Cnotes College Football Championship Week Rated Plays, Trends, News Etc. !!

[CNOTES]

NCAAF
Short Sheet

Week 14

Sat - Dec, 5

Texas at Baylor, 12:00 ET
Texas: 1-8 ATS after a game with a turnover margin of +2 or better
Baylor: 10-0 ATS as a home favorite of 14.5 to 21

Georgia State at Georgia Southern, 2:00 ET
Georgia St: 6-0 UNDER after gaining 300 or more passing yds in 3 games
Georgia S: 12-4 ATS as a favorite

Texas State at Arkansas State, 3:00 ET
Texas St: 0-6 ATS after having lost 2 out of their last 3
Arkanas St: 12-3 ATS after 4 or more consecutive straight up wins

New Mexico State at UL Monroe, 3:00 ET
New Mexico St: 3-10 ATS after a game where they forced 1 or less turnovers
Ul Monroe: 4-3 ATS off an extremely close road loss by 3 points or less

West Virginia at Kansas State, 4:30 ET
W Virginia: 13-26 ATS after covering the spread in 3 out of their last 4
Kansas St: 82-56 ATS in home lined games

Appalachian State at South Alabama, 7:30 ET
Appalachain St: 4-1 ATS in road lined games
S Alabama: 3-11 ATS after playing a conference game

Troy at UL Lafayette, 5:00 ET
Troy: 35-20 OVER after playing 2 straight conference games
UL Lafayette: 1-10 ATS at home after a game with a t/o margin of +2 or better

Southern Miss at W Kentucky, 12:00 ET
S Miss: 8-0 ATS off 1 or more straight overs
W Kentucky: 12-4 OVER against conference opponents

Temple at Houston, 12:00 ET
Temple: 12-2 UNDER after allowing 9 points or less last game
Houston: 11-2 ATS after gaining 6.75 or more yards/play in their previous game

USC at Stanford, 7:45 ET
USC: 2-9 ATS off a win against a conference rival
Stanford: 15-5 ATS off 2 consecutive home wins

Florida at Alabama, 4:00 ET
Florida: 6-0 UNDER after having won 4 out of their last 5
Alabama: 36-17 ATS after 6 or more consecutive straight up wins

Air Force at San Diego State, 7:30 ET
Air Force: 13-30 ATS off a road loss against a conference rival
San Diego St: 6-0 ATS off a win by 10 points or more over a conference rival

North Carolina at Clemson, 8:00 ET
N Carolina: 38-22 ATS on road after a game where they forced 1 or less turnovers
Clemson: CLEMSON is 7-20 ATS after 5 or more consecutive straight up wins

Michigan State at Iowa, 8:15 ET
Michigan St: 9-2 ATS after playing 3 straight conference games
Iowa: 9-2 OVER off a win against a conference rival

 

[CNOTES]

NCAAF
Armadillo's Write-Up


Week 14


Friday's game


Bowling Green-Northern Illinois are in MAC title game for third year in row; teams split last two years. Huskies won 51-17 LY, lost 47-27 year before; NIU was favered in both of those games. Bowling Green is 8-1 in its last nine games overall, covering seven of last eight- they scored 49.7 ppg in last seven games. NIU won six of last seven games; they're 3-0 as an underdog. Favorites are 31-19 vs spread in MAC games rhis year.




Saturday's games


Baylor lost two of last three games, losing 28-21 in OT in quagmire LW with #3 QB Johnson playing. Bears won four of their last five games vs Texas, with last three wins by 20+ points; favorites covered four of last six series games. Longhorns lost last two visits here 30-10/40-24; faves are 7-1 vs spread in last eight visits to Waco. Texas lost three of its last four games; they were outscored 150-30 in four true road games in '15


Georgia Southern (-17) won 69-31 at Georgia State LY, running ball for 613 yards on 63 tries- TY was 660-455. Eagles are 8-3 with all eight of its wins by 20+ points- they're 5-1 as favorites this year, covering last four games overall. State won last three games, is bowl eligible if they pull upset here- they're 6-1-1 as an underdog this year. Home underdogs are 5-9 against spread in Sun Belt this season.


Arkansas State won its last seven games, scoring 47.7 ppg; they are 4-2 as favorites this year. Home side won both Texas State-Arkansas State games; Bobcats lost 38-21 (+7) in last visit here. Texas State is 0-5 as an underdog; they covered once in last five games. Last seven ASU games went over total; five of last six TSU games stayed under. Home favorites are 11-11 against the spread in Sun Belt this season.


UL-Monroe (-6.5) won 30-17 at New Mexico State LY, but Warhawks have already fired their coach this year- they're 0-11 vs I-A teams, losing 28-26 in Hawai'i LW. New Mexico State won three of last four games, rallying behind RB Rose (1,593 YR, 7.5 ypc this year)- they ran ball for 226 ypg the last five games. Four of last five ULM games went over the total; over is 8-2-1 in Aggie games this season.


Kansas State won last three games with West Virginia; they were dog in two of the three; Mountaineers (+13) lost 35-12 in last visit here, in '13. West Virginia won last four games, scoring 37 ppg; they won last couple games by combined score of 79-6. K-State won last two games, becomes bowl eligible with win here; they scored 42.3 ppg in last three games. Big X home underdogs are 7-9 against the spread this year.


South Alabama (-13) won 47-21 at Appalachian State LY, running ball for 243 yards. ASU won eight of last nine games, with seven of the eight wins by 18+ points- they won last four road games by average score of 48-9. Jaguars lost four of last six games, gaining total of only 420 yards, but they did win last two home games, scoring 42 ppg. USA is 2-6 as an underdog but they did win at San Diego State, best team in Mt West.


Underdogs covered four of last five Troy-ULLafayette games; ULL won last four series games, winning 41-36/31-17 in last two played here. ULL lost last three games overall, allowing 32.3 ppg; they're 1-3-1 vs spread this year in games with single digit spreads. Troy lost last two games, allowing 76 points; they're 3-2 as underdogs, but got 20+ points in four of the five games. Three of last four ULL games stayed under total.


Southern Mississippi won its last six games, scoring 48.2 ppg to get here with 9-3 record after being 4-32 SU the last three years. USM won this game over Houston in 2011, then coach Fedora bolted to UNC. Western Kentucky's only losses are Indiana/LSU; they scored 50.5 ppg and won last four games- they're 6-3 as favorites this year. USM is 9-2 vs spread this year, 4-1 as an underdog. Nine of last 11 WKU games went over.


Houston beat Temple 22-13/31-10 last two years; teams didn't play this year. Cougars are 11-1, losing at UConn two weeks ago; they were held to 17 points in loss, only time they scored less than 33. Temple is 5-0 as an underdog this year, winning four, losing 24-20 to Notre Dame. CUSA favorites are 29-21 vs spread this year. Four of last five Houston games, four of last six Temple games stayed under the total.


Stanford won five of its last seven games with USC; they beat Trojans 41-31 (+9.5) in LA Sept 19, game they led 27-24 at half (TY 474-427). USC has different coach now; both teams have senior QBs. Cardinal has had tough run, playing Oregon/rival Cal/ND last three weeks; they're 7-4 as favorite this year. USC won five of last six games after 3-3 start; they are 0-2 as an underdog this year. Under is 3-1-1 in last five USC games, 4-2 in last six Stanford games.


Alabama's DC is new Georgia coach, but stay thru end of year; Florida's coach is old Alabama OC, not lot of secrets here. Crimson Tide won SEC title game in '12/'14; they won last three games with Florida by average score of 37-12. Bama won last nine games, covered last four, winning by average score of 37-11. Gators lost 27-2 to Florida State LW; they held four of last five foes to 14 or less points, are 1-1-1 as an underdog in '15.


San Diego State won its last five games with Air Force (5-0 vs spread); Aztecs lost at home to South Alabama Sept 19; they're won eight games in row since 1-3 start, with all eight wins by 14+ points. San Diego State is 5-0 vs spread in games with single digit spread. Falcons are 3-1 as underdogs; they won five of last six games after 3-3 start; they got upset 47-35 at New Mexico week- this is their third week in row on road.


North Carolina won 11 games in row since 17-13 loss to South Carolina in Charlotte Labor Day weekend; they scored 50 ppg in last four games. UNC is 1-1 as underdog this year; they lost 59-38/50-35 last two games with Clemson, giving up 436 PY to Tigers LY. Clemson is 12-0 but 0-4 vs spread last four games, with one of four wins by more than 10 points. Tigers are 2-2 this season as single digit favorite. ACC faves are 22-32 vs spread this season.


Michigan State-Iowa split last four meetings; Hawkeyes haven't won a bowl since 2010- they're dog despite being 12-0. Iowa is 7-13 in its last 20 games as an underdog (1-0 this year). Spartans' only loss was 39-38 on last play at Nebraska; they beat Michigan/Ohio State, both on last play. MSU covered five of last six games; they're 1-2 as single digit fave this season. Four of last six Spartan games, five of last seven Iowa games went over total.

 

[CNOTES]

Total Notes - Week 14
December 4, 2015




First off, I'd like to say thanks to all of those who have followed this article for the last few seasons. It represents a lot of hard work from the VI Editorial staff and myself in an effort to find winners for you, the reader.


It's been a successful season for my college football paid selections, especially the totals, as we finished the regular season at 60% for +7.5 units of profit. It's also been a successful season for the selections offered within this article and, hopefully, I've been able to provide some insight into why, when, and in what direction some of the totals move.


