Thursday 8-30-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

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Panthers vs. Steelers Preview and Predictions in NFL

NFL Previews 29th August 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 08/29/2018

The Carolina Panthers appear ready to go for the 2018 season, and most observers believe that if Greg Olsen stays healthy, Christian McCaffrey carries the ball more and Cam Newton responds to his new O-coordinator, they can take a trip back to the playoffs.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have gone through a little of their training camp drama surrounding All-Pro running back Le'Veon Bell, but those situations will resolve themselves. The Steelers, under Mike Tomlin, have been a pretty consistent proposition and there is little question that they'll be playoff contenders once again.

The Panthers and Steelers get together on Thursday night at Heinz Field in the preseason finale.

TV: 7:30 PM ET. Local Coverage, NFL Network (replay). LINE: Steelers -2.5 (-115). O/U: 36.5.

ABOUT THE PANTHERS: There was an interesting story on the Sports Illustrated website about the influence new Carolina offensive coordinator Norv Turner was going to have over this offense and in particular quarterback Cam Newton. And the opinion was that the presence of Turner was probably going to benefit Newton a number of ways, including allowing him to emphasize downfield passing a little more. Remember that Newton has a strong arm, but isn't the most accurate thrower in the world, so expecting him to be a trigger man for some version of the West Coast offense is not realistic. Of course, having the consistent running game very much a part of any success Carolina is going to have. McCaffrey will be a great check-down receiver, but will also have his chance to demonstrate he can run between the tackles home. And CJ Anderson, who has played his previous NFL career in Denver, is thought to be an upgrade over aging Jonathan Stewart. The Panthers are obviously happy about their 25-14 victory over the Patriots last week, but as far as the situation involving Newton's backup is concerned, it's still so there doesn't seem clear. Garrett Gilbert and Taylor Heinicke both threw for 46 yards last week, and between them and Kyle Allen, they'll all get another chance to shine against Pittsburgh.



ABOUT THE STEELERS: Joshua Dobbs is going to get the start for the Steelers at quarterback against the Panthers. The second-year man from Tennessee is the fourth different QB to start again during this pre-season, and interestingly enough, Mike Tomlin indicated that it is possible that his team could keep four quarterbacks coming out of the exhibition schedule. On Thursday night, Landry Jones might also play, in addition to rookie Mason Rudolph. Certainly, Dobbs has some upside, as he is one of those "dual-purpose" types, who is smart enough to understand aeronautical engineering, so the NFL playbook is obviously a snap. He was the fourth-round draft pick last season, but with Jones having had some starts under his belt and Rudolph somebody the Pittsburgh management feels as some upside, there's a tendency to look at Dobbs as the one who could be the "odd man out." Le'Veon Bell denied a story that he would be reporting to the team on Labor Day. The All-Pro running back, who is not signed his franchise tender, is, by all accounts, in shape, and according to offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner, will have a regular workload in the season opener if and when he decides to come back aboard.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Panthers' new owner, David Tepper, who paid a record $2.2 billion for the team, is already talking about doing some things that former owner Jerry Richardson would not have done; namely, include a new uniform combination with black helmets, and construct an indoor practice facility.

2. Taylor Heinicke will start at quarterback for Carolina on Thursday night and will play a quarter. He spent time under current Panthers' offensive coordinator Norv Turner when both were with the Minnesota Vikings. Garrett Gilbert will play the second quarter, with Kyle Allen taking over after halftime.

3. The Panthers are priced at +225 to win the NFC South and +2500 to win Super Bowl 53. The Steelers are the -300 favorites to win the AFC North and +850 to emerge as Super Bowl champions.

PREDICTION: Steelers 20, Panthers 14

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Jaguars vs. Bucs Preview and Predictions in NFL

NFL Previews 29th August 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 08/29/2018

Not that many people expected the Jacksonville Jaguars to make the quantum leap they did last season, but it gives you an indication as to what can be accomplished through defense, a running game and conservative play that minimizes mistakes. But they have to hope that they can get something dynamic out of Blake Bortles without having to pay for it with interceptions and fumbles.

The Tampa Bay Bucs hope that they don't have to start behind the eight-ball, so to speak, as they will miss quarterback Jameis Winston for the first three games in an extremely competitive division (NFC South) that had three teams in the playoffs last year. But the talent is there, at least on the offensive side, to take some opponents to the wire.

The Jaguars and Bucs do battle on Thursday night at Raymond James Stadium in the finale for both teams in this NFL pre-season.

TV: 7:30 PM ET. Local Coverage, NFL Network (replay). LINE: Bucs -1.5. O/U: 35.5.

ABOUT THE JAGS: The Jaguars suffered a big blow in the receiving corps when Marqise Lee, who suffered a knee injury against the Atlanta Falcons last week, was placed on injured reserve. He will not be available this season, and that may, on the surface, make it look like Jacksonville is a little thin at the wide receiver position, with Keelan Cole and Dede Westbrook, both of whom were rookies last year, joining Dante Moncrief. The Jags have to get some kind of production out of DJ Chark, the second-round draft pick out of LSU. And from listening to head coach Doug Marrone, who said he is "comfortable" with his team's situation, they won't be adding a veteran. It is unclear whether defensive tackle Marcell Dareus, who sustained a pectoral injury, will be ready for the regular season opener. An original report said he had returned to practice on Monday, but indeed he had not. Another defensive lineman and Dante Fowler is the subject of trade rumors, especially after you suspended by the team for fighting. He also has a one-game suspension at the start of the regular season. It is a virtual certainty that he won't be with the team next year (they didn't exercise an option for 2019), but says he feels good from a physical standpoint: “Physically, I feel really good. My knee is really good. I feel faster than I’ve ever been, more explosive, jump higher than I’ve ever been."



