upset a Nick Saban team that clearly appears headed toward a second consecutive national championship.

The monumental task for the Bulldogs seems even more unlikely given the recent history of the series. Alabama has won the last 10 in a row over Mississippi State. The closest the Bulldogs have come to a win in the past decade was a 25-20 Alabama win in 2014. The Tide have been ranked No. 11 or higher in each of the ten games and this years’ game will be the fifth time that Alabama enters the game ranked No. 1 in the nation.

It’s pretty easy to see why the Tide have been so successful. The defense is stout, but the offense is simply unstoppable. Alabama leads the nation in scoring averaging 51.3 points per game. Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has thrown for 2,361 yards and 27 touchdowns. He has been extremely accurate and hasn’t made many mistakes. He has just one interception this season. The running game is outstanding as well averaging 224 yards a game. Najee Harris (572 yards) and Damien Harris (542) are both big, strong and average over six yards per carry.

Mississippi State does run the ball well and has an outstanding defense. The Bulldogs are second in the nation in scoring defense giving up just 12.3 points per game. Coach Joe Moorhead’s defense gives up 278.7 yards per game, over 23 less than Saban’s Alabama defense.

For Moorhead and the Bulldogs, the recipe is easy. Rely on a top 10 defense to slow down the Crimson Tide and, more importantly, ride the talents of QB Nick Fitzgerald on offense. Fitzgerald has 1,252 passing yards and is the team’s leading rusher with 839 more. He has 19 total touchdowns. If Fitzgerald and the offense can keep the ball away from Alabama, the Bulldogs may have a shot at an upset.

Ohio State @ Michigan State

To stay alive in the Big Ten East race, No. 10 Ohio State needs a big win on the road at Michigan State. Beating the Spartans in East Lansing has never been easy for the Buckeyes. Head coach Urban Meyer and the Buckeyes earned a 17-16 win the last time they played at Spartan Stadium in 2016. Ohio State won a shootout (49-37) in 2014 and won by one, 17-16, in 2012. Michigan State has won three of the past seven games against the Buckeyes, but all have been away from home.

The Spartans have the nation’s best run defense. Head coach Mark Dantonio’s unit allows just 71.7 yards per game. Michigan State will face a very good tandem of Ohio State running backs in Mike Weber and J.K. Dobbins. Both have over 600 yards this season. Dobbins leads the Buckeyes with 684 and Weber has 607.

Where Ohio State has really excelled this season though is in the passing game. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins has made Buckeye fans forget about J.T. Barrett with a passing game that averages over 369 yards per game, third-best in the nation. Haskins is third in the nation in passing yards with 3,053. He didn’t have his best game last week in a win over Nebraska, but Haskins is talented enough to beat the Spartans if called to do so.

Michigan State (6-3) has had some issues at quarterback with an injury to starter Brian Lewerke. Backup Rocky Lombardi started in the victory over Purdue two weeks ago. Lewerke came back last week but was just 11-of-20 for 87 yards in a win over Maryland. Luckily, the Spartans ground game was on fire posting 269 yards led by 157 on 15 carries by sophomore Connor Heyward.

If the Spartans can give Ohio State a heavy dose of the power run, the results could pay off. They could also use a few breaks. Last week, Ohio State fell behind to Nebraska 21-16 at the half thanks to two turnovers that the Cornhuskers turned into touchdowns. If the Buckeyes do that against a very sound Michigan State squad, they can forget about competing for a Big Ten championship.

Clemson @ Boston College

The second-ranked Clemson Tigers are looking for their fourth straight ACC title and fourth consecutive trip to the College Football Playoff. No. 22 Boston College stands in the way Saturday night as the Tigers face their toughest remaining task in the regular season. The Eagles are coming off their third straight win, a 31-21 victory over Virginia Tech.

Boston College, like Clemson, has a very strong running game built around sophomore running back A.J. Dillon. Just a sophomore, Dillon is 6-feet and 245 pounds and possesses the speed of a track star. Last season, Dillon ran for 1,589 yards and 14 touchdowns and became the first Boston College freshman to win the ACC’s Rookie of the Year. So far this season, Dillon has 897 yards and eight touchdowns for a BC offense that averages 225.6 yards per game on the ground.

The BC running game will be a key on Saturday night as the Eagles must keep the ball away from a very potent Clemson offense. In their past three victories, the Eagles have rushed for 251, 223, and 219 yards against Louisville, Miami, and Virginia Tech, respectively. If they can do the same against a powerful Clemson defense, head coach Steve Addazio and company could have success.

Clemson (9-0, 8-0) averages 265.3 yards a game rushing led by RB Travis Etienne who has 998 yards for the season. The Tigers running game has allowed true freshman QB Trevor Lawrence to become more comfortable in the offense since taking over the job earlier in the season. Lawrence completes over 65 percent of his passes for 1,549 yards and 18 touchdowns. All in all, the Clemson offense averages 47.8 points per game (including a whopping 77 last week against Louisville), the fourth-best mark in the country.

The Tigers are very good on offense, but they might be even better on defense. They give up an average of 13.3 points per game, which also happens to the fourth-best in the nation. The front four, led by Christian Wilkins and Dexter Lawrence, will all be in the NFL at this time next year. Wilkins and Lawrence even scored touchdowns on offense last week in the win over Louisville.

Clemson has won seven straight against the Eagles. Boston College last beat the Tigers in 2010.

Auburn @ Georgia

The Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry takes place again this Saturday in Athens where No. 5 Georgia plays host to Auburn. The two teams battled last year in the regular season for the 121^st time. Tenth-ranked Auburn scored a 40-17 upset of then-second-ranked Georgia. The win, plus a victory over Alabama, led Auburn to the SEC West title and rematch with the Bulldogs in the SEC championship game. Georgia won that game 28-7 and went on to the national championship game.

This time around, the circumstances are a little different. Auburn, an early season favorite to challenge Alabama in the SEC West, lost consecutive games to Mississippi State and Tennessee. Head coach Gus Malzahn’s team bounced back with wins over Ole Miss and last week over No. 20 Texas A&M. Now 6-3, the Tigers can ruin Georgia’s chances of qualifying for the College Football Playoff with a victory.

The Bulldogs, 8-1, have already clinched the SEC East, but a second loss before the SEC championship game will likely put them outside of the final top four and a CFP berth. Georgia beat No. 9 Kentucky last week and is set to face Alabama in the SEC championship game on Dec. 1. The Bulldogs only loss was to LSU.

Georgia relies heavily on the run averaging 233.8 yards per game. The Bulldogs are led by Elijah Holyfield who has 674 yards on the season. Quarterback Jake Fromm is extremely efficient and has 1,762 yards passing and 17 touchdowns. Georgia will face a talented Auburn defense that allows 17.3 points per game (17^th in the nation).

Unlike some of the Malzahn teams of the past, this year’s offense has struggled at time. The offense averages just 155.2 yards rushing and QB Jarrett Stidham has just 10 touchdown passes through nine games. Some offensive line issues also led to Stidham being sacked 19 times this season. Last week, Stidham played one of his better games going 18-of-29 for 239 yards and two touchdowns. His 11-yard touchdown toss to Seth Williams with 1:41 left proved to be the game-winner last week in the win over the Aggies. Auburn rushed for just 19 yards in the victory.

NCAA WEEK 10 PREVIEWS

Alabama @ LSU

It is once again a dream matchup in Baton Rouge on Saturday night when No. 4 LSU hosts top-ranked Alabama in Death Valley. The Crimson Tide roll into Saturday’s game as the defending national champion and owner of a perfect 8-0 mark this season. LSU checks in with a resume that features four wins over ranked opponents. The Tigers’ lone loss came at No. 13 Florida by a score of 27-19.

Both teams are stout on defense. Nick Saban coached teams at Alabama have been all about defense for the better part of a decade. This year’s team is no different giving up just 15.9 points per game, which is 10^th-best in the country. Saban’s 2018 team is a little different than in year’s past. While the defense is still good, the offense is outstanding and unlike any other of the Saban era.

Starting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was last year’s national championship game hero, leads the nation’s top-scoring offense (54.1 points per game). The sophomore has 2,066 passing yards and 25 touchdowns already. The Crimson Tide have the fifth-best passing game (347.7 yards per game) yet still put up 216.9 rushing yards per game. Running backs Najee Harris (489 yards, 4 TDs) and Damien Harris (435, 5 TDs) are an imposing pair for any defense.

LSU excels defensively yielding 15.1 points a game, seventh-best in the nation. The Tigers held a very good Mississippi State offense to a single field goal in a 19-3 win in their last game. Where head coach Ed Orgeron and LSU might not be able to keep up is on offense where LSU has one of the nation’s poorer passing games. Quarterback Joe Burrow is a solid leader though and can make plays when needed. The Tigers offense revolves around the run and RB Nick Brossette leads the team with 697 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Alabama has won the last seven games in the series and has not allowed more than 17 points to LSU since 2010. LSU last won in 2011, a 9-6 win in overtime. The Crimson Tide leads the series 52-25-5.

West Virginia @ Texas

The Longhorns loss to Oklahoma State last week created a three-way logjam at the top of the Big 12 standings. Now, Texas must face 4-1 West Virginia to reclaim the conference lead. Head coach Tom Herman’s squad holds a tie-break advantage over Oklahoma having beaten the Sooners in the annual Red River Rivalry.

Beating the Mountaineers will be no easy task. West Virginia features one of the nation’s best quarterbacks in Will Grier. So far this season, Grier has thrown for 2,272 yards and 25 touchdowns. Wide receiver David Sills, who led the nation last year in touchdown receptions, already has nine among his 37 receptions and 529 yards.

Last week in a win over Baylor, Grier threw three touchdown passes in a 31-point second quarter to roll to an easy 58-14 win over the Bears. The lone blemish on the Mountaineers record was a 30-14 loss at Iowa State. Head coach Dana Holgorsen and West Virginia need a win to move into a first-place tie with Oklahoma. The Mountaineers and Sooners meet in the teams’ season finale on Nov. 23.

Texas fell behind early last week in Stillwater and battled back but fell short in a 38-35 loss to the Cowboys. It’s just the Longhorns second loss of the season, but any hopes of a College Football Playoff berth were lost in the defeat. Texas can still win the Big 12 title, but a two-loss conference champion isn’t likely to be invited to the CFP.

For Texas, the offense goes as QB Sam Ehlinger goes. Ehlinger has thrown for 1,817 yards and 13 touchdowns and has rushed for 277 yards and eight more scores. Keaontay Ingram leads the Longhorns rushers with 455 yards on 77 carries. Texas averages 31.3 points per game, but the difference might be a West Virginia defense that gives up just 19.6 points a game. That is noteworthy especially in the pass-happy Big 12.

Penn State @ Michigan

It’s yet another Big Ten showdown in Ann Arbor’s Big House on Saturday as No. 14 Penn State visits fifth-ranked Michigan. The Wolverines are one of the most dominant defenses in the nation. Jim Harbaugh’s defense is No. 1 in the nation in total defense allowing opposing offenses just 220 yards per game. In their most recent victory, a win over in-state rival Michigan State, the Wolverines held the Spartans to just 94 total yards.

Michigan gives up just 14.4 points per game, which is sixth overall. They have held four of the eight opponents to two scores or less. Defensive coordinator Don Brown’s unit will be tested this week against a Penn State offense that can move the ball (459.5 yards a game) and score (41.0 points a game).

As the Nittany Lions did a year ago, they dropped two straight to Ohio State and Michigan State but rebounded with wins over Indiana and No. 18 Iowa just last week. Penn State could still win the East Division but would need to beat Michigan, hope that Ohio State beats Michigan in their annual season finale, and have the Buckeyes lose at least one to Nebraska, Michigan State, or Maryland.

Last year, Nittany Lions QB Trace McSorley threw for 282 yards and a touchdown as Penn State rolled up 506 yards in a 42-13 win over the Wolverines. This year, McSorley doesn’t have RB Saquon Barkley or WR DaeSean Hamilton, who are both in the NFL now. McSorley does have Miles Sanders, who has 834 rushing yards and eight touchdowns, and dynamic weapon K.J. Hamler, the team’s leading receiver with 27 catches for 497 yards.

Michigan’s offense relies much more on the run. The Wolverines average 212.8 yards per game on the ground led by Karan Higdon who has 831 so far. Quarterback Shea Patterson (1,523 passing yards, 12 TDs) has improved as the season has rolled on. In the win over Michigan State, Patterson was 14-of-25 for 212 yards and two touchdowns. In the Wolverines’ win over Wisconsin, the former Ole Miss starter was a highly efficient 14-of-20 and he also ran nine times for 90 yards.

A Michigan win keeps the Wolverines’ CFP hopes alive. Michigan faces Rutgers and Indiana before closing the season at Ohio State.

Georgia @ Kentucky

THE SEC East title will be decided on Saturday in, of all places, Lexington Kentucky. The sixth-ranked Georgia Bulldogs, 5-1 in conference play, take on the Wildcats of Kentucky, also 5-1 in SEC action. The Wildcats have taken huge strides under head coach Mark Stoops and are now in line for their first SEC title of any kind since 1976. With wins over Georgia and Tennessee, Kentucky would earn its first-ever bid to the SEC championship game.

The Bulldogs, whose only loss was to No. 4 LSU, can win the East for the second consecutive season by beating the Wildcats and then taking care of Auburn the following week. Georgia is the reigning SEC champ and played for the national championship last year.

This year’s team is once again led by a powerful running attack that averages 221.6 yards per game. Elijah Holyfield leads the Bulldogs with 559 yards and four touchdowns. Quarterback Jake Fromm has been his cool, steady self and has thrown for 1,649 yards and 16 touchdowns.

What both teams do very well though is play defense. Surprisingly, it is the Wildcats that are tied for first in the nation in scoring defense. Kentucky gives up just 13.0 points a game. Stoops’ defense has given up 20 points just twice in eight games.

Last week, the defense kept Kentucky alive by limiting pass-happy Missouri to just 14 points. The Wildcats won 15-14 on the game’s final play, a two-yard touchdown pass from Terry Wilson to C.J. Conrad. The Wildcats offense is led by senior RB Benny Snell Jr. who has 935 yards and nine touchdowns this season. Wilson has been efficient, completing 65 percent of his passes, and is the team’s second-leading rusher with 406 yards. At 7-1, Kentucky has already matched the program’s win totals from 2016 and 2017.

Georgia still has a shot at the College Football Playoff. With the one loss already, they would need to run the table to finish the season and then win the SEC championship game to get in.

NCAA WEEK 9 PREVIEWS

FLORIDA @ GEORGIA

The world’s largest outdoor cocktail party, also known as Florida versus Georgia, takes place between the hedges at Sanford Stadium in Athens, Georgia on Saturday. The Gators enter the game riding a five-game winning streak, which includes back-to-back wins over ranked opponents Mississippi State and LSU. Florida’s only loss this season is to Kentucky, which is 6-1 and ranked No. 12 in the nation.

Georgia was No. 2 in the nation after winning six games in a row to start the season. Then, the Bulldogs were embarrassed 36-16 at LSU two weeks ago. While the loss is damaging, it doesn’t eliminate Georgia from SEC title contention or the College Football Playoff just yet. Head coach Kirby Smart and company face the Gators this week and Kentucky next week. Those two games will likely determine where Georgia, 4-1 in SEC play, ends up.

For the Bulldogs, who are 4-0 at home this season, the offense starts with the running game. Elijah Holyfield leads the team with 488 yards and D’Andre Swift, who is nursing an ankle injury, has 362. Swift is expected to play on Saturday. Georgia averages over 226 yards per game on the ground and that helps take some of the pressure off of sophomore QB Jake Fromm. Fromm was flustered by the LSU defense completing just 16-of-34 passes and throwing two interceptions. For the year, Fromm has completed nearly 67 percent of his passes for 1,409 yards and 13 touchdowns.

The Georgia defense, like Florida’s, is among the very best in the nation. In fact, Georgia is 13^th in the country in scoring defense giving up just 16.3 points per game. Florida checks in at No. 15 allowing 16.6. Where both teams excel is in defending the pass. The Gators are sixth in the nation and have allowed opponents just 160.1 yards per game passing. Georgia (15^th) gives up only 174.3.

Where the Gators (6-1) have struggled recently is on offense. Prior to this season, Florida has had a tough time putting points on the board. With QB Feleipe Franks at the helm of the offense, Florida is scoring 34.1 points a game this season. Franks, a 6-5 sophomore, could still be more effective having completed just 57 percent of his passes. Still, he has thrown 15 touchdown passes and just five interceptions.

IOWA @ PENN STATE

After two losses knocked them out of both the Big Ten and College Football Playoff races, Penn State rebounded for a win over Indiana last week. Now, they host No. 18 Iowa, which has very quietly gone 6-1 thus far in 2018. The Hawkeyes have done it with a defense that is one of the nation’s best.

Iowa is third in the nation in total defense allowing opponents just 255 yards per game. Only Miami and Michigan allow fewer yards per game than the Hawkeyes. Iowa’s front seven is as good as any and allows only 79.6 yards rushing per game, which is tied for third in the country. All of that adds up to a defense that allows just 14.1 points per game (5^th in FBS). Last week, Iowa shutout Maryland 23-0, the third opponent the Hawkeyes have held to single digits.

Head coach Kirk Ferentz and Iowa will be tested this week in Happy Valley where the Penn State offense averages 480.6 yards and 42.6 points per game. The Nittany Lions have one of the most balanced attacks in the country putting up 239.9 yards passing and 240.7 yards rushing per game. Quarterback Trace McSorley leads Penn State with 1,461 yards passing and 554 more on the ground. McSorley has 19 total touchdowns. Miles Sanders has done an admirable job in replacing Saquon Barkley at running back and has 772 yards (6.5 avg.) and eight touchdowns for the season.

Last year, McSorley had to lead the Nittany Lions on a 12-play, 65-yard scoring drive at the end of the game to beat Iowa. The Penn State quarterback hit WR Juwan Johnson with a seven-yard scoring pass on the game’s final play for a 21-19 win. Penn State piled up 579 yards in the process.

Penn State’s defense surrenders 392 yards per game but faces an Iowa offense that is far from dynamic. There is no secret as to what the Hawkeyes want to do. They want to run the football with Toren Young (403 yards) and Mekhi Sargent (297). Quarterback Nathan Stanley is an efficient game manager with 1,559 yards and 16 touchdowns. Iowa does score 30.6 points per game.

WASHINGTON STATE @ STANFORD

Mike Leach has done it again. The Washington State Cougars are on track to win the Pac-12 North if they can get past Stanford this week and rival Washington to close the regular season. The Cougars shocked No. 12 Oregon last week rolling to a 27-0 halftime lead and then cruising to a 34-20 victory. Leach and the Cougars are now 6-1 overall and 3-1 in Pac-12 play.

Leach has the No. 1 passing offense in the country at Washington State. His quarterback, senior Gardner Minshew, is 254-of-364 for 2,745 yards and 23 touchdowns. His yardage total is second in the nation. Washington State averages 40.7 points per game (13^th in FBS) thanks to their prolific passing attack.

Stanford (5-2, 3-1) will have its hands full trying to slow down the Cougars. The Cardinal rank 99^th in the pass defense and gave up 353 passing yards to Arizona State quarterback Manny Wilkins last week. Stanford beat the Sun Devils 20-13 thanks to a defense that allowed only 84 yards rushing.

The Cardinal, surprisingly, have had difficulty running the football in 2018. Preseason Heisman Trophy candidate Bryce Love has been hampered by nagging injuries all season and has just 384 yards. Stanford averages just 91.6 yards per game on the ground. That is 127^th out of 130 FBS teams.

Last year, Washington State held Stanford to just 198 total yards. The Cougars still needed a fourth-quarter touchdown to pull out a 24-21 win. The Cougars are a top 20 pass defense giving up just 178.3 yards per game through the air. That puts them at No. 18 in the country in pass defense.

A win over Stanford would leave Leach and the Cougars with just one loss in conference play and remaining games against Cal (1-3 in the Pac-12), Colorado (2-2), and Arizona (2-3) before taking on rival Washington (6-2, 4-1) at home in the season finale.

