NCAAF Betting Info 11/5

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Preview: Navy at Notre Dame


When: 11:30 AM ET, Saturday, November 5, 2016
Where: EverBank Field, Jacksonville, Florida








Following its first victory in nearly a month, Notre Dame aims to build a winning streak for the first time this season when the Fighting Irish tangle with rival Navy on Saturday in Jacksonville, Fla. Consecutive losses and a bye week left the Irish at a disappointing 2-5 entering the final weekend of October, but they managed to get by Miami (Fla.) by a 30-27 margin at home.


Justin Yoon's 23-yard field goal with 30 seconds left was the difference as Notre Dame was finally able to win a close one after dropping five games by an average of 5.6 points. "It just builds on them, all the pressure of trying to get out from the noise of not winning, so there's definitely that, like the weight of not winning, certainly," coach Brian Kelly told reporters this week. "But I think really what I felt more than anything else was them really enjoying the fact that they know now that [the losing] won't be a hindrance." The Irish have claimed five straight against the Midshipmen, who are coming off a 52-45 loss at USF that dropped them out of the national rankings. They have scored at least 42 points in each of their last three games and enter fifth in the nation in rushing (296.6 yards).


TV: 11:30 a.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Notre Dame -7


ABOUT NAVY (5-2): Senior Will Worth continues to run the show for the Midshipmen and is coming off a monster performance in which he threw for a career-high 299 yards and a touchdown while rushing for 129 yards and four scores. He is tied for third in the country with 13 rushing TDs and has at least one in seven straight games, the sixth-longest streak in program history. Junior fullback Chris High has chipped in 445 yards and five rushing scores while senior Jamir Tillman (23 catches, 362 yards) is the primary target when Navy goes to the air.


ABOUT NOTRE DAME (3-5): There was plenty of buzz surrounding the play of defensive tackle Jarron Jones, who had seven tackles against Miami but six of them went for a loss. "Here's a guy that's completed his degree and obviously, has achieved a lot, but knows that there's more for him out there and I'm sure he wants to continue to play at the next level," Kelly told reporters. Junior DeShone Kizer threw for 263 yards and two TDs versus the Hurricanes and he managed to not throw an interception for the first time in seven games.


EXTRA POINTS


1. Notre Dame leads the all-time series 76-12-1 and has a 47-7-1 advantage in neutral site games.


2. Navy is 24-1 when winning the turnover battle over the past five years. Notre Dame is 19-1 under Kelly when it does not commit a turnover.


3. Irish RB Josh Adams is averaging 100.7 yards and 7.2 yards per carry in his team's three wins.


PREDICTION: Notre Dame 35, Navy 31

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Re: NCAAF Betting Info 11/5

Preview: Louisville at Boston College


When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, November 5, 2016
Where: Alumni Stadium, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts








While Louisville has seemingly had no problem meeting expectations against the big boys thus far, a recent inability to win impressively against the worst teams on its schedule might be sabotaging its ability to force its way into the College Football Playoff. After needing a late touchdown in its last time out to squeak past two-win Virginia, the fifth-ranked Cardinals attempt to flex their muscles Saturday at Boston College.


Heisman Trophy frontrunner Lamar Jackson threw his fourth and final touchdown pass of the game with 13 seconds remaining to help Louisville edge the Cavaliers 32-25 last weekend, marking the second time in three contests in which the Cardinals were pushed by a team currently sitting near the bottom of the ACC Coastal Division. Only two weeks earlier, Louisville needed a late TD run by Jackson against Duke to come away with a 24-14 home triumph over the Blue Devils, who are 0-4 in league play. The Eagles were the only other winless team in the ACC prior to last weekend, but they snapped a 12-game conference losing streak with a 21-14 victory over North Carolina State. One of BC's six losses by exactly three points during the skid came in a 17-14 setback at Louisville last October - a game in which the Eagles surrendered eight sacks and managed 79 total yards.


TV: Noon ET, ESPN2. LINE: Louisville -25.


ABOUT LOUISVILLE (7-1, 5-1 ACC): Jackson, who has accounted for an FBS-high 38 touchdowns, is four yards away from becoming the first quarterback in school history to run for 1,000 in a season and still leads the nation with 16 rushing scores despite getting held out of the end zone against the Cavaliers. Jamari Staples (29 catches for a team-high 546 yards), James Quick (32 for 523) and Cole Hikutini (33 for 482) each rank inside the top 13 in the conference in receiving yards and have taken turns leading the team in that category in every game this season. Sophomore cornerback Jaire Alexander, who picked off two passes for the second time in four games, was named ACC Defensive Back of the Week and ranks second in the nation with five interceptions.