ABOUT THE BUCS: It was a very disappointing result for the Buccaneers against the Detroit Lions last time out, but at least they were able to show some mastery with their first unit. The Bucs led 27-6 in the third quarter before Detroit started to mount a comeback. By this time, James Winston and Ryan Fitzpatrick were both out of the game. Winston threw for 60 yards in what will be his last pre-season action, and in fact, his last action until Week 4 since he is suspended for the first three games. Wide receiver Mike Evans was being monitored after taking a blow to the back in the game that caused him to be removed, and that is one guy Tampa Bay cannot afford to be without. There has to be some concern at the running back position, as Charles Sims was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury. The options are not overly attractive; Peyton Barber is going to be the feature back as it stands now. It really should have been second-round draft pick Ronald Jones from USC, but Dirk Koetter and his offensive staff have been sorely disappointed with what they've seen from him in camp. The top three quarterbacks will sit for the Bucs in the preseason finale, including Ryan Griffin, who is going to start the season as the #2 man. So Austin Allen, who played his college ball at Arkansas, may go the entire way for Tampa Bay.

EXTRA POINTS

1. With 322 yards on the ground last season, Blake Bortles is the Jags' second-leading returning rusher.

2. The aforementioned Fitzpatrick, who will start the first three games for the Bucs, passed for 1103 yards and seven TD's with three interceptions last year. He had previously spent two seasons with the New York Jets, and in 2015 he got close to leading the Jets to the playoffs.

3. The Jaguars are priced at +150 to win the AFC North, and +1700 to be crowned Super Bowl champions. The Buccaneers are +950 to win the NFC South and +5500 to win the Super Bowl.

PREDICTION: Jaguars 19, Bucs 17

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Bills vs. Bears Preview and Predictions in NFL

NFL Previews 29th August 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 08/29/2018

It's not often that you have a genuine battle to see who will start at quarterback coming down to the last game of the preseason, but that's exactly the situation for the Buffalo Bills as they enter their finale. And it may turn out that a youngster who experienced one of the most embarrassing outings of 2017 could wind up the opening day starter.

Of course, if you follow the NFL at all, you know that the Bills have a good idea who their quarterback of the future is. So do the Chicago Bears, who made the commitment to Mitchell Trubisky, with first-year head coach Matt Nagy accepting the responsibility of bringing him along.

The Bills and Bears will meet up on Thursday night at Soldier Field, and it's likely we won't be seeing a lot of starters in the game.

TV: 8 PM ET. Local Coverage, NFL Network (replay). LINE: Bears -3 (-105). O/U: 36.5.

ABOUT THE BILLS: The original plan was for AJ McCarron, who had been languishing as a backup in Cincinnati, to assume the starting job in Buffalo until Josh Allen, the first-round draft pick out of Wyoming, was ready to play. Forgotten in this whole scenario was Nathan Peterman, who made a start in place of Tyrod Taylor against the Los Angeles Chargers last season and threw five interceptions in the first half. Well, this is basically what happened – McCarron has suffered an injury to his shoulder (first reported as a broken collarbone) and he's been held out of action. There is a little bit of mystery surrounding this, but the bottom line is that he won't play Thursday night. Allen threw for just 34 yards last week and had to leave to be evaluated for a concussion. Then Peterman came in and completed 16 out of 21 passes with 200 yards in the second half. Head coach Sean McDermott has indicated that he doesn't really have any problem at all starting Peterman in the season opener, but whoever takes snaps a is going to be working with a tattered offensive line. That's one of the reasons the team has been careful with running back LeSean McCoy (1138 yards last year), who is nursing a groin injury.



ABOUT THE BEARS: So will the Bears' first-round draft pick, linebacker Roquan Smith out of Georgia, hit the field for some pre-season action before the real thing starts? Well, on Tuesday, Nagy said that Smith probably wouldn't play. But this would not affect his ability to be involved in the regular-season opener September 9 against the Green Bay Packers. What would probably happen is that he would be operating under a snap count. Smith held out for three weeks, making him the last first-round NFL pick to sign a contract. Not only is Nagy not going to play his starters against Buffalo, he held almost all of them out last week against Kansas City. That was an unconventional move, but remember that the Bears have played an extra pre-season game, having participated in the Hall of Fame Game against Baltimore, which kicked off the season. As for quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, he is getting busy putting together a game plan for Green Bay. And the starters on both sides of the ball are occupied with preparations for the Packers, as we imagine is the case with the coaching staff. Kevin White, who came to the Bears as a first-round draft pick but has been felled by injuries for a good part of his tenure, caught his first TD pass last week - a 29-yarder off the arm of backup QB Chase Daniel. "It's just the beginning," says White. Meanwhile, Javon Wims, who arrived this season as an undrafted rookie out of Georgia, had 114 yards receiving against the Chiefs. The Bears may wind up with some depth at the receiver position after all.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Bears released veteran guard Earl Watford, who had been a starter in Arizona but had difficulty hooking on after that, having been cut by Jacksonville before coming to the Windy City. Watford was quickly signed by Cleveland.

2. Adam Shaheen, a second-year tight end who could be one of Chicago's top red zone targets, suffered an ankle injury against Kansas City, but Nagy said that he would not have to go on injured reserve. The expectation is that the Bears are going to start the season with four tight ends on the roster.

3. The Bills are priced at +950 to win the AFC East and +6600 to win the Super Bowl. The Bears are +700 to bring home the bacon in the NFC North and +8500 to win the Super Bowl.

PREDICTION: Bills 21, Bears 16

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Cowboys vs. Texans Preview and Predictions in NFL

NFL Previews 29th August 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 08/29/2018

When the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans get together in the pre-season, it isn't necessarily an all-out "Battle for the Lone Star State." But there's always a little pride on the line, even if it is mostly second and third-stringers participating since the respective fan bases probably care a great deal.

For the Texans, this season is about getting healthier, as injuries ruined them last year. Quarterback Deshaun Watson and defensive end JJ Watt have a chance to be contributing from the start, and that could make a world of difference.