TEXAS A&M @ MISSISSIPPI STATE

Believe it or not, Texas A&M still has a shot at the SEC West title and a win over Mississippi State this Saturday is part of the plan. The Aggies, winners of three straight, are 5-2 overall and 3-1 in SEC play. Currently, they sit in the West a half-game behind LSU (4-1 in the SEC). Texas A&M takes on the Tigers in the season finale, but first they must get past the Bulldogs.

Mississippi State was ranked in the Top 25 until a 19-3 loss to LSU last week. The Bulldogs offense, which was averaging 406.3 yards per game, was held to just 260 by the Tigers defense. Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, one of the conference’s best, was picked off four times and finished just 8-of-24 for 59 yards. Fitzgerald is the Bulldogs leading passer (768 yards) and rusher (644 yards on 121 carries). He will need to play well against a pretty good Texas A&M defense.

The Aggies are second nationally against the run giving up just 78.4 yards per game, which could create some difficulty for Mississippi State head coach Joe Moorhead’s spread offense. The Bulldogs average 235 yards rushing a game (16^th in FBS). Where Fitzgerald may have some success is through the air. In the Aggies two losses, they gave up 387 passing yards to Alabama and 298 to Clemson.

Offensively, head coach Jimbo Fisher and the Aggies average over 486 yards per game led by QB Kellen Mond. Mond has 1,800 passing yards and another 255 on the ground. Running back Trayveon Williams averages 5.7 yards per carry and has 798 yards and eight touchdowns on the season. Texas A&M averages 32.3 points per game, but the Bulldogs are one of the nation’s best defenses.

Mississippi State is as talented as anyone on defense and has the stats to show for it. The Bulldogs are fourth in scoring defense allowing 13.6 points a game and they are sixth in total defense allowing opponents 282 yards per game. A Texas A&M loss would take the Aggies out of the division race.

NCAA WEEK 8 PREVIEWS

Mississippi State @ LSU

It’s another showdown in the SEC as 4-2 Mississippi State heads to Baton Rouge to take on fifth-ranked LSU (5-1). The Tigers pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the season last week pounding previous No. 2 Georgia 36-16. LSU piled up 475 yards of total offense, including 275 on the ground, and forced four Georgia turnovers. It was a signature win for head coach Ed Orgeron and the Tigers who have struggled over the past few seasons to contend for the SEC title and the College Football Playoff.

LSU welcomes a very good Mississippi State team that is somewhat underrated in the SEC. The Bulldogs have one of the top defenses in the country. Mississippi State, and not Alabama, is No. 1 in the nation in scoring defense. The Bulldogs are allowing just 12.7 points per game. They are eighth in total defense yielding just 290 yards of offense a game.

Under new head coach Joe Moorhead, previously the offensive coordinator at Penn State, the Bulldogs have struggled a little in adapting to the up-tempo attack. Quarterback Nick Fitzgerald leads a very strong running game (240.7 yards per game, 18^th nationally), but struggles in the passing game (105^th). Fitzgerald is the Bulldogs leading rusher (513 yards) as well as passer (709).

LSU relies heavily on the run led by Nick Brosette (640 yards, 9 TDs) and Clyde Edwards-Helaire (475 yards, 5 TDs). Graduate transfer quarterback Joe Burrow had his best game last week throwing for 200 yards and rushing 13 times for 66 more and two touchdowns. The Tigers are also perennially a stout defense and 2018 is no exception. LSU is 17^th in the nation in scoring defense giving up 16.9 points per game.

With victories already over Miami, Auburn, and Georgia; a win over Mississippi State would give Orgeron and the Tigers a fourth victory over a ranked team. The Bulldogs were ranked No. 22 in this week’s AP poll. LSU will still face top-ranked Alabama and No. 17 Texas A&M later in the season.

Oregon @ Washington State

After a huge upset win over Washington last week, the No. 12 Oregon Ducks attempt to sweep the state of Washington as they travel to Pullman to face No. 25 Washington State. It will be the fourth straight game against a ranked opponent for head coach Mario Cristobal’s Ducks. Oregon beat then-No. 7 Washington last Saturday 30-27 in overtime.

Saturday’s game will definitely be filled with points as both Oregon and Washington State average over 40 points per game. The Ducks are 11^th nationally averaging 43 per game. Quarterback Justin Herbert leads an offense that averages 482.8 yards per game. Herbert has thrown for 1,613 yards and 17 touchdowns. Running back C.J. Verdell leads the Ducks with 531 rushing yards. Cristobal’s offense is a model of balance as Oregon averages 273.3 yards passing and 209.5 yard on the ground per game.

Head coach Mike Leach’s Cougars have quietly moved into the Top 25 at No. 25 posting a 5-1 record thanks a fairly soft schedule thus far. The Cougars do have a quality wins over Utah (28-24) and USC (39-36) though neither team is ranked. As with any Leach-coached team, it is no secret what Washington State is going to do on offense. The Cougars lead the nation in pass offense averaging 413.7 yards through the air per game. Senior quarterback Gardner Minshew has thrown for 2,422 yards and 19 touchdowns thus far. The Cougars have five receivers with at least 24 receptions. They are led by Davontavean Martin who has 40 catches for 440 yards and six touchdowns.

Saturday’s matchup could come down to which team has the ball last. The winner will still have a shot at winning the Pac-12 North and ultimately the conference championship. The loser, with two losses, would likely be eliminated. Four teams in North – Washington, Stanford, Oregon, and Washington State – all have one loss in Pac-12 play.

N.C. State @ Clemson

It’s not often that a ranked N.C. State faces a ranked Clemson team in ACC play. The 16^th-ranked Wolfpack will travel to Death Valley and face the No. 3 Tigers on Saturday. Head coach Dave Doeren’s Wolfpack are 5-0 and off to their best start in years. A win over Clemson would be a program win and would give N.C. State a shot at its first ACC title since 1979.

N.C. State has one of the best quarterbacks in the nation in senior Ryan Finley. Finley has thrown for 1,621 yards and 10 touchdowns and leads the nation’s sixth-ranked pass offense (335.4 yards per game). Running back Reggie Gallaspy II is the team’s leading rusher with 324 yards and the Wolfpack average a respectable 33 points per game. What has kept the Wolfpack in games is a defense that gives up just 16.8 points per game, 16^th in the nation.

The third-ranked Tigers have overcome a quarterback battle which has seen true freshman Trevor Lawrence take over at the position. He has been helped by the No. 4 rushing attack in the nation. Clemson averages 280.8 yards per game on the ground which has helped open up the passing game for Lawrence who has thrown for 868 yards and 11 touchdowns so far this season. Travis Etienne is the Tigers leading rusher with 761 yards and 11 scoring runs.

Clemson is unbeaten at 6-0 and is 3-0 in conference play. The Tigers are attempting to get back to the College Football Playoff again. They have beaten the Wolfpack in each of the past six seasons. The last two games have been decided by a touchdown and the 2016 game at Clemson went to overtime. N.C. State has not beaten the Tigers at Clemson since 2002. The two teams have met 86 times and since 1981 the annual meeting has been known as the Textile Bowl.

Michigan @ Michigan State

It’s big brother versus little brother as No. 6 Michigan travels to East Lansing to face the No. 24 Michigan State Spartans. Both teams are coming off huge victories last weekend. The Spartans pulled off a 21-17 victory over No. 8 Penn State on the road thanks for a Brian Lewerke to Felton Davis 25-yard touchdown pass with 19 seconds to play in the game. The win gives the Spartans a 4-2 record and keeps them alive in the Big Ten East Division race.

Michigan routed No. 15 Wisconsin at home 38-13 behind QB Shea Patterson’s best game of the season. The Ole Miss transfer accounted for 214 total yards leading the Wolverines offense to 444 for the game. Michigan ran for 320 yards against a Wisconsin defense that is annually known for its ability to stop the run. Patterson ran nine times for 90 yards and a score and RB Karan Higdon led the Wolverines with 105 yards on 19 carries.

The Michigan defense outplayed the Badgers and frustrated QB Alex Hornibrook (7-of-20) all night. The Wolverines are second in the country in total defense allowing opponents just 238 yards per game. Defensive coordinator Don Brown’s unit also is ninth nationally in scoring defense allowing 15.4 points per game. Brown’s defense will face a Spartans offense that struggles on the ground. MSU averages just 123 rushing yards per game. That is 115^th in the country and uncharacteristic of a Mark Dantonio coached team.

Lewerke is the key for the Spartans. He is completing 60 percent of his passes for 1,587 yards and eight touchdowns. Lewerke has thrown seven interceptions and has been sacked 14 times this season. Michigan will have to pressure Lewerke as it did against Hornibrook and Wisconsin. The Wolverines are still unbeaten in Big Ten play. They will face Penn State next week and still have to take on Ohio State (7-0) in the season finale.

NCAA WEEK 7 PREVIEWS

Georgia @ LSU

The second-ranked Georgia Bulldogs face their toughest test of the season as they travel to Baton Rouge to face the No. 13 LSU Tigers. It’s the second of four straight games against ranked opponents for LSU. The Tigers lost last week to No. 22 Florida 27-19. LSU is now 5-1 and 2-1 in SEC play. Another loss will surely eliminate the Tigers from a potential conference title and the College Football Playoff discussion.

Head coach Ed Orgeron and the Tigers were off to a great start at 5-0 with a win over a ranked Miami and Auburn. The loss to the Gators will sting especially if LSU falters down the stretch. They still must face No. 1 Alabama, a team they haven’t beat since 2011. After Georgia, the Tigers will face No. 24 Mississippi State (which beat Auburn last week) and then the Crimson Tide. A season finale trip to rival and No. 22 Texas A&M looms on Thanksgiving weekend.

Georgia has disposed of its three SEC opponents rather easily averaging over 40 points per game in wins over Missouri, Tennessee, and Vanderbilt just last week. Despite losing Sony Michel and Nick Chubb to the NFL, Georgia is still 16^th in the nation in rushing averaging 245.2 yards per game. Elijah Holyfield leads the team with 432 yards rushing and D’Andre Swift is second with 290. Quarterback Jake Fromm is a highly efficient signal caller who does not make many mistakes. Fromm has completed 72.8 percent of his passes for 1,200 yards and 12 touchdowns. He has thrown just two interceptions.

Both defenses are very good. The Bulldogs are second nationally in scoring defense allowing opponents just 13 points per game. The Bulldogs are seventh in the nation in total defense allowing 283 total yards a game. The Tigers allow just 17 points per game to their opponents have given up an average of just 121.7 rushing yards to their six opponents.

Wisconsin @ Michigan

It’s another Big Ten showdown in Ann Arbor on Saturday night as No. 15 Wisconsin heads to the Big House to take on the No. 12 Wolverines. Both teams enter Saturday’s game with a non-conference loss and an unbeaten conference record. The winner will still be in the Big Ten and College Football Playoff race. The loser will most likely be out of the CFP discussion, but could still wind up in the Big Ten championship game.

The Wolverines have arguably the best defense in the country. Statistics back that claim up as defensive coordinator Don Brown’s unit is No. 1 in the nation in total defense. Brown’s defense gives up 230.5 yards per game including just 96.5 on the ground. That run defense will be tested this weekend by one of the most powerful rushing attacks in the country.

Wisconsin (4-1) may have the best offensive line in the country and returns preseason Heisman Trophy candidate Jonathan Taylor at running back. Taylor had 221 yards rushing and three touchdowns in the Badgers 41-24 win over Nebraska last week. That pushed his season total to 849. The Badgers are fourth in the nation in rushing offense posting 287 yards on the ground per game. Brown and the Michigan defense will have to limit Taylor and the rest of the Badgers run game in order to win.

The Michigan (5-1) offense is similar in that it relies heavily on the run as well. Led by Karan Higdon’s 582 yards, the Wolverines rushing attack averages 200 yards a game. The big difference on Saturday night could be at quarterback where Michigan’s Shea Patterson is coming off his biggest game of the season. In Michigan’s 42-21 win over Maryland last week, Patterson passed for 282 yards and three touchdowns.

The Badgers defense gives up 349.8 yards per game and has limited its opponents to 16.4 points a game. That is 12^th-best in the country ranking just behind Alabama.

West Virginia @ Iowa State

After five weeks, the only remaining unbeaten team in the Big 12 is not Oklahoma. It is sixth-ranked West Virginia. The Mountaineers (5-0) have one of the nation’s best quarterbacks and most prolific passing attacks. West Virginia has scored at least 35 points in each of its five victories and now faces an improving Iowa State (2-3). The Cyclones knocked off No. 25 Oklahoma State last week.

Under head coach Matt Campbell, Iowa State has recorded some big wins over the past year and a half. Last year, the Cyclones beat both Oklahoma and TCU. Iowa State lost to the Sooners by ten (37-27) and to TCU by three (17-14) this season. Playing at home, the Cyclones will be looking for another signature win over a ranked opponent.

If Iowa State is to have a chance at a win, the Cyclones defense is going to have to slow down quarterback Will Grier. The Mountaineers signal-caller leads the nation’s fourth-ranked pass offense (364.6 yards per game). Grier has 1,819 passing yards and 21 touchdowns and is leading an offense that averages 41.4 points per game. Marcus Simms, David Sills V, and Gary Jennings Jr. all have at least 26 receptions and over 360 yards receiving. Sills and Jennings have six touchdown catches each.

What the Cyclones must do to beat West Virginia is run the football. Iowa State is averaging just 99.4 yards per game on the ground. Leading rusher David Montgomery (334 yards) did not play last week. Brock Purdy did have 84 yards rushing against the Cowboys last week, but the overall performance on the ground has to improve if Iowa State is going to beat West Virginia and repeat on last year’s 8-4 regular season.

Last year, the Cyclones battled back from a 20-3 halftime deficit but fell short in a 20-16 defeat. Grier was 20-of-25 for 316 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception.

Washington @ Oregon

Oregon is back and faces yet another Pac-12 challenge when No. 7 Washington comes to Eugene to take on the Ducks at Autzen Stadium on Saturday. It will be the third consecutive game against a ranked conference opponent for head coach Mario Cristobal and the Ducks. Oregon lost a close one to then-No. 7 Stanford 38-31 and then beat No. 24 Cal 42-24. The Ducks are still very much alive in the Pac-12 North. A win over the Huskies could create a four-way tie for first in the division.

It has been the play of QB Justin Herbert that has led Oregon to a 4-1 start in 2018. Herbert has thrown for 1,411 yards and 15 touchdowns so far. The Ducks also have been effective running the football averaging 216 yards per game. C.J. Verdell leads Oregon with 420 yards in five games. Oregon will have to run the football against Washington to have a shot at pulling the upset. The Huskies are one of the better defensive units in college football.

The Washington defense is 12^th in the nation in total yards allowed per game at 305. Even more impressive is the Huskies scoring defense which gives up just 13.7 points a game. That is tied for third-best in the country. Washington held a very good Utah team to just seven points and then No. 20 BYU to just seven as well.

The Huskies offense has yet to break out in 2018. Featuring four-year starters at quarterback and running back in Jake Browning and Myles Gaskin, Washington is averaging a respectable 29.2 points per game. Browning has 1,508 yards passing and Gaskin once again leads the team in rushing with 554. Both will have to be on top of their game for the Huskies to win on the road in Oregon. Washington has won the last two games in the series and done so in huge fashion. Head coach Chris Peterson’s team won 38-3 last year and 70-21 in 2016.

NCAA WEEK 6 PREVIEWS

Auburn @ Mississippi State

Auburn -2.5

The SEC heats up in Week 6 as No. 8 Auburn travels to Mississippi State. The Bulldogs (3-2) are coming off a tough loss to Florida and their former head coach Dan Mullen. New head coach Joe Moorhead has the Bulldogs offense putting up better numbers than that of their opponent on Saturday night. Mississippi State averages 433.2 yards of total offense per game and scores 32.6 points, which happens to be the same output produced by Auburn head coach Gus Malzahn’s offense.

Moorhead and the Bulldogs started the season 3-0 before a loss to a surprising Kentucky team and last week’s defeat to the Gators. There is potential in Starkville behind a balanced offense – 214 yards rushing per game and 219 passing – and a defense that rivals the best in the nation. The Bulldogs defense yields just 286.8 yards per game and gives up just 13.4 points. Mississippi State has given up 51 points to SEC competition over the last two weeks though.

Auburn has a single loss this season by a single point to No. 5 LSU. The Tigers beat then-No. 6 Washington 21-16 in the season opener. Malzahn’s Tigers were not all that impressive last week in beating Southern Miss 24-13, but the game was delayed more than three hours by lightning. Quarterback Jarrett Stidham is one of the nation’s best and has 963 yards and five touchdowns thus far. The running game averages 178.6 yards per game, a statistic that Malzahn surely wishes was higher.

The Tigers may have more trouble running the ball on Saturday against Mississippi State if JaTarvious Whitlow doesn’t play. Whitlow, Auburn’s leading rusher with 326 yards, is questionable for Saturday’s game. Junior Kam Martin would get the bulk of the carries if Whitlow is unable to play. Martin has 253 yards on 63 carries thus far.

Auburn’s defense is likely better than the Bulldogs. The Tigers give up just 92.8 rushing yards per game and just 12.6 points. Auburn has faced two ranked opponents already and just one FCS school (Alcorn State).

Texas @ Oklahoma

Texas +4.5

The Red River War takes on a little different meaning this season as second-year Longhorns head coach Tom Herman has his troops at 4-1 heading into their biggest challenge of the young season. Oklahoma checks in at 5-0 after rolling up Baylor 66-33 last week. The Sooners have been challenged once and, surprisingly, it was Army that came into Norman and scared Oklahoma in a 28-21 Sooners’ victory.

Herman and Texas have two huge wins over ranked opponents already. The Longhorns destroyed then-No. 22 USC 37-14 and then followed that win up with an impressive 31-16 victory over TCU, which was ranked No. 17 at the time. Herman’s offense shows balance. Quarterback Sam Ehlinger has thrown for 1,185 yards and nine touchdowns in five games. The running game – 153.2 yards per game so far – could be a little stronger, but Herman is still building the program.

Defensively, the Longhorns are solid but will have to face one of the more explosive offenses in college football. Kyler Murray has stepped in for Baker Mayfield at quarterback and it has been as if nothing has changed. The Sooners average 48.6 points per game (8^th in FBS) and over 520 yards of offense. Last week in the win over Baylor, Murray didn’t start due to disciplinary reasons yet still threw for 432 yards and six touchdowns. If Texas wants to slow down the Oklahoma offense, it is going to have to take a hint from Army. The Black Knights’ triple option offense allowed Army to keep control of the football and keep it away from the Sooners. Oklahoma recorded a season-low 28 points against Army.

The Sooners have won the last two straight against Texas. Both games were close. Texas lost 45-40 in 2016 and 29-24 last year. Oklahoma has won six of the last eight meetings between the two schools.

Kentucky @ Texas A&M

Texas A&M -5.5

One of the biggest surprises of the early 2018 season is the play of No. 13 Kentucky. It is the first time since 2007 that the Wildcats are ranked and head coach Mark Stoops team sits atop the SEC East with a 3-0 record. The 3-0 mark comes after last week’s 24-10 win over South Carolina, a game Kentucky led 24-3 at the half. On Saturday, the Wildcats will get their biggest test as they travel to College Station, Texas, to take on Texas A&M.

The Aggies are 3-2, but their losses are to the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the nation. Head coach Jimbo Fisher’s team lost 45-23 to top-ranked Alabama in Week 4 and almost upset second-ranked Clemson losing 28-26 in Week 2. Texas A&M enters this Saturday’s game on the heels of a 24-17 win over Arkansas.

Fisher’s offense averages 511.8 yards of total offense led by QB Kellen Mond who has thrown for 1,221 yards and seven touchdowns. Trayveon Williams is the team’s leading rusher with 582 on 96 carries. The Aggies score 36 points per game, but what is very impressive is the play of Texas A&M’s front seven. They have been instrumental in the Aggies giving up just 80.6 yards on the ground per game this season. That is going to be crucial on Saturday as Texas A&M faces one of the nation’s best running backs in Kentucky’s Benny Snell.

Snell is fourth in the nation in rushing with 639 yards and eight touchdowns through five games. He is the reason why Kentucky averages over 250 rushing yards per game. While Snell and the run game have been impressive, it is the Wildcats defenses that has really opened some eyes. Kentucky is tied for third in the nation in scoring defense giving up just 12.6 points per game. It’s not like the Wildcats haven’t played anyone either. Kentucky has wins over a No. 25 Florida and a No. 14 Mississippi State. The Wildcats have held their last three opponents to just 27 points total.