With a limited number of games for this week, the selections are more difficult so we've refined them a bit.


1) Correct sharp movement: Air Force/San Diego State UNDER


Not really surprising to see this number move down as it's one that both sharps and squares can align on, albeit, for different reasons. The average bettor can casually look and see two ground oriented teams and take the approach of playing UNDER when two teams like that meet up, with the reasoning being that lots of rushes lead to a ticking clock and a shorter game.


Sharp bettors can like this game UNDER because they know of San Diego State head coach Rocky Long's storied history of stopping the option. His unique 3-3-5 defenses are optimally built to stop the option and Long has a long history of preparing well for option based teams. Also, an injury at the quarterback position (Maxwell Smith) for the Aztecs will likely lead to even heavier doses of running back Donnel Pumphrey going against an Air Force defense that has been solid against the run all year, yielding just 139 YPG.


The Aztecs own one of the nation's best run defenses and have dominated in conference play, there is little reason to believe that a defense giving up only 95 YPG rushing and coached by Long will be ill prepped to face the Falcons. Sharps and squares are both right here, just for different reasons.

2) Incorrect sharp movement: USC/Stanford UNDER


Sharps have moved this game down for the opener of 61 to as low as 58 at some places. I disagree with this movement and would be very interested in going against the move and playing OVER if the number reaches 57. I made the number for the game 63 and my yardage projections call for a higher scoring game as well.


I've mentioned this in previous write-ups but this is not a vintage Stanford defensive unit. While their numbers don't look bad, they allow just 23.2 points per game, those numbers are deceiving. The Cardinal have benefitted from playing several extremely weak offensive teams (Northwestern, UCF, Oregon State) and have allowed an average of 29.6 PPG to the decent offensive teams they've faced.


USC's defense has disappointed for most of the season and allowed greater than 400 yards a game, surrendering 474 yards and 41 points in their earlier meeting this year with Stanford. USC saw just three of their 12 games stay under 56 combined points and they allowed 30.9 PPG to the quality offenses they faced this year.


I think the Stanford offense will have a lot of success in the game, the Cardinal will exceed 35 points, and this game will go OVER the total.


3) Public movement: Southern Mississippi/Western Kentucky OVER


Little reason to dissuade the public, or anyone else for that matter, in betting Western Kentucky games OVER the openers and I think that this is moving in the correct direction. This is a publicly backed play but the opener (71) was obviously a mistake and I think this game will settle at around 76-77. In addition to the well know aspects of the WKU offense and outstanding QB Brandon Doughty (42 TD's, 6 INT's) the public has seen Southern Miss score 65, 56 and 58 points in it's last three contests.


It was easy to predict the public backing this game OVER but some of the initial money was from sharps hammering a soft opener. This number will continue to rise but I don't want any part of fading the move unless the total reaches a ridiculous number like 81.


4) Market manipulation: NO PLAY


Aloha!

 

[CNOTES]

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4


GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS


BGSU at NIU 08:00 PM


BGSU -13.5 TRIPLE PLAY


U 69.0 DOUBLE PLAY

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: (9-3) at (8-3)
Date: December 05, 2015 12:00 PM EDT

(STATS) - Never before has a game between rivals Richmond and William & Mary meant so much.


For the 13th-ranked Tribe, Saturday's rematch with the No. 12 Spiders in the second round of the FCS playoffs carries extra incentive.


The 126th meeting of the "Oldest Rivalry in the South" will be the first in a postseason setting and takes place two weeks after Richmond dealt William & Mary a 20-9 loss at Robins Stadium. That helped the Spiders secure a first-round bye as the No. 7 seed for the FCS playoffs, and the Tribe had to play in last week's opening round.


While Richmond (8-3) has reaped the benefits of additional rest and playing at home from that result, it may have furthered a psychological edge as well. The Spiders have won all four matchups with the Tribe during coach Danny Rocco's tenure, the last three by at least 11 points.


Then again, William & Mary (9-3) won't be lacking for motivation after receiving another chance to accomplish a feat no current player on the roster has achieved.


"I'm not going to lie to you," defensive end Peyton Gryder said. "That was probably the best outcome, the best draw we could have gotten from the bracket."


The Tribe had to work hard for that revenge opportunity, outlasting Northeast Conference champion Duquesne in a 52-49 thriller last Saturday. William & Mary trailed 14-0 early and was clinging to a seven-point lead in the third quarter when defensive tackle Tyler Claytor delivered the game's biggest play, blocking a field goal attempt that CAA Football co-defensive player of the year DeAndre Houston-Carson returned 65 yards for a touchdown.


"We didn't panic, we didn't throw things out the window, we just kept playing," coach Jimmye Laycock said. "Things weren't hitting on defense and things weren't hitting on offense. You've got to be able to adjust to the way the game is flowing and the way things are happening and I thought our players did a good job with that."


An opponent William & Mary had never previously faced proved to be quite the challenge, though Laycock doesn't necessarily view his team's familiarity with the Spiders as an advantage.


"You're really at a quandary to know what to prepare for," he said. "OK, are they going to do the same thing they did the last time, especially if they were successful? Are they going to continue that? Or, are they going to throw a wrinkle at you? That's where to me it's kind of an interesting scenario in rematches like that."


Laycock can likely expect his defense to receive another heavy dose of Jacobi Green. The All-CAA selection has piled up 928 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns over the past five games while averaging 29.4 carries with backfield mate Seth Fisher sidelined by an ankle injury. Green ran for 217 yards, the most by a Tribe opponent since 2007, and a touchdown on 36 attempts in the Nov. 21 clash.


"I think the rest did him (good)," Rocco said. "He's the one who looks freshest to me. Hopefully he'll be able to give us that big performance, being able to be the workhorse and being able to be the guy who makes the key runs and the guy that gets the key first downs."


Wide receiver Brian Brown also has been on a late-season tear, producing four 100-yard efforts with four TDs in Richmond's last five games. The junior had 101 and a touchdown on seven catches against William & Mary.


Brown presents problems for a Tribe defense that surrendered 423 yards and six touchdowns to Duquesne quarterback Dillon Buechel last week. Buechel's top target, Chris King, amassed 221 yards on 12 receptions.


Reducing turnovers also will be imperative to William & Mary's chances. The Tribe have committed 11 during their four-game skid to Richmond and have seven over the past two games. Steve Cluley was picked off twice last week after throwing a career-high three interceptions - two in the red zone - against the Spiders.


"We haven't been doing as good a job of protecting the ball as we're accustomed to," running back Kendell Anderson said. "We have to key on protecting the ball because in big games like this, we can't afford to turn the ball over."


Cluley will need to be aware of safety David Jones, tied for third in the FCS with eight interceptions and the headliner of a Spiders defense that's recorded 17 picks.


For Richmond, the focus should again be on neutralizing the standout backfield tandem of Anderson (1,373 yards, 15 TDs) and Mikal Abdul-Saboor (745 yards, 8 TDs). The Spiders held the duo to 91 yards on 24 rushes in the recent win.


The Tribe are 0-3 when rushing for 145 yards or less.


Both programs are seeking their first FCS quarterfinals appearance since 2009. The Spiders were handed a 36-15 loss by Coastal Carolina in last year's second round.


Saturday's winner will face either No. 2 seed Illinois State or Western Illinois in the quarters.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Golden Eagles (9-3) at Hilltoppers (10-2)
Date: December 05, 2015 12:00 PM EDT

The scoreboard and stat sheets could get a workout when Western Kentucky hosts Southern Mississippi for Saturday's Conference USA's championship showdown between the league's most explosive offenses.


The Hilltoppers (10-2, 8-0 C-USA) lead the league in scoring at 44.2 points per contest, just ahead of the Golden Eagles' 41.7 average. Southern Miss (9-3, 7-1) has the edge in yardage at nearly 535 per game, nearly 15 more than WKU (520.1).


That's only the beginning for these mirror-image schools.


The game also is a matchup if strong-armed quarterbacks in WKU senior Brandon Doughty and USM counterpart Nick Mullens, who have combined for 8,148 yards and 77 touchdowns.


Add in two of C-USA's top defenses and it's no wonder Hilltoppers coach Jeff Brohm downplays having home-field advantage - even though his team is 5-0 at Houchens-Smith Stadium this season. Host teams are 7-3 in the championship game.


'I feel we're very evenly matched,' said Brohm, whose team ran the table in the East division to earn its first title-game appearance in just its second year as a league member.


Of the Golden Eagles, the coach added, 'they've been playing outstanding on defense. They've blown out a lot of teams, so they know how to win.'


Indeed, routs were common for USM during its six-game winning streak that clinched the West division title. The Golden Eagles have outscored opponents by an average margin of 48-16 during the run that keyed a six-game turnaround in league play from last season, one short of the C-USA record.


A league-leading defense allowing 351 yards per game has helped along with a focus to stay the course after a 3-3 start. But USM faces a WKU team with similar strengths, and coach Todd Monken knows something must give.


'We're going to have to play our best this week,' said Monken, whose team is playing for its sixth league title and first since 2011. 'The stats bear that out, it's not just coach talk. ... We will expect their best and they can expect ours.'


---


Some other things to watch in Saturday's C-USA championship:


GOLDEN ARMS: WKU sixth-year senior Doughty has thrown for 9,014 yards and 91 touchdowns the past two seasons, including 4,184 and 42 TDs this year. He's just the third QB in FBS to throw for 4,000 yards and 40 TDs in consecutive seasons. USM counters with Mullens, who has 3,964 yards passing and 35 touchdowns. He surpassed Brett Favre for No. 2 on the school's list for career yards with 8,210.


