Saturday 9-22-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: North Carolina Central at Duke

In what should amount to a tune-up for a pivotal ACC Coastal showdown next week, Duke will take on instate rival North Central Central on Saturday in non-conference action. Backup quarterback Quentin Harris should be able to gain some valuable experience for the Blue Devils, who can start 4-0 for the sixth time by continuing their domination of the Eagles of the FCS.

Harris played in place of injured starter Daniel Jones in last week's 40-27 victory at Baylor and mostly acquitted himself well by throwing for 174 yards and three touchdowns and running for 83 yards on 14 carries. "I prepare each week to be the starter to be ready for these kinds of scenarios," the junior Harris, who attempted 13 passes total in his freshman and sophomore seasons, told the media. "The biggest adjustment was getting reps with the guys who were going with the 1s. Getting that timing down. I think we handled it very nicely." Harris formed an instant connection with receivers Johnathan Lloyd and T.J. Rahming, hitting the duo for eight receptions, 148 yards and three touchdowns, including one covering 66 yards. Chauncey Caldwell and Naiil Ramadan have split time at quarterback, combining for 547 passing yards and seven touchdowns for the Eagles, who have not played in two weeks after last week's game against South Carolina State was postponed because of Hurricane Florence.

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

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA CENTRAL (1-1): While he has yet to face offensive lineman of the caliber of Duke, defensive lineman Darius Royster has racked up nine tackles for loss this season for the Eagles, which is tops in the FCS. First-year interim coach Granville ******* also has the preseason Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year in senior safety Davanta Reynolds, who had six interceptions a season ago. On offense, six players have caught touchdown passes, including E.J. Hicks, Sonnie Richardson and Sherman McLeod.

ABOUT DUKE (3-0): While Harris, Lloyd, Rahming and some of the other starters may not need to play much in this game, it remains important for preparations for next week's home game against No. 10 Virginia Tech. "We just have to lock in on all the things we are doing right and wrong right now," Rahming, a senior who has 191 career receptions, told the media. "We have to fix the small things so that later on in ACC play, those things don't come up again." Chris Katrenick, the backup quarterback with Jones sidelined, will likely get to attempt his first career passes while fellow freshmen running back Mataeo Durant and receivers Dennis Smith and Jarett Garner could also see time for 11th-year coach David Cutcliffe.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Rahming (191) is close to joining Jamison Crowder (283), Conner Vernon (283) and Donovan Varner (207) as the only Duke players with 200 career catches.

2. The Blue Devils have won 16 of their last 19 games against teams from North Carolina, including five wins over the Eagles.

3. Duke has outscored North Carolina Central 312-42 in taking the six prior meetings of the Bull City Classic, including its most recent shutout 55-0 in 2015.

PREDICTION: Duke 49, North Carolina Central 6

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Northern Illinois at Florida State

The disappointment with its listless start to the season will hit a new level if Florida State doesn’t take care of visiting Northern Illinois on Saturday. The Seminoles are off to an uninspiring start under first-year coach Willie Taggart, whose team was routed 30-7 at Syracuse last week to drop to 0-2 in ACC play.


Florida State has totaled only 10 points in its two games against FBS opponents, and its only win was a 36-26 victory over FCS Samford in which it had to rally in the fourth quarter. "Our fans have every right to have high expectations of our program, and I can assure you that no one has higher expectations than I do," Taggart said during Monday’s press conference. "Our fans, students, alumni, former players, deserve a team that plays better than what we have so far this season." The Huskies are playing their third Power Five opponent in their first four games after starting the season with losses at Iowa (33-7) and at home to Utah (17-6). Northern Illinois, which lost 31-10 to Florida State in the 2013 Orange Bowl in their only previous meeting, rebounded with a 24-16 victory at Central Michigan to open Mid-American Conference play last week.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: Florida State -10


ABOUT NORTHERN ILLINOIS (1-2): The Huskies possess a solid defense led by star end Sutton Smith, who has registered 6.5 tackles for loss and three sacks thus far. The offense has been less impressive, as Northern Illinois has yet to top 300 total yards this season. Tre Harbison (228 yards) posted the first 100-yard rushing performance of his career with 124 on 13 carries in last week’s win over Central Michigan, but the team has not scored a touchdown on the ground and quarterback Marcus Childers (325 yards, four touchdowns) has put up pedestrian numbers.

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (1-2): Taggart’s Gulf Coast Offense has been a flop thus far, as Florida State ranks 111th in total offense and is averaging less than 100 rushing yards. Leading rusher Cam Akers (210 yards) has yet to score a touchdown and Deondre Francois (731 yards) has thrown more interceptions (four) than TD passes (three). Things haven’t been much better on the other side of the ball, as the Seminoles have surrendered more than 300 yards per game through the air and rank 96th in the nation in total defense.


EXTRA POINTS

1. Florida State has won 14 consecutive non-conference home games.

2. The Seminoles have not allowed a kickoff-return touchdown in 185 consecutive contests dating to 2004, the longest active streak in the nation.

