Saturday 9-16-17 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 16, 2017
Where: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, Tennessee

Preview: UCLA at Memphis
Gracenote
Sep 13, 2017

UCLA has been vulnerable against the run thus far this season and on Saturday will need to find a way to slow host Memphis, which displayed a dominant rushing attack in its season-opening win. UCLA has given up an average of 331.5 rushing yards over its first two games this season and could be without several defensive starters against the Tigers, who are coming off a 319-yard performance on the ground against Louisiana-Monroe.

UCLA linebacker Kenny Young and safeties Adarius Pickett and Jaleel Wadood left with injuries in the 56-23 victory against visiting Hawaii on Saturday, defensive lineman Boss Tagaloa didn't suit up because of an ailment and linebacker Josh Woods was ejected for targeting, meaning he'll sit out the first half against Memphis. Fortunately for the Bruins, their offense has been solid in their wins against Texas A&M and Hawaii - especially quarterback Josh Rosen, who already has 820 passing yards and nine touchdowns without an interception. UCLA may need to play a more conservative, controlled style on offense and give the defense time to catch its breath against a Memphis running game that had two ball carriers surpass the 100-yard mark in the first half of its season opener. Darrell Henderson and Patrick Taylor Jr. combined for 300 rushing yards and three touchdowns against ULM, and the 6-3, 223-pound Taylor is especially punishing against opposing defenses.

TV: Noon ET, ABC. LINE: UCLA -3

ABOUT UCLA (2-0): The Bruins also were missing two key offensive players in their win against Hawaii, and coach Jim Mora said running back Soso Jamabo and wide receiver Jordan Lasley would work to get back this week, but there were no guarantees. Lasley's absence opened the door for Theo Howard to produce the best game of his college career, and Darren Andrews made three more touchdown catches, giving him five on the season. UCLA also has a sure-handed tight end in Caleb Wilson, giving Rosen four good options in the passing game.

ABOUT MEMPHIS (1-0): The Tigers have another weapon on the ground in Tony Pollard, who returned a kickoff 99 yards for a touchdown against ULM - setting a school record with the third such score of his career. UCLA kicker JJ Molson has 10 touchbacks on 18 kickoffs this season, so Pollard will need to take advantage of his opportunities. The Memphis player who didn't get much attention last weekend was senior quarterback Riley Ferguson, who passed for 3,698 yards and a school-record 32 touchdowns last campaign but was just 10-of-25 for 95 yards and an interception in the season opener on Aug. 31.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Rosen has led UCLA to a touchdown in 12 of the last 14 drives he has opened.

2. The Bruins have not allowed a passing touchdown in four of their last eight games.

3. The current Memphis senior class needs six wins to reach 33 for its four-year career and match the 1963 seniors for the most in program history.

PREDICTION: Memphis 28, UCLA 24

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 16, 2017
Where: Kyle Field, College Station, Texas

Preview: Louisiana at Texas A&M
Gracenote
Sep 13, 2017

Texas A&M will continue to play multiple quarterbacks when the Aggies host Louisiana in their non-conference finale Saturday. Freshman Kellen Mond and senior Jake Hubenak both played last week after redshirt freshman Nick Starkel was lost with a broken ankle in the opener.

"Our plan (of playing both Mond and Hubenak) is not going to change," coach Kevin Sumlin said at Tuesday's press conference "Both guys need to be developed and continue to develop, and the only way to do that is to practice them both and play them both." The Aggies' offense shouldn't find much resistance Saturday against the Ragin' Cajuns, who are ranked last nationally in scoring defense (57 points per game) and near the bottom in total defense (590.5). Both teams can score points in the return game, where Texas A&M junior Christian Kirk has the best career punt-return average among active NCAA players (23.1 yards). Louisiana's Raymond Calais has two kickoff return touchdowns and Ryheem Malone is ranked third nationally in punt returns (39 yards per return).

TV: Noon ET, SEC Network. LINE: Texas A&M -24.

ABOUT LOUISIANA (1-1): Freshmen Trey Ragas (191 rushing yards, two TDs) and Elijah Mitchell (140 yards, two TDs) lead the Ragin' Cajuns' ground game, while junior Jordan Davis has thrown for 471 yards and three scores. Louisiana has allowed 11 rushing touchdowns in two games and is ranked 128th in rushing defense (383.5 yards) and 128th in opponent's third-down conversions (56.3 percent). It is, however, the only FBS school nationally ranked in the top 10 in both punt returns (third at 26 yards per return) and kickoff returns (10th at 37.2 yards).

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (1-1): Mond (15-of-38 for 132 yards, one TD) and Hubenak (12-of-15, 93 yards) both played well against Nicholls State, Sumlin said. Sophomore Trayveon Williams (256 rushing yards, three TDs) is averaging 7.8 yards per carry for an Aggie offense that hasn't committed a turnover. Kirk (11 catches for 107 yards, TD) is third in school history in career receptions (174) and tied for sixth in career touchdown receptions (17).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Sumlin is 17-0 against non-conference opponents at home and the Aggies have won 26 straight non-conference home games.

2. The Aggies have allowed fewer than 75 rushing yards in back-to-back games for the first time since 2011.

3. Louisiana is 1-63 all-time against current members of the SEC, with the one win coming against Texas A&M in 1996.

PREDICTION: Texas A&M 48, Louisiana 13

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 16, 2017
Where: Peden Stadium, Athens, Ohio

Preview: Kansas at Ohio
Gracenote
Sep 12, 2017

Peyton Bender is doing things that have never been done at Kansas, unfortunately the result has been the same heading into Saturday's game at Ohio. The junior quarterback attempted a school record 62 passes last week as the Jayhawks fell behind early in a loss to Eastern Michigan and he may be in line for more of the same if this game with the Bobcats is anything like last season.