1,000-YARD CLUB: USM has one 1,000-yard running back in Jalen Richard (1,065, 13 TDs) and one on the brink in Ito Smith, who needs 17 yards to reach the milestone. WKU's Anthony Wales is close as well, needing just 67 yards rushing for the achievement. The junior has gained at least 100 yards in six straight C-USA games and leads with 879 yards rushing in league play.


GIVE NO GROUND: Southern Miss and WKU rank closely in several C-USA defensive categories including 2-3 respectively in scoring (22.4-25.0) and rushing defense (143.2-156.4). There's more separation when it comes to pass defense, with the Golden Eagles ranking second at nearly 208 yards allowed per game, nearly 31 yards better than the seventh-ranked Hilltoppers. But WKU was by far C-USA's most opportunistic unit with a plus-13 turnover margin, 12 better than the Golden Eagles.


PASS PROTECTION: WKU ranks second in sacks allowed with just 14 but faces a big challenge against a Southern Miss defense that stands second to Florida Atlantic with 31 sacks. Dylan Bradley leads the Golden Eagles with 6.5.

GOOD NAMES, GOOD GAMES: WKU's roster features several players whose play has lived up to their memorable and colorful names, such as: senior CB Wonderful Terry, who has returned three of his four career interceptions for TDs; roommate and DT Ge'Monee Brown, who recovered a fumble last week against Marshall; and senior CB Prince Charles Iworah, whose three picks lead the `Toppers.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Longhorns (4-7) at Bears (9-2)
Date: December 05, 2015 12:00 PM EDT

(AP) - Baylor's bid for a third consecutive Big 12 title is over. The No. 12 Bears are still in line for a pretty sweet reward if they get to 10 wins again.


Already assured of a bowl game for the sixth consecutive season, the Bears could play on New Year's Day for the third year in a row.


With No. 3 Oklahoma winning the Big 12 title and likely headed into the four-team College Football Playoff, the league's second-place team would go to New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl against an SEC team. That could be the Bears (9-2, 6-2) if they win their regular-season finale Saturday at home against Texas.


'That's something to give you motivation,' receiver Corey Coleman said Monday.


'Our season is still alive. We have a ton to play for,' standout senior left tackle Spencer Drango said. 'A Sugar Bowl berth would be awesome. A New Year's Six game, it's still a huge game.'


The Bears play at home for the first time since their Nov. 14 loss against Oklahoma. They then won at then-undefeated Oklahoma State before their rain-drenched 28-21 double-overtime loss at No. 11 TCU on Friday.


Even if Baylor had beaten the Horned Frogs, the Sooners - the only team to win three consecutive Big 12 titles - would have still clinched their ninth Big 12 championship with their overwhelming victory at Oklahoma State on Saturday.


'The only thing we lost with that game was bragging rights,' Drango said.


Baylor's only Sugar Bowl appearance came at the end of the 1956 season, a 13-7 win over Tennessee. The Bears played in their first Cotton Bowl since Jan. 1, 1981 in January, losing 42-41 to Michigan State.


When coach Art Briles was asked Monday about potentially playing in the Sugar Bowl, he responded, 'Well, I'd be running as fast as I could to get that berth, because it's worth chasing.'


The coach quickly added that the focus has to be on taking care of business against the Longhorns (4-7, 3-5), but also noted what a great accomplishment it would be to win 10 games again with another high finish in the Big 12.


'If you're not going to finish first, then finish second. I think that would show a lot of consistency over the years,' he said during his weekly availability on the Waco campus.


Briles has talked with team leaders since the loss at TCU and described them as being obviously frustrated and disappointed. He wanted to make sure they were focused on what is ahead of them, not what happened in the rain.


'If you're alive, you can have hope, you can have goals, and you can have purpose. That's where we are,' Briles said. 'We have a bunch of that in front of us. We can have a tremendously fulfilling season by taking care of the business at hand. ... Let's handle what we can handle - what's in front of us. We can't change what's behind us.'


Texas is essentially left playing for pride, though with an upset it could be one of the 5-7 teams that sneaks into a bowl game because there are too few teams at 6-6 or better to qualify.


'Let's go beat Baylor,' senior fullback Alex de la Torre said Monday. 'It would be nice.'


It would also be quite an upset, considering Texas is 0-4 in true road games this season, with each loss by 18 or more points. The Longhorns have also lost four of the last five to the Bears, falling 28-7 last October.


Second-year coach Charlie Strong now has to motivate a Texas team that will be without at least four injured starters, and at least two more who will be evaluated this week and could miss the game.


Among the injured is starting quarterback Jerrod Heard, who suffered a concussion in last week's 48-45 loss to Texas Tech.


He'll be replaced by Tyrone Swoopes, who started most of 2014 and the first game of this season but was replaced by Heard after a blowout loss at Notre Dame in the opener. The junior has 386 passing yards and three touchdowns.


'I think our guys will go out and compete,' Strong said. 'They don't want to get embarrassed.'


That's happened enough already. In road games, Texas has been outscored 150-30. Each time the Longhorns returned home, the players faced the same questions about why they have been so bad away from Austin.


'I still don't have an answer for you,' junior safety Dylan Haines said. 'We've got to change something.'


Texas thought it had found the answers when the Longhorns upset Oklahoma 24-17 in Dallas. That game came just a week after Texas was beaten by TCU 50-7 and seemed to calm the questions about Strong's future with the Longhorns.


Texas is 2-3 since that game. The Sooners, meanwhile, have stormed their way to the Big 12 title and positioned themselves for a possible playoff spot.


Everyone expected Texas to 'take off' after that game, Strong said.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Owls (10-2) at Cougars (11-1)
Date: December 05, 2015 12:00 PM EDT

In three seasons under coach Matt Rhule, Temple has gone from the American Athletic Conference cellar to playing for its first championship in 48 years.


That's put Rhule in the spotlight.


With Rhule reportedly breaking off talks for another job, the No. 20 Owls visit 17th-ranked Houston in the first AAC title game Saturday.


After going 8-16 over its first two seasons under Rhule, Temple (10-2, 7-1) tied the program record for wins set in 1979 when it was 10-2.


The Owls only other league title was a Middle Atlantic Conference championship in 1967. They're in position to add another after beating Connecticut 27-3 last Saturday.


"We kept buying in, buying in," senior linebacker Tyler Matakevich said. "We didn't want to lose anymore. We just said, 'No more. Enough is enough.' That's what's happening right now. This team is something special.


"It's such an amazing feeling. Give credit to all the seniors who stuck it out."


Rhule is also getting credit and was linked to the opening at Missouri. However, recent reports say the sides are no longer talking.


"Our team is way too strong to be distracted by anything with me," said Rhule, who signed a four-year extension over the summer. "This is a unique, wonderful week in Temple football history. Don't waste it thinking about me. This is awesome. This is championship week. I'm right here, man."


The Owls will spend most of their time thinking about Houston (11-1, 7-1) and dynamic quarterback Greg Ward Jr.


Ward has completed 69.3 percent of his passes for 2,502 yards with 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. He's also a major threat on the ground, gaining 5.5 yards per carry while his 893 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns rank second in the nation among QBs.


"You have to contain him," Rhule said. "You have to keep him in the pocket, but you also have to rush him or else he'll sit there and pick you apart."


Temple experienced that in a 31-10 loss at Houston last year. Ward was held to 44 yards on 13 carries and was sacked three times, but he hit 29 of 33 passes for 268 yards and two touchdowns.


He did practically everything in a 52-31 win over then-No. 16 Navy on Nov. 27. Ward connected on 26 of 35 passes for a season-high 308 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another score and 83 yards on 14 carries.


The performance came after an injured ankle limited him to 15 passes over the previous two weeks.


"We are all going for one goal," Ward said. "We told each other that we are going to give each other all that we have, and that we are going to play for our brothers."


Ward, though, will have to solve a Temple defense that's allowed 370 total yards over the last two games after surrendering 556 - 326 rushing - in a 44-23 loss to South Florida on Nov. 14.


Demarcus Ayers is Ward's go-to target, ranking second in the conference with 89 catches for 1,140 yards and six touchdowns. He's hauled in 28 passes for 371 yards with one TD over the last three games.


"He was a quarterback in high school and transitioned to wide receiver and has really worked the entire offseason on honing his craft," first-year coach Tom Herman said. "He's becoming a much better blocker. He's becoming a much better open field runner and most importantly a better route runner. Beyond that he's become a better teammate."


Herman also attracted interest from other schools before regents voted Nov. 19 to negotiate an amendment that would more than double his salary to $3 million a year and increase his performance incentives.


The Owls are looking for a better effort from P.J. Walker, who completed 12 of 29 passes for 259 yards with one score and three picks against the Cougars last year.


Temple turned the ball over four times in that meeting after doing it three times in a 22-13 home loss the previous season.


"Our history against Houston in the last couple years has just been that we've just always turned the ball over quite a great deal," Rhule said. "If we can eliminate that, but that's just our plan to win."


Walker has tossed six INTs compared to 18 touchdowns. He has eight scoring passes and two interceptions over the past four games.


Temple's Jahad Thomas has reached the end zone 18 times - 17 on the ground. The running back's 1,188 yards rank second in the AAC, and he's gained 4.8 per carry.


The winner Saturday should play in a New Year's Six bowl game, probably the Peach Bowl.

