Cnotes 2017 College Football Picks-Trends-News Etc. !

[CNOTES]

Saturday's Late Tips
November 24, 2017


**Clemson at South Carolina**


-- South Carolina (8-3 straight up, 6-3-2 against the spread) has won outright in five straight home games since losing its home opener to Kentucky. The Gamecocks are 2-3-1 ATS at Williams-Brice Stadium, but they smashed Arkansas by a 48-22 count in their only game as home underdogs this season. Since Will Muschamp took over as head coach, USC is 10-3 SU at home.


-- As of early Friday, most books had Clemson (10-1 SU, 6-4-1 ATS) installed as a 13.5-point favorite with a total of 46.5. The Gamecocks were +425 on the money line (risk $100 to win $425).


-- In the long history of this bitter rivalry, South Carolina had never beaten Clemson more than four consecutive times. During Steve Spurrier’s glorious tenure at USC, however, it beat the Tigers five straight times by double-digit margins from 2009-2013. Since then, Clemson has responded with three straight wins, including a 56-7 clubbing at Death Valley last season. In the last meeting at Williams-Brice two years ago, Clemson dodged a major upset threat and won 37-32 but never threatened to cover the spread as a 20.5-point favorite.


-- South Carolina has won five of its last six games with the lone defeat coming in a 24-10 loss at UGA in which it easily took the cash as a 23.5-point road underdog. The Gamecocks bounced back to knock off Florida, 28-20, as 4.5-point home ‘chalk.’ They won a 31-10 decision over Wofford last week, but failed to cover as 23.5-point home favorites. Jake Bentley completed 22-of-28 passes for 194 yards and one TD without an interception, and the sophomore QB also rushed for a pair of TDs. Bryan Edwards had eight receptions for 90 yards and one TD, while A.J. Turner rushed 11 times for 69 yards and one TD.


-- Bentley has connected on 63.1 percent of his passes for 2,429 yards with a 15/9 touchdown-to-interception ratio. During a four-game stretch that covered the entire month of October, Bentley had six TD passes without an interception. However, he was intercepted five times against UGA and UF. Bentley has rushed for six TDs. Since taking over as the starter last season when he should’ve still been a senior in high school, Bentley has led the Gamecocks to a 12-6 record in 18 starts.

-- Edwards and junior TE Hayden Hurst provide Bentley with a pair of elite targets. Edwards has 53 receptions for 635 yards and three TDs, while Hurst has 38 catches for 490 yards and two TDs. Before getting injured in Week 3, junior WR Deebo Samuel had already scored six TDs. He was on his way to an All-American campaign at that rate, and it’s a credit to Muschamp and his staff that USC has had a stellar season without Samuel.


-- Turner has become the featured back over the last month, taking advantage of extra touches since starting RB and fellow sophomore Rico Dowdle went down with a broken leg in a 15-9 win at Tennessee. Turner has rushed for a team-best 507 yards and three TDs while averaging 5.6 YPC. He had rushed for only 60 yards for the year until producing 86 yards on 14 attempts at UT. Then he went for 121 yards against Vandy and 136 vs. UF.


-- Clemson has won three of its four road games while going 2-2 ATS. The Tigers took their only loss of the season at Syracuse (27-24) in a game when starting QB Kelly Bryant was playing with a sprained ankle and then left the game for good due to a concussion in the second quarter. Since then, the Tigers have won four in a row, going 2-1-1 ATS thanks to back-to-back spread covers.


-- Dabo Swinney’s team has won 35 of its last 37 regular-season games. Clemson’s best wins this year have come vs. Auburn (14-6), at Louisville (47-21), vs. Boston College (34-7), at Va. Tech (31-17), vs. Wake Forest (28-14), vs. Ga. Tech (24-10) and at N.C. State (38-31).


-- Bryant, the junior who became the starter when Deshaun Watson moved on to the NFL, had completed 66.2 percent of his passes for 2,154 yards with a 10/5 TD-INT ratio. Bryant has run for 613 yards and 10 TDs while averaging 4.0 YPC.


-- WRs Deon Cain and Hunter Renfroe are Bryant’s favorite targets. Cain has 46 receptions for 597 yards and five TDs, while Renfroe has 46 catches for 451 yards and one TD. Ray-Ray McCloud has 37 grabs for 386 yards and one TD.


-- In addition to Bryant, Clemson has a pair of RBs who have run for more than 600 yards. Travis Etienne, a true freshman, has run for a team-best 679 yards and 11 TDs, averaging 7.7 YPC. Tavien Feaster, a true sophomore who was a five-star recruit, has rushed for 619 yards and five TDs with a 6.7 YPC.


-- Clemson is ranked seventh in the nation in total defense, 11th versus the pass, 13th at defending the run and third in scoring ‘D’ (13.9 PPG).


-- Clemson has four starters listed as ‘questionable’ at USC, including junior OT Mitch Hyatt (undisclosed), who was a third-team All-ACC selection in 2015 and a first-team all-conference pick last season. Also, sophomore DT Dexter Lawrence is battling a foot injury. Lawrence, a second-team All-ACC choice as a true freshman in ’16, sat out last week’s 61-3 home win over The Citadel. In nine games played, he has recorded 28 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 0.5 tackles for loss and one forced fumble. Junior LB Kendall Joseph, who also sat out last week due to a leg injury, is the Tigers’ second-leading tackler despite missing two games. Joseph has registered 74 tackles, three TFL’s, 0.5 sacks, four QB hurries, one pass broken up and one forced fumble. Junior Mark Fields has missed four consecutive games with a foot injury. He has 16 tackles, three TFL’s and two PBU.


-- The ‘under’ is 7-4 overall for USC, 3-3 in its home games. The Gamecocks have seen their contests average combined scores of 45.0 PPG.


-- The ‘under’ is 6-4-1 overall for Clemson, 2-2 in its four road assignments. The Tigers have seen their games average combined scores of 49.2 PPG. They’d seen five straight ‘unders’ until the ‘over’ hit at a 2-0-1 clip their last three times out.


-- Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern on ESPN.


**Notre Dame at Stanford**


-- As of early Friday, most spots had Notre Dame (9-2 SU, 7-4 ATS) listed as a two-point favorite with a total of 57. The Cardinal was a +110 underdog on the money line (risk $100 to win $110).


-- Brian Kelly’s team is 3-1 both SU and ATS in four road assignments this year. The Fighting Irish won by double-digit margins at Boston College (49-20), at Michigan State (38-18) and at North Carolina (33-10), but took woodshed treatment from Miami (41-8) in South Florida two weeks ago. They are 8-11 ATS as a road ‘chalk’ during Kelly’s eight-year run at the school.


-- Notre Dame raced out to an 8-1 record, winning each game by 11 points or more and winning seven of those contests by margins of at least 20 points. The only defeat before the trip to Miami was a 20-19 home loss to Georgia, which eventually climbed to No. 1 in the CFP rankings. However, the beatdown it took from the Hurricanes sent the Irish packing from the CFP mix.


-- Notre Dame has failed to cover the number in three straight games, but it did get back in the win column at home vs. Navy last week. The Midshipmen easily took the cash, though, as a 21-point road underdog. The Irish prevailed 24-17 in a one-possession game from start to finish. They scored the last 14 points of the game thanks to a pair of TD passes from Brandon Wimbush to Kevin Stepherson (30 yards and nine yards). Josh Adams ran for 106 yards on 18 attempts. Wimbush rushed for 41 yards and one TD on eight carries, in addition to throwing for 164 yards and two TDs without a pick.


-- For the season, Adams has run for 1,337 yards and nine TDs while averaging 7.8 YPC. Wimbush has rushed for 704 yards and a team-best 14 TDs, averaging 5.9 YPC. The sophomore QB has completed only 51.0 percent of his throws for 1,569 yards with a 14/4 TD-INT ratio.


-- Chase Claypool has 28 receptions for 391 yards and two TDs, while Equanimeous St. Brown has 26 catches for 357 yards and three TDs. However, St. Brown is ‘questionable’ at Stanford due to a head injury. Stepherson has 16 grabs for 357 yards and four TDs.


-- Notre Dame is No. 19 in the nation in scoring (36.7 PPG), No. 6 in rushing yards and No. 25 in total offense. As for the defense, it is ranked 24th in points allowed (20.4 PPG).


-- Stanford (8-3 SU, 6-5 ATS) is 5-0 SU and 3-2 ATS at home this season. During David Shaw’s seven-year tenure, his teams are 39-6 SU at home. The Cardinal has been a home underdog only three times on Shaw’s watch, winning outright in each instance, including its 30-22 win over Washington two weeks ago. Going back even further to Stanford’s 2007 regular-season finale, the same season this program turned the corner under Jim Harbaugh and won at Southern Cal as a 41-point underdog, it has compiled an 8-0 spread record with seven outright victories in eight games as a home ‘dog.


-- If Washington beats Washington State as a 10.5-point home favorite in Saturday’s Apple Cub showdown in Seattle, Stanford will win the Pac-12 North and face USC in the league championship game next weekend.


-- Stanford is led by star RB Bryce Love, who isn’t 100 percent but is ‘probable’ due to a sprained ankle. Love sprained the ankle in mid-October and missed a 15-14 comeback win at Oregon State. He clearly wasn’t close to 100 percent in a 24-21 loss at Washington State when Love was held to 69 yards and one TD on 16 carries. In nine of his 10 games played this year, Love has rushed for at least 101 yards (his total in last week's win over Cal). He has rushed for at least 147 yards in eight contests this season, including a 301-yard effort in a 34-25 home win over Arizona State. For the year, Love is second in the nation in rushing yards (1,723). He has 16 rushing scores and an 8.8 YPC average.


-- Redshirt freshman QB K.J. Costello has become the starter in the second half of the year. He has connected on 61.4 percent of his passes for 1,018 yards with a 5/2 TD-INT ratio. Costello (5.9 YPC) has rushed for 100 yards and three TDs. J.J. Arcega-Whiteside has 37 receptions for 595 yards and five TDs.


-- Stanford might be without a couple of pieces on offense. TE Dalton Schultz, who has 17 catches for 181 yards and two TDs, is ‘questionable’ with an undisclosed injury along with freshman RB Connor Weddington. Weddington has rushed for 52 yards on only two attempts, in addition to making 25 receptions for 190 yards.


-- The ‘under’ is 7-4 overall for the Cardinal, 3-2 in its home games. Stanford’s games are averaging combined scores of 52.5 PPG.


-- The ‘over’ is 6-5 overall for the Irish, 2-2 in its four road assignments. The ‘under’ has cashed in back-to-back games and three of its last four. Notre Dame’s games have averaged combined scores of 57.1 PPG.

 

[CNOTES]

Iron Bowl Preview
November 24, 2017


The stakes couldn’t be higher for the 2017 version of the Iron Bowl. One of the greatest rivalries in all of sports will be renewed Saturday afternoon at Jordan-Hare Stadium, where Alabama and Auburn will collide at 3:30 p.m. Eastern on CBS.


The winner takes the SEC West and faces Georgia at the Mercedes-Benz Dome next Saturday. If Auburn loses, its head coach Gus Malzahn might bolt for the Arkansas job, it will miss out on winning the division, won’t get to play in Atlanta and won’t be considered a candidate to make the College Football Playoff.


If Alabama loses, it can still make the CFP but it won’t be a given, especially if UGA knocks off Auburn next week.


As of early Friday, most betting shops had Alabama (11-0 straight up, 5-6 against the spread) installed as a 4.5-point favorite with a total of 47.5. The Tigers were +170 on the money line (risk $100 to win $170).


Alabama has won all three of its road games, but it is only 1-2 ATS in those contests. Nick Saban’s team rolled to a 59-0 win at Vanderbilt, but it failed to cover in wins at Texas A&M (27-19) and at Mississippi State (31-24).


After slipping past MSU in Starkville two weeks ago, the Crimson Tide coasted to a 56-0 win over Mercer last week as a 49.5-point home ‘chalk.’ Sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts completed all seven of his pass attempts for 180 yards and three TDs without an interception. Hurts rushed for 30 yards on two carries.


Saban kept veteran RBs Bo Scarbrough (five carries, 54 yards) and Damien Harris (6 rushes, 32 yards) out of harm’s way for the most part. Star WR Calvin Ridley had three receptions for 103 yards and one TD.


For the season, Hurts has completed 61.2 percent of his passes for 1,828 yards with a 14/1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Hurts has a 37/10 TD-INT ratio for his career. He has rushed for 686 yards and eight TDs this season, averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Hurts now has 21 career rushing TDs. Ridley has 52 receptions for 858 yards and three TDs this year.


Harris is the Tide’s leading rusher, earning 855 yards on the ground. He has a team-best 11 rushing scores and averages 8.2 YPC. Scarbrough has run for 503 yards and seven TDs while averaging 4.9 YPC. Najee Harris, the true freshman RB who was the 5-star prize of Saban’s 2017 recruiting class, has rushed for 306 yards and three TDs with a 5.6 YPC average.


Alabama is ranked No. 1 in the nation in total defense and points allowed (10.2 points per game). The Tide is second in the country at defending the run and third in pass defense.


However, the linebacker position is getting thin on depth due to injuries. Senior LB Shaun Dion Hamilton went down with a season-ending knee injury in a 24-10 home win over LSU on Nov. 4. Hamilton had registered 40 tackles, 2.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, one forced fumble, two QB hurries and a pair of passes broken up in nine games.


Reserve LBs Christian Miller and Terrell Lewis were lost for the year in a 24-7 Week 1 win over Florida State. Mack Wilson, a sophomore, is sidelined with a foot injury, but he’s expected to be recovered by mid-December and play in the postseason. In Alabama’s first nine games, Wilson had 21 tackles, three interceptions for 21 return yards, 0.5 TFL’s, three QB hurries and one pass broken up.


Alabama will be without starting junior left guard Ross Pierschbacher until mid-December. Pierschbacher sprained his ankle in the win at MSU.


Alabama has posted a 25-17 ATS record in 42 games as a road favorite during Saban’s 11-year reign.


Auburn (9-2 SU, 5-4-2 ATS) owns a 5-2 spread record in seven games as a home underdog during Gus Malzahn’s five-year tenure.


Auburn took its losses at Clemson (14-6) in Week 2 and at LSU (27-23) on Oct. 14. But like I said in my SEC preview back in August, the Tigers could lose both of those games and still control their destiny to win the SEC West, as long as Alabama was dominating the rest of the division (per its usual routine). That’s exactly how it has played out thanks to AU’s 40-17 clubbing of Georgia as a 2.5-point home underdog just two weeks ago.


