Saturday 9-29-18 Free Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Etc

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Virginia at North Carolina State

North Carolina State’s high-flying passing offense, led by senior quarterback Ryan Finley, will get a major test Saturday afternoon when the Wolfpack host Virginia in a crossroads ACC contest. Finley has thrown for more than 1,000 yards and five touchdowns in three games to lead an air attack that ranks fourth in the nation, while the Cavaliers have allowed just 183.8 passing yards per game.

“He’s poised, he’s accurate, and he’s reflective of a player with experience,” Virginia coach Bronco Mendenhall told reporters of Finley. “He’s seen about everything you can throw at him because of how much (N.C. State) throws the football, so ultimately it will come down to making plays.” The Cavaliers limited Louisville to 148 passing yards and 214 overall while forcing three turnovers in the impressive 27-3 victory last weekend to open the ACC season and look to win their first road game after falling at Indiana 20-16 on Sept. 8. The Wolfpack have won three straight to start the season for the first time since 2015, including last weekend’s 37-20 triumph against Marshall that followed the cancellation of the game against West Virginia due to Hurricane Florence. “I think we’ve handled our business,” N.C. State coach Dave Doeren told reporters. “That’s all you can do.”

TV: 12:20 p.m. ET, ACC Network. LINE: N.C. State -5.5

ABOUT VIRGINIA (3-1, 1-0 ACC): Senior Jordan Ellis posted productive numbers in the first four games, averaging 112 yards and scoring five times on the ground, while junior quarterback Bryce Perkins has done it with his arm and his legs with nine TDS through the air and three rushing. Senior Olamide Zaccheaus is the top target for Perkins (1,184 yards total offense, 65.7 completion percentage), gaining 392 yards on 24 catches with four touchdowns, and junior Hasise Dubois has hauled in 16 passes for another 180 yards along with two scores. Senior linebacker Chris Peace boasts 19 tackles - a team-best 5.5 for loss - and the Cavaliers have outscored their opponents 28-3 in the fourth quarter.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA STATE (3-0, 0-0): Finley, who started his college career at Boise State, has completed 68.6 percent of his passes in the first three games and tossed just one interception after throwing for 3,000 yards in each of the previous two seasons. Junior Kelvin Harmon leads the receiving corps with 18 receptions for 312 yards - including at least 100 in the last two games - while senior Reggie Gallaspy II is the biggest threat on the ground with 173 yards and four touchdowns. Senior linebacker Germaine Pratt (30 tackles, one sack) and junior safety Jarius Morehead (22 tackles, one interception for a TD) lead a defense that is allowing 13.3 points per game.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Finley is 74 away from becoming the fourth N.C. State quarterback to record 8,000 yards of total offense.

2. Cavaliers LB Jordan Mack (undisclosed) will miss the next six weeks and DE Richard Burney (medical condition) is out for the season.

3. The Wolfpack lead the all-time series 34-22-1, but the teams have not met since 2012 when Virginia won 33-6.

PREDICTION: Virginia 24, N.C. State 21

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Cincinnati at Connecticut

Cincinnati will try to match its best start since 2012 when the Bearcats travel to Connecticut for their American Athletic Conference opener on Saturday. Cincinnati already matched its win total from last season with a 34-30 win against visiting Ohio on Saturday, rallying from an early 21-0 deficit to post its eighth fourth-quarter comeback victory in the past 10 years.

The Bearcats will need to play with more discipline than they did last week, when they accumulated 14 penalties for 150 yards, the most flags since 2002. One trend they'd like to continue is their success on the ground, where they've rushed for at least 150 yards in all four wins this season. Connecticut hasn't done much to keep its opponents out of the end zone, surrendering at least 49 points in all four games. The Huskies are giving up an average of 664 total yards per game, last among all 129 FBS schools.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: Cincinnati -17

ABOUT CINCINNATI (4-0, 0-0 AAC): Connecticut is also allowing an average of 309 rushing yards per game, second-most in the FBS. That weakness should open the door for another big game by Cincinnati running back Michael Warren II, who has eight rushing touchdowns this season, tied for second-most in the FBS. Desmond Ridder, the freshman quarterback for the Bearcats, can also do damage with his legs, but he's been even more effective with his arm, passing for six touchdowns in the past three games with just one interception.

ABOUT CONNECTICUT (1-3, 0-1): The Huskies likely remember the season-ending one-point loss to Cincinnati last November, which came after Connecticut missed a PAT with no time left. David Pindell passed for 272 yards and a touchdown in the loss and ran for another 95 yards and a score, both season highs, but the senior is trying to hold off a push from redshirt freshman Marvin Washington for more playing time this season. Washington entered the game in the fourth quarter against Syracuse on Saturday and threw a touchdown pass to cut the deficit to 20 points before the Orange pulled away for the 51-21 victory.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Cincinnati has scored a touchdown on 14 of 15 trips to the red zone this season and kicked a field on the other.

2. The Bearcats received 22 votes in the coaches' poll this week, the first time they've received votes since the 2014 season.