 

[CNOTES]

B]Preview: Raiders (8-4) at (9-2)
Date: December 05, 2015 1:00 PM EDT
[/B]
Colgate's victory in the opening round of the FCS playoffs sent a message that the Raiders are playing superior football to what was on display early in the season.


The downside is that there's a big difference between the rematch they won last weekend and the team they're set to visit for a second-round matchup Saturday.


Eighth-ranked James Madison is a far more difficult opponent for Colgate to handle and is well rested after earning the No. 5 seed and a first-round bye in these playoffs.


The Dukes (9-2) lost senior quarterback Vad Lee to a season-ending foot injury during a loss to Richmond in late October, but backup Bryan Schor filled in nicely while the team won two of its last three to claim a share of the Colonial Athletic Association title.


Although it was a big blow to lose Lee, who despite missing the stretch run was named the CAA Offensive Player of the Year, JMU still leads the FCS with 549.7 offensive yards per game and is second with an average of 44.8 points.


The Dukes, however, have certainly cooled a bit with Schor under center, averaging 390.3 yards and 34.3 points over the final three games of the regular season.


Lee was outstanding both through the air (2,190 yards) and on the ground (870) and had 29 total touchdowns, but Schor has led an efficient offense with a 59.8 completion percentage and 134.0 rating in his starts. He's passed for 591 yards with four touchdowns and one interception while gaining 228 on the ground with a pair of scores.


The JMU offense seems built to withstand Lee's absence with a pair of running backs - Cardon Johnson and Khalid Abdullah - who have combined for over 1,900 yards, and a deep receiver corps featuring five players with at least 23 receptions and nearly 350 yards.


Brandon Ravenel (53 catches for 649 yards) leads that group, followed by Rashard Davis (36 for 547) and tight end Deane Cheatham (32 for 448).


That balance poses a steep challenge for Colgate (8-4), which was fourth in the Patriot League with 385.1 yards allowed per game, though it led the league with 34 sacks, while defensive lineman Pat Afriyie was fourth in the nation with five forced fumbles.


"They're a very talented football team," Dukes coach Everett Withers said. "I think they're balanced in everything they do."


When the Raiders came up against a dynamic offense in their season opener, they were crushed 48-10 by Navy in Annapolis. While JMU isn't nearly on the same level as the Midshipmen, it does boast a win over FBS opponent SMU - albeit with Lee taking the snaps.


Things are also looking a bit different of late for Colgate, which overcame an 0-3 start with seven victories in its final eight regular-season games and went 6-0 in league play to win the Patriot title and an automatic bid to the playoffs.


The most telling aspect of the Raiders' impressive turnaround was their first-round win at New Hampshire last weekend. After an ugly 26-8 loss to the Wildcats at home Sept. 12, Colgate erased any lingering memories from that day with a 27-20 victory in Durham.


James Holland ran for 95 yards and a career-best four touchdowns, and the Raiders survived a fourth-quarter rally after taking a 27-6 lead in the third. New Hampshire's Sean Goldrich threw a touchdown pass and ran for another in the final quarter before Tyler Castillo all but sealed the win on an interception of Goldrich with 3:33 remaining.


The playoff win was Colgate's first since a 2003 run to the national title game.


"I have been waiting 12 years to do what we are doing today - Practice in December!" second-year Raiders coach Dan Hunt, an assistant on that '03 team, tweeted on Tuesday.


It's most likely going to be Colgate's offense that can expose the Dukes, who ranked 75th in the FCS with 398.1 yards and 73rd with 27.3 points allowed per game.


Dual-threat quarterback Jake Melville, who has passed for 2,290 yards with eight touchdowns and run for 920 with eight scores, will try to keep the JMU defense honest, while running backs Demetrius Russell (560 yards and 8 TDs), Holland (546 and 13) and John Wilkins (453 and 3) give Colgate plenty of versatility in the ground game.


"They have very talented running backs... three of them," Withers said. "This offense will be a challenge for us. It's a little bit like our offense, so it will give us an opportunity to work against each other (in practice)."


This contest marks the first meeting between the schools.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: (7-5) at (9-2)
Date: December 05, 2015 2:00 PM EDT

Illinois State pulled away from Western Illinois earlier this season and has won five straight in the series, but Redbirds coach Brock Spack insists that means little now.


Perhaps Illinois State's home dominance and playoff experience will be more decisive factors as the No. 2 seed tries to advance to the quarterfinals for the second consecutive year Saturday against their upset-minded Missouri Valley Conference rivals.


The Leathernecks led by a touchdown midway through the third quarter at Hancock Stadium on Oct. 24 before Illinois State (9-2) scored 27 unanswered in a 48-28 win.


Marshaun Coprich ran all over Western (7-5) for 206 yards and two touchdowns, while quarterback Tre Roberson added 89 rushing yards and two more scores. Anthony Warrum finished with four catches for 170 yards and two touchdowns.


"It was interesting when the bracket came out that (the MVC teams are) all going to play each other at some point," said Spack, who has guided ISU to back-to-back MVC titles. "We know (Western) pretty well but I think there will be little differences in this game."


Coming off a first-round bye, Coprich will try to keep putting up eye-popping numbers. He totaled 505 yards on 8.6 per carry and seven scores in the last two games.


Coprich, a FCS Offensive Player of the Year nominee, became only the fourth player to earn MVC Offensive Player of the Year honors in back-to-back seasons after ranking second nationally with 1,710 rushing yards and tying for second with 20 touchdowns.


Roberson leads the nation with 20.6 passing yards per completion, while Warrum rounds out the big three with an FCS-high 24.0 yards per reception and 13 touchdowns.


The Redbirds have won an FCS-best 18 in a row at home and haven't lost to the Leathernecks there since 2007, but Spack cautions that things could be different this time.


"I think the team that lost (the first meeting) has a little bit of the advantage, but you kind of throw all that stuff out the window when you line up and play," he said. "We have to prepare for what they do well and their staple plays as I'm sure they will do with us. We can't worry about what happened last time other than maybe the things that hurt you."


Trenton Norvell and Lance Lenoir both did a little of that for the Leathernecks. Norvell completed 27-of-47 passes for 313 yards and two touchdowns against the Redbirds, but he hasn't played since undergoing an appendectomy in early November.


Norvell might be able to return this weekend, though Sean McGuire has guided Western to three consecutive victories after a 4-5 start. The freshman has thrown for an average of 265.7 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions in the last three.


"He's very good in the quick game and can throw the ball down the field," Spack said. "He can move and he's tough to tackle because he's a strong guy."


Lenoir is likely to be the primary target in the passing game after finishing with season highs 11 catches for 131 yards and a touchdown at Hancock Stadium. He's totaled 30 receptions for 431 yards and five scores in three career games versus Illinois State.


The Leathernecks may want to establish a ground attack behind Nikko Watson. The senior workhorse has rushed 92 times for 483 yards and five touchdowns during the winning streak, though the Redbirds limited him to 53 yards on 18 attempts in October.


Western, making its first playoff appearance since 2010, will have to play as well defensively as it did on the road last Saturday. The Leathernecks forced four turnovers and held Dayton to a season-low 206 total yards in a 24-7 first-round victory. Redshirt freshman Pete Swenson led the effort with four sacks.


This will be the 98th meeting in an all-time series that dates back to 1904.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Mocs (9-3) at (10-1)
Date: December 05, 2015 2:00 PM EDT

Familiarity hasn't bred contempt between Jacksonville State and Chattanooga, but it has produced some very close and exciting games.


The intersectional rivalry gets a second chapter this season when the teams meet in the second round of the FCS playoffs Saturday.


The Gamecocks (10-1) rallied for a 23-20 victory at Chattanooga on Sept. 5, with Miles Jones scoring from 1-yard line for the winning points with 2:41 to play. It was the third straight victory for top-ranked and top-seeded Jacksonville State over the Mocs (9-3) - each by three points - in the last four years, so Gamecocks coach John Grass has good reason to be confident heading into this contest.


"We were on the road in a big game and I think we handled adversity on that drive," said Grass, whose team marched 79 yards after Montrell Pardue raced 55 yards to give the Mocs a 16-13 lead after recovering a fumble by Troymaine Pope. "We showed a lot of poise on offense and we made plays when we needed to make them."


That poise was evident on a pair of late fourth-down conversions in that series. Pope had 175 of Jacksonville State's 298 rushing yards as the Gamecocks extended a trend during their winning streak over the Mocs, having gashed Chattanooga for 804 yards on an average of 5.8 per carry.


"You can scheme all you want defensively, but eventually, you have to block them, which is really hard to do," Mocs coach Russ Huesman said. "We're going to have to block and tackle a lot better than we did the first time."


The bye came at an ideal time for the Ohio Valley Conference champion, with Grass noting his team is "as healthy as we have been all year long." That bodes well for Jacksonville State, which ranks fourth in the FCS in total offense at 503.0 yards per game and eighth with 37.5 points a contest.


Eli Jenkins has been under center for the last two victories over the No. 7 Mocs and has been efficient, throwing for 235 yards and a touchdown while running for 115 and a score. He had a winning 13-yard touchdown run in the Gamecocks' 26-23 overtime victory at Chattanooga in 2014.


"I feel like it will be a great game between two good football teams," Jenkins said. "We are just going to go out there and have a great game in front of a big crowd."


Pope has proved to be a handful in the three wins, topping 100 yards twice and racking up 329 while averaging 9.1 yards per rush.


