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5 NBA Future Bets to Make Before the Season Begins:

by William Burns

Friday, Sep 19, 2025

Last season, I made an article on future bets in the NBA and I called Stephon Castle (at +1000) to win the ROTY award. This season, I'm eager to share my five future bets again with all of you. The season is creeping up here shortly. Make these bets ASAP before the good odds go away! (Odds via. DraftKings Sportsbook) ----------------1.) Oklahoma City Thunder to Win Western Conference (+170)Last season, some could say that the Oklahoma City Thunder got lucky with a lot in the playoffs. In the Finals, I believe that to be true with Tyrese Haliburton going down with that achilles injury. Having said that, teams that are coming off of a championship always seem to be competitive once again the next year. As we saw with Florida in hockey, and teams of the past in the NBA, it's definitely something that could happen. Don't get me wrong, the West is absolutely stacked again this season. However, this team has amazing coaching and a leader in Shai Gilgeous Alexander that can take over a ball game whenever is needed. Not only that, but he's got a supporting cast that might even be better than last year with the addition of Nikola Topic. I expect great things again from the Oklahoma City Thunder and this is an excellent price to select them at to win the West. 2.) San Antonio Spurs to Participate In the Play-In Tournament (YES at +115)Over the past couple of seasons, since drafting Victor Wembanyama, the Spurs have improved slightly . They look to be in even better shape this season with more youngsters to rely on and more experience from the other guys. Wemby was injured for a lot of last season which halted any chances of getting in the playoffs. But, I'm expecting a healthy version of the French superstar this season and I believe that these are very good odds for the Spurs to seal a play-in tournament ticket this year. Sacramento should fall off from last years win total, and I don't believe that the Mavs will be as strong in the early parts of the season due to Kyrie's injury. I expect San Antonio to finish within that 7-10 range this season and end up playing for a chance to make the playoffs at the end of the season. 3.) Victor Wembanyama to Win DPOY Award (-175)Last year, I selected this exact future bet and it didn't turn out as I would have thought as Wembanyama was only able to play 46 games and wasn't eligible to receive any awards. That being said, assuming he stays healthy, there's no doubt in my mind that Wemby shouldn't be winning this award this season and for many years to come. His extremely long frame and wingspan makes him the deadliest paint protector and he's that good inside that people are scared to even try and shoot over top of him. I'll lay the juice with Wemby winning DPOY for the second time in his career in the 2025-26 campaign. 4.) Sacramento UNDER 36.5 Wins (-120)Like I said when talking about the Spurs, I believe that the Kings aren't going to be so good this season. Losing DeAaron Fox was problematic for them last season as they won 40 games and failed to reach the playoffs from the play-in tournament. Sacramento went 15-17 in the 32 games after Fox left and they seem to have quite a bit of problems staying healthy. One of the stars is always dealing with an injury. The Kings do have their own 1st round selection this season and I wouldn't be shocked to see them trade one of DeRozan or LaVine before the season's end to try and get some more picks. Their projection is way low compared to a year ago and it's for a reason. This should be a rebuild year for Sac-Town. 5.) Dyson Daniels to be Steals Per Game Leader (+110)Even though Dyson Daniels might not be the flashiest player out there, I believe that he's one of the best defensive players in the league and the oddsmakers definitely agree. Even if he's not a threat to win DPOY compared to some of the bigger guys that can block a ton of shots as well as get some steals, Daniels is undoubtedly the best stealer of the basketball that there is in the NBA and it wasn't even close last year. Averaging 3.0 steals per game, he led the league by a whopping 0.8. Matisse Thybulle was second with 2.2 and I don't believe that he'll be as efficient this season either. Even if Daniels drops off a tad from last year, expect him to still remain the Steals Per Game Leader title in 2025-26. Extra Pick:  Dallas Mavericks OVER 39.5 Wins (-115)Burns' Current Champion Prediction: Oklahoma City Thunder 

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NCAAF, MLB and CFL Previews and Odds - 09/19/2025

by Big Al Staff

Friday, Sep 19, 2025

The Friday sports card features NCAAF, MLB, and CFL action. Week 4 in NCAAF college football continues with two games between FBS opponents. Oklahoma State hosts Tulsa on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET as a 10.5-point favorite with the total set at 54.5 all odds from DraftKings). Iowa travels on the road to play Rutgers on Fox at 8:00 p.m. ET as a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 45.5. Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 6:40 p.m. ET. The Athletics play away from home at Pittsburgh against the Pirates, with both teams priced as a -110 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Detroit Tigers play at home against the Atlanta Braves as a -123  money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Chicago Cubs are in Cincinnati to take on the Reds as a -126 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The  New York Yankees visit Baltimore to face the Orioles at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -121 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The New York Mets are home against the Washington Nationals at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -208 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Boston Red Sox play in Tampa Bay against the Rays at 7:35 p.m. ET as a -132 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 7. Two MLB games start at 7:40 p.m. ET. The San Diego Padres are in Chicago to challenge the White Sox as a -169 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Toronto Blue Jays travel to Kansas City to play the Royals as a -144 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Texas Rangers host the Miami Marlins at 8:05 p.m. ET as a -165 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Four MLB games begin at 8:10 p.m. ET. The Houston Astros play at home against the Seattle Mariners as a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Los Angeles Angels play in Colorado against the Rockies as a -123 money-line road favorite with a total of 12. The Minnesota Twins are home against the Cleveland Guardians as a -120 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. The Milwaukee Brewers are in St. Louis to battle the Cardinals as a -121 money-line road favorite with a total of 7.5. The Arizona Diamondbacks host the Philadelphia Phillies at 9:40 p.m. ET as a -126 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers play at home against the San Francisco Giants at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -172 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. Week 16 in the Canadian Football League kicks off with two games. The Montreal Alouettes visit the Toronto Argonauts at 7:00 p.m. ET as a 6.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 50.5. The Calgary Stampeders are home against the British Columbia Lions at 9:30 p.m. ET as a 5.5-point favorite with a total of 55.5.

