When: 10:30 PM ET, Friday, September 22, 2017
Where: Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Arizona
Preview: Utah at Arizona
Gracenote
Sep 19, 2017
The Pac-12 Conference’s most dangerous dual-threat quarterbacks will duel in the desert on Friday, when No. 21 Utah visits Arizona. The game also will serve as the Pac-12 opener for both teams, who just completed winning non-conference seasons.
Utah sophomore Tyler Huntley is second in the conference and 10th nationally in total offense at 360 yards per game and has accounted for eight total touchdowns, including a team-high three via the rush. Arizona junior Brandon Dawkins, meanwhile, leads all Pac-12 quarterbacks with 83.7 rushing yards per contest and has accounted for nine total TDs, including five on the ground. Overall, the Wildcats rank sixth nationally with 328 rushing yards per contest while Utah counters with the nation’s second-stingiest rushing defense to date at 49.3 yards. “(Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez) has a great grasp of offensive scheme,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said during his news conference on Monday. “He knows exactly what he wants to do, and it starts with the run game with those guys. They run the read zone as well as anyone in the country, and they have a quarterback who is an exceptional runner. … That’s going to be job No. 1 for us this week, like it is every week.”
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, FS1. LINE: Utah -3
ABOUT UTAH (3-0): The Utes are coming off their fifth straight undefeated non-conference season and are now looking to win their Pac-12 opener for the third straight campaign. Wide receiver Darren Carrington II, a transfer from Oregon, has struck up an immediate bond with Huntley as they’ve hooked up 26 times for 409 yards and four TDs so far. On the other side of the ball, linebacker Sunia Tauteoli (team-high 18 tackles) and safety Chase Hansen (14) lead a unit which is tops in the conference in total defense (246 yards) and turnovers forced (nine), including six interceptions.
ABOUT ARIZONA (2-1): The Wildcats bounced back from a 19-16 loss to Houston with a 63-16 rout of host UTEP last week as Dawkins threw for three touchdowns and added three more on the ground while rolling up 288 yards of total offense. Senior Nick Wilson (63 yards per game) and redshirt freshman J.J. Taylor (62) form a potent 1-2 punch in the backfield while tight end Bryce Wolma (11 receptions, 79 yards, one touchdown) and slot receiver Shun Brown (eight, 126, one) are the leading pass-catchers. Linebacker Tony Fields II is the leading tackler (17) on a defense that is allowing 387.7 yards but has forced seven turnovers.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Arizona holds a 4-2 series edge since Utah joined the Pac-12 in 2011, but the Utes posted a 36-23 win last season in Salt Lake City.
2. Hansen missed last week’s triumph over San Jose State with an undisclosed injury, and his status for Friday’s contest likely won’t be known until just before kickoff.
3. Utah has a decided edge in the kicking game, with Matt Gay a perfect 11-for-11 on both field-goal and extra-point attempts so far, while 2016 Ray Guy Award winner Mitch Wishnowsky ranks fifth nationally in net yardage (45.4).
PREDICTION: Utah 34, Arizona 27
Trends - No. 21 Utah at Arizona
ATS Trends
Utah
- Utes are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games in September.
- Utes are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 road games.
- Utes are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
- Utes are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Utes are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
- Utes are 14-3 ATS in their last 17 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
- Utes are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 conference games.
- Utes are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Utes are 4-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Utes are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall.
- Utes are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games on grass.
- Utes are 6-2 ATS in their last 8 games after scoring more than 40 points in their previous game.
- Utes are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 Friday games.
Arizona
- Wildcats are 10-2 ATS in their last 12 Friday games.
- Wildcats are 17-35 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
- Wildcats are 7-15 ATS in their last 22 home games.
- Wildcats are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 games in September.
- Wildcats are 18-41 ATS in their last 59 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Wildcats are 9-23 ATS in their last 32 games on grass.
- Wildcats are 4-13 ATS in their last 17 games overall.
- Wildcats are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a straight up win.
- Wildcats are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.
- Wildcats are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
- Wildcats are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 conference games.
- Wildcats are 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games after allowing less than 100 yards rushing in their previous game.
OU Trends
Utah
- Under is 4-0 in Utes last 4 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.
