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

[New York Knight]

When: 12:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 9, 2017
Where: Bobby Dodd Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Preview: Jacksonville State at Georgia Tech
Gracenote
Sep 6, 2017

Georgia Tech might have lost its season opener to Tennessee in heartbreaking fashion, but the Yellow Jackets appear to have found a quarterback entering Saturday’s home opener against Jacksonville State. TaQuon Marshall, announced as the starter shortly before the Yellow Jackets blew a late lead in losing 42-41 in overtime, rushed for 249 yards and five touchdowns – including two scores in overtime – before he was stopped on a two-point conversion attempt to end the game.

Replacing three-year starter Justin Thomas at quarterback, Marshall also completed 5-of-9 passes for 120 yards and directed the Yellow Jackets’ triple-option attack to 535 yards rushing. But plenty of work remains on defense, where Georgia Tech could not slow down Tennessee in the second half. “We never created a negative play, so you never get them behind, and then they got some big plays,” Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson told reporters afterward. The Gamecocks, ranked fifth in the FCS Coaches Poll, opened its season with a 27-13 victory over Chattanooga on Aug. 26.

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

ABOUT JACKSONVILLE STATE (1-0): Roc Thomas led the Gamecocks in the opener, rushing for 122 yards and a 76-yard touchdown and finishing with 190 yards of total offense. Bryant Horn made his first career start at quarterback, passing for 182 yards and a touchdown. Jacksonville State, which returned nine starters on defense from last season, limited Chattanooga to 205 yards of total offense until a final drive netted 89 yards and a touchdown.

ABOUT GEORGIA TECH (0-1): Marshall – a junior who rushed for 72 yards total in his first two seasons – set a school record and ACC record for most yards rushing by a quarterback in one game. The Yellow Jackets ran a staggering 96 plays on offense and held possession for 41 minutes, 27 seconds, getting 124 yards rushing and a touchdown from KirVonte Benson. But Shawn Davis missed two field goals, including a 36-yarder at the end of regulation, and Johnson indicated Brenton King will get a chance this week.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Marshall was named ACC offensive back of the week after finishing with 369 yards of total offense.

2. The Yellow Jackets have won both previous matchups against Jacksonville State (41-14 in 2008, 37-17 in 2009).

3. Georgia Tech’s loss Monday marked only the third time in the past 10 seasons a team has rushed for 500-plus yards and lost.

PREDICTION: Georgia Tech 38, Jacksonville State 10

[New York Knight]

When: 1:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 9, 2017
Where: Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts

Preview: Wake Forest at Boston College
Gracenote
Sep 6, 2017

A pair of teams that have languished near the bottom of the ACC in recent years will try to get an early boost in conference play when Wake Forest visits Boston College on Saturday in the league opener for both teams. Both squads opened the season with victories, although the Demon Deacons cruised past an FCS team at home while the Eagles had to survive a road affair with a freshman quarterback at an FBS school in Northern Illinois.

Anthony Brown - the first freshman to start under center for Boston College since 2009 - threw for two touchdowns in the 23-20 victory, which showcased a quicker tempo for a program that has struggled offensively for years. "Yeah, we're going to push it," Eagles coach Steve Addazio said in his weekly press conference about his team running 92 plays. "Obviously, that's going to be dictated by how many times you can get first downs. You get three and outs, you're not going to ratchet up very many plays. That's part of the deal of that whole thing. One thing we were able to do was get first downs." While Brown was getting his feet wet, senior John Wolford was playing his 36th career game at quarterback for the Demon Deacons and he accounted for four TDs (three passing) in a 51-7 rout of Presbyterian before resting down the stretch. Wolford completed less than half his passes and tossed a pair of interceptions in a 17-14 loss to Boston College last year.

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

ABOUT WAKE FOREST (1-0): Sophomore Kendall Hinton relieved Wofford late in last week's victory and flashed his potential by going 7-for-8 with two TDs. Eleven different players had a catch and seven gained yards on the ground as the Demon Deacons were able to give virtually the entire roster a solid warm-up, utilizing loads of freshmen in the second half. "One of our goals was starting fast in that game and we did exactly that," Wolford told reporters. "Move the chains, a lot of first downs, hit some big plays, all the things you want to do on offense, we did."

ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (1-0): Jon Hilliman led the Eagles' ground game with 58 yards but just behind him was wide receiver Thadd Smith (55 yards), who was part of a rushing attack that featured 10 runs by wideouts. "We want to stretch the field right now, horizontally and vertically," Addazio told the media. "In fact, I really felt like we probably needed a few more vertical throws down the field in that game. So we want you to defend us horizontally, vertically, and interiorly." Smith and fellow wide receivers Jeff Smith and Ben Glines averaged 8.4 yards on their 10 combined carries.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Wake Forest had five first downs but forced four turnovers in an ugly 3-0 victory in its previous trip to Chestnut Hill, Mass. two years ago.

2. Eagles DE Harold Landry, a preseason All-American and the nation's sack leader with 16.5 last year, had six tackles but was unable to get to the quarterback against Northern Illinois.

3. Demon Deacons TE Cam Serigne had two TD grabs against Presbyterian to extend his school record at the position to 14.

PREDICTION: Boston College 24, Wake Forest 23

[New York Knight]

When: 2:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 9, 2017
Where: Folsom Field, Boulder, Colorado

Preview: Texas State at Colorado
Gracenote
Sep 6, 2017

Colorado beat an in-state rival by two touchdowns to kick off the season last week, but the coaching staff is far from satisfied entering Saturday’s home opener against Texas State. The concerns primarily center on the offense, which was outgained 397-345, gave up five sacks and two turnovers and failed to score in the second half of the 17-3 victory over Colorado State.


Tailback Phillip Lindsay’s 140 yards and a TD on 19 rushes was the clear offensive highlight for the Buffaloes, who are breaking in a new full-time starting quarterback in sophomore Steven Montez. “There are so many little things we can improve on from the game that could have been big things for us,” Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre told the Boulder Daily Camera earlier this week. “And there are things that we did in the game, that if we don’t correct now, the next team will exploit. That’s why you improve so much as a team from the first week to the second week because you can show them all those things in real, live bullets.” Texas State, of the Sun Belt Conference, also enters the game 1-0 after overcoming a 9-0 deficit Saturday to beat visiting FCS foe Houston Baptist 20-11.

TV: 2 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: Colorado -35.5


ABOUT TEXAS STATE (1-0): The Bobcats are in their sixth season at the FBS level and are in their second campaign under coach Everett Withers. Tailback Anthony Smith and senior quarterback Damian Williams, a transfer from Mississippi State, scored on the ground last week for Texas State and accounted for 249 of the team’s 290 yards of total offense. The defense, led by Sun Belt Defensive Player of the Week Easy Anyama (five solo tackles, two sacks, forced fumble, blocked extra point) limited Houston Baptist to 59 rushing yards on 40 attempts.

ABOUT COLORADO (1-0): Montez is taking over for the program’s career passing leader in Sefo Liufau and completed 21-of-29 attempts for 202 yards, a TD and two interceptions against Colorado State. In addition to Lindsay, he has one of the nation’s top wide-receiver corps to work with as upperclassmen Shay Fields, Bryce Bobo, Devin Ross and Jay MacIntyre combined for 17 receptions, 175 yards and a TD last week. Defensively, the Buffaloes only brought back three starters but shut down a Rams’ offense which had averaged 53.2 points over its previous five games.


EXTRA POINTS

1. Colorado went 6-0 at home last season, winning by an average of 23.8 points.

2. The Buffaloes will have starting LT Jeromy Irwin back on the field after the senior sat out the opener while serving a team suspension.

3. Texas State has played a Power Five team in each of the last five seasons but has gone winless while losing by an average of 32.6 points.


PREDICTION: Colorado 45, Texas State 8

[New York Knight]

Preview: UAB at Ball State
When: 3:00 PM ET, Saturday, September 9, 2017
Where: Scheumann Stadium, Muncie, Indiana
Quick Hits

Overall Team Offense

The Ball State Cardinals are ranked 80 on offense, averaging 375.0 yards per game. The Cardinals are averaging 171.0 yards rushing and 204.0 yards passing so far this season.
The UAB Blazers are ranked 70 on offense, averaging 424.0 yards per game. The Blazers are averaging 259.0 yards rushing and 165.0 yards passing so far this season.

Home and Away

The Ball State Cardinals are 0-0 at home this season, 0-0 against conference opponents and 0-1 against non-conference opponents.
At home the Cardinals are averaging 0.0 scoring, and holding teams to 0.0 points scored on defense.
The UAB Blazers 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 Blazers are averaging 0.0 scoring, and holding teams to 0.0 points scored on defense.