LSU @ Florida

LSU -1

The biggest showdown in the SEC in Week 6 pits fifth-ranked LSU against No. 22 Florida in The Swamp in Gainesville. The Gators scored an impressive 13-6 win over No. 23 Mississippi State last week holding the Bulldogs offense to just 202 yards of total offense. Mississippi State had been averaging over 500 yards of offense and 35 points per game before last Saturday.

Equally if not more impressive than the Gators has been LSU which is 5-0 thus far in 2018. The Tigers have wins over two ranked opponents – No. 8 Miami in the season opener and No. 7 Auburn in Week 3. Head coach Ed Orgeron’s team destroyed Ole Miss last week 45-16. Graduate transfer quarterback Joe Burrow played his best game throwing for 292 yards and three touchdowns and also rushing for 96 yards and another score. The Tigers put up 573 yards of offense and gained 33 first downs.

The Tigers might meet their match in the Gators whose defense is among the nation’s best. Florida is No. 2 in the FBS in pass defense giving opponents just 140 yards per game. That has helped the Gators hold opponents to just 14 points per game, a figure that is ninth-best in the country. If anyone can slow down an LSU offense that is averaging nearly 400 yards per game, it is Florida.

Where the Gators struggle is on offense. They did put up 48 points and 47 more on Colorado State and Tennessee, respectively, but Florida still ranks in the middle of the pack as an offense. Quarterback Feleipe Franks is no Tim Tebow, but he has led the offense to some big scores in crucial situations. Franks is completing just 57 percent of his passes, but he does have 12 touchdowns compared to three interceptions.

LSU has won four of the last five meetings with Florida, including last year’s 17-16 win which was also in Gainesville. Florida’s only victory since 2013 was a 16-10 win in 2016 in Baton Rouge. The home team has lost the last games in the series.

NCAA WEEK 5 PREVIEWS

Ohio State @ Penn State

Penn State +3.5

The Big Ten East Division and the conference championship just might be decided on Saturday night when No. 4 Ohio State travels to Happy Valley to take on the 10^th-ranked Penn State Nittany Lions. The game between two College Football Playoff favorites will definitely impact the conference race as well as the race for the national championship.

Both teams enter Saturday night’s game with identical 4-0 records. Each team is 1-0 in conference play. Head coach James Franklin and Penn State got their first Big Ten victory last Friday in a big 63-24 win over Illinois. Running back Miles Sanders ran for 200 yards on 22 carries and scored three touchdowns to lead the Nittany Lions. It took a while for Penn State to get going – the score was 21-17 at the half – but Sanders and QB Trace McSorley took over to lead the nation’s leading scoring team. Penn State averages 55 points per game.

Franklin is hoping for more of the same on Saturday night, but his offense will have its work cut out for it. Ohio State is allowing 17 points per game and has held two opponents to six points or less. The Buckeyes defense has 15 sacks in four games. Four of those sacks belong to All-American candidate Nick Bosa, who did not play against Tulane. He may not play this week either after undergoing surgery for an abdominal-groin issue. In addition to the four sacks Bosa has six tackles for loss.

Since Penn State joined the Big Ten prior to the 1993 season, the Nittany Lions and Buckeyes have played in Beaver Stadium a total of 12 times. Penn State has won six times as has Ohio State. Since 2002, the Nittany Lions have only beaten the Buckeyes twice in Happy Valley. Saturday night’s White Out game will also be the location of ESPN’s College GameDay.  Ohio State owns a victory over then-No. 15 TCU. Penn State has yet to play a ranked opponent.

Stanford @ Notre Dame

Notre Dame -5.5

It doesn’t get any easier for No. 7 Stanford as the Cardinal rolls into South Bend on Saturday night to face the No. 8 ranked Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Saturday night’s game will mark the third ranked opponent for Stanford and head coach David Shaw. The Cardinal beat then-No. 17 USC 17-3 in the second week of the season and then rallied for a 38-31 overtime win over Oregon last week. Surprisingly, Stanford is 4-0 and preseason Heisman candidate Bryce Love has just 254 yards rushing through four games.

Love eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark last season and entered the 2018 campaign as the favorite for college football’s top award. Love has rushed for over 100 yards in a game just once – 136 against USC – and missed a game against UC-Davis. Stanford is averaging just 104.3 yards rushing per game, well below what is considered the norm in a Shaw offense.

What the Cardinal have done is play stellar defense – they are giving up just 13.5 points per game, 10^th in the nation – and watch as K.J. Costello has blossomed into a prolific passer. Costello threw for 327 yards and three touchdowns in the win over Oregon last week. Costello now has 1,056 yards passing and 10 touchdowns in four games.

Notre Dame began the season with a huge win over then-No. 14 Michigan. Head coach Brian Kelly’s Irish then struggled in wins over Ball State (24-16) and Vanderbilt (22-17) before whooping up on Wake Forest last week. Part of the problem may have been at quarterback where Kelly replaced senior Brandon Wimbush with junior Ian Book. Book responded by completing 25-of-34 passes for 325 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Wake Forest. Book also ran 10 times for 43 yards and three more scores.

The Notre Dame offense will get RB Dexter Williams back this week. Last season, Williams averaged over nine yards per carry in a limited role and was expected to be the feature back until a suspension cost him the first four games of this season. Tony Jones is the team’s leading rusher thus far with 263 yards. Notre Dame averages 31.5 points a game and will have to run the ball at a very good Stanford defense in order to have success.

BYU @ Washington

Washington +17

No. 20 BYU gets another chance to knock off a ranked opponent on the road when the Cougars travel to Washington to take on the No. 11 Huskies on Saturday. BYU handed then-No. 6 Wisconsin its first loss of the season in 24-21 defeat on September 15 at Camp Randall Stadium in Wisconsin. BYU moved its season record to 3-1 with a 30-3 victory over FCS McNeese State last week. The Cougars head into another hostile environment in Washington where the Huskies have not lost a game since the 2016 season.

The Cougars offense is led by QB Tanner Mangum who has passed for 612 yards and three touchdowns. BYU averages only 320.3 yards per game, but the Cougars defense has been stingy enough – the BYU defense allows 17 points a game – to keep head coach Kalani Sitake’s team in games.

BYU will also have its hands full trying to defend a Washington offense led by seniors and four-year starters QB Jake Browning and RB Myles Gaskin. Browning has thrown for 966 yards and seven touchdowns so far and Gaskin leads the Huskies in rushing with 357 yards. The Huskies average 27.3 points per game, but they have faced some of the nation’s better defenses. Washington lost its season opener 21-16 to No. 10 Auburn and beat Utah, the nation’s top-ranked team in total defense, 21-7.

For the Cougars, another win over a ranked opponent would really help the school when it comes to bowl season. BYU plays as an independent and has no conference affiliation. The best remaining opponents on their schedule are Boise State and their biggest rival Utah.

Washington beat a very good Arizona State team last week. Browning threw for 202 yards and three touchdowns as the Huskies built a 27-13 fourth quarter lead. Washington held off a late Sun Devils rally to win 27-20. The Huskies last loss at home came in November of 2016 against USC.

Ole Miss @ LSU

LSU -12

Head coach Ed Orgeron and the LSU Tigers just find ways to win. The Tigers offense is still trying to find itself, but the defense keeps LSU in games. The defense will have to be prepared this week to face the spread offense of the Ole Miss Rebels. Ole Miss is 3-1 and is averaging 42 points and 522.8 yards of total offense per game. The Rebels’ problem though is a defense that allows over 500 yards a game.

LSU enters Saturday night’s game ranked No. 5 in the nation after beating then-No. 8 Miami 33-17 in the season opener and taking care of then No. 7 Auburn 22-21 just two weeks ago. After a 38-21 victory over Louisiana Tech last week, the Tigers are ready to hit the rest of their SEC schedule running.

The Tigers still don’t have the type of offense typical of a Top 5 team. LSU has the 106^th-ranked passing offense in the nation and checks in at 74^th in rushing. Orgeron’s offense is averaging 31 points per game though with graduate transfer Joe Burrow at quarterback. Burrow has been respectable and has been helped by running back Nick Brossette who has rushed for 409 yards and five touchdowns in the Tigers’ four wins.

The LSU defense is going to have to slow down the Air Raid of Ole Miss offensive coordinator Phil Longo. Quarterback Jordan Ta’amu has thrown for 1,359 yards and 10 touchdowns for the Rebels. Running back Scottie Phillips has is averaging over 100 yards per game and WR A. J. Brown has 26 catches and 381 yards receiving. If Ole Miss can turn the game into a track meet, the Rebels will have a chance at pulling the upset. LSU has won the last two in the series, both by double digits. The Tigers have not lost to Ole Miss in Baton Rouge since 2008.

NCAA WEEK 4 PREVIEWS

Stanford @ Oregon

Stanford -2

Saturday in Eugene feels a lot like the glory days of the Chip Kelly era at Oregon only Kelly is now struggling at UCLA and the Ducks are ranked 20^th in the nation after starting the season 3-0. Now they face their toughest test of the season when No. 7 Stanford comes to town. The game will likely determine the Pac-12 North champion and it could have an impact on the College Football Playoff scenario. Saturday’s winner is still in the CFP discussion.

Stanford, also 3-0, is its usual self with a stout defense and an offense that likes to run the football. Surprisingly, the Cardinal has been moving the football thanks to QB K.J. Costello and WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. Heisman Trophy candidate Bryce Love has just 165 yards this season and Stanford has only rushed for 115.3 yards per game. Love missed last week’s win over UC-Davis sitting out with an undisclosed injury. A healthy Love would be a huge boost for Stanford on Saturday.

Oregon has put up huge numbers thus far this season averaging 51.7 points and nearly 500 yards of offense per game. Quarterback Justin Herbert has thrown for 840 yards and 12 12 touchdowns. His top target is WR Johnny Johnson who has just six receptions, but four of them have gone for touchdowns. Oregon will likely have a more difficult time this week against a very good Stanford defense. The Cardinal have given up just 23 points this season and held then-No. 17 USC to just a field goal in a 17-3 win.

Stanford’s defense is No. 1 in the nation in points allowed giving up just 7.7 per game so far this season. Oregon has yet to be tested this season winning games over three teams whose combined record this season is 2-7. One of the victories was over FCS Portland State. Stanford has won the past two games in the series – 49-7 last year and 52-27 in 2016.

Texas A&M @ Alabama

Alabama -27

Off to a 3-0 start, No. 1 Alabama heads into its toughest test of the young college football season when it hosts No. 22 Texas A&M on Saturday. Head coach Nick Saban and his Crimson Tide were supposed to be tested by an explosive Ole Miss offense last week. The result was an easy 62-7 victory, Alabama’s first SEC win of the season.

Alabama comes into Saturday’s game with the Aggies with few weaknesses. The Tide averages 545 yards of total offense and 56.7 points per game while giving up just 9.3 points to opponents’ offenses. Saban’s defense held Ole Miss – which had scored 76 points the previous week – to 248 yards of total offense, 75 of which came on one play.

The Aggies (2-1), under new head coach Jimbo Fisher, are off to a solid start with the only loss coming by two points to second-ranked Clemson. Texas A&M has had success offensively averaging 596 yards and 44.3 points per game. The Aggies are coming off a huge 48-10 win over Louisiana-Monroe. QB Kellen Mond was 16-of-24 for 210 yards and a touchdown and RB Trayveon Williams rushed for 128 yards and one score in the win. The Aggies defense hasn’t faced an offense like Alabama’s yet this season.

Alabama QB Tua Tagovailao is completing 72 percent of his passes and has thrown eight touchdowns and zero interceptions. Jalen Hurts, his backup, has completed 67.9 percent of his passes. Hurts has four touchdown passes and has thrown the Tide’s only interception of the season. Najee Harris is the team’s leading rusher with 287 yards and six touchdowns. Alabama averages 236.7 yards rushing per game. Jerry Jeudy is the team’s leading receiver. Six of his 11 pass receptions have gone for touchdowns. It will be extremely hard for the Aggies to slow down the Crimson Tide offense, especially with Alabama playing at home.

Texas Tech @ Oklahoma State

Texas Tech +13

If there is one sure bet on Saturday when Texas Tech travels to Oklahoma State, it is that the football will be in the air a lot. Two of the nation’s most prolific passing offenses will meet in the Big 12 opener for both teams on Saturday. Oklahoma State is 3-0 and averages 52.3 points and 590.3 yards of total offense per game. The Red Raiders are scoring 55.7 points and averaging 624.4 yards of offense per game.

If last week is any indication, Texas Tech outlasted Houston 63-49 for their second win of the season. Oklahoma State had a tougher time with No. 17 Boise State but defeated the Broncos 44-21. There will be points and plenty of them in Stillwater on Saturday.

For the Cowboys, quarterback Taylor Cornelius has been a huge surprise. A former walk-on, the senior was not projected to be the starter but won the job and has thrown for 971 yards and seven touchdowns. OSU also has a very good running game led by Justice Hill who has 277 yards and four touchdowns. Hill ran for over 1,000 yards last season.

Texas Tech lost its season opener to Ole Miss, but has rebounded to score 140 points over the past two games. Quarterback Alan Bowman, a freshman, took over the offense in Week 1 and is now fourth in the nation in passing yards with 1,160. He has thrown eight touchdowns and is improving each week. In the win over Houston, Bowman completed an amazing 43-of-59 passes (72.9 percent) for 605 yards and five touchdowns. If he does that again, Oklahoma State is in trouble.

The big difference between the two teams is defense. The Red Raiders have given up 454 yards of offense to their three opponents this season. Historically, defense has been an issue for Texas Tech. In 2016, the Red Raiders were the worst defense in the nation giving up 554 yards per game. In 2015, they were the nation’s second-worst defense yielding 540 yards a game.

Notre Dame @ Wake Forest

Notre Dame -7.5

Notre Dame’s window of opportunity to reach the College Football Playoff continues to shrink as the Fighting Irish beat Vanderbilt last week but had to hang on for a 22-17 victory. The win over the Commodores came on the heels of a 24-16 win over the MAC’s Ball State. Now, the Irish must travel to Winston-Salem, N.C., and take on a pretty good Wake Forest team.

The Irish continue to struggle on offense where they are averaging just 23.3 points per game. Quarterback Brandon Wimbush has been adequate, but he doesn’t make many dramatic plays. Against Vanderbilt, the senior was 13-of-23 for 122 yards and no touchdowns. He did run 19 times for 84 yards and a score though. Running back Tony Jones, Notre Dame’s leading rusher, ran 17 times for 118 yards. If the Irish can run the football successfully against Wake Forest, head coach Brian Kelly’s team can keep the football away from what could be an explosive Demon Deacons offense.

Wake Forest has averaged 542 yards of offense per game thus far and has good balance, rushing for 264 and passing for 278. Running back Cade Carney has rushed for 300 yards on 53 carries and QB Sam Hartman has 834 yards passing and another 193 on the ground. Hartman has struggled with turnovers having thrown five interceptions already. The 6-1, 185-pound freshman has completed just 55.7 percent of his passes. In last week’s loss to Boston College, Hartman threw two interceptions and was sacked four times. That cannot happen against a pretty solid Notre Dame defense.

The Fighting Irish have played Wake Forest four times and have won all four games. Last season, Notre Dame won in a shootout 48-37. Kelly and company need a win in Week 4. The schedule doesn’t get any easier as Notre Dame takes on No. 7 Stanford and then No. 13 Virginia Tech.

NCAA WEEK 3 PREVIEWS

Boston College @ Wake Forest

Boston College -7

Two of the nation’s best-kept secrets are in the ACC – Boston College and Wake Forest. The two Atlantic Division opponents meet on Thursday night at the home of the Demon Deacons. Boston College running back A.J. Dillon is probably the country’s most unheralded running back. At 6-0, 245, Dillon is big enough to run defenders over yet fast enough to run past them. In BC’s 62-14 win over Holy Cross in the renewal of the two schools’ rivalry, Dillon carried the ball just six times but tallied 149 yards and three touchdowns. He played less than a quarter in the Eagles’ rout. Wake Forest will have to slow Dillon down in order to have a shot at a second consecutive home win.

Wake Forest has some weapons of its own, most notably WR Greg Dortch. In the Demon Deacons 51-20 win over Towson last week, Dortch returned not one, but two punts for touchdowns and also caught a touchdown pass. Quarterback Sam Hartman has thrown for 620 yards and four scores and running back Cade Carney leads the team with 184 yards rushing.

The home team is going to have to find a way to slow down a Boston College offense that has scored 55 and 62 points in its first two games. Eagles QB Anthony Brown threw just two passes in the win over Holy Cross. He completed both and has 322 passing yards and four touchdowns in BC’s two games. The Eagles have averaged 318.5 yards rushing in their two games.

The road team has won this matchup the last four consecutive seasons. Wake Forest won big 34-10 last year in Chestnut Hill, Mass., home of the Eagles. In the last meeting in Winston-Salem, Boston College won 17-14 during the 2016 season.

LSU @ Auburn

Auburn -9.5

The SEC West gets underway in Week 3 with a matchup of Tigers. No. 12 LSU travels to No. 7 Auburn for an early season showdown that could have College Football Playoff implications. Both teams enter Saturday’s game with identical 2-0 records. Both teams scored impressive wins in Week 1 over ranked opponents and then won big in Week 2 over FCS foes.

LSU entered the 2018 season with some questions, particularly about head coach Ed Orgeron and if he was the guy that could lead LSU back into a position where the Tigers would not just compete for SEC West titles, but win them. Orgeron and the Tigers answered that question with a resounding thumping of then No. 8-ranked Miami in the season opener. LSU limited the Hurricanes to just 83 rushing yards and got 125 yards on the ground and two touchdowns from running back Nick Brossette.

Brossette now has 262 yards on the season and graduate transfer quarterback Joe Burrow has done a good job of being efficient in the Tigers offense. Burrow, Brossette, and the rest of the Tigers offense will be tested Saturday against a very good Auburn defense. Head coach Gus Malzahn’s Tigers have allowed just 75 yards rushing per game thus far. Auburn held Washington RB Myles Gaskin, a four-year starter, to 75 yards and the Huskies to just 102 total in a season-opening 21-16 win.

Malzahn’s up-tempo offense looked sluggish at times against Washington but put up 63 points against FCS Alabama State last week. Quarterback Jarrett Stidham has thrown for 386 yards and two touchdowns, but he can play better. Auburn has three very capable running backs in JaTarvious Whitlow (22 carries, 150 yards), Shaun Shivers (14-124), and Kam Martin (29-120).

Orgeron and his Tigers did a good job of shutting down Auburn last season in a 27-23 win in Baton Rouge. LSU has won five of the last seven meetings, but Auburn has won the last two games played at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Auburn, Alabama.

Ohio State @ TCU

Ohio State -12

One of the reasons why the Ohio State Buckeyes are continually in the College Football Playoff talk is their penchant for quality nonconference games. This season will be no different as the Buckeyes trade Oklahoma, who Ohio State played the past two seasons, for fellow Big 12 foe TCU. The No. 4 Buckeyes will travel to Arlington and play in AT&T Stadium on Saturday night, a sort of home game by default for the Horned Frogs. TCU is located just 30 short minutes away in Fort Worth.

Saturday’s matchup of ranked opponents will pits two highly explosive spread offenses and two of the better defenses in the country. TCU head coach Gary Patterson is well-known throughout the coaching community as a sort of defensive genius and his 2018 unit is already off to a good start. TCU has given up just 19 points in two games though the opponents were FCS Southern and SMU. Still, Patterson’s defenses play well enough in big games like this one.

TCU will face an offense in Ohio State’s that is extremely dangerous. The Buckeyes have a pair or running backs – Mike Weber (217 yards, 3 TDs) and J.K. Dobbins (147 yards, 1 TD) – that can go the distance on any given play. Quarterback Dwayne Haskins continues to become more comfortable as the successor to J.T. Barrett. Haskins has completed 79.2 percent of his passes (42-of-53) for 546 yards and nine touchdowns. He has thrown just one interception.

On the other side of the ball, Patterson breaks in a new quarterback of his own in Shawn Robinson. The 6-2, 228-pound sophomore is the team’s leading rusher and passer thus far. Robinson totaled five touchdowns in the opener against Southern and has seven total. He is the catalyst for the Horned Frogs offense. TCU also has a pair of shifty running backs in Darius Anderson (105 yards) and Sewo Olonilua (102).