With the exception of the second half at LSU when Auburn blew a double-digit lead, this team has been playing outstanding football dating back to a 51-14 win at Missouri on Sept. 23. The Tigers smashed Mississippi State by a 49-10 count, drilled Ole Miss 44-23, went to Fayetteville and won 52-20 and thumped Texas A&M, 42-27, in College Station.


I backed ULM as a 36.5-point underdog at AU last week. The line actually closed at 38, but I was all about the opinion on the Warhawks at any number north of 30. This was a vintage look-ahead spot (or sandwich situation, whichever you prefer) for AU, especially after it had destroyed UGA the previous week and had arch-rival Alabama on deck.


Just as I suspected, Auburn came out flat and the game was tied 7-7 until QB Jarrett Stidham found Darius Slayton on a 50-yard scoring strike with 1:27 left in the second quarter. Auburn would create some separation on Stidham’s 41-yard TD pass to Kam Martin for a 28-7 lead with 3:46 remaining in the third. A Nick Ruffin pick-six midway through the fourth quarter put the game on ice, and Auburn eventually won a 42-14 decision. Nevertheless, ULM easily covered the number.


AU is unbeaten in six home games with a 2-2-2 spread record.


Stidham has completed 67.8 percent of his passes for 2,445 yards with a 16/4 TD-INT ratio. Ryan Davis is his favorite target, hauling in 58 receptions for 564 yards and five TDs. Slayton has 19 catches for 533 yards and five TDs, averaging an eye-popping 28.1 YPR. Will Hastings has 19 grabs for 388 yards and three TDs.


With Kam Pettway sidelined for the last month, RB Kerryon Johnson has carried the load. He has rushed for 1,172 yards and 16 TDs with a 5.3 YPC average. Martin has run for 400 yards and two TDs while averaging 6.7 YPC.


Pettway, a first-team All-SEC selection last year, had rushed for 305 yards and six TDs but was only averaging 4.0 YPC. He has been bothered by multiple injuries for most of the year. We should also add that Johnson’s season numbers are even more impressive when considering he missed two games in September. Johnson also has 18 catches for 166 yards and two TDs.


The ‘over’ is 7-4 for Auburn, 3-3 in its home games. The ‘over’ had hit in seven straight games for the Tigers before last week’s 56 combined points fell ‘under’ the 68-point total. Their games have averaged combined scores of 54.3 PPG.


The ‘under’ is 6-5 overall for ‘Bama, but the ‘over’ is 2-1 in its three road assignments.

 

[CNOTES]

Ohio State at Michigan
November 22, 2017


2017 BIG 10 STANDINGS


Team SU Conference ATS Over/Under
Illinois 2-9 0-8 5-6 4-7
Indiana 5-6 2-6 3-7-1 5-6
Iowa 6-5 3-5 4-6-1 4-7
Maryland 4-7 2-6 5-6 8-3
Michigan 8-3 5-3 4-6-1 5-5-1
Michigan State 8-3 6-2 6-5 4-7
Minnesota 5-6 2-6 4-6-1 6-5
Nebraska 4-7 3-5 4-7 6-4-1
Northwestern 8-3 6-2 8-3 4-5-2
Ohio State 9-2 7-1 5-6 8-3
Penn State 9-2 6-2 6-4-1 5-6
Purdue 5-6 3-5 7-4 2-9
Rutgers 4-7 3-5 8-3 5-6
Wisconsin 11-0 8-0 7-4 7-4




Ohio State (-12) at Michigan – (FOX, 12:00 PM ET)


The Buckeyes have already won the Big Ten East clinching their spot in the Big 10 Championship game a week from today in Indianapolis vs Wisconsin. They have an outside shot at making the College Football Playoff, longshot at best, but need a number of things to fall their way and probably need to win convincingly here and next week.


OSU destroyed Illinois last week 52-14, but failed to cover the lofty 41-point spread. The Buckeyes actually dominated more than the final score would indicate if that’s possible. They outgained the Illini 543-105 and Illinois had just one offensive TD and that came as the final score of the fourth quarter when the game was out of reach. Their other score came on a 54-yard fumble return for a TD. Ohio State was up 38-0 at half and called off the dogs in the second stanza. Many of the starters on both sides of the ball were able to sit much of the second half so they should be fresh here.


Statistically, the Buckeyes are the best team in the Big Ten. Their YPG differential (+254) and YPP differential (+2.7) are tops in the league. They have outgained every opponent in conference play with the exception of Iowa and that appears to be an aberration. Not only have they outgained opponents, they’ve dominated them outgaining every conference opponent by at least 150 yards with the exception of Iowa. If you subtract that stinker against Iowa, this offense is averaging 51 PPG in league play and they have scored at least 48 points in every other Big Ten game with the exception PSU where they had 39.


Defensively they’ve been very good, again with the exception of the Iowa game when the Hawkeyes scored 55. We’re still not sure how that happened as Iowa has scored only 2 offensive TD’s in their two games since that win. Even the 38 they allowed to PSU wasn’t a terrible outing as OSU held the Nittany Lions to just 283 total yards.


The Wolverines are off a 24-10 loss at Wisconsin last Saturday. The offense, that had been putting points on the board as of late, was shut down by the Badger defense. Michigan came in having topped 30 points in three straight games, was held to just 234 yards on 3.7 YPP. After going in to halftime tied at 7-7, the Michigan offense was completely walled off in the second half with 60 total yards and their lone score coming on an 8-yard drive after a Wisconsin turnover that ended in a FG. QB Brandon Peters looked solid throwing the ball in the first half putting up 133 yards through the air.


In the second half, Peters was held to 24 yards passing and was injured late in the 3rd quarter. He is currently in concussion protocol and may not play this weekend. If he can’t go, most likely John O’Korn will be back under center although we don’t want to completely rule out Wilton Speight, who was the starter last year and for the first four games this season before injuring his back. Speight was cleared to practice last week but non-contact only. They will re-evaluate him this week to see if he’s ready for contact. If so, we wouldn’t be surprised to see Harbaugh send him out on the field as he is by far Michigan’s best option at QB.


O’Korn looked very good in relief of Speight in the Purdue game back in late September. However, since that game O’Korn has completed under 50% of his passes with no TD’s and 4 interceptions. The Wolverines have leaned heavily on their staunch defense this season. Coming into last week’s game, this defense had allowed only ONE team all season to top 20 points (Penn State). They played very well in the first half vs the Badgers holding them to under 100 yards of total offense but seemed to run out of gas in the second half as Wisconsin had 226 total yards after the break.


Last Season – Ohio State was favored by 4.5 at home last November and pulled out a 30-27 win in OT. The Buckeyes were down 17-7 late in the third quarter and rallied kicking the tying field goal as time expired to send the game tied at 17-17 into overtime. The defenses dominated the game as OSU had 330 total yards on just 4.0 YPP while Michigan totaled 310 yards on 3.9 YPP.

 

[CNOTES]

CFB November's Best Bets & Opinions ( All Best Bets Based On 5 Units Per Play )


DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD


11/24/2017 14-9-0 60.87% +20.50
11/23/20171-1-050.00%-0.50
11/21/20171-5-016.67%-22.50
11/18/2017 25-30-0 45.45% -40.00
11/17/2017 3-1-0 75.00% +9.50
11/16/2017 1-3-0 25.00% -11.50
11/15/2017 2-4-0 33.33% -12.00
11/14/2017 1-3-0 25.00% -1150
11/11/2017 28-26-4 51.85% -300
11/09/2017 3-3-0 50.00% -1.50
11/08/2017 1-5-0 16.67% -22.50
11/07/2017 1-3-0 25.00% -11.50
11/04/2017 26-28-2 48.15% -24.00
11/03/2017 2-4-0 33.33% -12.00
11/02/2017 4-4-0 50.00% -2.00
11/01/2017 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00


Totals.............115 - 129.........47.13%.....-124.50


Best Bets:*****
Best Bets :........................ATS............TOTALS.... .............O/U................TOTAL


11/24/2017......................3 - 6............-18.00..................1 - 2................-6.00
11/23/2017......................0 - 1............-5.50...................1 - 0.................+5.00
11/21/2017......................0 - 3............-16.50.................1- 2..................-6.00
11/18/2017.....................17 - 18.........-14.00..................1 - 1.................-0.50
11/17/2017......................2 - 0...........+10.00.................1 -1...................-0.50
11/16/2017......................1 - 1...........-0.50....................0 - 2.................-11.00
11/15/2017......................1 - 0...........+5.00...................1 - 1.................-0.50
11/14/2017......................0 - 2...........-11.00..................1 - 1..................-0.50
11/11/2017....................6 - 7 - 1.........-8.50...................4 - 0..................+20.00
11/09/2017......................1 - 2............-6.00...................1 - 0..................+5.00
11/08/2017......................0 - 1............-5.50...................0 - 3..................-16.50
11/07/2017......................0 - 2............-11.00..................1 - 1..................-0.50
11/04/2017....................11 - 10..........+0.00...................5 - 2.................+14.00
11/03/2017......................2 - 1............+4.50..................0 - 2..................-11.00
11/02/2017......................2 - 0............+10.00................1 - 3..................-11.50
11/01/2017......................1 - 0............+5.00..................1 - 0 .................+5.00


Totals.........................47 - 54 - 1..........-62.00..................20 - 21..............-15.00

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAF
Dunkel


Saturday, November 25

Connecticut @ Cincinnati


Game 145-146
November 25, 2017 @ 12:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Connecticut
68.953
Cincinnati
70.553
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Cincinnati
by 1 1/2
55
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Cincinnati
by 5 1/2
58
Dunkel Pick:
Connecticut
(+5 1/2); Under


Boston College @ Syracuse


Game 147-148
November 25, 2017 @ 12:20 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Boston College
91.505
Syracuse
91.020
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Syracuse
Even
68
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boston College
by 3 1/2
58
Dunkel Pick:
Syracuse
(+3 1/2); Over


Michigan State @ Rutgers


Game 149-150
November 25, 2017 @ 4:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Michigan State
94.430
Rutgers
82.598
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Michigan State
by 12
39
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Michigan State
by 14
41 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Rutgers
(+14); Under


Indiana @ Purdue


Game 151-152
November 25, 2017 @ 12:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Indiana
89.746
Purdue
96.613
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Purdue
by 7
46
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Purdue
by 2 1/2
52 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Purdue
(-2 1/2); Under


Ohio State @ Michigan


Game 153-154
November 25, 2017 @ 12:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Ohio State
116.831
Michigan
101.712
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Ohio State
by 15
45
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Ohio State
by 12
50
Dunkel Pick:
Ohio State
(-12); Under


North Carolina @ NC State


Game 155-156
November 25, 2017 @ 3:30 pm


Dunkel Rating:
North Carolina
86.726
NC State
105.803
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
NC State
by 19
51
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
NC State
by 16
56
Dunkel Pick:
NC State
(-16); Under


Duke @ Wake Forest


Game 157-158
November 25, 2017 @ 12:30 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Duke
89.815
Wake Forest
104.438
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Wake Forest
by 14 1/2
71
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Wake Forest
by 11
58
Dunkel Pick:
Wake Forest
(-11); Over


Appalachian St @ Georgia State


Game 159-160
November 25, 2017 @ 2:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Appalachian St
74.840
Georgia State
72.697
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Appalachian St
by 2
57
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Appalachian St
by 7
52
Dunkel Pick:
Georgia State
(+7); Over


Vanderbilt @ Tennessee


Game 161-162
November 25, 2017 @ 4:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Vanderbilt
80.674
Tennessee
78.737
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Vanderbilt
by 2
47
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Tennessee
by 1
45 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Vanderbilt
(+1); Over


Iowa State @ Kansas State


Game 163-164
November 25, 2017 @ 3:30 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Iowa State
93.951
Kansas State
105.488
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Kansas State
by 11 1/2
46
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Kansas State
by 2 1/2
49 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Kansas State
(-2 1/2); Under


Louisville @ Kentucky


Game 165-166
November 25, 2017 @ 12:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Louisville
101.970
Kentucky
83.941
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Louisville
by 18
63
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Louisville
by 10
68
Dunkel Pick:
Louisville
(-10); Under


Georgia @ Georgia Tech


Game 167-168
November 25, 2017 @ 12:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Georgia
105.926
Georgia Tech
98.074
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Georgia
by 8
52
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Georgia
by 11
53
Dunkel Pick:
Georgia Tech
(+11); Under


Penn State @ Maryland


Game 169-170
November 25, 2017 @ 3:30 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Penn State
107.532
Maryland
87.265
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Penn State
by 20 1/2
67
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Penn State
by 22 1/2
57
Dunkel Pick:
Maryland
(+22 1/2); Over


Northwestern @ Illinois


Game 171-172
November 25, 2017 @ 4:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Northwestern
96.957
Illinois
78.376
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Northwestern
by 13 1/2
44
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Northwestern
by 17
46
Dunkel Pick:
Illinois
(+17); Under


North Texas @ Rice


Game 173-174
November 25, 2017 @ 1:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
North Texas
75.727
Rice
68.372
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
North Texas
by 7 1/2
66
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
North Texas
by 13
63 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Rice
(+13); Over

Florida Atlantic @ Charlotte


Game 175-176
November 25, 2017 @ 2:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Florida Atlantic
90.981
Charlotte
57.826
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Florida Atlantic
by 33
71
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Florida Atlantic
by 21 1/2
64
Dunkel Pick:
Florida Atlantic
(-21 1/2); Over


Utah State @ Air Force


Game 177-178
November 25, 2017 @ 10:15 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Utah State
80.279
Air Force
84.282
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Air Force
by 4
46
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Air Force
by 1
57
Dunkel Pick:
Air Force
(-1); Under


Southern Miss @ Marshall


Game 179-180
November 25, 2017 @ 2:30 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Southern Miss
75.162
Marshall
81.026
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Marshall
by 6
40
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Marshall
by 3
47 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Marshall
(-3); Under


UNLV @ Nevada


Game 181-182
November 25, 2017 @ 3:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
UNLV
71.619
Nevada
77.847
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Nevada
by 6
61
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Nevada
by 3
69
Dunkel Pick:
Nevada
(-3); Under


Washington St @ Washington


Game 183-184
November 25, 2017 @ 8:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Washington St
99.158
Washington
106.602
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Washington
by 7 1/2
46
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Washington
by 10 1/2
48 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Washington St
(+10 1/2); Under


Wyoming @ San Jose St


Game 185-186
November 25, 2017 @ 5:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Wyoming
74.434
San Jose St
62.066
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Wyoming
by 12 1/2
63
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Wyoming
by 20
48 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
San Jose St
(+20); Over


Colorado @ Utah


Game 187-188
November 25, 2017 @ 10:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Colorado
83.156
Utah
102.275
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Utah
by 19
55
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Utah
by 10 1/2
57
Dunkel Pick:
Utah
(-10 1/2); Under


