Saturday 9-8-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Colorado at Nebraska

For a 15-year stretch from 1996 to 2010, Nebraska ended its regular season on Black Friday with a rivalry game against Colorado sparked by the schools' dominance of their conference. This season, the Cornhuskers will get a second chance to begin the Scott Frost era on the right foot when they host the Buffaloes on Saturday in a battle pitting two former rivals hoping to return to their former glory, albeit in different conferences.

Nebraska and Colorado combined to win the final eight Big Eight championships before the conference expanded and became the Big 12 in 1996, and the schools met regularly on Thanksgiving weekend every year thereafter until the Cornhuskers left for the Big Ten and Colorado fled to the Pac 12 in 2011. The Cornhuskers are coming off their worst season since 1961 and have suffered two losing campaigns in three years after finishing 49 of the previous 53 seasons with at least nine wins, while the Buffaloes have enjoyed only one winning campaign since 2005. Mother Nature delayed Frost's reclamation project one week, as a lightning strike and a severe thunderstorm shortly after kickoff in Nebraska's season opener against Akron led to a long delay and ultimately a cancellation. Meanwhile, the Buffaloes began their season in dominant fashion last weekend, piling up 596 total yards in a 45-13 rout of Colorado State.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: Nebraska -4.5.

ABOUT COLORADO (1-0): Junior Steven Montez, who completed 22-of-25 passes for 338 yards and four TDs against the Rams and tied a program record by completing his first 12 passes and set another with his 246.4 passer rating (for 20-plus and 25-plus attempts in a game), is the ninth quarterback in school history to exceed 4,000 passing yards in his career. Laviska Shenault Jr. posted the fourth-highest, single-game receiving yardage total in school history (211), while Virginia Tech graduate transfer Travon McMillian became only the eighth Colorado player to run for at least 100 yards in his debut (103). Sophomore linebacker Nate Landman finished with 16 tackles and an interception against the Rams, setting a school mark for the most tackles by a Buffalo in his first career start.

ABOUT NEBRASKA (2017: 4-8): Adrian Martinez will become the first true freshman quarterback to open the season as the starter in school history, and he should have no shortage of weapons at his disposal as senior Stanley Morgan Jr. (986) and sophomore JD Spielman (830) ranked second and fifth, respectively, in the Big Ten in receiving yards last year. Greg Bell is expected to get the first shot at being the next in a long line of great running backs for the Cornhuskers after rushing for at least 1,187 yards in each of his two seasons at Arizona Western. Nebraska struggled mightily on defense in 2017, surrendering nearly twice as many rushing yards as the offense gained (2,577-1,290) and recording a Big-Ten low 14 sacks.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Cornhuskers own a 49-18-2 advantage in the all-time series, including a 26-8 mark in Lincoln.

2. Nebraska gave up at least 54 points in each of its final three games last season.

3. The Buffaloes last weekend featured a 300-yard passer (Montez, 338), a 200-yard receiver (Shenault) and a 100-yard rusher (McMillian) in the same game for the first time in school history.

PREDICTION: Nebraska 41, Colorado 31

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Arkansas State at Alabama

There is no suspense about the Alabama quarterback situation this week as sophomore Tua Tagovailoa has been named the starter and will lead the top-ranked Crimson Tide against host Arkansas State on Saturday. Alabama coach Nick Saban made the declaration after Tagovailoa put on a stellar performance in his first career start as the Crimson Tide drubbed Louisville 51-14 in their opener.

Tagovailoa completed 12-of-16 passes for 227 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for one score against Louisville while two-year starter Jalen Hurts guided Alabama to just three points off the bench. "Everybody knows that Tua's gonna start and we're gonna use Jalen's skill set in the future," Saban said at a press conference. "Tua is instinctive and got the ball to the right place most of the time." The defending national champions don't figure to get much of a test from Arkansas State, which defeated Southeast Missouri 48-21 in its opener. "We have to improve quickly before we go play the No. 1 team in the country," Red Wolves coach Blake Anderson told reporters. "It's not so much that we are playing Alabama, it is just that we have to improve overall and play the way we are capable.”

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Alabama -36.5

ABOUT ARKANSAS STATE (1-0): Senior quarterback Justice Hansen was superb in the opener by throwing a school-record six touchdown passes while completing 26-of-36 passes for 423 yards. Six different players caught touchdown passes for the Red Wolves, who posted the third most prolific offensive game in school history with 685 yards of total offense. Arkansas State racked up 11 tackles for loss - senior defensive end Dajon Emory had two - while limiting Southeast Missouri to 285 yards.

ABOUT ALABAMA (1-0): Tagovailoa tossed two touchdown passes to sophomore wideout Jerry Jeudy and looked sharp in the follow-up to his stellar effort in last season's College Football Playoff title game when he came off the bench to throw three touchdowns in the win over Georgia. Junior running back Josh Jacobs also recorded two touchdowns - one rushing, one kickoff return - as the Crimson Tide outgained Louisville 519-268 and held the Cardinals to 16 rushing yards. Junior safety Shyheim Carter made one of the big defensive plays with a 45-yard interception return for a touchdown while junior safety Deonte Thompson also picked off a pass and sophomore nose guard Quinnen Williams had 3.5 tackles for loss.