- Under is 5-1 in Utes last 6 games overall.
- Over is 5-1 in Utes last 6 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Utes last 5 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
- Under is 17-7-1 in Utes last 25 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 7-3 in Utes last 10 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Arizona
- Over is 8-1 in Wildcats last 9 games following a straight up win.
- Over is 7-1 in Wildcats last 8 games following a ATS win.
- Over is 6-1 in Wildcats last 7 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
- Over is 5-1 in Wildcats last 6 games following a straight up win of more than 20 points.
- Over is 4-1 in Wildcats last 5 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
- Over is 4-1 in Wildcats last 5 Friday games.
- Over is 4-1 in Wildcats last 5 games in September.
- Over is 4-1 in Wildcats last 5 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 12-3 in Wildcats last 15 vs. a team with a winning record.
- Over is 11-3 in Wildcats last 14 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
- Over is 8-3 in Wildcats last 11 conference games.
- Over is 5-2 in Wildcats last 7 games overall.
- Over is 5-2 in Wildcats last 7 games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
- Over is 12-5 in Wildcats last 17 home games.
- Over is 16-7 in Wildcats last 23 games on grass.
Head to Head
- Underdog is 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
- Utes are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
NCAAF
Long Sheet
Friday, September 22
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VIRGINIA (2 - 1) at BOISE ST (2 - 1) - 9/22/2017, 8:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BOISE ST is 133-98 ATS (+25.2 Units) in all games since 1992.
BOISE ST is 133-98 ATS (+25.2 Units) in all lined games since 1992.
BOISE ST is 75-46 ATS (+24.4 Units) off a win against a conference rival since 1992.
BOISE ST is 23-10 ATS (+12.0 Units) in home games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1992.
BOISE ST is 3-11 ATS (-9.1 Units) as a favorite over the last 2 seasons.
BOISE ST is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) in home games over the last 2 seasons.
BOISE ST is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) in home lined games over the last 2 seasons.
BOISE ST is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) in home games after playing a conference game over the last 3 seasons.
BOISE ST is 0-7 ATS (-7.7 Units) in home games in games played on turf over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
BOISE ST is 1-0 against the spread versus VIRGINIA over the last 3 seasons
BOISE ST is 1-0 straight up against VIRGINIA over the last 3 seasons
1 of 1 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UTAH (3 - 0) at ARIZONA (2 - 1) - 9/22/2017, 10:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
UTAH is 41-20 ATS (+19.0 Units) in road games when playing against a team with a winning record since 1992.
ARIZONA is 2-9 ATS (-7.9 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
ARIZONA is 80-122 ATS (-54.2 Units) when playing with 6 or less days rest since 1992.
Head-to-Head Series History
ARIZONA is 1-1 against the spread versus UTAH over the last 3 seasons
ARIZONA is 1-1 straight up against UTAH over the last 3 seasons
2 of 2 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
NCAAF
Week 4
Friday’s games
Boise State (-2) came east and crushed Virginia 56-14 two years ago, outgaining Cavaliers 358-273. Since 2008, Broncos are 33-15 as road favorites; they’re 11-6 under Harsin, but lost their only road game this year, in OT at Washington State, blowing big second half lead. Virginia split its first two I-A games, both at home, vs Indiana/UConn. Cavaliers threw for 455 yards LW- they allowed 207 rushing yards to UConn. Since 2009, Virginia is 20-16 as a road underdog. ACC teams are 12-10 vs spread out of conference (5-4 on road); Mountain West teams are also 12-10.
Underdogs are 7-3 vs spread in last ten Utah-Arizona games; Utes lost 37-30/35-24 in last two visits to Tucson. Utah ran ball for 200+ yards in last three series games- Arizona gained 450+ yards in last six series games. Wildcats are 7-5 as a home underdog under RichRod, 3-5 since 2015. Utah is 3-0 this season, winning its only road game 19-13 at rival BYU; since 2013, Utes are 5-3 as road favorites. Utah has 314-341 passing yards in its last two games. Arizona lost its only I-A home game this season, 19-16 to Houston (+1.5).