The Jayhawks and coach David Beaty were hoping to be 2-0 heading into this game, but instead there is a chance of being 1-2 going into the Big 12 opener against West Virginia. "You don't live on perception, you live on reality," Beaty, who is 3-23 with two wins over FCS schools, told the media. "We're just not there yet and we've got a long way to go." The Jayhawks' pass defense was the main culprit in the loss to the Chippewas as it surrendered 467 yards and five touchdowns. If there is a silver lining it is that the Bobcats are more of a running team, having churned out 421 yards and nine touchdowns in two games.

TV: Noon ET, ESPNU. LINE: Ohio -7.5

ABOUT KANSAS (1-1): Senior tight end Ben Johnson has been one of the main beneficiaries of the Jayhawks' pass-heavy offense, catching 10 balls for 147 yards and one touchdown. At his current rate, Johnson will set the school mark for receiving yards in a season for a tight end, a record held by Jimmay Mundine, who had 564 yards in 2014. Steven Sims, Jr., who played one series and was held without a catch last week for the first time in 24 games, and Jeremiah Booker also have more than 100 yards receiving from Bender, whose 687 passing yards in two games are the most since Todd Reesing had 754 yards in 2009.

ABOUT OHIO (1-1): The Bobcats, who opened to a 25-0 lead en route to a 37-21 victory last season at Kansas, do not rely on one player to run the ball. A.J. Ouellette leads the group with 101 yards, but quarterback Nathan Rourke has rushed for 86 yards and three touchdowns and Julian Ross has also scored three times while amassing 82 yards. Ohio has only two touchdowns through the air with Rourke and backup Quinton Maxwell tossing one apiece.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Kansas has lost 39 straight true road games since beating UTEP in 2009.

2. Jayhawks junior LB Joe Dineen, Jr. leads the Big 12 in tackles with 27 and is tied with Kansas DT Daniel Wise atop the conference with five tackles for loss.

3. The 62 pass attempts by Bender surpassed the record of 58 set by David Jaynes in 1973.

PREDICTION: Ohio 37, Kansas 27

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 16, 2017
Where: Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Preview: Oklahoma State at Pittsburgh
Gracenote
Sep 12, 2017

Mason Rudolph and James Washington hooked up nine times for 296 yards and two touchdowns when Oklahoma State beat Pittsburgh in 2016. The Panthers, coming off a promising effort against then-No. 4 Penn State last week, will seek to contain the duo on Saturday and find some pass offense of their own when the eighth-ranked Cowboys visit Heinz Field.

Rudolph completed 26-of-46 passes for a career-high 540 yards against the Panthers last season and Washington scored on receptions of 91 and 29 yards as the Cowboys outgained the Panthers 640-527 in the 45-38 shootout victory. Rudolph is off to a great start in 2017, completing 45-of-62 passes for 638 yards, accounting for eight total TDs with no interceptions. In last week’s 44-7 win over South Alabama, he passed for 335 yards and three touchdowns in three quarters and ran for another touchdown while breaking Brandon Weeden’s school record of 9,260 career passing yards. Pittsburgh lost 33-14 to Penn State but outgained the Lions 342-312 while holding them to their lowest point total in their last nine games.

TV: Noon ET, ESPN. LINE: Oklahoma State -13.5.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA STATE (2-0): Washington rode his school-record performance against the Panthers to first-team Big 12 honors a season ago, grabbing 71 passes for 1,380 yards, and the senior has eight catches for 243 yards and three TDs in the first two contests this season. The Cowboys can run the ball too, as Justice Hill (26 carries, 159 yards) and J.D. King (14, 159) lead a contingent of backs that have averaged 247.5 yards per game and 6.7 per carry in the first two contests. Oklahoma State has some concerns with its defense, as Kevin Henry and Kenneth Edison-McGruder are out with injuries and fellow linebacker Calvin Bundage will sit the first half after being ejected in the second half last week for targeting.

ABOUT PITTSBURGH (1-1): USC graduate transfer Max Browne was 19-of-32 for only 138 yards against the Nittany Lions before leaving in the fourth quarter with a head injury, and he’s only averaging five yards per attempt with one TD and two interceptions in 56 throws this season. Qadree Ollison rushed for 96 yards and added 30 more through the air against Penn State as Pitt held the ball for over 38 minutes, but All-American scatback Quadree Henderson was limited to minus-five yards rushing, five yards receiving, 33 yards on two kickoff returns and zero yards on three punt returns. Against the Cowboys last season, Henderson rushed seven times for 95 yards and two TDs and added two catches for 31 yards in last year's meeting during a season in which he accounted for 2,781 all-purpose yards and 11 touchdowns - five on kick returns.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Rudolph holds the longest active streak in the country of pass attempts without an interception at 185 and has thrown for 300 yards in each of his last three games and five of the last seven.

2. The Pittsburgh defense held up well against the explosive Nittany Lions despite breaking in nine new starters from an underachieving 2016 squad.

3. The Panthers last defeated a top-10 team at Heinz Field in 2003, a 31-28 triumph over No. 5 Virginia Tech.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma State 41, Pittsburgh 20

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 16, 2017
Where: Milan Puskar Stadium, Morgantown, West Virginia

Preview: Delaware State at West Virginia
Gracenote
Sep 13, 2017

Through two weeks, West Virginia's Will Grier seems to have put his troubled past behind him. The junior quarterback will look to keep the offense moving when the Mountaineers host FCS foe Delaware State on Saturday in a tune-up for their Big 12 opener the following week against Kansas.

Grier earned his second straight Big 12 Newcomer of the Week award last week after throwing for 352 yards and five touchdowns in a 56-20 rout over East Carolina. The Florida transfer, who was suspended for the entire 2016 season with the Gators for testing positive for performing-enhancing drugs, threw for 371 yards and three scores in the opener as the Mountaineers dropped a heartbreaking 31-24 decision to in-state rival and No. 16 Virginia Tech. "I'm proud of the way the guys bounced back after the disappointing loss last week," West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen told reporters after the East Carolina game. "I really felt like after the game last week, our guys were motivated to go play again, and five-and-a-half days later they showed up today. Delaware State has dropped 13 consecutive games and are 3-33 since the start of 2014.