The Cowboys have a big void in the middle of the offensive line to deal with, and that could be an ongoing issue for them throughout the season. But if Ezekiel Elliott can stay on the field, they can figure out a way around it.

The Cowboys and Texans will meet at NRG Stadium in Houston for the pre-season finale.

TV: 8 PM ET. Local Coverage, NFL Network (replay). LINE: Texans -4 O/U: 34.

ABOUT THE COWBOYS: Right guard Zack Martin, who suffered a knee injury, has been practicing and is considered to be a good possibility to make a post for Week 1. That's great news for the Cowboys, who are going to be without center Travis Frederick for a while. Joe Looney will replace Frederick for as long as it takes, but he may be held out of Thursday's game so as not to risk injury to him and put the Dallas offensive line even further in a hole. Frederick is going to team meetings and watching practice, as he continues to receive treatment for Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Any timetable for his return is very uncertain. Is there a battle between Cooper Rush and Mike White for the backup job behind Dak Prescott? The Cowboys probably feel a little awkward about having a rookie in that position, but White, who set records at Western Kentucky, has been impressive. Some of the scouts who saw him at the combine felt as if he was about as NFL-ready as anybody. Linebacker Leighton Vander Esch, the first-round draft pick out of Boise State, will miss his third pre-season game with a strained groin, and there is some doubt as to whether he will be in the lineup for the opener against the Carolina Panthers. He was not ticketed to be a starter at middle linebacker anyway; Jaylon Smith, who has been impressive coming off the knee injury that eliminated his rookie season, is #1 on the depth chart over there.



ABOUT THE TEXANS: There is no question that the Texans are going to be healthier than they were last season when they placed more people on injured reserve than any other team. But that does not mean they are completely free of injury. Running back D'Onta Foreman, who suffered an Achilles injury last year and is still recovering, had to be put on the reserve/PUP list, which means that he will not be available for the first six games of the season. The Texans were not one of those teams that went out and got a lot of backfield help in the off-season, so what they are going to be left with are Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue. And is that enough? Foreman, who had been a 2000-yard rusher for the Texas Longhorns, could have given that position group some flexibility. An encouraging sign is that Deshaun Watson came out of the pre-season in one piece, and now the Texans can have him from the start of the season. Watson did not have a big outing against the Rams last week, throwing for just 15 yards and being intercepted. Seantrel Henderson, who will be the starting right tackle, had a non-cancerous cyst removed and should be good to go for the season opener against the New England Patriots. Pass rusher Whitney Mercilus, who got All-Pro recognition two years ago but had a pectoral muscle tear that sidelined him for the most part last season, is on target to play against New England, even though he has been dealing with a hamstring injury. And JJ Watt, who broke his leg last season, returned to the field and looked just fine against the Los Angeles Rams last week.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Kellen Moore, the Cowboys' new quarterback coach, spent six seasons in the NFL, and in 2015 he threw for 435 yards, becoming only the fifth player in franchise history to get beyond 400 yards.

2. Will Fuller has been a curious case for the Texans - burning speed, bad hands. The Notre Dame alumnus has been beset with hamstring issues but head coach Bill O'Brien, who says "Will's doing good," indicates there isn't any real reason he wouldn't be expected to play the season opener.

3. The Cowboys are priced at +375 to win the NFC East and +2000 to win the Super Bowl. The Texans are +175 to be the AFC South champions and +1700 to win Super Bowl 53.

PREDICTION: Texans 21, Cowboys 13

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Rams vs. Saints Preview and Predictions in NFL

NFL Previews 29th August 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 08/29/2018

The Los Angeles Rams pulled an incredible coup last season when they hired Sean McVay to be their head coach, and they immediately became one of the most dangerous offenses in football. This season you can expect much of the same, and maybe even a little more. But his defense that's the place they could have made even bigger strides as they've upgraded just about everywhere.

The New Orleans Saints made some strides on defense last season themselves, but they know they have a ways to go in that department. And as far as moving the football is concerned, as long as Drew Brees has it in his hands, this team has a chance to score

When the Rams and Saints get together, you know there is going to be the potential for a lot of fireworks. Unfortunately, that's not going to be the case when they meet up on Thursday night, and the respective teams' starters are not a factor. The Superdome will host the pre-season finale for both teams.

TV: 8 PM ET. Local Coverage, NFL Network (replay). LINE: Saints -4. O/U: 36.5.

ABOUT THE RAMS: The management went out and hired the youngest head coach in league history, and whereas Jeff Fisher the not have this team going in the right direction, Sean McVay appeared to have all the right answers. Jared Goff made a great turnaround in his sophomore season, tossing 28 touchdown passes with only seven interceptions, and Cooper Kupp became a legitimate go-to wide receiver, with 62 catches. No offensive renaissance could have been accomplished, however, without the wizardry of Todd Gurley, who had 1305 rushing yards and 788 through pass receptions, scoring 17 touchdowns overall. The question may be what this team will do if he does not duplicate what he did last season. Brandin Cooks was pretty dangerous when he played for the Saints and was a little more for New England last season, but now he's just been added to the arsenal in Los Angeles. The Rams were smart to have hired defensive coordinator Wade Phillips last season; he took his 3-4 scheme and helps the Rams improve enough to make the playoffs. However, we are looking at the possibility of tremendous steps forward this season, because the Rams have put together a genuine "shutdown" duo at corner, with Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters. If those two guys can handle receivers one-on-one, it frees up the rest of the secondary to snuff out any other offensive threats. Ndamukong Suh will be somewhere on that defensive line, and so will Aaron Donald, sooner or later. The problem with Donald is that he is holding out, looking for a better contract, just as he did last season, but this time around the Rams are in a little better position to deal with his absence.