ABOUT BOSTON COLLEGE (4-4, 1-4): The Eagles got unusual contributions from several players versus the Wolfpack, as leading receiver Jeff Smith rushed 60 yards for their first score and running back Davon Jones threw a short scoring pass to tight end Tommy Sweeney for the go-ahead TD with 4:43 remaining. Starting quarterback Patrick Towles (204 passing yards) and top rusher Jon Hilliman (20 carries for 74 yards) each returned from injury and recorded their second and third-best efforts of the season, respectively. Harold Landry continued to wreak havoc on opposing offenses with a sack and forced fumble to earn ACC co-Defensive Lineman of the Week honors; the junior defensive end is tied for national lead in sacks (nine) and forced fumbles (five).


EXTRA POINTS


1. Jackson has accounted for as many - if not more - touchdowns than all but 22 teams in FBS.


2. Boston College, which leads the ACC and ranks fourth in the country in rushing defense (93.6), has allowed no more than 50 yards on the ground in any of its wins. In its four losses, it has surrendered an average of 167.5.


3. The Cardinals have not yielded a rushing touchdown in their last 14 quarters and surrendered a FBS-low three such scores all season.


PREDICTION: Louisville 31, Boston College 10

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Preview: Vanderbilt at Auburn


When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, November 5, 2016
Where: Jordan Hare Stadium, Auburn, Alabama








Auburn is a long shot at best to become one of the four College Football Playoff participants, although it ultimately could own a 10-game winning streak and an SEC title when the teams are announced. The No. 9 Tigers try for their sixth straight victory when they host Vanderbilt on Saturday and along with Wisconsin (No. 8) are the highest-ranked two-loss teams in the CFP rankings, but coach Gus Malzahn realizes the danger of taking a peek past the next opponent.


"Hypotheticals in this league, if you look ahead in this league, you get burned," Malzahn told reporters. "I don't know what everybody else is saying, but in our house, in our little room here with our coaches and players, we're locked in on Vanderbilt. That's it, 100 percent." The Tigers play at Georgia on Nov. 12 and host Alabama A&M the following week before the Iron Bowl showdown at No. 1 Alabama on Nov. 26. A victory over the Crimson Tide could result in a three-way tie in the SEC West involving Texas A&M with a complicated tiebreaking system to determine who plays in the SEC championship game, with a victory over the East champion sure to carry significant weight with the playoff committee. The Commodores try for their first three-game winning streak and victory over a ranked team since 2013 after a 35-17 triumph over Tennessee State on Oct. 22 came on the heels of a 17-16 upset at Georgia on Oct. 15.


TV: Noon ET, ESPN. LINE: Auburn -25.5


ABOUT VANDERBILT (4-4, 1-3 SEC): Junior Ralph Webb is second in the SEC with 855 rushing yards - Auburn sophomore Kamryn Pettway has 933 - and needs 230 to break the school career record of 3,143 set by Zac Stacy (2009-12). Linebacker Zach Cunningham leads the SEC with 85 tackles and is second with 13.5 for losses, which remarkably do not include a sack. Vanderbilt boasts a special-teams threat in senior Darrius Sims, who is third in nation at 32.1 yards per kickoff return and needs 17 to break the school record of 2,263 set by Mark Johnson (1986-90).


ABOUT AUBURN (6-2, 4-1): The Tigers are the only team in the nation to average better than 300 yards rushing and 200 passing, with Kerryon Johnson (580 yards, eight touchdowns) a heavy contributor. Pettway (seven TDs) rushed for a career-high 236 yards and a score in last week's 40-29 victory at Ole Miss and has averaged 199 yards with six TDs in his last three games. Lineman Carl Lawson is third in the SEC and tied for 14th nationally with 7.5 sacks.


EXTRA POINTS


1. Auburn, which lost to Clemson (No. 2 in CFP rankings) and Texas A&M (No. 4), hasn't allowed a rushing touchdown in the last five games - its longest such streak since 2006 - and is eighth in the nation in scoring defense at 16 points per game.


2. Tigers QB Sean White (68.5 completion rate, eight touchdowns, two interceptions) has a favorite target in WR Tony Stevens (team highs of 24 catches, 408 yards and three TDs).


3. Vanderbilt leads the series 21-20-1 and has won two straight, including 17-14 in Nashville in 2012 in the last encounter. Auburn won the previous 13 meetings.


PREDICTION: Auburn 36, Vanderbilt 9

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Preview: Georgia Southern at Mississippi


When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, November 5, 2016
Where: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Mississippi








Ole Miss steps out of the SEC and takes a break from one of the most brutal schedules in the nation when it hosts Georgia Southern on Saturday, but it won't be that easy because of a porous rushing defense and an offensive line ravaged by injuries. The Rebels, who played six ranked teams in their first eight games, fell to 1-4 in the SEC with a 40-29 loss to No. 12 Auburn last week when they yielded 307 yards on the ground en route to their third straight setback.