Arkansas St @ LA-Monroe


Game 189-190
November 25, 2017 @ 3:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Arkansas St
85.560
LA-Monroe
69.046
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Arkansas St
by 16 1/2
72
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Arkansas St
by 8
69
Dunkel Pick:
Arkansas St
(-8); Over


Old Dominion @ Middle Tennessee St


Game 191-192
November 25, 2017 @ 3:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Old Dominion
68.948
Middle Tennessee
74.265
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Middle Tennessee
by 5 1/2
58
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Middle Tennessee
by 12
48 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Old Dominion
(+12); Over


Wisconsin @ Minnesota


Game 193-194
November 25, 2017 @ 3:30 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Wisconsin
104.242
Minnesota
94.569
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Wisconsin
by 9 1/2
48
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Wisconsin
by 18
43
Dunkel Pick:
Minnesota
(+18); Over


Notre Dame @ Stanford


Game 195-196
November 25, 2017 @ 8:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Notre Dame
103.731
Stanford
98.205
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Notre Dame
by 5 1/2
53
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Notre Dame
by 2 1/2
57
Dunkel Pick:
Notre Dame
(-2 1/2); Under


Clemson @ South Carolina


Game 197-198
November 25, 2017 @ 7:30 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Clemson
109.321
South Carolina
103.205
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Clemson
by 15 1/2
43
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Clemson
by 13 1/2
46 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Clemson
(-13 1/2); Under


Texas A&M @ LSU


Game 199-200
November 25, 2017 @ 7:30 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Texas A&M
94.730
LSU
102.725
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
LSU
by 8
58
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LSU
by 10 1/2
50 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Texas A&M
(+10 1/2); Over


Boise State @ Fresno State


Game 201-202
November 25, 2017 @ 3:30 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Boise State
90.651
Fresno State
92.593
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Fresno State
by 2
38
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Boise State
by 7
48 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Fresno State
(+7); Under


Tulane @ SMU


Game 203-204
November 25, 2017 @ 12:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Tulane
80.627
SMU
83.984
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
SMU
by 3 1/2
48
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
SMU
by 8
67 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Tulane
(+8); Under

Kansas @ Oklahoma State


Game 205-206
November 25, 2017 @ 12:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Kansas
67.622
Oklahoma State
103.387
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Oklahoma State
by 35 1/2
85
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Oklahoma State
by 41
70
Dunkel Pick:
Kansas
(+41); Over


Arizona @ Arizona State


Game 207-208
November 25, 2017 @ 4:30 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Arizona
97.182
Arizona State
89.421
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Arizona
by 8
79
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Arizona
by 2
74
Dunkel Pick:
Arizona
(-2); Over


West Virginia @ Oklahoma


Game 209-210
November 25, 2017 @ 3:45 pm


Dunkel Rating:
West Virginia
88.704
Oklahoma
117.646
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Oklahoma
by 29
53
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Oklahoma
by 22
68
Dunkel Pick:
Oklahoma
(-22); Under


Oregon State @ Oregon


Game 211-212
November 25, 2017 @ 7:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Oregon State
77.575
Oregon
95.496
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Oregon
by 18
62
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Oregon
by 25
64
Dunkel Pick:
Oregon State
(+25); Under


Idaho @ New Mexico St


Game 213-214
November 25, 2017 @ 4:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Idaho
65.366
New Mexico St
70.311
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
New Mexico St
by 5
43
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
New Mexico St
by 10
56 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Idaho
(+10); Under


Georgia Southern @ LA-Lafayette


Game 215-216
November 25, 2017 @ 5:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Georgia Southern
66.371
LA-Lafayette
74.316
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
LA-Lafayette
by 8
48
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
LA-Lafayette
by 6
57
Dunkel Pick:
LA-Lafayette
(-6); Under


Temple @ Tulsa


Game 217-218
November 25, 2017 @ 4:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Temple
83.897
Tulsa
73.747
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Temple
by 10
55
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Temple
by 3
59
Dunkel Pick:
Temple
(-3); Under


TX-San Antonio @ Louisiana Tech


Game 219-220
November 25, 2017 @ 7:30 pm


Dunkel Rating:
TX-San Antonio
70.213
Louisiana Tech
80.758
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Louisiana Tech
by 10 1/2
32
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Louisiana Tech
by 1 1/2
50 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Louisiana Tech
(-1 1/2); Under


East Carolina @ Memphis


Game 221-222
November 25, 2017 @ 12:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
East Carolina
67.345
Memphis
103.964
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Memphis
by 36 1/2
83
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Memphis
by 28
79
Dunkel Pick:
Memphis
(-28); Over


UTEP @ UAB


Game 223-224
November 25, 2017 @ 1:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
UTEP
58.284
UAB
72.198
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
UAB
by 14
50
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
UAB
by 21
47
Dunkel Pick:
UTEP
(+21); Over


Alabama @ Auburn


Game 225-226
November 25, 2017 @ 3:30 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Alabama
111.764
Auburn
115.261
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Auburn
by 3 1/2
51
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Alabama
by 5
47
Dunkel Pick:
Auburn
(+5); Over


Florida State @ Florida


Game 227-228
November 25, 2017 @ 12:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Florida State
98.010
Florida
86.773
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Florida State
by 11
47
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Florida State
by 5
44
Dunkel Pick:
Florida State
(-5); Over


Brigham Young @ Hawaii


Game 229-230
November 25, 2017 @ 9:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Brigham Young
74.628
Hawaii
65.842
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Brigham Young
by 9
47
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Brigham Young
by 3
49
Dunkel Pick:
Brigham Young
(-3); Under


Furman @ Elon


Game 231-232
November 25, 2017 @ 1:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Furman
68.996
Elon
70.209
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Elon
by 1
54
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Furman
by 5 1/2
57 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Elon
(+5 1/2); Under


Lehigh @ Stony Brook


Game 233-234
November 25, 2017 @ 2:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Lehigh
52.037
Stony Brook
69.436
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Stony Brook
by 17 1/2
68
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Stony Brook
by 20 1/2
70
Dunkel Pick:
Lehigh
(+20 1/2); Under

Central Connecticut @ New Hampshire


Game 235-236
November 25, 2017 @ 2:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Central Connectic
60.859
New Hampshire
66.414
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
New Hampshire
by 5 1/2
57
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
New Hampshire
by 10
54 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Central Connectic
(+10); Over


Samford @ Kennesaw St


Game 237-238
November 25, 2017 @ 2:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Samford
77.434
Kennesaw St
74.151
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Samford
by 3 1/2
43
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Kennesaw St
by 1
48 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Samford
(+1); Under


South Dakota @ Nicholls St


Game 239-240
November 25, 2017 @ 4:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
South Dakota
85.263
Nicholls St
57.572
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
South Dakota
by 27 1/2
61
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
South Dakota
by 18
58 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
South Dakota
(-18); Over


Western Illinois @ Weber St


Game 241-242
November 25, 2017 @ 4:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Western Illinois
85.502
Weber St
77.445
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Western Illinois
by 8
47
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Western Illinois
by 3
50 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Western Illinois
(-3); Under


Monmouth @ Northern Iowa


Game 243-244
November 25, 2017 @ 5:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Monmouth
63.321
Northern Iowa
85.430
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Northern Iowa
by 22
65
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Northern Iowa
by 20
62 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Northern Iowa
(-20); Over


San Diego @ Northern Arizona


Game 245-246
November 25, 2017 @ 8:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
San Diego
56.547
Northern Arizona
79.905
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Northern Arizona
by 23 1/2
54
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
San Diego
by 16 1/2
56 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Northern Arizona
(-16 1/2); Under


Southern U @ Grambling


Game 317-318
November 25, 2017 @ 5:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Southern U
45.862
Grambling
62.402
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Grambling
by 16 1/2
57
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Grambling
by 8 1/2
62 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Grambling
(-8 1/2); Under


Prairie View @ Texas Southern


Game 319-320
November 25, 2017 @ 7:00 pm


Dunkel Rating:
Prairie View
53.315
Texas Southern
30.405
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Prairie View
by 23
44
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Prairie View
by 14
51
Dunkel Pick:
Prairie View
(-14); Under

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAF

Saturday, November 25

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Iron Bowl betting preview and odds: Alabama at Auburn
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


The Auburn Tigers haven't beaten Alabama since the miracle ending to the Iron Bowl in 2013. Will quarterback Jarrett Stidham be the difference in this year's SEC rivalry matchup?


Alabama Crimson Tide at Auburn Tigers (+4.5, 47)


The SEC West title is at stake on Saturday when top-ranked Alabama visits sixth-ranked Auburn in the Iron Bowl and the contest also carries College Football Playoff implications. The Tigers fall out of CFP consideration with a loss while the Crimson Tide would all but clinch a spot in the four-team playoff with their 12th consecutive victory.


Alabama coach Nick Saban said there is no need to explain the importance of Saturday's matchup to his players, especially with so much on the line in the latest installment.


"The Iron Bowl is a tremendous rivalry game and there's a lot of passion on both sides," Saban said at a press conference. "Lots of people are interested in it and it's got lots of ramifications this year. As a competitor, this is always a game you look forward to having the opportunity to play in."


Auburn has averaged 44 points while recording four consecutive victories after it looked like it was falling out of contention and coach Gus Malzahn is glad his team has this opportunity.


"This is a huge game for us. I'm excited for our team, and they've worked extremely hard to get to this point," Malzahn told reporters. "We're playing the No. 1 team in the country two times (the Tigers routed Georgia on Nov. 11) in the last three weeks. It's for the SEC West championship, so, real excited to play this week."

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS.

LINE HISTORY: The Tigers opened as 3-point home underdogs and the spread has moved a point and a half higher as we inch closer to the kickoff on Saturday. The total opened at 50 and has been bet down three points to 47.

INJURY REPORT:


Alabama - DB Minkah Fitzpatrick (Probable, Hamstring), PK Andy Pappanastos (Questionable, Leg), OL Ross Pierschbacher (Questionable, Ankle), QB Mac Jones (Suspension, Questionable).


Auburn - LB Chandler Wooten (Questionable, Undisclosed), LB Deshaun Davis (Questionable, Ankle), RB JaTarvious Whitlow (Questionable, Ankle), LB Tre Williams (Questionable, Undisclosed).

WEATHER REPORT:


65 degrees at gametime with minimal 4.3 mph winds



ABOUT ALABAMA (11-0 SU, 5-6 ATS, 5-6 O/U): Strong safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (hamstring) will return after a one-game absence and the junior is the star of a defense which leads the nation in scoring defense (10.2 points per game) and total defense (244.1 yards per game), and ranks second in rushing defense (87.4) and third in passing defense(156.7).


Sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts has thrown 14 touchdown passes against one interception and has accounted for 22 total touchdowns while leading an offense that ranks seventh nationally at 41.4 points per game. Junior wideout Calvin Ridley has 52 receptions for 858 yards and he ranks third in school history with 2,672 receiving yards.

ABOUT AUBURN (9-2 SU, 5-4-2 ATS, 7-4 O/U): Junior running back Kerryon Johnson has been superb with 1,172 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns but the Tigers will need a strong performance from sophomore quarterback Jarrett Stidham (2,445 yards, 16 touchdowns, four interceptions) against Alabama's stingy defense.


"I think it's going to be a big key for us, if we want to move the ball on these guys," Stidham said of having a balanced attack. "Obviously, they're a very, very talented defense. I think if we come and execute, establish a really good tempo, I think it will put us in a good position for the rest of the game."


Auburn is tied for eighth nationally in scoring defense (16.6) and ranks 10th in total defense (302.3) while receiving solid campaigns from junior pass rusher Jeff Holland (team-best nine sacks) and junior middle linebacker Deshaun Davis (team-leading 58 tackles).

TRENDS:


*Auburn is 6-1-1 ATS in its last eight conference games.
*Alabama is 12-4 ATS in its last 16 road games.
*The over is 7-1 in Auburn's last eight games.
*Alabama is 1-4 ATS in its last five conference games.

CONSENSUS: About 53 percent of contest players like the Crimson Tide to cover as 4.5-point chalk.

 

[CNOTES]

Saturday's Week 13 NCAAF Top 25 betting cheat sheet and odds


(7) Georgia Bulldogs at Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (+11, 51.5)


* The Bulldogs have scored on 40 of 41 total trips inside the red zone, tied with Arizona State for the best success rate in the nation. RBs Nick Chubb and Sony Michel have combined for 24 of Georgia's 32 rushing scores to date.


* The Yellow Jackets boast the worst red-zone defense in Division I, allowing opponents to score points on 32 of 33 visits inside the 20-yard line. Georgia Tech runs the ball on 81.7 percent of offensive plays vs. FBS teams, the fourth-highest rate in the nation.


LINE HISTORY: The Bulldogs hit the board as 11-point road chalk at most books and has yet to move off the opening number. The total opened at 52 and is down slightly to 51.5.


TRENDS:


* Bulldogs are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 road games.


* Over is 5-1 in Bulldogs last 6 games overall.


* Over is 4-1 in Yellow Jackets last 5 games following a ATS loss.


* Bulldogs are 8-0 ATS in their last 8 meetings in Georgia Tech.


(8) Ohio State Buckeyes at Michigan Wolverines (+12, 50)


* The Buckeyes have converted 49.6 percent of their third-down opportunities in 2017, the fourth-best rate in the country. QB J.T. Barrett has seven passing touchdowns to six interceptions over his last three games, but has added three rushing scores.


* The Wolverines have been the stingiest team in Division I on third downs, allowing teams to score or extend drives just 24.7 percent of the time. Michigan averages 3.27 sacks per game, tied with Texas A&M for eighth among FBS teams.


LINE HISTORY: The Buckeyes opened as 11-point road faves for this Big Ten showdown and at most shops that number has been bet up to +12. The total hit the betting board at 50.5 and is down to an even 50.


TRENDS:


* Over is 7-0 in Buckeyes last 7 games following a straight up win.


* Over is 6-1 in Wolverines last 7 games following a straight up loss.


* Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.


* Buckeyes are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings in Michigan.


Kansas Jayhawks at (21) Oklahoma State Cowboys (-41, 70)


* The Jayhawks rank in the bottom-5 nationally in points per play (0.225) and points against per play (0.616) against FBS opponents. Kansas has scored on 29 of its 31 red-zone opportunities in 2017, but just 17 of those resulted in touchdowns.


* WR Marcell Ateman needs 58 receiving yards to make Oklahoma State the first team in Big 12 history with a 4,000-yard passer, two 1,000-yard receivers and a 1,000-yard rusher. The Cowboys lead the nation in passing yards per game (383.1).


LINE HISTORY: Oddsmakers installed the Cowboys as massive 40-point home chalk and that wasn't high enough for bettors as money coming in on the home team pushed that number up to 41. The total opened at 70 and has yet to move off the opening number.