[New York Knight]

When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 9, 2017
Where: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Michigan

Preview: Western Michigan at Michigan State
Gracenote
Sep 5, 2017

Michigan State looks to defeat a Mid-American Conference team for the second week in a row when it hosts Western Michigan in a non-conference contest on Saturday. The Spartans easily defeated Bowling Green in their season opener but might have a little tougher time with the defending MAC champs, who went toe-to-toe with then-No. 4 USC last weekend.

Coach Mark Dantonio's squad looked solid with Brian Lewerke under center in the opener, as the sophomore passed for 250 yards and three touchdowns, and Lewerke also led the team's running attack with 69 yards. Junior LJ Scott fumbled twice and managed just 39 yards on 15 carries, well below expectations for last year's leading rusher for the Spartans. The Michigan State defense was impressive, holding Bowling Green to just 67 rushing yards on 24 carries, but it will get a much bigger challenge against the Broncos. LeVante Bellamy (102 yards) and Jamauri Bogan (77) combined for 179 of Western Michigan's 263 yards on the ground against USC, giving first-year coach Tim Lester confidence his team can run on anyone.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Michigan State -7

ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN (0-1): With star quarterback Zach Terrell having graduated, Lester has handed the reins of the Broncos' offense to John Wassink, who didn't exactly impress in the season opener. Wassink hit 50 percent of his passes but finished with just 67 yards, averaging six yards per completion, not the kind of numbers that will draw attention away from the Western Michigan running game. In order to stop teams from stacking the line to stop Bellamy and Bogan, Wassink is going to have to hit some passes down the field to keep opposing safeties honest.

ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (1-0): One big reason for the struggles of the Spartans' running game, especially Scott, was the play of the offensive line, which had its troubles opening holes. Lewerke had many of his game-high 69 yards on the ground on scrambles after going back looking to pass, showing the protection was breaking down a bit as well. For Lewerke to become a consistent passer and the running game to get back on track against Western Michigan, a young offensive line must come together and play better, especially with Big Ten play looming.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Michigan State junior CB Tyson Smith had a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown against Bowling Green in his first game back after suffering an offseason stroke.

2. The Spartans held Bowling Green to just 2-of-13 on third-down conversions.

3. WR Felton Davis III had four catches for 35 yards for Michigan State last week, with two of his receptions being touchdowns.

PREDICTION: Michigan State 27, Western Michigan 21

[New York Knight]

When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 9, 2017
Where: Beaver Stadium, University Park, Pennsylvania

Preview: Pittsburgh at Penn State
Gracenote
Sep 6, 2017

Penn State has achieved its highest ranking in the coaches poll since 2008 and the fourth-ranked Nittany Lions have plenty of incentive entering a matchup at home with rival Pittsburgh on Saturday. The rivalry, which began in 1893, was rekindled last year for the first time since 2000 and it resulted in a thrilling 42-39 win for the Panthers.

That was part of a 2-2 start for an unranked Penn State team, but the tables have turned dramatically since then and coach James Franklin's squad is riding high after a 52-0 rout of Akron to begin its campaign, although he insists on treating the Pitt game like any other. "I guess what I don't understand is, are we supposed to prepare harder this week than we did last week?" Franklin told reporters who pressed him on the importance of the rivalry. "I mean, if we didn't play well and I said, 'Well, yeah, we didn't prepare as hard this week because we've got this game next week that's a big game,' I don't get it." Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi, whose team squeaked past FCS squad Youngstown State in overtime last week, has taken a different approach and is keeping his players from speaking with the media, telling reporters Monday that he wanted his team "locked in" for the rivalry game. Perhaps they were focused on the Nittany Lions too early, giving up 21 unanswered second-half points to the Penguins before surviving 28-21 on an end-zone interception in the extra session.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: Penn State -21

ABOUT PITT (1-0): The Panthers rolled up 341 yards on the ground against the Nittany Lions last year and they would love a similar effort to keep the ball away from Penn State's explosive offense. Qadree Ollison (91 yards against Youngstown State) and Quadree Henderson (77 yards on nine carries) paced a 208-yard attack in the season opener, but most of it came in the first half and the support began to dry up, making things tougher for quarterback Max Browne (17-for-24, 140 yards, one TD). "Just a lack of focus, and when you start to feel good about yourself, you think, oh, this is easy, and you might not even know it," Narduzzi said of the second-half swoon. "But it happens."