EXTRA POINTS
1. Alabama won the two previous meetings by an average of 31 points.
2. Red Wolves junior WR Dahu Green (broken ankle) - a transfer from Oklahoma - suffered a season-ending injury in the opener.
3. Crimson Tide freshman WR Jaylen Waddle had three receptions for 66 yards and returned four punts for 80 yards in his college debut.

PREDICTION: Alabama 55, Arkansas State 13

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Memphis at Navy

Memphis has plenty of confidence packed in its suitcases when it travels to meet Navy on Saturday. The Tigers, who defeated the Midshipmen 30-27 last season after losing the first two meetings in 2015 and 2016, come into the American Athletic Conference opener for both teams off a 66-14 victory over FCS member Mercer while Navy must rebound from a 59-41 setback at Hawaii.

“I think being able to have that experience last year, our guys know that we can (beat them),” Memphis coach Mike Norvell told reporters. “But we have to go out there and earn it in our preparation and it’s got to show up when we kick off.” Junior quarterback Brady White, a graduate transfer from Arizona State, threw for 358 yards and five touchdowns, playing only the first half of his first game with the Tigers, and could have another successful day against a suspect Midshipmen's pass defense. They allowed 428 yards through the air last week -- the third-highest total since Ken Niumatalolo was hired in 2007 -- and will try to avoid their first 0-2 start since 2012. Niumatalolo employed three quarterbacks last week with Malcolm Perry (75-yard touchdown run, TD pass) and Zach Abey (five carries, 17 yards, four TDs) doing considerable damage as explosive and goal-line options.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: Memphis -6.5

ABOUT MEMPHIS (1-0): White put together the finest debut in program history, beginning the contest 9-for-9 with two touchdowns after tossing two in three games at Arizona State. Twelve players caught passes against Mercer with sophomore wide receiver Damonte Coxie recording four receptions for 79 yards and a TD. Freshman wide receiver Calvin Austin III was efficient last week, recording one catch for 18 yards and unleashing an 83-yard TD run on his only carry.

ABOUT NAVY (0-1): Senior Garret Lewis -- the third quarterback to see action versus Hawaii -- was 5-of-9 passing for 66 yards. The Midshipmen rushed for 326 yards last week -- they averaged 351.4 last season -- with Perry totaling 108 yards on 17 carries. Sophomore fullback Nelson Smith rushed 10 times for 86 yards versus Hawaii after carrying only eight times as a freshman.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Memphis' 752 yards against Mercer were the second-most in school history (753 versus Central Florida last season) and the first time it totaled more than 400 passing (428) and 300 rushing (324).

2. Navy is one of seven teams not to lose to a team that finished with a losing record over the last five years, joining Alabama, Auburn, Florida, LSU, Michigan and Ohio State.

3. The Tigers were picked to repeat as AAC West Division champions with the Midshipmen third. The winner has earned at least a share of the AAC West title in the last three years.

PREDICTION: Navy 48, Memphis 45

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Rutgers at Ohio State

Fourth-ranked Ohio State plays its second game without coach Urban Meyer when it opens Big Ten play on Saturday with a contest against visiting Rutgers. Meyer is allowed to coach during the week up until 24 hours before game kickoff as he serves a three-game suspension stemming from a university investigation into how he handled allegations of domestic abuse against former assistant Zach Smith.

Interim coach Ryan Day will again run the squad on game day after the offense surely didn't miss Meyer in the Buckeyes' 77-31 season-opening win over Oregon State. Ohio State's 721 yards of total offense were the second most in school history and prompted Meyer to say this to Day upon returning to the football office for the first time since early August: "You only had to punt once, huh?" The Buckeyes figure to have an easy time with Rutgers, which beat Texas State in its opener but stands just 7-18 since former Ohio State defensive coordinator Chris Ash took over at the start of the 2016 season. "They are talented. That's the No. 1 thing that stands out," Ash said of the Buckeyes at a press conference. "They have got size. They have got speed. They play really hard. They are physical. That's what stands out."

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Ohio State -35

ABOUT RUTGERS (1-0, 0-0 Big Ten): Artur Sitkowski became the third true freshman quarterback in school history to start a season opener - Frank Burns (1945) and Ryan Cubit (2001) are the others - and he got his career off to a good start by passing for 205 yards and one touchdown against Texas State. Senior running back Jonathan Hilliman rushed for two touchdowns in his first game at the school and the Boston College transfer has 30 scores (28 rushing, two receiving) in his career. The Scarlet Knights limited Texas State to 169 yards and three defenders had two tackles for loss - sophomore defensive end Elorm Lumor (one sack, one fumble recovery, one blocked field goal), senior cornerback Blessuan Austin (one sack, one interception) and sophomore nose tackle Julius Turner.