ABOUT THE SAINTS: Apparently the Saints did not feel as if Taysom Hill or Tom Savage were ready to assume the backup position to Brees, so they made a deal with the New York Jets to acquire Teddy Bridgewater, who has missed the better part of the last two seasons with a knee injury. Bridgewater, originally a first-round draft pick by Minnesota, led the Vikings to the playoffs and found himself rewarded with a Pro Bowl berth in his second season. But everyone is by now familiar with the gruesome knee injury he suffered during 2016 training camp that changed his life. He looked pretty good in camp and during the pre-season games for the Jets, but there wasn't really a place for him, with Sam Darnold and veteran Josh McCown on hand. The Saints were hoping Cam Meredith would bounce back better from last year's ACL injury, especially as they had signed him to a contract that contained $5.4 million in guarantees. But he has not caught a pre-season pass so far, although from a health standpoint he says that "I feel like I'm starting to come around and feel like myself." At press time, it was expected that the Saints would sign a contract with wide receiver Tanner McEvoy, who has played all over the place, including the quarterback position in his days at the University of Wisconsin and some safety for the Seattle Seahawks, with whom he spent the last two seasons. As you may have guessed, he's also played plenty on special teams as well.

EXTRA POINTS

1. If you recall, Donald held out last season as well and did not come into the fold until one day before the season began. So he missed that first game, a romp over the Indianapolis Colts, playing for the first time in Week 2.

2. In three seasons with the Saints, current Los Angeles wide receiver Brandin Cooks caught 215 passes from Drew Brees, with 27 touchdowns, and he had back-to-back seasons of 1138 (2013) and 1173 yards (2016).

3. The Rams are -155 to win the NFC West and +800 to win the Super Bowl. The Saints are +125 to be champions of the NFC South and +1300 to emerge as Super Bowl champions.

PREDICTION: Saints 20, Rams 14

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Vikings vs. Titans Preview and Predictions in NFL

NFL Previews 29th August 2018 By Charles Jay for Scores And Stats
by Charles Jay Scores & Stats on 08/29/2018

Have the Minnesota Vikings taken the final step toward becoming a Super Bowl team? That is what they hope they've done with the free-agent acquisition of Kirk Cousins. What might make for smoother sailing in the NFC North, however, is a defensive unit that might just be the best in the NFL. So understandably the Vikings are brimming with confidence at the moment.

The Tennessee Titans have new uniforms and maybe a new attitude under head coach Mike Vrabel. They obviously weren't too bad last season, as they reached the playoffs. Marcus Mariota has upside, as he is bound to do better, statistically speaking, then he did in 2017. The next step would be beating out Jacksonville and Houston in the AFC South.

The Vikings and Titans will meet on Thursday night at 8 PM ET at Nissan Stadium in Nashville.

TV: 8 PM ET, Local Coverage, NFL Network (replay). LINE: Titans -1. O/U: 35.5.

ABOUT THE VIKINGS: The key to the Vikings' success on offense this year is likely to be the synergy between Cousins and new offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, who took the place of Pat Shurmur, who left to become head coach with the New York Giants. Cousins had built his career with strong relationships with his coordinators, and one of them was Sean McVay, currently the head coach of the Los Angeles Rams. Minnesota may not have a lot of depth that the receiver spot, but their front-line people are very strong. Adam Thielen caught underpasses last season, then Stefon Diggs provides a big-play element. Will Dalvin Cook be able to make a full recovery from his knee injury and become one of the most explosive feature backs in the league, as a lot of people are predicting? If so, that makes Minnesota pretty hard to stop. You know, it's interesting that Mike Zimmer, the head coach, gets all the credit for the defense going almost from last to first in the league, but one person who deserves a lot of credit is George Edwards, who is actually in his fifth year as the defensive coordinator. How good were they in 2017? Well, let's put it this way – they allowed fewer yards and fewer points than any other team in the NFL. And if Mike Hughes, the first-round draft pick, is as good as advertised, this unit gets even better.



ABOUT THE TITANS: Tennessee had an offense designed to be heavy on the run under Mike Mullarkey, who termed it "exotic smashmouth." With Vrabel, there'll be a little more of an effort to get things going through the air. Mariana had 13 touchdown passes and 50 interceptions, so naturally, some improvement is needed there. It would also help of right tackle Jack Conklin, easily one of the best in his position in the NFL, could be healthy and play the full schedule. The Titans a going to depend a lot more on Derrick Henry, the former Heisman Trophy winner, but what they get with Dion Lewis, the former New England Patriot, is a running back who is a premier pass catcher out of the backfield. There is a new offensive coordinator, as Greg Lafleur, who helped Sean McVay transform the Rams from the 32nd-ranked scoring offense to #1, has been hired. His special project is Mariota, and truth be told, he has a lot to work with. They will need to get something better out of the receiving corps, as there were not many significant moves made in that direction in the off-season. Keep in mind that Dick LeBeau, the Hall of Famer and defensive innovator, is no longer on the scene, but Dean Pees, who was the coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens, maybe in a position to upgrade a unit that ranked 13th in the NFL, giving up 328 yards per game last season. One big positive for Tennessee's stop unit is that these guys can really get after the quarterback (fifth in the league in sacks), and they have addressed defense in the draft as well, taking linebacker Rashaan Evans in the first round and defensive and Harold Landry of Boston College in the second. Landry, by the way, looks like he might be able to get past his recent ankle injury more quickly than anticipated.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Titans are 9-1-2 ATS in their last dozen regular-season games at Nissan Stadium.

2. The Vikings have covered 22 of their last 29 games at home.

3. Minnesota is -105 to win the NFC North and plus +850 to emerge victorious in Super Bowl LIII. Tennessee is +250 to be the AFC South champions, and +3500 to win the Super Bowl.

PREDICTION: Vikings 21, Titans 17

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Central Florida Knights vs. Connecticut Huskies Preview and Predictions 08-30-2018 in NCAAF

Central Florida may be hard-pressed to match its magical undefeated 2017 season, but the Knights begin a new campaign Thursday night at Connecticut in an American Athletic Conference battle expecting to make noise again. Junior quarterback McKenzie Milton, who was eighth in the Heisman Trophy voting last year, leads the way for 23rd-ranked UCF and former Missouri offensive coordinator Josh Heupel takes over as coach.