Ole Miss is 118th among the 128 FBS teams in the nation in run defense at 236.9 yards per game, leaving coach Hugh Freeze scratching his head with an option offense coming to town. “I think any time you set a vision for the program and that vision isn’t being met, you have to look at the stats,'' Freeze said. "You have to look at the indicators at what the issues are. There is an issue there. So it is either the people or the process. It is my job to try to figure out." The Rebels' offense is in good hands with senior quarterback Chad Kelly, who threw for a school-record 465 yards by completing 36-of-59 passes against Auburn to break the old mark of 436 set by Archie Manning in 1969. The Eagles are fourth in the Sun Belt Conference at 3-2 following a 34-10 loss to Appalachian State - their fourth setback in five games - but boast the nation's No. 21 rushing offense at 239 yards per contest as they try for their second victory against an SEC team in 12 tries.


TV: Noon ET, ESPNU. LINE: Ole Miss -27.5


ABOUT GEORGIA SOUTHERN (4-4): Senior Kevin Ellison runs the show and is 67 passing yards shy of becoming the third Eagles quarterback with 3,000 career passing and 3,000 rushing yards. Georgia Southern boasts a stable of five prominent running backs with junior L.A. Ramsby recording the fewest carries (50) but the most touchdowns (five) in the group. Senior linebacker Ironhead Gallon is sixth among Sun Belt players with 8.9 tackles per game.


ABOUT OLE MISS (3-5): The Rebels try to avoid their first four-game losing streak since 2011 and rest their hopes on the arm of Kelly (62 percent completion rate, 18 touchdowns, eight interceptions). Kelly is also the team's second-leading rusher (309 yards, three touchdowns) to senior Akeem Judd (417, four) while his favorite target is senior tight end Evan Engram (49 catches, 700 yards, six TDs) with junior Damore'ea Stringfellow (16 yards per catch, three TDs) the top deep threat. Offensive linemen in senior Robert Conyers, juniors Daronte Bouldin and Rod Taylor, and sophomore Sean Rawlings are all questionable to play.


EXTRA POINTS


1. Three of Ole Miss's losses have come to teams ranked in the top 13 of the first College Football Playoff rankings released Tuesday - Alabama (No. 1), Auburn (9) and LSU (13). The Rebels also visit No. 4 Texas A&M on Nov. 12.


2. Kelly leads the SEC in yards per game (316.5) and touchdown passes while Engram paces the nation's tight ends with an average of 6.1 receptions and the SEC at 87.5 yards.


3. The Eagles, who have never played Ole Miss, defeated Florida 26-20 in their final game as an FCS school in 2013. The Rebels are 30-1-2 versus the Sun Belt.


PREDICTION: Ole Miss 34, Georgia Southern 27

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Preview: Texas A&M at Mississippi State


When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, November 5, 2016
Where: Davis Wade Stadium, Starkville, Mississippi








The biggest surprise of the initial College Football Playoff rankings unveiled on Tuesday was the position of Texas A&M, which jumped an undefeated Washington team to move into the No. 4 spot behind Alabama, Clemson and Michigan. The Aggies will try to live up to that lofty billing when they visit Mississippi State on Saturday in an SEC matchup.


The College Football Playoff has never, in its young history, featured the four teams that were in the top four of the initial rankings, and Texas A&M can't even play in the SEC title game unless the No. 1 Crimson Tide somehow fall twice before the end of the regular season. The Aggies' only loss was at Alabama 33-14 on Oct. 22, and they bounced back with a 52-10 thrashing of New Mexico State last weekend before diving into a closing stretch that includes a date against LSU in the regular season finale on Nov. 24. The Bulldogs have an immediate chance to play spoiler as they set up for the toughest back-to-back any team will face this season with the Aggies this week and a trip to Alabama set for next weekend. "You see why they are one of the top teams in America, and it should be a great challenge for our guys," Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen told reporters of Texas A&M. "They are going to have to come out and play a great game from opening kick to the end."


TV: Noon, ET, SEC Network. LINE: Texas A&M -13.5


ABOUT TEXAS A&M (7-1, 4-1 SEC): The Aggies lead the nation in tackles for loss with 77 and are tied for 10th in sacks (3.25 per game) behind a defense led by ends Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall. The two combine for 7.5 sacks, and their consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks helps the Texas A&M defense lead the SEC with 19 takeaways. Sophomore wide receiver Christian Kirk hauled in a TD reception for the third straight game last week and gave the special teams a big boost by running a pair of punts back for touchdowns to push his school-record total to four punt return TDs.


ABOUT MISSISSIPPI STATE (3-5, 1-3): The Bulldogs won their SEC opener the second week of the season against South Carolina but dropped four of the next five before Nick Fitzgerald worked his way into the record books in a win over Samford last week. Fitzgerald passed for 417 yards and five touchdowns and rushed for 119 yards and two scores to join Archie Manning and Johnny Manziel as the only quarterbacks in SEC history to record at least 400 yards through the air and 100 on the ground in the same game. Fitzgerald tying the school record for single-game TDs helped overshadow another struggle for the defense, which surrendered 627 yards to a FCS team.