TV: Noon ET, AT&T SportsNet. LINE: None.

ABOUT DELAWARE STATE (0-2): Quarterback Jack McDaniels completed 15-of-30 passes for 156 yards and Mike Waters ran for 67 yards on 14 carries in a 28-15 loss at Hampton last week. Including an opening week 22-3 loss to Delaware, the Hornets are being outgained by 190 yards per game and have forced just one turnover this season. Delaware State's last win was a 32-31 triumph over Howard in the 2015 finale.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA (1-1): Grier ranks first in the Big 12 in passing touchdowns (eight), passing yards (723) and total offense per game (390.5), and he became the seventh quarterback in school history to throw for at least five touchdowns in a game. Wide receiver David Sills V caught seven passes for a career-high 153 yards and three TDs against the Pirates, while Justin Crawford added his second straight 100-yard outing on the ground. The defense yielded 470 yards to East Carolina, but safety Kyzir White had a pair of interceptions - the first two turnovers the defense has forced this season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. This is the first meeting between the teams, but West Virginia is 15-1 hosting non-conference foes during Holgorsen's seven-year tenure.

2. Crawford has run for 224 yards on 28 carries this season, good for eight yards per carry. He ran for 1,184 yards and a 7.3 average last season.

3. Grier threw four TD passes in the first half last week as the Mountaineers built a 49-3 lead, matching the highest-scoring first half for the Mountaineers since their 70-33 Orange Bowl win over Clemson following the 2011 season.

PREDICTION: West Virginia 63, Delaware State 7

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 16, 2017
Where: InfoCision Stadium, Akron, Ohio

Preview: Iowa State at Akron
Gracenote
Sep 13, 2017

Iowa State looks to bounce back from a tough overtime loss last weekend when it travels to face Mid-American Conference member Akron on Saturday. The Cyclones had a seven-point lead over Iowa late last week before the Hawkeyes scored in the final minutes of regulation, then won with a touchdown in the extra session to hand Iowa State its first loss of the season.

The Cyclones' offense has been humming this season, averaging 436 yards and 41.5 points. Junior quarterback Jacob Park has been on target, averaging 309 passing yards and 26 completions while connecting on six scoring strikes through two games. Senior Allen Lazard (team-high 14 receptions, 131 yards, two touchdowns) and sophomore Hakeem Butler (12, 203, three) have gotten off to fast starts at the wide receiver position. The Zips, who were picked to finish fourth in the MAC East Division, split their first two games, losing to No. 5 Penn State 52-0 before dismantling FCS member Arkansas-Pine Bluff 52-3 last week.

TV: Noon ET. CBS Sports Network. LINE: Iowa State -10

ABOUT IOWA STATE (1-1): While the Cyclones' passing game is garnering a lot of headlines, sophomore running back David Montgomery may be the engine that powers the high-scoring offense. After two games, Montgomery ranks third in the Big 12 with 97 rushing yards per game and leads the conference with three rushing touchdowns. But will make him more valuable as the season goes on is his ability to catch the ball out of the backfield as well, as shown by his five receptions for 53 yards against Iowa.

ABOUT AKRON (1-1): The contrast in opponents is evident in running back Warren Bell's season as the senior was held to 27 yards on 13 carries versus Penn State but totaled 146 yards and three touchdowns on 20 attempts versus Pine Bluff. Junior linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III was named MAC Defensive Player of the Week after recording 10 tackles, a sack and an interception return for a touchdown -- his first career pick and score -- against Pine Bluff. As a team, it was night and day for the Zips in the first two contests defensively, going from allowing 569 yards against the Nittany Lions to 168 versus Pine Bluff.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Iowa State's 467 yards of offense against Iowa tied a school record as the fifth consecutive game the team has amassed 400 yards or more offensively.

2. Akron was 7-for-7 in the red zone versus Pine Bluff after getting no closer than the Penn State 33-yard line in its opener.

3. Cyclones sophomore LB Marcel Spears ranks second in the Big 12 and ninth nationally in tackles per game with 11.5.

PREDICTION: Iowa State 38, Akron 27

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 16, 2017
Where: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, Michigan

Preview: Air Force at Michigan
Gracenote
Sep 12, 2017

Seventh-ranked Michigan looks to work through its growing pains when it hosts Air Force on Saturday. The inexperienced Wolverines survived a scare from Cincinnati as the five-touchdown favorite needed 19 unanswered points in the final 18 minutes to hold off the Bearcats 36-14.

Michigan turned the ball over four times in its first two games and has relied heavily upon its defense, which has scored three touchdowns in 2017. "You've got to be patient and we're going to coach them up but it's a long road ahead," Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh told reporters. "It's a learning experience and there's a lot of things for each individual player to think about." The Wolverines have beaten Air Force twice in program history, including a 31-25 victory in the most recent matchup in 2012, and can extend their home winning streak to nine games with another triumph. Air Force routed VMI 62-0 in its season opener and hopes to ride the momentum to its first win against a Big Ten opponent since beating Northwestern in 2003.

TV: Noon, ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Michigan -24.5

ABOUT AIR FORCE (1-0): Arion Worthman threw for 172 yards and a career-high two touchdowns while adding another score on the ground against VMI to help the Falcons register the second-highest margin of victory in program history. Tim McVey ran for 98 yards and a score to lead seven different players with rushing touchdowns, and the defense held the Keydets to 95 yards - the second fewest in school history- en route to their first shutout since 2009. "It will be interesting to see how loud it actually is and how that affects the game," Worthman told reporters. "Hopefully we can make some big plays and kind of silence the crowd a bit."