Jenkins has another threat in wide receiver Josh Barge, who has career highs of 75 receptions and 11 touchdowns to go with 887 yards. The versatile Jenkins was second on the team with 640 rushing yards and accounted for nearly half of Jacksonville State's 54 TDs, running for eight and throwing for 18.


Chattanooga counters with the Southern Conference's three-time offensive player of the year and similar dual threat in Jacob Huesman. He rushed for 129 yards and threw for 211 and three touchdowns as the Mocs rolled past Fordham 50-20 in the first round last Saturday.


Huesman, one of two FCS quarterbacks with at least 1,000 yards both rushing and passing this season, has topped 100 on the ground in his last four games against FCS teams. However, he and Derrick Craine - who added 154 rushing yards against Fordham - were held to a combined 109 by Jacksonville State in September.


"Their defensive line plays well with their hands," said Craine, whose 1,156 rushing yards are nine more than Huesman's. "Their linebackers fly around. When you're out on the field it's one of those games where you better bring your best because they're going to hit you whether you're ready or not."


The Gamecocks, fifth in total defense at 277.1 yards per game and eighth in defensive third-down conversion percentage at 28.0, have bottled up Huesman well the last two years. He's been held to 61 rushing yards and a touchdown and 124 passing yards without a score while getting sacked eight times.


Huesman did have 345 total yards and three touchdowns in Chattanooga's 27-24 loss in 2012 in which Jacksonville State won on a field goal as time expired. The senior has done an excellent job extending drives as the Mocs are third in the FCS converting third downs at a 51.5 percent clip.


The winner will face eighth-seeded Charleston Southern or the Mocs' conference rival, The Citadel, in the quarterfinals Dec. 11 or 12.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Grizzlies (8-4) at Bison (9-2)
Date: December 05, 2015 3:30 PM EDT

The euphoria that swept through Missoula a little over three months ago faded quickly.


Montana's thrilling 38-35 home victory over four-time defending FCS champion North Dakota State on Aug. 29 courtesy of Joey Counts' 1-yard touchdown run with two seconds remaining was followed by a loss the following week to a Cal Poly team that wound up finishing below .500.


Shortly thereafter, Grizzlies starting quarterback Brady Gustafson, who threw for 434 yards and three touchdowns against NDSU, injured his leg in a loss to Liberty and missed the next six games.


So pardon coach Bob Stitt for not putting much stock into the season-opening victory over the third-seeded Bison heading into Saturday's rematch in the second round of the FCS playoffs at the Fargodome. Plenty has changed on both sides.


"It gave us a lot of confidence, but we've been through so many ups and downs throughout the season that the North Dakota State game seems like two years ago," Stitt said. "It was great at the time, but we came back and lost a difficult game the next week. It really means nothing now."


He won't get an argument from Bison coach Chris Klieman. Senior Carson Wentz entered the season considered to be one of the best quarterbacks in the country, and he lived up to that billing by throwing for two touchdowns and rushing for two more against the Grizzlies (8-4).


Klieman, though, was forced to turn to redshirt freshman Easton Stick for the rest of the season after Wentz broke his wrist in a loss to South Dakota on Oct. 17.


Stick has been more than serviceable, throwing for 11 touchdowns and adding four running while winning all five of his starts as NDSU finished 9-2 and claimed a share of the Missouri Valley Conference title.


"We can't get caught up in all the things that happened in August," Klieman said. "December's a different time. If you're playing football in December and you're an FCS program, you're doing some really good things."


Montana comes in having won four in a row, the last three with Gustafson under center. He's thrown for seven touchdowns since returning, including two in a 24-17 first-round win over South Dakota State last week.


"They're a real hot football team right now because he's back," Klieman said. "They're kind of clicking on all cylinders."


Containing defensive end Tyrone Holmes will be quite a challenge for North Dakota State's line. Holmes is one of three finalists for the STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year award next month after having 17 1/2 tackles for loss and leading the FCS in the regular season with 14 sacks. He added three sacks last week against South Dakota State.


The Bison have their own standout in cornerback C.J. Smith, who wasn't on the field in the opener to make life tougher for Gustafson because he was still recovering from a knee injury. Smith is expected to play in this matchup despite sitting out the regular-season finale against Missouri State.


"It's going to be really important for C.J. to play and be effective," Klieman said. "We're hoping he's going to be able to play and that's the plan, but we have four or five practices (before the game) and we have to see how he reacts to running around out there."


Quite possibly the biggest difference in the rematch is the venue. The Grizzlies had a packed house when they hosted the Bison and are expecting the same raucous crowd inside the dome.


North Dakota State has won 28 of its last 29 at home, including a 26-game streak that was the nation's longest before the loss to South Dakota. The Grizzlies went 3-2 on the road this season.


"It's exciting to go out there and play in a great environment," Stitt said. "They've got a great fan base, and it's going to be a lot of fun for our players. We just have to go play hard, and play our brand of football and see how the chips fall."


The winner plays either No. 5 seed Portland State or Northern Iowa in the quarterfinals.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Gators (10-2) at Crimson Tide (11-1)
Date: December 05, 2015 4:00 PM EDT

(AP) - Forget winning. Eighteenth-ranked Florida might be lucky to score against second-ranked and heavily favored Alabama in the SEC championship game - especially if the Crimson Tide continue to control the clock by handing the ball to Derrick Henry.


Alabama (11-1, 7-1) can lock up a spot in the College Football Playoff when it faces the Gators (10-2, 7-1) on Saturday at the Georgia Dome.


The Tide kept giving the ball to Henry - 14 times in a row to put Auburn away - in last week's 29-13 win that clinched the SEC West.


Henry ran a school-record 46 times for 271 yards, the third-highest total in a game for an Alabama back, and produced his fourth 200-yard effort of the season against an SEC defense. He helped put it away with 19 runs in the fourth quarter, then extended his school-record streak of games with a rushing touchdown to 17 in the final minute.


Henry broke Trent Richardson's single-season rushing mark by upping his total to 1,797 yards.


'He's the go-to guy,' coach Nick Saban said. 'He didn't want to come out. He wanted to go.'


There really wasn't any question even before Henry's marathon Iron Bowl performance regarding who was the main man in the offense. He's leading the nation in rushing yards and rushing touchdowns with 22, also a school record.


Henry's essentially become a ball hog by averaging 31 carries over the last seven games against FBS teams.


'What they're doing now is getting the ball in the playmakers' hands and being very efficient in what they're doing,' said Florida coach Jim McElwain, who spent four seasons in Tuscaloosa as Saban's offensive coordinator.


Henry is on pace for 2,000-plus yards even if Alabama doesn't make the national championship game. He needs one more rushing touchdown to match the SEC single-season mark shared by Florida's Tim Tebow and Auburn's Tre Mason.


'In a long line of great running backs that were there, I think it's a testament to coach Saban and what they're committing to doing year in and year out getting that guy behind center like that,' McElwain said. 'He can make a difference in any ballgame. He's definitely a difference maker. We've got our work cut out for trying to jump on his back and slow him down.'


Henry, who grew up a Gators fan in Yulee, Florida, hasn't slowed down in the least. He took his last carry against Auburn 25 yards for a touchdown.


'That gets us on the sideline excited,' linebacker Reggie Ragland said. 'You are on the sideline and Derrick gets going and coach just hands him the ball like that, Oh yeah. Five yards. Six yards. Five yards. 10 yards. That makes guys get excited. We love that about him. That means he's a workhorse and we love when he works.'


The Gators have been downright dismal on offense in recent weeks, averaging a little more than 12 points in regulation against Vanderbilt, South Carolina, Florida Atlantic and Florida State. And the Crimson Tide lead the league in just about every defensive category and have allowed a total of 41 points in their last four games.


Florida's offense failed to score in a 27-2 road loss to the Seminoles last Saturday. The Gators had chances, but missed a field goal, had another one blocked and came up short on two fourth-down plays in the red zone.


The result has Florida as a 17-point underdog, the biggest in the SEC title game since the Gators were favored by 24 against Arkansas in 1995.


McElwain has used every opportunity this week to remind people that hardly anyone expected his team to be in this position. The Gators overachieved for sure. But they underachieved in November, at least offensively.


So nobody should have been surprised by what happened against the Seminoles. Florida managed 262 yards on 79 plays, with just one of those going for more than 20 yards.


'We've just got to get back on our feet,' cornerback Jalen Tabor said. 'Coach Mac said we've got to get back on the horse. So all we're worried about right now is getting back on our feet and getting back on the horse and just going and attacking the next day.'


The offense was competent early in the season and even after starting quarterback Will Grier was suspended for a year for testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.


The offensive line was decent against FSU, and Kelvin Taylor finished with a season-high 136 yards rushing. But quarterback Treon Harris struggled again.


McElwain suggested that defenses have figured out Harris, a 5-foot-11 sophomore who looked mostly lost last month. His indecision and inaccuracy have become as common as his roll outs and runs.


McElwain also shouldered some of the blame.


'You need to look a little bit at me and what I'm asking him to do as well, and trying to push the envelope a little bit,' McElwain said. 'That's how we're going to be offensively as we continue to grow. He's probably handled and done as good a job with his skill set as far as helping some of those things moving forward. Yet, he's learning. He's there, he's engaged. He's our quarterback and I'm glad he's our quarterback.'


Florida's offense could get a boost after leading receiver Demarcus Robinson was reinstated Wednesday. Robinson was suspended for last week's game for 'a choice.' It was his fourth suspension in three years at Florida.