"Every quarter or every phase of our offseason has gotten better and better," Heupel, who replaced Scott Frost after he moved on to Nebraska, told reporters. "There's a little bit of uneasiness, naturally, when you go into a new phase because they don't know exactly what to expect. ... and they've transitioned really well." Milton threw for 37 touchdowns and ran for another eight last season as the Knights averaged a nation-best 48.2 points, capped by a 34-27 Peach Bowl victory over Auburn, and he still has plenty of weapons to use against an inexperienced UConn defense. Coach Randy Edsall begins the second season of his second stint with the Huskies and needs to replace nine starters on defense, but has told reporters this freshman class may be the best he has ever had at UConn. The Huskies' offense is more seasoned with senior David Pindell taking over full time at quarterback after he passed for more than 200 yards in the last three games of 2017, including 201 against UCF.


TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: UCF -23

ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA (2017: 13-0): Missouri finished in the top 10 in the nation for total offense last year under Heupel, a former Oklahoma quarterback, and Milton should prosper despite losing his top receiver Tre'Quan Smith to the NFL. Junior All-Conference center Jordan Johnson anchors the offensive line for the Knights, who return sophomore Otis Anderson and junior Adrian Killins Jr. (790 rushing yards) at running back along with junior receiver Dredrick Snelson (46 catches, 695 yards, eight TDs). New defensive coordinator Randy Shannon must replace some key people, but senior linebacker Pat Jasinski (104 tackles) and senior safety Kyle Gibson (four interceptions) are back to lead.

ABOUT CONNECTICUT (2017: 3-9): Edsall told reporters of Pindell: "He seems a lot faster, looks a lot faster than what he was a year (ago). Not a guy that talks a lot, but the kid is really respected, and he's a hard worker." The Huskies return their top rusher in sophomore Kevin Mensah (561 yards, four TDs), but redshirt freshman Zavier Scott from Texas was listed as the starter on this week's depth chart. Senior Hergy Mayala (43 catches, 615 yards, seven TDs in 2017) keys the receiving corps that includes five players (also tight end Aaron McLean and wideouts Keyion Dixon, Quayvon Skanes and Tyraiq Beals) who registered at least 30 receptions last season.


EXTRA POINTS

1. UCF WR Tre Nixon is added to the mix after transferring from Ole Miss where he spent two seasons - one as a redshirt.

2. UConn sophomore CB Tyler Coyle is the top returnee on defense after recording two interceptions and 67 tackles in 2017.

3. The Knights have won three of the five previous meetings, including a 49-24 triumph last year in Orlando, Fla.

PREDICTION: UCF 48, UConn 21

[Can'tPickAWinner]

New Mexico State Aggies vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers Preview and Predictions

NCAAF Previews 27th August 2018 by Gracenote
Minnesota failed to reach a bowl game in 2017 for the first time in six years and seek a bounce back campaign under second-year head coach P.J. Fleck, a quest that begins at home Thursday against New Mexico State. The Golden Gophers won three non-conference games to begin last season before faltering in Big Ten play, and he will be leaning on several young players as the program looks to rebuild.

Included in that lot is true freshman Zack Annexstad, who beat out redshirt freshman Tanner Morgan for the starting quarterback job. "Unbelievable competition," Fleck told reporters. "It was the hardest decision I've had to make as a head football coach. Both tremendous individuals." The Aggies will be battle-tested after playing one of the first games of the college football season Saturday against Wyoming, but they'll have a quick turnaround following the 29-7 loss. They were outgained 449-135 and didn't score until Matt Romero threw a 31-yard touchdown pass to Drew Dan with just 76 seconds remaining.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Minnesota -20

ABOUT NEW MEXICO STATE (0-1): Romero, a junior college transfer who won the quarterback job in a competition with four others this spring, completed 16-of-27 passes for 140 yards and the one score. "It is going to be a process with the quarterback position and I like the way he rebounded tonight," head coach Doug Martin told reporters of Romero, who was replaced briefly in the second half. "He had a tough night and he came back and made some throws at the end and as an offense, we did not have any turnovers tonight, which is always good." The Aggies had eight yards of offense at halftime and 93 of their 135 total yards came on the garbage-time TD drive.

ABOUT MINNESOTA (2017: 5-7): Annexstad is one of four freshman quarterbacks on the roster, which makes Minnesota one of three schools in the country - along with Kentucky and Nebraska - to have a quarterback crew with zero passing attempts at the collegiate level. Their key target will be junior wideout Tyler Johnson, who led the team with 677 receiving yards and seven touchdowns last year. Senior running back Rodney Smith is two years removed from a 16-TD campaign and enters the year needing 195 rushing yards to become the seventh player in program history to reach 3,000.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Gophers went the final 123-plus minutes of last season without scoring.

2. Dan had two catches for a game-high 60 yards in the opener.

3. The Aggies won the first matchup between the teams at Minnesota in 2011. The Gophers were victorious in a rematch at New Mexico State in 2013.

PREDICTION: Minnesota 28, New Mexico State 10

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Northwestern Wildcats vs. Purdue Boilermakers Preview and Predictions

NCAAF Previews 27th August 2018 by Gracenote
Northwestern looks to build off a successful 2017 season when it kicks off the new campaign on the road against Purdue on Thursday. The Wildcats are coming off a 10-win season, which culminated in a Music City Bowl victory, and their hopes of posting another double-digit win total rests squarely on the health of senior quarterback Clayton Thorson, who is a game-time decision for the opener after undergoing knee surgery in the offseason.