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Inside The College Football Boxscores Week 3 – Part 3

by Matt Fargo

Thursday, Sep 18, 2025

Fargo looks past the top line scores and goes deep into the box scores to get a better picture of what really happened for all of the FBS games the past weekend.Iowa 47, UMass 7Iowa scored its most points since it put up 51 points against Maryland in 2021 as it put up 20 points in the first quarter and never looked back. After three and outs on its first three possessions, UMass blocked a punt and got it down to the Iowa 21-yard line and scored four plays later and that was it as the Hawkeyes put up 27 unanswered points after that. They outgained the Minutemen 435-119 while going 10-16 on third down with the defense not allowing a third down conversion in 12 tries.Texas A&M 41, Notre Dame 40It was another tough loss for Notre Dame as a muffed snap on an extra point proved costly. Notre Dame struck first with a blocked punt for a touchdown but Texas A&M responded with an 86-yard touchdown pass. The first half closed with two Aggies scores as they took their first lead and after Notre Dame got the lead late in the fourth quarter but missed the point after, Texas A&M got the game winner with 13 seconds left. The Aggies won the yards 488-429 but 13 penalties for 86 yards set them back some.Kentucky 48, Eastern Michigan 23Kentucky jumped out to a quick 14-0 lead and while Eastern Michigan added a pair of field goals after, the Wildcats sandwiched those with two more touchdowns for a 28-6 lead but the Eagles made it a game with 10 points before halftime. The Wildcats then scored 20 straight points before a garbage touchdown from Eastern Michigan. The Wildcats outgained the Eagles by only 31 yards but Eastern Michigan was just 5-18 on third and fourth down and settled for too many field goal attempts.LSU 20, Florida 10The defenses dominated the entire game with LSU leading 13-10 at halftime and both stop units did not allow a point in the second half as it was the Tigers defense that sealed the game with a 58-yard interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter. The Gators outgained LSU 366-316 but they ran 28 more plays and a total of five interceptions killed any offensive momentum as their last seven drives ended with four interceptions and three punts. LSU won the yppl 6.1 to 4.8.Louisiana Tech 49, New Mexico State 14It was all Louisiana Tech early as it opened up a 24-0 lead early in the second quarter but New Mexico St. made a game of it with a pair of touchdowns before the Bulldogs hit a late field goal to take a 13-point lead into halftime. After no scoring in the third quarter, the Bulldogs scored on a 20-yard fumble recovery, part of a 22-0 fourth quarter. Louisiana Tech outrushed the Aggies 353-27 (5.4-1.6 ypc) as it ran 35 more plays thanks to an 11-minute edge in time of possession.East Carolina 38, Coastal Carolina 0The Pirates pitched a shutout as they gave up 239 total yards and allowed Coastal Carolina in the redzone only once as they forced five turnovers, five punts and a missed field goal. The East Carolina offense struggled early as it got inside the Chanticleers redzone four times in the first half but came away with only 10 points. The Pirates backed it up with four second half touchdowns and overall they finished with 497 total yards but that was on 86 plays for just 5.8 yppl so it was not great.Vanderbilt 31, South Carolina 7Vanderbilt came out strong as it went 73 yards in nine plays on its opening possession but South Carolina responded with a 75-yard drive to tie the game but it was all Commodores after that. The Gamecocks lost quarterback LaNorris Sellers in the second quarter and while the offense kept up, they committed four turnovers that wiped out 132 yards while turning over on downs twice. Vanderbilt got outgained by South Carolina by five yards, 328-323 while yppl were dead even at 5.2.Navy 42, Tulsa 23Navy started sloppily as it ran 12 plays in its first three possessions, all of which resulted in turnovers and two of those allowed Tulsa to jump out to a 14-0 lead. The Midshipmen were able to right the ship as they tied the game and eventually took a lead into halftime, part of a 28-0 run that put the game away. Navy scored touchdowns in six of seven drives following those turnovers and overall they outgained the Golden Hurricane 461-329 as it rushed for 367 yards on 63 carries (5.8 ypc).Tulane 34, Duke 27Tulane took a 24-3 lead late in the second quarter as it scored on four of its first five possessions but Duke made a game of it as it went on a 75-yard touchdown drive before halftime and recovered a fumble three plays into the second half and scored another touchdown to make it an eight-point game before the Green Wave pulled away. The Blue Devils outgained Tulane 452-426 but ran 12 more plays and was outgained 6.8 to 6.0 in yppl and 124 of the Duke yards came on its last two drives.Utah 31, Wyoming 6Despite holding just a 3-0 lead at halftime, Utah dominated as it had 257 yards but missed three field goals and fumbled at the Wyoming three-yard line. The Utes turned things around as they scored a touchdown on all four second half possessions. Utah outgained the Cowboys 541-229 as it had an 11-minute edge in time of possession which led to running 29 more plays. In the Cowboys first eight possessions, they punted six times and turned it over twice with the touchdown coming in garbage time.UAB 31, Akron 28It was a first half shootout as it was back and forth until UAB eventually pulled ahead by 11 points at the break. Akron was able to pull within three points as it scored early in the fourth quarter, the only points from either side in the second half. The Zips had the ball with 1:44 remaining at their own 20 but threw three incomplete passes and was sacked on fourth down. It was pretty even along with the score as Akron outgained UAB 441-421 and had a slight edge in yppl 5.7 to 5.5.Utah State 49, Air Force 30Utah St. recovered a fumble on the Falcons first drive and converted that into a 27-yard touchdown drive and the Aggies led the entire way. Air Force cut the lead to 14-10 at halftime but trailed by double digits the remainder of the game after Utah St. went 75 yards for a touchdown on its opening second half possession. The Aggies outgained Air Force by just 28 yards but ran 28 fewer plays and outgained the Falcons 8.4 to 5.3 in yppl and took advantage of three turnovers that led to 14 points.Arizona State 34, Texas State 15Arizona St. and Texas St. traded first quarter field goals and then the Sun Devils ran off 24 unanswered points between the second and third quarters to pull away. The Bobcats got hardly anything going early as they had 137 yards in their first seven possessions while putting up 166 yards in their final three possessions when the game was already decided. Arizona St. won the yardage 433-303 and outgained Texas St. 6.5 to 3.9 in yppl while winning the turnover battle 2-0.Stanford 30, Boston College 20Stanford opened with a pair of field goals but Boston College seized control with 17 unanswered points. The Cardinal cut the lead back to four points following a 69-yard touchdown pass and then picked off a Boston College pass two plays later and returned it for a touchdown. The Stanford defense forced four second half punts and recovered a fumble in their own endzone when the Eagles were going for the tie. Boston College outgained Stanford by 10 yards but were -3 in turnover margin.California 27, Minnesota 14There were seven combined punts in the first eight possessions between California and Minnesota with the Golden Bears able to break through with a late first quarter touchdown. Minnesota took its first lead late in the third quarter before California scored the final 17 points of the game. The Golden Bears outgained Minnesota by only five yards but it was a bad second half for the Golden Gophers as in their five possessions, they tossed an interception, missed a field goal and turned it over on downs twice.