McElwain gushed about Alabama's defense and Saban's ability to take away what every opponent does best.


Saban glossed over Florida's numerous offensive weaknesses and even said Harris reminds him of former Alabama quarterback Blake Sims.


'This is an outstanding team that we're playing,' Saban said. 'They wouldn't be in the SEC championship game if they weren't. I think anybody out there that thinks this is not going to be a real challenge and a real test for our team. I don't know what you're thinking. I don't know what you're thinking. I really don't get it.'


Alabama has won four in a row in the series, outscoring Florida 143-47.


'A lot of people doubting us,' Taylor said. 'We just really can't focus on that. We just have to focus on ourselves and our team and we'll be fine. As long as we believe in each other, that's all that matters.'

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Mountaineers (7-4) at Wildcats (5-6)
Date: December 05, 2015 4:30 PM EDT

MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) Earlier this week, it became apparent that as many as five teams with 5-7 records could earn an invitation to a bowl game, and attention naturally shifted to Kansas State.


The Wildcats (5-6, 2-6 Big 12) are preparing for their regular-season finale against West Virginia on Saturday, and would need to win their third straight game to ensure a bowl destination.


But even if they lose, the NCAA Division I council has approved a recommendation that makes 5-7 teams eligible for bowls provided there are not enough six-win teams to fill them. They'll be allotted according to Academic Progress Rate, and Kansas State is positioned just behind Nebraska.


'None of us are even thinking about that,' Kansas State center Dalton Risner said. 'We're going to beat West Virginia this weekend. We're going to be 6-6 and we're going to earn ourselves a bowl game. If you're thinking about 5-7, then you're on the wrong page.'


West Virginia (7-4, 4-4) is less concerned with its bowl aspirations. Those were set in late November with a 49-0 win over Kansas. But the Mountaineers are still playing for their first eight-win season since 2011, a sign that things are headed back in the right direction.


'Doing things that you haven't done in the last couple of years - that is a sign of improvement,' West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen said. 'It means improvement. It's the name of the game.'


The Mountaineers may be the hottest team in the Big 12 outside of No. 3 Oklahoma, winning four straight after a 40-10 drubbing by then-No. 5 TCU. Yet they are still looking for their first victory over Bill Snyder and Kansas State since joining the conference in 2012.


'They are very well-coached,' Holgorsen said. 'They are a very disciplined football team. The guys play hard. The guys care. It is a family atmosphere. They will be playing as well as they have all year this Saturday. It's their senior day and the last regular-season game.'


As the Mountaineers prepare to meet the Wildcats here are some things to watch:


REPEAT PERFORMANCE


West Virginia quarterback Skyler Howard started on the bench last season when Kansas State visited Morgantown. But after coming on at halftime, he helped the Mountaineers fight back in a close loss, finishing 15 of 23 for 198 yards with a pair of touchdowns.


'I specifically remember this,' Holgorsen aid. 'I looked at him and said, `Are you ready to go?' He said `Let's do this.' I told him to get in there and run the offense, and then he took us down there and scored.'


SPECIAL TEAMS, AGAIN


Kansas State's Morgan Burns was the Big 12 Special Teams player of the week after forcing a fumble on a Kansas punt attempt and then recovering a blocked punt for a touchdown, all in the same quarter last weekend. It was his third consecutive award following back-to-back games with kickoff returns for touchdowns, including a 100-yard scamper against Iowa State.


BALANCED ATTACK


West Virginia has kept opponents guessing this season, averaging 223 yards passing and 242 yards rushing. Running back Wendell Smallwood has seven games of 100 yards or more, and backup Rushel Shell has more yards this season (639) than any Kansas State rusher. Together, the two running backs and Howard have accounted for 36 of West Virginia's 64 offensive touchdowns.


CUSP OF HISTORY


Kansas State is trying to become the sixth Power Five team since 2006 to advance to a bowl after staving off elimination - 2-6 or 3-6 records - in at least three-straight games. 'Where do you guys get this stuff?' Snyder said, when asked about it. 'You have to stay up awful late at night to dig stuff like that up.'


QUOTABLE:


'That's probably 158th on my list of things to worry about.' - Snyder said, when asked if he was in favor of changes so that losing teams couldn't be a part of bowls.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Bearkats (9-3) at (10-0)
Date: December 05, 2015 7:00 PM EDT

(STATS) - Sam Houston State used its depth to survive its playoff opener but didn't have enough to overcome a pair of absences last month against McNeese State.


The No. 6 Bearkats could also be missing players for Saturday night's rematch against the unbeaten and third-ranked Cowboys and their stout defense.


Sam Houston (9-3) was down to its third- and fourth-string running backs last Saturday against Southern Utah after Corey Avery and Jalen Overstreet left in the first half. The Bearkats were also forced to use backup quarterback Jeremiah Briscoe when Southland Conference offensive player of the year Jared Johnson was ineffective while playing through an ankle injury.


Sixth-year senior Ridgeway Frank ran for a career-high 137 yards and two touchdowns in a 42-39 victory, and freshman Remus Bulmer had 111 yards on 16 carries. Briscoe, who saw significant playing time earlier this season, passed for 211 yards and the go-ahead touchdown to Yedidiah Louis with 3:44 remaining.


The Bearkats' uptempo offense ran a program-record 118 plays while gaining 579 yards - 344 on the ground.


"It's a deep team, probably as deep of a team as I've ever had, and we expect guys to be able to go in and play when they have an opportunity," coach K.C. Keeler said.


Keeler said that his injured players' statuses might remain unknown until Saturday. The Bearkats had two players suspended, Overstreet and receiver LaDarius Brown, in the week leading up to their visit to McNeese on Nov. 7.


The Cowboys (10-0) kept Sam Houston to a season-low 66 plays and 380 yards in a 27-10 victory that clinched a playoff berth and their first Southland Conference title since 2009.


The Cowboys also held the Bearkats to three points on offense. Sam Houston, among the FCS leaders with 43.7 points and 547.4 yards per game, scored its touchdown on Darion Flowers' 90-yard interception return in the opening quarter.


McNeese is second nationally with 11.1 points allowed per contest and its 280.8 yards yielded per game is good for ninth. The Cowboys also boast the FCS' top rushing defense (78.6 yards per game) and rank among the leaders in time of possession (34:05).


They used their running game to control the clock for 37:34 against Sam Houston while compiling what was then a season-high 305 yards. McNeese topped that with 406 in a 20-14 win at Lamar in the season finale Nov. 21.


Quarterback Daniel Sams led the way with 164 yards in the first meeting and sprinted for a 64-yard touchdown with 1:40 to go in the second quarter. On the Cowboys' ensuing drive, Sams connected with Kent Shelby on a 6-yard TD just four seconds before the half to put his team ahead for good.


"Obviously we understand the challenge that's ahead of us," McNeese coach Matt Viator said. "(Sam Houston is) an extremely talented football team and it was an extremely competitive game the last time we played. A couple of plays here and there was the difference in the game."


The Cowboys have played once since the last meeting. While that rest should serve his team well, Viator is on guard against the proverbial rust that could set in with such relative inactivity.


"It's good to be rested, but it's not good if you're not executing and you're not sharp and you are not doing the things you need to do," he said.


In their league-best 16th playoff appearance, the fourth-seeded Cowboys are seeking their first postseason win since a run to the 2002 national championship game that ended with a defeat to Western Kentucky. They have lost by a combined 190-47 in their last five playoff games - four at home - and fell 31-10 to Jacksonville State in 2013 as a No. 6 seed.


Sam Houston has been one of the FCS' most successful programs in the postseason of late. The Bearkats are one of three teams to make it into each of the last five playoffs and have reached at least the semifinals in three of those trips, including last season.


"I think it's just a mentality that you're in a one-game season," Keeler said. "We thrive in that atmosphere. We don't shy away from it."


Sam Houston has won three of the last five meetings with McNeese but has lost 13 of the past 15 road games in the series.


The Cowboys are facing a Southland team in the playoffs for the first time, while it's the third consecutive year for Sam Houston State. The Bearkats split two matchups with Southeastern Louisiana and won 21-17 in last season's opening round.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Falcons (8-4) at Aztecs (9-3)
Date: December 05, 2015 7:30 PM EDT

SAN DIEGO (AP) After stumbling to a 1-3 start, including big losses at Cal and Penn State, and a mystifying one to South Alabama, the San Diego State Aztecs found their comfort zone in winning eight straight games in Mountain West Conference play.


Their reward - good and bad - is hosting Air Force in the conference title game Saturday night.


The good, of course, is playing at home on Saturday. The bad is having to face Air Force's option.


'We're really excited about playing it here in San Diego,' said Rocky Long, voted the Mountain West Coach of the Year. 'Because of our record, we thought we deserved it and we're glad it worked out the right way.'


SDSU (9-3, 8-0 MWC, West Division champion), and Air Force (8-4, 6-2, Mountain champ), didn't meet in the regular season. In some seasons, the Aztecs might face two or even three option teams, so they spend time in summer camp working against the option.


This year they faced none, therefore spent zero time practicing against it.


'It's almost impossible to prepare for the option in one week,' Long said. 'It's going to be tough on us getting ready for what they do.'


On the other hand, SDSU has outscored its MWC foes 289-90.


'I think anytime you win by an average of 25 points per game and every game is a double-figure win, it's quite a tribute and I think it accurately reflects how strong San Diego State is,' Air Force coach Troy Calhoun said.