3. Northern Illinois has blocked two punts and one field-goal attempt this season, recording one block in each of its first three games.


PREDICTION: Florida State 23, Northern Illinois 20

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Texas A&M at Alabama

Alabama coach Nick Saban has never lost to a former assistant and looks to keep that mark intact when the top-ranked Crimson Tide host Jimbo Fisher and No. 22 Texas A&M in an SEC battle on Saturday. Fisher served as LSU offensive coordinator under Saban from 2000-04 and aims to dent Saban's 12-0 mark against former pupils.

Fisher is well aware his team faces long odds against the Crimson Tide, who have become the first SEC team to score 50 or more points in each of the first three games of a season. "He's created a culture at his place, they expect to win and they know how to win," Fisher said at a press conference. "He's got good players and they're well coached, that makes it a real good combination." Saban feels the Aggies are a dangerous opponent even though Fisher is just beginning to put his fingerprints on the program after leaving Florida State for the post. "I think everybody that takes over a program is really working hard to establish the principles and values of the organization," Saban said at his weekly press conference. "The standard that you want people to work to in terms of effort, toughness, intangibles, discipline, things like that. Jimbo has obviously done a really good job of that."

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Alabama -27

ABOUT TEXAS A&M (2-1, 0-0 SEC): Fisher fell to Saban in last year's season opener when Alabama beat Florida State 24-7 and now will try to solve the vaunted Alabama defense with junior running back Trayveon Williams (SEC-leading 399 rushing yards, four touchdowns) and sophomore quarterback Kellen Mond (824 yards, six touchdowns, no interceptions). "He's doing a really nice job right now, playing really good football," Fisher said of Mond. "He's playing smart football. That's what's got me excited. He's making plays all up and down the field, but he's playing good, smart football." Senior linebacker Otaro Alaka has a team-best 16 tackles while senior defensive end Landis Durham has recorded a team-leading 3.5 tackles for loss.

ABOUT ALABAMA (3-0, 1-0): The Crimson Tide are averaging 56.7 points and 544.7 yards per game after trampling Ole Miss 62-7 last Saturday in their SEC opener. Sophomore quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has completed 72 percent of his passes for 646 yards and eight touchdowns, while regularly hitting big plays with sophomore receivers Jerry Jeudy (11 catches for 287 yards and six touchdowns) and DeVonta Smith (10 catches for 204 yards with one score). Junior cornerback Saivion Smith, junior safety Shyheim Carter and sophomore safety Xavier McKinney all have returned interceptions for touchdowns while junior safety Deionte Thompson leads the team with two picks.

EXTRA POINTS
1. Alabama has won five straight meetings and holds an 8-2 series lead.
2. Williams has 11 career rushes of 40 or more yards.
3. The Crimson Tide have topped 500 yards of total offense in all three games.

PREDICTION: Alabama 45, Texas A&M 17

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Virginia Tech at Old Dominion

Following an unexpected bye week, No. 10 Virginia Tech returns to action Saturday against host Old Dominion, which is 0-3 for the first time since reinstating its program in 2009. Virginia Tech opened the season with victories over Florida State and William & Mary before having last Saturday’s game against East Carolina canceled due to Hurricane Florence.

The week off gave several injured players extra time to heal, including offensive lineman Christian Darrisaw and defensive lineman Ricky Walker, who had 41 tackles last season and attended high school near Old Dominion. Quarterback Josh Jackson is 28-of-42 for 424 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions through two games for the Hokies, who need to be careful not to overlook the Monarchs before facing Duke and Notre Dame in the next two weeks. “We are not in any situation to do anything other than focus on our next step,” coach Justin Fuente told reporters. “We’ve got a tremendous amount of respect for the team we’re about to play, the fact we’re playing in our home state, there is no reason for us to have our attention on anything other than our next step.” Jackson threw for 298 yards and three touchdowns in last season’s 38-0 win over the Monarchs.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: Virginia Tech -27.5

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (2-0): Reggie Floyd had 16 tackles to lead the stellar Hokies defense, which limited William & Mary to 34 rushing yards on 29 carries after holding Florida State to 94 yards on 28 attempts in the opener. The Hokies are averaging 208.5 rushing yards through two games and figure to rely again on senior tailback Steven Peoples, who scored three TDs in last season’s win over Old Dominion. The strong receiving group includes Eric Kumah, Hezekiah Grimsley and Damon Hazelton, who had four receptions for 107 yards and caught a 39-yard scoring pass in the 62-17 win over William & Mary on Sept. 8.

ABOUT OLD DOMINION (0-3): The Monarchs average 18.3 points per game, 3.7 yards per rush and have converted 28 percent of their third downs in losses to Liberty (52-10), Florida International (28-20) and Charlotte (28-25). Old Dominion is giving up the most yards per game (484.5) in Conference USA and needs to find help for defensive end Oshane Ximines and linebacker Lawrence Garner, who leads the FBS with 14 tackles per game. The team boasts a trio of veteran receivers in Jonathan Duhart, Travis Fulgham and Isaiah Harper, but quarterback Stevie Williams has struggled early with two TD passes and an equal number of interceptions.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Virginia Tech is 19-0 under Fuente when leading at halftime, including a 9-0 mark last season.