NCAAF
Dunkel
Week 4
Friday, September 22
Virginia @ Boise State
Game 305-306
September 22, 2017 @ 8:00 pm
Dunkel Rating:
Virginia
79.319
Boise State
89.049
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Boise State
by 9 1/2
57
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boise State
by 13
53
Dunkel Pick:
Virginia
(+13); Over
Utah @ Arizona
Game 307-308
September 22, 2017 @ 10:30 pm
Dunkel Rating:
Utah
96.738
Arizona
90.874
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Utah
by 6
54
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Utah
by 3
61 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Utah
(-3); Under
Trends - Virginia at Boise State
ATS Trends
Virginia
Cavaliers are 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a ATS win.
Cavaliers are 3-8-1 ATS in their last 12 games after accumulating more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
Cavaliers are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 road games.
Cavaliers are 1-3-1 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
Cavaliers are 1-4 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
Cavaliers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.
Cavaliers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
Cavaliers are 0-3-1 ATS in their last 4 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Cavaliers are 0-4-1 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
Cavaliers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 vs. MWC.
Boise State
Broncos are 7-2 ATS in their last 9 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Broncos are 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
Broncos are 5-12 ATS in their last 17 games after accumulating less than 275 total yards in their previous game.
Broncos are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 Friday games.
Broncos are 2-5 ATS in their last 7 games after accumulating less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
Broncos are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games following a straight up win.
Broncos are 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games on fieldturf.
Broncos are 4-11 ATS in their last 15 games overall.
Broncos are 2-7 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.
Broncos are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
Broncos are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a ATS loss.
Broncos are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 home games.
OU Trends
Virginia
Under is 5-0 in Cavaliers last 5 games after allowing more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.
Over is 4-1 in Cavaliers last 5 games on fieldturf.
Under is 8-3-1 in Cavaliers last 12 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.
Under is 26-10 in Cavaliers last 36 games following a straight up win.
Under is 5-2 in Cavaliers last 7 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
Under is 10-4-1 in Cavaliers last 15 road games.
Under is 25-10 in Cavaliers last 35 games after accumulating more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.
Boise State
Over is 7-1 in Broncos last 8 Friday games.
Under is 4-1 in Broncos last 5 games overall.
Under is 12-3 in Broncos last 15 home games.
Over is 4-1 in Broncos last 5 home games vs. a team with a winning road record.
Over is 5-2 in Broncos last 7 games after allowing less than 20 points in their previous game.
Under is 5-2 in Broncos last 7 non-conference games.
Over is 15-6 in Broncos last 21 vs. a team with a winning record.
Over is 21-10 in Broncos last 31 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.
Over is 23-11 in Broncos last 34 games following a ATS loss.
RED DOG SPORTS
Soccer | Sep 22, 2017
Angers SCO vs. OGC Nice
OGC Nice -0½ -110
The FREE SOCCER PLAY for Friday afternoon takes place in France League One.Take Nice as a small home favorite.
Nice 2
Angers 1
Mike Wynn
Chicago Cubs w/Lackey -120 Over Milwaukee
Platinum Plays
Colorado Rockies w/Gray -160 over San Diego
Huddle Up Sports
Philadelphia Lively +113
High Stakes Syndicate
Houston Astros -165
NCAAF
Week 4
Trend Report
Friday, September 22
8:00 PM
VIRGINIA vs. BOISE STATE
Virginia is 1-20 SU in its last 21 games on the road
Virginia is 1-6 ATS in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Boise State's last 5 games
Boise State is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
10:30 PM
UTAH vs. ARIZONA
Utah is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Utah's last 6 games on the road
Arizona is 4-13 ATS in its last 17 games
Arizona is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games at home
When: 8:00 PM ET, Friday, September 22, 2017
Where: Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho
Preview: Virginia at Boise State
Gracenote
Sep 19, 2017
Virginia quarterback Kurt Benkert seeks an encore performance after a record-setting effort last week when he leads the Cavaliers into a Friday night matchup at Boise State, which trounced Virginia two seasons ago in Charlottesville. Benkert threw for a school-record 455 yards in a 38-18 win against Connecticut last Saturday, displaying an aggressive approach the team will need to succeed under the lights in Boise.