Here are some things to watch for when Air Force faces San Diego State in the Mountain West title tilt:


LONG TIME COMING: Air Force is looking for its first outright conference championship since winning the Western Athletic Conference in 1998.


San Diego State has been waiting a big longer. Its last outright crown was in 1986, also in the WAC. The Aztecs shared the 2012 MWC crown with Boise State and Fresno State.


BOWL PICTURE: The MWC isn't locked into a certain bowl for its champion.


The Aztecs will play in a bowl for the sixth straight season. Most projections have them playing in the Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu on Christmas Eve.


Air Force could be headed for the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth on Dec. 29.


CORNERING THE MARKET: SDSU won four of the five major MWC awards. Besides Long winning Coach of the Year, Junior Donnel Pumphrey was named Offensive Player, cornerback Damontae Kazee was the Defensive Player and Rashaad Penny was the Special Teams Player.


Pumphrey has rushed 268 times for 1,464 yards and 16 touchdowns. He's had eight straight 100-yard games, a MWC record. Kazee has 66 tackles, including 51 solo, a team-best seven interceptions, 4 1/2 tackles for loss, seven pass breakups and two forced fumbles. Penny averages 32.5 yards per kickoff return, with touchdowns of 97 and 100 yards.


NEW QB: With Maxwell Smith going down with a torn ACL in the first quarter of the regular-season finale against Nevada, the Aztecs are forced to turn to redshirt freshman Christian Chapman. Chapman will make his first career start. He enters the game having thrown 24 career passes, completing 12 for 120 yards.


'We've got a lot of confidence in Smith,' said Long, who added that the Aztecs can't just rely on Pumphrey. 'For us to be successful, our quarterback's going to have to throw the ball to keep them honest.'


CLASSIC MATCHUP: Air Force is second in the MWC in scoring at 34.4 points per game. SDSU is first in scoring defense at 16.6 per game. San Diego State averages 31.8 points, third in the league, while Air Force holds teams to 22.9 points, third in the league.


The Falcons average 323.5 yards on the ground, tops in the MWC, and SDSU holds teams to 95 yards rushing, also tops.


Six different Falcons players have had 100-yard games, including three by Jacobi Owens, who's rushed for 857 yards and six touchdowns.


Long said the Falcons run the option six different ways. The key guy to keep an eye on will be quarterback Karson Roberts.


Only about six or seven Aztecs are decently versed in playing against the option, Long added.


'It's unique, it's baffling. You ought to watch practice. They don't know where to go. ... It's very difficult to get ready for in three days. And they run it very, very well.'

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Trojans (8-4) at Cardinal (10-2)
Date: December 05, 2015 7:45 PM EDT

(AP) - Southern California's season was on the verge of derailing. The Trojans lost two of their first three Pac-12 games and coach Steve Sarkisian was fired, leaving the program in disarray.


Instead of seeing their season spiral out of control, the 24th-ranked Trojans rallied around interim coach Clay Helton, earning a spot in the Pac-12 championship game against No. 7 Stanford on Saturday night at Levi's Stadium.


'I think about the seniors and the roller coaster ride they have gone through, for them to be able to call themselves Pac-12 South champions is a victory,' said Helton, who was hired as the Trojans' permanent coach Tuesday after leading a 40-21 win over archrival UCLA.


While USC (8-4, 6-3) won the South Division to earn its first trip to the Pac-12 title game, Stanford is back in familiar territory - and playing for something much bigger.


The Cardinal (10-2, 8-1) got the season off to a shaky start by losing to Northwestern, but worked themselves back into the College Football Playoff picture by dominating the Pac-12 North. Stanford slipped up with a home loss to Oregon on Nov. 14, but still won the North for the third time in four seasons.


The Cardinal followed that up with a 38-36 win over Notre Dame on a last-second field goal last Saturday, thrusting themselves back into the playoff conversation while knocking the Irish out.


'We got the ball, drove down and it was almost like it was meant to be,' said Conrad Ukropina, whose 45-yard field goal on the game's last play was the difference.


Should the Cardinal win, they still will need some help to make the playoff. Oklahoma appears to be in good shape because it doesn't have to play in a conference title game, and the winner of the Big Ten championship between Iowa and Michigan State would figure to be a lock. That leaves No. 1 Clemson and No. 2 Alabama. If the Tigers lose to North Carolina in the ACC title game and the Crimson Tide fall to Florida in the SEC title game, the Cardinal could make a case for being in the playoff after climbing two spots to No. 7 in this week's CFP rankings.


That puts added pressure on Kevin Hogan as his career winds down. He has the most wins of any Stanford starting quarterback with 34, and ranks fourth in yards passing (9,018), second in completion percentage (66 percent), second in rating (153.4) and fourth in TD passes (71).


But with a conference title game followed by a bowl game or playoff berth, Hogan is not ready to reflect on his career.


'There's so much going on in the next week and whatever the chips may fall after that, you can't really pause and think back yet,' he said. 'I love the guys and all our focus is on the next one, as it should be.'


While Hogan was never in the Heisman Trophy conversation, teammate Christian McCaffrey certainly is. The son of former NFL receiver Ed McCaffrey will finish the season as the FBS leader in all-purpose yards - he's 52 ahead of the next closest player - and is bearing down on Barry Sanders' all-time FBS record of 3,250 yards. He also has plenty of eye-catching plays to put on his Heisman highlight reel.


USC has no such stars but is winning with uncomplicated football from a roster loaded with NFL talent. The Trojans have outrushed their opponents in every game, averaging 263 yards on the ground to just 124 for opponents, while committing nine fewer turnovers.


'You realize that this place was founded on a blue-collar toughness, a toughness that I hope to emulate with my time here,' Helton said. 'I apologize for not being glitzy, but I believe that that blue-collar toughness mentality is what wins championships, and it has been proven here over a long period of time, way before me.'


Helton's team averaged 404.0 yards of total offense during its 5-1 finish to the regular season, fourth-worst in the Pac-12 during that span. However, the change coincided with Justin Davis becoming a bigger part of the offense. He's averaged 17.5 carries in that span - he previously was at 7.0 per game - and has been particularly effective over the past two weeks with 271 rushing yards on 41 attempts.


Another key has been the efficiency of Cody Kessler, who has 10 TD passes and one interception over the past six games while completing 68.3 percent of his throws for 1,310 yards.


Kessler finished slightly behind Hogan for No. 2 among the Pac-12's highest-rated passers - Oregon's Vernon Adams Jr. was No. 1. However, the Cardinal are better off when relying on McCaffrey and the ground game as opposed to Hogan's arm. Their two losses came when he topped 30 pass attempts.


Hogan was 18 of 23 for 279 yards and two TDs without an interception in a 41-31 road victory over the Trojans on Sept. 19. McCaffrey rushed for 115 yards and Remound Wright ran for three TDs. Kessler also played well, going 25 of 32 for 272 yards with three TDs and no INTs.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Tar Heels (11-1) at Tigers (12-0)
Date: December 05, 2015 8:00 PM EDT

(AP) - Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables has spent a lot of time watching No. 8 North Carolina score quickly. And he's sharing it with players in film sessions that get quite repetitive.


'It's 'How you like this play? How about this play? How about that score?'' Venables said Tuesday. 'First play of the Duke game, it's all jacked up, in-state rivalry, then they run the flea flicker. Touchdown, 80 yards.'


Venables knows the difficult challenge ahead for No. 1 Clemson (12-0) in slowing down the Tar Heels (11-1) in the ACC championship game Saturday night.


North Carolina is 16th nationally in yards gained at 495.7 a game. More impressive, in Venables' view, is how fast the Tar Heels can strike.


'There's a lot of explosive play-makers' on UNC's offense, Venables said.


But Venables isn't without options; Clemson has a few play-makers on defense, too. Defensive end Shaq Lawson leads the country in tackles for loss. Linebacker B.J. Goodson and Ben Boulware have combined for 234 tackles, 22 of those behind the line of scrimmage.


No one at Clemson was completely sure how long it would take this year's defense to come together. The Tigers lost eight starters off last season's No. 1 ranked unit, including first-round NFL draft picks in end Vic Beasley and linebacker Stephone Anthony.


If that wasn't enough, linebacker Korrin Wiggins hurt his knee in camp and starting defensive tackle D.J. Reader took an extended leave of absence from the team for personal reasons in late August.


Despite all that, Clemson ended the regular season seventh in the FBS, allowing 288 yards a game.


'I thought we had a chance to be solid,' Venables said. 'But probably not to the same level' as 2014.


They'll need to approach it to corral the Tar Heels, who've scored 38 or more points in eight of their 12 games. They scored 66 points against the Blue Devils and had 59 a week later against Miami on the way to the ACC's Coastal Division crown.


Venables called North Carolina the best offense Clemson's faced all season, including Notre Dame and Florida State. If the Tigers don't bring their best effort, the perfect season and trip to the College Football Playoff could easily slip away.


'The margin for error is less because of the opponent,' Venables said.


North Carolina coach Larry Fedora is equally awed by Clemson's defense.


'This is best football team we've have faced,' he said. 'I mean, they're the No. 1 team in the country. And they've been that way for how many weeks? So they're really good.'


That defense, though, has gone through a late-season slide.


In the first seven games, only the Fighting Irish and Georgia Tech scored 20 or more points against the Tigers. Clemson has given up an average of 25 points in its past five contests.


Three-win South Carolina notched its highest point total of the season in a 37-32 loss to the Tigers last week - most of it coming after the Tigers had taken a 28-10 lead.