ABOUT OHIO STATE (1-0, 0-0): Sophomore quarterback Dwayne Haskins fared exceptionally well in his first career start by passing for 313 yards and five touchdowns, the latter tying for second most in a game in school history. Senior receiver Terry McLaurin had 121 receiving yards for his first career 100-yard outing, while the ground game also was churning as junior Mike Weber racked up 186 rushing yards and he stands 92 yards away from becoming the 26th player in program history to top 2,000 yards on the ground. The defense experienced some issues with Oregon State's Artavis Pierce breaking out for touchdown runs of 80 and 78 yards during a 3 1/2-minute sequence of the third quarter, but junior defensive end Nick Bosa had two sacks and recovered two fumbles - returning one for a touchdown - while junior defensive tackle Dre'Mont Jones also recorded two sacks.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Ohio State has won all four meetings and blanked Rutgers in each of the past two years (58-0 in 2016, 56-0 last season).

2. Scarlet Knights redshirt freshman DE Tijuan Mason (fractured leg) is out indefinitely after being injured in the opener.

3. Buckeyes junior S Jordan Fuller (hamstring) missed the opener but is expected to return on Saturday.

PREDICTION: Ohio State 58, Rutgers 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: East Tennessee State at Tennessee

First-year and first-time head coaches who are familiar with each other square off Saturday when Tennessee hosts FCS member East Tennessee State in the Volunteer State teams' first meeting. Tennessee coach Randy Pruitt and the Buccaneers' Randy Sanders worked together as assistants at Florida State in 2013 with Pruitt the defensive coordinator and Sanders the running backs coach.

"I'm sure he is familiar with us, definitely on the defensive side,'' Pruitt told reporters. "We are probably a little familiar with him on the offensive side. It will be fun to compete and play, and we are looking forward to it." The Volunteers were routed by No. 17 West Virginia 40-14 last week and Pruitt hinted that senior Keller Chryst, a transfer from Stanford, will see time at quarterback after sophomore Jarrett Guarantano passed for 172 yards with only one reception longer than 20 yards versus the Mountaineers. Sanders, a former backup quarterback and assistant coach for seven years at Tennessee, guided the Buccaneers to a 28-7 victory over Division II Mars Hill last week. When asked what might happen if ETSU pulled an upset Saturday, Sanders told reporters: "I'd have that goalpost thrown over my shoulder coming back up the interstate. I wouldn't be riding no bus. I'd be walking, probably naked, with that thing over my shoulder."

TV: 4 p.m. ET, SEC Network. LINE: None

ABOUT ETSU (1-0): Junior quarterback Logan Marchi, a transfer from Temple, completed 17-of-29 for 273 yards and matched a career high with three touchdowns against Mars Hill. Freshman running Quay Holmes made a splash in his collegiate debut with 118 yards and a TD on 17 carries. Junior wide receiver Quan Harrison caught five passes for 112 yards -- both career bests -- including a 30-yard TD catch and a 55-yard reception after entering with 11 catches for 108 yards and zero scores.

ABOUT TENNESSEE (0-1): Sophomore running back Tim Jordan served notice that he will be a force to reckon with out of the backfield, recording 118 yards and his first career touchdown on 20 carries against West Virginia after totaling 52 yards as a freshman. Junior wide receiver Marquez Callaway, who also handles the punt return duties, caught a career-high seven passes for 85 yards last week. Junior linebacker Darrin Kirkland Jr., a former all-SEC freshman pick who missed the 2017 season with a knee injury, recorded a career-high 10 tackles versus West Virginia.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Volunteers have won 22 of their past 23 home openers with the loss coming to Oklahoma in 2015, when the Sooners were a College Football Playoff semifinalist.

2. The Buccaneers, who play in the Southern Conference, are 12-22 since the football program was restored in 2015 after an 11-year hiatus.

3. Tennessee has won 13 straight games against in-state non-conference opponents -- its last loss was to Memphis 21-17 in 1996 -- and is 70-3-2 in such contests.

PREDICTION: Tennessee 42, East Tennessee State 7

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Lamar at Texas Tech

Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury expects his Red Raiders to give a better showing when they host FCS opponent Lamar in Saturday's home opener. A porous defense and too many mental mistakes led to a disappointing 47-27 loss to Ole Miss last week.

"Frustrated and embarrassed the way that game went," Kingsbury said during Monday's conference call. "It isn't who we want to be as a football team. When you're playing a talented team like Ole Miss Week 1 and you make all those Week 1 mistakes like that you're going to get exposed and that's what happened." If questions about a defense that allowed 546 yards weren't enough, the Red Raiders are also unsure of their quarterback situation. Starter McLane Carter left with a high-ankle sprain during the game's third drive and is a game-time decision, according to Kingsbury. The Cardinals, who used four quarterbacks in their 70-7 win against NAIA's Kentucky Christian, rushed for 409 yards and seven touchdowns.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, FSN. LINE: None

ABOUT LAMAR (1-0): Starter Darrel Colbert Jr. (12-of-15 for 179 yards and three touchdowns) rushed for 61 yards and a score. Backup quarterbacks Jordan Hoy (101 rushing yards and two TDs) and Adam Morse (67 rushing yards and a score) led the Cardinals in rushing while each completed their only pass attempts. Derrion Randle added two more rushing touchdowns and the Cardinals forced four turnovers.