ABOUT PENN STATE (1-0): Saquon Barkley found the end zone five times against the Panthers in 2016 so he's certainly on their radar, but the dynamic junior running back may pose an even bigger threat in the rematch. Barkley ran for 172 yards - 80 of them on a highlight-reel scamper in the second quarter that led to a 21-0 lead - and two TDs in the rout of Akron, providing a nice complement to another solid effort by quarterback Trace McSorley, who threw for 280 yards and two scores. Tight end Mike Gesicki had both TD receptions from McSorley and has scored in four straight games dating to last season.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Penn State has a 50-43-4 advantage in the series, including 17-6 at home.

2. Henderson became the second Panther ever to record at least 2,000 all-purpose yards in a season in 2016 and he had 155 (77 rushing, 71 on kickoff returns and seven receiving) against the Penguins.

3. McSorley needs 341 passing yards to move ahead of Wally Richardson and into 10th place on Penn State's all-time list.

PREDICTION: Penn State 45, Pittsburgh 17

[New York Knight]

When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 9, 2017
Where: High Point Solutions Stadium, Piscataway, New Jersey

Preview: Eastern Michigan at Rutgers
Gracenote
Sep 5, 2017

Rutgers hopes that an encouraging display in its season opener translates into Week 2 success when it hosts Eastern Michigan on Saturday. The Scarlet Knights were outscored 175-0 in three games against Top 10 opponents last season, but held their own in the first half before falling 30-14 to seventh-ranked Washington, and looks to keep improving under second-year coach Chris Ash by beating the Eagles for the second time in four years - following a 28-10 win in 2013.

"We did a lot of good things and made some mistakes in critical situations but I like the direction of this team going forward," Ash told reporters. "We need to keep developing and improving and working hard and staying focused on us and what we do." Rutgers has dropped 10 straight games dating back to last season, including four contests by 39 points or more, and seeks its first win at home since beating New Mexico 37-28 on Sept. 17, 2016. The Scarlet Knights boast a 12-3-1 record against teams in the Mid-American Conference and search for their first win against a MAC opponent as a member of the Big Ten. Eastern Michigan began the season with a 24-7 victory against Charlotte, but has struggled mightily against Big Ten foes while dropping all 38 of their previous meetings.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Rutgers -5

ABOUT EASTERN MICHIGAN (1-0): Senior quarterback Brogan Roback completed passes to 10 different receivers en route to 267 yards in the win against Charlotte. "We think we have some solid depth at wide receiver," Eastern Michigan coach Chris Creighton told reporters. "Brogan is at his best when he's taking what people are giving him and going through his reads." Ian Eriksen was named the MAC West Division Player of the Week after rushing for two touchdowns against the 49ers and Shaq Vann added 90 yards in his first game back from a shoulder injury, which cost him the bulk of the 2016 season.

ABOUT RUTGERS (0-1): Kyle Bolin, who spent three seasons at Louisville, threw for 178 yards and two touchdowns, but tossed two interceptions against Washington in his first start for the Scarlet Knights. Janarion Grant caught a touchdown pass in his first game after suffering a season-ending leg injury in Week 4 last season and Dacoven Bailey added the first TD catch of his collegiate career against the Huskies. Jerome Washington led the way with six catches for 36 yards, which is the most receptions by a tight end since Tyler Kroft had eight in a win over Maryland in 2014.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Rutgers is 4-11 at home since the start of the 2015 season.

2. The Scarlet Knights are 10-3 in their last 13 games against non-conference foes.

3. Eastern Michigan is 0-58 against Power Five opponents.

PREDICTION: Rutgers 31, Eastern Michigan 24

[New York Knight]

When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 9, 2017
Where: Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, Virginia

Preview: Indiana at Virginia
Gracenote
Sep 6, 2017

Bronco Mendenhall’s second season at Virginia began much better than his first. Just how far the Cavaliers have progressed will be determined Saturday when a feisty Indiana team visits after battling No. 2 Ohio State to a standoff well into the second half of its opener.