ABOUT MICHIGAN (2-0): Junior quarterback Wilton Speight threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns but also had two fumbles which thwarted promising scoring drives in the win against Cincinnati. Safety Tyree Kinnel was named the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week after recording nine tackles, one sack and a 28-yard interception return for a touchdown. Harbaugh revealed that defensive end Donovan Jeter has been ruled out for the remainder of the season after undergoing surgery for an undisclosed injury while running back Kareem Walker (knee) and wide receiver Oliver Martin (upper body) are sidelined as well.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Michigan is 14-2 at home under Harbaugh.

2. The Wolverines have won their last five non-conference games by an average margin of 30.4 points.

3. Air Force has lost 11 straight road games to ranked teams.

PREDICTION: Michigan 34, Air Force 14

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 16, 2017
Where: Memorial Stadium, Lincoln, Nebraska

Preview: Northern Illinois at Nebraska
Gracenote
Sep 12, 2017

After watching his team show the worst and best of itself at Oregon last weekend, Nebraska coach Mike Riley told reporters his players "should be sick" about losing an opportunity to pick up a key win. The Cornhuskers attempt to put together a more complete game and pick up some steam heading into Big Ten play Saturday when they host Northern Illinois.

“It really feels like a lost opportunity. … We should be so hungry to practice. … When they look at that video, they should just be sick, and they should want to get out there and work to be better than that. I don’t care if we’re playing the Green Bay Packers or whatever, it should be about us knowing we can be better.” Riley said at his weekly news conference Monday. Nebraska showed little resistance in allowing the Ducks to race out to a 28-point halftime lead last weekend, then held Oregon scoreless thereafter before their fourth and final turnover sealed their fate in a 42-35 loss. The Cornhuskers will get a third look at an up-tempo spread offense in as many weeks against the Huskies, who bounced back from a 23-20 loss at home to Boston College by dominating FCS foe Eastern Illinois 38-10 last weekend. Northern Illinois outgained the Panthers 499-187 one week after kicker Christian Hagan's potential game-tying 39-yard field-goal attempt hit the crossbar in the waning seconds of the season opener.

TV: Noon ET, Fox Sports 1. LINE: Nebraska -14.

ABOUT NORTHERN ILLINOIS (1-1): Quarterback Daniel Santacaterina learned late last week injured starter Ryan Graham (sprained elbow; out 2-4 weeks) would not play against Eastern Illinois and performed admirably, finishing 23-of-34 for 252 yards and three touchdowns with an interception. The Huskies were far from perfect, however, committing 15 penalties for 194 yards, while Hagan had field-goal attempts from 39 and 30 yards blocked. In addition to being without their starting quarterback this weekend, Northern Illinois lost leading receiver Chad Beebe - son of former NFL player Don Beebe and a fifth-year senior who missed all of last season with multiple leg injuries - for 3-4 weeks with a concussion he suffered on a helmet-to-helmet hit versus Eastern Illinois.

ABOUT NEBRASKA (1-1): Tulane transfer Tanner Lee has shown glimpses of his NFL arm talent in his first two games with the Cornhuskers, but he was intercepted four times against the Ducks and has completed only 52.1 percent of his passes thus far. Riley is hopeful sophomore running back Tre Bryant, who aggravated a knee injury on the first play of the fourth quarter and did not return after rushing for 107 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries against Oregon, will return to practice by Wednesday and be ready to play Saturday. Junior receiver Stanley Morgan Jr. ranks inside the top five among Big Ten players in catches (12), receiving yards (205) and receiving touchdowns (three).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Morgan is the first player in school history to begin a season with a pair of 100-yard receiving games, and he could tie another school mark by doing so in three straight contests with another such effort Saturday.

2. Northern Illinois leads the Mid-American Conference in rushing defense (104 yards per game) and total defense (263). Last year, the Huskies ranked 10th (200.8) and ninth (451.5), respectively.

3. Bryant's 299 rushing yards are the most for a Cornhusker running back since Marlon Lucky ran for 323 yards in the first two games of the 2007 season.

PREDICTION: Nebraska 37, Northern Illinois 24

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 16, 2017
Where: Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, Virginia

Preview: Connecticut at Virginia
Gracenote
Sep 12, 2017

Virginia looks to avenge last season's loss at Connecticut when the Cavaliers host the Huskies in a non-conference game Saturday. Virginia will hope to get its ground game in gear after rushing for only 55 yards in last week's 34-17 loss to Indiana

As the Cavaliers continue to struggle on the ground, Kurt Benkert has shouldered the load by throwing 105 passes (third-most in the nation) with four touchdowns over the first two games. Benkert threw the ball a program-record 66 times last week but netted only 259 yards through the air as he was plagued by dropped balls and constant pressure. UConn will start Bryant Shirreffs at quarterback after the senior came off the bench to save the Huskies from a possible embarrassing setback at the hands of FCS foe Holy Cross in their season opener. The Huskies had their game against nationally ranked and American Athletic Conference favorite South Florida canceled last week because of Hurricane Irma.

TV: Noon, ET. ESPN2. LINE: Virginia -10

ABOUT UCONN (1-0): Coach Randy Edsall's return to the Connecticut sidelines looked like it wouldn't end well before watching Shirreffs rescue the Huskies to a 27-20 victory with three straight scoring drives in the second half. Shirreffs was 9 of 13 for 124 yards and one touchdown, an 11-yard connection with Hergy Mayala for the go-ahead score against the Crusaders. David Pindell, a junior college transfer making his UConn debut, was 19 of 28 for 154 yards but failed to get the Huskies into the end zone in his time under center.