With the explosiveness of each offense, Saturday’s TCU-Ohio State matchup might come down to the last possession.

Boise State @ Oklahoma State

Boise State +3

If head coach Bryan Harsin and Boise State want to make a statement to the College Football Playoff committee, Saturday is the time to do it. The 2-0 Broncos travel to Stillwater, Okla., where they will face the Oklahoma State Cowboys, a program that has won 10-plus games in each of the past three seasons. The Cowboys are coming off two season-opening wins and have found their successor to last year’s quarterback Mason Rudolph.

Former walk-on and senior Taylor Cornelius has thrown for over 700 yards in the Cowboys’ two wins. The 6-6, 230-pound Cornelius has had his share of ups – seven touchdowns – and downs – three interceptions. He will need to be on his game against a very good Boise State defense.

The Broncos returned 10 starters from last year’s defensive unit. Boise State finished ranked among the nation’s leaders in total defense and scoring defense a year ago. In two games so far, the Broncos have given up just 27 points. In last week’s blowout of Connecticut, Boise State gave up just 193 total yards and seven points. The Broncos defense will face a much tougher task this week.

Oklahoma State, which comes into the game ranked No. 24, will also have a tough time defending the Broncos. Four-year starting quarterback Brett Rypien is off to another great start completing 41-of-56 passes for 667 and seven touchdowns. He has yet to throw an interception. Rypien played just over a half last week and totaled 362 passing yards and three touchdowns. Boise State posted a school-record 818 yards of total offense in the 62-7 victory.

The big surprise for the Broncos has been junior college transfer wide receiver John Hightower. In last week’s win, Hightower caught five passes for 119 yards including a 67-yard TD reception. He also carried the ball once going the distance on a 55-yard scoring jaunt. The Cowboys have struggled in recent years on defense. They fired defensive coordinator Glenn Spencer after last season and brought in Jim Knowles from Duke to fix the unit. So far, the Cowboys have only given up 30 points, but that was to FCS Missouri State and South Alabama, a program that has only been in existence since 2009.

NCAA WEEK 2 PREVIEWS

CLEMSON @ TEXAS A&M

Clemson -12

Clemson, one of the early favorites to reach the College Football Playoff, faces an early season test when the Tigers travel to face Texas A&M Saturday afternoon. The second-ranked Tigers had an easy time in their season opener with FCS Furman. Freshman QB Trevor Lawrence threw three touchdown passes as Clemson totaled 531 yards of offense.

The Aggies, with new head coach Jimbo Fisher, recorded a 59-7 victory over FCS Northwestern State in their opener. Behind 240 rushing yards from RB Trayveon Williams, Texas A&M rolled up 758 yards of offense. The Aggies will be hard-pressed to that against Clemson, which has one of the nation’s best defenses. All four of the Tigers defensive linemen could be NFL first-round draft picks. Tackles Dexter Lawrence and Christian Wilkins along with ends Clelin Ferrell and Austin Bryant combined for 25 sacks and 45 tackles for loss last season. They will make it very difficult for Texas A&M to have the kind of success they did a week ago.

Fisher and the Aggies will rely on QB Kellen Mond to lead the offense. Mond went 17-of-25 for 184 yards and two touchdowns last week. The 6-2, 210-pound sophomore completed just 51.5 percent of his passes last season. He appears to have matured but will face a much better defense on Saturday. Williams is a 5-9, 200-pound junior who rushed for over 1,000 yards as a freshman and totaled 798 last year. If he can have success on Saturday, he would take some of the pressure off of Mond. That will be easier said than done.

While Lawrence had three touchdown passes last week, incumbent Kelly Bryant remains the starter for Clemson. Bryant was 11-for-17 for 132 yards against Furman and also carried the ball five times for 44 yards. Bryant threw for one touchdown and ran for another. Head coach Dabo Swinney and the Tigers have great balance in their offense and will give Texas A&M, a program that has struggled defensively, all it can handle.

PENN STATE @ PITTSBURGH

Penn State -8.5

One of college football’s great rivalries ended back in 2000 but was renewed a few years ago. Now known as the Keystone Classic, Penn State and Pittsburgh will meet on Saturday at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh. Both teams were victorious in Week 1 though the Panthers’ win was a little easier than that of the Nittany Lions.

Pittsburgh defeated FCS Albany 33-7 leading from beginning to end after Maurice Pfrench returned the game’s opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown. New Panthers quarterback Kenny Pickett completed 16-of-22 passes for 154 yards and two touchdowns and he ran for one more score. The Panthers running game is led by Qadre Ollison who ran for 73 yards on just seven carries against Albany. Ollison, now a senior, rushed for 1,121 yards as a freshman in 2015.

Where the Panthers may struggle is on defense. Pittsburgh gave up 397 yards and nearly 27 points per game last season. The Penn State offense is known as one of the more prolific in the FBS. Last week, the Nittany Lions survived a scare from Appalachian State but won 45-38. Quarterback Trace McSorley went 20-for-35 for 229 yards and a touchdown, a 15-yard pass to K.J. Hamler with just 42 seconds remaining in regulation to send the game to overtime.

Anyone wondering how Penn State would replace RB Saquon Barkley witnessed Miles Sanders last week. The 5-11, 215-pound junior ran 19 times for 91 yards and two touchdowns. Sanders led a ground game that produced 205 yards against Appalachian State.

The Penn State defense, normally stout, will have to make some adjustments and get better in Week 2. The 38 points and 451 yards of total offense surrendered are uncharacteristic of Nittany Lions defenses. The home team has won each game in the series revival. Penn State won last year at Beaver Stadium and the Panthers won at Heinz Field two years ago.

USC @ STANFORD

USC +6

No. 10 USC heads to Palo Alto to take on Pac-12 foe Stanford on Saturday night. The Trojans broke in their freshman QB J.T. Daniels last week in a 43-21 win over UNLV. Daniels, who graduated early from Mater Dei HS in California, went 22-of-35 for 282 yards and a touchdown in his debut last week. A running game led by Aca’Cedric Ware helped Daniels. Ware rushed 10 times for 100 yards and a touchdown and Vavae Malepeai ran for 47 yards and two scores. Overall, the Trojans rushed for 219 yards, something they would like to do against Stanford on Saturday.

Stanford defeated San Diego State 31-10 in its debut getting four touchdown passes from K.J. Costello. The Aztecs decided they were not going to let Heisman Trophy candidate and Stanford RB Bryce Love beat them. San Diego State limited Love to 29 yards on 18 carries, but Costello threw for 332 yards, 226 of which were to WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. Arcega-Whiteside caught three of Costello’s touchdown passes.

The Cardinal, known for their punishing ground game, also have a solid passing game something that the Trojans are going to have to account for. In the Trojans opener with UNLV, the Rebels actually ran for 308 yards and USC gave up a total of 405 yards of offense. Last year, USC allowed Love 160 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. If that happens again, that could spell trouble for the Trojans.

USC has won the last two meetings in the series both of which were played last season. The Trojans won big in the regular season meeting (42-24) and then won 31-28 in the Pac-12 Championship game in December. The last time the two teams played at Stanford (2016), the Cardinal won 27-10.

MICHIGAN STATE @ ARIZONA STATE

Michigan State -5.5

The Arizona State Sun Devils will get their first real test of the Herman Edwards era when they welcome No. 15 Michigan State to Sun Devil Stadium. Edwards, who spent the better part of the last decade in the broadcast booth, took over at Arizona State this offseason and got the Sun Devils off to a solid start with a 49-7 win over UTSA in Week 1. Quarterback Manny Wilkins tossed four touchdown passes and RB Eno Benjamin rushed for 131 yards to lead an offense that produced 503 yards of offense. A repeat performance will be much more difficult against Michigan State.

The Spartans (1-0) survived in their opener, a 38-31 win over Utah State. The Michigan State defense held the Aggies to just 25 yards rushing but gave up 319 in the air. The Spartans have nine returning starters on a defense that ranked in the Top 15 in most statistical categories in 2017. Michigan State will look to limit Benjamin and the Sun Devil running game as well as attack Wilkins in the passing game. Wilkins is a senior who completed 63.4 percent of his passes last year and threw 20 touchdowns compared to just eight interceptions.

For the Spartans, the offense begins with QB Brian Lewerke who was 23-for-33 for 287 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Utah State. Lewerke presents defenses with some problems because he can hurt them with his feet. He ran 10 times against Utah State for 31 yards. L.J. Scott is the Spartans feature back. Scott carried 23 times for 84 yards last week as Michigan State ran for 165 yards total. Cody White is Lewerke’s top receiving target. White caught four passes for 70 yards and a touchdown last week.

The Michigan State defense is going to have to be aware of ASU wide receiver N’Keal Harry. A 6-4, 215-pound junior, Harry will be one of the nation’s top receivers by year’s end. Harry had six catches for 140 yards and two touchdowns in the Sun Devils’ win over UTSA last week.

NCAA WEEK 1 PREVIEWS

Louisville @ Alabama

Alabama -18

For the third consecutive week, top-ranked Alabama faces a ranked SEC opponent when the Crimson Tide welcomes No. 6 Texas A&M to Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Nick Saban coached Tide destroyed former No. 9 Tennessee last week, 49-10, just one week after taking care of then 16th-ranked Arkansas.

It’s business as usual for Saban and company who expect to be playing the best in the nation in order to become the best in the nation at year’s end. The Alabama offense is lighting it up this year under offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin who is taking full advantage of the athletic ability of freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts. Hurst has 1,385 yards passing and 428 rushing. He has 17 total touchdowns (9 passing, 8 rushing).  Damien Harris (572 yards) is the leading rusher and WR Calvin Ridley (477) is the leading receiver and one of the nation’s best sophomores.

Senior QB Trevor Knight leads a Texas A&M offense that scores over 40 points a game and is seventh in the country in rushing (274.3 yards per game). It is going to be tough going up against one of the nation’s best defenses in Alabama. The Tide give up just 15 points a game (8th in the nation), but they have given up over 30 points twice – Ole Miss and Arkansas.

Arkansas @ Auburn

Auburn -10

As college football tends to focus on Alabama in the SEC, many may not realize that both Arkansas and Auburn are 4-2 and nationally ranked. The Razorbacks are 17th in the nation and battled Alabama only to lose 49-30. The Tigers started the season 1-2 with losses to Clemson and Texas A&M. Many were calling for head coach Gus Malzahn’s job, but then the Tigers ripped off three straight victories.

The Tigers will have the advantage of playing at home on a Saturday night. They will also continue to improve on both sides of the ball. Auburn is actually 11th nationally in scoring defense giving up just one more point, 16, than in-state rival Alabama. The offense, which Malzahn is well-known for, is getting better and averages nearly 480 yards and 33 points a game.

It will be a contrast of styles as Arkansas and its head coach Bret Bielema prefer to pound opponents with fullbacks and tight ends and big running backs like Rawleigh Williams III (5-10, 225), who leads the Razorbacks in rushing with 785 yards so far this season. Arkansas’s biggest weapon though is quarterback Austin Allen who has 1,861 yards passing and an SEC high 18 touchdown passes.

Ohio State @ Penn State

Ohio State -20

A week after traveling to Madison and beating No. 8 Wisconsin in overtime, the second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes have to travel to Happy Valley and take on a resurgent 4-2 Penn State. It’s a difficult place to play, but head coach Urban Meyer and his Buckeyes will be favored to win. They will first have to shut down Nittany Lions RB Saquon Barkley.

Barkley has 582 yards rushing and sophomore quarterback Trace McSorley has thrown for 1,436 in Penn State’s new up-tempo spread offense. Head coach James Franklin hired Joe Moorhead, formerly of Fordham, to come in and modernize the Nittany Lions offense. Penn State is averaging 30.5 points per game nearly 10 points more per game than they averaged in each of the last two seasons.

Still, beating Ohio State is a monumental task. Quarterback J.T. Barrett is an amazing talent. He has 1,207 yards passing and 16 TDs and has run for 434 yards and another six scores. Running back Mike Weber (612 yards) is the next great Buckeyes back and Curtis Samuel, the team’s leading receiver (403 yards) is also the team’s second-leading rusher (456).

Ohio State is fourth in the nation in scoring offense (49.3 points a game), but they are also third nationally in scoring defense (12.8). Penn State is definitely not Wisconsin and will likely become the Buckeyes seventh victim this season.

Oklahoma @ Texas Tech

Oklahoma -13

Yes, Oklahoma can still win the Big 12 Conference championship. They will not, however, have a shot at sneaking into the College Football Playoff. The Sooners’ two early losses eliminated them from any title contention, but that hasn’t stopped head coach Bob Stoops and company from winning three in a row. Now, the Sooners will take on pass-happy Texas Tech and QB Patrick Mahomes III.

Where the Red Raiders fall short is on defense where they give up 40.2 points per contest, which is 124th out of 128 FBS teams. Oklahoma is just beginning to come into its own with a super talented offense that includes QB Baker Mayfield and running backs Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon. With all their talent on offense, Oklahoma is 11th in the country in total offense gaining an average of 525 yards per game.

The Red Raiders were shut down last week by unbeaten West Virginia. They scored just 17 points and it was the first time this season that Mahomes did not have multiple touchdown passes in a game. The Sooners have given up a boatload of points but did hold Kansas State to just 17 last week. Mahomes did injure a shoulder two weeks ago and it has been giving him problems, but he still fights on. He is the big reason why Texas Tech is fifth nationally in scoring (48.8) and first in passing yards per game with 510.8.

_____________________________

2017 College Football Season

2017 FCS National Championship Preview

James Madison vs. Youngstown State

James Madison -7.5 Points

Over/Under 63 Points

For the first time in six seasons, the Football Championship Series (FCS) will have a champion not named North Dakota State. The Bison had captured the previous five titles, but were upset in the national semifinals by James Madison (13-1). The Dukes will face Youngstown State (12-3) in Frisco, Texas, on Friday night for the FCS title.

Youngstown State is no stranger to FCS title games. The Penguins have appeared in six and have claimed four national championships winning in 1991, 1993, 1994, and 1997. Former Nebraska head coach Bo Pelini has guided the Penguins back to the title game with an emphasis on a strong running game and a powerful defense. Last week, YSU got a last-second touchdown pass from QB Hunter Wells to TE Kevin Rader who made an acrobatic catch pinning the ball on the back of Eastern Washington defender Kenter Kupp.

The Penguins are led by running backs Jody Webb (1,301 yards rushing) and Martin Ruiz (1,163). Webb recorded his sixth straight game of 200-plus all-purpose yards in the semifinal win over Eastern Washington. YSU is 6-0 in those games. The Penguins defense is equally good. Pelini’s unit is ninth in the nation in scoring defense (19.4 points per game), ninth in sacks per game (3.17), and has given up just 10 rushing touchdowns the entire season.

James Madison pulled one of the biggest FCS upsets in recent history when they beat defending champ North Dakota State in the Fargo Dome 27-17 in the semifinals. The Dukes have the No. 2 scoring offense (48 points a game) that is led by running back Khalid Abdullah who is second in the nation in rushing with 1,708 yards. JMU is fourth nationally in rushing averaging 284.6 yards per game. If the Dukes are able to have success against Youngstown State, head coach Mike Houston might add a second national title to the trophy case. JMU won a national title in 2004.

FBS National Championship Preview

Alabama vs. Clemson

Alabama -6.5 Points

Over/Under 51 Points

It is just what college football needed – a national championship rematch. Alabama and Clemson will play again for the College Football Playoff national title next Monday. Remember, a year ago Alabama outlasted QB Deshaun Watson and his Tigers in a 45-40 victory. This year’s Crimson Tide defense might be head coach Nick Saban’s best and the offense blossomed this season. For Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, a win is going to come down controlling the tempo of Monday night’s game.

Alabama shut down a powerful Washington offense in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, the first of two national semifinals. The Huskies actually scored first grabbing a 7-0 lead and then were promptly stifled to the tune of 194 total yards. Washington was held to 44 rushing yards and a 1.5 average per rush. This is the type of thing that Alabama has done all year. Opponents have averaged just 63.4 rush yards and 11.8 points (both lowest in the nation) against the Crimson Tide. In last year’s title game, Clemson did rush for 145 yards and score 40 points.

The big difference for Clemson this year is likely the defense. The Tigers defense, led by coordinator Brent Venables, shut out an Ohio State offense that averaged over 40 points a game in a 31-0 victory in Clemson’s semifinal. Clemson manhandled the Buckeyes allowing just 88 yards rushing, 215 total yards, and forced three turnovers. The Tigers will have to stop an Alabama running game that pounded Washington for 269 rushing yards, 180 of which were by 230-pound Bo Scarborough. The Tide averaged 5.4 yards per carry and controlled the tempo of the game. That is what Clemson cannot allow if it is to pull the upset.

College Football Post Season

Michigan vs. Florida State

Michigan -7 Points

Over/Under 52 Points

Sixth-ranked Michigan (10-2) looks to cap its 2016 season with a win after losing two of their final three regular season games in the Capital One Orange Bowl against Florida State. The Seminoles’ season, like the Wolverines, didn’t turn out exactly as they had hoped. Both teams entered the 2016 season as College Football Playoff contenders. Florida State’s chances of playing in the CFP were dashed early in the season when they fell 63-20 to Louisville and Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Lamar Jackson. For Michigan, it was a season-ending loss to Ohio State that removed the Wolverines from contention.

The Orange Bowl will pit one of the nation’s best running backs, Dalvin Cook, against the 13th-best run defense in the nation. Michigan also ranks second in scoring defense allowing just 12.5 points per game. Jabrill Peppers, a Heisman Finalist, is a jack-of-all-trades defender aligning all over the field and disrupting opposing offenses. Peppers has 16 tackles for loss, four sacks, and is excellent in pass coverage. He is extremely versatile and will return punts and kickoffs and even take some snaps on offense.

The Michigan offense will have starting quarterback Wilton Speight back after missing the final two games of the season with a collarbone injury. The Wolverines offense relies on a power running game, but depends upon Speight to be efficient in the passing game. The Seminoles defense suffered a severe blow when All-American free safety Derwin James was injured early in the season. He has not played since and Florida State gives up an uncharacteristic 24.4 points per game.

Washington vs. Alabama

Alabama -13.5 Points

Over/Under 54 Points

Washington (12-1), winners of the Pac-12 title, will take on the nation’s No. 1 team, Alabama (13-0), in the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, the first College Football Playoff semifinal on New Year’s Eve. The Huskies, who surprised everyone but themselves this season, put up points on offense by the bunches and are also very stout on defense. Their opponent, the Crimson Tide, has the best defense in college football. Alabama is first in scoring defense allowing just 11.5 points per game. Take away Ole Miss and Arkansas and the Tide did not allow more than 16 points to any one opponent. They recorded two shutouts and held six opponents to single digits in points.

The Huskies have an offense led by QB Jake Browning that averages 44.5 points a game, fourth-best in the nation. Browning has 42 touchdown passes, RB Myles Gaskin is a 1,000-yard rusher (1,339), and speedy WR John Ross has 1,122 receiving yards and 17 touchdowns. In Alabama’s last seven games, head coach Nick Saban’s defense has allowed just 8.6 points a game. Something has to give.

For all the talk of Alabama’s defense, it’s the offense that has really caught the nation’s attention. Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin, the new head coach at Florida Atlantic, has introduced Saban and Alabama to the future. Quarterback Jalen Hurts has completed 65 percent of his passes, has 22 TD passes, and is the team’s second-leading rusher with 841 yards. He also has 12 rushing touchdowns. Wide receivers ArDarius Stewart and Calvin Ridley have combined for over 1,500 yards and 15 touchdowns. Washington’s defense is tied for eighth in the country in scoring giving up 17.2 points per game.

Ohio State vs. Clemson

Ohio State -3 Points

Over/Under 59 Points

In the second College Football Playoff semifinal, Ohio State will take on ACC champ Clemson in the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl. The second-ranked Tigers (12-1) are led by Heisman Trophy runner-up Deshaun Watson who has passed for 3,914 yards and 37 touchdowns. He is also the team’s second-leading rusher with 529 yards. Watson is not the Tigers only weapon as RB Wayne Gallman has rushed for 1,002 yards and 15 touchdowns and WR Mike Williams is a threat to score anytime he touches the ball. Williams has 84 receptions for 1,171 yards and 10 touchdowns.