Northwestern owns the nation's current longest winning streak by a Power 5 team at eight games and aims to extend its run by beating Purdue for the fifth straight time. There's reason for optimism in West Lafayette as well after the Boilermakers finished last season with a winning record for the first time since 2011. Head coach Jeff Brohm flirted with a few high-profile openings in the offseason, but his decision to return for a second year bodes well for the offense, which returns nine starters, including quarterbacks David Blough and Elijah Sindelar as the Boilermakers search for their first win over Northwestern in eight years. "This year is a challenging schedule and opening up with Northwestern at home is a great opportunity for our football team," Brohm told reporters." We're excited that the expectations have risen but I think our players will respond."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Purdue -2.5

ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (2017: 10-3): Thorson threw for 2,844 yards and 15 touchdowns before tearing his ACL in the bowl win against Kentucky and will be backed up by walk-on T.J. Green, who could make his first career start if Thorson is not medically cleared to play on Thursday. Jeremy Larkin averaged six yards a carry last season and will shoulder the load at running back as he replaces Justin Jackson, who was drafted by the San Diego Chargers after leaving Evansville as Northwestern's leading all-time rusher. "We're fully aware of the challenge that we have ahead of us," Northwestern head coach Pat Fitzgerald told reporters. "We're playing an incredibly well coached, outstanding football team on the road."

ABOUT PURDUE (2017: 7-6): Blough was the starter before suffering a season-ending ankle injury on Nov. 4 while Sindelar threw for 2,099 yards and 18 touchdowns despite playing the final three games with a torn ACL, and both players are expected to share snaps in the season opener. Wide receiver Jackson Anthrop led the team with 47 receptions last season and should see his role expand with the departures of Anthony Mahoungou and Gregory Phillips while Markell Jones is coming back for his senior year after leading the team in rushing (566 yards) for the third consecutive season. Linebacker Markus Bailey, who recorded 89 tackles and seven sacks last season, and defensive tackle Lorenzo Neal will be tasked with providing stability to a defense which returns just four starters.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Northwestern has won six of the last seven meetings with Purdue.

2. The Boilermakers are 7-27 in Big Ten play since the start of 2014.

3. The Wildcats are 10-2 in season openers under Fitzgerald.

PREDICTION: Northwestern 24, Purdue 23

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Wake Forest Demon Deacons vs. Tulane Green Wave Preview and Predictions

NCAAF Previews 27th August 2018 by Gracenote
Tulane took steps forward under coach Willie Fritz last season, enough to earn the coach a contract extension and higher expectations heading into the 2018 season. Fritz and his squad will have a chance to get off to a strong start when they host Wake Forest in the season opener on Thursday night.

The Green Wave continued to adapt to Fritz's triple-option offense last season but struggled on the defensive end, where they were torched for averages of 436 yards and 29.2 points. "We've got a better understanding of what we're doing in the 3-4 defense," defensive coordinator Jack Curtis told the team's website. "We're playing with a lot of young guys, so you've got to get them playing hard, lined up. ... We've cleaned up a lot, we've studied in the offseason and I think we'll be much-improved." The Demon Deacons had similar issues last season with averages of 444 yards and 26.3 points allowed and made a big effort to bring in different players along the front seven with this year's freshman class. "Physically, what we recruited in the front seven as true freshmen is different than what we've had in the past," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson told reporters. "These guys are (in terms of), height, weight, speed, better than what we've brought in before. Whether they become the players that these other guys did, who knows?"

TV: 8 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: Wake Forest -7

ABOUT WAKE FOREST (2017: 8-5): The Demon Deacons let their offense lead them to eight wins and a 55-52 victory over Texas A&M in the Belk Bowl last season, but they lost senior quarterback John Wolford (3,192 yards, 29 TDs, six INTs, 683 yards rushing). Clawson held an open competition in camp and freshman Sam Hartman came out on top over sophomore Jamie Newman. "He's comfortable back there in the pocket, I've never seen anything like it. He's able to anticipate throws that, at his age, I haven't seen from any quarterback that's ever come in here," senior receiver Alex Bachman told the Winston-Salem Journal. "...The kid just comes in (and) he's able to play well beyond his years, for sure."

ABOUT TULANE (2017: 5-7): The Green Wave run a triple-option offense but lost 60 percent of a rushing attack that ranked 20th in the nation at an average of 231.5 yards last season with leading rusher Dontrell Hilliard (1,062 yards, 12 TDs) and others gone. Junior Darius Bradwell (411 yards) is the leading returning running back, and Tulane could have 12 or more rushers get carries, including quarterbacks. "The older guys have done it before and they know what the expectation is," running backs coach Jamaal Fobbs told the team's website. "They're continuing to tweak and sharpen and just becoming better overall football players. The younger guys are coming along but having to learn it as they go. They're working hard and going 100 miles per hour, and they're going to help us this year. The depth is a good problem to have."

EXTRA POINTS

1. Tulane returns senior QB Jonathan Banks, who threw for 1,797 yards in 2017 while finishing second on the team with 592 rushing yards.

2. Wake Forest QB Kendall Hinton and TE Thomas Cole are suspended for the first three games of the season for a violation of team rules.

3. Former LSU quarterback Justin McMillan announced his transfer to Tulane on Friday and will be eligible to play immediately as a graduate transfer.

PREDICTION: Tulane 35, Wake Forest 32

[Can'tPickAWinner]

UC Davis Aggies vs. San Jose State Spartans Preview and Predictions in NCAAF

NCAAF Previews 29th August 2018 By Brad Mullins for Scores And Stats
by Brad Mullins Scores & Stats on 08/29/2018

San Jose State must get a win in this first game of the season. Last season was a mess and the road to glory doesn’t get a bit easier after the UC Davis game when they go on the road to face Oregon and Washington! What they do, they must do quickly and urgently. There is simply no football time to waste. The Spartans lost the first game of the 2017 season in San Jose by a final score of 42-22 to the USF Bulls. They won the next game over Cal Poly but went on to lose ten games in a row before pulling off an upset win over the Wyoming Cowboys.