ABOUT VIRGINIA (1-1): “Our inefficiency running the football is shifting pressure to the throw game,” Cavaliers' coach Bronco Mendenhall told reporters after the loss to Indiana. Against the Hoosiers, the Cavaliers needed 25 rushing attempts to gain 55 yards, a week after Virginia gained only 92 yards in its victory against FCS opponent William & Mary. Benkert has gone 162 throws without an interception but most have been short throws as Olamide Zaccheaus caught 12 passes against the Hoosiers last week, but for only 72 yards.

EXTRA POINTS

1. UConn freshman RB Nate Hopkins racked up 130 yards on 20 carries and scored three touchdowns in his collegiate debut last week.

2. Mendenhall has no confidence in his kicking game after converting only five field goals all of last season. Virginia is 1-for-2 on the season on field goals in 2017 and Mendenhall has already opted for fourth-down conversion attempts seven times, converting three.

3. Virginia star CB Tim Harris is out for the season after undergoing wrist surgery.

PREDICTION: Virginia 24, UConn 21

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 12:20 PM ET, Saturday, September 16, 2017
Where: Carter-Finley Stadium, Raleigh, North Carolina

Preview: Furman at N.C. State
Gracenote
Sep 13, 2017

North Carolina State quarterback Ryan Finley finds himself in some elite company as he leads the Wolfpack into a Saturday encounter with visiting Furman. Finley has thrown for more than 300 yards in each of his first two games, helping N.C. State earn a split of those contests - and the Wolfpack would love nothing more than to build on that momentum, with a Florida State showdown on the horizon.

Finley became the first N.C. State quarterback since Philip Rivers in 2003 to open the season with back-to-back 300-yard passing efforts - and the Wolfpack needed every bit of it last week, rallying from an early 13-3 deficit with a 20-point second quarter en route to a 37-20 drubbing of Marshall. It was a solid bounceback effort by N.C. State, which dropped its opener 35-28 to rival South Carolina despite dominating in total yardage (504 to 246) and time of possession (36:54 to 23:06). Things are about to get a lot more difficult for the Wolfpack after this one, as they face three top-15 teams in Florida State, Louisville and Clemson over their next six games; they also have road games at Pitt and Notre Dame in that stretch. Furman has opened the season with narrow losses to Wofford and Elon, losing both by a combined four points.

TV: 12:20 p.m. ET, ACC Network. LINE: None.

ABOUT FURMAN (0-2): It has been a roller-coaster ride for the Paladins through two games. They lost their opener 24-23 to Wofford after failing on a two-point conversion following a Triston Luke 44-yard touchdown run with 46 seconds remaining, then squandered a seven-point lead with three minutes left last week against Elon. Senior quarterback P.J. Blazejowski has completed fewer than 50 percent of his passes for 362 yards and a touchdown while adding 103 yards and a score on the ground; Darius Morehead paces the team in rushing yards (150) while Thomas Gordon has seven catches for 202 yards, with 77 of those coming on a third-quarter scoring strike against Elon.

ABOUT N.C. STATE (1-1): The Wolfpack should be close to fully armed for this week's game. Left tackle Will Richardson has been listed as the starter for Saturday's game after serving a team-imposed two-game suspension for an undisclosed matter that took place last spring, while cornerback Mike Stevens has been installed as a co-starter after missing the first two games of the season with a leg injury. In addition to completing a stunning 76 percent of his passes for 756 yards and five touchdowns through two games, Finley showed off his rushing ability last time out, scampering for a career-best 46-yard gain on the first play of the game against the Thundering Herd.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Finley's run was NC State's longest run by a Wolfpack QB since Jacoby Brissett had a 60-yarder in 2014.

2. Wolfpack WR Kelvin Harmon has posted back-to-back 100-yard receiving efforts; he had just one such game all of last season.

3. Furman has drawn a whopping 18 penalty flags for 153 yards through two games, while getting flagged just five times for 66 yards.

PREDICTION: N.C. State 45, Furman 10

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 12:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 16, 2017
Where: Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, North Carolina

Preview: Baylor at Duke
Gracenote
Sep 13, 2017

Teams heading in opposite directions meet Saturday when Baylor visits Duke. The Blue Devils have put a disappointing 4-8 campaign behind them with two dominant performances to start the season, while the Bears have dropped eight consecutive regular-season games, including contests to Liberty and UT San Antonio to open the 2017 campaign.

Duke dispatched FCS foe North Carolina Central 60-7 in the opener before dismantling Northwestern 41-17 last week as sophomore sensation Daniel Jones accounted for 413 total yards and four touchdowns. The defense limited its second consecutive foe to under 200 yards total offense last week, adding four sacks and three turnovers while holding the Wildcats to 1-of-10 on third-down conversions. Baylor, under first-year coach Matt Rhule, have started 0-2 for the first time since 2003 as they continue to recover from the sexual assault scandal that rocked the university and resulted in the firing of former head coach Art Briles in May 2016. “I'm upset that we're 0-2. You know what, I couldn't be more upset, but I'm proud to walk off the field,” Rhule told reporters earlier this week. “And you hear the Baylor fans and them telling the kids, 'Hey, we love you. We believe in you.' It's such pride that they have in their team, and these kids are going out there and laying it on the line. I'll do a better job. They'll do a better job. And we'll become a good football team sooner than later.”

TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network. LINE: Duke -14.

ABOUT BAYLOR (0-2): The pass defense yielded only 155 yards passing to UT San Antonio after surrendering 447 in the opener to Liberty, but it didn’t prevent the Roadrunners from being the second consecutive opponent to record their first win over a Power-5 team. Anu Solomon struggled last week, completing 10-of-26 passes for 121 yards and gaining nine yards on 10 carries on the ground after accounting for 375 yards and three TDs against Liberty. Rhule announced this week that the Arizona graduate transfer will be replaced this week by sophomore Zach Smith, who started four games last season and completed 116-of-196 passes for 1,526 yards with 13 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

ABOUT DUKE (2-0): Jones completed 29-of-45 passes for 305 yards with two TDs and ran for 108 yards and two more scores in the rout of Northwestern, moving him up to second in the ACC and 12th nationally in ESPN’s QBR metric (85.5). T.J. Rahming reached 100 yards receiving for the fourth time in five games with 12 catches for 127 yards, Chris Taylor added a 52-yard TD reception and Shaun Wilson ran for 58 yards on 14 carries with a score. Cornerback Mark Gilbert had two interceptions for a Blue Devils defense that has yielded an average of 174.5 yards through the first two contests – sixth in FBS among teams who have played more than one game.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Duke beat Baylor 12-7 in the only other meeting between the schools in 1958. This is Baylor’s first non-conference Power-5 game since 2009.