ABOUT TEXAS TECH (0-1): Carter went 4-of-7 for 49 yards before his injury and freshman Alan Bowman (29-of-49 for 273 yards, TD) along with sophomore Jett Duffey will split reps in practice until he is healthy. Sophomore Da'Leon Ward rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns before giving way to Tre King (13 carries, 31 yards) in the fourth quarter. Defensive backs Vaughnte Dorsey (who will miss Saturday's first half) and Desmon Smith were ejected for targeting penalties, hurting a defense already without senior Jah'Shawn Johnson (shoulder).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Texas Tech has forced a turnover in 15 consecutive games, ranked fourth nationally behind Oklahoma State (28), Central Florida (20) and Memphis (17).

2. The Red Raiders average 51.8 points against FCS opponents with a 21-1 all-time record. The lone loss came against North Texas in 1988.

3. Ward, who redshirted last season, recorded his fifth straight game with at least 80 rushing yards dating back to the 2016 season.

PREDICTION: Texas Tech 52, Lamar 16

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Southern Illinois at Ole Miss

Ole Miss running back Scottie Phillips hopes for another big debut in the Rebels' home opener against Southern Illinois on Saturday. The junior college transfer ran for 204 yards and two scores in his Ole Miss debut, much to the delight of his teammates.

"He put himself on the map," senior quarterback Jordan Ta'amu told reporters. "He's on the radar." Phillips' decisive and physical running style gives the Rebels a nice compliment to a talented group of receivers that combined for 22 catches and two scores. Ta'amu looked comfortable spreading the ball and had no turnovers, which will be important against Southern Illinois. The Salukis, who are 3-30 against FBS opponents, had three defensive touchdowns in its season-opening win against Murray State.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, SEC Network. LINE: None

ABOUT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS (1-0): Safety Jeremy Chinn, who has created 10 turnovers in his past 13 games, forced two of the four fumbles while Withney Simon and Airan Reed (a tipped ball in the end zone for a touchdown) had interceptions. Senior quarterback Sam Straub, returning from a wrist injury that cut short his 2017 season, went 16-of-29 for 107 yards and a touchdown. The Salukis ran for 295 yards, led by junior D.J. Davis' 127.

ABOUT OLE MISS (1-0): Ta'amu threw for 336 yards and two touchdowns, and had five completions of more than 20 yards. A.J. Brown had seven catches for 93 yards and a score, and D.K. Metcalf added four receptions for another 81 and the other touchdown. Senior safety Zedrick Woods had nine tackles as the Ole Miss defense stopped Texas Tech on all three fourth-down attempts.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Ole Miss CB Jaylon Jones - who had seven tackles and a 94-yard kickoff return touchdown in the opener - is out for the season with a torn ACL, coach Matt Luke said Monday.

2. Phillips is the eighth Rebel to run for more than 200 yards in school history and the first since 2010.

3. Ole Miss WR DaMarkus Lodge (six catches, 96 yards) showed concussion symptoms Sunday and is day-to-day in the concussion protocol.

PREDICTION: Ole Miss 54, Southern Illinois 17

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: North Dakota at Washington

Washington started its season with a strong test and now the No. 11 Huskies get a softer opponent when they host FCS program North Dakota on Saturday. The Huskies dropped a 21-16 decision to Auburn in their opener in a clash of teams that opened the season in the top 10.

Washington coach Chris Petersen is sidestepping the narrative that the season-opening defeat might prevent his team from a shot at cracking the College Football Playoff this season. "I don't really know, and I really don't care," Petersen said at a press conference. "I mean, it was Game 1 against a good opponent, coming across the country, hostile territory, kids battled hard. We'll just see where our team goes from here. It's a long season." The Huskies have won 16 consecutive nonconference homes games and the streak doesn't figure to end against the Fighting Hawks. North Dakota is 1-9 all-time against FBS programs with the win occurring in 2015 against Wyoming.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: None

ABOUT NORTH DAKOTA (1-0): The Fighting Hawks rolled to a 35-7 victory over Mississippi Valley State in their opener but understand they are about to take a big step upward in terms of the competition level. "It's going to be a real fight for us, and a real challenge, but we want to get better as a football team," North Dakota coach Bubba Schweigert told reporters. "That's what we want to do each and every week and then we live with the results of the game." Junior quarterback Nate Ketteringham passed for 225 yards and accounted for four touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) against Mississippi Valley and junior defensive end Mason Bennett recorded two of the team's seven sacks.