Lawson said the Tigers have been prepping for their league title game all season and will be ready to go at North Carolina.


The Tar Heels' worst offensive showing was their first game, an inexplicable 17-13 loss to the Gamecocks at the title game site, Bank of America Stadium.


'Ever since then they've been on fire,' Lawson said.


But Clemson's defense has been practicing all season, Lawson said, against its own high-flying attack, which leads the ACC in total yards and can be as quick-strike as the Tar Heels.


'We're used to going against their offense because that's what our offense does against us when we're going to practice every week,' he said. 'So it's not a big challenge for us. We've just got to be ready to play.'


A resurgent North Carolina defense adds to the challenge, though the Tar Heels have had a few hiccups in recent weeks. Some of those, however, can be chalked up to the team being in an unusual position: playing entire second halves against ACC opponents in what amounted to garbage time with the outcome long since decided by the Tar Heels' overwhelming starts.


UNC led 38-10 by halftime of the 66-31 win over the Blue Devils, was up 31-0 at halftime and 45-0 in the third quarter of the 59-21 victory over the Hurricanes and jumped to a 35-7 lead in the first quarter of Saturday's 45-34 win at North Carolina State.


The Tar Heels gave up 17.0 points per game through the first eight.


'I really do think we gave up too many points this past week, gave up too many yards,' linebacker Shakeel Rashad said. 'And we have to go back and fix that. But at the same time, it's not like we're losing confidence over it, because everything that we're messing up is very fixable.'


North Carolina, however, will be without starting safety Sam Smiley for the rest of the season because of a torn left Achilles tendon. The school announced Thursday that Smiley had surgery to repair the injury suffered last weekend. The senior was tied for fifth on the team with 48 tackles.


Clemson has dominated the series of late, winning seven of the last nine and totaling 109 points in the past two meetings. The Tigers beat North Carolina 50-35 at home Sept. 27, 2014.

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: Spartans (11-1) at Hawkeyes (12-0)
Date: December 05, 2015 8:17 PM EDT

(AP) - Iowa took a lot of grief this season for not playing the top teams in the Big Ten East.


The Hawkeyes will get the best one Saturday - likely with a trip to the College Football Playoff on the line.


No. 4 Iowa and No. 5 Michigan State face off in the Big Ten championship game in Indianapolis in the biggest-ever matchup between the programs.


The Hawkeyes (12-0, 8-0) sealed their spot in Indy with a game to spare. The Spartans (11-1, 7-1) clinched the East with a 55-16 rout of Penn State this weekend.


'This was our first goal, to get to this game,' Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said Sunday in a teleconference.


Saturday's winner is all but guaranteed a shot at the four-team playoff, especially after Notre Dame lost to Stanford and dropped out of the running. If Clemson or Alabama lose this weekend, the Big Ten's hold on a playoff spot will only tighten.


'I just can't imagine whoever wins this ball game not being in the playoffs,' Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said. 'But no matter what happens, it won't diminish what both teams have accomplished.'


Iowa finished its regular season unbeaten for the first time since 1922. Though the Hawkeyes didn't play the toughest of schedules, they beat the likes of Pittsburgh, Wisconsin and Northwestern to put Ferentz in position for his fourth conference coach of the year award.


'We've never ever had any doubt in Kirk Ferentz. He's an unbelievable coach. An unbelievable man to play for,' tight end Henry Krieger Coble said. 'We're just doing a little better job carrying out the plan.'


Michigan State wasn't far behind. The Spartans only lost at Nebraska 39-38 thanks in part to a questionable call at the end of the game.


Recent wins at Ohio State and against the Nittany Lions have made Michigan State a slight favorite.


'They're undefeated. They're 12-0,' Spartans quarterback Connor Cook said. 'They've beaten some really good opponents, pretty good teams, this year. I don't know what's going on in their locker room. I don't know what they're talking about. But I'm sure they have similar thoughts that go through their head that we've had.'


Michigan State-Iowa is a blue-collar matchup between programs that still have to fight a bit for recognition and respect.


'We're two programs that like to play physical football,' Iowa offensive lineman Austin Blythe said. 'They're going to play the full 60, and they'll take it into overtime if they have to. Just two really good programs that respect each other and understand what they bring to the table and understand that it's going to be a 60-minute fight.'


The spread offense craze never really caught on in East Lansing and Iowa City. The Spartans do have an outstanding quarterback in Cook, who has thrown for 2,730 yards with 24 touchdowns against four interceptions, but despite his pro potential and Michigan State's fine season, he doesn't appear to have gotten much traction in the Heisman Trophy race.


Iowa is led by quarterback C.J. Beathard, whose clutch play is one of the biggest reasons the Hawkeyes are in a playoff position.


Senior running back Jordan Canzeri is fifth in the Big Ten in rushing with 964 yards and ran for 140 on 17 attempts in last Friday's 28-20 win over Nebraska. Iowa rushed for 203.7 yards per game, third in the conference.


The Spartans are making their third appearance in the Big Ten title game in five years, but they rarely make major news on national signing day. Iowa's 2015 recruiting class was ranked 51st in the nation by Scout.com, right between Syracuse and Rutgers. Maybe this year's run will help the Hawkeyes attract more top prospects, but it's hard to envision them recruiting the kinds of classes that routinely end up at Ohio State or Alabama.


The Spartans have reached 11 wins for the fifth time in six years, and Dantonio says in some ways, he tried to pattern Michigan State's system after Iowa's.


'They come to play every game,' Dantonio said. 'Iowa, they always had a workmanlike attitude. They always went to work, they always played people tough, they always seemed to win consistently. They were very well-coached, their players played very firm up front on both sides of the ball. That's who we wanted to be.'


This will be a matchup that re-ignites one of the Big Ten's most underrated rivalries. Iowa has beaten Dantonio's teams twice in double overtime since 2007. The Hawkeyes also won on the last play of the game in East Lansing during a 9-0 start in 2009 and ruined Michigan State's Rose Bowl hopes in 2010. But the Spartans won the last meeting 26-14 in 2013 in what Ferentz called Cook's 'coming out party.'

 

[CNOTES]

Preview: (8-4) at (9-2)
Date: December 05, 2015 10:00 PM EDT

(STATS) - There may not be a more surprising team hosting a second-round playoff game than sixth-seeded Portland State.


In its first playoff game in 15 years, it will face perhaps the FCS' hottest team.


In a matchup between schools that employ similar offenses featuring running quarterbacks, the No. 5 Vikings face 15th-ranked Northern Iowa on Saturday night with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line.


Few gave Portland State (9-2) much of a thought on the season's onset, at least the media, who picked the Vikings to finish 12th in the 13-team Big Sky. The low expectations weren't surprising considering they were coming off a 3-9 season and were being led by an interim coach in Bruce Barnum.


All Barnum did was direct Portland State to a 5-0 record against ranked FCS opponents, two wins over FBS programs, a second-place finish in the Big Sky and the school's first playoff appearance since 2000. Along the way he was rewarded with a five-year contract extension and was named the Big Sky Coach of the Year.


"Now we got the Panthers coming to town," Barnum said. "Playing football in December - fun stuff."


Northern Iowa (8-4) is no stranger to December football.


Earning an 18th berth to the playoffs after finishing tied for third in the Missouri Valley Football Conference, UNI rolled to a 53-17 win over Eastern Illinois in last Saturday's playoff opener for a sixth straight victory.


The Panthers have been dominant during the run, averaging 50.5 points in their last four games while allowing an average of 12.0 in the past six.


"I thought we had a good football team and it's really taking life here as of late," coach Mark Farley said. "The last six, seven weeks have been very good to us and we're playing good football right now."


The Panthers are trying to move to 3-0 on the season against Big Sky teams after defeating Eastern Washington and Cal Poly. This will be their first meeting with the Vikings, who also beat Cal Poly and Eastern Washington.


UNI has found success on the ground, running the ball on 67 percent of its snaps, but Barnum said his team will have to respect the pass. Aaron Bailey only attempted 11 passes last weekend but had touchdown throws of 52, 41 and 32 yards.


"You run it, you run it, you make 'em stop it, when they do stop it you keep running it and then all of a sudden you pop a couple over the top and you score," Barnum said. "(Bailey is) an athlete and he's got athletes to work with."


Bailey was named the MVC Newcomer of the Year after rushing for 1,101 yards and 17 touchdowns, school records for a quarterback. The transfer from Illinois has passed for 1,524 yards with 12 TDs.


His Portland State counterpart has a similar resume.


Alex Kuresa, a former wide receiver at BYU, was the Big Sky Newcomer of the Year, running for 707 yards while throwing for 1,870 and scoring 23 total touchdowns.


David Jones joins Kuresa in the backfield and finished third in the Big Sky in rushing with 1,080 yards and averaged 6.4 on 169 attempts.


The Vikings are 10th in the FCS in rushing, averaging 257.0 yards, while the Panthers are 16th at 228.8 per game.


"The speed they have on offense is something we're talking about on the field with our defense," Barnum said. "To have a chance in this football game, we're going to have to be as solid as tackling - one-on-one and getting hats on the ball - as we can."


Protecting the football also will be key, as Portland State is 10th in the FCS with 28 takeaways - one more than UNI.


The Vikings' Patrick Onwuasor, a first-team all-Big Sky selection and finalist for the STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Year, is tied for the FCS lead with nine interceptions.


The Panthers are led by the MVC Defensive Player of the Year in Deiondre' Hall, who picked off six passes and returned two for touchdowns to set a school record.