TRENDS:


* Jayhawks are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 games following a double-digit loss at home.


* Over is 6-1 in Cowboys last 7 vs. a team with a losing record.


* Over is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings in Oklahoma State.


* Jayhawks are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 meetings in Oklahoma State.


East Carolina Pirates at (16) Memphis Tigers (-28.5, 79)


* The Pirates have allowed opponents to convert 52.9 of their third-down opportunities; only Oregon State has been worse. East Carolina surrenders just 1.18 sacks per game, tied for the 15th-best rate in the nation.


* The Tigers are one of only 13 Division I schools with double-digit fumble recoveries (13) and interceptions (10). Memphis QB Riley Ferguson has accounted for 14 touchdowns (nine passing, five rushing) over his previous three games.


TRENDS:


* Over is 4-0 in Pirates last 4 vs. a team with a winning record.


* Over is 5-0 in Tigers last 5 home games vs. a team with a losing road record.


* Pirates are 11-0 ATS in their last 11 meetings.


LINE HISTORY: Memphis opened as 26.5-point home faves and money continued to come in on the home team driving that line up two full points to -28.5. The total hit the betting board at 79 and remains at that number at the end of the week.


(4) Wisconsin Badgers at Minnesota Golden Gophers (+17.5, 43.5)


* Badgers RB Jonathan Taylor has eight 100-yard rushing performances on the season, including each of his previous three games. Wisconsin leads the nation in rushing defense (79.4 yards per game) and fewest rushing TDs against (four).


* The Golden Gophers average 3.45 penalty flags per game, fewest in all of Division I. Minnesota WR Tyler Johnson (team-best 677 yards, seven touchdowns) will miss the game after suffering a broken hand.


TRENDS:


* Badgers are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 road games.


* Over is 4-1 in Badgers last 5 road games.


* Over is 4-1 in Golden Gophers last 5 games following a straight up loss.


* Over is 15-2 in the last 17 meetings.


LINE HISTORY: The Golden Gophers opened this Big Ten West battle as 17-point home dogs at most shops and inched up as high as +18 late in the week. The total opened at 43 and was bet up slightly to 43.5.


(11) Penn State Nittany Lions at Maryland Terrapins (+22, 58)


* Nittany Lions QB Trace McSorley has thrown for multiple touchdowns in four straight games while rushing for three more scores in that stretch. Penn State's plus-12 turnover margin for the season is tied for fifth-best in the nation.


* The Terrapins' defense has produced just 15 sacks through 11 games, tied for 111th in the country. Maryland WR D.J. Moore has one touchdown catch in his past five games after racking up seven scores over his first six contests.


TRENDS:


* Nittany Lions are 8-0-1 ATS in their last 9 games after accumulating more than 200 yards rushing in their previous game.


* Terrapins are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 games after allowing less than 170 yards passing in their previous game.


* Over is 14-3 in Nittany Lions last 17 games after accumulating more than 450 total yards in their previous game.


* Over is 5-1 in Terrapins last 6 games following a ATS win.


LINE HISTORY: Oddsmakers installed the Nittany Lions as 21-point road chalk and that wasn't enough as money on the road team raised the line to +22. The total hit the betting board at 56 and was bet up to 58 at most shops.


(24) Boise State Broncos at Fresno State Bulldogs (+7, 48.5)


* The Broncos make good on 47.4 percent of their third-down opportunities, the seventh-best rate among FBS teams. Boise State is averaging 46.3 points over its past four games.


* The Bulldogs have surrendered seven sacks all season, tied with Marshall for the second-fewest in Division I. Fresno State QB Marcus McMaryion has surpassed 200 passing yards just once in his past five games.


TRENDS:


* Broncos are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games following a straight up win.


* Under is 7-0 in Bulldogs last 7 games overall.


* Broncos are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings in Fresno State.


* Road team is 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings.


LINE HISTORY: The Broncos hit the board as 7-point road faves at most books and remained there at the end of the week. The total hit the boards at 48.5 and has yet to move off that opening number.


(1) Alabama Crimson Tide at (6) Auburn Tigers (+4.5, 47)


* The Crimson Tide have thrown two interceptions this season, tied with San Diego State for the fewest in the country. Alabama is the only team in Division I to be perfect on fourth-down conversions in 2017, going 12-for-12.


* The Tigers have snagged six interceptions this season; only 14 FBS teams have fewer INTs. Auburn RB Kerryon Johnson has recorded a rushing or receiving TD in every game this season, and has six 100-yard efforts in his past seven outings.


TRENDS:


* Crimson Tide are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games following a ATS win.


* Tigers are 6-1-1 ATS in their last 8 conference games.


* Over is 7-0 in Tigers last 7 conference games.


LINE HISTORY: The undefeated Crimson Tide opened the 2017 Iron Bowl as low as field goal road chalk and money on the road team pushed that number up to +4.5. The total opened at 47 and hasn't moved off that number.


West Virginia Mountaineers at (5) Oklahoma Sooners (-23, 67)


* Mountaineers QB Will Grier will miss Saturday's game after suffering a broken finger in last weekend's game against Texas. West Virginia ranks outside the top 100 nationally in third-down conversion rate (34.2 percent).


* Sooners QB Baker Mayfield will open Saturday's game on the sidelines following his antics in last weekend's win over Kansas. Oklahoma has held opponents below 60 percent passing in 17 of its last 21 games.


TRENDS:


* Sooners are 10-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.


* Sooners are 9-1 ATS in their last 10 home games.


* Under is 6-0 in Mountaineers last 6 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.


* Under is 6-1 in Sooners last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.


LINE HISTORY: Oddsmakers opened the Sooners as 22.5-point home faves and at most books that line has been bet up to an even -23. The total hit the betting board at 68.5 and money on the under has driven that line down to 67 at most shops.


(22) Michigan State Spartans at Rutgers Scarlet Knights (+13.5, 41)


* The Spartans rank third in the nation in average time of possession at 34:03. Michigan State has played the eighth-toughest schedule in the nation, with its opposition sporting a collective 65-41 record.


* The Scarlet Knights have allowed opponents to score on 92.9 percent of their red-zone trips, the fourth-worst rate in the nation. Rutgers is just the sixth Big Ten team since 1960 to win three conference games a season after going winless in Big Ten play.


TRENDS:


* Spartans are 1-7 ATS in their last 8 road games.


* Scarlet Knights are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 games overall.


* Under is 4-1 in Spartans last 5 games following a ATS loss.


* Under is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.


LINE HISTORY: The Spartans opened as 13-point road faves and has been bet up slightly to -13.5 The total opened at 40 and money on the over pushed that number as high as 41.5.


(23) Northwestern Wildcats at Illinois Fighting Illini (+16.5, 46)


* The Wildcats are tied for ninth in Division I in both red zone scoring rate (93.6 percent) and red zone defense (71.1 percent). Northwestern RB Justin Jackson has three 100-yard performances during his team's six-game winning streak.


* The Fighting Illini are surrendering an average of 3.45 sacks per game; only four FBS teams are allowing more. Illinois also allows seven tackles for loss per contest, ranking 115th out of 129 Division I schools.


TRENDS:


* Wildcats are 6-0 ATS vs. a team with a losing record.


* Over is 4-0-1 in Wildcats last 5 road games vs. a team with a losing home record.


* Over is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.


* Tigers are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 meetings in South Carolina.


LINE HISTORY: The Wildcats opened this Big Ten clash as 16.5 point road faves and at most shops, the line hasn't moved off the opening number. The total hit the betting board at 45.5 and has been bet up slightly to 46.


(3) Clemson Tigers at South Carolina Gamecocks (+13.5, 46.5)


* The Tigers have scored 70 points off turnovers this season while allowing just 13. Clemson's defense allows opponents to convert just 27.6 percent of their third-down situations, the fifth-best rate in the country.


* The Gamecocks are a plus-70 in points off turnovers, scoring 76 points while surrendering only six. South Carolina averages a paltry 31.8 penalty yards per game, third-fewest in the nation.


TRENDS:


* Tigers are 7-0 ATS in their last 7 non-conference games.


* Gamecocks are 0-5-1 ATS in their last 6 games after allowing less than 275 total yards in their previous game.


* Under is 7-0 in Gamecocks last 7 vs. a team with a winning record.


LINE HISTORY: Clemson opened as high as 14-point road chalk and that number has been bet down slightly to -13.5. The total opened across the board at 46.5 and has yet to move off the opening number..


Texas A&M Aggies at (18) LSU Tigers (-10, 50.5)


* The Aggies' defense averages 3.27 sacks per game, tied with Michigan State for eighth in the nation. Texas A&M RB Keith Ford has scored a rushing touchdown in four straight games despite being given just 38 total carries in that span.


* The Tigers have turned the ball over just seven times in 2017, tied with Alabama for the fewest in Division I. LSU RB Derrius Guice has racked up 591 rushing yards and five touchdowns over his past four games.


TRENDS:


* Tigers are 5-0 ATS in their last 5 games overall.


* Under is 8-1 in Aggies last 9 road games vs. a team with a winning home record.


* Under is 4-1 in the last 5 meetings.


* Aggies are 0-6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings.


LINE HISTORY: Oddsmakers installed the Aggies as 10-point home chalk at most shops and money coming in on both sides has seen the line up as high as -10.5 and as low as -9.5. By the end of the week at most books, the line returned to the opening number. The total hit the betting boards at 50 and was bet up as high as 51 before fading down to 50.5.


(9) Notre Dame Fighting Irish at (20) Stanford Cardinal (+2.5, 56.5)


* Fighting Irish QB Brandon Wimbush has exceeded 165 passing yards just once in his past five games, but has still accounted for 14 touchdowns in that span. Notre Dame ranks 12th among FBS teams in red-zone scoring percentage (93.0).


* The Cardinal are one of 11 Division I teams with a per-game turnover ratio of 1.00 or better. Stanford RB Bryce Love has a rushing touchdown and at least one run of 35+ yards in every game this season.


TRENDS:


* Cardinal are 1-7-1 ATS in their last 9 games following a straight up win.


* Under is 6-0 in Cardinal last 6 games following a straight up win.


* Under is 6-1 in the last 7 meetings.


* Fighting Irish are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings in Stanford.


LINE HISTORY: Notre Dame hit the board as low as 1.5-point road faves and money on the Irish has bumped that line up at most shops to 2.5. The total opened at 57 and is still available at that number.


(15) Washington State Cougars at (14) Washington Huskies (-10.5, 48)


* The Cougars have limited opponents to a 25-percent success rate on third downs; only Michigan has been stingier. Washington State QB Luke Falk has thrown for 648 yards and six touchdowns in his past two games.


* The Huskies have completed 69.5 percent of their passes as a team in 2017, behind only Oklahoma and UCF. Washington RB Myles Gaskin has three 100-yard performances and eight total touchdowns over his previous four outings.


TRENDS:


* Huskies are 5-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record.


* Favorite is 6-2 ATS in their last 8 meetings.


* Under is 5-1 in Huskies last 6 games following a straight up win.


* Under is 6-1 in Cougars last 7 games after accumulating more than 280 yards passing in their previous game.


LINE HISTORY: The Huskies opened this Pac-12 as 9-point home chalk and money on the home team has seen that line pushed up to -10.5. The total hit the board at 48.5 and is down slightly to 48.

 

[CNOTES]

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 25
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


CONN at CIN 12:00 PM
CONN +6.0


LOU at UK 12:00 PM
UK +9.0


TULN at SMU 12:00 PM
TULN +7.5
O 67.0


ECU at MEM 12:00 PM
ECU +28.5
O 79.5


IND at PUR 12:00 PM
PUR -2.5


OSU at MICH 12:00 PM
MICH +12.5
U 49.5


FSU at FLA 12:00 PM
FLA +5.0
U 43.5


UGA at GT 12:00 PM
UGA -11.0
U 52.5


KU at OKST 12:00 PM
KU +41.0
O 69.5


BC at SYR 12:20 PM
BC -3.0
U 56.0


DUKE at WAKE 12:30 PM
DUKE +11.5




*****************************




UTEP at UAB 01:00 PM
UAB -21.0


UNT at RICE 01:00 PM
UNT -12.0


FAU at CHAR 02:00 PM
FAU -23.0


APP at GSU 02:00 PM
GSU +7.0
O 51.0


SOMIS at MRSH 02:30 PM
SOMIS +2.5


UNLV at NEV 03:00 PM
UNLV +3.0


ODU at MTU 03:00 PM
MTU -13.0


ARST at ULM 03:00 PM
ARST -8.0


BSU at FRES 03:30 PM
FRES +7.0


PSU at MD 03:30 PM
PSU -22.5


WIS at MINN 03:30 PM
MINN +18.0
U 43.5


ALA at AUB 03:30 PM
ALA -5.5
O 47.5


ISU at KSU 03:30 PM
ISU +1.5


UNC at NCST 03:30 PM
UNC +16.0


WVU at OKLA 03:45 PM
OKLA -22.5




****************************


MSU at RUTG 04:00 PM
MSU -13.5


IDHO at NMSU 04:00 PM
IDHO +10.0


TEM at TLSA 04:00 PM
TEM -3.5
O 57.0


NW at ILL 04:00 PM
NW -16.5


VAN at TENN 04:00 PM
VAN +1.5


ARIZ at ASU 04:30 PM
ASU +1.5


WYO at SJSU 05:00 PM
WYO -19.0


GASO at ULL 05:00 PM
GASO +6.0

 

[CNOTES]

ORST at ORE 07:00 PM
ORST +26.0
O 63.5


UTSA at LT 07:30 PM
UTSA +1.0


CLEM at SOCAR 07:30 PM
CLEM -13.5
U 46.5


TAM at LSU 07:30 PM
TAM +11.0
O 50.5


WSU at WASH 08:00 PM
WSU +10.0
O 50.0


ND at STAN 08:00 PM
ND -3.0
U 56.0


BYU at HAW 09:00 PM
HAW +3.5


COLO at UTAH 10:00 PM
UTAH -10.5


USU at AFA 10:15 PM
USU +1.5

 

[CNOTES]

Top 25 roundup: No. 9 Ohio State overcomes Barrett's injury to beat Michigan
November 25, 2017


AUBURN, Ala. -- Sixth-ranked Auburn emerged with a 26-14 victory Saturday over top-ranked Alabama behind the outstanding play of quarterback Jarrett Stidham, tailback Kerryon Johnson and a rugged defense.


Stidham completed 21 of 28 passes for 237 yards. He added 12 carries for 51 yards and a touchdown.


Johnson finished with 30 carries for 104 yards and a score before leaving the game in the fourth quarter with an undisclosed injury. He also had three receptions for 21 yards.