EXTRA POINTS


1. Mississippi State WR Donald Gray racked up 207 receiving yards last week and tied the school record with three TD catches.


2. Texas A&M RB Trayveon Williams needs 224 yards to become the first true freshman in school history to reach 1,000.


3. The Aggies earned a 30-17 home win over the Bulldogs last season but lost the last trip to Mississippi State 48-31 in 2014.


PREDICTION: Texas A&M 45, Mississippi State 24

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Preview: Texas at Texas Tech


When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, November 5, 2016
Where: Jones AT&T Stadium, Lubbock, Texas








Texas and host Texas Tech meet Saturday with identical records and some momentum after each registered exciting wins last week. It will be a battle of different offensive strengths as the Longhorns feature the Big 12's leading rusher while the Red Raiders top the country in passing.


D'Onta Foreman gained a career-high 250 yards in last week's upset of Baylor to pass the 1,000-yard mark and climb to No. 2 nationally with a 157.9-yard average. It will be a big test for Texas Tech, which allowed 403 rushing yards versus Texas last year but put in a solid defensive effort in last week's overtime win at TCU. "I think (it's) just an attitude," Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury said of the defense's improvement. "You sit around all week and hear things and you either get pissed off and do something about it or you pout and get worse. I think they got mad and took it personally and wanted to prove that they could improve." Red Raiders quarterback Patrick Mahomes II - a finalist for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and semifinalist for the Maxwell Award - leads the country in passing yards and total offense.


TV: Noon ET, FS1. LINE: Texas -3.5


ABOUT TEXAS (4-4, 2-3 Big 12): Foreman has been the workhorse for Texas - which is 0-4 on the road - with 173 of the team's 388 carries for 1,105 yards and 10 touchdowns. Texas' offense is balanced with an average of 259.9 yards passing behind freshman Shane Buechele (2,013 yards, 17 TDs, six interceptions) and three receivers with at least 20 catches. The Longhorns allow 32.8 points but have recorded 17 sacks and 34 tackles for losses in the four games since coach Charlie Strong took over the defensive play-calling duties.


ABOUT TEXAS TECH (4-4, 2-3): The Red Raiders average 600.3 total yards and 47.4 points behind Mahomes, who has a team-high 10 rushing touchdowns to go with his 3,519 passing yards and 28 TDs. Jonathan Giles (55 catches, 927 yards, 11 TDs) leads seven Red Raiders with at least 20 receptions while freshman Da'Leon Ward (156 rushing yards in six games) led the team with 147 all-purpose yards (including a season-high 98 rushing) against TCU. The Red Raiders rank 123rd in scoring defense (41.4 points) and 104th in rushing defense (213.8) while allowing 21 scores on the ground.


EXTRA POINTS


1. Foreman, Texas' first 1,000-yard rusher since Jamaal Charles in 2007, has an FBS-best streak of nine consecutive games with at least 100 yards.


2. Foreman's twin brother, Armanti, leads Texas in receiving with 27 catches for 349 yards and three TDs.


3. Texas Tech, which is playing its final home game, leads the FBS with a 57.8 percent third-down conversion rate.


PREDICTION: Texas 42, Texas Tech 38

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Preview: Indiana at Rutgers


When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, November 5, 2016
Where: High Points Solutions Stadium, Piscataway, New Jersey








Indiana used a potent rushing attack to subdue Maryland last week and halt a three-game losing skid - and more ground-game success could be on the horizon Saturday afternoon as the Hoosiers visit Rutgers. The Scarlet Knights are winless in Big Ten play and boast not only the worst run defense in the conference, but one of the worst units in all of FBS.


Rutgers asserted itself well last time out - a far cry from its previous four losses, when it was outscored by an absurd 174-14 margin - but could only watch as EmmittCarpenter nailed a 28-yard field goal with 10 seconds remaining to give Minnesota a 34-32 win. The Scarlet Knights coughed up 243 rushing yards in that one and are allowing the opposition to average a whopping 5.68 yards per carry - the fifth-worst mark in FBS. Indiana scorched the Terrapins on the ground in its 42-36 triumph, boasting three 100-yard rushers as part of a 414-yard assault. The Hoosiers hope to not get caught looking past Rutgers, with consecutive games against powerhouses Penn State and Michigan on the horizon.