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2025-26 NHL: Metropolitan Division Preview

by Sean Murphy

Thursday, Sep 18, 2025

As the puck drops on the 2025-26 NHL season, the Metropolitan Division once again shapes up as one of the league’s toughest battlegrounds. With perennial contenders, rising powers, and veteran squads trying to hold off decline, the race promises to be entertaining. The betting markets show a clear pecking order at the top, but the middle tier is crowded enough that surprises are very much in play. Team-by-team outlook (odds courtesy DraftKings): Carolina HurricanesOdds to win division: +130 Carolina enters as the betting favorite, and for good reason. The Hurricanes remain one of the league’s most disciplined and structured teams under the guidance of head coach Rod Brind'Amour, boasting a balanced forward group, deep defense, and the type of consistency that makes them hard to bet against. Offseason additions, including some extra scoring punch, only strengthen their chances. If their goaltending tandem stays healthy—a recurring concern in recent years—Carolina looks well-positioned to take another division crown and go on a deep playoff run. New Jersey Devils Odds to win division: +280 New Jersey’s young core has matured into one of the most dynamic in the NHL. Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Dougie Hamilton headline a roster built for speed and skill. The big question is in net: goaltending struggles have haunted the Devils in the past, and BetMGM’s odds reflect both their upside and their volatility. If the crease holds up and their stars stay healthy, New Jersey has the firepower to push Carolina all season long but this is a team that has fought inconsistency for a number of years.  Washington Capitals Odds to win division: +500 The Capitals continue to defy age and regression, a microcosm of face of the franchise Alexander Overchkin, hanging around as a legitimate threat. Their veteran core provides leadership and scoring, and the power play remains a weapon. Washington’s offseason tweaks addressed depth concerns, giving them a more balanced lineup heading into the campaign. The risk, as always, is durability—if injuries pile up for their older stars, they could slide. But if things break right, Washington has enough experience and high-end talent to contend for the top spot. New York Rangers Odds to win division: +550 Always one of the league's biggest spenders, the Rangers are a bit of a wildcard. Goaltender Igor Shesterkin gives them an edge most nights, and there’s still star power up front with plenty of skill on defense. The issue has been inconsistency: stretches of brilliance followed by puzzling lulls. Secondary scoring and defensive lapses have cost them in big moments. If their younger players take a step forward and the supporting cast delivers, New York has the upside to outplay its odds.New York Islanders Odds to win division: +3000 The Islanders remain a defensive-minded squad anchored by elite goaltender Ilya Sorokin. After cutting ties with a number of players last season, Noah Dobson was the most recent departure in the Summer. Their structure makes them a tough out, but a lack of scoring depth continues to hold them back. In a division this deep, the margin for error is slim, and the Isles will need breakout performances from their young forwards to surprise. As things stand, they look more like a wild-card hopeful than a true division threat. Columbus Blue Jackets Odds to win division: +3000 Columbus once again projects in the lower tier. The Blue Jackets have intriguing young talent, including Adam Fantilli, Kent Johnson, and Kirill Marchenko, but they’re still several steps away from contention. Defensive structure and special teams have been major issues, and improvement in those areas will determine whether they climb the standings at all. For now, they remain a perennially-rebuilding club in a difficult division.Philadelphia Flyers Odds to win division: +4000 Philadelphia is firmly in rebuild mode, but optimism is building. Matvei Michkov has injected excitement into the lineup, and the Flyers’ young core is starting to take shape. Still, this season is likely about progress rather than contention. Defensive depth and goaltending remain big question marks, and consistency will be an issue. The Flyers are better positioned for the future than the present, but they could play spoiler throughout the season, especially if some curious offseason acquisitions, including Trevor Zegras, pan out.Pittsburgh Penguins Odds to win division: +10000 The Penguins are clinging to their veteran core, but the window looks narrower than ever. Sidney Crosby still sets the tone, but depth has eroded, and the defense can be exposed by quicker Metro rivals. Goaltending will need to be sharp for Pittsburgh to hang around. At these long odds, the market reflects a team that may still compete night-to-night but is unlikely to sustain a division-winning pace across 82 games. A pre-trade deadline fire sale is always an option should things go south.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: NFL, NCAAF, MLB and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 09/18/2025