2. This is the second game in a series that will see the two teams play 13 times in the next 14 years.

3. Virginia Tech is 66-1 when holding non-conference foes to 17 points or fewer since Bud Foster took over as defensive coordinator in 1996.

PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 56, Old Dominion 13

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Clemson at Georgia Tech

Second-ranked Clemson’s quest for a fourth consecutive ACC crown begins when it opens conference play against host Georgia Tech on Saturday. Clemson has won three straight meetings and is trying to match its longest winning streak in the series, but the home team has won eight of the last nine matchups.


The Tigers struggled with Georgia Tech’s triple-option attack early in coach Dabo Swinney’s tenure at Clemson, but after giving up 841 rushing yards in his first three games against Paul Johnson’s option offense, the team has limited the Yellow Jackets to 868 in the last five meetings thanks to additional year-round preparation. ”I learned real quick that if we’re going to have a chance, we’re going to have to make this a part of what we do," Swinney told reporters. "If you don’t, you’re going to be behind the 8-ball." Clemson got a taste of what to expect by facing an option team in Georgia Southern last week and allowed only 80 rushing yards on 43 carries in a 38-7 win. Georgia Tech is 0-2 against FBS opponents after falling into a 21-point hole en route to a 24-19 loss at Pittsburgh to open ACC play last week.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: Clemson -16.5


ABOUT CLEMSON (3-0): The Tigers rolled up 595 total yards in last week’s rout of Georgia Southern, as Travis Etienne (269 yards, four touchdowns) gained a career-high 162 on 16 carries to surpass 1,000 rushing for his career. Quarterback Kelly Bryant, who has passed for 405 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 125 and two, is expected to start after leaving last week’s game with a chest injury, but freshman Trevor Lawrence (424 yards, five TDs) will continue to see action. The Tigers possess an outstanding defense that has registered 30 tackles for loss and 12 sacks.

ABOUT GEORGIA TECH (1-2, 0-1 ACC): Despite their lackluster start, the Yellow Jackets rank in the top 25 in the nation in both total offense and total defense. They have a dynamic quarterback in TaQuon Marshall, who has passed for 353 yards and two touchdowns while leading the nation’s top rushing offense with 293 yards and four TDs. The Yellow Jackets have been excellent against the pass, but they’ve had a tough time versus the run the past two weeks and will face a Tigers team that has a potent ground attack.


EXTRA POINTS

1. The Tigers are opening ACC play on the road for the seventh consecutive season.

2. Georgia Tech has topped 400 rushing yards in six of its last 14 games, including two of three this year.

3. Clemson has forced a turnover in 11 consecutive contests, its longest streak since a 15-game run spanning the 2012 and 2013 campaigns.


PREDICTION: Clemson 34, Georgia Tech 20

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Tulane at Ohio State

Ohio State coach Urban Meyer will be back on the sidelines as the No. 4 Buckeyes host Tulane in a nonconference tilt on Saturday. Meyer served a three-game suspension related to his handling of domestic abuse allegations against recently fired assistant Zach Smith and Ohio State thrived without Meyer by averaging 56.3 points and 608.7 yards in his absence.

Interim coach Ryan Day racked up three wins by an average of 35.7 points while Meyer struggled to watch the contests on his home television set. "I was just devastated. I love these players," Meyer said at a press conference. "I have such great respect for these players. And that's why I've tried to share throughout my career is how hard these guys worked. I think a lot of times people see No. 68, No. 5, No. 7. And the time and effort that goes into that, that's their payday, that's the time to showcase." Ohio State will be without standout junior defensive end Nick Bosa (team-best four sacks) after he departed last Saturday's win over TCU due to an abdominal injury. The Green Wave are playing the Buckeyes for the first time and are coming off a loss to UAB last Saturday.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Ohio State -37

ABOUT TULANE (1-2): Senior quarterback Jonathan Banks has a shaky 48.1 completion percentage while passing for 651 yards and five touchdowns against one interception with junior Darnell Mooney (18 receptions for 308 yards and three touchdowns) and senior Terren Encalade (11 for 248, two scores) serving as his favorite targets. Senior cornerback Donnie Lewis has two interceptions this season and seven in a career that includes 34 starts entering Saturday. Senior linebacker Zachery Harris has a team-best 25 tackles and junior linebacker Lawrence Graham has 24 for a unit allowing 23.7 points per game.