TV: Noon ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Indiana -14


ABOUT INDIANA (4-4, 2-3 Big Ten): Hoosiers running back Devine Redding put up one of his strongest performances of the season last time out, turning 17 carries into 130 yards and a touchdown. Redding comes into Saturday afternoon ranked sixth in the conference in rushing yards but has been a bit unlucky in the touchdown department, with just two trips to the end zone on 149 carries. Quarterback Richard Lagow went 16-of-25 for 207 yards in the victory over Maryland and has struggled mightily of late, throwing just one touchdown pass against four interceptions over his previous three games.


ABOUT RUTGERS (2-6, 0-5): Quarterback Giovanni Rescigno was given the starting job two games ago in place of Chris Laviano - who had started the previous 18 games for the Scarlet Knights - and has lifted the team's level of play. Rescigno went just 22-of-38 for 220 yards against Minnesota, but had three touchdown passes against two interceptions, and his two second-half scoring strikes helped put the Scarlet Knights temporarily ahead after they had trailed 21-3 at one point. Robert Martin leads the rushing attack with 515 yards on 97 carries, but has just one touchdown to his credit.


EXTRA POINTS


1. Redding scored nine rushing touchdowns on 226 carries last season.


2. Rescigno's four TD passes in two starts are one fewer than Laviano had in parts of seven games.


3. The Hoosiers had failed to record more than 100 rushing yards in three straight games prior to their win over Maryland.


PREDICTION: Indiana 37, Rutgers 20

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Preview: Michigan State at Illinois


When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, November 5, 2016
Where: Memorial Stadium, Champaign, Illinois








Two teams in need of victories - and consistency at quarterback - clash when Michigan State hits the road to face Illinois in a Big Ten matchup Saturday. The Spartans have lost six straight and are playing musical chairs under center the last few weeks, while the Illini have dropped six of their last seven, with redshirt freshman Jeff George Jr. being forced to start at quarterback the last two weeks because of injuries.


Coach Mark Dantonio’s team showed a bit of improvement in last week’s loss to undefeated Michigan, but the Spartans also lost quarterback Brian Lewerke for the season to a leg injury suffered in the fourth quarter. The ground game showed some life with LJ Scott going for a season-high 139 yards against the nation’s top-ranked defense. Defense has been a big problem for Lovie Smith in his first year on the Illinois sideline, with his team allowing 38 points a game in its losses. Look for Illini redshirt freshman running back Reggie Corbin to get the ball more and more as he’s averaging 7.4 yards per carry in Big Ten play.


TV: Noon ET, ESPNews. LINE: None


ABOUT MICHIGAN STATE (2-6, 0-5 Big Ten): Dantonio was hoping to use the rest of this season to get a feel for Lewerke and how he’d fit as the team’s starting quarterback next year. But with Lewerke out, Dantonio has to decide if he wants to try to win now with senior Tyler O’Connor or build for the future with junior Damion Terry, who played briefly last week but finished 0-for-4 passing. One thing he won’t be doing is taking the redshirt off freshman Messiah deWeaver, despite Spartan fans calling for the future to be now.


ABOUT ILLINOIS (2-6, 1-4): It’s anyone’s guess as to who will be starting for the Illini under center this week after Wes Lunt returned to practice after being sidelined for three weeks with a back injury. Lunt is a fifth-year senior with plenty of experience to bring to the table, but does Smith want to rush him back into the lineup or see more of George, the son of former Illini and NFL quarterback Jeff George. Whichever one starts, they’ll need to bring a spark to the Illinois offense, which ranks above only Rutgers in the Big Ten in total offense (330.6 yards), scoring (22.4 points) and passing yards (167.5 yards).


EXTRA POINTS


1. Michigan State LB Chris Frey leads the team with 66 tackles and with his nine stops against Michigan went over the 100-tackle mark for his career.


2. Illinois WR Malik Turner accounts for 39 percent of the Illini’s total receiving yards (523 of 1,340), the second-highest percentage of any FBS player.


3. Illini DE Dawuane Smoot has raised his game in conference play, ranking third in the Big Ten in tackles for loss with 1.4 per outing.


PREDICTION: Michigan State 35, Illinois 17

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Preview: Wisconsin at Northwestern


When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, November 5, 2016
Where: Ryan Field, Evanston, Illinois








With designs on playing in the Big Ten Championship game next month, Wisconsin claimed a hard-fought victory it needed last weekend. Now that the last of their school-record five top-10 opponents is in the rear view mirror, the eighth-ranked Badgers go about the business of ending a 17-year dry spell at Northwestern on Saturday when they visit the Wildcats.


Stretched to overtime at home for the second time in three weeks by a highly rated conference opponent, Wisconsin held its own after allowing then-No. 6 Nebraska to rally from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter to edge the Cornhuskers 23-17. The Badgers, who lost 30-23 in overtime to Ohio State on Oct. 15, improved to 3-2 on the season against ranked foes and moved within a game of Nebraska for the lead in the Big Ten West. While Wisconsin's journey appears to get much easier over its final four games, the Badgers must face a Northwestern squad that nearly upset the sixth-ranked Buckeyes on the road last weekend. The Wildcats saw their three-game winning streak snapped in the 24-20 setback at Oho State to fall back into a four-way tie for second place in the division, but they have defeated a ranked Wisconsin team in each of the school's last four meetings at Ryan Field since 1999.