2. Jones had his streak of 202 consecutive passes without an interception ended against Northwestern en route to posting just the second 300-yard passing, 100-yard rushing game by a quarterback in Duke history (Brandon Connette versus Pittsburgh in 2013).

3. The Blue Devils are 18-2 in their last 20 regular season nonconference games – the most successful streak in program history.

PREDICTION: Duke 52, Baylor 10

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Coastal Carolina at UAB
When: 1:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 16, 2017
Where: Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama
Quick Hits

Overall Team Offense

The UAB Blazers are ranked 40 on offense, averaging 464.0 yards per game. The Blazers are averaging 297.5 yards rushing and 166.5 yards passing so far this season.
The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers are ranked 73 on offense, averaging 401.0 yards per game. The Chanticleers are averaging 321.0 yards rushing and 80.0 yards passing so far this season.

Home and Away

The UAB Blazers are 1-0 at home this season, 0-0 against conference opponents and 1-1 against non-conference opponents.
At home the Blazers are averaging 38.0 scoring, and holding teams to 7.0 points scored on defense.
The Coastal Carolina Chanticleers are 0-0 while on the road this season, 0-0 against conference opponents and 1-0 against non-conference opponents.
On the road, the Chanticleers are averaging 0.0 scoring, and holding teams to 0.0 points scored on defense.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 2:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 16, 2017
Where: Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado

Preview: Northern Colorado at Colorado
Gracenote
Sep 13, 2017

So far, so stout for the new-look Colorado defense, which entered the season with a new coordinator and eight new starters but has yielded only a pair of field goals so far in a 2-0 start. Saturday’s home game against Northern Colorado of the FCS Big Sky Conference provides one last tune-up before top-10-ranked defending Pac-12 champion Washington visits the following weekend.


A 17-3 win over Colorado State and a 37-3 rout of Texas State mark the first time since 1958 that the Buffaloes have not surrendered a touchdown in the opening two games of the season. The Colorado defense has been especially tough in the red zone, limiting the opposition to a minus-2 yards on nine plays. “We’re happy with where we are right now, but we’re not getting comfortable,” defensive end Leo Jackson told the media earlier this week. “We know we have a long way to go.” The Buffaloes had a similar start a year ago, allowing 14 total points in its first two contests before surrendering 83 points in back-to-back weeks as the competition level increased.

TV: 2 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: None


ABOUT NORTHERN COLORADO (1-0): Saturday’s game was supposed to be the back end of a rugged consecutive-week set against FBS Power Five foes, but last week’s contest at Florida was canceled due to the approach of Hurricane Irma. Coming off back-to-back 6-5 seasons, Northern Colorado opened Sept. 2 with a 41-14 win over the College of Idaho, using five rushing touchdowns, two interceptions and 238 passing yards from quarterback Jacob Knipp to roll to the home victory. Running back Trae Riek accounted for three of the rushing scores and led the team with 74 yards on 18 carries.

ABOUT COLORADO (2-0): New sophomore starter Steven Montez has completed 40-of-60 passes for 501 yards but has thrown as many interceptions (two) as scoring tosses and has been sacked seven times. His top targets are wideouts Shay Fields (11 catches, 188 yards) and Bryce Bobo (15-124), while Phillip Lindsay has accounted for 227 of the team’s 305 rushing yards on 45 attempts. Defensively, linebackers Drew Lewis (25) and Rick Gamboa (20) are the leading tacklers, while Jackson has notched four sacks.


EXTRA POINTS

1. The two schools are separated by only 60 miles but haven’t met since a 13-7 Northern Colorado win in 1934. Colorado has won nine of the 11 meetings.

2. The Buffaloes expect to get back three regulars Saturday in RB Kyle Evans (hip) and S Nick Fisher (hamstring), who are returning from injury absences, and OT Jeromy Irwin, who will be reinstated after serving a two-game disciplinary suspension.

3. Lindsay’s brother, Zachary, is a backup RB for the Bears who gained 22 yards on four carries in the opener.


PREDICTION: Colorado 52, Northern Colorado 10

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Tennessee Tech at Ball State
When: 3:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 16, 2017
Where: Scheumann Stadium, Muncie, Indiana
Quick Hits

Overall Team Offense

The Ball State Cardinals are ranked 85 on offense, averaging 380.0 yards per game. The Cardinals are averaging 169.5 yards rushing and 210.5 yards passing so far this season.
The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles are ranked 0 on offense, averaging yards per game. The Golden Eagles are averaging yards rushing and yards passing so far this season.

Home and Away

The Ball State Cardinals are 1-0 at home this season, 0-0 against conference opponents and 1-1 against non-conference opponents.
At home the Cardinals are averaging 51.0 scoring, and holding teams to 31.0 points scored on defense.
The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles are 0-1 while on the road this season, 0-0 against conference opponents and 0-2 against non-conference opponents.
On the road, the Golden Eagles are averaging 14.0 scoring, and holding teams to 27.0 points scored on defense.

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 3:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 16, 2017
Where: BB&T Field, Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Preview: Utah State at Wake Forest
Gracenote
Sep 13, 2017

Wake Forest will try to begin 3-0 for the second straight year and exact a measure of revenge when it hosts Utah State on Saturday. The Demon Deacons have utilized a solid defense that has allowed 17 points in the first two games and forced four turnovers in last Saturday's 34-10 win at Boston College.