by Big Al Staff

Thursday, Sep 18, 2025

The Thursday sports card features NFL, NCAAF, MLB, and UEFA Champions League action. Week 3 in the National Football League kicks off with one game. The Buffalo Bills host the Miami Dolphins on Prime Video at 8:15 p.m. ET. The Bills have won their first two games of the season after a 30-10 victory on the road in New York against the Jets on Sunday. The Dolphins have lost their opening two games of the year after a 33-27 upset loss at home against New England last week. Buffalo is a 12.5-point favorite with the total set at 49.5. Week 4 in NCAAF college football starts with one game between FBS opponents. Rice visits Charlotte on ESPN at 7:30 p.m. ET. The Owls are 2-1 this season after a 38-17 victory against Prairie View A&M on Saturday. The 49ers ended a two-game losing streak by winning their first game of the year in a 43-25 victory against Monmouth last week. Rice is a 2.5-point road favorite with an over/under of 44.5. Major League Baseball has 10 games on its schedule. Three MLB games throw out the first pitch at 1:10 p.m. ET. The Toronto Blue Jays play in Tampa Bay against the Rays as a -126 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The New York Mets play at home against the San Diego Padres as a -132 money-line favorite with an over/under 9. The Detroit Tigers are home against the Cleveland Guardians as a -209 money-line favorite with a total of  7.5. The Boston Red Sox host the Athletics at 1:35 p.m. ET as a -157 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Seattle Mariners are in Kansas City to take on the Royals as a -123 money-line road favorite with a total of 9. The Miami Marlins visit Colorado to face the Rockies at 3:10 p.m. ET as a -176 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10.5. Two MLB games are featured on Fox’s regional coverage at 7:15 p.m. ET. The Chicago Cubs play in Cincinnati against the Reds as a -123 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The New York Yankees are in Baltimore to challenge the Orioles as a -182 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Milwaukee Brewers play at home against the Los Angeles Angels at 7:40 p.m. ET as a -187 money-line favorite with a total of 8. The Los Angeles Dodgers are home against the San Francisco Giants at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -164 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8. Matchday 1 in the UEFA Champions League concludes with six league phase matches. Two matches start at 12:45 PM ET. Monaco travels to Club Brugge as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. Bayer Leverkusen plays at FC Copenhagen on the CBS Sports Network as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 2.5.Four matches conclude the UCL card at 3:00 PM ET. Manchester City plays at home against Napoli as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 2.5. Eintracht Frankfurt is at home against Galatasaray on the CBS Sports Network as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 3.5. Sporting Lisbon is home against Kayrat Almaty as a -2.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Barcelona is at Newcastle United as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with an over/under of 3.5. All eight Champions League matches are available on Paramount+.

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Inside The College Football Boxscores Week 3 – Part 2