3. Connecticut DT Darrian Beavers, a Cincinnati native, is expected to move into a starting role this week after recording the Huskies' lone sack last week against Syracuse.

PREDICTION: Cincinnati 56, Connecticut 30

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Old Dominion at East Carolina

There is no chance that East Carolina will look past visiting Old Dominion on Saturday when the teams meet for a non-conference game. The Pirates will try to get their season back in order against the Monarchs, who posted the upset of the year in college football last week.

East Carolina has had a disjointed season, including having its season opener postponed by a day, a loss to an FCS school, a blowout victory over North Carolina and a cancelled game with No. 24 Virginia Tech -- the same team the previously winless Monarchs knocked off. Scottie Montgomery's team is coming off a 20-13 loss to South Florida in American Athletic Conference play in which the Pirates had a sizable advantage in time of possession and yardage yet couldn't make the big play when needed. "We got to play better. We also got to understand that when we play against the top teams in our conference, it's going to come down to one or two plays and we have to execute them," Montgomery told the media. "We know the challenge ahead of us." Blake LaRussa was the star in the 49-35 victory over Virginia Tech as the junior came off the bench to throw for 495 yards and four touchdowns for the Monarchs of Conference USA, who were beaten 38-0 by the Hokies last season on the road.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN3. LINE: East Carolina -7

ABOUT OLD DOMINION (1-3): Jonathan Duhart has long been a productive player for the Monarchs, including posting a combined 95 catches and 1,371 yards in 2015 and 2016, but he has taken his game to a new level in his fifth and final season at the Norfolk, Va. school. After recording a career-high nine catches for 142 yards and three touchdowns against Virginia Tech, the 6-3, 210-pound native of Midlothian, Va., has three straight 100-yard games and is tied for third in the FBS in receiving touchdowns and fourth in receiving yards. Not to be forgotten is Travis Fulgham, who came up with career-highs in catches (nine) and yards (188), and running back Jeremy Cox, who managed his fifth career 100-yard game against the Hokies

ABOUT EAST CAROLINA (1-2): The Pirates may have to scale back their passing attack if quarterback Reid Herring, who injured an ankle against South Florida and missed practice Tuesday, is not able to go. Herring has thrown 77 of 79 completions for 852 of the team's 860 yards this season, would need to practice Wednesday in order to play Saturday according to Montgomery. Freshman Holton Ahlers is more of a running quarterback, having amassed 84 yards and three touchdowns on the ground, and freshman Kingsley Ifedi has attempted one pass this season for the Pirates.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Barring the Virginia Tech game being rescheduled, Trevon Brown needs 754 yards in eight games to add to East Carolina's streak of six straight seasons with a 1,000-yard receiver, the best in the FBS.

2. The Pirates set school records in pass completions (46) and passing yards (447) that have since been broken in a 52-38 victory over the Monarchs in the lone prior meeting in 2013.

3. East Carolina has posted an 11-22 conference mark in its five seasons in the AAC after going 78-50 during its 17 seasons in Conference USA.

PREDICTION: East Carolina 37, Old Dominion 31

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Tennessee at Georgia

Third-ranked Georgia returns home to host Tennessee on Saturday as an overwhelming favorite - which is not surprising since it is averaging 44.5 points while allowing just 13.2 per contest en route to a 4-0 start, but that does not mean coach Kirby Smart is satisfied. The Bulldogs played arguably their worst game of the season last week, a 43-29 victory at Missouri after which Smart bemoaned several areas where he felt his team should have played better.

“We didn’t play the run game real well last week, and that’s what we pride ourselves on,” Smart told reporters on Monday. “We have to do a better job of attacking the run and playing the run.” The Volunteers opened SEC play with a thud last week, committing six turnovers en route to a 47-21 home loss to Florida. “In this job, we are judged by wins and losses, and we’re 2-2,” Tennessee coach Jeremy Pruitt told reporters on Wednesday. “When you look back at where we were, we are much better off.” The Volunteers now open a difficult stretch of three consecutive games against ranked teams - Georgia, No. 10 Auburn and No. 1 Alabama.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Georgia -31 ½

ABOUT TENNESSEE (2-2, 0-1 SEC): The Volunteers did not turn over the ball in their first two games but have committed eight miscues in their last two contests. Quarterback Jarrett Guarantano likely will play Saturday after being knocked out of last week’s game twice, completing just 7-of-18 passes for 164 yards with two interceptions and a lost fumble. Cornerback Baylen Buchanan tied for the team lead with five tackles and played well in pass coverage, but Tennessee as a unit gave up three passing touchdowns and three rushing scores.

ABOUT GEORGIA (4-0, 2-0): The Bulldogs gave up a season-high 172 rushing yards against Missouri, had a field goal blocked and were penalized seven times for 66 yards. Quarterback Jake Fromm passed for 260 yards and three touchdowns, while Elijah Holyfield and D’Andre Swift combined for 161 yards on the ground. Linebacker D’Andre Walker continued his strong season last week, forcing two fumbles while finishing with four tackles and two sacks.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Georgia G Ben Cleveland is out indefinitely after suffering a fractured left fibula in the second half of last week's contest.