ABOUT OHIO STATE (3-0): Sophomore quarterback Dwayne Haskins has topped 300 yards in two of his first three college starts while throwing for 890 yards and 11 touchdowns -- both figures lead the Big Ten -- against one interception. Junior Mike Weber (281 rushing yards, three touchdowns) and sophomore J.K. Dobbins (268, one TD) are leading the way as the Buckeyes are averaging 260.7 yards on the ground behind a fierce offensive line. Junior defensive tackle Dre'Mont Jones scored on a 28-yard interception return against TCU and has three sacks for a unit that has recorded 11 overall.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Weber (2,003) is the 26th back in Ohio State history to top 2,000 rushing yards.

2. The Green Wave haven't defeated a ranked team since posting a 27-23 victory over Vanderbilt in 1984.

3. The Buckeyes are converting 61 percent of their third-down opportunities.

PREDICTION: Ohio State 66, Tulane 7

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Arizona at Oregon State

Khalil Tate and the Arizona offense will try to stay on a roll heading into their Pac-12 opener Saturday afternoon at Oregon State. After a slow start to his much heralded junior season, Tate threw for a career-high 349 yards and five touchdowns last week in a 62-31 win against visiting Southern Utah, the only team the Wildcats and Beavers have beaten this season.

Tate wasn't 100 percent heading into last weekend after spraining his left ankle the week before in a loss to Houston, but he seemed comfortable in the pocket against Southern Utah, completing 13-of-20 passes. Tate is also a gifted runner, totaling 1,411 yards on the ground last season, but he hasn't flashed that aspect of his game yet this season, accumulating just 41 rushing yards on 19 carries so far. Oregon State is also looking to start conference play on a high note after going winless in the Pac-12 last season. The Beavers have experienced a blowout loss at No. 4 Ohio State in the season opener, a 48-25 win against Southern Utah and a 37-35 loss last week at Nevada, hitting the goal post on a 33-yard field goal try as time expired.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: Arizona -6.5

ABOUT ARIZONA (1-2): The Wildcats haven't opened conference play with a road win since beating Oregon State in 2009, the same year they came within a win of a Rose Bowl berth. Tate was a handful against the Beavers last season, totaling 206 rushing yards and two touchdowns, and so was Arizona running back J.J. Taylor, who added another 129 yards on the ground. Taylor is also back this season and he's getting more touches thus far, but he's also looking for his first 100-yard rushing effort this season, a mark that seems within reach against Oregon State, which has allowed 679 rushing yards through three games this season.

ABOUT OREGON STATE (1-2): The quarterback rotation between Conor Blount and Jake Luton is getting even tighter heading into the weekend. Luton, a 6-foot-7 senior, was the starting quarterback at Oregon State this time last season before sustaining a season-ending knee injury in the fourth game. He played sparingly behind Blount the first two games this season before getting a chance to throw 35 times against Nevada, completing 23 for 284 yards and a touchdown, while Blount was 12-for-20 against the Wolfpack for 175 yards and a touchdown.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Arizona WR Shawn Poindexter is averaging 23.1 yards per catch and Tony Ellison is averaging 20.1, joining Jerry Jeudy and DeVonta Smith of Alabama as the only teammates averaging more than 20 yards per reception.

2. Tate completed four passes for least 50 yards last week, the most by a Pac-12 quarterback since at least 2007.

3. Oregon State is 5-for-5 on fourth-down conversions this season, the most among the 13 teams that haven't been stopped on fourth down.

PREDICTION: Arizona 48, Oregon State 35

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: South Carolina at Vanderbilt

Do not count coach Derek Mason as one who was satisfied with Vanderbilt's near-upset last week at Notre Dame, and he made clear his team’s purpose entering Saturday’s SEC opener against visiting South Carolina. The Commodores, who seek to win their conference opener for the first time since 2011, dropped a 22-17 decision to the eighth-ranked Fighting Irish after rallying from a 13-point, second-quarter deficit.

“If people feel good about that, great. We don’t,” Mason told reporters on Tuesday - three days after admitting his team missed critical opportunities. “We play the game to win.” South Carolina looks forward to just playing after its home game against Marshall last week was canceled due to Hurricane Florence, as its last contest was a 41-17 loss to No. 3 Georgia on Sept. 8. “Gave our coaches a chance to start working on Vanderbilt,” South Carolina coach Will Muschamp told reporters on Tuesday. “I thought we had a very good practice Sunday and working into today.” Saturday's matchup features two of the better quarterbacks in the SEC in Vanderbilt’s Kyle Shurmur (754 yards, five touchdowns in three games) and South Carolina’s Jake Bentley (five touchdowns, 52 completions in two contests).


TV: 4 p.m. ET, SEC Network. LINE: South Carolina -2

ABOUT SOUTH CAROLINA (1-1, 0-1 SEC): One key to Saturday's contest will be the Gamecocks' rushing attack, which produced only 54 yards on 20 carries in the loss to Georgia. Wide receiver Deebo Samuel has shown he is healthy so far, recording a team-high 13 receptions, while Bryan Edwards leads South Carolina in receiving yards (164) and touchdown catches (three). Linebacker T.J. Brunson has made 10 solo tackles and 11 stops overall.