by Matt Fargo

Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025

Fargo looks past the top line scores and goes deep into the box scores to get a better picture of what really happened for all of the FBS games the past weekend.West Virginia 31, Pitt 24The Backyard Brawl did not disappoint as a pretty uneventful first half turned into a second half shootout with West Virginia coming back from 10 points down late in the fourth quarter and scoring the game-tying touchdown with 11 seconds remaining. The Mountaineers converted a fourth and one in overtime and punched it in two plays later and then stopped Pittsburgh on a fourth and 20. Both teams averaged 4.8 yppl and the Panthers were hurt by 14 penalties for 118 yards.USC 33, Purdue 17USC took a 17-3 lead into halftime and had to settle for a field goal in its first second half possession while Purdue cut it to a two-possession game on its next possession before the Trojans scored the next 10 points to pull away. USC outgained the Boilermakers 460-357 as Purdue was guilty of throwing three interceptions, one returned for a touchdown and it could not get nothing going on the ground, rushing for 58 yards on 28 carries (1.9 ypc). USC was just 4-13 on third down but 4-4 on fourth down.SMU 28, Missouri State 10The Mustangs spotted Missouri St. a 10-0 lead after the first quarter and then outscored the Bears 28-0 the rest of the way as the defense clamped down. Missouri St. got an interception on the Mustangs first possession and turned it into a field goal and scored its touchdown after a missed field goal and did not have a drive more than 32 yards the rest of the game and finished 0-12 on third down. The Mustangs finished with 448 total yards but committed 12 penalties for 130 yards.North Texas 59, Washington State 10North Texas went 75 yards on its opening possession for a touchdown, picked off a Washington St. pass five plays later and scored another touchdown on its next play and it was game over. The Mean Green did have to punt after their next two drives failed but then scored on their next seven possessions. They outgained the Cougars 410-275 which was not a huge discrepancy based on the score but took advantage of five turnovers, four that turned into touchdowns covering just 63 total yards of offense.Iowa State 24, Arkansas State 16It was a letdown for Iowa St. following the CyHawk game as it fell behind 10-9 with 39 seconds remaining in the first half but went 76 yards in four plays to take a 17-10 lead into halftime. The Red Wolves kicked a pair of field goals to pull within one and the Cyclones responded with another 76-yard drive to go up eight and made a fourth down stop with 3:47 left and ran out the clock. Iowa St. outgained Arkansas St. 452-382 and 7.7 to 6.2 yppl as the Red Wolves had 10 penalties for 90 yards.Texas 27, UTEP 10Texas started slow as it held a 7-3 lead with under two minutes remaining in the first half but took the kickoff after the Miners field goal to score another touchdown to start a 20-0 run. UTEP went 87 yards late in the fourth quarter for a garbage touchdown as it had only 172 yards prior to that final possession. Texas finished with only 340 total yards, including 114 yards passing, as they won the time of possession by over 15 minutes thanks to 56 rushes and were outgained 4.4 to 4.2 yppl.Miami (FL) 49, USF 12South Florida could not pull off the third straight upset as the Hurricanes offense came out strong with touchdown drives of 75 and 85 yards in its first two possessions and it was pretty much done. The Bulls would get two field goals in their next two drives while Miami then put up 21 unanswered points. The Hurricanes outgained South Florida 576-332 and won the time of possession by 12 minutes while gaining 8.5 yppl. South Florida turned it over four times (2 turnovers and 2 fourth down failures).Middle Tennessee 14, Nevada 13Nevada was pitching a shutout through three and a half quarters before Middle Tennessee went 60 yards for a touchdown with 6:30 left, the Wolf Pack then missed a field goal and Middle Tennessee then went 76 yards and scored the game winning touchdown with 21 seconds remaining. The Blue Raiders were outgained 369-352 despite running 15 more plays which led to being outgained 6.2 to 4.7 yppl. Nevada finished just 3-13 on third down but rushed for 203 yards on 35 carries (5.8 ypc).Bowling Green 23, Liberty 13Bowling Green took a 10-0 lead into halftime as it was gifted by a pair of Liberty fumbles that turned into those two scores as the Falcons had only 111 total yards in six first half possessions. It was not much better in the second half as they had only 193 yards and were outgained for the game 346-304. The Flames had four turnovers, turned it over on a missed fourth down conversion from its own 26 yard line that led to a Bowling Green touchdown and also missed a field goal.FIU 38, Florida Atlantic 28These teams traded scores through the first half with Florida Atlantic taking a 21-17 lead with 57 seconds remaining until halftime and then Florida International took over. The Panthers took the second half kickoff and went 75 yards on eight plays for its first of three unanswered touchdowns. The Owls cut the lead back to 10 with 7:45 left on a blocked punt but never threatened after that. The Panthers were outgained 478-408 but the Owls had three turnovers and 11 penalties for 92 yards.Southern Miss 38, Appalachian State 22Appalachian St. jumped out to a 7-0 lead before the Golden Eagles went on a 38-7 run that included a 99-yard interception return for a touchdown and four offensive touchdown drives of 75, 75, 69 and 61 yards. The Mountaineers actually won the yardage 470-389 but threw three interceptions and the total yards were skewed as they had the ball for over 13 more minutes while running 34 more plays and they were outgained 6.9 to 5.2 yppl so Southern Mississippi was the better team.Ole Miss 41, Arkansas 35It was score for score for the entire first half with Mississippi jumping ahead 7-0 and eventually taking a 31-28 lead into halftime. The Rebels scored the first 10 points of the second half before Arkansas pulled to within six points with 4:56 remaining but the Razorbacks fumbled at the Mississippi 24-yard line with 1:52 left on its way to try and win the game. Arkansas outgained the Rebels 526-475 as it was buoyed by a strong running game as it rushed for 221 yards on 37 carries (6.0 ypc).Old Dominion 45, Virginia Tech 26Virginia Tech head coach Brent Pry was the other coaching casualty after the weekend following a 0-3 start. The Monarchs took a 28-0 lead into halftime and for the game, it racked up 526 yards of offense while averaging 8.5 yppl with a balanced attack of 276 yards passing and 250 yards rushing. Old Dominion encountered only nine third downs, converting four of those but did have eight penalties for 85 yards. The Hokies had 12 penalties for 113 yards and lost the turnover battle 3-0.Illinois 38, Western Michigan 0It was a third straight blowout win for Illinois to open the season but it took a while to get going as the Illini had just a 10-0 lead at halftime as they were forced to punt three times after three and outs before all three. The offense came alive in the second half as Illinois scored four touchdowns yet it managed only 358 total yards on 5.7 yppl but the defense made up for it. The Broncos had only 204 yards on 3.5 yppl while going 3-14 on third down and entered the Illinois redzone only once.Ohio State 37, Ohio 9We had a game for a while as Ohio St. only had a 13-3 lead at halftime and Ohio got the opening kickoff in the second half and scored on a 67-yard touchdown pass on its second play to make it 13-9 and the Buckeyes saw enough. They scored on four of their five second half possessions while the defense allowed just 22 yards on the Bobcats next four possessions and Ohio was only 3-15 on third down. Ohio St. outgained Ohio 572-181 and the offense put up 9.1 yppl and did not punt.Georgia Southern 41, Jacksonville State 34Georgia Southern did not trail until close to the end of the third quarter when Jacksonville St. scored with 22 seconds remaining to take a 34-31 lead. The Eagles tied it on its next possession with a 43-yard field goal and scored the winning touchdown with 6:23 left. The score was indicative of the game flow as the numbers were very even as Georgia Southern outgained the Gamecocks 410-394 including 219-214 in rushing and yppl at 6.2 to 5.8 and each team turning it over once.

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NFL News and Notes Through Week 2