2. The Volunteers have lost their last 10 games against Power Five opponents.

3. Tennessee leads the all-time series 23-22-2, including an 11-11-1 record at Georgia.

PREDICTION: Georgia 44, Tennessee 13

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Florida State at Louisville

Two once-proud programs looking for their first conference win of the season meet on Saturday afternoon as Florida State visits Louisville. The Seminoles are 0-2 in ACC play with losses to Virginia Tech and Syracuse, while the Cardinals lost their conference opener to Virginia last weekend.

Florida State is coming off a victory as it was able to even its overall record at 2-2 with a 37-19 home win over Northern Illinois, as quarterback Deondre Francois threw for a season-high 352 yards. It was coach Willie Taggart’s first win over an FBS opponent at Florida State, as his other win came over FCS Samford. Louisville’s offensive struggles continued last week as it managed just 214 total yards and turned the ball over three times in a 27-3 loss at Virginia. "I thought our defense played hard, did some good things, but the offense didn't do (its) part," coach Bobby Petrino told reporters after the game.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Florida State -6.5.

ABOUT FLORIDA STATE (2-2, 0-2 ACC): The offense finally showed some signs of life with the 37-point performance after managing just 10 combined points in the Seminoles’ two FBS losses. Francois delivered his best game since 2016 and showed a nice connection with receivers Keith Gavin and Nyqwan Murray, who combined for 11 catches and 178 yards. But there is still plenty of reason for concern as the offense turned the ball over four times and rushed for 121 yards on 2.1 yards per carry.

ABOUT LOUISVILLE (2-2, 0-1): The quarterback carousel continues for the Cardinals as redshirt freshman Malik Cunningham, who was making his first start of the season, went 6-of-9 for 35 yards and an interception before being replaced in the second half by opening day starter Jawon Pass (10-of-19, 113 yards, one interception). Petrino has yet to name a starter against Florida State, telling reporters he needed to evaluate game film before making a decision, but neither has been a good option to this point. The lack of a passing game has taken its toll on the running game as well, as Louisville’s top two running backs, Dae Williams and Jeremy Smith, have just 71 and 63 total yards on the season, respectively.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Florida State held Northern Illinois to six rushing yards last week.

2. Louisville has won four in a row at Cardinal Stadium and is 12-4 at home since joining the ACC in 2014.

3. The two teams have played in each of the last four years and the series is even at 2-2, although Louisville has won in each of the last two seasons.

PREDICTION: Florida State 28, Louisville 10

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Pittsburgh at Central Florida

Central Florida’s high-octane offense looks to continue its impressive production in the last game before American Athletic Conference play when ACC member Pittsburgh pays a visit on Saturday afternoon. The 14th-ranked Knights averaged 50 points in their first three games while extending a nation-best winning streak to 16, and face the only Power Five conference team left on the schedule.

“They’re thick, strong and physical up front,” UCF coach Josh Heupel told reporters of Pitt. “Extremely big. The biggest defensive front we’ve seen so far. On the backend, they’re going to contest things. They’ll load it up and make it difficult to run the football.” The Knights had their contest with North Carolina - the only other game against a Power Five team on the original schedule - cancelled due to Hurricane Florence, which makes this game even more important, while the Panthers need a boost after a tough conference loss. Pittsburgh won its ACC opener against Georgia Tech 24-19 before suffering a 38-35 loss at North Carolina last weekend, a game in which the Panthers allowed 313 yards through the air, and will face a UCF team that averages 304 yards passing. Pittsburgh coach Pat Narduzzi told reporters his team will have to be alert with how quickly the Knights work on offense: "These guys," Narduzzi said, "they limit you to really doing much pressure-wise because you don't have time to even communicate."

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ESPNU. LINE: UCF -13.5

ABOUT PITTSBURGH (2-2): The Panthers are led by two senior running backs in Qadree Ollison (355 yards, four TDs) and Darrin Hall (163, two TDs) while sophomore quarterback Kenny Pickett has not produced much through the air. Pickett has thrown for 145 yards per game with four scores and three interceptions while sophomore Taysir Mack (10 catches, 224 yards) and senior Rafael Araujo-Lopes (11, 103, two TDs) are the top two targets. Senior linebacker Quintin Wirginis tops the Panthers with 28 tackles and two sacks for the Panthers, who gave up 36 points per game over the last three outings and almost 400 yards per contest overall.

ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA (3-0): Junior quarterback McKenzie Milton rebounded with a strong effort (306 yards passing, three TDs) in the 56-36 win over Florida Atlantic last week after throwing three interceptions in the previous contest. Milton boasts 895 yards passing with nine scoring strikes - three to sophomore Gabriel Davis (20 catches, 242 yards) - and has rushed for three TDs along with 147 yards, second only to junior Adrian Killins Jr. (193, three TDs). The Knights have forced nine turnovers, including seven interceptions, while led by sophomore defensive back Richie Grant and senior linebacker Pat Jasinski with 26 tackles each.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Milton has 56 touchdown passes, tied with Blake Bortles for fourth in school history, and needs 85 yards for 7,000 passing.