"The (blue) turf is one thing, but the style of play," Cavaliers coach Bronco Mendenhall told reporters. "Boise is always really aggressive at the beginning of the game. ... You have to start fast, and you have to be really resilient, especially early, to play well there." Mendenhall lost twice at Albertsons Stadium while coaching at BYU and he's seen footage of the Broncos' 56-14 rout in Virginia on Sept. 25, 2015. The current unit in Boise State rebounded from a triple-overtime loss to Washington State by producing a 28-14 win over New Mexico in its Mountain West Conference opener Sept. 14. Senior Montell Cozart stepped into the starting role in place of Brett Rypien and threw for two touchdowns while running for another as the Broncos survived an uncharacteristically sluggish effort that produced just 264 total yards.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Boise State -11.5
ABOUT VIRGINIA (2-1): Three different receivers had at least 122 yards and a touchdown last week, led by Doni Dowling (136 yards). Benkert completed 30-of-40 passes and enters this week's action fourth among ACC quarterbacks in completion percentage (66.2) while sitting third in both yards per game (325.3) and TD passes (seven). Junior running back Jordan Ellis had a season-high 95 yards on the ground and found the end zone for the third straight game.
ABOUT BOISE STATE (2-1): Rypien (undisclosed injury) had a streak of 25 consecutive starts snapped last week, a run that started when he threw for 321 yards and three TDs at Virginia two season ago. "He's practicing, he'll practice today and we'll see where he's at through practice," Broncos coach Bryan Harsin told reporters Monday. "He's back out there, threw some last week." Both Rypien and Cozart have leaned heavily on senior wideout Cedrick Wilson (16 catches, 276 yards), while senior tight end Jake Roh matched his career total with three touchdowns (one rushing) against New Mexico.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Boise State DT David Moa was arrested Saturday on a charge of disturbing the peace and Harsin would not comment on whether the junior would play Friday.
2. Cavaliers RB Olamide Zaccheaus has 21 catches over the past two games and needs two more to become the 21st player in program history with 100 career grabs.
3. Boise State forced five turnovers and had four sacks in its win at Virginia two years ago.
PREDICTION: Boise State 27, Virginia 21
BEN BURNS
CFL | Sep 22, 2017
Ottawa vs. Winnipeg
Winnipeg-7
On Friday, north of the border, Ottawa will visit Winnipeg. The Redblacks are off an impressive 29-11 road win on Sunday. However, keep in mind that victory came against a Montreal squad which has really been struggling of late. Also, lets not forget that the Redblacks are still a sub-500 team. Now, they play on an extra short week against a very well-rested Winnipeg team. The Bombers, who won by three at Ottawa back in August, were last in action way back on 9/9. They destroyed Saskatchewan by a 48-28 margin in that one. With the schedule in their favor, provided that the line doesn't climb above a touchdown, consider laying the points, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Golden Dragon Sports
NY Yankees Tanaka -165
GAME: New York Yankees (85-67) at Toronto Blue Jays (71-81)
DATE/TIME: Friday, September 22 - 7:07 PM EST
WHERE: Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Preview: Yankees at Blue Jays
Gracenote
Sep 21, 2017
The surging New York Yankees have all but locked up the top wild card but they still have their eyes on a division title entering the opener of a three-game series at the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night. New York has won three games in a row and seven of eight to trail first-place Boston by three games in the American League East.
"If you're fortunate enough to get into the playoffs, you want to be playing well at that time," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "We will continue to do everything we can to win every game and see where we fall." New York's offense has flexed its muscles by averaging 6.7 runs during a 14-4 run to keep the heat on the rival Red Sox with 10 games remaining. Aaron Judge has bounced back from a second-half swoon with six homers in his last 10 games to boost his total to 45 -- four shy of Mark McGwire's major league rookie record. Toronto, which enters its final home series of the year, dropped two of three to Kansas City and saw its Nos. 2-4 hitters, Josh Donaldson, Justin Smoak and Jose Bautista, go a combined 2-for-29.