TV: Noon ET, ABC. LINE: Wisconsin -7.


ABOUT WISCONSIN (6-2, 3-2 Big Ten): With leading rusher Corey Clement bottled up for most of the day (exactly half of his 82 yards rushing on 19 carries came on one late rush), Dare Ogunbowale erupted for a season-high 120 yards, including the eventual game-winning touchdown in overtime. Ryan Connelly started in place of injured leading tackler Jack Cichy at inside linebacker and earned Big Ten co-Defensive Player of the Week honors after recording a career-high 11 tackles (two for loss) and two pass breakups. Wisconsin is one of four FBS teams to boast a pair of players with at least 10 pass breakups (Derrick Tindal has 12 and Sojourn Shelton has 10), helping the Badgers post the best touchdown-to-interception ratio in the country (0.4) and tie LSU for fewest TD passes allowed (four).


ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (4-4, 3-2): Clayton Thorson ranks third in the league in passing yards (1,942), yards per game (242.8) and touchdowns (15) - the last of which is the most ever by a sophomore quarterback in school history. Favorite target Austin Carr was held out of the end zone for the first time in seven games versus Ohio State, but the senior receiver collected a career-high 158 yards on eight catches and still leads the conference in receptions (58), receiving yards (878), receiving yards per game (109.8) and touchdowns (9). Defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo did not record a sack for the first time in four games, but he remains the Big Ten leader with eight and needs 6.5 more before the end of the season to tie the school record.


EXTRA POINTS


1. The Wildcats recorded five sacks, forced five turnovers, held Wisconsin to a school-record minus-26 yards rushing and used a goal-line stand in the final seconds to edge the Badgers 13-7 in Madison last season.


2. Wisconsin has drawn only 23 flags this season - an average of 2.9 that ranks second nationally behind Navy (2.3) - and been whistled for a penalty once in the last two contests.


3. Northwestern running back Justin Jackson needs 132 more rushing yards to become the first player in program history to run for 1,000 in three consecutive seasons.


PREDICTION: Northwestern 17, Wisconsin 16

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Preview: Air Force at Army


When: 12:00 PM ET, Saturday, November 5, 2016
Where: Michie Stadium, West Point, New York




Quick Hits






Overall Team Offense
The Army Black Knights are ranked 46 on offense, averaging 433.0 yards per game. The Black Knights are averaging 342.4 yards rushing and 90.6 yards passing so far this season.
The Air Force Falcons are ranked 41 on offense, averaging 448.8 yards per game. The Falcons are averaging 295.9 yards rushing and 152.9 yards passing so far this season.




Home and Away
The Army Black Knights are 2-1 at home this season, 0-0 against conference opponents and 5-3 against non-conference opponents.
At home the Black Knights are averaging 37.0 scoring, and holding teams to 18.7 points scored on defense.
The Air Force Falcons are 2-1 while on the road this season, 2-3 against conference opponents and 3-0 against non-conference opponents.
On the road, the Falcons are averaging 28.0 scoring, and holding teams to 25.3 points scored on defense

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Preview: Georgia Tech at North Carolina


When: 12:30 PM ET, Saturday, November 5, 2016
Where: Kenan Memorial Stadium, Chapel Hill, North Carolina








Georgia Tech travels to No. 17 North Carolina on Saturday in a matchup featuring two of the hottest quarterbacks in the ACC, but it is the Tar Heels who have no margin for error as they chase Virginia Tech in the Coastal Division. North Carolina has won two in a row following a loss to the Hokies as quarterback Mitch Trubisky and its defense has excelled of late, but the Yellow Jackets come in after a tremendous performance last week by quarterback Justin Thomas.


Thomas won national player of the week honors after accounting for 459 yards of total offense (264 yards passing and 195 yards rushing) and four touchdowns in a 38-35 victory over Duke, giving the Yellow Jackets a two-game winning streak and needed momentum entering November. “We have been playing pretty well offensively the past three weeks,” Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson told reporters Tuesday. “Hopefully, we can carry that momentum and keep it going.” Trubisky ranks third in the nation in completion percentage (71.2 percent) and is fourth in the ACC in averaging 309.9 yards of total offense per game, while the Tar Heels have surrendered just 27 points in their past two games. “I think they’re playing with some confidence,” North Carolina coach Larry Fedora told reporters Monday in describing his defense, “and their confidence has grown over the last couple of weeks.”


TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network. LINE: North Carolina -10.5


ABOUT GEORGIA TECH (5-3, 2-3 ACC): The Yellow Jackets begin a difficult month in which they will play three of four games on the road, including back-to-back away matchups against ranked teams (North Carolina on Saturday; No. 21 Virginia Tech on Nov. 12). Thomas’ big day, the third-highest single-game yardage total in school history, helped Georgia Tech pile up 605 yards of total offense against Duke. The Yellow Jackets have struggled defensively of late, allowing 35 or more points in three of their past four games.


ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA (6-2, 4-1): The Tar Heels surrendered 31.5 points per game during their first six contests but have improved of late, limiting Virginia to 93 total yards in the second half of a 35-14 victory on Oct. 22. Trubisky passed for 310 yards and three touchdowns against the Cavaliers, and has three of the top 11 single-game passing performances in school history this season. Running back Elijah Hood averages five yards per carry and rushed for 107 yards and a touchdown against Virginia.


EXTRA POINTS


1. North Carolina has won two straight against Georgia Tech for the first time since 1992-94, rallying from a 21-0 deficit last season in Atlanta to prevail 38-31.


2. Johnson did not say whether leading rusher Dedrick Mills would play Saturday, after the freshman missed last week’s game with what the school described as an upper-body injury.


3. The Tar Heels have won 17 of their past 21 games overall, and 12 out of 13 conference regular-season contests.


PREDICTION: North Carolina 34, Georgia Tech 21

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Re: NCAAF Betting Info 11/5

Preview: Pittsburgh at Miami


When: 12:30 PM ET, Saturday, November 5, 2016
Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida








Miami (Fla.) hopes that Homecoming will help provide the spark it needs to end a four-game losing streak when it hosts high-scoring Pittsburgh on Saturday. The Hurricanes overcame a 20-0 first-quarter deficit to take a brief lead last week before falling to Notre Dame and now faces a Pitt team coming off a frustrating loss of its own, a 39-36 setback against Virginia Tech.


The Panthers, who have scored exactly 36 points in all three of their defeats while being outscored by a total of only 11, have shown they can score against quality foes considering the losses came against ranked teams in No. 17 North Carolina, No. 21 Virginia Tech and No. 22 Oklahoma State. "When you look at it, we have three losses to three top-25 teams," coach Pat Narduzzi told reporters after the loss to the Hokies. "Are we there yet? Doesn't look like it. Can we get there by the end of the year? Maybe." Miami coach Mark Richt is dealing with injuries that have depleted a young defense as well as inconsistent offensive-line play that has resulted in quarterback Brad Kaaya being sacked 13 times in the last two games. "These are the guys I've been with the past three years, so nothing is changing - I still trust them every time I drop back," Kaaya told reporters early this week. "They're banged up. We're all banged up. Still have to keep trusting them and just know things will get better."


TV: 12:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network. Line: Miami -3


ABOUT PITTSBURGH (5-3, 2-2 ACC): The Panthers' offense is powered by the nation's 23rd-ranked rushing attack (231.8 yards per game), which is led by 2014 First-Team All-American James Conner (622 yards, 4.7 per carry, 10 touchdowns) and sophomore speedster Quadree Henderson (345, 9.4, three). Senior Nathan Peterman (1,519 yards, 12 TDs, one interception) has been solid with Jester Weah (23 receptions, 19.3 yards per catch, five TDs). Henderson (20 catches) and tight end Scott Orndoff (19) his top targets. Led by end Ejuan Price (nation-best 16 tackles for losses, nine sacks), Pitt's defense is No. 5 in sacks (28) and sixth in rushing defense (103.3 yards per game), but the pass defense has been a problem as it ranks 125th (312.3 yards).


ABOUT MIAMI (4-4, 1-3): In addition to the protection woes, the offensive line hasn't done much better in providing running room for Mark Walton (649 yards, five yards per carry, nine TDs) and Joe Yearby (494, 6.3, six) lately, with the pair combining for only 49 yards on 24 carries against Notre Dame. After a slow start against the Irish, Kaaya (1,984 yards, 13 TDs, six interceptions) zeroed in on his top three targets - Stacy Coley (36 receptions, 12 yards per catch), Ahmmon Richards (23, 21.2) and tight end David Njoku (21, 16.5) - only to see the comeback end on yet another sack. The defense, led by freshman linebackers Shaquille Quarterman and Michael Pinckney, proved resilient after a poor start against the Irish but lost defensive back Adrian Colbert for the rest of the season. .