2. Pittsburgh, which won the only other meeting 52-7 in 2006, is 5-1 playing road games in the state of Florida since 2008.

3. UCF’s offensive line has allowed just one sack and leads the country with 1.67 tackles for loss against per contest.

PREDICTION: Central Florida 38, Pittsburgh 21

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Rice at Wake Forest

Wake Forest will have a different look on the sideline when it closes out nonconference play Saturday. The Demon Deacons fired defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel after last week's defeat and will aim for a crisper effort on that side of the ball against visiting Rice.

Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson did not waste much time after Saturday's 56-27 loss to Notre Dame, announcing later that weekend that Sawvel was fired and that it was "not a spur of the moment decision." While the defene has struggled, however, there have been some bright spots for Wake Forest this season. Cade Carney, for instance, is averaging 5.7 yards per carry and certainly will be a focal point of the offense against Rice. The Owls enter having lost three in a row and gave up 45, 43 and 40 points in those three defeats.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, RSN. LINE: Wake Forest -25.5

ABOUT RICE (1-3): The Owls' Shawn Stankavage has thrown multiple touchdown passes in three straight games, while Austin Walter is coming off a strong outing (six carries for 81 yards and a score) against Southern Miss. Aaron Cephus had two receiving scores in that game and has three TDs in his last two contests. Emmanuel Esukpa is the team's leading rusher on the season (395 yards) but is coming off his worst game of 2018, as he totaled just 37 yards on 18 carries against the Golden Eagles.

ABOUT WAKE FOREST (2-2): Carney and Matt Colburn each have two rushing touchdowns, while Colburn needs three rushing yards to reach 1,000 for his career. Freshman quarterback Sam Hartman threw two TD passes in each of the first three games before posting a very quiet stat line (12-for-24 for 110 yards, 0 TDs, 0 INTs) versus the Fighting Irish. The Demon Deacons will continue to grind out drives, as their 11 scoring drives of 10-plus plays currently lead the nation.

EXTRA POINTS

1. In its last two games against ACC squads, Rice has lost by a combined margin of 97-14.

2. Wake Forest has run for at least 250 yards in three straight games.

3. This is the first meeting between the teams since 1980.

PREDICTION: Wake Forest 59, Rice 17

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Texas at Kansas State

Kansas State coach Bill Snyder is looking for any improvements when the Wildcats host red-hot Texas on Saturday in Big 12 Conference action. No. 22 Texas bounced back from its opening loss with three straight wins and Snyder would like to see the Wildcats - who have won five straight at home against the Longhorns - to make some strides.

"It is not a team yet with an identity," Snyder said of his team during Tuesday's press conference. "I am looking for improvement in all aspects of the game. The consistency is not there for sure. We need to improve to the point where we are consistently improving." The Wildcats have struggled offensively and defensively, getting outscored 66-16 in two losses to ranked teams. The Longhorns have played solid defense during the win streak, allowing 17.0 points and 108.3 rushing yards per contest. Sophomore quarterback Sam Ehlinger's consistent play - nine total touchdowns and no turnovers in the past three games - has also helped Texas bounce back from that loss to Maryland.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports 1. LINE: Texas -8

ABOUT TEXAS (3-1, 1-0 Big 12): Ehlinger (978 passing yards, eight passing touchdowns, two interceptions) has a pair of reliable receivers in Lil'Jordan Humphrey (352 yards, three scores) and Collin Johnson (299 yards, two scores) - who each have at least 20 catches. Freshman safety Caden Sterns has three interceptions in four games while junior safety Brandon Jones leads Texas with 29 tackles. Senior linebackers Gary Johnson (25 tackles, six tackles for loss) and Anthony Wheeler (23 tackles) have been solid but Texas will be without junior defensive end Malcolm Roach (foot) for several more weeks.

ABOUT KANSAS STATE (2-2, 0-1): Sophomore Skylar Thompson (505 passing yards, four TDs, one interception) and junior Alex Delton (259, one, two) will likely continue to split time at quarterback, but Snyder has yet named a starter for Saturday. Junior Alex Barnes leads the ground game with 69.2 yards per game and one of the team's two rushing touchdowns while the quarterbacks combine for another 73 yards per outing. Junior receiver Isaiah Zuber has a team-best 24 catches for 356 yards and three scores after back-to-back 100-yard games - the first two of his career.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Ehlinger needs 107 yards to become the program's 15th player to reach 3,000 career passing yards.

2. Kansas State's veteran offensive line, which returns five starters from last year, has allowed 15 sacks in four games.

3. Texas outscored its past two opponents - then-ranked USC and TCU - 42-3 after halftime.

PREDICTION: Texas 34, Kansas State 20

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Baylor at Oklahoma

Oklahoma has developed a reputation in recent years for getting upset early at least once each season and putting itself in a compromising situation when it comes time for the College Football Playoff committee to choose their final four teams. The fifth-ranked Sooners managed to avoid an unlikely scare last weekend and hope they can recover in time to continue their domination of Baylor when the Big 12 rivals square off Saturday in Norman.