Auburn's Ryan Davis led all receivers with 11 catches for 139 yards.


The win wrapped up the SEC West title for Auburn (10-2, 7-1 SEC). The Tigers will take on Georgia in the SEC title game in Atlanta next Saturday.


Alabama (11-1, 7-1) still has a shot at a College Football Playoff berth, but it no longer controls its destiny.


A big story of the game was third-down success. Alabama converted just three of 11 third-down attempts; Auburn was nine of 17.

No. 3 Clemson 34, No. 24 South Carolina 10


COLUMBIA, S.C. -- Clemson made its case for moving into the top spot in the College Football Playoff rankings by rolling past rival South Carolina.


Clemson improved to 11-1, and will play Miami on Saturday night in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game at Charlotte's Bank of America Stadium.


Against South Carolina, it was all Clemson, which posted its fourth consecutive victory in the Palmetto Bowl and gave Coach Dabo Swinney his 100th career victory.


Kelly Bryant completed 23 of 34 passes for 272 yards and two touchdowns and Clemson's defense held the Gamecocks (8-4) to a season-low 207 total yards.


No. 4 Oklahoma 59, West Virginia 31


NORMAN, Okla. -- Baker Mayfield threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns as No. 4 Oklahoma blew out West Virginia in Big 12 play.


Mayfield didn't start the game and didn't serve as a captain, following last week's profane tirade at Kansas. He sat for two plays.


Oklahoma (11-1, 8-1) stayed on track for a College Football Playoff berth with the win, its seventh consecutive since the Oct. 7 loss to Iowa State.


Kennedy McCoy ran for 137 yards and three scores for the Mountaineers (7-5, 5-4).


No. 5 Wisconsin 31, Minnesota 0


MINNEAPOLIS -- Alex Hornibrook threw for three touchdowns, Jonathan Taylor ran for 149 yards and a touchdown and No. 5 Wisconsin blanked Minnesota.


Troy Fumagalli, Kyle Penniston and Danny Davis caught touchdown passes for the Badgers (12-0, 9-0 Big Ten), who finished the Big Ten regular-season undefeated for the first time since going 5-0 in 1912. They will face Ohio State in next week's Big Ten championship game.


Minnesota's Demry Croft was 3-of-9 passing for 40 yards. Rodney Smith had 16 carries for 82 yards for the Gophers (5-7, 2-7), who saw their bowl hopes all but fade away in coach P.J. Fleck's first season.


No. 7 Georgia 38, Georgia Tech 7


ATLANTA -- No. 7 Georgia amassed 470 total yards, 247 coming on the ground, and kept its national championship hopes alive with a rout of rival Georgia Tech.


Georgia (11-1), which entered the game averaging 267.4 yards rushing, was led by senior running backs Sony Michel (13 carries, 85 yards, one touchdown) and Nick Chubb (12 carries, 53 yards, one touchdown).


Quarterback Jake Fromm completed 12 of 16 passes for 224 yards and one touchdown.


Georgia Tech (5-6) was led by quarterback TaQuon Marshall, who rushed 17 times for 72 yards and completed 2 of 7 passes for 38 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

No. 21 Stanford 38, No. 8 Notre Dame 20


STANFORD, Calif. -- Stanford was the winner in two games as K.J. Costello threw four touchdown passes and Bryce Love rushed for 125 yards against Notre Dame (9-3).


More important to the Cardinal (9-3) was the game 800-plus miles away in Seattle, where Washington beat Washington State, giving Stanford a berth in next Friday's Pac-12 championship game against USC in nearby Santa Clara, Calif.


Three Notre Dame turnovers, all in the fourth quarter, ruined its chances. Brandon Wimbush threw touchdown passes of 83 and 75 yards but also two interceptions.


Costello's 20-yard scoring pass to Kaden Smith early in the fourth quarter put the Cardinal ahead to stay at 24-20.


No. 9 Ohio State 31, Michigan 20


ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Redshirt freshman Dwayne Haskins led No. 9 Ohio State on three scoring drives in place of injured senior quarterback J.T. Barrett, in a win over rival Michigan.


Barrett suffered an apparent right knee injury during the third quarter.


Barrett, who fractured his right ankle against Michigan as a freshman, ran for a touchdown and passed for another in the first half. Haskins was 6-for-7 passing for 94 yards and also rushed for 24 yards.


J.K. Dobbins gained 101 yards on 15 carries and scored a touchdown for the Buckeyes (10-2, 8-1 Big Ten), who erased an early 14-point deficit.


Michigan (8-4, 5-4) quarterback John O'Korn completed 17 of 32 passes for 195 yards with a touchdown and an interception.


No. 10 Penn State 66, Maryland 3


COLLEGE PARK, Md. -- Trace McSorley accounted for three touchdowns as 10th-ranked Penn State pounded Maryland.


McSorley completed 22-of-33 passes for 237 yards and also added a rushing touchdown for Penn State, which visited Maryland for the first time in 25 years. He also had seven rushes for 36 yards before taking a seat in the third quarter with the game in hand.


Sophomore Max Bortenschlager completed a career-high 20 passes in 36 attempts for 185 yards for Maryland (4-8, 2-7).

No. 17 Washington 41, No. 13 Washington State 14


SEATTLE -- Myles Gaskin ran for 192 yards and four touchdowns and Washington dominated Washington State in the Apple Cup.


Washington State's opportunity at winning the Pac-12 North and playing USC in the Pac-12 championship game drowned in the heavy Montlake rain as the Cougars endured their fifth consecutive defeat in the rivalry series.


Gaskin's 2-yard scoring scamper finished a five-minute, 75-yard drive to open the game. His second TD, also from 2 yards, capped a 93-yard march in which he had 70 yards, including a 43-yard dash, to put Washington (10-2, 7-2) in control at 21-0.


Gaskin's fourth touchdown answered the only score by Washington State (9-3, 6-3), making it 41-7.


No. 16 Michigan State 40, Rutgers 7


PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Brian Lewerke accumulated 278 total yards to set a school season record for a sophomore quarterback as No. 16 Michigan State routed Rutgers.


Lewerke has 3,206 yards of total offense this season, eclipsing Connor Cook, who passed and ran for 2,928 yards for the Spartans in 2013. Lewerke completed 21 of 31 passes for 222 yards and a TD as Michigan State (9-3, 7-2 Big Ten) won for the sixth time in eight games.


Rutgers (4-8, 3-6) starting quarterback Gio Rescigno failed to complete his first three passes of the game and was lifted for Johnathan Lewis, who was 6-of-16 for 98 yards.


No. 18 LSU 45, Texas A&M 21


BATON ROUGE, La. -- Danny Etling ignited a 25-point rally in the second half and completed 19 of 30 passes for a career-high 347 yards and three touchdowns to power No. 18 LSU over Texas A&M at Tiger Stadium.


In helping raise LSU's record to 9-3 overall and 6-2 in the SEC, Etling's passing also dealt a blow to Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin, whose job reportedly is in jeopardy after a fourth straight five-loss season. The Aggies are 7-5 overall and 4-4 in the SEC.


With Texas A&M stacking its defense against LSU's running attack, Etling threw scoring passes of 11 yards to Russell Gage, 10 yards to John David Moore and 6 yards to D.J. Chark.


Leading 20-14 in the third quarter, LSU scored 22 points on its next three possessions, culminating with a 1-yard run by Derrius Guice (127 yards on 28 carries) and Etling's scoring passes to Moore and Chark.


No. 19 Oklahoma State 58, Kansas 17


STILLWATER, Okla. -- Mason Rudolph passed for 438 yards and two touchdowns as No. 19 Oklahoma State routed Kansas State.


Rudolph was 31 of 43 and also ran for two more scores while wideouts James Washington, Marcell Ateman and Dillon Stoner went over 100 yards. Oklahoma State (9-3, 6-3 Big 12) totaled 661 yards on offense.


Kansas (1-11, 0-9) lost its 11th straight since a season-opening win over Southeast Missouri State.


No. 20 Memphis 70, East Carolina 13


MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Riley Ferguson passed for 299 yards and three touchdowns as No. 20 Memphis rolled over East Carolina.


Anthony Miller caught three passes for 144 yards as Memphis (10-1, 7-1 American Athletic Conference) outgained ECU 635-466.


Gardner Minshew completed 28 of 54 passes for 351 yards with two TDs and three picks for ECU (3-9, 2-6). Pirates' wideout Trevon Brown finished with seven receptions for 128 yards.

No. 22 Northwestern 42, Illinois 7


CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Justin Jackson rushed for 144 yards and a touchdown Saturday as No. 22 Northwestern routed Illinois.


Most of Jackson's yardage came on a 79-yard jaunt all the way to the 1-yard line midway through the third quarter, a play originally ruled as a touchdown before replay detected him stepping out of bounds.


Northwestern (9-3, 7-2 Big Ten) quarterback Clayton Thorson went 13 of 21 for 140 yards.


Cam Thomas finished 14 of 31 for 139 yards as Illinois (2-10, 0-9) lost its 10th straight and finished 0-9 in conference play for the first time in school history.


Fresno State 28, No. 23 Boise State 17


FRESNO, Calif. -- Fresno State never trailed Saturday against No. 23 Boise State at Bulldog Stadium, earning a win that was a preview of next Saturday's Mountain West title game.


Despite the Bulldogs' victory, the game likely will be held in Boise. The four computer polls used by the conference to determine the host had Boise State (9-3, 7-1) at an average position of 22.5, and Fresno State (9-3, 7-1) was 43.8. The conference will announce the site host Sunday.


Fresno State's Marcus McMaryion was 23-of-36 for 332 yards with two touchdowns, adding 27 yards rushing.


Brett Rypien completed 22 of 31 passes for 278 yards as Boise State saw its seven-game winning streak end.

 

[CNOTES]

Saturday's best
November 25, 2017


STARS


-Myles Gaskin, Washington, ran for 192 yards and four TDs , and the No. 15 Huskies ended No. 14 Washington State's hopes for a Pac-12 North title with a 41-14 thumping.


-Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State, passed for 438 yards and two TDs and ran for two scores in his final home game to lead the No. 18 Cowboys to a 58-17 victory over Kansas.


-Nyheim Hines, North Carolina State, rushed for a career-best 196 yards and two TDs to help the Wolfpack beat North Carolina 33-21.


-Ben Hicks, SMU, threw for 375 yards and four TDs, and the Mustangs needed a goal-line stand in the closing seconds to edge Tulane 41-38.


-Kyle Shurmur, Vanderbilt, threw four TD passes as the Commodores defeated Tennessee 42-24.


-AJ Dillon, Boston College, rushed for 193 yards and three TDs in a 42-14 win over Syracuse.


-Demario Richard, Arizona State, ran for 165 yards and two TDs to help the Sun Devils rally for a 42-30 victory over rival Arizona.


-Jalin Moore, Appalachian State, ran for 239 yards and a score in a 31-10 victory over Georgia State.


-Nic Smith, North Texas, rushed for a career-high 178 yards and a score, and the Mean Green warmed up for the Conference USA championship game with a 30-14 victory over Rice.


---

TIGERS TAKE DOWN TIDE


Auburn earned its title shot. Top-ranked Alabama may need some help to get another one.


Jarrett Stidham and No. 6 Auburn dominated top-ranked Alabama 26-14, earning a berth in next week's Southeastern Conference title game.


The Tigers quarterback passed for 237 yards and ran for a fourth-quarter touchdown to set up a rematch with No. 7 Georgia in the SEC championship game Dec. 2 with a playoff spot almost certainly on the line.


Auburn mostly shut down the league's top scoring offense for their second win in three weeks over the top team in the playoff rankings. They won the Western Division a week after dispatching the Bulldogs with similar precision.


The Crimson Tide made a rare assortment of mistakes for a team that had appeared to be headed toward a shot at a fourth consecutive SEC title and playoff berth.


---

BARRETT INJURED, BUCKEYES WIN


Dwayne Haskins did what Ohio State quarterbacks have been doing for more than a decade. He beat Michigan.


The latest victory, though, came with a bizarre twist.


Haskins replaced injured star J.T. Barrett and led the eighth-ranked Buckeyes from behind to beat the Wolverines 31-20 for their sixth straight win in a rivalry they've dominated no matter who's under center.


Barrett was warming up on the sideline before kickoff when he said an unidentified male made accidental contact with his right leg, aggravating a knee injury he has played through all season.


Barrett said he will play next Saturday night when Ohio State plays in the Big Ten championship game against No. 5 Wisconsin, needing another win to bolster hopes of getting a spot in the College Football Playoff.


---

NUMBERS


45-Straight road losses by Kansas after losing 58-17 at No. 18 Oklahoma State.


47:40-Time of possession for Michigan State in its 33-7 win over Rutgers.


52-Years since Memphis last had an undefeated home season prior to this year.


60-Career rushing touchdowns by Oregon's Royce Freeman , breaking the record of 59 by the Ducks' Ken Simonton from 1998-01.

 

[CNOTES]

CFB November's Best Bets & Opinions ( All Best Bets Based On 5 Units Per Play )


DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD
11/25/2017 35-21-3 62.50% +59.50
11/24/2017 14-9-0 60.87% +20.50
11/23/20171-1-050.00%-0.50
11/21/20171-5-016.67%-22.50
11/18/2017 25-30-0 45.45% -40.00
11/17/2017 3-1-0 75.00% +9.50
11/16/2017 1-3-0 25.00% -11.50
11/15/2017 2-4-0 33.33% -12.00
11/14/2017 1-3-0 25.00% -1150
11/11/2017 28-26-4 51.85% -300
11/09/2017 3-3-0 50.00% -1.50
11/08/2017 1-5-0 16.67% -22.50
11/07/2017 1-3-0 25.00% -11.50
11/04/2017 26-28-2 48.15% -24.00
11/03/2017 2-4-0 33.33% -12.00
11/02/2017 4-4-0 50.00% -2.00
11/01/2017 2-0-0 100.00% +10.00


Totals.............150 - 150.........50.00%%.....-65.00


Best Bets:*****
Best Bets :........................ATS............TOTALS.... .............O/U................TOTAL


11/25/2017....................16 - 11- 2......+19.50.................5 - 2................+14.00
11/24/2017......................3 - 6............-18.00..................1 - 2................-6.00
11/23/2017......................0 - 1............-5.50...................1 - 0.................+5.00
11/21/2017......................0 - 3............-16.50.................1- 2..................-6.00
11/18/2017.....................17 - 18.........-14.00..................1 - 1.................-0.50
11/17/2017......................2 - 0...........+10.00.................1 -1...................-0.50
11/16/2017......................1 - 1...........-0.50....................0 - 2.................-11.00
11/15/2017......................1 - 0...........+5.00...................1 - 1.................-0.50
11/14/2017......................0 - 2...........-11.00..................1 - 1..................-0.50
11/11/2017....................6 - 7 - 1.........-8.50...................4 - 0..................+20.00
11/09/2017......................1 - 2............-6.00...................1 - 0..................+5.00
11/08/2017......................0 - 1............-5.50...................0 - 3..................-16.50
11/07/2017......................0 - 2............-11.00..................1 - 1..................-0.50
11/04/2017....................11 - 10..........+0.00...................5 - 2.................+14.00
11/03/2017......................2 - 1............+4.50..................0 - 2..................-11.00
11/02/2017......................2 - 0............+10.00................1 - 3..................-11.50
11/01/2017......................1 - 0............+5.00..................1 - 0 .................+5.00


Totals.........................63 - 65 - 3..........-42.50................25 - 23..............-1.00

 

[CNOTES]

Opening Line Report - Week 14
November 27, 2017


With championship week, the de facto national quarter-final round, upon us, here’s a look the early betting lines and wagering patterns for six conference title tilts, with insight from two Las Vegas bookmakers – the Wynn’s John Avello and Westgate SuperBook’s Ed Salmons:


Pac 12: Stanford vs. USC (-3, 58)
Friday, Dec. 1 - (ESPN, 8:00 p.m. ET)
Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara


South Point and CG Technology sports books both opened USC -1.5 on Sunday morning, but the line was driven in the favorite’s direction during the first few hours of wagering. As of this writing, most Vegas sports books are dealing USC -3, but bettors can still lay -2.5 (-120) at CG.