ABOUT VANDERBILT (2-1): Shurmur ripped the Fighting Irish for 326 yards and a touchdown last week, moving into third place on the school’s all-time passing list with 6,489 yards. Tight end Jared Pinkney (241 yards on 12 receptions) and wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb (league-high 25 catches for 234 yards) have emerged as top targets. Linebacker Josh Smith is tied for second in the conference with 15 solo tackles and has made 21 total stops.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Vanderbilt has not beaten South Carolina since posting back-to-back victories in 2007 and 2008.

2. Bentley set a career high with 47 pass attempts against Georgia, tying for ninth-most in school history.

3. The Commodores struggled establishing the run against Notre Dame, rushing for just 27 yards in the first half and 94 overall.

PREDICTION: Vanderbilt 31, South Carolina 27

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Connecticut at Syracuse

Coming off one of its biggest wins this century, Syracuse aims to remain undefeated Saturday when former Big East rival Connecticut visits the Carrier Dome. The Orange improved to 3-0 last weekend with a convincing 30-7 triumph over Florida State but have not started 4-0 since 1991.

Syracuse has not trailed this season, winning at Western Michigan and versus Wagner before the key victory against the Seminoles. "They really played their heart out," coach Dino Babers said after his team's latest victory. "I thought it was a fantastic family win. (The Seminoles) are the top athletes in the country. To get a win like this, we need to enjoy it." Orange quarterback Eric Dungey exited early with an eye injury but said he'll be good to go for Saturday's showdown. UConn, meanwhile, is hoping to pull a big upset after earning its first win of 2018 in last weekend's shootout with Rhode Island.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, ESPNews. LINE: Syracuse -27.5

ABOUT CONNECTICUT (1-2): David Pindell was a one-man show against Rhode Island, throwing for four touchdowns and running for two more scores in a 56-49 win. UConn, which scored a total of three TDs in its first two games, finished with 573 yards of total offense and controlled the ball for more than 35 minutes while going 8-for-15 on third downs. Kevin Mensah added a pair of rushing TDs and, over his last two games, the sophomore running back is averaging 6.5 yards per carry.

ABOUT SYRACUSE (3-0): Redshirt freshman quarterback Tommy DeVito filled in for Dungey last week and went 11-for-16 for 144 yards with a passing touchdown and a rushing score. Dungey (seven TD passes, one INT) is typically the team's top weapon through the air and on the ground, as veteran running backs Moe Neal and Dontae Strickland have gotten off to quiet starts. Freshman tailback Jarveon Howard has provided a spark the last two weeks, averaging 7.4 yards on his 19 touches.

EXTRA POINTS

1. UConn holds a 6-4 lead in the all-time series, although Syracuse won 31-24 two seasons ago in the only meeting over the last five years.

2. Dungey has six career games with 400-plus yards of offense, including the last matchup with UConn.

3. Dating back to last season, Pindell has thrown at least one interception in six straight games.

PREDICTION: Syracuse 41, UConn 27

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: TCU at Texas

TCU stumbled at a neutral site in its big test against a top-10 opponent last week, and the schedule is not getting any easier. The 17th-ranked Horned Frogs will try to bounce back when they open Big 12 play by visiting resurgent Texas on Saturday.

TCU blew past Southern and SMU by a combined score of 97-19 in the first two games and hung with No. 4 Ohio State for one half before falling off the pace in a 40-28 setback in Arlington, Texas, last week. "If this team can stay healthy, we're going to be a really good football team by the end of the year," coach Gary Patterson told reporters. "But we got to win early. It's a three-game season. Now it's the second game, going into Texas." The Longhorns got off to a slow start with a loss to Maryland and a narrow win over Tulsa, but a 37-14 drubbing of USC in Week 3 turned heads and raised expectations. "This needs to be the standard and not just on Saturday night," Texas coach Tom Herman told reporters. "It needs to be the standard in how we prepare every day this week. I told (the players) that this season is a marathon. This is not a sprint. We're going to have to bring that same level of energy and preparation each and every week in order to achieve our goals."

TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: TCU -3.5

ABOUT TCU (2-1, 0-0 Big 12): Sophomore Shawn Robinson is embracing his role as the starting quarterback and is learning to deal with his first bit of adversity after throwing a pair of interceptions in last week's loss. "The main thing with me is just execution and just, with the offense as a whole, just coming out and executing every play," Robinson told reporters. "I think we did better (against Ohio State) than at SMU, but we definitely fell short and had a lot of plays that we didn't execute on that we'll get better at. But that's pretty much the main thing, and just keeping my feet calm in the pocket and just trusting what I see. Still have a long way to go." Robinson threw for a season-high 308 yards in the loss but rushed for a season-low seven yards.