One of college football's most prolific offenses entering last weekend, Oklahoma found itself engaged in the slugfest at home with Army and before coming away with a 28-21 overtime victory in a contest in which the Knights held the ball for nearly 45 minutes and ran 87 plays to the Sooners' 40. “Our guys hung in there. … If there’s a couple plays that game that you don’t make, it’s going to be a close game against them. Those couple plays that we had a chance to separate, we didn’t do it," coach Lincoln Riley told reporters after the game. The Bears have quickly put last year's 1-11 nightmare behind them under second-year coach Matt Rhule, although their wins thus far have come against Abilene Christian, Texas-San Antonio and Kansas. While all of the Bears' victories against the Sooners have come over the last decade, Oklahoma holds a commanding 24-3 advantage in the all-time series, including 12-1 at home.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: Oklahoma -23.5.

ABOUT BAYLOR (3-1, 1-0 Big 12): At least for one week, sophomore Charlie Brewer ended the Bears' quarterback by committee with Jalan McClendon, going 19-of-27 for 221 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 56 more on a team-high 12 carries as Baylor defeated Kansas 26-7. Josh Fleeks turned the first five catches of his college career into 65 yards and a touchdown while fellow freshman receiver Tyquan Thornton scored for the second straight week and leads the team (among those with more than one reception) with a 20.5-yard per catch average on his eight receptions. Tennessee transfer and running back-turned-receiver Jalen Hurd is tied for fifth in the conference in catches (22) and ranks sixth in receiving yards (311).

ABOUT OKLAHOMA (4-0, 1-0): Sophomore Kenneth Murray (47 tackles) more than doubled his season-long production entering last weekend's game, finishing with a school-record 28 tackles - the highest total ever recorded by a FBS player since the NCAA began keeping track of the stat in 2000. Fellow linebacker Curtis Bolton (46) doubled his tackle numbers through three games with 23 stops against Army, marking only the second time the Sooners have had two players record at least 20 tackles in the same game (1974, Texas). Trey Sermon was the only running back to log a rushing attempt against the Knights and ran for a season-high 119 yards on 18 carries, while quarterback Kyler Murray amassed 284 total yards and accounted for all four touchdowns.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Sooners' 40 offensive plays last weekend were their fewest in a game since 1960 and stand as the third-lowest total in school history.

2. Baylor's nine tackles for loss against Kansas were its most in a game since last year's season opener against Liberty (10).

3. Sermon ran 12 times for a career-high 148 yards and two TDs in the fourth quarter alone last year as Oklahoma rallied for a 49-41 road victory over the Bears.

PREDICTION: Oklahoma 48, Baylor 20

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Purdue at Nebraska

Purdue broke through with a resounding victory over a ranked team last weekend after a series of heartbreaking losses, while Nebraska was reminded how much better it has to get in order to challenge a top-25 foe. Coming off their most impressive win in almost 20 years, the Boilermakers will try to avenge one of their most devastating defeats from last season when they visit Nebraska on Saturday.

Following three straight home losses by a combined eight points to begin the season, David Blough threw for three touchdowns and Purdue forced four turnovers to race out to a 23-point advantage and beat previously undefeated Boston College 30-13 for its largest margin of victory over a ranked opponent since 1999. "It's always tough and no fun when you lose. You want to feel bad. You want to be ticked off and angry, and you want (losing) to cause you to say we're not going to do this anymore. (Today) was just a great overall effort," Boilermakers coach Jeff Brohm said. The Cornhuskers dropped a pair of five-point decisions at home to begin the Scott Frost era before getting outclassed in every phase of the game during a 56-10 rout at No. 15 Michigan. Nebraska, which is 0-3 for the first time since 1945 and has lost seven in a row for the first time since 1957, managed only 17 total yards of offense in the first half and entered the break trailing 39-0.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Purdue -3.5.

ABOUT PURDUE (1-3, 0-1 Big Ten): Blough ranks second in the conference in passing yards (990) and quarterback rating (164.2) and clearly has the respect of the Nebraska coaching staff, which believes he is the best signal-caller the team will have faced to this point of the season. "I think he's an exceptional passer, and he's an adequate runner. He can maybe not run it as well as some other guys that are quote-unquote "dual threat" but he can throw it as well as anybody in the league," Cornhuskers defensive coordinator Erik Chinander told the Lincoln Journal Star. Freshman receiver Rondale Moore ranks fifth in FBS with a Big-Ten best 732 all-purpose yards and sixth in the country with a conference-best 33 receptions for 372 yards and four touchdowns.