by AAA Sports

Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025

Football is fully back now and the NFL season has had a couple of weeks to settle in. Some of the teams are already battling the injury bug while others are thriving and on the brink of a special year.  Injuries - The biggest injury through two weeks that stands out is most definitely the Joe Burrow (QB for Cincinnati) news. He sustained a turf toe injury in the game against the Jaguars in week two, that requires surgery and will keep him out of action for at least three months. For a Cincinnati squad that had a fantastic start to the season, that is a devastating blow. Keeping up with quarterbacks and turf toes, Brock Purdy (QB for San Francisco) continues to face the same issue. Fortunately, though, his is far less severe. Purdy should be back in a few weeks, which is fantastic news for 49ers supporters. George Kittle (TE for San Francisco) is also on the list of injuries that should be mentioned as he was moved to the IR after week 1. Kittle should be back by at least week 7 but hopefully sooner for Niner fans. Shifting gears a bit, the next big injury is on defense. Jaylon Johnson (CB for Chicago) missed the whole Bears' training camp with a groin injury which saw him also miss the first game against the Vikings. His attempted comeback in week two was cut short when he re-aggravated his injury, and it has been reported that he won't be making a comeback this season. This is awful news for Bears fanatics. Another noteworthy injury in the NFL over the first couple weeks includes the injury of Jayden Reed (WR for Green Bay.) When he tried to catch a touchdown in Thursday's Packers week two game against Washington, he fractured his collarbone. He underwent successful surgery, but is also going to be recovering from a Jones fracture on his foot.AAA's Top Contender From Each Conference - Baltimore Ravens - In the fourth quarter of their week one disaster against the Bills, Baltimore did appear to be in serious trouble. If it wants to win the Super Bowl this season, it still has a lot of work to do. Still, the Ravens are undeniably among the NFL's best teams, and thanks to Lamar and Henry, they perhaps have the league's most formidable one-two punch. We believe they will make it to the Super Bowl this season based on what we have seen thus far. Detroit Lions -Week one wasn't good, that's for sure. The Lions, nonetheless, answered with a decisive victory over Chicago in week two, and they now have a lot to look forward to for the rest of the season. With talented players at every position, our newly projected Super Bowl champion should have much improved rapport with both coaches and players as the season progresses.  AAA's Two Sleeper Teams - Los Angeles Chargers -We will continue to refer to the Chargers as a sleeper team in this division and conference in spite of their 2-0 start. The AFC is full of terrific teams, and we all know that Kansas City will turn things around. Still, it appears that LAC will be an issue this season, and the best part is that Herbert rarely ever turns the ball over.  San Francisco 49ers - Even though we had predicted the 49ers to be out Super Bowl pick before the season and have changed our minds after two weeks, that doesn't mean that we aren't still high on this team. They've got one of the top running backs in the league and Purdy / Kittle should return before mid season which will give them a lot of momentum heading into the final stages of the season.  AAA's New Super Bowl Pick (had SF before season) - Detroit Lions 

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College Football Top 10 (Week 4)

by Wayne Root

Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025

After a chaotic week of college football, there is going to be a lot of movement in our Top 10 Week 4. With all the style points and top 10 shake ups taken into consideration, here's the new Top 10.1. Oregon (3-0)Oregon has looked like the most dominant team in college football so far. Knowing east coast bias, this will not set well. Scoring-wise, Oregon’s victory at Northwestern wasn’t nearly as eye-popping as its 46-point drubbing of Montana State in the season opener or its 66-point whipping of Oklahoma State last week, but that doesn’t mean it was any less controlling. After punting on its opening possession, Oregon produced points on five consecutive drives — four touchdowns, one field goal — to build a 31-0 lead by the end of the third quarter in a game that was never in doubt. 2. Ohio State (3-0)Ohio State is clearly very good as well, but the Buckeyes did have some issues with Ohio this weekend. The score doesn't show it, but it was a four-point game in the third quarter. The Buckeyes did not score a touchdown until the 2:26 mark of the second quarter after turning the ball over on downs to begin the game and then settling for two field goals. There is plenty for head coach Ryan Day and his staff to address before conference play begins at Washington on Sept. 27. Reason for concern? Probably not. 3. LSU (3-0)LSU is still among the best of the best after a gritty win against Florida. The Gators are 1-2 on the year, but they still have talent. This was not LSU's cleanest game by anyone's estimation, but the Tigers defense continued to shine and Garrett Nussmeier made far less mistakes than his Florida counterpart in a 20-10 rivalry win. That was a good win for the Tigers, and they are still our pick to win the SEC.4. Penn State (3-0)Penn State's non-conference slate is over, and we really didn't learn a lot. The Nittany Lions did what they needed to do, and their next game is in Week 5 against Oregon. That game will be must-watch television.There are two sides to the Penn State coin after three comprehensive victories with a combined scoring margin of 132-17. That’s all great to see. But what’s going on with quarterback Drew Allar and Penn State’s offense? He ranks 66th nationally in passing yards with 626 — one spot below Michigan freshman Bryce Underwood — for an offense that is 83rd in both third-down conversion rate (38.9%) and red zone touchdown rate (58.8%). 5. Georgia (3-0)Georgia had its first big test of the season this weekend, and let's be real: The Bulldogs got lucky against Tennessee. The Volunteers had that game wrapped up near the end, but a late penalty led to a missed field goal, and the game went to overtime. Still, it's clear that both teams are very good. Voters will correct some of that reaction on the Georgia side after going into Knoxville and stealing a win from Tennessee in overtime. 6. Miami (3-0) Miami ended USF's miracle run with a blowout win at Hard Rock Stadium. The Bulls were 2-0 with wins over Boise State and Florida, but the Hurricanes weren't letting them pick up another marquee victory. The Hurricanes aren't dropping a spot as much as getting passed by Georgia. Miami will have its chances soon to log big road conference wins, but this week's 49-12 win against USF won't spark a big move up even if the Bulls were ranked before the matchup. Miami is our pick to win the ACC.7. Oklahoma (3-0)It was undoubtedly strange to see Oklahoma playing a road game at Temple early on this Week 3 Saturday, but the Sooners did not allow the score to draw any un-needed attention to this game. The defense put the clamps on Temple early and John Mateer picked up a couple of touchdowns for the highlight reel, but mostly there wasn't much from the win to warrant big moves in the rankings.Oklahoma took care of business on the road against Temple, and now an insanely difficult stretch begins for the Sooners. First up is Auburn. The Tigers are ranked, but this is still one of the easiest games remaining on Oklahoma's schedule.8. Florida State (2-0) The Seminoles were off in Week 3 and will be back in action next Saturday against Kent State. Florida State was on a bye week, but because of some losses in the top 10, the Seminoles move up.9. Texas A&M (3-0)The Aggies will find themselves in the top 10 after their thrilling win in South Bend on Saturday night over Notre Dame. Texas A&M pulled off an incredibly impressive road win against Notre Dame on Saturday. The Fighting Irish made some critical mistakes in that one, and the Aggies took advantage of all of them.10. Illinois (3-0)Rounding out the top 10 in our Week 4 Top 10 is Illinois. The Fighting Illini continue to look strong to start the year, and a big test awaits this week against Indiana on the road. The pieces are set in place for a huge matchup between undefeated Illinois and undefeated Indiana in Week 4. The Fighting Illini did their part late with a 38-0 win against Western Michigan after the Hoosiers handled their business (73-0) against an FCS foe on Friday.