ABOUT WASHINGTON (0-1): Senior quarterback Jake Browning passed for 296 yards with one touchdown and one interception during an inconsistent effort against Auburn. Senior running back Myles Gaskin rushed for 75 yards to become the school's all-time leading rusher with 4,130 career yards, surpassing Napoleon Kaufman (4,106 from 1991-94). Senior outside linebacker Ben Burr-Kirven led the team with 84 tackles last season and is off to a good start after compiling a career-best 13 stops in the opener.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Washington junior WR Aaron Fuller set career bests with seven receptions and 135 yards against Auburn.

2. The Fighting Hawks played a Pac-12 program last year as well, falling 37-16 at Utah.

3. Huskies standout senior OT Trey Adams (back) was injured in practice prior to the opener and could miss the entire season.

PREDICTION: Washington 61, North Dakota 7

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Iowa State at Iowa

Iowa was able to overcome a slow start to get its coach a record-setting win last weekend, while Iowa State got off to a fast start in its opener but never got a chance to finish. The Hawkeyes hope their ability to work through their initial struggles gives them a small advantage Saturday when they host the Cyclones in a bid to win their fourth straight meeting in the in-state rivalry.

Kirk Ferentz (144-97) passed former mentor Hayden Fry to become the winningest coach in school history last week, as Iowa overcame the absence of two starting offensive tackles and a three-point first half to cruise to a 33-7 victory over Northern Illinois. Not everything turned out so well for the Hawkeyes, however, as starting running back Ivory Kelly-Martin was forced from the game in the fourth quarter and later spotted with an ice wrap on his left ankle. While Iowa was working out its kinks last weekend, Iowa State raced out to a quick 7-0 lead against South Dakota State before a lightning strike just over four minutes into the game caused a 2 1/2-hour delay, eventually leading to the first cancellation for the Cyclones since 1963. "What did you miss? You miss playing. You miss getting the opportunity to make adjustments, which is what all teams want to do," Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said when asked by reporters if the cancelled game set his team back.

TV: 5 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Iowa -4.

ABOUT IOWA STATE (2017: 8-5): The Cyclones' offense relies heavily on first-team All-Big 12 running back David Montgomery, who led the nation in forced missed tackles (109) per Pro Football Focus en route to 1,146 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns last season. Sixth-year quarterback Kyle Kempt broke the school's single-season completion mark in 2017 (66.3 percent) and has thrown 130 consecutive passes without an interception - 26 shy of setting another program record. Junior 6-6 receiver Hakeem Butler was responsible for four of Iowa State's six 50-yard plays from scrimmage while averaging 17 yards per reception in 2017 and enjoyed his breakout game in last season's thriller against Iowa, tallying five catches for 128 yards and two touchdowns.

ABOUT IOWA (1-0): If Kelly-Martin (16 carries for 62 yards and a touchdown in the opener) is ruled out or limited in any way, sophomores Toren Young (8-64-1) and Mekhi Sargent (12-40-0) will be asked to shoulder a ground game that ran for 209 yards against the Huskies. Nate Stanley was the victim of several dropped passes in the opener while going 11-of-23 for 108 yards, but he set career highs in completions (27), attempts (41), passing yards (333), and touchdowns (five) in Iowa's 44-41 overtime win at Iowa State last season. Preseason All-American first-team tight end Noah Fant has at least one TD reception in four straight games and 13 for his career, one shy of setting the school record for the most by a tight end.

EXTRA POINTS

1. In 19-plus seasons under Ferentz, Iowa has never beaten Iowa State four straight times.

2. The Cyclones led the nation and tied the all-time FBS record with one lost fumble last season.

3. In its last two regular-season games, Iowa has outscored its opponents 72-7 in the second half.

PREDICTION: Iowa State 30, Iowa 24

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Youngstown State at West Virginia

Will Grier began the season as the No. 1 quarterback prospect for the 2019 NFL draft, and the senior signal caller may have jumped to the top of the Heisman Trophy race after his performance in Week 1 against Tennessee. After a dominant performance on both sides of the ball, 17th-ranked West Virginia will try to avoid a letdown Saturday when FCS opponent Youngstown State visits in the home opener.

Grier (3,490 passing yards, 34 touchdowns in 2017) completed 25-of-34 passes for a career-high 429 yards and five touchdowns - the most ever surrendered by a Volunteers' football team - in last Saturday's 40-14 thumping of Tennessee. "In the second half, that guy made some throws and they made some catches," Tennessee first-year coach Jeremy Pruitt told reporters after Grier spearheaded a 20-point third quarter to break open a close game. "Then a close game gets out of hand. You can disguise some looks and muddy the water, but the guy is experienced and knows what he's doing out there." Youngstown State, which played in the FCS title game last season in just its second season under former Nebraska coach Bo Pelini, dropped its opener at home last Saturday to Butler 23-21. The Mountaineers have won 14 straight home openers by an average of 30 points (six versus FCS teams) and are 2-0 all-time against the Penguins, including a 38-21 victory in 2016.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet. LINE: None.