ABOUT TEXAS (2-1, 0-0): Longhorns quarterback Sam Ehlinger was just 15-of-33 passing against USC but threw for a pair of touchdowns and rushed for another. "I'm very content with the fact that every week we're progressing and we're doing something that we didn't do the week before and moving forward," Ehlinger told reporters. "Seeing that improvement is really enlightening for me, but I think there's a bunch of things, I think we need to work on everything. There's not like one particular thing that we're really good at and there's not one particular thing that we're really terrible at right now." Junior wide receiver Lil'Jordan Humphrey is one particular part of the offense working well and is up to 275 yards and two TDs on 17 receptions.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Texas LB Gary Johnson recorded a forced fumble, a sack and four tackles for loss against USC and was named Big 12 defensive player of the week.

2. Longhorns LB Malcolm Roach (fractured foot) is expected to miss up to two months.

3. TCU has taken the last four meetings by an average of 30 points.

PREDICTION: TCU 35, Texas 24

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Louisiana Tech at LSU

Few teams played a schedule in the first three weeks as tough as No. 6 LSU, and the Tigers survived unscathed. LSU will try to avoid a letdown and keep its perfect record intact when it hosts Louisiana Tech on Saturday.

The Tigers already boast wins over a pair of top-10 opponents after knocking off Miami in Week 1 and escaping with a 22-21 victory at Auburn in the SEC opener last week. "Give the credit to our players, our coaches, and our leadership of our football team," LSU coach Ed Orgeron told reporters. "The way they prepare, the way they believe in each other. They are a galvanized group right now. Obviously, a very happy football team. Just like any other week. We're 3-0." The Tigers sandwiched a 31-0 victory over Southeastern Louisiana between its two top-10 wins and are trying not to overlook the Bulldogs with the rest of the SEC slate looming. Louisiana Tech could put some pressure on the LSU defense and is averaging 42 points in a pair of wins over South Alabama and Southern to open the season.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: LSU -21

ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (2-0): The Bulldogs are averaging over 500 yards of offense and quarterback J'Mar Smith threw for 380 yards in a 54-17 triumph over Southern in Week 2, part of a performance that included 434 yards of total offense and three scores. Smith is one of three Louisiana Tech players to record a rushing score, and Jaqwis Dancy leads the way with 211 yards and four TDs on the ground. "Jaqwis Dancy continues to be electric every time you put the ball under his arm," Bulldogs coach Skip Holtz told reporters after the win over Southern. "I thought offensively we played really well."

ABOUT LSU (3-0): The Tigers' yearly search for a quarterback brought them to Ohio State transfer Joe Burrow this season, and the junior is playing solidly while learning the offense in his first season as a college starter. Burrow is completing just 46.2 percent of his passes but has yet to throw an interception and has totaled four TDs in the last two games. "He showed today that he's a competitor," Orgeron told reporters after beating Auburn. "Things weren't always good, but he competed his butt off. I thought he played well. Didn't play great, played well. He's 3-0 as our starting quarterback. That's pretty good."

EXTRA POINTS

1. LSU K Cole Tracy leads all active FBS kickers with 76 career field goals.

2. The Tigers have yet to commit a turnover in 2018.

3. LSU has not lost to an in-state opponent since falling to Tulane in 1982.

PREDICTION: LSU 42, Louisiana Tech 24

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Florida at Tennessee

Florida and Tennessee will battle under the lights Saturday as the Volunteers open their SEC slate at home against the rival Gators. Both schools come off resounding victories -- Florida shut down Colorado State 48-10 and Tennessee blanked UTEP 24-0 -- but they are rebuilding under new head coaches and seek their first victory of the season over a Power 5 opponent.

Head coaches Dan Mullen (Florida) and Jeremy Pruitt (Tennessee) are on a mission to restore the glory to a storied rivalry that has certainly seen better days, back to the era when they ruled the conference, combining for 10 of the 12 SEC titles between 1989-2000. For Mullen, a positive step in that direction would be avoiding an 0-2 conference start after losing to Kentucky two weeks ago in his SEC debut as Gators' coach, while Pruitt focuses on ending the Volunteers' nine-game SEC skid. "There's a lot of people out there who still think it's a big game," Mullen told reporters. "I think the feel within the program, both programs obviously want to get back where this has a big something to do with who wins the (SEC) East. I think that always adds to the rivalry." The last four meetings were all decided by 10 points or less, including last season's thriller that ended with the Gators scoring on a 63-yard Hail Mary as time expired to give Florida 12 victories in the last 13 meetings with the Volunteers.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Florida -4.5.

ABOUT FLORIDA (2-1, 0-1 SEC): No doubt, Feleipe Franks' biggest college play came on that winning throw against the Volunteers last season, but the quarterback has had his ups and downs and while he is learning a new offense under Mullen, he went 0-for-6 in the first quarter last week before hitting 8-of-9 with two TDs the rest of the way and he completed only 17 of 38 passes in the loss to Kentucky. The ground attack has sputtered at times and last week's injury to backup running back Malik Davis (broken foot) won't help, but Mullen will try to take pressure off Franks and unleash running back Jordan Scarlett on a Volunteers' run defense surrendering just 112.7 yards per game. The Gators' defense was manhandled at the line of scrimmage the first two weeks, especially by Kentucky (303 rushing yards allowed), but the unit stiffened up considerably against Colorado State (70 yards rushing) and more of the same will be needed against the Volunteers.