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Big Al's Daily Angle: MLB and UEFA Champions League Previews and Odds - 09/17/2025

by Big Al Staff

Wednesday, Sep 17, 2025

The Wednesday sports card features MLB and UEFA Champions League action. Major League Baseball has 15 games on its schedule. The Chicago Cubs travel to Pittsburgh to play the Pirates at 12:35 p.m. ET as a -162 money-line road favorite with the total set at 8 (all odds from DraftKings). The Cincinnati Reds play in St. Louis against the Cardinals at 1:15 p.m. ET as a -113 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Baltimore Orioles are in Chicago to take on the White Sox at 2:10 p.m. ET as a -126 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Arizona Diamondbacks host the San Francisco Giants at 3:40 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line favorite with an over/under of 9. The Atlanta Braves visit Washington to face the Nationals at 4:05 p.m. ET as a -157 money-line road favorite with a total of 8.5. The Detroit Tigers play at home against the Cleveland Guardians on FS1 as a -157 money-line favorite with an over/under of 8.5. The Boston Red Sox are home against the Athletics at 6:45 p.m. ET as a -189 money-line favorite with a total of 9. The Toronto Blue Jays play in Tampa Bay against the Rays at 7:05 p.m. ET as a -132 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 8. The New York Mets host the San Diego Padres at 7:10 p.m. ET as a -112 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Three more MLB games throw out the first pitch at 7:40 p.m. ET. The New York Yankees are in Minnesota to challenge the Twins as a -176 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 9. The Kansas City Royals play at home against the Seattle Mariners as a -113 money-line favorite with a total of 8.5. The Milwaukee Brewers are home against the Los Angeles Angels as a -200 money-line favorite with an over/under of 7.5. The Texas Rangers travel to Houston to battle the Astros at 8:10 p.m. ET as a -126 money-line road favorite with a total of 8. The Miami Marlins play in Colorado against the Rockies at 8:40 p.m. ET as a -164 money-line road favorite with an over/under of 10.5. The Los Angeles Dodgers host the Philadelphia Phillies at 10:10 p.m. ET as a -150 money-line favorite with a total of 8. Matchday 1 in the UEFA Champions League continues with six league phase matches. Two matches start at 12:45 PM ET. Olympiacos plays at home against Pafos FC on the CBS Sports Network as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Slavia Praha is home against Bodo Glimt as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Four matches conclude the UCL card at 3:00 PM ET. Paris Saint-Germain hosts Atalanta as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Bayern Munich plays at home against Chelsea as a -0.5 goal-line favorite with a total of 3.5. Liverpool is home against Atletico Madrid as a -1.5 goal-line favorite with an over/under of 2.5. Inter Milan is at Ajax on the CBS Sports Network as a -0.5 goal-line road favorite with a total of 2.5. All eight Champions League matches are available on Paramount+.

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ASA's NFL News & Notes

by ASA, Inc.

Tuesday, Sep 16, 2025

ASA’s NFL NEWS & NOTES TAMPA BAY BUCS vs HOUSTON TEXANS – We were on Houston -2.5 on Monday night and lost out when Tampa Bay scored a TD with 6 seconds left to get the backdoor cover winning 20-19.  Tampa outgained Houston by 96 yards, however they also ran 72 offensive snaps to just 46 for Houston so the Texans actually held a 5.8 to 5.0 YPP advantage.  TB was also outgained 5.0 YPP to 4.6 YPP in their win @ Atlanta.  The Bucs are 2-0 and both of their wins @ Atlanta and @ Houston have come on a TD with less than 1 minute remaining to get the come from behind W’s.  Unfortunately, we played against them in both games.   CLEVELAND BROWNS – Keep an eye on this defense.  They held 2 potent offenses to very low YPP numbers in their first 2 weeks.  Cincinnati averaged a terrible 2.9 YPP vs Cleveland (and still won 17-16) and Baltimore averaged 4.5 YPP in their win last Sunday.  Those 2 opponents averaged 5.8 YPP and 6.8 YPP last year respectively.  The Browns are 0-2 partly due to their -4 turnover margin already after 2 games.  GREEN BAY PACKERS – We try and make sure we don’t overreact to results the first few weeks as things often change quite a bit throughout the season.  That being said, it’s hard not to be really impressed with Green Bay so far.  They have played 2 of the top teams in the NFC (Detroit & Washington) and outgained them by +1.9 YPP and +2.9 YPP respectively which is pretty dramatic.  For comparison’s sake, the Lions outgained Chicago by +3.5 YPP and Washington outgained NY Giants by +2.9 YPP in their other games. CINCINNATI BENGALS – The Bengals are 2-0 however they’ve been outgained in both of their games (vs Cleveland and Jacksonville) by a combined 727 to 491.  In last week’s 31-27 win over the Jags, the Bengals never led until 18 seconds left in the game.  QB Joe Burrow was injured (turf toe) and will miss multiple months.  Backup QB Browning does have some solid experience throwing for over 2,000 career yards MIAMI DOLPHINS – What is up with this defense?  They’ve allowed 33 points in each of their first 2 games vs Indianapolis & New England.  This stop unit has faced 14 offensive possessions this year (not including late half or end of game running kneel downs) and they’ve allowed their opponents to score points on 12 of those drives.  The Fins are @ Buffalo on Thursday night and the Bills have scored 71 points through 2 games. PHILADELPHIA EAGLES – The Super Bowl champs are 2-0 on the season but they have been far from impressive thus far.  They’ve been outgained in both games vs Dallas and Kansas City both in total yards and YPP.  Last week @ KC they were outgained 5.2 YPP to 3.7 YPP and still came away with a win.  The Eagles currently rank 30th in YPP offense and 18th in YPP defense.  Last season they leaned heavily on their running game ranking 1st in carries per game and 4th in YPC at 5.0.  Thus far this season they are still relying heavily on their ground attack (2nd in carries per game) but they are only averaging 3.9 YPC (20th in the NFL).  