ABOUT NEBRASKA (0-3, 0-1): Adrian Martinez returned from a one-game absence due to the knee injury, but the true freshman quarterback was consistently under pressure (four sacks in just over a half of action) and finished with only 10 yards of total offense against Michigan. Stanley Morgan Jr. (132 career catches) produced 61 yards on three receptions to extend his streak of catching at least three passes to 15 straight contests; he is five receptions shy of moving into the top five on the school's all-time list. Sophomore cornerback Dicaprio Bootle finished with five pass breakups at Michigan - a total that stands as the third-most in a single game in school history and is tied for the most by a Nebraska player in a Big Ten Conference game.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Nebraska rallied from a 12-point, fourth-quarter deficit to win 25-24 against Purdue last year. It's the program's only victory in the last 10 contests.

2. Boilermakers sophomore LB Cornel Jones ranks ninth nationally with a Big Ten-best eight tackles for loss.

3. The Cornhuskers added Bethune-Cookman to their schedule (Oct. 27) this week to replace their cancelled game against Akron on Sept. 1.

PREDICTION: Purdue 34, Nebraska 28

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Southern Miss at Auburn

During Gus Malzahn’s tenure, 10th-ranked Auburn has been known for its dynamic offense, but that hasn’t been the case thus far this season. The Tigers hope to change that when they host Southern Miss on Saturday for their annual homecoming matchup.


Auburn is 3-1 despite a challenging early-season schedule, but it has done it largely with a dominant defense while waiting for its usually electric offense to catch up. "We need the explosive plays,” Malzahn told reporters. “(When) we're at our best, we're playing fast, we're having explosive plays - not just in the passing game, but the run game, too. And we haven't had near as many as we have liked, so we've got to figure out how to get that done." The Tigers rebounded from a stunning last-second loss to LSU to rout Arkansas 34-3 last week, but the offense was supplemented by two defensive touchdowns and a kickoff return for a score. The Golden Eagles have posted impressive numbers on both sides of the ball through three games, but they’re taking a huge step up in competition after starting the season with wins over Jackson State and Rice, as well as a loss to Louisiana-Monroe.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, SEC Network. LINE: Auburn -27


ABOUT SOUTHERN MISS (2-1): The Golden Eagles don’t have much of a ground game of which to speak, but quarterback Jack Abraham likes to sling the ball around and has rolled up 1,048 yards with 10 touchdowns and three interceptions. Quez Watkins is Abraham’s favorite target, as he has made 24 catches for 304 yards and five scores. The defense has dominated the weaker competition and has been especially stingy against the pass, holding all three opponents under 200 yards through the air.

ABOUT AUBURN (3-1): Redshirt freshman JaTarvious Whitlow (303 rushing yards, four touchdowns) leads the Tigers’ ground game and Jarrett Stidham (718 passing yards, three TDs, two interceptions) guides the passing attack. After putting up big numbers in wins over Washington and Alabama State, however, the Tigers have been outgained in consecutive games and managed only 225 total yards against the Razorbacks. The defense has helped mask the offensive shortcomings, holding each of Auburn’s first four opponents under 400 total yards and racking up 32 tackles for loss and 13 sacks.


EXTRA POINTS

1. Auburn is looking to add to its school-record 26 consecutive homecoming wins.

2. Tigers Ks have converted 241 consecutive extra-point attempts dating to 2013, the longest active streak in the FBS.

3. Freshmen have accounted for 82 of Auburn’s 139 points, including nine of its 16 touchdowns.


PREDICTION: Auburn 33, Southern Miss 14

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Tennessee State at Vanderbilt

Vanderbilt coach Derek Mason had higher hopes for his club entering the season but as the Commodores prepare to host FCS member Tennessee State on Saturday, the long-term prospects of success do not appear strong. After starting the season with victories over Middle Tennessee State (35-7) and Nevada (41-10), Vanderbilt has lost at No. 8 Notre Dame 22-17 and to South Carolina 37-14 in its SEC opener last week.

“I thought we had a chance to push this program forward in 2018 … but this is just another missed (opportunity),” Commodores coach Derek Mason told reporters after the South Carolina setback. Vanderbilt must receive better play from senior quarterback Kyle Shurmur, who was 18-of-38 for 180 yards with a touchdown and interception last week, prompting Mason to say "he had a rough day at the office.'' The Tigers of the Ohio Valley Conference, who have endured two weather cancellations this season -- the second because of Hurricane Florence, are coming off a 41-40 victory at Eastern Illinois thanks to a last-minute 47-yard blocked field goal attempt. "TSU is always going to be athletic … They've got athletes, they're putting up points, they're athletic as all get-out on both sides of the ball," Mason said.

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

ABOUT TENNESSEE STATE (2-0): The Tigers will not be at full strength as junior running back Sabree Curtis (team-high 439 yards rushing last season) will miss his second straight game with a leg injury. Junior wide receiver Chris Rowland (team-high 15 receptions, 15.7 yard average, one touchdown) is "very doubtful" to play, according to coach Rod Reed, after sustaining a chest contusion last week. Junior quarterback Demry Croft was named OVC Newcomer of the Week after completing 14-of-20 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns, and adding 56 yards rushing on eight carries versus Eastern Illinois.