ABOUT YOUNGSTOWN STATE (0-1): The Penguins squandered a 14-point third-quarter lead in the opener, allowing Butler to recover an onside kick with 1:18 left, and lost when Drew Bevelhimer converted a 44-yard field goal with four seconds remaining. Senior Tevin McCaster ran for 166 yards on 29 carries and quarterback Montgomery VanGorder, a grad transfer from Notre Dame who never threw a pass for the Fighting Irish, completed 18-of-27 attempts for 234 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start. McCaster was a first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference selection last season after rushing for 1,066 yards on 221 carries and 13 touchdowns.

ABOUT WEST VIRGINIA (1-0): David Sills V, one of 11 different receivers to catch a pass for the Mountaineers, had seven catches for 140 yards and two TDs against the Vols after securing 18 TD receptions last season. A defense that yielded 446 yards per game last season limited the Vols to 301 as a revamped defensive line led by USC transfer Kenny Bigelow Jr. (two tackles for loss, forced fumble) and Clemson transfer Jabril Robinson (three tackles) led the way. "We had seven or eight guys that we rotated in there, and we haven't been able to do that since I've been here," West Virginia eighth-year coach Dana Holgorsen pointed out. "We had no leadership in that group last year. Having guys like Bigelow and Robinson that are fifth-year and sixth-year seniors that have played at the highest level and got a lot of snaps … they've brought maturity and leadership to that group and they're bringing the younger guys along."

EXTRA POINTS

1. Grier has passed for 300 or more yards in 10 of his 12 games at West Virginia and thrown for five touchdown passes in a contest a school-record four times.

2. West Virginia WR T.J. Simmons, a transfer from Alabama, broke free down the far sideline for a 59-yard touchdown – West Virginia's only touchdown of the first half and Simmons' first catch as a Mountaineer.

3. Mountaineers LB Charlie Benton will miss the remainder of the season after suffering a knee injury in the opener that will require surgery.

PREDICTION: West Virginia 52, Youngstown State 10

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: South Carolina State at Central Florida

Central Florida’s offense has picked up where it left off last season and looks to continue producing big numbers when the 20th-ranked Knights host FCS foe South Carolina State on Saturday night. Junior Heisman Trophy candidate McKenzie Milton threw for five touchdowns in last week’s 56-17 victory at Connecticut to extend UCF’s national-best winning streak to 14 games.

The Knights scored eight touchdowns with just 21:52 of possession time while pushing the tempo in new head coach Josh Heupel’s debut against the Huskies, and averaged 8.2 yards per carry on the ground. UCF, which led the nation at 48.2 points per game last year, hopes to continue its offensive balance against South Carolina State - a team it handled 38-0 to open the 2016 season. “They rally to the ball. They play hard,” Milton told reporters after watching tape of the opponent’s game last week. “I remember them coming in my freshman year and they gave us all we could handle. … It’s really their Super Bowl, to knock off a top 25 opponent. We can’t overlook anybody. We’re going to come to play, as well.” The Bulldogs, who finished 3-7 in 2017, were picked seventh in the MEAC preseason poll and fell 37-6 at Georgia Southern in their opener.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPN3. LINE: None

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE (0-1): The young Bulldogs totaled just 151 yards in their opener, including only 31 through the air with three different quarterbacks being used by 17th-year head coach Buddy Pough. Sophomore Tyrece Nick got the majority of the work under center, rushing for a team-high 66 yards on 21 carries and a touchdown while completing 1-of-3 passes with 14 yards, and junior Dewann Ford was 1-of-6 for 17 yards after throwing for 1,772 last year. Sophomores Omar Cummings and Datron James gained 61 yards combined on the ground and senior Quan Caldwell, along with junior De’Montrez Burroughs, are the top passing targets.

ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA (1-0): The Knights struggled with tackling at times in the opener, giving up 220 yards on the ground - 157 to UConn’s quarterback David Pindell - and 266 through the air, but did force three turnovers. “It’s the first game, so we have some stuff to work on,” UCF sophomore defensive back Richie Grant, who recovered a fumble and picked off one pass, told reporters. “Overall, I feel like we did pretty good. I thought we hit our goals.” Ole Miss transfer Tre Nixon had a strong debut for the Knights, hauling in five passes for 101 yards and two touchdowns, while junior Dredrick Snelson recorded six receptions for another 90 yards last week.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Milton is four touchdown passes from tying Blake Bortles (56) for fourth on the school’s all-time list.

2. UCF junior RB Adrian Killins Jr. had a team-high 125 all-purpose yards to lead the way last week.

3. South Carolina State senior LB Damu Ford was named as a preseason second-team pick by the MEAC.

PREDICTION: Central Florida 66, South Carolina State 7

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Savannah State at Miami

The 2018 season got off to an inauspicious start for the Miami Hurricanes on Sunday, as they were dumped by LSU 33-17 in a battle of ranked teams at a neutral site. But despite dropping 13 spots to No. 21, the Hurricanes' season is far from lost and they can begin righting their ship in their home opener Saturday against a Savannah State team coming off a dismal 52-0 loss to UAB.