When these teams met on Sept. 9, USC covered as a four-point home favorite in a 42-24 win and dominated the game from a statistical standpoint (623 yards to 342, 28 first downs to 16).


Salmons points out the Trojans got to rest last week, while Stanford was involved in a physical game against Notre Dame, a 38-20 Cardinal win.


“Whoever made USC’s schedule was pretty smart about getting a bye week before the championship game, and Stanford not only played, but this game is Friday night, so it’s a six-day week and they’re at a distinctive scheduling disadvantage,” Salmons said.


Salmons is also wary about the health of Stanford’s star running back Bryce Love.


“He’s definitely not 100 percent healthy, it’s obvious watching him,” Salmons said.


If Stanford has an edge in this matchup, it’s coaching, according to Avello.


“I like the Stanford coach. David Shaw does a really good job with this team. He gets them ready for big games,” Avello said. “I’m not overly impressed with the coaching staff at USC.”


AAC: Memphis vs. Central Florida (-7, 85)
Saturday, Dec. 2 - (ABC, 12:00 p.m.ET)
Spectrum Stadium, Orlando


Sharp bettors took Memphis +7.5 at the Wynn, prompting Avello’s shop to join the rest of the crowd at UCF -7.


In these teams’ first meeting of the season, which was played Sept. 30 at this same stadium, UCF rolled to a 40-13 win as a 5.5-point favorite, handing Memphis its only loss of the season.


Since its loss to UCF, the Memphis offense has been putting up gaudy point totals, averaging 53.5 points per game over its last seven games.


“This total probably can’t be high enough,” said Avello, as over/unders in the 84.5 to 85.5 range were flashing on Vegas betting boards.


As for the mid-major proponents who believe undefeated UCF deserves an invitation to the College Football Playoffs, Avello and Salmons both said the Knights would be underdogs of about 17 against the Clemsons of the world.


“Central Florida plays at the level of say, somewhere between a Northwestern and Michigan State, somewhere in that range,” Salmons said.


Big 12: TCU vs. Oklahoma (-7, 63.5)
Saturday, Dec. 2 - (FOX, 12:30 p.m. ET)
AT&T Stadium, Arlington


While Oklahoma was as cheap as -5.5 at CG Technology, openers of -6.5 were adjusted up to -7 at the Wynn and Westgate, and Salmons sees the number getting bigger.


“Everyone is going to bet Oklahoma,” he said.


Oklahoma was just a six-point favorite when they hosted TCU in November, which may have some handicappers thinking there’s value on the 'dog at a neutral site.


But, Salmons said of the Sooners’ 38-20 win, “You’ve got to look at the result of that game. It got so bad that Oklahoma stopped trying to score in the second-half.”


Avello, though, believes this line is largely a function of perception, noting his personal rankings had Oklahoma 8th in the nation ahead of the season, and TCU 75th.


“Oklahoma figured to be there at the beginning of the year and TCU figured to have a good year but not be playing for a national championship,” Avello said. “I think this line is based more on the perception of who Oklahoma is and who TCU is.”


SEC: Georgia vs. Auburn (-2.5, 49.5)
Saturday, Dec. 2 - (CBS, 4:00 p.m. ET)
Mercedes-Benz Stadium , Atlanta


At the Wynn, the number on the SEC championship opened Auburn -2.5 (-120), was bet up to -3, and then starting moving in the other direction, settling at -2.


While Avello anticipated the action on Georgia, Salmons isn’t on board with bettors’ sentiment on the dog.


“I don’t think the 3s gonna hold up,” Avello said before the move on Georgia.


Salmons, though, was one of the few bookmakers who believed Auburn should have been the favorite in the first matchup between these teams on Nov. 11. The Tigers were -2.5 on the Westgate’s Games of the Year board two weeks before the game; they went off 2.5-point dogs and trounced to a 40-17 win. “The game played out, and I was vindicated,” Salmons said. “Auburn was the better team than Georgia that day, and I still have Auburn the much better team than Georgia. I’m shocked at how low the line is, I think it’s a one-way line.”


Avello and Salmons differ in their opinions about how impressive Auburn’s 26-14 win over Alabama was.


“I thought they played an okay game against Alabama, but Alabama made mistakes that they don’t normally make,” Avello said.


Countered Salmons, “All Auburn does is seemingly get better game after game. They demolished Alabama. I know Alabama had some hurt linebackers, but there was nothing wrong with Alabama’s offense, and Auburn stopped ‘em.”


Big Ten: Ohio State (-6, 53) vs. Wisconsin
Saturday. Dec. 2 - (FOX, 8:00 p.m. ET)
Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis

While bettors are laying the points with Ohio State early, pushing the line from as low as -4 at CG up to -6 at most shops, both of our bookmakers see Wisconsin hanging in against a team they haven’t had much success against in recent years.


Avello noted the Badgers can put points on the board, as they’ve scored less than 24 just once all season, in a 17-9 win over Purdue. The other side of the ball, however, is where their strength lies.


“Defensively, they’ve been really good all year, they’ve really been solid,” Avello said. “There’s not one game all year that anybody ran ragged over them.”


This year’s Ohio State team, meanwhile, isn’t Urban Meyer’s best version of the program.


“I don’t think they’ve got that mojo, I really don’t,” Avello said. “Wisconsin is a team that can give them problems. I see Wisconsin in this game.”


Added Salmons, “After watching Michigan play with Ohio State, I see no reason why Wisconsin can’t play with them next week.”


ACC: Miami vs. Clemson (-9, 47)
Saturday. Dec. 2 - (ABC, 8:00 p.m. ET)
Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte


Most of the books we’ve talked to throughout this college football season, Avello and Salmons included, have not been high on Miami, even though it took until Week 13 for the Hurricanes to lose a game. It’s funny, but the bettors seem to dislike Miami even more than the oddsmakers do, as opening numbers of Miami -6.5 and -7 have been bet up to the 8.5 to 9.5 range.


Avello said bettors are laying the points based on these teams’ most recent performances – Clemson beat South Carolina 34-10 last week, and Miami lost at Pittsburgh 24-14 – but he expects wiseguys to come in later on the 'dog.


“’The line should be at 7.5,” Avello said. “I think people are going to think there’s value with the Miami team.”


Clemson was pushed to -9.5 at the Westgate by Monday, and Salmons said, “You get close to 10 and it’s a big number. Clemson is not exactly an explosive offense. They play really close to the vest.”

 

[CNOTES]

Championship Notes
November 26, 2017


Week 14 of the 2017 college football season will be highlighted with nine championship games on tap.


The action starts Friday with Pac-12 title game before finishing on Saturday with eight more championships.


Check out the matchups, odds and betting notes on all eight title games below.


Opening Odds per BookMaker.eu


Pac 12 Championship - Stanford (9-3) vs. USC (10-2)
Date: Friday, Dec. 1 (ESPN, 8:00 p.m.)
Venue: Levi's Stadium
Location: Santa Clara, California
Pac-12 Betting History


Odds: USC opened as a three-point favorite with a total of 57.


Betting Notes and Trends


-- The Pac-12 North has captured the first six championship games, which includes three wins by Stanford.


-- Favorites have gone 5-1 SU but just 3-3 ATS in the first four Pac-12 title games.


-- The ‘over/under’ has gone 3-3.


-- This will be the fourth trip to the Pac-12 title game for Stanford while its the second trip for USC.


-- The Cardinal are 3-0 in the championship, which includes a 41-22 victory over Southern Cal in the 2015 installment.


-- USC defeated Stanford 42-24 in Week 2 as a four-point home underdog. The Cardinal had won the three previous meetings in this series.


Preseason Future Odds to win the Pac-12
Stanford 9/2
USC 10/11


MAC Championship - Akron (7-5) vs. Toledo (10-2)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 2 (ESPN, 12:00 p.m.)
Venue: Ford Field
Location: Detroit, Michigan
MAC Betting History


Odds: Toledo opened as a 17-point favorite. The total opened 54.


Betting Notes and Trends


-- Saturday's matchup will be the 21st MAC Championship.


-- Underdogs have gone 12-8 against the spread in the MAC title game. The 'under' is 11-9.


-- This will be Toledo's first trip to the title game since 2004 while Akron is making its second trip to the championship, the first instance taking palce in 2005.


-- Akron is 1-0 in the title game, while Toledo owns a 2-3 mark.


-- The Rockets blasted the Zips 48-21 on Oct. 21 as 15-point home favorites. Toledo has won six of the eight meetings against Akron and five of those games were decided by 10-plus points.


Preseason Future Odds to win the MAC
Akron 20/1
Toledo 10/11


CUSA Championship - North Texas (9-3) at Florida Atlantic University (9-3)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 2 (ESPN2, 12:00 p.m.)
Venue: FAU Stadium
Location: Boca Raton, Florida
C-USA Betting History


Odds: Florida Atlantic opened as an eight-point favorite and the total was set at 74 1/2.


Betting Notes and Trends


-- This will be the 13th Conference USA Championship Game. This will be the first title game appearance for both North Texas and FAU.


-- Underdogs and favorites have gone 6-6 against the spread while total bettors have seen the ‘under’ go 6-5-1.


-- The host has won five straight and is 9-3 overall in the title game.


-- These teams met at the same venue on Oct. 21 and FAU destroyed North Texas 69-31 as a 3 1/2-point home favorite. The 'over' (67) was never in doubt.


Preseason Future Odds to win the CUSA
North Texas 80/1
Florida Atlantic 12/1


American Athletic Championship - Memphis (10-1) at Central Florida (11-0)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 2 (ABC, 12:00 p.m.)
Venue: Spectrum Stadium
Location: Orlando, Florida
AAC Betting History


Odds: Central Florida opened as a seven-point home favorite with a total of 81. The early money pushed the total up to 83.


Betting Notes and Trends


-- This will be the third American Athletic Championship game and the first appearance for both schools.


-- Favorites and Underdogs split the first two games as did the visitors and hosts. The 'under' is 2-0.


-- Central Florida has owned Memphis, winning 10 straight in the series and that includes a 40-13 win on Sept. 30 as a 5 1/2-point home favorite.


-- The 'under' (68.5) was never in doubt in this year's first encounter and is on a 4-1 run in the series.


Preseason Future Odds to win the AAC
Memphis 5/1
Central Florida 6/1


Big 12 Championship - TCU (10-2) vs. Oklahoma (11-1)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 2 (FOX, 12:30 p.m.)
Venue: AT&T Stadium
Location: Arlington, Texas
Big 12 Betting History


Odds: The Sooners opened as 6 1/2-point favorites and the total jumped from 61 1/2 to 62 1/2.


Betting Notes and Trends


-- The Big 12 will be featuring a postseason game for the first time since the 2010 season.


-- In the first 15 title games from 1996 to 2010, Oklahoma made eight appearances in the title game and it won seven of those contests.


-- Oklahoma defeated TCU 38-20 on Nov. 11 as a six-point home favorite.


-- Including that win, the Sooners have won three straight and eight of their last 10 meetings against the Horned Frogs. The 'under' has gone 8-2 during this span.


Preseason Future Odds to win the Big 10
Oklahoma 1/1
TCU 7/1


SEC Championship - Georgia (11-1) vs. Auburn (10-2)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 2 (CBS, 4:00 p.m.)
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
SEC Betting History


Odds: Auburn opened as a three-point favorite with a total of 51. Early wagers pushed the total down to 49.


Betting Notes and Trends


-- Saturday’s matchup will be the 26th SEC Championship Game. Since its inception in 1992, underdogs and favorites have gone 12-12-1 against the spread.


-- Total players have watched the ‘over’ cash in the last eight championship games. The ‘over’ is 16-9 in the 25 title matchups.


-- The SEC West has won eight straight matchups and seven of those victories were by double digits.


-- Auburn has earned five trips to the title game and is 3-2 overall. The Tigers have won their last three visits, the most recent coming in 2013 against Missouri.


-- Georgia has also made five appearances in the championship and it's gone 2-3. The Bulldogs made back-to-back visits in 2011 (42-10) and 2012 (32-28) but came up short to LSU and Alabama respectively.


-- Auburn ran over Georgia 40-17 on Nov. 11 as a 2 1/2-point home underdog. The Bulldogs had won the previous three encounters in this series. The 'under' is on a 3-1 run over this span.


Preseason Future Odds to win the SEC
Auburn 6/1
Georgia 8/1


Mountain West Championship - Fresno State (9-3) at Boise State (9-3)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 2 (ESPN2, 7:45 p.m.)
Venue: Albertsons Stadium
Location: Boise, Idaho
MWC Betting History


Odds: Boise State opened as a 9 1/2-point favorite and the total has moved from an opener of 48 to 49 on Sunday evening.


Betting Notes and Trends


-- This will be the fifth MWC Championship game and played at the venue of the higher seed.


-- In the first three title games, the home team won each time but San Diego State snapped that skid last season with a 27-24 win at Wyoming.


-- Favorites have gone 4-0 in this matchup but underdogs have prodcued a 3-1 ATS mark. The ‘under’ has gone 3-1.


-- Fresno State has made two appearances in the title game and has gone 1-1 while Boise State is 1-0 with the win coming in 2014 at home to the Bulldogs.