Coach Dave Clawson has been impressed with that side of the ball, but is just as happy with a clean offensive effort thus far. "It was a great a job by the defense creating the turnovers, but also a good job by the offense to not have any turnovers," he told reporters. "That has to be part of our plan to win. It is something we emphasize." If that needs any more emphasis, Clawson can show footage of a 36-24 loss at Utah State in 2014, when the Aggies scored twice off Wake Forest turnovers to pick up their first win over an ACC team. Utah State followed up a lopsided loss at Wisconsin to start the year with a 51-13 rout of Idaho State on Sept. 7.

TV: 3 p.m. ET, ACC Network. LINE: Wake Forest -13.5

ABOUT UTAH STATE (1-1): The Aggies ran for 255 yards in their most recent effort, led by Eltoro Allen's 103 yards on 19 attempts. Senior quarterback Kent Myers threw one interception in the victory but was otherwise nearly perfect, completing 24-of-26 passes for 323 yards and two touchdowns and running eight times for 85 yards and a pair of scores. The dual threat needs 253 passing yards to move into seventh place on the school's all-time list and can reach the top 20 among career rushers at Utah Sate with another 28 yards on the ground.

ABOUT WAKE FOREST (2-0): Senior John Wolford has thrown for just 258 yards through two games but he has four TD passes against zero interceptions and is the team's top rusher with 139 yards and a pair of scores. His top target has been freshman Greg Dortch (10 catches, 111 yards and three TDs) while star tight end Cam Serigne (two TDs in season-opening win over Presbyterian) is looking to get back in the act after having his streak of consecutive games with a reception snapped at 37. Essang Bassey had an interception return for a TD and five tackles against Boston College and earned ACC Defensive Back of the Week honors.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Wolford completed 20 of a career-high 50 passing attempts in the previous loss to the Aggies.

2. WRs Jordan Nathan and Ron'quavion Tarver lead Utah State with nine catches apiece and have the team's only two TD receptions.

3. Wake Forest was held to minus-25 yards rushing in its loss at Utah State three years ago.

PREDICTION: Wake Forest 31, Utah State 14

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 16, 2017
Where: Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, Florida

Preview: Tennessee at Florida
Gracenote
Sep 13, 2017

Authorities still are in the process of assessing the damage around Gainesville, Fla. after Hurricane Irma passed through the state, but Florida will host a football game this weekend. The No. 25 Gators hope to give their fans something to take their minds off the destruction of the storm when they host SEC rival and 23rd-ranked Tennessee on Saturday.

"After meeting with the City of Gainesville, campus officials and numerous staffing entities to discuss hosting the game, we are pleased that the Florida-Tennessee football game will take place in Gainesville Saturday as scheduled,” Florida athletic director Scott Stricklin announced. “There has been a tremendous amount of cooperation between local authorities, the Southeastern Conference and the Tennessee athletic program throughout this process, and we are grateful for these strong partnerships." Volunteers coach Butch Jones is hoping to ride his high-powered offense to a key road win early in conference play. Tennessee scored 42 points in each of its first two games and is coming off an easy 42-7 victory at home over Indiana State last week. The Gators had their home game against Northern Colorado cancelled due to the storm and are off to a rocky start after suspending nine players indefinitely prior to the season-opening loss to Michigan.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Florida -5.5

ABOUT TENNESSEE (2-0): The Volunteers are finding it easy to put up points early in 2017 thanks not only to the offense, but to strong work on special teams and defense. Freshman Ty Chandler returned the opening kickoff 91 yards for a touchdown last weekend, marking the team’s ninth punt- or kickoff-return TD since 2015. Tennessee's defense allowed a total of 213 passing yards over the first two games and is coming off a stifling effort against the Sycamores in which it collected 11 tackles for loss and held them to 0-for-11 on third down.

ABOUT FLORIDA (0-1): The Gators will attack the Volunteers' defense with Feleipe Franks at quarterback despite benching the freshman in favor of Notre Dame transfer Malik Zaire in the opening loss to Michigan. Franks fumbled twice and was sacked once by the Wolverines while throwing for 75 yards but drew praise from coach Jim McElwain for how he handled a top defense on the road. Whoever takes the snaps under center could use more help from the running game, which gained only 11 yards on 27 carries in the opening loss.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Florida freshman WR James Robinson is out indefinitely due to a heart issue.

2. The Volunteers snapped an 11-game losing streak in the series with a 38-28 win at home last season.

3. Gators DBs Duke Dawson and C.J. Henderson each returned an interception for a touchdown in the opener.

PREDICTION: Tennessee 31, Florida 28

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 16, 2017
Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas

Preview: SMU at TCU
Gracenote
Sep 13, 2017

No. 20 TCU will get another good test before conference play starts when high-scoring SMU visits Saturday afternoon. The unbeaten Mustangs are averaging 56 points and have one of the country's top receivers in junior Courtland Sutton.

The Horned Frogs will counter with a defense among the nation's best early in the season, allowing 3.5 points and 166 yards. The Horned Frogs' experienced defense - with seven returning starters - has eight sacks and three turnovers. Coach Gary Patterson credited the TCU offense's smart play for helping the defense turn in a dominating performance against Arkansas. "You have to take away possession times and shorten the ballgame," Patterson said during Monday's Big 12 teleconference. "You control the clock, it keeps your defense off the field and doesn't allow them to game plan you as much."

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: TCU -19.

ABOUT SMU (2-0): Sutton, who is fourth on SMU's career receiving touchdowns list with 24 after four in the season opener against North Texas, has 10 catches for 185 yards and five TDs. Sophomore quarterback Ben Hicks is 29-of-58 for 424 yards, six touchdowns and one interception as the Mustangs have set a school record for points in their first two games (112). SMU is allowing 72 rushing yards and has forced five turnovers - all of which have been turned into touchdowns.