What went wrong for the Hurricanes was almost a continuation of what went wrong during the team's 0-3 slide to end last season. Quarterback Malik Rosier once again shouldered a large portion of the blame, showing the same inconsistency that plagued him down the stretch a year ago as he hit on just 42.9 percent of his passes (15 of 35) against LSU -- his fourth consecutive sub-.500 passing day -- with two interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown. "Obviously, if I keep messing up then by all means coach (Mark) Richt has the right to bench me and let somebody else play," Rosier said to reporters. "It's one bad game, and we've still got 13, 14 more and I don't plan on ever letting that happen again." While Rosier's play was troubling, so was the performance of a vaunted Miami defense that was unable to step up and make big plays in key spots against LSU and failed to get a turnover for the first time since the final game of the 2016 season.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ACC Network. LINE: None.

ABOUT SAVANNAH STATE (0-1): Not much good to take away from the shellacking at UAB as the Tigers only crossed midfield twice during the game while allowing 548 yards of offense and 36 first downs. Savannah State finished with just 23 passing yards on one completion by D'vonn Gibbons, which won't get the job done against a Miami defense that figures to be out for blood after its disappointing performance against LSU. The ground attack did amass 155 yards rushing, with Rashad Saxton gaining 46 yards, Jaylen McCloud adding 43 and Gibbons compiling 40.

ABOUT MIAMI (0-1): The offense as a whole didn't execute well against LSU, with the offensive front not providing pass protection and failing to open room for a ground game that mustered just 83 yards, with Rosier finishing as the leading rusher with 47 yards on 16 carries, a stat Richt admitted has to change. Receiver Jeff Thomas was a bright spot with five catches for 132 yards but fellow pass catcher Ahmmon Richards is once again a question mark (knee injury) after he suffered through an injury-plagued campaign a year ago. "All I can tell you is our goal is to get our guys to do the right assignment, with energy and attitude and physicality and all that," Richt told reporters. "That's all they should focus on. ... If everybody does that every play, then we'll have success and we'll win a bunch of games."

EXTRA POINTS

1. Miami won the only previous meeting with Savannah State 77-7 in 2013.

2. Penalties were an issue for both Miami (11 for 85) and Savannah State (10 for 94) last week.

3. Opponents have converted 57 consecutive kicks against Miami, including 25 field goals in a row.

PREDICTION: Miami 55, Savannah State 3

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Maryland at Bowling Green

Following an impressive season opener, Maryland hits the road for the first time Saturday to take on Bowling Green. The Terrapins knocked off Texas last weekend, forcing three fourth-quarter turnovers to win their ninth straight season opener.

Maryland showed off its depth in Week 1, as 11 different players ran the ball and 10 different players caught a pass against Texas. Jeshaun Jones scored both on the ground and through the air, while he also threw a touchdown pass to complement a solid day from teammate Kasim Hill (17-of-29, 222 yards). "Everything that has happened this summer has brought us closer together," Hill said. "It was just fun to be back out there." Hill was referencing the death of offensive lineman Jordan McNair, who collapsed at practice and later died, an incident which eventually led to coach DJ Durkin being placed on administrative leave.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPN-Plus. LINE: Maryland -16

ABOUT MARYLAND (1-0): The Terps actually were not too effective running the ball last weekend, totaling 143 yards on 43 carries in their season-opening win. Tayon Fleet-Davis led the team with 31 rushing yards on seven attempts, while Ty Johnson carried a team-high 11 times but mustered only 30 yards. Hill, a redshirt freshman who missed most of last season with an ACL tear, has not thrown an interception in his first 50 career passes.

ABOUT BOWLING GREEN (1-0): The Falcons were hammered at Oregon in their season opener, absorbing a 58-24 setback to the high-powered Ducks. They led 10-0 late in the first quarter before allowing 37 straight points, essentially wasting a few solid offensive performances. Jarret Doege threw for 253 yards and three touchdowns, while Andrew Clair (25 carries, 113 yards) and Scott Miller (13 receptions, 166 yards, two TDs) also made major indentations on the stat sheet.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Bowling Green crushed Maryland 48-27 in the only previous meeting on the Terps' home field in 2015.

2. Maryland WR Taivon Jacobs has caught at least one pass in 23 straight games.

3. Johnson needs 107 yards to move into the top 10 on Maryland's all-time rushing list.

PREDICTION: Bowling Green 33, Maryland 31

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Baylor at UTSA

Baylor already matched its 2017 win total before Labor Day with a feel-good 55-27 victory over FCS member Abilene Christian on Saturday. The Bears, coming off a dreadful 1-11 campaign that started off with a loss to FCS Liberty and was shadowed by an ugly sexual assault scandal, are more than two-touchdown favorites to double that win total by Week 2 when they travel to UTSA on Saturday night.