After going 102-53 in 11 years at BYU, Mendenhall’s Cavaliers were blitzed 37-20 in its opener last season by FCS Richmond on their way to a 2-10 campaign. Virginia did not dominate FCS foe William & Mary in the 2017 opener last week, but quarterback Kurt Benkert threw for 262 yards and three touchdowns in the 28-10 victory. Indiana, behind Richard Lagow’s 410 yards passing on a school-record 65 attempts, led the Buckeyes 14-13 at the half before succumbing 49-21 on Aug. 31. “The bottom line is that for 2 1/2 quarters, we went toe-to-toe with them," Indiana coach Tom Allen told reporters after the nationally televised contest at a sold-out Memorial Stadium. "We were leading and weren't able to finish, so that's on me. We can talk about breaking through and I'm not going to quit talking about it because breaking through is not one game."

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network. LINE: Indiana -3

ABOUT INDIANA (0-1): Simmie Cobbs Jr. had a breakout game for the Hoosiers, hauling in a career-high 11 receptions for 149 yards and one touchdown against the Buckeyes, while Luke Timian had 10 receptions for 72 yards. Those two will have to step up because last season’s top receiver, Nick Westbrook (995 yards), tore his ACL during the opening kickoff against Ohio State. Indiana will need to improve its seldom-used ground attack from a week ago, as the Hoosiers gained just 17 yards on 27 carries.

ABOUT VIRGINIA (1-0): Jordan Lewis ran for 80 yards and a touchdown and scored another through the air while Doni Dowling had six catches for 76 yards against the Tribe. The Cavaliers, who held William & Mary to 72 yards passing, will be tested by Lagow and the Hoosiers' high-octane pass offense. Virginia converted just 5-of-11 field goals last season, and after freshman A.J. Meija missed badly on a 42-yard attempt last week, Mendenhall and his staff four times went for it on fourth down.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Virginia leads the all-time series 2-0 and is riding a four-game winning streak against the Big Ten.

2. Saturday will be the second time the Hoosiers have ever played in the state of Virginia. The first was a 47-7 loss to Virginia.

3. Benkert has started 11 career games for the Cavaliers and in five of those starts he has thrown at least three touchdowns.

PREDICTION: Indiana 27, Virginia 21

[New York Knight]

When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 9, 2017
Where: Carrier Dome, Syracuse, New York

Preview: Middle Tennessee at Syracuse
Gracenote
Sep 5, 2017

Following a crisp performance in its season opener, Syracuse hosts Middle Tennessee on Saturday in an intriguing matchup against a familiar face. Middle Tennessee's defensive coordinator is Scott Shafer, former head coach for Syracuse who was fired before Dino Babers took over prior to last season.

Babers' squad kicked off the 2017 campaign with a 50-7 rout of Central Connecticut last weekend as Eric Dungey threw for three touchdowns and ran for two others. The final yardage margin was 586-167 in favor of Syracuse, but Babers is hoping for more improvement in Week 2. "Football teams grow the most between the first and second week. We're looking for a lot of growth for our next game," he said. Middle Tennessee lost 28-6 to Vanderbilt in its season opener in a contest that coach Rick Stockstill later termed "a complete mismatch."

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network. LINE: Syracuse -8.5

ABOUT MIDDLE TENNESSEE (0-1): Brent Stockstill needed 31 pass attempts to throw for 166 yards and did not get his team on the board against Vanderbilt until the fourth quarter. The rushing attack did not give him much help, totaling 49 yards on 26 attempts. On the bright side, Middle Tennessee did a nice job limiting turnovers (one) and penalties (four).

ABOUT SYRACUSE (1-0): The Orange allowed only eight first downs in Week 1 - the fewest ever given up by a Babers-coached team. Dungey led the squad in every facet offensively with 328 passing yards and 51 more on the ground, while Steve Ishmael registered career highs with 12 catches for 134 yards. Dungey, a junior who has missed time to injury in each of his first two seasons, needs one 300-yard passing effort to break the all-time Orange record.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Shafer went 14-23 in three seasons at Syracuse.

2. Middle Tennessee WR Richie James set the school's all-time record with his 15th 100-yard receiving game last week.

3. Last season, the Blue Raiders (eighth) and Orange (11th) were both among the top passing offenses in the nation.

PREDICTION: Syracuse 37, Middle Tennessee 27

[New York Knight]

When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 9, 2017
Where: Lane Stadium, Blacksburg, Virginia

Preview: Delaware at Virginia Tech
Gracenote
Sep 6, 2017

Virginia Tech and talented freshman quarterback Josh Jackson must avoid a letdown after an emotional season-opening victory when it hosts FCS member Delaware for its home opener Saturday afternoon. Jackson accounted for 336 yards as the 18th-ranked Hokies outlasted rival West Virginia 31-24 at FedEx Field in Landover, MD on Sunday night and will have to get ready for a quick turnaround.