ABOUT TENNESSEE (2-1, 0-0): QB Jarrett Guarantano hasn't proven to be a big-time passing threat just yet, with his highest yardage total coming in Week 1's 40-14 loss to West Virginia when he threw for 172 yards and a score, but his 72.2 completion percentage ranks him second in the SEC. Guarantano may not need to be a gunslinger, however, if sophomore running back Ty Chandler produces as he did a week ago against UTEP, when he scampered for a career-high 158 yards (13.2 yards per carry) and a touchdown -- an 81-yarder that was the team's longest run since 2006. The defense ranks third in the SEC and 14th in the nation in total defense (291.7 yards per game) after limiting the last two opponents to just 164 yards per game, but the pass defense was torn apart by West Virginia (429 yards) and that could be a problem once again if the pass rush doesn't improve (five sacks in three games).

EXTRA POINTS

1. Florida leads Tennessee by a 27-20 series edge, including 11 straight victories between the 2005 and 2015 seasons.

2. This is just the second time in this series that both schools have new head coaches.

3. In just three games, the Volunteers' wide receivers have converted four plays of 50 yards or more, already tying last season's total.

PREDICTION: Tennessee 27, Florida 24

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Mississippi State at Kentucky

Mississippi State put up some big numbers during non-conference play and looks like a team that can contend with the likes of Alabama, Auburn and LSU, though it has yet to truly be tested. The 24th-ranked Bulldogs will get their first test against SEC competition when they visit Kentucky on Saturday in the conference opener.

Mississippi State is trouncing opponents by an average of 41.3 points over the first three games, led by an offense that is rushing for 311.7 yards per contest. "Offensively, we operate at our highest level when we are able to run the ball successfully and complete passes at a higher percentage, but never at the expense of explosive plays and protecting the football," Bulldogs coach Joe Moorhead told reporters after a 56-10 victory over Louisiana last week. I’m not sure what it was specifically, but I would venture to guess that we hit our number of explosive plays that we were looking for, and we did that within the construct of not turning the ball over and operating efficiently." The Wildcats are undefeated as well and already have one SEC victory on their resume after winning at Florida in Week 2. Kentucky can run the ball as well and boasts three rushers already over 100 yards on the season with a total of eight touchdowns between them.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Mississippi State -10

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (3-0, 0-0 SEC): The Bulldogs are up to 12 rushing TDs and got one last week from Aeris Williams, who enjoyed a breakout performance with 101 yards on 11 carries. "We set a rotation and from there it can really go the way the flow of the game dictates," Moorhead told reporters of his running back situation with Williams and Kylin Hill. "I think something that's very valuable for Aeris this week, in addition to his carries on first and second down, is his experience as a protector on third down, particularly in medium-plus situations." Mississippi State's running game also heavily features quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, who has 266 rushing yards in two games and four scores on the ground.

ABOUT KENTUCKY (3-0, 1-0): Benny Snell Jr. is leading the rushing attack with 375 yards and three TDs and will try to take some of the pressure off quarterback Terry Wilson, who is sitting on two TD passes and three interceptions through three games. "He takes the coaching," coach Mark Stoops told reporters of Wilson. "He works at it. He comes early. He stays late. He does what he has to do to do the studying on his own. Also, take the coaching. It does not surprise me much because I anticipated that. I mentioned that after Week 1in here that he is a sophomore and in game one there was no doubt in our mind that he would improve and he has." Wilson is part of the rushing attack, as well, and owns 223 yards and two TDs on the ground.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Fitzgerald needs 196 rushing yards to pass Tim Tebow for the SEC rushing record by a quarterback.

2. The Wildcats are trying to improve to 2-0 in SEC play for the first time since 1977.

3. The Bulldogs have taken eight of the last nine in the series.

PREDICTION: Mississippi State 34, Kentucky 21

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Army at Oklahoma

Oklahoma quarterback Kyler Murray may not spend much more time playing college football, but he may have to put his next career on hold if he continues to match and exceed the standard he has already set for himself. Coming off consecutive games of 300-plus yards and three passing touchdowns, the two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week will attempt to lead his fifth-ranked Sooners to a fourth straight victory Saturday when they host Army.

Drafted No. 9 overall by the Oakland Athletics in the Major League Baseball Draft this summer, Murray has transitioned seamlessly while replacing Heisman Trophy winner and top overall NFL Draft pick Baker Mayfield, ranking third in the Big 12 in passing yards (863) and seventh in rushing yards (169). The junior signal-caller was masterful for a second straight week at Iowa State last weekend, setting a career high with 348 passing yards and adding 77 more on the ground in a 38-28 win. "(Murray is) growing, no doubt. He can get better. He's leading our team. He's leading our offense right now and doing a pretty darn good job," coach Lincoln Riley said. The Knights will be looking to shut down a high-powered offense for a second straight contest after defeating Hawaii 28-21 last weekend, holding the Warriors 27 points and 178 yards below their previous season averages.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, No TV. LINE: Oklahoma -32.5.