The Buckeyes (11-1) became the first team to make the CFP without having won its conference title. A 24-21 loss to Big Ten champ Penn State is the only blemish on Ohio State’s record. The Buckeyes lost a ton of talent from last year’s team and still had enough remaining to finish ninth in the nation in scoring offense (42.7 points per game) and third in scoring defense (14.2). The offense is led by junior quarterback J.T. Barrett who has 24 TD passes and is the team’s second-leading rusher (847 yards). Head coach Urban Meyer’s spread offense is dependent upon getting the ball to RB Mike Weber (1,072 yards) and Curtis Samuel (704 yards rushing, 822 yards receiving).

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney has taken a page from Meyer’s book, literally, to help the Tigers return to the championship game for the second straight year. Swinney read Meyer’s Above the Line hoping to gain an edge on the Buckeyes.

LSU vs. Louisville

LSU -3 Points

Over/Under 59.5 Points

The Buffalo Wild Wings Citrus Bowl was going to feature a matchup of Heisman Trophy winner Lamar Jackson of Louisville and Heisman contender and LSU running back Leonard Fournette. That will not happen as Fournette will not play in the bowl game as he prepares himself for the 2017 NFL Draft. Still, it should be an interesting contest as Jackson looks to lead head coach Bobby Petrino and the Cardinals to a 10-win season.

Jackson won this year’s Heisman by passing for 3,390 yards and 30 touchdowns and leading Louisville in rushing with 1,538 yards and another 21 TDs. He is the nation’s most dynamic player and is a threat to score on every play. He is not his team’s only weapon either. Running back Brandon Radcliff has 877 yards on the ground and the Cardinals have four receivers with nearly 600 yards or more receiving.

For LSU and its new head coach Ed Orgeron, winning without Fournette is something they have already done. Sophomore Derrius Guice is actually the Tigers leading rusher with 1,249 yards. He is equally as capable as Fournette and his 252 yards against Arkansas and 285 against Texas A&M prove it. The big spark to the LSU offense was the change to former Purdue transfer Danny Etling at quarterback. Etling (1,906 passing yards) gives the Tigers a legitimate passing quarterback.

Eastern Michigan v. Old Dominion

Old Dominion -4 Points

Over/Under 64 Points

Eastern Michigan completed one of college football’s great turnarounds in 2016 finishing the regular season 7-5. The achievement is impressive since the seven wins come just after the program won one game in 2015. Head coach Chris Creighton leads the Eagles into a bowl game for the first time since 1987. They will face Old Dominion, a program resurrected in 2009 and in just its third year at the FBS level, in the Popeyes Bahamas Bowl.

Creighton and the Eagles will rely on QB Brogan Roback who took over at the position four games into the season. He has 2,394 yards passing and makes the EMU up-tempo offense go. He is capable of huge numbers as evidenced by his performance against Ball State. Roback helped the Eagles rally from 21 points down to gain a 48-41 win over Ball State. In the victory, Roback threw for 468 yards and three touchdowns.

Old Dominion is equally capable of putting up huge offensive numbers. The Monarchs offense is run by QB David Washington who is one of just four FBS quarterbacks to throw for 25 or more touchdowns and four or fewer interceptions. He has 2,648 yards and has completed 60 percent of his passes. It is the first bowl trip for ODU so emotions will be high. The Monarchs have won their last five straight games.

Louisiana Tech v. Navy

Louisiana Tech -7 Points

Over/Under 67 Points

Two conference championship game losers pair up in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Tex. Louisiana Tech, which lost to Western Kentucky in the Conference USA title game, get a shot at American Athletic Conference loser and 25th-ranked Navy. It will be a contrast in styles as the Bulldogs like to throw the ball around, especially to the undersized Trent Taylor, while Navy prefers to grind it out on the ground with their triple option attack.

Louisiana Tech actually beat Western Kentucky, 55-52, during the regular season behind 454 yards from QB Ryan Higgins. For the season, Higgins has 4,208 yards passing and 37 touchdowns. Taylor has 124 receptions for a team-high 1,570 yards and the Bulldogs have another 1,000-yard receiver in Carlos Henderson. The 5-foot-11 junior caught 72 passes for 1,406 yards and 17 touchdowns.

The question for Navy is who starts at quarterback. Will Worth, who ran and passed for over 1,000 yards during the season, was injured in the AAC title game and missed the rivalry game with Army, which Navy lost for the first time in 15 years. The likely starter will be 6-2 sophomore Zach Abey who rushed for 73 yards and two touchdowns in the loss to Army. Navy will have to control the football and make plays when it needs to in order to keep the ball away from a Louisiana Tech offense that is fifth in the nation in scoring averaging 44 points per game.

Ohio v. Troy

Troy -4 Points

Over/Under 49 Points

Troy was 8-1, its only loss to College Football Playoff participant Clemson. The Trojans became the first Sun Belt team to ever be ranked in the AP Top 25. Then, they committed five turnovers and got blown out by Arkansas State and dropped their season finale to Georgia Southern to finish 9-3. They will face the MAC runner-up Ohio in the Dollar General Bowl in Alabama.

The Bobcats (8-5) won the Eastern Division of the MAC the way it won games all year, with defense. Ohio beat Akron 9-3 to secure a spot in the MAC title game where it lost to No. 17 Western Michigan. The Bobcats have plenty of defensive talent including the MAC Defensive Player of the Year Tarell Basham. The senior defensive end had 10 sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss this season. Basham will play a key role in chasing down Troy QB Brandon Silvers.

Silvers completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 2,945 yards and 22 touchdowns. The Troy running game has a good one in RB Jordan Chunn who has gained 1,232 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. This year’s Dollar General Bowl is likely to be a battle of running games. The Bobcats leading rusher is 5-11 junior Dorian Brown who has gained 802 yards this season. Like Troy, Ohio enters the bowl game having lost two of its final three games.

Hawaii v. Middle Tennessee

Hawaii -3 Points

Over/Under 52 Points

Middle Tennessee’s success against Hawaii in the annual Hawai’i Bowl will depend upon whether or not starting quarterback Brent Stockstill is good to go. Stockstill, who had 2,801 yards passing and 27 touchdowns in a little over eight games, suffered a broken collarbone in a loss to Texas-San Antonio. He has not played since but could be available. He is the triggerman in offensive coordinator Tony Franklin’s spread system that has produced some gaudy numbers this season.

The MTSU offense also produced a 51-45 win over the SEC’s Missouri this season, a game in which Stockstill had 280 yards passing, 81 rushing, and four touchdowns. If Stockstill can’t go, it will be either John Urzua, a 6-3 freshman who has 816 passing yards and eight touchdowns or possibly WR Richie James, who has rushed for 300 yards and is the team’s leading receiver with 97 receptions for 1,463 yards and 11 touchdowns. If Stockstill is able to play, the Blue Raiders offense, which averages over 40 points a game, may be able to run and pass all over a suspect Hawaii defense.

The Rainbow Warriors (6-7) won their last two games to reach bowl eligibility. They are led by their quarterback Dru Brown who has 2,214 yards passing and 15 touchdowns. Running backs Diocemy Saint Juste and Steven Lakalaka have combined for over 1,200 yards and 15 scores. Wide receiver Marcus Kemp has 70 catches for 1,036 yards in the Hawaii spread offense. The Warriors problem is that their defense hasn’t really stopped anybody all year. Hawaii gives up 455 yards and 37.5 points per game.

Southern Mississippi vs. Louisiana-Lafayette

Southern Miss -5.5 Points

Over/Under 58.5 Points

On the heels of a nine-win season a year ago, first-year head coach Jay Hopson led Southern Miss to a 6-6 record and got the Golden Eagles back to a bowl game. Southern Miss seems to go through coaches like crazy as Hopson is the fifth man to lead the program in nine years. Even with that kind of turnover, the program has excelled, enough that the Golden Eagles will face Louisiana-Lafayette in the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl this Saturday.

Quarterback Nick Mullens is the key for Hopson’s squad. He threw for 2,926 yards and 22 touchdowns in the 10 games that he played. His worth was evident when the senior was knocked out of a game against Charlotte, one of the newest programs in FBS. With their signal-caller sidelined, Southern Miss gave up 31 straight points and lost at home to a school in just their fourth year of FBS play. Mullens then missed games with Old Dominion and North Texas, both losses.

For Louisiana-Lafayette, the fifth-place finisher in the Sun Belt, they will lean heavily on running back Elijah McGuire who leads the Ragin’ Cajuns in rushing with 918 yards on the season. Head coach Mark Hudspeth’s team was 3-5 before going 3-1 in the final four games to reach the New Orleans Bowl for the fifth time in six years. The Ragin’ Cajuns last won the in 2014 beating Nevada 16-3.

Central Florida vs. Arkansas State

Central Florida -6 Points

Over/Under 49.5 Points

Arkansas State started the season 0-4 but rallied to win six in a row at one point and gain a share of the Sun Belt Conference title and a spot in the AutoNation Cure Bowl against Central Florida. The Red Wolves finished 7-5 overall and, surprisingly, it is their defense that has helped get them bowl eligible for the sixth straight season. Arkansas State gives up an average of 38.7 points per game which is a little misleading considering that in the team’s seven wins, the defense gave up an average of just 14 per game.

The Red Wolves’ biggest win came late in the season when they whooped up on a nationally ranked Troy, 35-3, forcing the Sun Belt’s No. 1 offense into five turnovers. Junior defensive end Ja’Von Rolland-Jones has 11 sacks and 16 tackles for loss this season. One more sack and he will break the school’s career record (28). Rolland-Jones and the Red Wolves defense will have to keep pace with an equally good UCF defense.

A year ago, the Black Knights went 0-12. New head coach Scott Frost, a former Nebraska quarterback, came in a put a heavy emphasis on defense and that is why UCF went 6-6 this season. Shaquem Griffin was the American Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year and played much of the season with just one hand. He is tenth in the nation in sacks with 11 and his twin brother Shaquill leads the Black Knights with 12 pass breakups.

Appalachian State vs. Toledo

Toledo -1 Points

Over/Under 59.5 Points

Appalachian State will attempt to win its second consecutive Raycom Media Camellia Bowl when it faces Toledo (9-3) from the MAC. The Mountaineers had another impressive season in just their fourth season of FBS football. Head coach Scott Satterfield’s team began the season by nearly upsetting then No. 9 Tennessee. The Mountaineers lost 20-13 in overtime. Only a 28-24 late-season loss to Troy prevented Appalachian State from winning the Sun Belt Conference outright.

The Mountaineers, like Toledo, run a spread offense and like to run the football. Marcus Cox, the team’s second-leading rusher this season with 872 yards, broke the school’s career rushing record earlier in the season. His backfield mate, Jalin Moore, is the team’s leading rusher with 1,367 yards. Quarterback Taylor Lamb has added 380 yards on the ground and has completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 2,162 yards and 14 touchdowns.

The Rockets have one of the nation’s top quarterbacks in Logan Woodside. With 43 touchdown passes, Woodside leads the nation. The 6-2, 200-pound junior has 3,882 yards passing but Toledo does like to run the football. They have a very capable running back in four-year starter Kareem Hunt who has rushed for 1,355 yards and eight touchdowns this season.

North Dakota State vs. James Madison

North Dakota State -2 Points

Over/Under 52 Points

Five-time reigning national champion North Dakota State will face James Madison in the FCS semifinals at the Fargo Dome this Saturday. It’s the Bison’s seventh straight trip to the FCS semifinals and it took a huge effort last week against South Dakota State, the only team to beat NDSU during the regular season. James Madison, the top FCS scoring program in the nation averaging 49.6 points per game, destroyed previously top-ranked Sam Houston State in the Dukes quarterfinal game. JMU beat the Bearkats 65-7.

Who moves on to the title game in January will come down to defense. The Dukes absolutely stymied Sam Houston State’s high-powered offense last week. The Bearkats led FCS with 547.3 yards per game and were second in scoring (49.3), so the Dukes can play defense. Are they as good as the Bison?

North Dakota State is third in scoring defense yielding just 15.8 points per game. The Bison are eighth in rush defense (99.2 ypg) and ninth in total defense (310.2). They will have their hands full trying to contain James Madison RB Khalid Abdullah who is fourth in the FCS in rushing with 1,528 yards. Dukes QB Bryan Schor was the Colonial Athletic Association’ s Player of the Year throwing for 2,648 yards and 24 TDs and adding 534 more on the ground to go with 10 rushing scores.

The two teams are the most complete in the FCS and the advantage may go to North Dakota State playing at home. The Bison are 18-0 in the playoffs in the Fargo Dome. They are also riding a 22-game playoff win streak.

Week 15 College Football

Army vs. Navy

Navy -6 Points

Over/Under 47.5 Points
It is the epitome of college football. It is what the game is about. It’s the 119th meeting of Army and Navy this Saturday from M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md. The Midshipmen own a 14-game winning streak in the series, which could be in serious jeopardy this Saturday. Navy enters the game 9-3 after losing in the American Athletic Conference championship game last week. Not only did head coach Ken Niumatalolo lose a chance at a conference title, he also lost some of his key players.

Do-it-all quarterback Will Worth and team co-captain and slotback Toneo Gulley were lost, ironically, on the same play in the team’s loss to Temple last week. Worth took over early in the season when senior Tago Smith was injured. All Worth did was rush for 1,198 yards and pass for 1,397 more. He accounted for 33 touchdowns. He will miss this week’s game as well as the bowl game. Taking his place is sophomore Zach Abey who ran for 70 yards in the Temple loss.

Army has had plenty of time to recover from its last game, a 60-3 blowout of Morgan State. The Black Knights are in their second year under new head coach Jeff Monken and they are 6-5 heading into Saturday’s rivalry game. Army is second in the nation in rushing averaging 328.5 yards per game and is led by RB Andy Davidson who has 818 yards on 150 carries. Quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw (622 yards passing) is the team’s second-leading rusher with 646 yards on the ground.

South Dakota State @ North Dakota State

South Dakota State -6 Points

Over/Under 58 Points

The dominance of the North Dakota State football program is well-known through FCS and among true college football fans. The Bison have won the past five straight FCS championships. If there has been a thorn in the side of the Bison, it has been one team – it’s opponent in the 2016 FCS quarterfinals this Saturday. North Dakota State will face the only team it lost to this regular season, South Dakota State.

The Bison lost 19-17 at home in the Fargo Dome on a last-second touchdown pass from Taryn Christion to Jake Weineke. South Dakota State scored the game’s final 16 points to claim the victory. Can they do it again? The Jackrabbits, 9-3 overall, are lucky to have been in a position to beat NDSU after losing two of their first three games of the season. They lost 59-41 to TCU and two weeks later dropped a 38-31 decision to Cal Poly.

North Dakota State once again beat an FBS opponent when the Bison defeated Iowa, 23-21, on a last-second field goal. The Hawkeyes were ranked No. 11 in the nation at the time. With the loss, NDSU was named co-champs, along with SDSU, of the Missouri Valley Conference. It will be up to Bison QB Eaton Stick to lead the Bison to a win Saturday. Stick went 12-for-20 for 208 yards passing and three touchdowns last week in a win over San Diego. He also rushed for 99 yards on four carries.

Wofford @ Youngstown State

Youngstown State -3 Points

Over/Under 61 Points

Remember former Nebraska coach Bo Pelini? Well, he’s leading the Youngstown State football program back to FCS greatness. The Penguin program has a long history of greatness winning four national championships under former coach Jim Tressel, now the university’s president. Pelini took over the program in 2015 and went 5-6 his first season. It had been 10 long years since YSU had made the playoffs but Pelini responded with an 8-3 regular season and a berth in the FCS playoffs.

The Penguins beat Samford, 38-24, and Jacksonville State, the No. 3 seed in the region, 40-24. Pelini and company have succeeded by running the football and playing defense. The Penguins have two 1,000-yard rushers. Martin Ruiz leads the team with 1,159 yards and 12 touchdowns. Jody Webb adds 1,025 and six scores.

YSU’s opponent on Saturday, Wofford, also makes a living by running the football. They are one of the few teams in all of Division I football that runs the true triple option offense. The Terriers are also very good on defense yielding just 277.5 yards per game (fifth-best in FCS). The Wofford running game averages 278.3 yards per game, fifth in the nation, just two slots ahead of Youngstown State (258.5). Running back Lorenzo Long leads Wofford with 1,382 yards on the ground, seventh-best in the country.

Sam Houston State @ James Madison

James Madison -4 Points

Over/Under 53 Points

The FCS quarterfinals kick off on Friday night with Sam Houston State, a perennial playoff participant, traveling to James Madison. The Bearkats have made it to the semifinals in five of the past six FCS playoffs. Sam Houston State reached the national championship game two years in a row, 2011 and 2012, only to lose to North Dakota State.

The Bearkats are difficult to defend running the Air Raid a la Mike Leach at Washington State. Quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe is second in the nation in passing yards with 4,459 and leads FCS with an incredible 57 touchdown passes. Sam Houston State has three wide receivers in the Top 50 nationally in receiving yards. Yedidiah Louis is 10th with 73 catches for 1,133 yards; Nathan Stewart has 50 receptions for 951 yards and is 27th; and Davion Davis is 30th with 52 catches and 927 yards. All three have 10 or more touchdown receptions.

James Madison, the national champion in 2004, has lost just once all season and that was to FBS North Carolina. The Dukes won the Colonial Athletic Conference with a perfect 8-0 mark and beat No. 22 New Hampshire, 55-22, last week to advance to the quarterfinals. JMU, which averages 48 points a game, is led by RB Khalid Abdullah who has 1,425 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns.

Week 14 College Football

Wisconsin v. Penn State

Wisconsin -2.5 Points

Over/Under 48 Points

The Ohio State win over Michigan allowed Penn State (10-2, 8-1) to sneak into the Big Ten championship game where the Nittany Lions will take on No. 6 Wisconsin (10-2, 7-2). Head coach James Franklin’s team has won eight in a row since a 49-10 loss to Michigan. That streak includes the dramatic 24-21 victory over Ohio State.

Both teams have some injury issues heading into Saturday night’s title game. Penn State leading rusher Saquon Barkley injured an ankle and left last Saturday’s game, a 45-12 win over Michigan State. It appears that he will be ready to go for Saturday, which is a huge boost for the Nittany Lions. Barkley has rushed for 1,219 yards and 15 touchdowns this season.

For Wisconsin, starting quarterback Alex Hornibrook, who is from Pennsylvania, is listed as questionable. Hornibrook was injured in last week’s win over Minnesota. He left the game and was replaced by fifth-year senior Bart Houston, who began the season as the Badgers’ starter. Hornibrook and Houston had both been playing in the final six games of the season as Wisconsin head coach Paul Chryst utilized a two-quarterback system. Regardless of who plays Saturday, the Badgers offense is run-heavy with Corey Clement leading the way with 1,140 yards rushing this season.

Where the Badgers separate themselves from the competition is on defense. Wisconsin is third in the nation in scoring defense allowing opponents just 13.7 points per game. Wisconsin gave up 20 or more points just twice all season and one of those was to Ohio State in overtime.

Alabama v. Florida

Alabama -12 Points

Over/Under 58 Points

Since the institution of the SEC championship game, Alabama and Florida have met for the title eight times. Each team has won four games. The two teams met last year with the Tide claiming a 29-15 victory and their sixth conference championship since 1992. It’s no surprise that head coach Nick Saban’s team will be favored once again this year. The top-ranked Tide has dominated every opponent they have faced this season.

Saban and Alabama are well known for the program’s defensive prowess, but the offense has become dynamic under offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin. Using different tempos, spread formations, and a freshman quarterback who can do it all, Alabama averages 39.4 points per game. Jalen Hurts, that freshman quarterback, has thrown for 2,454 yards and is the team’s second-leading rusher with 840 yards. Hurts has accounted for a total of 33 touchdowns.

On the other side of the ball, Alabama once again features a defense full of future NFL draft picks. The Crimson Tide defense leads the nation in scoring defense giving opponents just 11.4 points a game. Alabama has held eight of its opponents to 10 points or less. That is not good news for Florida, which struggles on offense. The Gators haven’t scored over 20 points in a game in over a month. Like Alabama, Florida is built around its defense. The Gators are fifth in the nation in scoring defense (14.6) and sixth in total defense (292 yards per game).