TV: 7:07 p.m. ET, WPIX (New York), TVAS, Sportsnet (Toronto)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Yankees RH Masahiro Tanaka (12-11, 4.73 ERA) vs. Blue Jays RH Marco Estrada (9-8, 4.84)
Tanaka improved to 4-1 in his last five starts, bouncing back from a clunker at Texas by going seven strong innings and limiting Baltimore to two runs. He lasted only four-plus innings at Toronto on Aug. 9, allowing three runs and a season-high five walks in a no-decision. Donaldson and Smoak are a combined 4-for-40 against Tanaka, who is 8-3 with a 2.62 ERA against the Blue Jays.
After going nearly 2 1/2 months without a victory, Estrada enters Friday's matchup riding a six-start unbeaten streak, including eight strong innings of two-run ball at Minnesota on Saturday. Signed to a one-year contract earlier this week, Estrada blanked the Yankees on five hits over seven innings on Aug. 10 to improve to 5-3 against them. Starlin Castro is 15-for-36 versus Estrada.
WALK-OFFS
1. Judge joined Ted Williams as the only rookies with 100 RBIs, 100 runs scored and 100 walks.
2. Bautista struck out for the 160th time Thursday night to set a franchise record.
3. Yankees CF Jacoby Ellsbury is 9-for-16 during a five-game hitting streak.
PREDICTION: Yankees 5, Blue Jays 3
GAME: St. Louis Cardinals (80-72) at Pittsburgh Pirates (69-84)
DATE/TIME: Friday, September 22 - 7:05 PM EST
WHERE: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Preview: Cardinals at Pirates
Gracenote
Sep 22, 2017
The St. Louis Cardinals weren't shy with their offense as they scored 15 runs in their three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates at Busch Stadium earlier this month. Fresh off erupting for erupting for 25 runs in a three-game sweep of Cincinnati, the Cardinals aim to keep the offense churning versus the Pirates on Friday when the National League Central rivals meet at PNC Park.
Dexter Fowler highlighted his second three-hit performance in three contests in Thursday's 8-5 victory over the Reds, improving to 11-for-21 with three homers, nine RBIs and seven runs scored during his five-game hitting streak. Tommy Pham is 9-for-19 during his last four contests for St. Louis, which resides five games behind the division-leading Chicago Cubs and 1 1/2 back of Colorado for the second wild-card spot. The Cardinals have won 10 of the 16 encounters this season versus the Pirates, who saw Adam Frazier deliver a walk-off two-run homer on Wednesday to snap a seven-game losing skid. The 25-year-old is 10-for-32 with eight RBIs in nine games since coming off the disabled list and 18-for-55 with two homers, 11 RBIs and eight runs scored versus St. Louis this season.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FSN Midwest (St. Louis), AT&T SportsNet (Pittsburgh)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Cardinals RH Michael Wacha (12-8, 4.02 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Ivan Nova (11-14, 4.20)
Wacha saw his three-game winning streak come to a halt on Saturday after allowing three runs and five walks in 5 2/3 innings of a 4-1 loss to the Cubs. The 26-year-old held Pittsburgh in check in his last outing on Sept. 10, permitting five hits and striking out seven in eight scoreless innings in a 7-0 rout. Wacha owns a 2-1 mark with a 2.89 ERA in three starts versus the Pirates this season, but his 6.53 ERA and 1.58 WHIP in six career starts at PNC Park leaves a bit to be desired.
Nova lost his fourth straight start on Saturday despite yielding two runs on three hits in 6 1/3 innings of a 2-1 setback at Cincinnati. The 30-year-old Dominican may be in the midst of a difficult stretch, but Friday's start - his 30th of the season - will be a profitable one as he will receive a $750,000 bonus as part of an incentive in his contract. Nova's lone win in his last seven starts came at the expense of St. Louis on Aug. 20, when he allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings of a 6-3 triumph.
WALK-OFFS
1. St. Louis C Yadier Molina has four extra-base hits and seven RBIs during his four-game hitting streak.
2. Pittsburgh LF Starling Marte is 4-for-8 in his last two contests after missing four games with left shoulder and finger discomfort.
3. Cardinals 1B Jose Martinez has 12 hits and six RBIs in his last nine contests.
PREDICTION: Cardinals 3, Pirates 2
TOMMY BRUNSON
Friday's comp play release will be the Kansas City Royals over the Chicago White Sox.