The UC Davis Aggies were not a whole lot better than San Jose State and finished last season with a 5-6 mark and on the way to 5-6, they lost to some really bad teams! Here is the deal; if you are a proud football program you never want to lose to Weber State! Not only did they lose that game, they lost to the tune of a 41-3 drubbing! The Aggies did not have one notable win. Give the Spartans credit for finding a way against Wyoming.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, Stadium (Local) LINE: (not yet posted)

ABOUT UC DAVIS (2017 3-8): In 2017 the Aggies had the third best offense in all of college football! Amazingly enough they only managed five wins on the season and they were beaten by some stinkers. What this means—the defense failed them miserably. UC Davis needs to start this season out with defense first and the offense second or they will get hammered in more than a few games. Just as Baker Mayfield will tell you, offense goes a long way, but without a solid defensive plan of attack, you are dead in the water. This group struggled to find defense against some very meaningless teams, such as a 47-27 loss at home to Southern Utah, or worse yet, a loss to Sacramento State, 52-47. The offense can handle their business with returning QB Jake Maier who threw for 3,700 yards and 26 TD’s, but with no defense or at least an effort, they will be lucky to win five games again!

ABOUT SAN JOSE STATE (2017 2-11): The Spartans have a lot to prove and 2nd-year head coach-Brent Brennan has a lot more to prove. Coaching a football program of this caliber just might be over Brennan’s head! Time will certainly tell and the great thing for Brennan is the fact that he has many return players that now have a reasonable amount of playing time and experience. However, just like UC Davis, this thing does not get one bit easier as time goes on. Washington and Oregon are pretty much-guaranteed losses, so, if Brennan plans to make any splash whatsoever, he must win this one against UC Davis. With eight starters coming back on offense, the Spartans should find a way to squeak one out. Quite possibly the offense can pick up where the defense failed them last year, and against a very bad team in the Aggies.

EXTRA POINTS

1. UC Davis must win every quarter, or they have no shot, their defense is that bad!

2. The Spartans must win every quarter, or they have no shot, their defense is nearly that bad!

3. Look for UC Davis to light it up early and make this a shootout, this one will be high scoring.

PREDICTION: San Jose State 48, UC Davis 40

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Milwaukee Brewers vs. Cincinnati Reds Preview and Predictions 08-30-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 30th August 2018 by Gracenote
Christian Yelich is tormenting Cincinnati pitching and he aims for his third straight strong outing when the visiting Milwaukee Brewers close the series against the Reds on Thursday. Yelich matched the franchise record of six hits while hitting for the team's first cycle in seven years in Wednesday's wild 13-12, 10-inning victory.

Yelich had two homers and five RBIs in Tuesday's series opener before going deep again Wednesday and driving in three more. Jesus Aguilar hit the go-ahead homer in the 10th - his 30th of the season - and Mike Moustakas was 4-for-6 with a homer and three RBI to help Milwaukee win for the sixth time in its last nine games to maintain possession of the National League's second wild-card spot. Cincinnati's Eugenio Suarez hit his 30th homer in Wednesday game, one of five the Reds belted during the slugfest. Billy Hamilton is 6-for-10 in the series for Cincinnati after going 4-for-5 with a homer on Wednesday.

TV: 12:35 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS Ohio (Cincinnati)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers LH Wade Miley (2-2, 2.32 ERA) vs. Reds LH Cody Reed (0-1, 3.68)

Miley is winless in his past four starts and received a no-decision against Pittsburgh in his last turn when he gave up two runs and 10 hits over five innings. The 31-year-old is 2-2 in six road starts while posting a 2.12 ERA and 1.15 WHIP. Miley defeated the Reds on May 2 when he allowed one run and three hits over six innings and stands 4-2 with a 3.42 ERA in eight career outings against Cincinnati, including a 4-0 mark in five starts at Great American Ball Park.

Reed is making his second start of the season after giving up five runs (three earned) and four hits over three innings against the Philadelphia Phillies on April 9. The 25-year-old made a start against the Brewers on Aug. 14, 2016 when he was torched for six runs and five hits in one-plus innings. Reed has fared much better in seven career relief appearances against Milwaukee by allowing one run and six hits over 7 2/3 innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds 1B Joey Votto (right leg) is expected to be activated from the 10-day disabled list prior to Thursday's game.

2. Yelich is the eighth player in Milwaukee franchise history to hit for the cycle and the first since George Kottaras on Sept. 3, 2011.

3. Cincinnati placed LHP Amir Garrett (foot) on the 10-day DL and activated RHP Jackson Stephens (knee) off the same list.

PREDICTION: Brewers 8, Reds 7

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Minnesota Twins vs. Cleveland Indians Preview and Predictions 08-30-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 29th August 2018 by Gracenote
The Minnesota Twins would need a magical run to even get back into striking distance of a playoff spot, but they can clinch the season series against a team likely heading to the postseason when they visit the Cleveland Indians on Thursday afternoon. Eddie Rosario recorded three hits and an RBI as the Twins rallied for a 4-3 win Wednesday to even the season series at nine wins apiece with one game left.

Minnesota, which made the playoffs as a wild card last year, trails first-place Cleveland by 13 games in the American League Central and won for the first time in five games Wednesday after being outscored 27-6 in the previous four. Jake Odorizzi gets the call in the rubber match of the season series for the Twins and he will face fellow right-hander Mike Clevinger, who has not suffered a defeat since July 28. The Indians lost for the fifth time in seven games after coughing up two leads Wednesday, but are still 10 games over .500 since July 25 at 21-11. Cleveland's All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor is 7-for-16 in his last three games and is batting .316 with 15 runs scored, six homers and 15 RBIs this season against Minnesota.

TV: 1:10 p.m. ET, Facebook-Watch

PITCHING MATCHUP: Twins RH Jake Odorizzi (5-8, 4.38 ERA) vs. Indians RH Mike Clevinger (9-7, 3.30)

Odorizzi suffered a hard-luck loss against Oakland last time out, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk over a season-high seven innings. It was the first quality start since July 22 for the 28-year-old Illinois native, but he owns a season-best 3.51 ERA in August. Lindor is 6-for-14 with three doubles and two homers versus Odorizzi, who is 0-2 with a 7.85 ERA in four starts against Cleveland in 2018.