Oklahoma State @ Oklahoma

Oklahoma -11 Points

Over/Under 77.5 Points

The Bedlam Rivalry will determine this year’s Big 12 champion. The Sooners have engineered as a good a comeback as anyone this season. They lost two of their first three games – to Houston and Ohio State – and have reeled off eight straight victories since. One more and Oklahoma will win the Big 12 title…again.

The Sooners have done it primarily with an offense that appears as if it cannot be stopped. In their eight-game winning streak, Oklahoma has scored over 40 points six times and over 50 three times. The Sooners are second in the nation in scoring offense (45.3). Quarterback Baker Mayfield spearheads the offense. Mayfield has thrown for 3,381 yards and 35 touchdowns. There may not be a better pair of running backs in the country than Joe Mixon (1,084 yards) and Samaje Perine (735) and WR Dede Westbrook (70 rec., 1,354 yds., 15 TDs) is one of the nation’s best.

Oklahoma State (9-2, 7-1) has a prolific offense of its own led by QB Mason Rudolph who has 3,591 yards passing and 25 touchdowns. The Cowboys don’t have a 1,000-yard rusher, but Justice Hill (943) is close. Wide receiver James Washington is one of the most exciting players in the country. Washington has 60 catches for 1,159 yards and nine touchdowns. Saturday’s game could turn into a shootout between two of the best offenses in the country.

Colorado @ Washington

Washington -7 Points

Over/Under 58 Points

Just one year ago, Colorado head coach Mike MacIntrye and his Buffaloes went 1-8 in Pac-12 play. Last week, they capped off a dramatic worst-to-first turnaround with a win over No. 22 Utah. Colorado can add to its best season in over a decade when it plays for the Pac-12 championship on Friday night against Washington.

The Huskies (11-1, 8-1) were picked by many to win the Pac-12 this year. Head coach Chris Petersen had slowly built a program that was ready to take the program back to national prominence. The Huskies responded by winning their first nine straight before a heartbreaking home loss to USC, the only blemish in the Washington schedule. The Huskies do it with a prolific offense and a defense that is one of the best units in the country.

Washington QB Jake Browning is one of the nation’s best. He has thrown for 3,162 yards and 40 touchdowns thus far this season. Running back Myles Gaskin has rushed for 1,180 yards and WR John Ross (1,071 receiving yards) gives Washington a 3,000-yard passer, a 1,000-yard rusher, and a 1,000-yard receiver. On the other side of the ball, the Huskies have been ranked in the Top 10 in scoring defense for most of the season. Currently, they are tied for 10th allowing 17.8 points per game.

Buffaloes head coach Mike MacIntyre has rebuilt the Colorado program using a similar approach. Colorado’s defense is 13th in the nation in points allowed (18.8) and Phillip Lindsay is a 1,000-yard rusher. Colorado’s only losses this season were to USC and Michigan.

Week 13 College Football

Michigan @ Ohio State

Ohio State -5 Points

Over/Under 44.5 Points
It is one of college football’s all-time greatest rivalries. This year, Ohio State-Michigan will play a big role in which team wins the Big Ten and which team will definitely make the College Football Playoff. It’s simple for Michigan – win and the Wolverines are in the Big Ten title game. For the Buckeyes, a win puts Penn State into the championship game.

Ohio State will rely on its quarterback J.T. Barrett who has rushed for a combined 228 yards and five touchdowns in the past meetings with Michigan. If the Wolverines manage to slow down Barrett, the Buckeyes have plenty of weapons beginning with running back Mike Weber. The redshirt freshman leads Ohio State with 1,046 yards on the ground. Curtis Samuel, Ohio State’s leading receiver with 790 yards, also averages 7.7 yards per carry and has 650 yards rushing on the season. Michigan will have its hands full trying to stop the Buckeyes offense which averages over 490 yards and 43.8 points per game (fifth in the nation).

If anyone can stop Ohio State, it is Michigan. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has arguably the nation’s best defense. The Wolverines are first in scoring defense giving opponents just 10.9 points per game. Michigan has given up over 20 points just twice all season. The Wolverines will need to get production from their offense which will again be led by QB John O’Korn. The Houston transfer started last week in place of the injured Wilton Speight. He will have to generate some offense for the Wolverines.

Auburn @ Alabama

Alabama -18 Points

Over/Under 47.5 Points

At the beginning of the 2016 season, the Iron Bowl didn’t look like it would be much of a game. Then, the Tigers caught fire and won seven of their last eight games. Auburn has slowly moved up the rankings and, at 8-3, is No. 13 in the country. A win by the Tigers does nothing more than give Auburn bragging rights for a year. Top-ranked Alabama has already clinched the SEC West and will play East champion Florida for the conference title.

For Auburn to pull the unthinkable, the Tigers will have to slow down the Crimson Tide offense. That begins with stopping Alabama freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts, who rushes for 73 yards a game and passes for 197. Alabama averages 478 yards of offense per game. The Auburn defense is much improved over last year though. New defensive coordinator Kevin Steele has installed a defense that has given up just 15 touchdowns in Auburn’s 15 games.

Auburn will likely have trouble with the Alabama defense which is second in the country yielding just 11.4 points a game. In Alabama’s last three games, the Tide has surrendered a total of six points. Sophomore quarterback Sean White has been nursing a sore shoulder and sat out last week. Senior Jeremy Johnson started and led the Tigers to a win over Alabama A&M. Whoever plays quarterback will have to find a way to move the football and produce points against a very stingy Alabama defense.

Florida @ Florida State

Florida State -7 Points

Over/Under 47 Points

It’s hard to believe but the 8-3 Seminoles are ranked one spot higher, 14th, than the 8-2 Gators that will be playing next week for an SEC title. Florida State’s season hasn’t gone exactly as planned but that’s how a few key injuries can affect an entire season. The end-of-the-season clash between the two in-state rivals will likely be a factor in bowl selection as well as recruiting.

The Seminoles lost FS Derwin James early in the season. James was labeled by many as the best defender in the country. His loss has showed as the Florida State defense, thought to be one of the strongest in the nation, has given up points by the boat loads at times. In the team’s three losses, the Seminoles have surrendered at least 37 points. One plus this week for FSU – the Gators offense is limited.

If Gators head coach Jim McElwain had any offense, Florida might be unbeaten at this point. Florida has had to play its last two games with backup quarterback Austin Appleby. The former Purdue transfer has been efficient in wins over South Carolina and LSU. It’s no secret that the key to the Gators recording a ninth win this season is their defense. Florida is third in the nation in scoring defense (13.0 points per game) and hasn’t given up more than 14 points in all of its wins this season. If they can keep FSU quarterback Deondre Francois and RB Dalvin Cook in check and hold the Seminoles under 14 points, the Gators will head to the SEC title game with another win under the belts.

Utah @ Colorado

Colorado -9.5 Points

Over/Under 54 Points

For the first time in many years, this game has some significance. Colorado, ranked ninth in the country, can win the Pac-12 South with a second straight win over a ranked opponent on Saturday. The Buffaloes took care of Washington State last week, a 38-24 victory over the Cougars. A win over the Utes completes a worst-to-first turnaround for head coach Mike MacIntyre and the Buffaloes.

Quarterback Sefo Liufau passed for 300 yards and rushed for over 100 last week in the win over Washington State. He is the key to the Colorado offense, but the Buffaloes are far from one-dimensional. Running back Philip Lindsay has rushed for 1,081 yards and Shay Fields has 43 receptions for 741 yards and eight touchdowns. As impressive as the Buffaloes are on offense, their defense is even better.

Colorado is 13th nationally and first in the Pac-12 in scoring defense (18.5 points per game). The Buffaloes will have to slow down a very good Utah offense. Running back Joe Williams has rushed for 1,088 yards and nine touchdowns despite missing five games this season. Quarterback Troy Williams has thrown for 2,419 yards, but Colorado catches Utah at an opportune time. The Utes lost a heartbreaker to Oregon last week in the final seconds. The loss took Utah out of the Pac-12 title race. If head coach Kyle Wittingham and his team are not over the emotional loss it could get ugly at Folsom Field on Saturday.

Week 12 College Football

Oklahoma @ West Virginia

Oklahoma -2.5 Points

Over/Under 66.5 Points

The Sooners have games with the 16th-ranked Mountaineers and No. 13 Oklahoma State remaining on the schedule. Win them both and the Sooners will win the Big 12 title…again. After losing two of their first three games of the season, No. 11 Oklahoma could actually play its way back into the College Football Playoff picture after all the upsets last week.

West Virginia has quietly gone 8-1 on the season, its only loss to Oklahoma State on the road. Head coach Dana Holgorsen and the Mountaineers are usually synonymous with plenty of offense, but it has been the West Virginia defense that has really made the difference this season. In the pass-happy Big 12, the Mountaineers have found a way to slow down offenses to the tune of just 20.6 points per game (19th-best in the nation). In Big 12 play other than the loss to the Cowboys, the most points given up by WVU has been 21.

The Sooners will have both Joe Mixon and Samaje Perine back at running back. The pair was instrumental in Oklahoma’s 45-24 win over Baylor last week. Mixon ran 14 times for 124 yards and a touchdown while Perine had 100 yards and two scores. The passing game is just as good with QB Baker Mayfield and WR Dede Westbrook who had four catches against Baylor, two of which were touchdowns.

Washington State @ Colorado

Colorado -4.5 Points

Over/Under 60 Points

At the beginning of the season, who would have thought that Saturday’s game between the Cougars and Buffaloes could be a preview of the Pac-12 title game? After Washington’s loss to USC last week, the Cougars are the last remaining unbeaten team in conference play. Colorado, ranked No. 12 in the nation, leads the South Division and controls its destiny. The Buffaloes have a mighty challenge ahead though as they must defeat the 23rd-ranked Cougars and then finish the season with No. 15 Utah.

The Colorado defense will have to contend with one of the most prolific offenses in the country. The Buffaloes have improved greatly and are tied for ninth in the nation in scoring defense giving up just 17.9 points a game. Colorado has held five of its ten opponents to 10 points or less. The Buffaloes defense will have its hands full with the Cougars.

Washington State QB Luke Falk leads an offense that produces over 510 yards of total offense each games. The Cougars score 43.7 points per game (10th in the nation) and have put 56 and 69 in each of the last two weeks. Wide receiver Gabe Marks is Falk’s primary target with 68 receptions, 709 yards, and 12 touchdowns. Like Colorado, the Cougars are much improved on defense. Washington State will have to slow down quarterback Sefo Liufau and RB Philip Lindsay who is closing in on 1,000 yards rushing for the season.

Ohio State @ Michigan State

Ohio State -22.5 Points

Over/Under 55 Points

A year ago, this game helped to decide the Big Ten championship. This year, not so much. The Spartans are struggling though they did end a seven-game losing streak by beating Rutgers 49-0 last Saturday. Ohio State will be heavily favored especially after it likely becomes the No. 2 team in the College Football Playoff poll. With Clemson, Michigan, and Washington losing last week, the Buckeyes, a 62-3 winner over Maryland, should move up to No. 2 behind Alabama.

Head coach Urban Meyer’s Buckeyes are second in the nation in scoring averaging 46.5 points per game. The offense is balanced and Ohio State has plenty of weapons with which to beat opponents. Quarterback J.T. Barrett is the catalyst. Barrett has thrown for 2,218 yards and rushed for 617 more. The junior has scored 31 total touchdowns. The ground game is strong with RB Mike Weber close to 1,000 yards on the season (935) and hybrid WR/RB Curtis Samuel who has added 637 yards on the ground. Samuel is also the team’s leading receiver with 57 catches for 750 yards and six touchdowns.

Michigan State has had its issues on both sides of the ball. Still, a strong ground game led by L.J. Scott (775 yards) could give Ohio State some issues. Ohio State’s defense is solid though and is tied for third in the country in scoring defense giving up just 12.7 points per game. Ohio State has won consecutive games over Nebraska and Maryland by a score of 62-3.

Florida @ LSU

LSU -13.5 Points

Over/Under 37.5 Points

Florida, which will win the SEC East, travels to Baton Rouge to take on No. 24 LSU in a game that was postponed due to Hurricane Matthew. The Gators enter the game 7-2, 5-2 in SEC play, and win or lose, Florida will face SEC West champ Alabama in the conference title game. LSU and its interim head coach have something to play for, specifically Ed Orgeron’s job.

Orgeron, a Louisiana native, has led the Tigers to a 4-1 record since taking over for fired head coach Les Miles. Miles was let go after LSU lost to Auburn in September. The Tigers have played much better since, especially on offense. Purdue transfer Danny Etling has taken over at quarterback and led an offense that has averaged nearly 35 points a game, and that includes the Tigers’ shutout loss to Alabama.

Both teams are outstanding on defense. They are big up front and speedy everywhere else. Florida is fifth nationally in scoring defense giving up just 13.3 points a game, while LSU is sixth (13.9). The Gators did lose safety Marcus Maye for the rest of the season when he broke an arm in last week’s win over South Carolina. Florida’s defense shut down the Gamecocks last week and allowed backup quarterback Austin Appleby to go 17-for-21 for 201 yards and two touchdowns. Another performance like that will be needed on Saturday.

Week 11 College Football

Baylor @ Oklahoma

Oklahoma -19.5 Points

Over/Under 79.5 Points
The Sooners will be looking for the 14th straight Big 12 win when they welcome Baylor to Norman on Saturday. The Bears are on a two-game skid having lost to Texas and TCU the past two weeks after starting the season 6-0. A seventh consecutive win for Oklahoma could put the Sooners right back into contention for a College Football Playoff berth. No two-loss team has ever qualified for the CFP, but a Big 12 champion Oklahoma might have a shot.

Baylor is spiraling downward. Last week, the Bears defense gave up 688 yards of total offense, which included 431 on the ground. On the sideline, Baylor’s leading rusher Shock Linwood got into a scuffle with a graduate assistant and is suspended for Saturday’s game with the Sooners. While Linwood will miss this week’s game, Oklahoma gets its top two rushers back.

Joe Mixon, who was suspended for last week’s win over Oklahoma, and Samaje Perine, nursing a muscle pull, are both expected to play against Baylor. Perine has missed the past three games and did practice this week. With both backs returning, expect Oklahoma to run all over a Baylor defense that has allowed an average of 344 yards rushing over the last two games.

USC @ Washington

Washington -8 Points

Over/Under 59.5 Points

It’s hard to believe that the Trojans were once 1-3. Head coach Clay Helton and company are now 6-3 and ranked 20th in the nation. USC now has to travel to fourth-ranked Washington to prove itself. The Trojans did beat Colorado, now ranked No. 12, earlier in their current five-game winning streak. The Trojans will have their hands full with the Huskies on Saturday night.

Washington, now firmly in a College Football Playoff spot, needs to win out and win the Pac-12 title to secure its berth in the playoff. The Huskies may be the one conference school that has benefitted the most from the sanctions placed on USC. When the Trojans had their scholarship numbers cut, Washington began a recruiting pipeline that brought several Southern California recruits to Seattle.

The results of that recruiting have led to an offense that averages 48.3 points per game, second in the nation, and a defense that is ranked 11th in scoring defense allowing 17 points a game. Quarterback Jake Browning, a product of Folsom, Calif., is one of the nation’s best. Browning has thrown for 2,273 yards and has 34 touchdown passes. Running back Myles Gaskin, a sophomore like Browning, has 952 yards rushing and gives the Huskies’ offense another threat in the backfield.

Cal @ Washington State

Washington State -17.5 Points

Over/Under 79.5 Points

The scoreboard operator in Pullman will definitely get a workout on Saturday night as two of the more explosive teams in the nation square off in the Pac-12. Two of the most prolific quarterbacks in the nation will face one another as Cal (4-5) travels to Washington State (7-2). Luke Falk of Washington State and Davis Webb of Cal are No. 3 and 4 in the country in passing yards. Both head coaches, Sonny Dykes of Cal and Mike Leach of the Cougars, are proponents of the Air Raid which oftentimes will see outrageous passing numbers.

Last week, the Cougars put up 69 points on Arizona and Falk completed 32-of-35 passes for 311 yards and four touchdowns. Falk’s backup, Tyler Hilinski, came on in the third quarter, went 15-for-17 for 163 yards, and threw for two touchdowns of his own. The Cougars rolled up 474 yards passing and also added another 140 on the ground. Washington State averages over 42 points per game, 10th in the nation, and if it wins out, would win the Pac-12 North.

Cal has lost its last two games giving up over 100 points in the process. While prolific offensively (39.7 points per game, 16th in the nation), the Bears are dead last in scoring defense in the nation. Cal gives up 44.4 points per game and has been in several shootouts this season. The Bears have given up at least 40 points in seven of their nine games this season. It means that Webb and the up-tempo Cal offense is going to have to score. Webb has thrown for 3,176 and 30 touchdowns thus far. His primary target is former walk-on Chad Hansen who has 840 receiving yards and nine scores.

LSU @ Arkansas

LSU -7.5 Points

Over/Under 45 Points

After a huge loss (56-3) to Auburn, the 25th-ranked Razorbacks rebounded to stun then No. 11 Florida last week. It’s a perfect example of the inconsistency that Arkansas has shown all year. This week, head coach Bret Bielema’s squad has a chance to prove it belongs among the SEC’s best. LSU, ranked 24th this week, travels to Arkansas for an SEC West showdown on Saturday night.

LSU has had its share of turmoil this season too. The Tigers lost two of their first four games, fired head coach Les Miles, and then rebounded to win three in a row including a 38-21 win over a No. 23 Ole Miss team. The Tigers fought hard and battled top-ranked Alabama last week but fell, 10-0. This week, LSU and interim head coach Ed Orgeron have the opportunity to prove they are still LSU. The Tigers close the season with Florida and then No. 8 Texas A&M.

Both schools rely heavily on the run game. LSU has one of the nation’s best running backs in Leonard Fournette who is now healthy. Fournette has 705 yards rushing and LSU runs for 214 per game. Bielema teams are usually known for their running games but the Razorbacks have relied more on the arm of QB Austin Allen who has 2,291 passing yards and 19 touchdowns. Rawleigh Williams III leads the ground games with 955 yards. The Razorbacks will have to face the nation’s sixth-best scoring defense (14.4 points per game).

Week 10 College Football

Navy @ Notre Dame

Notre Dame -6.5 Points

Over/Under 64.5 Points

Who would have thought that Notre Dame would enter its Nov. 5 game with Navy sporting a 3-5 record? The Irish did pick up a big 30-27 win over Miami last week and now must face the triple option offense of the Midshipmen. Navy is fifth in the nation in rushing averaging nearly 300 yards per game (296.6). Head coach Ken Niumatalolo’s team is tough to defend and scores an average of 35.7 points per game.

The Middies lost their first American Athletic Conference game last week, a  52-45 defeat at the hands of South Florida (7-2). Navy is led by its do-it-all quarterback Will Worth. Worth emerged as the guy after the season-ending injury to Tago Smith earlier in the year. Worth leads the team in rushing with 987 yards on the ground and passing with 618. He also has a combined 19 touchdowns. Wide receiver Jamir Tillman (23 rec., 362 yards) gives Worth a big-play weapon in the passing game.

Navy’s defense will have to slow down a Notre Dame offense that has been picking up some steam. Quarterback DeShone Kizer has 2,038 yards passing and 16 touchdowns and WR Equanimeous St. Brown has caught 37 passes for 683 yards and seven scores. Josh Adams is the leading rusher (510 yards) and Kizer has added 316 yards on the ground along with seven touchdowns.

Washington @ California

Washington -17 Points

Over/Under 77 Points

After a snub from the College Football Playoff committee, Washington travels to Berkeley where the Huskies will square off with a very pesky Cal squad. The Golden Bears’ offense works at a frenetic pace and has been able to score on virtually anyone. Cal averages 41.3 points per game on offense, which is 14th-best in the nation.

The problem for Cal is that their defense is as bad as their offense is good. The Bears yield 41.8 points per game on defense. They have given up at least 45 points in their last three consecutive games. That is good news for the Washington offense, which is fourth in the nation scoring 46.1 points per game. Quarterback Jake Browning leads a very efficient offense that can run it and throw it. Browning has 1,895 yards passing and 28 touchdowns. Running back Myles Gaskin has rushed for 878 yards and seven scores and WR John Ross is the Huskies leading receiver with 38 receptions for 534 yards and 11 touchdowns.