KC did win at Toronto 1-0 yesterday as they look to stay relevant in the A.L. Wild Card race. Problem is, the Royals are still 3 1/2 games behind Minnesota, and there are only 10 games left in which to track down the Twins.
The Royals have gone 29-14 their last 43 games played on the White Sox diamond, and they catch Chicago on a 2-4 slide their last 6 games played.
Jason Hammel and Reynaldo Lopez will be your Friday night starters, and Hammel has not been on top of his game of late, dropping his last pair of starts in ugly fashion.
Lopez makes his 7th start this season, and his third against Kansas City. Reynaldo has had KC's number, and has won his last pair of starts heading into this weekend set.
Still, I look for the Royals to make one last push at catching Minnesota for the last Wild Card spot, and I will back them tonight.
1* KANSAS CITY
NCAAF
Friday, September 22
Friday's NCAAF Game of the Day: Virginia at Boise State
Virginia Cavaliers at Boise State Broncos (-13, 51.5)
Virginia quarterback Kurt Benkert seeks an encore performance after a record-setting effort last week when he leads the Cavaliers into a Friday night matchup at Boise State, which trounced Virginia two seasons ago in Charlottesville. Benkert threw for a school-record 455 yards in a 38-18 win against Connecticut last Saturday, displaying an aggressive approach the team will need to succeed under the lights in Boise.
"The (blue) turf is one thing, but the style of play," Cavaliers coach Bronco Mendenhall told reporters. "Boise is always really aggressive at the beginning of the game. ... You have to start fast, and you have to be really resilient, especially early, to play well there." Mendenhall lost twice at Albertsons Stadium while coaching at BYU and he's seen footage of the Broncos' 56-14 rout in Virginia on Sept. 25, 2015. The current unit in Boise State rebounded from a triple-overtime loss to Washington State by producing a 28-14 win over New Mexico in its Mountain West Conference opener Sept. 14. Senior Montell Cozart stepped into the starting role in place of Brett Rypien and threw for two touchdowns while running for another as the Broncos survived an uncharacteristically sluggish effort that produced just 264 total yards.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2.
LINE HISTORY: Boise State opened as 13-point home favorites and the total hit the betting board at 51.5. Neither number has moved as of Thursday night.
INJURY REPORT:
Virginia - WR J. Reed (Probable, Undisclosed), CB T. Harris (Out For Season, Wrist), WR C. Blackman (Out For Season, Leg).
Boise State - TE C. Blakley (Questionable, Leg), NT D. Moa (Questionable, Personal), DE A. Silsby (Questionable, Undisclosed), QB B. Rypien (Questionable, Head), WR A. Bulter (Out For Season, Knee), LB B. Whitlock (Out For Season, Shoulder), S E. Tyler (Out For Season, Knee).
ABOUT VIRGINIA (2-1 SU, 1-2 ATS, 1-2 O/U): Three different receivers had at least 122 yards and a touchdown last week, led by Doni Dowling (136 yards). Benkert completed 30-of-40 passes and enters this week's action fourth among ACC quarterbacks in completion percentage (66.2) while sitting third in both yards per game (325.3) and TD passes (seven). Junior running back Jordan Ellis had a season-high 95 yards on the ground and found the end zone for the third straight game.
ABOUT BOISE STATE (2-1 SU, 2-1 ATS, 1-2 O/U): Rypien (undisclosed injury) had a streak of 25 consecutive starts snapped last week, a run that started when he threw for 321 yards and three TDs at Virginia two season ago. "He's practicing, he'll practice today and we'll see where he's at through practice," Broncos coach Bryan Harsin told reporters Monday. "He's back out there, threw some last week." Both Rypien and Cozart have leaned heavily on senior wideout Cedrick Wilson (16 catches, 276 yards), while senior tight end Jake Roh matched his career total with three touchdowns (one rushing) against New Mexico.
TRENDS:
* Cavaliers are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games overall.
* Broncos are 1-10 ATS in their last 11 home games.
* Under is 10-4-1 in Cavaliers last 15 road games.
* Under is 12-3 in Broncos last 15 home games.
CONSENSUS: The road underdog Cavaliers are getting 58 percent of the action from users and the Over is picking up 53 percent of the totals wagers.
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