Clevinger is unbeaten in his five outings during August, recording two victories along with four quality starts and registering a 2.70 ERA. The best start this month for the 27-year-old Jacksonville, Fla. native came against Minnesota on Aug. 8 when he gave up one run over seven innings in his second no-decision versus the Twins this year. Joe Mauer is 5-for-14 against Clevinger, who is 1-2 with a 3.63 ERA over nine appearances (six starts) versus Minnesota.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cleveland LHP Andrew Miller (shoulder) was placed on the 10-day disabled list and LHP Tyler Olson got recalled Wednesday.

2. Mauer joined Hall of Famers Kirby Puckett and Harmon Killebrew as the only Twins to score 1,000 runs with one on Wednesday.

3. Indians DH Edwin Encarnacion is 5-for-14 with a homer, five RBIs and three walks during a four-game hitting streak.

PREDICTION: Indians 6, Twins 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Detroit Tigers vs. New York Yankees Preview and Predictions 08-30-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 29th August 2018 by Gracenote
J.A. Happ's fortunes changed in a big way after the New York Yankees acquired the veteran left-hander from Toronto in late July. Happ owns a 5-0 mark with a 2.37 ERA in five starts with the Yankees heading into Thursday's opener of a four-game series against the visiting Detroit Tigers, who have been outscored 34-10 en route to losing five in a row.

New York rookie Gleyber Torres has been pretty good in his own right of late, going 2-for-4 in Wednesday's 4-1 setback to the Chicago White Sox to give him 17 hits to go along with eight runs scored and six RBIs since Aug. 16. The Yankees had won eight of nine before dropping two of three to the White Sox to fall 7 1/2 games behind Boston in the American League East. Detroit's Mikie Mahtook homered and drove in two runs in Wednesday's 9-2 setback to Kansas City to extend his hitting streak to six games, during which he has gone deep three times and scored five runs. The 28-year-old has failed to get going against nearly all Yankees pitchers, going 4-for-43 with 18 strikeouts overall and 0-for-3 in a small sample size versus Happ.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, YES (New York)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Tigers LH Francisco Liriano (3-9, 4.82 ERA) vs. Yankees LH J.A. Happ (15-6, 3.80)

Liriano, who hasn't tasted victory since April 28, fell to 0-4 with a 6.88 ERA in four starts this month on Aug. 22 after allowing four runs on seven hits in 5 1/3 innings of an 8-2 setback to the Chicago Cubs. The 34-year-old Dominican has struggled to keep the ball in the park of late, with five homers permitted this month. Aaron Hicks (4-for-7) and Brett Gardner (6-for-18) have gotten their licks in on Liriano, who owns a 4-4 mark with a 3.34 ERA in 12 career encounters (10 starts) versus New York.

Happ improved to 5-0 in pinstripes after permitting two runs on five hits while striking out nine in six innings of a 10-3 win over Baltimore on Saturday. The 35-year-old didn't fare as well while pitching for the Blue Jays in a pair of starts against Detroit, as he yielded four runs in a no-decision on June 2 and seven on 10 hits in a 9-1 romp on July 1. Nicholas Castellanos is a blistering 11-for-19 against Happ, who is 3-2 with a 4.83 ERA in 10 career appearances versus the Tigers.

WALK-OFFS

1. New York OF Giancarlo Stanton is 2-for-26 in his last seven games.

2. Detroit manager Ron Gardenhire said SS Jose Iglesias' condition is "not good" as the latter is expected to undergo an MRI on his abdomen on Thursday.

3. Gardner is 1-for-13 in his last four games overall.

PREDICTION: Yankees 7, Tigers 2

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Pittsburgh Pirates vs. St. Louis Cardinals Preview and Predictions 08-30-2018 in MLB

MLB Previews 30th August 2018 by Gracenote
The St. Louis Cardinals have won nine consecutive series, a streak that is in jeopardy going into the rubber match of a three-game series with the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday. The Cardinals managed five hits and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position in dropping a 2-0 decision to the Pirates on Wednesday after winning the series opener.

St. Louis has been shut out five times this year and three of them have come against Pittsburgh, which utilized four pitchers in the five-hitter. The setback Wednesday left the Cardinals 4 1/2 games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs in the National League Central division. Starling Marte and Gregory Polanco had RBI singles Wednesday to lead the way for the Pirates, which won for just the fourth time in their last 15 games. A pair of right-handers both with five wins and identical ERAs meet in the series finale when Pittsburgh turns to Joe Musgrove opposite John Gant for St. Louis.

TV: 7:15 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, FS Midwest (St. Louis)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Joe Musgrove (5-7, 3.56 ERA) vs. Cardinals RH John Gant (5-5, 3.56)

Musgrove had a string of five straight quality starts come to an end Friday at Milwaukee, which got to him for four runs in four innings. He had a 2.12 ERA over those previous five outings, including seven innings of one-run ball against the Chicago Cubs on Aug. 18. The 25-year-old opened his season May 25 with seven scoreless innings in a win against the Cardinals.

Gant lasted a season high-tying seven innings while allowing one run in a no-decision at Colorado on Saturday. It marked the seventh time in his last eight starts that he has yielded two earned runs or fewer. The one outlier in that stretch was a rocky outing at Pittsburgh on Aug. 3, when the 26-year-old was reached for six runs and eight hits in four frames.

WALK-OFFS

1. Cardinals 1B Matt Carpenter was removed from Wednesday's game in the fourth inning due to a stomach issue.

2. Polanco is 13-for-36 with seven RBIs over his last nine games.

3. St. Louis placed INF Jedd Gyorko (groin) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled OF Adolis Garcia from Triple-A Memphis.

PREDICTION: Cardinals 4, Pirates 3