ABOUT VANDERBILT (2-2): Shurmur completed 64.1 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and an interception in his first three games before his sub-par contest last week. Junior wide receiver Kalija Lipscomb has an SEC-most 34 receptions with team highs of 306 yards and four touchdown catches while junior running back Ke'Shawn Vaughn averages 5.5 yards per carry with four TDs. Sophomore linebacker Kenny Hebert (three sacks, fumble recovery, forced fumble) and senior linebacker Jordan Griffin (team-high 31 tackles, sack, pass breakup) pace the defense.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Commodores are last among SEC teams in rushing at 140 yards per game -- 23 fewer than next-lowest Arkansas.

2. Freshman WR Cam Johnson, Vanderbilt's top offensive player from the 2018 recruiting class, will miss the rest of the season because of a leg injury but will maintain four years of eligibility.

3. The Commodores have won both meetings, including 35-17 in the most recent encounter in 2016 with Shurmur completing 15-of-23 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown.

PREDICTION: Vanderbilt 24, Tennessee State 17

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Michigan at Northwestern

No. 15 Michigan looks to win its fourth straight game when it visits Northwestern in Big Ten play on Saturday. The Wolverines have outscored their opponents 150-33 during their winning streak, including an impressive 56-10 rout of Nebraska in Week 4 to improve to 4-0 in conference openers under Jim Harbaugh, and they hope to keep climbing the national rankings by beating the Wildcats for the sixth consecutive time.


"We're still in control of our goals and our destiny and we have to come out and show the world because we know what we have here," Michigan defensive end Rashan Gary told reporters. "The Nebraska game gave a glimpse but we've got to keep improving." Northwestern hopes to have fixed its early-season problems during the bye week after dropping back-to-back games, including a disappointing 39-34 defeat to Akron, which was their second loss to a Mid-American Conference team in the last three years. The Wildcats won their Big Ten opener against Purdue in Week 1, but haven't started conference play 2-0 in 18 years and hope to bounce back from their sluggish start by knocking off Michigan for the first time since 2008. "They have great talent at every position," Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald told reporters. "They play very physical…so just very impressed."

TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Michigan -14.


ABOUT MICHIGAN (3-1, 1-0 Big Ten): Running back Karan Higdon racked up a game-high 136 yards on the ground to go along with a touchdown after missing the previous contest with an undisclosed injury, while fullback Ben Mason rushed for a career-best three touchdowns in the win against Nebraska. Running back Chris Evans missed the game with a suspected hamstring injury and is likely to miss another game while Gary is expected to play after sitting out the second half with a sore shoulder. Wide receiver Donovan Peoples-Jones was named the Big Ten Co-Special Teams Player of the Week after returning a punt 60 yards for a touchdown.

ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (1-2, 1-0): Sophomore running back Jeremy Larkin, who led the team in rushing yards (346) and touchdowns (five) in 2018, was forced to retire earlier in the week after he was diagnosed with cervical stenosis. Clayton Thorson threw for a career-high 383 yards and three touchdowns in the loss to Akron to set a new program record for most TD passes with 47 in his career, eclipsing the old mark of 44 held by Len Williams and Brett Basanez. John Moten is expected to shoulder most of the load at running back in Larkin's absence while freshmen Isaiah Bowser and Drake Anderson could see some carries as well.


EXTRA POINTS

1. Michigan has won 10 of the last 11 meetings with Northwestern.

2. Thorson has started 42 straight games at quarterback, which is the second-longest active streak in the nation.

3. The Wolverines are ranked third nationally in total defense (240 yards per game).


PREDICTION: Michigan 28, Northwestern 16

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Florida at Mississippi State

Emotions will be extremely high Saturday as No. 19 Mississippi State hosts Florida in a battle between Dan Mullen's current team and his former one. The Bulldogs, perhaps peeking ahead to this matchup, come off a 28-7 upset loss to Kentucky that dropped them in the polls while the Gators ripped off their third 45-plus point game in stomping Tennessee 47-21.

This one has been circled on both teams' calendars ever since Mullen, after a 69-46 mark in nine successful seasons at Mississippi State, decided last November to return to Florida, where he served as offensive coordinator for two Gators national championship teams in four seasons (2005-08). "When I think of the fans and I think of the former players and the people of the town of Starkville, I think for the most part they were appreciative in what we were able to accomplish in the nine years that we were there," Mullen told reporters. "I spent nine years trying to create a tradition, so now I get to go back and see what it's like to be on the other sideline of the tradition we created." Familiarity will no doubt be a big theme, as Mullen and seven of his assistant coaches know full well the talents and tendencies of the Bulldogs, especially star quarterback Nick Fitzgerald, while Mississippi State will look to take full advantage of its inside knowledge of the offensive and defensive schemes that Mullen likes to run. "There's an emotional component attached to this game that is relative to Coach Mullen and his staff being with these (MSU) players for an extended amount of time," Bulldogs first-year head coach Joe Moorhead said. "But at the end of the day, I'm not going to be on the field taking any snaps and neither are our assistants or any of their coaches. The game is going to be played on the field between the white lines between 11 Mississippi State players and 11 Florida players."