ABOUT ARMY (2-1): The Knights rank sixth in FBS in rushing (306.7 yards) after leading the country a season ago, getting all-around contributions from Kelvin Hopkins Jr.; in his third career start last week, he became the first Army quarterback to have a 100-yard rushing and 100-yard passing game since Chris Carter in 2015. Hopkins' 206 yards rushing paces the team, although Darnell Woolfolk (153) and Calen Holt (150) have taken turns with the junior quarterback running for team-high totals over the first three contests. Connor Slomka (153) and Fred Cooper (110) also have rushed for over 100 yards on the season, while Camden Harrison and Christian Hayes lead Army with three catches and a touchdown reception apiece.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA (3-0): Junior Marquise Brown, who ranks second in the Big 12 in receptions (19) and receiving yards (412), amassed 139 receiving yards in the first quarter and 189 of his 191 receiving yards before intermission last week, setting school records for the most receiving yards in a quarter and a half. Trey Sermon got the start at running back in place of the injured Rodney Anderson (knee, out for the season) and ran for a season-high 74 yards and a touchdown on 13 carries. Safety Justin Broiles became the first Oklahoma freshman defensive back to register at least 10 tackles in a game since Tony Jefferson in 2010 and only the 10th rookie to do so in school history.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Murray's passing yardage (1,222), touchdown-to-interception ratio (11:1) and passer efficiency rating (217.0) through 94 pass attempts at Oklahoma are better than those of the Sooners' three Heisman-winning quarterbacks (Mayfield, Sam Bradford and Jason White).

2. Army has amassed 420 passing yards through three games, 59 more than it had all of last season.

3. The Sooners are averaging 9.3 tackles for loss in 2018 (13th nationally) after recording 5.4 per game in 2017 (84th).

PREDICTION: Oklahoma 44, Army 10

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: North Carolina State at Marshall

North Carolina State and Marshall should have an abundance of energy when they meet Saturday in Huntington, W.Va., since the undefeated teams had their games cancelled last week because of Hurricane Florence. N.C. State's chance to see where it stood against No. 13 West Virginia was washed away after opening the season with victories over Georgia State and FCS member James Madison by a combined 65-20.

The Wolfpack, though, won't have it easy against the Thundering Herd, who won at Miami (Ohio) 35-28 and defeated Eastern Kentucky 32-16. "Our first road game and a chance to play in a very good environment,'' N.C. State coach Dave Doeren said at his weekly press conference. "We know their fans will be great. It's an opportunity. I look at it more like that than a concern. Our guys will be excited about it. We like going on the road." The Wolfpack are led by Ryan Finley, who was 29-of-36 for 341 yards and three touchdowns in N.C. State's 37-20 victory over Marshall last season. Finley has four touchdowns and one interception while completing 74.1 percent of his passes in 2018, telling reporters: “We have a lot of weapons. It’s pretty special when I can just throw it out there to a lot of different targets.”

TV: 7 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: N.C. State -5.5

ABOUT N.C. STATE (2-0): Junior wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, who had 161 yards on 14 receptions versus James Madison, missed the Georgia State game with an ankle injury but is expected to play Saturday. Former walk-on Thayer Thomas, a redshirt freshman, took advantage of Meyers' absence with nine catches for 114 yards a a highlight reel TD with Finley telling reporters about Thomas: "He's special, he's worked for it, and he's earned the right to be on this stage. And I've really been impressed with him." Junior wide receiver Kelvin Harmon is also off to a fast start with 12 catches and 162 yards and offers Finley another target as the running game struggles at 99 yards per game -- 119th among the 129 FBS teams in the nation.

ABOUT MARSHALL (2-0): Coach Doc Holliday handed the keys to freshman quarterback Isaiah Green, who is off to a solid start by completing 61.8 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and an interception. All five of the TDs have gone to senior wide receiver Tyre Brady (12.1 yards per 15 receptions, three scores) and junior wide receiver Obi Obialo (13.4, eight, two). Junior safety Malik Gant and senior linebacker Chase Hancock pace with the defense with 23 tackles and a sack apiece while junior linemen Ty Tyler and Channing Hames each boast two sacks.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Eighty-two percent of the Wolfpack's points have come from first-time scorers this season with senior RB Reggie Gallaspy II (two touchdowns) the only exception.

2. The Thundering Herd have won 37 of their last 38 games when ahead at halftime, losing to Charlotte 27-24 in 2016 after leading 24-17 at the break.

3. Finley has 12 300-yard passing games, second in school history to Philip Rivers (19 from 2000-03).

PREDICTION: Marshall 28, N.C. State 27