ABOUT TCU (2-0): Kenny Hill (39-of-54 for 372 yards with four TDs and two interceptions) and TCU's balanced offense has converted 68 percent of the time on third down. Darius Anderson (173 rush yards, one TD) is one of four Horned Frogs with a rushing score, while six different players have at least three catches. Travin Howard leads the TCU defense with 12 tackles, while safety Ridwan Issahaku has 11 stops, three tackles for loss, two sacks and an interception returned for a touchdown.

EXTRA POINTS

1. TCU is 104-3 when holding an opponent to 17 points or fewer under Patterson.

2. The Horned Frogs and Mustangs each have two defensive touchdowns, putting them tied for third nationally behind Texas and Michigan (three each).

3. SMU is one of three teams (Maryland, Kansas State) to score at least 50 points in each of their first two games.

PREDICTION: TCU 48, SMU 13

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 16, 2017
Where: Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Preview: Notre Dame at Boston College
Gracenote
Sep 13, 2017

A pair of traditional rivals looking to bounce back from difficult losses meet Saturday when Notre Dame pays a visit to Boston College. The Fighting Irish allowed a late field goal and then fumbled away their final drive in a 20-19 loss to then-No. 15 Georgia at home last week, putting forth a sloppy effort that included eight penalties, two turnovers and a 3-for-17 mark on third-down conversions.

"We're learning," Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly told reporters. "Our QB is learning the tools of trade. He's getting different looks and reads. I thought he learned a lot tonight." Kelly was referring to junior Brandon Wimbush, who completed less than half his passes and gained one yard on the ground against Georgia after running for 106 in a season-opening rout of Temple. The Eagles are sticking with freshman Anthony Brown at quarterback after he was pulled in the third quarter of last Saturday's 34-10 loss to Wake Forest. The Fighting Irish have won five straight meetings and took the previous encounter in 2015 by a 19-16 margin in a game that was played at Fenway Park.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Notre Dame -13.5

ABOUT NOTRE DAME (1-1): Wimbush and the group of running backs led by Josh Adams were limited to 55 yards on 37 carries against Georgia, with 21 of the team's rushing attempts going for two or fewer yards. Adams still has 214 yards through the first two games while Dexter Williams has gained 124 on only six carries. Senior linebacker Nyles Morgan leads the defense with 15 tackles, 2 1/2 tackles for a loss and one sack.

ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (1-1): Brown followed up a solid debut in a win at Northern Illinois with an 11-for-29 showing and three interceptions against the Demon Deacons, but some felt the numbers were not representative of his performance. "He's our quarterback and I'm looking forward for him to get going," coach Steve Addazio told reporters. "You go back and you watch the film, and Anthony went to the right place with that ball a lot. And he's a young guy. We've got to help him a little bit." The Eagles had more first downs than Wake Forest and they were outgained by only four yards, but Addazio's team committed all four of the game's turnovers.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Eagles' leading rusher Thadd Smith (101 yards) is averaging 9.2 yards per carry.

2. The Fighting Irish are in the early portions of a stretch in which they will play one home game in 41 days.

3. Notre Dame has produced points in all nine of its red-zone trips.

PREDICTION: Notre Dame 27, Boston College 17

[Can'tPickAWinner]

When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 16, 2017
Where: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah

Preview: Wisconsin at BYU
Gracenote
Sep 13, 2017

Wisconsin had a tougher time than expected last weekend against Florida Atlantic, but at least it looks like the team found a new star. Freshman running back Jonathan Taylor will try to stay hot Saturday, when the 12th-ranked Badgers hit the road for the first time this season to face BYU.

Taylor needed only nine carries to rack up 87 yards and a touchdown in Week 1 against Utah State and took on a much larger role versus Florida Atlantic, carrying the ball 26 times for 223 yards and three scores. "I'm just out there having fun," Taylor told reporters. "On the wall, as we're coming up from the tunnel, it says, 'Have fun, play the game.' You have to be grateful that you're here, you're here having fun. But it is humbling to be mentioned with the things I'm doing. But I just have fun and play the game." The Cougars are facing their third consecutive power-five opponent and trying to avoid a third straight loss after falling to LSU and Utah. "We can’t hang our heads," BYU coach Kalani Sitake told reporters after the 19-13 loss to rival Utah last Saturday. "We have to move on and learn as much as we can from this game. We have a top-10 team coming into town next week."

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: Wisconsin -15.5

ABOUT WISCONSIN (2-0): The Badgers were expected to roll over Florida Atlantic after posting an impressive opening win over Utah State, but quarterback Alex Hornibrook threw his first interception of the campaign and struggled to find a rhythm while completing 16-of-28 passes. The running game took some of the pressure off Hornibrook, as Chris James complemented Taylor's big day with 101 yards on 16 carries. Wisconsin's defense has shown an ability to make adjustments at halftime and has yet to allow any points after the break.

ABOUT BYU (1-2): The Cougars are working on limiting mistakes on offense as quarterback Tanner Mangum has thrown one touchdown pass and four interceptions in the last two weeks, including three picks against Utah at home. The Cougars have their own freshman running back in Ula Tolutau, who totaled one carry in the first two games but ended up leading the team's meager rushing attack with 25 yards and a score against the Utes. BYU is stronger on the other side of the ball with three turnovers forced and an average of 17.3 points allowed in its first three games.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Wisconsin OLB Leon Jacobs has recorded four tackles for loss, the highest mark among Big Ten players.

2. Freshman TE Matt Bushman leads the Cougars in receiving with 13 catches for 149 yards.

3. The Badgers are playing their first-ever game in the state of Utah and first true road contest against a non-conference foe since 2013.

PREDICTION: Wisconsin 34, BYU 17