“The challenge for (Jackson) will be we’ve had several weeks to prepare for the West Virginia defense and those looks and checks and all sorts of things,” Virginia Tech coach Justin Fuente told reporters. “Now, he’s going to have to be able to do it in six days. That will be another step for him in terms of digesting the game plan.” Jackson registered 101 of the team’s 234 rushing yards in the opener and has an experienced top target in senior Cam Phillips, who added a career-high 138 receiving yards. The Hokies will look to get back on track defensively after giving up 592 yards against West Virginia - 371 through the air - when they face the experienced Blue Hens, who went 4-7 in 2016. Danny Rocco won his debut as coach last week as Delaware defeated Delaware State 22-3 in its opener, allowing 224 total yards.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network Extra. LINE: None

DELAWARE (1-0): Senior Diante Cherry accumulated 102 yards rushing and receiving combined in last week’s victory with a pair of touchdowns and is the top threat for junior quarterback Joe Walker, who went 13-for-26 through the air for 192 yards and a score. Thomas Jefferson rushed for 102 yards in the opener and fellow junior Kareem Williams added another 67 for the well-balanced offense. The Blue Hens’ defense must step up in class Saturday after forcing three turnovers against Delaware State as senior linebacker Charles Bell (seven tackles) and freshmen defensive back Nijuel Hill (interception) led the way.

VIRGINIA TECH (1-0): Jackson, from Ann Arbor, Mich., completed 15-of-26 passes against the Mountaineers and Phillips caught seven of them while freshman Sean Savoy hauled in four. The Hokies will likely continue to use multiple running backs until one takes charge as sophomore Deshawn McClease led the way with 51 yards on Sunday while juniors Steven Peoples (39) and Travon McMillian (34) also contributed. Cornerback Adonis Alexander made a career-high nine tackles and knocked down three passes in the opener for a defense that made a big stop deep in its own territory during the final minute Sunday.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Phillips needs 72 yards to pass Ricky Scales (2,272 from 1972-74) for fourth on the school’s all-time list.

2. Delaware junior WR Vinny Papale (two receptions, 37 yards in the opener) is the son of former Philadelphia Eagles special teams star Vince Papale, who inspired the movie “Invincible.”

3. Virginia Tech senior K Joey Slye has 328 career points and needs nine to pass Lee Suggs for second on the school’s all-time list.

PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 38, Delaware 10

[New York Knight]

Preview: Old Dominion at Massachusetts
When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 9, 2017
Where: Warren McGuirk Alumni Stadium, Amherst, Massachusetts
Quick Hits

Overall Team Offense

The Massachusetts Minutemen are ranked 68 on offense, averaging 427.0 yards per game. The Minutemen are averaging 97.0 yards rushing and 330.0 yards passing so far this season.
The Old Dominion Monarchs are ranked 105 on offense, averaging 285.0 yards per game. The Monarchs are averaging 98.0 yards rushing and 187.0 yards passing so far this season.

Home and Away

The Massachusetts Minutemen are 0-1 at home this season, 0-0 against conference opponents and 0-2 against non-conference opponents.
At home the Minutemen are averaging 35.0 scoring, and holding teams to 38.0 points scored on defense.
The Old Dominion Monarchs 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 Monarchs are averaging 0.0 scoring, and holding teams to 0.0 points scored on defense.

[New York Knight]

When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 9, 2017
Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa, Alabama

Preview: Fresno State at Alabama
Gracenote
Sep 6, 2017

Top-ranked Alabama won a season-opening showdown and now looks to get sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts untracked when it hosts Fresno State on Saturday. Hurts passed for 96 yards and was limited to 55 on the ground as the Crimson Tide recorded a 24-7 win over then-No. 3 Florida State.

Hurts was spotty in the opener while going 10-of-18 passing and coach Nick Saban said he saw a mix of good and bad things. "Look, it was the first game," Saban told reporters. "I'm not here to protect the player. He'd tell you there were things he could do better." Saban referred to first-year Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford (formerly California's head man) as "a really good offensive coach" but the Bulldogs will be hard-pressed to compete with the Crimson Tide. Tedford inherited a 1-11 squad and showed no mercy in the opener while rolling up 613 yards in a 66-0 drubbing of FCS program Incarnate Word.


TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Alabama -43.5

ABOUT FRESNO STATE (1-0): Sophomore quarterback Chason Vigil passed for 246 yards and one touchdown in his first game in the Tedford system as the Bulldogs posted their highest-scoring output since the Derek Carr-led team put up 69 against New Mexico in 2013. Junior wideout KeeSean Johnson caught seven passes for 120 yards for his second career 100-yard outing as he looks to build off last season's 66-catch campaign. Junior defensive end Emeka Ndoh had a fierce showing in the opener with two sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery.

ABOUT ALABAMA (1-0): The Crimson Tide lost junior outside linebacker Christian Miller (biceps) and sophomore outside linebacker Terrell Lewis (elbow) for the season during the victory over Florida State, while sophomore outside linebacker Anfernee Jennings underwent ankle surgery and senior outside linebacker Rashaan Evans (groin) also will likely sit out. Junior Keith Holcombe will fill one of the outside spots while senior middle linebacker Shaun Dion Hamilton is coming off a huge game in which he posted eight tackles, including a career-best 3.5 for loss. Senior wideout Calvin Ridley had seven receptions for 82 yards against the Seminoles and caught his 15th career touchdown pass, tied for fifth in Crimson Tide history.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Alabama has never faced Fresno State but the Crimson Tide are 6-1 against current members of the Mountain West.

2. The Bulldogs are 0-7 against current SEC programs, and lost 73-21 to Ole Miss in 2015 in the most-recent meeting.

3. Crimson Tide junior RB Damien Harris, who had four 100-yard outings last season, rushed for 73 yards with an impressive 8.1 average in the opener.

PREDICTION: Alabama 51, Fresno State 14

[New York Knight]

When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 9, 2017
Where: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium, Fayetteville, Arkansas

Preview: TCU at Arkansas
Gracenote
Sep 5, 2017

After routing overmatched Jackson State 63-0 last week, TCU will have a much-sterner test when it visits Arkansas on Saturday. Last season, the Razorbacks posted a thrilling 41-38 victory in double overtime to snap TCU's then 14-game home winning streak.




“We understand that if you want to be a Top 25, top 10 team, you’ve got to win big games in non-conference, and we consider Arkansas a big game,” TCU coach Gary Patterson told reporters. Arkansas got 120 yards rushing and a touchdown from 18-year-old freshman Chase Hayden in its season-opening 49-7 victory over Florida A&M. Hayden's breakout performance will help quell the concern that Razorback fans felt after star running back Rawleigh Williams' career came to an end following a second neck injury in the spring. The Razorbacks will look to slow down Patterson's Air Raid offense by controlling the ball on the ground like they did last season when they rushed 43 times for 180 yards.
TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: TCU -3

ABOUT TCU (1-0): Quarterback Kenny Hill threw for 206 yards and four touchdowns, two to Desmon White, and helped TCU take a comfortable lead early on as the Horned Frogs won their 16th straight home opener last week. Hill threw for 377 yards and an overtime TD to Taj Williams in last year's setback, but the Horned Frogs had to settle for a field goal in their second overtime possession, setting up a game-winning run by Arkansas. The Horned Frogs have not gone on the road for an SEC game since 1997, when they lost at Vanderbilt 40-16 and their last win in an SEC stadium came against the Commodores in 1995.
ABOUT ARKANSAS (1-0): The Razorbacks want to keep the dynamic Hill in the pocket this time after watching him turn a 20-7 third-quarter deficit into a 28-20 lead with three quick drives in the fourth quarter. "You could see right away he was going to have an impact," Arkansas coach Bret Bielema told reporters. "As you can see, he can make a lot of things happen in a short amount of space." Austin Allen was 14-for-19 passing for 135 yards and a touchdown in limited action in the Razorbacks opening-week blowout.

EXTRA POINTS

1. TCU's Kyle Hicks, who ran for 192 yards and five touchdowns against Baylor last season, didn't play in the opener because of a leg injury and is questionable for Saturday.
2. Arkansas' Ryan Pulley, the team's top cover cornerback this season, will miss significant time after sustaining a pectoral injury last week .
3. The 65 yards allowed last week by TCU were the second-fewest in FBS to the 33 allowed by Mississippi State against Charleston Southern.