-- These teams just played last Saturday and Fresno State posted a 28-17 win over Boise as a 6 1/2-point home underdog. Despite the win, the Broncos have won 13 of the previous 16 encounters.


Preseason Future Odds to win the MWC
Boise State 6/5
Fresno State 300/1


ACC Championship - Miami, Fl. (10-1) vs. Clemson (11-1)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 2 (ABC, 8:00 p.m.)
Venue: Bank of America Stadium
Location: Charlotte, North Carolina
ACC Betting History


Odds: Clemson opened up as a 7 1/2-point favorite and the number has been bet up to 8 1/2 and 9 at most betting shops. The total opened at 48.


Betting Notes and Trends


-- This will be the 13th installment of the ACC Championship. Favorites have gone 8-4 SU and 6-6 ATS. Total bettors have watched the 'over' go 7-5.


-- Clemson has played in the title game four times and has gone 3-1, which includes back-to-back victories the last two years against Virginia Tech (42-35) and North Carolina (45-37).


-- Miami will be making its first appearance in the championship game.


-- These teams met in 2015 and Clemson hammered Miami 58-0 as an eight-point road favorite.


Preseason Future Odds to win the ACC
Clemson 3/1
Miami, Fl. 5/1


Big 10 Championship - Ohio State (10-2) vs. Wisconsin (12-0)
Date: Saturday, Dec. 2 (FOX, 8:00 p.m.)
Venue: Lucas Oil Stadium
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Big Ten Betting History


Odds: The Buckeyes opened as 5 1/2-point favorites with a total of 53 1/2.


Betting Notes and Trends


-- This will be the seventh Big Ten Championship game.


-- Underdogs have gone 4-2 SU and 5-0-1 ATS in the first six Big Ten title games.


-- The ‘over’ has gone 5-1.


-- Wisconsin won the first two Big Ten title games but was upset 38-31 by Penn State in last year's installment. The Badgers are 2-2 overall.


-- Ohio State has made two trips to the Big Ten championship and it has gone 1-1 with the victory coming in 2014 against Wisconsin in blowout fashion (59-0).


-- Including that setback, the Buckeyes have won five straight against Wisconsin and they've covered four of those wins.


Preseason Future Odds to win the Big 10
Ohio State 5/7
Wisconsin 5/2

 

[CNOTES]

UGA faces Auburn looking for revenge
November 27, 2017


ATHENS, Ga. (AP) Three weeks isn't much time at all.


Certainly not enough to forget a 23-point blowout.


Now the question is: Can No. 6 Georgia turn the sting of its lone defeat - not to mention the gleeful boasting of Auburn coach Gus Malzahn - into the sort of controlled anger and nagging motivation that produces a vastly different result in the Southeastern Conference championship game?


No matter how you slice it, that Nov. 11 mismatch at Jordan-Hare Stadium looms large over Saturday's rematch at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.


''We'll have a lot of energy, a lot of emotions,'' Georgia linebacker Lorenzo Carter said Monday. ''But when it comes down to it, those emotions aren't going to win the game. It's how you play.''


No. 4 Auburn (10-2) is playing as well as any team in the country, winning five straight games by an average of 22 points since a seemingly crushing loss to LSU.


That streak includes a 40-17 rout of Georgia , when the Bulldogs were ranked No. 2 by The Associated Press and sitting atop the College Football Playoff standings, and last Saturday's equally impressive 28-16 victory over top-ranked Alabama .


Suddenly, the Tigers are a trendy pick to win it all.


But they've got to beat Georgia (11-1) for the second time in less than a month.


And Malzahn may come to regret what he said right after the previous meeting. Walking away from his on-field interview with CBS, he was overheard commenting, ''We whipped the dog crap out of `em, didn't we!''


The coach wasn't wrong, considering Auburn outgained the Bulldogs 488-230 in total yards and shut down the dynamic running back duo of Nick Chubb and Sony Michel.


But those words are sure to be plastered all over the Bulldogs' training facility this week.


''It is certainly a normal human response to want revenge when we are harmed,'' Will Freeman, the track coach at Iowa's Grinnell College who also teaches sports psychology, wrote in an email. ''Can it increase motivation? Yes. Can that motivation go bad? Also, yes. Optimal performance requires the athlete find the optimal level of motivation and excitement for the situation. Too much, and the athlete can lose focus, control and mental awareness about the situation. Just as important, too much arousal can cause timing and rhythm issues with the athlete that result in poor performance.''


Georgia coach Kirby Smart was part of a rematch situation during the 2011 season while serving as Alabama's defensive coordinator.


The Crimson Tide lost to LSU 9-6 in overtime during the regular season , only to get another shot at the Tigers in the national championship game.


Alabama dominated the second meeting in New Orleans, claiming the BCS title with a stifling 21-0 victory .


Looking back on LSU's poor performance, then-coach Les Miles said recently the team that loses the first game probably has an easier time getting its players motivated for the rematch.


''They plan and they work and there's a stronger commitment than the team that looks back on a hard-fought victory, but a victory nonetheless,'' Miles said. ''I think once you've beaten a team, it takes a special view of how to get them ready to beat that team again.''


But it's not unusual, at least in the SEC, for the team that won the first game to take the second as well.


This will be the seventh time in the title game's 26-year history that there's a rematch of a regular-season matchup. Five of the six times it happened before, the same team won both games, the only exception coming in 2001 when LSU lost to Tennessee 26-18 in late September but bounced back to win the SEC crown with a 31-20 triumph.


''You can watch the tape of the game,'' Smart said. ''It fires you up pre-game and gets you all excited, but when the toe meets leather it's about striking people, it's about speed, it's about blocking, tackling, it's about having composure. It's about having discipline. It really doesn't revert back to who won the previous game.''


What makes this a bit different is the proximity of the two meetings - all previous SEC rematches were at least seven weeks after the first game - and these teams are especially bitter foes even though they're in different divisions. Billed as the Deep South's oldest rivals, they first played in 1892 and have clashed nearly every season since then for a total of 121 meetings.


Georgia leads by the slimmest of margins, 57-56 with eight ties.


If Smart is taking notes on all that history, and especially the most recent matchup, he isn't letting on.


''The other game is past history,'' he said. ''Now whether or not you say that it helps mentally with your preparation, that somebody is more focused than the other, I don't know. I certainly think Auburn was more focused down the stretch because their backs were against the wall. They had two losses. Now everybody's backs are against the wall.''


Indeed, the winner of the rematch will almost certainly land a spot in the four-team playoff. The loser is eliminated from the national championship race.


''I think you should prepare the same, regardless of your record, regardless of a revenge factor and be real consistent in your approach so that the players are able to understand that it's important to prepare right for every game,'' Smart said. ''We don't say that this game is more important than the other because it's the next game. The next game is always the most important.''

 

[CNOTES]

Ohio State QB Barrett probable to play
November 27, 2017


Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett, who left Saturday's game in the third quarter with a knee injury, is probable to play in the Big Ten Championship Game, coach Urban Meyer said Monday.


The Buckeyes (10-2) play Wisconsin (12-0) on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET in Indianapolis.


Barrett said he was hit on the right knee, perhaps by a photographer, while on a crowded sideline before Saturday's game at Michigan. That aggravated a meniscus injury that he has been playing through, but the knee locked up in the second half and he was unable to continue.


"He's doing a nice job with all the rehab," Meyer said.


Redshirt freshman Dwayne Haskins came in and led three scoring drives in the 31-20 victory over the Wolverines. Haskins completed 6 of 7 passes for 94 yards, also rushing for 24 yards.


As for Barrett's potential mobility on Saturday, Meyer said, "It's too early to tell. That's what this week's for. But those are all things we've taken into consideration."


Barrett, a senior, has completed 217 of 328 passes for 2,728 yards, with 33 touchdowns and seven interceptions this season. He has rushed for 672 yards and nine scores.


Barrett has 102 career passing touchdowns and 40 rushing touchdowns.

 

[CNOTES]

CFB notebook: Tennessee AD defends Schiano vetting process
November 27, 2017


Tennessee athletic director John Currie on Monday defended the coaching search and vetting of leading candidate Greg Schiano, a day after the Volunteers backed out of the hiring agreement following a public backlash and campus protests.


The Vols reportedly had a deal in place with the Ohio State defensive coordinator on Sunday morning, but it fell through by the end of the day after the university heard from the fan base, state representatives and local business owners.


"We carefully interviewed and vetted him, as we do candidates for all positions," Currie said in the statement Monday. "He received the highest recommendations for character, family values and commitment to academic achievement and student-athlete welfare from his current and former athletics directors, players, coaching colleagues and experienced media figures."


Currie's statement did not give an explanation of why the potential deal collapsed Sunday night. The outcry stemmed from Schiano's time on the staff at Penn State in the early 1990s, with fans expressing outrage with his alleged connection to convicted child sexual abuser Jerry Sandusky. Schiano spent five seasons at Penn State, four as the defensive backs coach on the staff with Sandusky, who was defensive coordinator.


Schiano went 68-67 over 11 seasons at Rutgers after taking over one of the worst programs in the country. He left for the NFL following the 2011 season and was hired by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but he was fired after two seasons with an 11-21 record.


--Ohio State quarterback J.T. Barrett, who left Saturday's game in the third quarter with a knee injury, is probable to play in the Big Ten Championship Game, coach Urban Meyer said.


The Buckeyes (10-2) play Wisconsin (12-0) on Saturday at 8 p.m. ET in Indianapolis.


Barrett said he was hit on the right knee, perhaps by a photographer, while on a crowded sideline before Saturday's game at Michigan. That aggravated a meniscus injury that he has been playing through, but the knee locked up in the second half and he was unable to continue.


As for Barrett's potential mobility on Saturday, Meyer said, "It's too early to tell. That's what this week's for. But those are all things we've taken into consideration."


--Central Florida head coach Scott Frost continues to be hit with questions about Nebraska's open job as he prepares his undefeated and 15th-ranked team for the American Athletic Conference championship game against No. 20 Memphis on Saturday in Orlando, Fla.


Frost declined to offer any definitive statements about his future as the speculation runs rampant that he will be become the next head football coach at his alma mater.


"I'd be hurt if Nebraska wasn't interested in me," Frost said during a news conference to preview UCF's appearance in the AAC title game. "We're undefeated and I'm from there. When you win, a lot of people are interested in you. That doesn't matter. What matters are these players and what they've accomplished and they deserve the focus to be on them and not me."


Sources told ESPN's Mark Schlabach that the 42-year-old Frost met with Florida officials more than a week ago to discuss the Gators' vacancy, but he declined to meet again this past weekend. Florida officials were convinced Frost was taking the Nebraska job, so they moved on to Mississippi State's Dan Mullen, who was named the Gators' new coach Sunday.


--Rice fired football coach David Bailiff after 11 seasons with the Owls.


Rice finished 1-11 overall and 1-7 in Conference USA this season, only winning the second game against winless UTEP.


"We have made the decision to part ways with coach David Bailiff after 11 seasons," Rice athletic director Joe Karlgaard told KRIV-TV in Houston. "It's excruciating, and that's because of the man that David Bailiff is. He's a high-character man. He's led our program with integrity. Our student athletes represent the institution extraordinarily well. Our football alumni are involved. David graduates the kids."


Bailiff was Rice's coach since 2007, going 57-80 overall. His best seasons were 10-3 in 2008 and 10-4 in 2013, being named the Conference USA coach of the year those years. He led the Owls to their first outright conference championship in 56 years in 2013. However, Bailiff's teams were just 4-20 the past two years, ending his tenure at Rice with a 30-14 loss to North Texas on Saturday.


--Chad Lunsford, who was named Georgia Southern's interim head football coach during the season, has accepted the full-time position, the school announced.


Lunsford went 2-3 as the interim coach, including wins in the past two weeks -- 52-0 over South Alabama and 34-24 at Louisiana. The Eagles (2-9, 2-5 Sun Belt) finish their season Saturday at Coastal Carolina.


"The search committee went through an extensive process and evaluated a number of candidates nationwide," athletic director Tom Kleinlein said in a statement. "In the end, it was hard to ignore the progress the team has made under Coach Lunsford both on and off the field."


The school fired coach Tyson Summers after an 0-6 start dropped his record to 5-13 in a year and a half at the school. Lunsford, 40, is in his ninth season at Georgia Southern and fifth in his current stint.


--Texas offensive lineman Connor Williams, one of the top-rated tackle prospects in the country, has declared for the NFL Draft and will skip the team's bowl game, he announced.


Williams is rated the No. 19 overall prospect by NFLDraftScout.com, with plenty of room to move up during postseason workouts.


Williams missed much of this season after suffering a knee injury (torn meniscus and sprained MCL and ACL) on Sept. 16 at USC. He opted for rest and rehab, rather than surgery, and came back for the team's final two games.


"My family and I have decided it is my best interest to forgo the bowl game and my senior season to begin preparing for my professional football career," Williams said in a statement. "One of the reasons I worked so hard to come back from my injury was to help the team reach its goal of playing in a bowl game, and I'm proud we were able to accomplish that."


--BYU fired offensive coordinator Ty Detmer, coach Kalani Sitake announced.


Detmer, who won the 1990 Heisman Trophy with the Cougars, completed his second season with the team. The 50-year-old joined Sitake's staff after serving six years as the head coach at a private high school in Austin, Texas.


BYU, which finished 4-9 this season, scored only 221 points and ranks 118th in total offense among 129 Football Bowl Subdivision teams.


Detmer is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame after playing for the Cougars from 1987 to 1991 and passing for 15,031 yards and 121 touchdowns. Detmer went on to play in the NFL from 1992 to 2005 for six teams before becoming the coach at St. Andrews Episcopal School in 2009.

 

[CNOTES]

STAT WATCH: Memphis' Pollard builds on his kick return lead
November 27, 2017


Memphis' Tony Pollard keeps building on his reputation as one of the nation's top playmakers.


The sophomore ran back a kickoff 100 yards for the second time this season and third time in his career in the Tigers' 70-13 win over East Carolina on Saturday.


Pollard leads the nation with a kick return average of 44.2 yards and is tied with Louisiana-Monroe's Marcus Green with four kick return TDs. Pollard also had a 100-yard return against Southern Illinois, a 99-yarder against Louisiana-Monroe and a 93-yarder against Houston.


Last year he ran back a kick 100 yards against Navy and another for 95 yards against Temple.


Pollard is one kick return touchdown away from the NCAA season and career records.


Tulsa's Ashlan Davis ran back five kicks for TDs in 2004, and Clemson's C.J. Spiller (2006-09), Houston's Tyron Carrier (2008-11) and San Diego State's Rashaad Penny (2014-17) each have seven in their careers.