EXTRA POINTS


1. Pittsburgh has scored 36 or more points in seven straight games, the longest current streak in FBS.


2. Miami has won nine of its last 10 meetings with the Panthers, including a 29-24 triumph in Pittsburgh last season.


3. The Hurricanes' special teams lead the nation in both blocked punts (three) and blocked field goals (five).


PREDICTION: Miami 37, Pittsburgh 35

[TheGame]

Re: NCAAF Betting Info 11/5

Texas-San Antonio at Middle Tennessee


When: 2:30 PM ET, Saturday, November 5, 2016
Where: Johnny "Red" Floyd Stadium, Murfreesboro, Tennessee




Quick Hits






Overall Team Offense
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders are ranked 7 on offense, averaging 537.1 yards per game. The Blue Raiders are averaging 190.0 yards rushing and 347.1 yards passing so far this season.
The Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners are ranked 87 on offense, averaging 382.1 yards per game. The Roadrunners are averaging 162.9 yards rushing and 219.2 yards passing so far this season.




Home and Away
The Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders are 2-1 at home this season, 3-1 against conference opponents and 3-1 against non-conference opponents.
At home the Blue Raiders are averaging 45.3 scoring, and holding teams to 26.0 points scored on defense.
The Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners are 1-2 while on the road this season, 3-2 against conference opponents and 1-2 against non-conference opponents.
On the road, the Roadrunners are averaging 15.7 scoring, and holding teams to 23.0 points scored on defense.

[TheGame]

Re: NCAAF Betting Info 11/5

Preview: Virginia at Wake Forest


When: 3:00 PM ET, Saturday, November 5, 2016
Where: BB&T Field, Winston-Salem, North Carolina








A week after playing one of its poorest games of the season, the last thing Wake Forest needs is for Virginia to come to town Saturday for an ACC matchup. Despite winning two straight games for only the third time in the 122-year history of the series, the Demon Deacons have been dominated by the Cavaliers, who own a 15-2 mark at BB&T Stadium.


"Offensively, we had yardage, but not points," Wake Forest coach Dave Clawson told the media after a 21-13 home loss to Army. "Our struggles in the red zone continue to haunt us." The Demon Deacons need to cash in on their opportunities if they hope to stay close to a Virginia team that has averaged 30.6 points over their last five games, including 25 in a loss last week to No. 5 Louisville. The Cavaliers are riding the arm of East Carolina transfer quarterback Kurt Benkert, who has thrown for 2,097 yards and 17 touchdowns against nine interceptions. The junior likes to spread the ball around and has hit nine different receivers for a touchdown. Olamide Zaccheaus, who has a team-leading six touchdown receptions, leads a group of four receivers with at least 26 catches apiece for Virginia, whose lone road win on the season came at Duke.


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


ABOUT VIRGINIA (2-6, 1-3 ACC): With a new coach in Bronco Mendenhall, the Cavaliers are starting a lot of young players on defense, but the leader is junior linebacker Micah Kiser, who is tops on the team in tackles, tackles for loss, sacks, forced fumbles and pass breakups. Sophomore safety Juan Thornhill has produced five pass breakups and collected a team-leading three interceptions and freshman linebacker Jordan Mack has four tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. On offense, Taquan Mizzell, who is second on the team with 36 receptions, and Albert Reid have combined for 894 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns.


ABOUT WAKE FOREST (5-3, 2-2 ACC): Junior quarterback John Wolford eclipsed 200 yards passing for the second time this season, but it came at a steep price as he threw three interceptions against Army. Kendall Hinton, who started each of the first two games, is getting closer to returning for the Demon Deacons, but after attempting to warm up prior to the Army game, Clawson said he was not even close. Thus, getting the running game back closer to where it was during the first four games will be critical to winning this game.


EXTRA POINTS


1. Wake Forest rushed for 200 yards per game in its first four games, but 112.5 in its last four.


2. Virginia enjoys a 34-14 advantage in the series, but the teams have played only three times since meeting every year between 1980 and 2003.


3. With 44 receiving yards last week, Mizzell became the first player in Virginia history to record at least 1,400 yards rushing and receiving.


PREDICTION: Virginia 27, Wake Forest 17

[TheGame]

Re: NCAAF Betting Info 11/5

Preview: Fresno State at Colorado State


When: 3:30 PM ET, Saturday, November 5, 2016
Where: Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium, Fort Collins, Colorado




Quick Hits






Overall Team Offense
The Colorado State Rams are ranked 65 on offense, averaging 409.5 yards per game. The Rams are averaging 191.8 yards rushing and 217.8 yards passing so far this season.
The Fresno State Bulldogs are ranked 113 on offense, averaging 350.2 yards per game. The Bulldogs are averaging 111.9 yards rushing and 238.3 yards passing so far this season.




Home and Away
The Colorado State Rams are 3-1 at home this season, 2-2 against conference opponents and 2-2 against non-conference opponents.
At home the Rams are averaging 29.5 scoring, and holding teams to 24.2 points scored on defense.
The Fresno State Bulldogs are 0-5 while on the road this season, 0-5 against conference opponents and 1-3 against non-conference opponents.
On the road, the Bulldogs are averaging 17.8 scoring, and holding teams to 41.0 points scored on defense.