A week after having to face a very good running game at Utah, the Washington defense now faces the task of defending the nation’s fourth-ranked passing attack. Cal QB Davis Webb has attempted more passes than anyone in college football and he has the most touchdown passes (29). The Huskies defense just happens to be the top-ranked pass defense in the Pac-12 giving up just 171.9 yards a game.

Alabama @ LSU

Alabama -7 Points

Over/Under 45 Points

It is one of the season’s more anticipated games. It looked like it might be a dud after the Tigers dropped two of their first four games and fired head coach Les Miles. Interim head coach Ed Orgeron has led LSU to three straight victories and a No. 13 ranking. The Tigers will host No. 1 Alabama on Saturday night.

Head coach Nick Saban and Alabama have won the last five straight meetings between the two teams including last year’s 30-16 victory. The last time the Tide came into Baton Rouge ranked No. 1 was in 2012. Alabama won 21-17. Things are much different in Tuscaloosa these days, especially on offense.

The Tide have evolved into a quasi-spread offense that utilizes the no-huddle frequently. Offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin has been masterful at guiding the Alabama offense. The Crimson Tide averages 43.9 points per game, ninth-best in the nation. The beauty of Saban’s team is they are just as good on defense. Alabama yields just 14.9 points per game. They have held five of their eight opponents to 10 points or less. LSU and RB Leonard Fournette, who played poorly in last year’s game, are going to have to take advantage of playing at home.

Nebraska @ Ohio State

Ohio State -17 Points

Over/Under 52 Points

For the second straight week, the Cornhuskers face a Top 10 opponent in primetime. This time around it is No. 6 Ohio State. The Buckeyes rebounded from their only loss of the season to Penn State by beating Northwestern, 24-20, last week. Head coach Urban Meyer’s Buckeyes did not play well but still found a way to win.

Nebraska, ranked No. 10 in the College Football Playoff poll released on Tuesday, lost its first game of the season last week, a 23-17 loss to Wisconsin in overtime. Saturday night’s matchup between the Cornhuskers and Buckeyes will have serious implications on the Big 10 championship as well as the College Football Playoff.

Both teams are balanced offensively, though the Buckeyes are the eighth-ranked rushing offense in the country. Mike Webber leads the team with 770 yards on the ground and all-purpose player Curtis Samuel has 558. Samuel, listed as a wide receiver, leads Ohio State with 539 receiving yards on 44 receptions. He is explosive and dangerous. Quarterback J.T. Barrett runs the offense and has 1,675 yards passing and 531 more on the ground.

Nebraska is led by its senior quarterback, Tommie Armstrong. He has 1,764 yards passing and 11 touchdowns on the season. Last week’s loss to Wisconsin was the first time all season that the Cornhuskers failed to score at least 20 points.

Week 9 College Football

Clemson @ Florida State

Clemson -4.5 Points

Over/Under 60 Points
Third-ranked Clemson faces its second tough test of the season when the Tigers travel to Tallahassee on Saturday night to take on Florida State. The Seminoles, an early season favorite for a College Football Playoff bid, fell out of contention with a blowout loss to Louisville and then a two-point defeat at the hands of North Carolina. A Florida State victory on Saturday can really throw the CFP picture into a tizzy.

Clemson, 7-0, is coming off a bye week. Head coach Dabo Swinney’s team is just beginning to gel. Preseason Heisman favorite QB Deshaun Watson has not put up the kind of numbers that everyone expected, but he has still enjoyed a successful season. Watson has thrown for 1,950 yards and 20 TDs but has only run for 279 yards and one touchdown. For Watson and his teammates, the only statistic that matters is 7-0.

Florida State started the season 2-0 with a big opening win over Ole Miss. Then, head coach Jimbo Fisher ran into QB Lamar Jackson and Louisville. The Cardinals blew out FSU, 63-20, and knocked the Seminoles from the ranks of the unbeaten. Two weeks later came the North Carolina loss and a shot at a national title. The Seminoles have rebounded with two straight wins in their last two outings. The Seminoles’ problem has been defense. They lost star Derwin James early in the season and have given up over 28 points per game. That has changed recently as Florida State yielded just 19 to Miami and six to Wake Forest.

Nebraska @ Wisconsin

Wisconsin -9 Points

Over/Under 43 Points

Big Ten West Division leader Nebraska puts its unbeaten streak on the line at Wisconsin on Saturday. The Cornhuskers lost seven close games a year ago. Now, the Cornhuskers have found a way to win those close games and are 7-0 and ranked No. 7 in the country as a result. Camp Randall Stadium is a difficult place to play and the Badgers will present Nebraska with its first real opportunity to prove if they are for real or not.

The Cornhuskers are extremely well balanced. They put up nearly 450 yards of offense per game that is almost evenly distributed between the run and pass. Quarterback Tommy Armstrong is the guy that makes the offense go. He has thrown for 1,611 yards and 11 touchdowns so far this season. Armstrong is also the team’s second-leading rusher (380 yards) behind RB Terell Newby who has 511 yards and four touchdowns. Alonzo Moore averages nearly 25 yards a catch and Jordan Westerkamp leads all receivers with four TDs.

Nebraska runs into the nation’s fourth-best defense. The Badgers are fourth in the nation in scoring defense holding opponents to just 14.3 points a game. Wisconsin held Michigan to just 14 points and Ohio State to a mere 30, which was at least 20 points below their season average. The Badgers need a win. They have lost both of their games against ranked opponents (Michigan and Ohio State). A win could put Wisconsin on a path toward a New Year’s Six bowl game.

Auburn @ Ole Miss

Auburn -4.5 Points

Over/Under 63 Points

Remember when Gus Malzahn was going to get fired? Auburn was 1-2 with two losses to ranked opponents. A month and a half later, Malzahn and his Tigers have defeated two ranked opponents and are primed to win their fifth straight game. Auburn is doing it by getting back to what it does best – run the football and play defense.

Malzahn gave the play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Rhett Lashlee. Since doing so, the Tigers have been a machine. They have averaged 50 points per game over the course of their past three games. The once-vaunted running game that Auburn and Malzahn were so well known for has returned. The Tigers have not been as strong a team on the ground over the past two seasons, but that has changed. Auburn averages 302.9 yards rushing per game, third-best in the nation.

Auburn will take on a 3-4 Ole Miss team that has watched their season fall apart with consecutive losses to No. 22 Arkansas and No. 25 LSU. The Rebels have been ineffective running the football. Quarterback Chad Kelly cannot carry the team by himself. Where head coach Hugh Freeze and the Rebels are having the most problem is on defense. Ole Miss gives up 31.4 points game. The past two seasons, Ole Miss has been a Top 10 defense nationally. They are nowhere near that capability this season and it shows.

Washington @ Utah

Washington -10 Points

Over/Under 54 Points

It’s a battle that could be a prelude to the Pac-12 championship game in December. Undefeated and fourth-ranked Washington travels to one-loss Utah on Saturday afternoon. The Huskies are 7-0 and the Pac-12’s only hope of getting an entrant into the College Football Playoff. Utah is 6-1 and has yet to lose at home this season. The Huskies will be the first ranked team that the Utes have faced.

Washington has been dominant this season on both sides of the ball. Head coach Chris Petersen’s Huskies are fourth in the nation in scoring (48.3 points per game) and sixth in scoring defense (14.6). Washington has beaten every one of its seven opponents, with the exception of Arizona, by at least 24 points. Quarterback Jake Browning is the second rated passer in the nation with a 199.6 efficiency rating and the Washington defense leads the country in turnover margin at plus 2.0 per game.

The offense is helped by RB Myles Gaskin, who is the Pac-12’s leading rusher averaging 103.9 yards per game. His counterpart at Utah, Joe Williams, is coming off a game to remember. Williams carried 29 times for 332 yards and four touchdowns, a career day, in a 52-45 win over UCLA last week. Williams will be hard pressed to come anywhere near those totals against a very stingy Washington defense.

Utah quarterback Troy Williams, who has thrown for 1,725 yards thus far this season, has only thrown for 221 yards the past two weeks. He didn’t need to against UCLA with Williams running wild and played in a rain storm the week before, a 19-14 win over Oregon State.

Week 8 College Football

Texas A&M @ Alabama

Alabama -18 Points

Over/Under 58.5 Points

For the third consecutive week, top-ranked Alabama faces a ranked SEC opponent when the Crimson Tide welcomes No. 6 Texas A&M to Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Nick Saban coached Tide destroyed former No. 9 Tennessee last week, 49-10, just one week after taking care of then 16th-ranked Arkansas.

It’s business as usual for Saban and company who expect to be playing the best in the nation in order to become the best in the nation at year’s end. The Alabama offense is lighting it up this year under offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin who is taking full advantage of the athletic ability of freshman quarterback Jalen Hurts. Hurst has 1,385 yards passing and 428 rushing. He has 17 total touchdowns (9 passing, 8 rushing).  Damien Harris (572 yards) is the leading rusher and WR Calvin Ridley (477) is the leading receiver and one of the nation’s best sophomores.

Senior QB Trevor Knight leads a Texas A&M offense that scores over 40 points a game and is seventh in the country in rushing (274.3 yards per game). It is going to be tough going up against one of the nation’s best defenses in Alabama. The Tide give up just 15 points a game (8th in the nation), but they have given up over 30 points twice – Ole Miss and Arkansas.

Arkansas @ Auburn

Auburn -10 Points

Over/Under 55.5 Points

As college football tends to focus on Alabama in the SEC, many may not realize that both Arkansas and Auburn are 4-2 and nationally ranked. The Razorbacks are 17th in the nation and battled Alabama only to lose 49-30. The Tigers started the season 1-2 with losses to Clemson and Texas A&M. Many were calling for head coach Gus Malzahn’s job, but then the Tigers ripped off three straight victories.

The Tigers will have the advantage of playing at home on a Saturday night. They will also continue to improve on both sides of the ball. Auburn is actually 11th nationally in scoring defense giving up just one more point, 16, than in-state rival Alabama. The offense, which Malzahn is well-known for, is getting better and averages nearly 480 yards and 33 points a game.

It will be a contrast of styles as Arkansas and its head coach Bret Bielema prefer to pound opponents with fullbacks and tight ends and big running backs like Rawleigh Williams III (5-10, 225), who leads the Razorbacks in rushing with 785 yards so far this season. Arkansas’s biggest weapon though is quarterback Austin Allen who has 1,861 yards passing and an SEC high 18 touchdown passes.

Ohio State @ Penn State

Ohio State -20 Points

Over/Under 59 Points

A week after traveling to Madison and beating No. 8 Wisconsin in overtime, the second-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes have to travel to Happy Valley and take on a resurgent 4-2 Penn State. It’s a difficult place to play, but head coach Urban Meyer and his Buckeyes will be favored to win. They will first have to shut down Nittany Lions RB Saquon Barkley.

Barkley has 582 yards rushing and sophomore quarterback Trace McSorley has thrown for 1,436 in Penn State’s new up-tempo spread offense. Head coach James Franklin hired Joe Moorhead, formerly of Fordham, to come in and modernize the Nittany Lions offense. Penn State is averaging 30.5 points per game nearly 10 points more per game than they averaged in each of the last two seasons.

Still, beating Ohio State is a monumental task. Quarterback J.T. Barrett is an amazing talent. He has 1,207 yards passing and 16 TDs and has run for 434 yards and another six scores. Running back Mike Weber (612 yards) is the next great Buckeyes back and Curtis Samuel, the team’s leading receiver (403 yards) is also the team’s second-leading rusher (456).

Ohio State is fourth in the nation in scoring offense (49.3 points a game), but they are also third nationally in scoring defense (12.8). Penn State is definitely not Wisconsin and will likely become the Buckeyes seventh victim this season.

Oklahoma @ Texas Tech

Oklahoma -13 Points

Over/Under 84Points

Yes, Oklahoma can still win the Big 12 Conference championship. They will not, however, have a shot at sneaking into the College Football Playoff. The Sooners’ two early losses eliminated them from any title contention, but that hasn’t stopped head coach Bob Stoops and company from winning three in a row. Now, the Sooners will take on pass-happy Texas Tech and QB Patrick Mahomes III.

The Red Raiders were shut down last week by unbeaten West Virginia. They scored just 17 points and it was the first time this season that Mahomes did not have multiple touchdown passes in a game. The Sooners have given up a boatload of points but did hold Kansas State to just 17 last week. Mahomes did injure a shoulder two weeks ago and it has been giving him problems, but he still fights on. He is the big reason why Texas Tech is fifth nationally in scoring (48.8) and first in passing yards per game with 510.8.

Where the Red Raiders fall short is on defense where they give up 40.2 points per contest, which is 124th out of 128 FBS teams. Oklahoma is just beginning to come into its own with a super talented offense that includes QB Baker Mayfield and running backs Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon. With all their talent on offense, Oklahoma is 11th in the country in total offense gaining an average of 525 yards per game.

Week 7 College Football

Ohio State @ Wisconsin

Ohio State -11 Points

Over/Under 44.5 Points

It will be the first real test for the Buckeyes, ranked No. 2 in the nation at 5-0. Ohio State has beaten its first five opponents by an average of 41.6 points per game. The Badgers (4-1) are ranked No. 8 and are known for their tough defense. Wisconsin held a Michigan team that is averaging over 50 points a game to 14 in a 14-7 loss two weeks ago. Head coach Paul Chryst and his team will also enjoy the benefit of having had a week off to prepare for the Buckeyes.

Wisconsin is fourth in the nation in scoring defense allowing just 12.2 points per game. That could change against an Ohio State team that averages 537.6 yards and 53.2 points per game. Quarterback J.T. Barrett has thrown for 981 yards and rushed for 342 more. He has 19 total touchdowns and RB Mike Weber has done an admirable job of filling Ezekiel Elliot’s shoes. Weber has 566 yards and four touchdowns on 83 carries. It will be up to the Badgers defense to slow down the Buckeyes’ running game. That will be a tall task as Ohio State averages 323.6 rushing yards per game.

The Badgers will again go with Alex Hornibrook at quarterback. The redshirt freshman took over the starting job from Bart Houston and led Wisconsin to a big win over Michigan State. He struggled somewhat against Michigan, and he will need to make plays against Ohio State. If the Badgers get into a shootout, their offense just won’t be able to keep up.

Stanford @ Notre Dame

Notre Dame -3 Points

Over/Under 55 Points

Two teams that were preseason favorites to be contenders for a College Football Playoff berth are desperately in search of a win. Stanford started the season 3-0 and has now dropped two straight to Washington and Washington State. It was head coach David Shaw’s first loss to the Cougars since becoming the Cardinal head man. To make matters worse, star running back Christian McCaffrey may not play against Notre Dame on Saturday.

McCaffrey was injured in the second half of Stanford’s loss to Washington State. He was held to a season-low 35 yards rushing. Without him, Stanford loses over 75 percent of their offense. Even without McCaffrey, the Cardinal will go up against an Irish defense that is struggling. Head coach Brian Kelly fired defensive coordinator Brian Van Gorder earlier in the season. Last week, it was Hurricane Matthew that helped to slow down N.C. State. Still, the Irish lost 10-3, their fourth loss of the season.

Ole Miss @ Arkansas

Ole Miss -7.5 Points

Over/Under 67 Points

It’s an SEC showdown that neither team can really afford to lose. Both teams have two losses and a third will likely eliminate the loser from New Year’s Six bowl contention. The Razorbacks’ two losses were to No. 10 Texas A&M and top-ranked Alabama just last week. Ole Miss started the season with a loss to then fourth-ranked Florida State and also dropped a 48-43 decision to the Crimson Tide. Head coach Hugh Freeze’s team led in both of those games but couldn’t hold on to win.

The schedule doesn’t get any easier for either team, so it is now or never. The game will feature a contrast of styles as the high-flying spread offense of the Rebels will tangle with head coach Bret Bielema’s run-oriented offensive attack. Arkansas does have a very capable passing game though led by QB Austin Allen who has thrown for 1,632 yards and 15 touchdowns already this season. Rawleigh Williams III is the Razorbacks go-to back and he leads the team with 605 rushing yards.

The Rebels’ offense is built around senior quarterback Chad Kelly. Ole Miss averages 41.6 points (15th in the nation) per game and Kelly has 1,596 passing yards and 13 TD passes thus far. Kelly’s tight end, Evan Engram, is the team’s leading receiver with 30 catches for 479 yards and four touchdowns. Ole Miss will have an advantage as they operate against an Arkansas defense that will be without linebacker Dre Greenlaw, who will miss four to six weeks with a foot injury.

Alabama @ Tennessee

Alabama -13 Points

Over/Under 57 Points

Tennessee faces another monumental task as the Vols take on the nation’s No. 1 ranked team, Alabama, on Saturday. The Vols get the Crimson Tide at home and a victory would give head coach Butch Jones and his program the validation it needs to claim that Tennessee really is back. The Vols took a huge step forward last week when they beat eighth-ranked Texas A&M 45-38 in overtime.

Tennessee’s offense features seniors Joshua Dobbs, the quarterback, and RB Jalen Hurd. The pair happens to be a couple of the SEC’s best players. Dobbs has 1,433 yards passing and 14 touchdowns. He also has another five touchdowns on the ground. Hurd leads the team in rushing with 407 yards. Both will have to play one of the best games of their lives against arguably the best defense in the country.

Head coach Nick Saban’s defense gives up 15.8 points per game, 11th nationally. The amount of talent Alabama has on defense can frustrate opponents. The Tide did give up 473 yards and 30 points to Arkansas last week, but the Alabama defense scored twice, once on a fumble return and the other on a 100-yard interception return by Minkah Fitzpatrick.

If there is a shot to upset Alabama, the Vols may have the best chance. The Crimson Tide has won the last nine straight. Last year, the Vols had a shot to win but fell, 19-14. Tennessee ended its drought with Florida earlier this season winning for the first time in 12 years.

Week 6 College Football

Virginia Tech @ North Carolina

North Carolina -2.5 Points

Over/Under 59 points

A week after Louisville-Clemson, the ACC features another matchup of ranked teams. Virginia Tech, under new head coach Justin Fuente is back in the AP Top 25 and travels to North Carolina. The Tar Heels recorded one of their biggest wins in recent memory when Nick Weiler drilled a 54-yard field goal as time expired to beat Florida State. The Tar Heels score over 40 points a game, play good enough defense, and have a quarterback in Mitch Trubisky that just wins. The Hokies are looking to make themselves relevant once again. They are off to a 3-1 start and are coming off wins over Boston College (49-0) and East Carolina (54-17).

Tennessee @ Texas A&M

Texas A&M -7 Points

Over/Under 55 points

A year after Kevin Sumlin was on the hot seat, he is once again loved in College Station. The Aggies are 5-0 and the offense is back. Graduate transfer and former Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight is running the show that is creating 521 yards of total offense per game. Texas A&M is deep at wide receiver, but they are also very talented on the other side of the ball. Defensive end Myles Garrett (6-5, 270) is one of the nation’s best and could be the top pick in next year’s draft. Tennessee pulled off one of the most incredible victories last week beating Georgia 34-31 on a last-second Hail Mary toss from QB Joshua Dobbs to WR Jauan Jennings. Look for similar excitement on Saturday.

Alabama @ Arkansas

Alabama -14 Points

Over/Under 49 points

While everyone is busy looking ahead to Tennessee-Alabama next week, one team that could beat the Tide at their own game is Arkansas. Now, the Razorbacks have not beaten Alabama since 2006 and it was by a mere point, 24-23. Arkansas head coach Bret Bielema would hope to avoid what happened in 2012 and 2013 when the Tide won by identical scores of 52-0. The 16th-ranked Razorbacks are big up front and have a solid running back in Rawleigh Williams III who has 559 yards in five games. The Tide gives up just over 250 yards and 13 points a game and have a roster loaded with NFL talent. Freshman QB Jalen Hurts has been a nice surprise. Alabama gets to prove it is deserving of the No. 1 ranking as it faces Arkansas, No. 9 Tennessee, and No. 8 Texas A&M in successive weeks.