Other notable feats this past weekend:


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THAT'S A GOOD START


Memphis' 49-0 lead over East Carolina was the largest by a Bowl Subdivision team over another FBC team this season. The Tigers' 70 points against East Carolina pushed the Tigers' season total to 517 points, five off the school record set by the 2015 team. The 517 points were achieved in one fewer game.


2,000-YARD BARRIER


San Diego State's Penny became the first player over 2,000 yards rushing this season after going for 205 against New Mexico. The Aztecs are the first team in FBS history with back-to-back 2,000-yard seasons by different players, with Donnel Pumphrey doing it last season.


Penny, the national rushing leader, is the first FBS player since Tulane's Matt Forte in 2007 with at least 200 yards rushing in four consecutive games.


Penny needs 107 yards in SDSU's bowl game to break Pumphrey's single-season record of 2,133 yards.

FANTASTIC FRESHMAN


Wisconsin's Jonathan Taylor ran for 149 yards against Minnesota to give him 1,806 for the year, the third-highest total by a freshman in FBS history. He trails Ron Dayne (2,109 yards for Wisconsin in 1996) and Adrian Peterson (1,925 yards for Oklahoma in 2004).

PLAYING KEEP-AWAY


Michigan State's advantage in time of possession against Rutgers is believed to be an FBS record, according to MSU record-keepers. The Spartans had the ball for 47 minutes, 50 seconds and the Scarlet Knights for just 12:10. Air Force had what's believed to be the previous record of 45:14, set in 2016.

HEAVY WORKLOAD


Air Force quarterback Isaiah Sanders tied the national season high for carries in a game, with a school-record 44 against Utah State. That tied the number of attempts by Georgia Tech's Taquon Marshall against Tennessee. Sanders finished with 196 yards and three touchdowns in his first career start, including the game-winner with 1:38 left in a 38-35 victory.

SACK STATS


New Mexico State tied the national season high with 11 sacks against Idaho, matching the 11 Clemson had against Auburn. TCU's Mat Boesen set the individual high with a school-record 5 + sacks against Baylor. Boesen has a team-best 11 + sacks for the season, with at least one in six of the last seven games.

 

[CNOTES]

UCF's Frost: 'I'd be hurt' if Nebraska was not interested
November 27, 2017


Central Florida head coach Scott Frost continues to be hit with questions about Nebraska's open job as he prepares his undefeated and 15th-ranked team for the American Athletics Conference championship game against No. 20 Memphis on Saturday in Orlando, Fla.


Frost declined to offer any definitive statements Monday about his future as the speculation runs rampant that he will be become the next head football coach at his alma mater.


"I'd be hurt if Nebraska wasn't interested in me," Frost said during a news conference to preview UCF's appearance in the AAC title game. "We're undefeated and I'm from there. When you win, a lot of people are interested in you. That doesn't matter. What matters are these players and what they've accomplished and they deserve the focus to be on them and not me."


Sources told ESPN's Mark Schlabach that the 42-year-old Frost met with Florida officials more than a week ago to discuss the Gators' vacancy, but he declined to meet again this past weekend. Florida officials were convinced Frost was taking the Nebraska job, so they moved on to Mississippi State's Dan Mullen, who was named the Gators' new coach Sunday.


Frost was asked earlier Monday on an AAC teleconference whether he would return to UCF in 2018.


"I'm just not going to talk about it," Frost said. "All I want to talk about is this football team.


"I can't tell you how much I care about these players. And that's been true in my past. It's going to be true every year that I'm coaching. And our entire staff is that way. These guys are special. They deserve my best. I've said that all year. They deserve our coaching staff's best."


A win in the conference title game likely would put the Knights in a Jan. 1 bowl game.


UCF officials will be trying to convince Frost to stay but the offer from Nebraska could come in north of $4 million beyond his current $1.7 million annual salary.


"Every year in college football, there's tough decisions to make," Frost said. "And those kind of things happen. And when the time's right, we'll make them. I know it would be really hard to leave this team because of how much love I have for this group of guys and how much effort they've given us.


"So all I'm going to do is go back to my office and watch more film. This shouldn't be about me. I know the questions are going to come, but these guys have earned the right to have the conversation be about them."


Nebraska fired head coach Mike Riley on Saturday after he went 19-19 in three seasons. The decision came a day after the Cornhuskers were embarrassed 56-14 by Iowa at home in the team's regular-season finale to finish 4-8.


Frost played quarterback at Nebraska in 1996 and 1997, winning a share of the national title as a senior.


In his second season at UCF, Frost coached the Knights to an 11-0 record after a 49-42 win Friday over South Florida to lock up a berth in the AAC championship game.


"I've been doing my thing," said Frost, who added he does not address the job speculation with his players. "I'm a loyal guy and I'm loyal to my family and I'm loyal to people that care about me. I'm loyal to this coaching staff, I'm loyal to these kids. I'm loyal to my alma mater, but I'm more loyal the people that I'm going to battle with every day and that's been at Kansas State and Northern Iowa and Oregon and here and, right now, my loyalties lie with these players."

 

[CNOTES]

Title Tips - Group of Five
November 28, 2017


Playing for a championship is the goal of every program and nine conference champions will be decided this weekend, eight coming on Saturday.


College Playoff berths are not on the line in the Conference USA, AAC, MAC, and Mountain West games but all four contests will feature regular season rematches to fill out the championship Saturday schedule.


CONFERENCE USA CHAMPIONSHIP


Matchup: North Texas Mean Green at Florida Atlantic Owls
Venue: At FAU Stadium in Boca Raton, Florida
Time/TV: Saturday, December 2, 12:00 PM ET, ESPN2
Line: Florida Atlantic -11, Over/Under 73½
Last Meeting: October 21, 2017 at Florida Atlantic (-3½) 69-31


Lane Kiffin is only 42 but he has already been the former head coach of the Oakland Raiders, Tennessee, and USC. After rebuilding his tarnished reputation as an assistant at Alabama for three seasons he surprised many by taking over at Florida Atlantic. It has proven to be a wise move for the trajectory of his career with a great season in Boca Raton and likely some options available to him if he chooses to pursue another position higher up the college football ladder.


The Owls went 3-9 last season and started this season 1-3 while also dealing with the complications of Hurricane Irma in September. Florida Atlantic wound up as one of three teams in the nation to go undefeated in conference play. Florida Atlantic averaged 39.8 points per game with the sixth most productive rushing attack in the nation. North Texas was just 1-11 in 2015 before Seth Littrell took over the program. The Mean Green managed to get a bowl invite at 5-7 last year, losing to Army in the Heart of Dallas Bowl but delivering a season of improvement. This year’s team is now 9-3 with the only loss after a 1-2 start coming in Boca Raton.


North Texas is without Jeffery Wilson who led the team in rushing as they look for their first conference title since winning four Sun Belt titles in a row from 2001-2004. Nic Smith has been very productive as his replacement and Mason Fine had the top quarterback rating in Conference USA, just ahead of FAU’s Jason Driskel while attempting nearly twice as many passes.

2017 Meeting: The Owls had a record setting day hosting North Texas is October with 69 points and 804 total yards. It was 24-0 not even 14 minutes into the game and 41-7 at halftime. North Texas did wind up with 31 points and 420 yards as well but three turnovers on the first five possessions put the Mean Green in a substantial hole.

Series History: Florida Atlantic won the first six meetings between these teams from 2004 to 2009, going 5-1 ATS in the run as well. North Texas won all four meeting from 2010 to 2014, going 3-1 ATS. October’s blowout win for Florida Atlantic in Boca Raton was the first meeting since November of 2014.


AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP


Matchup: Memphis Tigers at Central Florida Knights
Venue: At Bright House Networks Stadium in Orlando, Florida
Time/TV: Saturday, December 2, 12:00 PM ET, ABC
Line: Central Florida -7½, Over/Under 82
Last Meeting: September 30, 2017 at Central Florida (-5½) 40-13


The top two quarterbacks in the AAC face off in the third ever AAC Championship and the first appearance in the game for either program. UCF last played for a championship losing the 2012 Conference USA title game to Tulsa while Memphis and UCF were co-champions of the AAC with Cincinnati in the 2014 season before the league had divisions.


Sophomore McKenzie Milton followed Scott Frost to UCF and after emerging as the starter as a freshman last season he was the AAC’s top rated passer (2nd nationally) this season with 30 touchdowns against six interceptions, completing 69 percent of his passes on 10.3 yards per attempt. Milton has also rushed for 429 yards leading a Knights offense that scored 47.6 points per game to pace the nation. Riley Ferguson delivered a fine senior season for Memphis with 32 touchdown throws and 3,500 passing yards. At 6’4” Ferguson could be a mid-round NFL draft pick in April. As the total suggests both offenses are capable of huge numbers with Memphis scoring 44.3 points per game.


The head coaches will be bigger storylines than the quarterbacks however as it is assumed the Scott Frost will be departing Orlando for a power five job. His Alma Mater Nebraska certainly is interested but there could be other schools in play as well, including possibly Florida State should that position open up. Memphis head coach Mike Norvell is 18-6 in two seasons at Memphis and also will likely have the opportunity to interview for a few openings as well. He played at Central Arkansas as the opening in Fayetteville seems like a possibility but he also was an assistant at Arizona State before taking over at Memphis.


2017 Meeting: Originally scheduled for the second week of the season this game was shuffled along with several other AAC games following Hurricane Irma, played in late September when UCF has originally scheduled FCS Maine and Memphis had originally scheduled a game at Georgia State. UCF had only played two games but they had outscored Florida International and Maryland 99-27 with the win at Maryland turning some heads as the Terrapins were 2-0 with a win over Texas. UCF has clear edges statistically and led 23-7 before eventually leading 40-7 with the Tigers adding a late touchdown. UCF had a 603-396 yardage edge with a 4-1 turnover edge. The rushing edge was most prominent with a 350-75 advantage for the Knights.


Series History: Central Florida has won S/U 10 meetings in a row in this series going back to 2005 with the last win for Memphis coming in 1990 when UCF was not playing at the top college football level. Memphis has covered in three of the last five meetings going back to 2010 with this September’s 40-13 win for the Knights the first meeting since 2013. The highest scoring meeting between these teams didn’t quite reach this year’s total with a 56-20 result in favor of UCF in 2007.


MAC CHAMPIONSHIP


Matchup: Akron Zips at Toledo Rockets
Venue: At Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan
Time/TV: Saturday, December 2, 12:00 PM ET, ESPN
Line: Toledo -21½, Over/Under 57½
Last Meeting: October 21, 2017 at Toledo (-15) 48-21


Toledo has been one of the better teams in the MAC for much of the last decade but the Rockets haven’t been to the MAC Championship since winning the 2004 title. The Rockets are 10-2 with only one MAC loss and a loss to highly rated Miami, FL in the non-conference schedule. Senior quarterback Logan Woodside has 24 touchdown passes with just three interceptions to finish fourth nationally in quarterback rating.


Playing as the biggest favorite of championship weekend, run defense might be the biggest weakness for Toledo, allowing 170.8 rushing yards per game on 4.7 yards per carry. Akron isn’t a great threat to exploit that weakness as the Zips were out-rushed in all 11 FBS games this season but the Zips have some momentum with a late season upset of Ohio to move up in the MAC East standings, clinching this spot with a win over rival Kent State last week.


Terry Bowden is in his sixth season at Akron with now five straight seasons of finishing at least 5-7 after the program went 1-11 in three consecutive seasons including Bowden’s first with the program in 2012. Akron was 5-3 last season before losing the final four games to miss a bowl bid as this has been a redemptive campaign. Akron senior quarterback Thomas Woodson hasn’t played the past three games after being suspended for a violation of team rules. Freshman Kato Nelson has played well since taking over and while Bowden has said that Woodson is available he hasn’t made it clear what the plan will be as they look for an upset.


2017 Meeting: Toledo led 21-0 after the first quarter and coasted to a 48-21 win with a 626-333 yardage edge. The Rockets only lined up for 3rd down nine times and converted six times to move the ball with ease throughout the game. Toledo had 11 penalties for 104 yards compared to none for Akron as that could be an area of emphasis for second year head coach Jason Candle who is now 19-6 in two seasons and could get some calls from athletic directors around the country in the coming weeks.


Series History: Toledo has won nine of 12 meetings S/U since 1992 though going just 2-3 ATS since 2008. This season and last season the result was nearly identical with a 48-17 win at Akron last season and a 48-21 home victory for the Rockets in October. Akron’s last win in the series came in 2013 at home wining 31-29 (+11) and this is set to be the highest spread ever in the series.


MOUNTAIN WEST CONFERNCE CHAMPIONSHIP


Matchup: Fresno State Bulldogs at Boise State Broncos
Venue: At Albertson’s Stadium in Boise, Idaho
Time/TV: Saturday, December 2, 7:45 PM ET, ESPN
Line: Boise State -9, Over/Under 49
Last Meeting: November 25, 2017 at Fresno State (+6½) 28-17


Boise State won eight WAC titles from 2002 to 2010 but the program has won the Mountain West championship just twice and just once since the championship game format started. That title came by virtue of beating Fresno State in 2014 in Boise 28-14, though falling well short of an over three-touchdown spread. The Broncos have won 10 or more games in 14 of the last 18 seasons and they will hit that mark with a win this weekend (or with a bowl win).


The Broncos have several notable upsets vs. power five schools in recent years but they missed in both opportunities in September. This year’s team drew one of the tougher schedules in the conference having to play San Diego State and Colorado State on the road with those teams generally considered the preseason division favorites. Quarterback Brett Rypien didn’t match the numbers he posted last season and wound up splitting a lot of time with Montell Cozart as the Broncos had some inconsistency on offense but were one of the top defensive teams in the conference.


Jeff Tedford had success in 11 seasons at California before he was let go after the 2012 season. He coached in the NFL in 2014 and the CFL in 2015 before returning to college football as an assistant at Washington last season. This season has led one of the great turnarounds in college football with the Bulldogs going from 1-11 to 9-3 and playing for a conference championship at his Alma Mater. Always known as a quarterback developer he has turned Oregon State transfer Marcus McMaryion to one of the top players in the conference. The Fresno State defense is also 12th nationally in scoring defense allowing just 17.3 points per game for a dramatic improvement from last season.


2017 Meeting: These teams played last week in Fresno knowing that they would play again in this championship game this week. Fresno State prevailed 28-17 to pull away after Boise State closed to within two points in the fourth quarter. There were no turnovers and the yardage was nearly even with third down success the biggest difference in the box score.


Series History: Boise State is 13-4 S/U in this series since 1996 with a 12-4 ATS record however Fresno State has covered in the past three meetings. Prior to last week’s 28-17 win for Fresno State at home these teams last met in the MWC Championship in 2014 with Boise State winning 28-14 but falling short of a -23 spread at home. None of the S/U wins for Fresno State in this series have come in Boise.