PREDICTION: Arkansas 30, TCU 28

[New York Knight]

When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 9, 2017
Where: Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, Austin, Texas

Preview: San Jose State at Texas
Gracenote
Sep 5, 2017

Texas has plenty of questions to answer as it prepares to host San Jose State on Saturday afternoon after a disappointing opener. The status of starting quarterback Shane Buechele, who was injured but finished the 51-41 loss to Maryland, might be the biggest one.

Buechele has a bruised throwing shoulder, did not practice Tuesday and would be evaluated during the week, first-year coach Tom Herman reported Monday. "If he can play (Saturday) not to the detriment to his team, then he's going to do that." Herman said. The Spartans are also trying to solve the quarterback question. Redshirt freshman Montel Aaron came off the bench in both of the Spartans' games to replace starting sophomore Josh Love.

TV: 3:30 p.m., Longhorn Network. LINE: Texas -23.5.

ABOUT SAN JOSE STATE (1-1): Love (22-of-45, 220 passing yards, two TDs) threw three interceptions in an 42-22 opening week loss to South Florida and was pulled after four scoreless possessions last week. Aaron (18-of-30 for 269 yards, four TDs, no INTs this season) was backed by Zamore Zigler's 100-yard game in the 34-13 win against Cal Poly. Bailey Gaither has nine catches for 156 yards and three scores while linebacker Frank Ginda leads the Spartan defense with 30 tackles.

ABOUT TEXAS (0-1): Freshman Sam Ehlinger will get first team snaps in Buechele's absence and quarterback-turned-receiver Jerrod Heard will split time between the two positions and lead the second team offense. Texas rushed for 98 yards in the loss, getting 31 yards from Chris Warren III and 21 yards and a score from Buechele (375 yards passing and two TDs). The Longhorns held Maryland to 3-of-11 on third down but allowed 482 yards -- including four touchdowns of at least 20 yards -- and had a field goal blocked and returned for a score.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Texas had zero non-offensive touchdowns during the 2016 season and recorded three -- interception return by Holton Hill, a blocked field goal return by Hill and a 91-yard punt return by Reggie Hemphill-Mapps -- in the 2017 opener.

2. Texas has never played San Jose State but is 13-1 against teams from the current Mountain West Conference.

3. Former Texas offensive assistant coach Andrew Sowder is in his first year as the Spartans' offensive coordinator.

PREDICTION: Texas 49, San Jose State 28

[New York Knight]

When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, September 9, 2017
Where: Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Preview: Villanova at Temple
Gracenote
Sep 5, 2017

For the first time since 2012, Philadelphia rivals Temple and Villanova will square off Saturday. The host Owls are looking to bounce back after a convincing loss at Notre Dame to open their campaign.

Temple was trounced, 49-16, in its Week 1 contest despite a respectable first career start for quarterback Logan Marchi. The sophomore threw for 245 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions and found nine different receivers in the lopsided affair. Ryquell Armstead, who averaged 5.9 yards per carry last season, was limited to 67 yards on 19 attempts and will aim to break out against the Wildcats. FCS member Villanova won its opener under new coach Mark Ferrante and is 1-0 for the first time since 2009.

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

ABOUT VILLANOVA (1-0): Ferrante spent 30 years as a Villanova assistant before taking over for the retired Andy Talley in the offseason. In Ferrante's first game leading the Wildcats, Zach Bednarczyk threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, while Matt Gudzak ran for a career-high 142 yards and two scores. "We’ll take a deep breath. We’ll enjoy this one for probably less than 24 hours," Ferrante told reporters that day, "and then we’ll be back in the office preparing for the next one."

ABOUT TEMPLE (0-1): The Owls gave up 606 total yards against the Fighting Irish and never recovered after falling behind 21-3 in the first quarter. Coach Geoff Collins, guiding Temple for the first time, was disappointed, saying that "there have been a lot of fun moments and some exciting moments I was really looking forward to as a first-time head coach, and this was not one of them." Junior wideout Ventell Bryant (hamstring), the team's leading receiver in 2016, is expected to play after missing the season opener.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Temple won 41-10 in the last meeting and has won three straight in the series.

2. Bryant needs 155 receiving yards to move into a tie for 10th place on the school's all-time list.

3. Troy Pelletier, who had 11 catches for 141 yards in Villanova's opener, is second on the school's all-time catches list.

PREDICTION: Temple 27, Villanova 13