The Roadrunners, who opened the season with a 49-7 loss at Arizona State, handed Baylor a 17-10 loss in the only previous meeting between the two schools last year in Waco. It was the school's first win over a team from a Power Five conference. Still, second-year Bears coach Matt Rhule said he wanted his team, which rolled up 606 yards in total offense and bolted to a 24-7 lead last week, to celebrate their opening win before moving on to UTSA. "It wasn't a perfect game," Rhule told the Waco Tribune. "We have a lot we have to correct. But I saw a lot of flashes, and for one night our guys can go out there and enjoy a win. ... They can walk out and see their family and friends and hopefully go tailgate and hug their moms, hug their dads, hug their grandparents."

TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network on Facebook. LINE: Baylor -15

ABOUT BAYLOR (1-0): Rhule, who said he would like to eventually settle on one quarterback, will continue to rotate between returning starter Charlie Brewer and North Carolina State graduate-transfer Jalan McClendon this week. McClendon completed 10-of-13 passes for 173 yards and two TDs while Brewer, who left the game in the third quarter with a minor back injury but will be able to play Saturday, completed 8-of-15 passes for 138 yards and one interception that deflected off his receiver. The Bears rushed for 295 yards and an 8.2 yards per carry average in the opener with John Lovett, who finished with a career-high 115 yards and scored three TDs on 12 carries, and JaMycal Hasty, who had 102 yards and two touchdowns on 10 carries, both topping the century mark.

ABOUT UTSA (0-1): The Roadrunners, picked to finish fifth in the West Division in the Conference USA preseason poll, managed just 221 total yards in their loss to the Sun Devils including just a net three yards rushing on 33 attempts as Arizona State finished with 10 sacks and 15 tackles for loss. Junior quarterback Cordale Grundy completed 16-of-33 passes for 187 yards and was intercepted once while sophomore B.J. Daniels led the ground game with 24 yards on nine carries including a four-yard TD run with a little over six minutes remaining. Junior linebacker Josiah Tauaefa led the defense with a game-high 10 tackles, including eight solo stops.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Baylor starting LT Josh Malin suffered an MCL injury in the opener and will miss at least four weeks according to Rhule.

2. Lovett and Hasty gave Baylor its first pair of 100-yards rushers in a game since Oct. 29, 2016 against Texas.

3. Baylor hasn't won back-to-back games since winning at Iowa State (45-42) and defeating Kansas (49-7) at homeduring the middle of the 2016 season.

PREDICTION: Baylor 38, UTSA 20

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Southeastern Louisiana at LSU

You could make a pretty fair argument that no team enjoyed a better start to the season than LSU which thumped eighth-ranked Miami, 33-17, on Sunday night in the Advocare Classic in Arlington, Texas. The Tigers, who moved up nine spots to 15th in this week's coaches' poll, now must make a quick turnaround and host upset-minded Southeastern Louisiana on Saturday night in Baton Rouge.

LSU will have to do it without outside linebacker and top pass rusher K'Lavon Chaisson who will miss the rest of the season after suffering a knee injury in the fourth quarter of the win over the Hurricanes. "I feel bad for him," Tigers coach Ed Orgeron said. "He's a great young man who's totally dedicated himself this year." LSU has won its last 12 home openers dating back to a 45-3 win over Louisiana-Lafayette in 2006. Despite their campuses being separated by just 47 miles, the Tigers will be playing Southeastern Louisiana, of the FCS Southland Conference, for only the second time in school history and for the first time since 1949 when LSU posted a 48-7 victory in Baton Rouge.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: None

ABOUT SOUTHEASTERN LOUISIANA (0-1): The Lions were picked to finish fifth in the Southland preseason poll but almost upset UL Monroe in their opener, losing 34-31 in the final minute. Quarterback Chason Virgil, a transfer from Fresno State, was outstanding in his debut, completing 28-of-39 passes for 358 yards, four touchdowns and an interception. His top target was 5-foot-7, 170-pound wide receiver Juwan Petit-Frere who caught five passes for 148 yards and two TDs.

ABOUT LSU (1-0): Ohio State transfer Joe Burrow was steady in his first college start, completing 11-of-24 passes for 140 yards and not turning the ball over when pressured. Senior Nick Brossette, who has never rushed for more than 145 yards in a season, starred in the backfield, rushing for 125 yards and two TDs on 22 carries including a 50-yard TD run that snapped a 3-3 tie and started a streak of 30 consecutive points by the Tigers en route to 33-3 third quarter lead. Linebacker Devin White, projected as a potential first- or second-round NFL draft pick, led the Tigers with eight tackles and also had a quarterback hurry.

EXTRA POINTS

1. LSU is 70-19-4 in home openers at Tiger Stadium with the last loss coming against Tennessee, 30-27, in overtime in 2005.

2. The Tigers have won 29 straight against in-state opponents dating back to a 31-28 loss to visiting Tulane in 1982.

3. Southeastern Louisiana LB Tamarcus Russell had 20 tackles in the loss to UL Monroe, the most by a player since the program was reinstated in 2003.

PREDICTION: LSU 56, Southeastern Louisiana 3