TV: 6 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Mississippi State -7.5.

ABOUT FLORIDA (3-1, 1-1 SEC): Mullen upped the tempo for the Bulldogs' offense and he's begun to work similar magic on the Gators, who have already produced 15 touchdown drives under three minutes this season, three more than they had all of last season and matching the total from 2016. Quarterback Feleipe Franks continues to mature and he has thrown multiple touchdown passes in each of his last six games, becoming the first Florida quarterback to turn the trick since Tim Tebow. "It would be great to give him (Mullen) a win against Mississippi State, the team he just came from," said Florida junior wide receiver Freddie Swain, who is tied with Van Jefferson with three TD catches apiece. "Just focus on it's another game. Hopefully, we get a win. Just win."

ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (3-1, 0-1): Fitzgerald really blossomed under Mullen and he emerged as a dual threat, becoming only the third player in SEC history with at least 35 touchdowns rushing and passing, joining Tebow (2006-09) and former Bulldogs star Dak Prescott (2012-15), both also coached by Mullen. Gators defensive boss Todd Grantham will have his defense well-prepared and primed to contain Fitzgerald but the Bulldogs offense is talented and explosive, already producing two 600-yard outings under Moorhead -- 607 vs. Louisiana and 618 against Stephen F. Austin. Defensive end Montez Sweat (22.5) and noseguard Jeffery Simmons (19.5) have combined for 42 tackles for loss in the 17 games they have played together and they spearhead a defense giving up only 4.2 yards per play and 269.3 total yards per game, both ranked in the top 10 in the country.

EXTRA POINTS

1. The Bulldogs and Gators first met in 1923 with Florida leading the all-time series 33-19-2, but it's the teams' first encounter since 2010, when Mississippi State pulled out a 10-7 victory.

2. This will be the first time since 1934 that a former Bulldogs head coach will be on the opposing sidelines as head coach of the other team.

3. The teams each have one loss this season -- both falling to Kentucky.

PREDICTION: Mississippi State 38, Florida 35

[Can'tPickAWinner]

Preview: Utah at Washington State

Utah boasts the nation’s top defense, but the other side of the ball is the Utes’ concern heading into Saturday’s game at Washington State. It will be the second straight Pac-12 division crossover game for both teams, who are off to 0-1 starts in the conference.


The Utes lead the FBS in scoring defense (12.3 points allowed per game), passing defense (93 yards allowed) and total defense (204.7 yards) but are second-to-last in the Pac-12 in scoring (21.7 points) and third to last in passing offense (247.7 yards). Turnovers also have been a major problem as Utes rank last among the 130 FBS teams with a minus-2.0 average turnover margin after losing seven fumbles and throwing two interceptions in three games. “You have to score points,” Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said Monday at his weekly news conference. “You aren’t going to beat Washington State 21-17. That is not going to happen. They are prolific on offense, and you have to be able to stick with them.” To Whittingham’s point, the Cougars rank second in the Pac-12 in scoring (41.8 points) and trail only Texas Tech (435.8) with 401.8 passing yards per outing.

TV: 6 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: Utah -1.5


ABOUT UTAH (2-1, 0-1 Pac-12): The Utes had a bye last weekend to digest a frustrating 21-7 home loss to No. 11 Washington in which Utah lost a trio of turnovers and was then turned away without points on three separate fourth-quarter possessions inside the Huskies’ 25-yard line. Junior quarterback Tyler Huntley has been up and down with 703 yards, four TD tosses and a pair of interceptions while tailback Zack Moss ranks fourth in the conference with 94.3 rushing yards per contest. Safety-turned-linebacker Chase Hansen leads the formidable Utah defense with 27 total tackles while cornerback Julian Blackmon is among the Pac-12 leaders with five passes defensed.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE (3-1, 0-1): Coach Mike Leach’s Cougars entered the season having to replace Pac-12 all-time passing leader Luke Falk, but they haven’t missed a beat with East Carolina graduate transfer Gardner Minshew II at the controls of the Air Raid attack. Minshew has completed 71.0 percent of his passes while averaging 386.8 yards and throwing for 11 TDs and three picks, including 344 yards and three scores in last week’s 39-36 loss at USC. Defensively, the Cougars are led by safety Skyler Thomas (29 total tackles) and linebacker Peyton Pelluer (26) and trail only Utah in total defense (265.8 yards).


EXTRA POINTS

1. Washington State has won three of the five meetings since Utah joined the Pac-12 in 2011, including a 33-25 victory in Salt Lake City last Nov. 11. Utah lost seven turnovers in the game.

2. Minshew spreads the ball around as seven Cougars have caught at least 12 passes so far, led by sophomore WR Davontavean Martin (27 receptions-291 yards-three TDs).

3. Utah sophomore WR Britain Covey, a 2015 Freshman All-American, is back from a two-year church mission and leads the Utes with 23 receptions for 262 yards.


PREDICTION: Washington State 26, Utah 24