Florida State @ Miami

Miami -3 Points

Over/Under 64.5 points

Hiring Mark Richt has proved to be a blessing for Miami. The Hurricanes are off to a 4-0 start. They have given up just 44 points in four games and the ‘Canes offense is tied for fourth in the nation in scoring. The cupcake part of the schedule is over though as now Richt and company must face Florida State, which is already 0-2 in the ACC. Miami will take on the Seminoles, then No. 15 North Carolina, and then No. 25 Virginia Tech. Richt gets to prove that his Hurricanes are for real. It starts Saturday night by slowing down a powerful FSU offense and RB Dalvin Cook. The problem for the Seminoles is that they are not stopping anyone. Head coach Jimbo Fisher’s defense is missing its star FS Derwin James and it shows. Florida State is 105th in the nation giving up 35.4 points per game.

Week 5 College Football

Stanford at Washington

Washington -3points

Over/Under 44.5 points

When Chris Petersen took over the Washington program in 2014, he knew that the Huskies would reach a point where they would be playing for championships. Although early in the 2016, Petersen’s squad is essentially playing for the Pac-12 South Division when the Huskies welcome No. 7 Stanford to Husky Stadium on Friday night.

Washington, 4-0 on the season, is ranked No. 9, its highest ranking of the Petersen era. The Huskies were tabbed by many as the team to beat in the Pac-12 South this year. They will have to prove that they can take on a national power like Stanford in order to do so. The Huskies faced their first test last week when they grabbed their first conference win, a thrilling 35-28 victory over Arizona in overtime.

Petersen is solid on both sides of the ball. His opportunistic defense is tied for first in the nation with 13 takeaways and the Huskies are 15th in scoring defense (14.5 ppg). Offensively, sophomore quarterback Jake Browning is third in the country in passing efficiency and running backs Myles Gaskin and Lavon Coleman are speedy and must produce against a stout Stanford defense.

Cardinal head coach David Shaw has been doing this for years at Stanford. A power running game run by a quarterback that doesn’t make many mistakes all built around a defense that will punish opponents. Shaw is also fortunate enough to have a Heisman Trophy contender in RB Christian McCaffrey. The junior once again leads Stanford in rushing (436 yards) and receiving (119 yards) and has accounted for four touchdowns. If Washington doesn’t have a plan to stop McCaffrey, they are in for a long night.

Wisconsin at Michigan

Michigan -10.5 point

Over/Under 44.5 points

Something has to give when No. 4 Michigan hosts No. 8 Wisconsin on Saturday. Both teams rank in the top 15 in scoring defense, Michigan 13th (13.8 ppg) and Wisconsin seventh (11.8 ppg). The Badgers (4-0) are fresh off of a demolition of previously unbeaten Michigan State. Wisconsin held the Spartans running game, usually very good, to just 85 yards in a 30-6 victory. Can they do the same against the Wolverines?

While the Badgers were manhandling the Spartans, head coach Jim Harbaugh and his Michigan squad was dismantling the Penn State defense to the tune of 326 rushing yards. The Wolverines offensive line is big and good. Michigan rushes for 230 yards per game and De’Veon Smith and Chris Evans each average over 6.5 yards per carry. The running game is a key for Michigan, which surprisingly is fourth in the nation in scoring averaging 52 points per game.

The ground game is also important for Wisconsin and has been through the years. This year, it’s even more of a key as head coach Paul Chryst works on turning freshman Alex Hornibrook into a top-notch quarterback. Hornibrook got his first start last week against Michigan State and performed admirably, completing 16-of-26 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown. Running back Corey Clement, who was banged up in the win over the Spartans, is expected to play. The senior is the Badgers leading rusher with 251 yards and five touchdowns.

The X-factor could be Michigan’s do-it-all Jabril Peppers. The sophomore rotates between safety and linebacker on defense and is the team’s second-leading tackler. He also has 9.5 tackles for loss already this season. He also contributes on offense as a running back and receiver and Harbaugh will likely use him even more this week against Wisconsin.

Louisville at Clemson

Louisville -2 points

Over/Under 66.5 points

Another matchup of Top 10 teams takes place at Clemson on Saturday night when the No. 5 Tigers welcome Lamar Jackson and the third-ranked Louisville Cardinals to town. With his exploits thus far, Jackson is the front-runner for the Heisman Trophy. He is doing everything right, but facing Clemson and defensive coordinator Brent Venables in Death Valley is going to be a challenge.

Louisville leads the nation in scoring, averaging a whopping 63.5 points per game. The Cardinals average 682 yards of total offense per game and Jackson is the catalyst with 1,330 yards passing and another 526 on the ground. He has accounted for 25 touchdowns through just four games.

For all the hype surrounding Louisville’s offense, it is really the defense that is special. Defensive coordinator Todd Grantham, like Venables, is well-respected throughout the FBS as one of the best. The Cardinals shut down Florida State RB Dalvin Cook, limiting him to just 54 yards on 16 carries in Louisville’s 63-20 victory over the Seminoles in Week 3.

Clemson returns a special quarterback of their own in junior Deshaun Watson, also a Heisman candidate. Watson has not put up the kind of numbers that Jackson has, but he is still dangerous. The Tigers struggled earlier in the season with Auburn, a 19-13 win, and Troy, a 30-24 victory. Head coach Dabo Swinney’s offense has come to life the past two weeks scoring 85 points in wins over South Carolina State and Georgia Tech.

Saturday will be a test for both teams. The winner puts itself clearly in the running for the ACC title and a College Football Playoff berth. The loser, while not out, will probably need to win out to have similar aspirations.

Oklahoma at TCU

Oklahoma -3.5 points

Over/Under 69.5 points

A year or two ago, this was one of the biggest games in Big 12 play. This year, TCU is barely in the Top 25 (the Horned Frogs are No. 21) and Oklahoma is already 1-2. Could the Sooners really start the season 1-3? It’s hard to believe but, in fact, highly possible as Oklahoma must win on the road Saturday to avoid the dismal start.

Granted, the Sooners have lost to some very talented football teams. Oklahoma lost to No. 6 Houston and No. 2 Ohio State sandwiched around a big (59-17) victory over Louisiana-Monroe. If the Sooners have any hopes of a second consecutive Big 12 title, they face a must-win on Saturday. Next week, they will face No. 22 Texas in the Red River Rivalry.

If head coach Bob Stoops and his Sooners are going to have a chance, their defense must find a way to slow down quarterback Kenny Hill. The former Texas A&M transfer is guiding an offense that averages 42.8 points a game. Hill has thrown for 1,487 yards and six touchdowns thus far. Slow down Hill, and the Sooners have a chance.

Offensively, Oklahoma is solid with Baker Mayfield at quarterback and one of the best running back tandems in the nation in Samaje Perine and Joe Mixon, who averages over eight yards a carry. Oklahoma has won five of the previous six meetings in Fort Worth. To make it six of seven, the Sooners have got to improve on defense.

Week 4 College Football

Georgia vs Ole Miss

Ole Miss -7 points

Over/Under 61.5 points

Rebels head coach Hugh Freeze may want to rethink jumping out to a big early lead against 12th-ranked Georgia on Saturday. After claiming 20-point-plus leads on Florida State and Alabama, Ole Miss collapsed and lost both games. Now at 1-2, Freeze faces the possibility of having three losses before October as Ole Miss hosts Georgia.

The Bulldogs have shown the ability to come back from deficits of their own albeit against somewhat inferior opponents. Georgia trailed FCS opponent Nicholls State 16-14 before rallying for a 26-24 victory. Last week, first-year head coach Kirby Smart won his first SEC game but the Bulldogs had to come from behind to do so. Trailing 27-21 late in the fourth quarter, freshman quarterback Jacob Eason tossed a 20-yard touchdown pass to WR Isaiah McKenzie with 1:29 left in the game in a 28-27 victory.

For Georgia to control the game Saturday, RB Nick Chubb is going to have to return the form he had in Game 1, a 33-24 win over North Carolina. Chubb, who suffered a horrific knee injury last season, ran for 222 yards against the Tar Heels. He has gained 143 yards in the two games since the win over UNC. Ole Miss has struggled against the run thus far and Freeze’s defense, usually stout, is giving up an astounding 243 yards per game (next to last in the SEC). There is no question that the Rebels can score, but they will have to stop the Georgia running game to grab their first SEC win of the 2016 season.

Wisconsin at Michigan State

Michigan State -5 point

Over/Under 42 points

It was 2011 when one of the greatest plays in Big Ten history took place. There could be a repeat on Saturday as No. 11 Wisconsin travels to face No. 8 Michigan State. The 2011 game ended when Keith Nichol caught a tipped Hail Mary from QB Kirk Cousins to give the Spartans a 37-31 win. The two teams haven’t met since the 2012 season and this year’s game has some serious implications.

Michigan State is coming off a huge win over Notre Dame while the Badgers are 3-0 with an impressive Week 1 victory over LSU. The two teams are similar in style and both defenses are among the best in the nation. The difference on Saturday may come at the quarterback position. The Spartans are led by fifth-year senior Tyler O’Connor, who waited patiently behind Connor Cook for his opportunity to start this year. O’Connor has been nothing but efficient, completing nearly 73 percent of his passes for 431 yards and four touchdowns.

While the Spartans have stability at quarterback, Badgers head coach Paul Chryst has yet to name a starter for Saturday’s game. Fifth-year senior Bart Houston was replaced last week in the second half as the offense struggled in a win over Georgia State. Redshirt freshman Alex Hornibrook finished the game last Saturday and went 8-of-12 for 122 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Wisconsin might also be without starting RB Corey Clement who has been bothered with an ankle injury. Clement did not play against Georgia State last week or in the 54-10 win over Akron the week before. Clement is a big part of an offense that has rushed for 205 yards per game. Without Clement, the Badgers will be hard pressed to have success against a Spartans defense that yields just 72 rushing yards a game.

Florida at Tennessee

Tennessee -6.5 points

Over/Under 43.5 points

Very quietly, Tennessee head coach Butch Jones has his Volunteers ranked No. 14 in the nation and 3-0 on the season. Are the Vols for real? They will find out on Saturday when they host rival and 19th-ranked Florida. Tennessee has lost 11 straight to the Gators including last year when, on 4th-and-14, Florida WR Antonio Callaway scored the game-winning touchdown in a 28-27 Florida win.

If there was a year to end the Gators’ dominance, it is this year. Florida lost starting QB Luke Del Rio to injury and he will be replaced by graduate transfer Austin Appleby, who started four games at Purdue last season. The reason Appleby was beat out by Del Rio has to do with accuracy. While Appleby may have the stronger arm, he only completed 57 percent of his passes last year at Purdue. He will have to be sharp and make plays when called upon on Saturday for Florida to win its 12th in a row in the series.

What Tennessee will have to overcome is possibly the nation’s best defense. The Gators have given up just 14 points in three games and lead the nation in scoring defense (4.7 ppg). None of Florida’s three opponents – UMass, Kentucky, North Texas – gained more than 130 total yards against the Gators.

It’s no secret that the Tennessee offense will rely on QB Joshua Dobbs and RB Jalen Hurd. Dobbs has 486 passing yards, 161 rushing yards and nine total touchdowns. Hurd leads Tennessee in rushing with 270 yards. Wide receiver Josh Malone has four touchdown receptions. The Vols offensive stars will have to come through in front of their home crowd if Jones and Tennessee is to end Florida’s command of the series.

Arkansas at Texas A&M

Texas A&M -6 points

Over/Under 49.5 points

It will be a huge contrast in styles on Saturday night when No. 17 Arkansas plays at 10th-ranked Texas A&M. The up-tempo spread offense of the Aggies has produced nearly 531 total yards and over 42 points per game. Razorbacks head coach Bret Bielema favors a ground-heavy attack though the normally potent Hogs run game is averaging just 170.7 yards a game thus far this season. History doesn’t favor Arkansas either as the Aggies have won the past four meetings in a row, including the last two in overtime.

The key for both the Aggies and the Razorbacks will be the play of their quarterbacks. Texas A&M is led by Oklahoma transfer Trevor Knight, who has 830 yards passing and five touchdowns. Arkansas’s Austin Allen is the younger brother of Brandon, the Razorbacks’ starter last season. Allen has 655 passing yards and seven touchdowns. He is also a capable runner as he displayed on a 5-yard TD run in the second overtime in a 41-38 win over TCU in Week 2.

The Aggies have an edge defensively and it starts with All-American defensive end Myles Garrett. The 6-5, 270-pounder led the SEC a year ago with 12.5 sacks and is off to a great start in 2016. Garrett has three sacks and four QB hurries. His running mate, DE Daeshon Hall is a 6-6, 270-pound senior who can wreak just as much havoc as Garrett off the edge. Texas A&M is much better defensively this season and that defense may be the difference on Saturday night.

Week 3 College Football

Alabama vs Ole Miss

Alabama -10.5 points

Over/Under 55 points

Nick Saban’s Crimson Tide have lost to Ole Miss two years in a row. They can’t possibly make it 3, can they? After suffering a loss to Florida State to open the season last week, the Ole Miss Rebels will have to upset Alabama if they want to keep their name in the college football playoff hunt. Alabama has looked like the best team thus far in the early goings of the college football season, but even they aren’t without flaws. The Tide’s running game has been disappointing after two weeks of play. While some drop off was expected after losing some lineman and running back Derrick Henry to the NFL, but Alabama is used to losing and replacing star players with young star players. Alabama is a heavy favorite going into Ole Miss and will look to execute and avoid the upset away.

Ohio State vs Oklahoma

Ohio State -1 point

Over/Under 63 points

Ohio State opened the first two weeks of the 2016 season with some soft competition in Bowling Green and Tulsa, but now they’ll travel to Norman to take on the Oklahoma Sooners in what will be their first big test of the season. Urban Meyers’ Buckeye team is very young and inexperienced, and it’ll be interesting how some of the younger players deal with the adversity of a hostile environment. Oklahoma currently sits at 1-1 on the year with a week 1 loss to Houston, then a blowout win in week 2 over Louisiana-Monroe. It’ll only be the 3rd time the two teams have ever played, and if Ohio State wins on the road in Norman, they’ll push their current away winning streak to a record 18 games.

Oregon vs Nebraska

Nebraska -3 points

Over/Under 74.5 points

Both Nebraska and the Oregon Ducks are off to a fast 2-0 start with two blowout wins each in the first two weeks of the season, though it was against generally lesser talented programs. The Cornhuskers own a 5-1 record ever against the Ducks, but the two teams haven’t met since 1986. A lot is at stake for both programs as Oregon tries to bounce back from last year’s 9 win season, this is an early test for them that they’ll need to win in order to get back to prominence. And for the Nebraska Corhuskers, they’re expected to contend for the Big Ten West title. It’ll be a fiery atmosphere in Lincoln, Nebraska, but Oregon is used to that stage. Nebraska’s biggest question mark thus far seems to be its young defensive line. The Ducks are going to need to exploit that weakness with the running game if they want to pull off the upset on the road this Saturday.

Florida State vs Louisville

Florida State -1 point

Over/Under 67 points

The Florida State Seminoles enter Saturday’s contest ranked as the 2nd team in the nation behind Alabama, and they’ll be taking on a Louisville team that’s currently ranked 10th in the polls. After an impressive 22 point comeback in the opening week of the season against the Ole Miss Rebels, the Seminoles dominated Charleston Southern in week 2. The Noles’ defense will have their hands full with Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson who is equally dangerous in the running game as he is in the pocket. Florida State does have history on its side with a 15-2 record overall against the Louisville Cardinals in their 17 meetings. Despite that favorable record, it should be a closely contested game in Louisville on Saturday between the two.

Week 2 College Football

Virginia Tech at Tennessee

Tennessee -11.5 points

Over/Under 54 points

Tennessee is coming off a very lackluster performance to open the season against Appalachian State which they won in overtime. Virginia Tech will be a much tougher test for the Volunteers this week, but many in Tennessee are banking on a bounce back game at home. The improvement will have to start up front on the Tennessee offensive line who were disastrous last week. Quarterback Jalen Hurd was on the run for much of the night and will need more time to throw against the Aggie defense. Virginia Tech quarterback Jerod Evans will need to build on last week’s four TD pass performance against Liberty if he wants to pull off the upset this week in Tennessee.

Penn State at Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh -4.5 points

Over/Under 47.5 points

It’s Joe Moorehead’s 2nd game as Penn State’s offensive coordinator, but this Pittsburgh defense is one of the toughest they’ll face all year. The Pittsburgh offensive line is expected to be a solid unit this season, but opened with a disappointing performance in the week 1 game against Villanova. They’ll be facing a young Penn State defensive line that looked solid in their first outing last week, but Pitt is a step up. This game will come down to the trenches and whose team can get more push from the lines. Penn State’s defense should be able to create some turnovers, but it’ll be up to the offense to make the Pitt Panthers pay in order to pull off the upset.

North Carolina at Illinois

North Carolina -7.5 points

Over/Under 58 points

The North Carolina offense is packed and loaded with weapons particularly in the passing game, but they unimpressed in their showing last week against Georgia. While the Illinois defense does have some talent of its own, they’ll find themselves outmatched by the Tar Heels offense on Saturday. If Illinois is to pull off the upset at home, they’ll have to win the game by running the ball consistently and productively. Both Kendrick Foster and Reggie Corbin got off to a great start to the season for Illinois on the ground last week, and their offensive line should be able to create some space against an average Tar Heel defensive line.

Arkansas at TCU

TCU -7.5 points

Over/Under 58.5 points

The TCU Horned Frogs were down early to South Dakota State last weekend to open the season, but came back strong in the second half to put them away. The Horned Frogs’ defense was highly touted entering the season, but were no shows last week against what was thought to be an average South Dakota offense after losing quarterback Carson Wentz to the NFL this off-season. Arkansas is outmatched at most levels in the game, but especially in the secondary where TCU quarterback Kenny Hill should be able to have a strong game against the Razorbacks. The total opened at 61, but the public is expecting a bounce back game for the TCU defense as its moved down to 58.5 as of Thursday.

Week 1 College Football

No. 1 Alabama vs. No. 20 USC

Alabama -11.5 points

Over/Under 55 points

The defending National Champs will kickoff the 2016 season at AT&T Stadium in Dallas against the USC Trojans. Alabama brings two of the best lines on both the offensive and defensive side, and are loaded with play makers on offense. The Crimson Tide are an 11.5 point favorites over the Trojans who are only 1-5 against the spread in their last six games. Alabama has won their conference in three of the last four years and will look to kickoff another Championship season with a big win to get started.

No. 4 Florida State vs No. 11 Ole Miss

Florida State -4.5 points

Over/Under 58.5 points

The number 4 ranked Florida State Seminoles from the ACC will face-off with the 11th ranked Ole Miss Rebels from the SEC to start the 2016 College Football Season. Ole Miss quarterback Chad Kelly will be the key to Ole Miss’ hopes of pulling off the upset in Orlando at a neutral field. For the Noles, Heisman hopeful Dalvin Cook will command the backfield, and is considered arguably the best running back in all of college football. Florida State’s season and championship hopes will hinge at the quarterback position this year. They’re stacked on both sides of the ball, but due to an injury to starting quarterback Sean Maguire, they’ll need someone to step up in his absence till he returns.

Oklahoma vs Houston

Oklahoma -11.5 points

Over/Under 67 points

The Houston Cougars and the Oklahoma Sooners will square off in their week 1 match-up at NRG Stadium in Houston. The Cougars have been strong against the spread the last few years and also against Big 12 opponents as they’re 3-2 against the spread and straight up in their last five with them. Houston is also 4-0 ATS in their last four home games against the Big 12. NRG Stadium is technically a neutral field, but given its closer proximity to the in-town Cougars, expect a home game-type atmosphere when they take on the Sooners.

Clemson vs Auburn

Clemson -7.5 points

Over/Under 63.5 points

Another ACC vs SEC showdown scheduled to kickoff the opening week of the 2016 season is the Clemson Tigers vs the Auburn Tigers. For Clemson, all eyes will be on quarterback Deshaun Watson who threw for over 4,000 yards and 35 touchdowns last season. He also added another 1,105 yards on the ground as he led the Tigers to the ACC crown. Auburn will counter with one of the stronger backfields in college football with a combination of Jovon Robinson and Kerryon Johnson sharing the load. However, they’ll be running against one of the nation’s best run defenses in the Clemson Tigers. Strength against strength and something has to give, but Clemson is a better overall balanced team and should put Auburn away in the second half.