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Something About Those 2-0 Teams in the NFL ...

by Vegas Writer

Tuesday, Sep 16, 2025

Ten teams have opened the 2025 NFL season 2-0, with at least one undefeated team in each division for the third time since 2002. And that includes four teams – Arizona, Cincinnati, Indianapolis and San Francisco – that missed the postseason in 2024.And for the second straight season, at least four teams started 2-0 the season after missing the playoffs. Here's a look at the games involving 2-0 teams:  L.A. Rams (2-0) at Philadelphia (2-0): In last season’s NFC Divisional playoffs, the Eagles defeated the Rams, 28-22, as running back Saquon Barkley became the sixth player ever with at least 200 yards rushing (205) and two rushing touchdowns in a postseason game. The teams also met in Los Angeles in Week 12 last season, a 37-20 Philadelphia victory in which Barkley became the fourth running back in the Super Bowl era with at least 300 scrimmage yards in a regular-season game. Los Angeles can begin 3-0 for the fourth time since head coach Sean McVay was hired in 2017 (2018-19, 2021), while Philadelphia can begin the season with three consecutive victories for the third time in five seasons under head coach Nick Sirianni (2022-23). In five of the past 10 seasons (2015-24), the reigning Super Bowl champion has begun 3-0 (2024 and 2020 Kansas City Chiefs, 2019 and 2015 New England Patriots, and 2016 Denver Broncos). Last week, Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts recorded his 45th career game with a rushing touchdown (including the playoffs), surpassing Pro Football Hall of Famer Steve Young (44 games) for the third-most such games by a quarterback in NFL history, including the postseason. Only Cam Newton (65 games) and Josh Allen (58) have more. Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Davante Adams recorded his 33rd career game with at least 100 receiving yards and a touchdown reception last week, tying Pro Football Hall of Famer Calvin Johnson (33 games) and Reggie Wayne (33) for the fifth-most such games since 1970. Arizona (2-0) at San Francisco (2-0): Since 1970, the Cardinals have opened the season 3-0 just five previous seasons (1974, 2012, 2014-15 and 2021). San Francisco has begun a season with three straight wins five times since 1990 (1990, 1995, 1998, 2019 and 2023). Cardinals defensive lineman Calais Campbell, appearing for Arizona for the first time since 2016, had two sacks in the team’s Week 2 win and became the fourth player age 39 or older to record multiple sacks in a game since 1982, joining James Harrison, Clay Matthews and Pro Football Hall of Famer Bruce Smith (three times). San Francisco running back Christian McCaffrey, with a touchdown reception in Week 2, became the third player in NFL history with at least 50 rushing touchdowns and 30 touchdown receptions, joining Pro Football Hall of Famers Marshall Faulk and Lenny Moore. McCaffrey is one of three running backs (James Cook and Bijan Robinson) with at least 100 scrimmage yards in each of the first two weeks of the season. Miami (0-2) at Buffalo (2-0): Buffalo can win their first three games for the second consecutive season and for the fourth time since 2017, when head coach Sean McDermott was hired. The Bills have won 12 straight regular-season home games, the longest active home winning streak in the NFL.Buffalo quarterback Josh Allen is 7-0 as a starting quarterback in Thursday games and can join Tom Brady (nine consecutive Thursday wins from 2002-15), Russell Wilson (nine from 2013-20) and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning (eight from 2004-13) as the only quarterbacks ever to win eight consecutive Thursday starts. Green Bay (2-0) at Cleveland (0-2): Green Bay can begin 3-0 for the third time (2019-20) since head coach Matt LaFleur was hired in 2019. Packers running back Josh Jacobs has a rushing touchdown in 11 consecutive games (including the playoffs) since Week 11 of the 2024 season. On Sunday, he can become the fifth player all-time with a rushing touchdown in 12 straight games, including the postseason, and the first since Pro Football Hall of Famer LaDainian Tomlinson (12 consecutive games in 2004). Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is one of two players (Carl Granderson) with at least 1.5 sacks in each of the first two weeks. Since 1982, when the individual sack became an official statistic, only four players have recorded 1.5-or-more sacks in each of their team’s first three games of a season: Mark Gastineau (1984 with the N.Y. Jets), Pro Football Hall of Famer Kevin Greene (1998 with Carolina), DeMarcus Lawrence (2017 with Dallas) and Haason Reddick (2021 with Carolina).   Cincinnati (2-0) at Minnesota (1-1): Cincinnati can begin a season with three consecutive wins for the first time since 2015. Among players with at least 50 career games played, Minnesota wide receiver Justin Jefferson (95.7 receiving yards per game).and Cincinnati wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (87.8 receiving yards per game) have the two highest receiving yards per game averages in NFL history. Jefferson recorded his 500th career reception last week and tied Larry Fitzgerald (26 years and 90 days old) as the youngest player in NFL history to reach 500 career receptions. Chase had 14 receptions for 165 yards and one touchdown in the Bengals’ Week 2 win and became the fourth player in NFL history with at least 14 receptions in three career games, joining Keenan Allen (six games), Antonio Brown (four) and Jason Witten (three).  N.Y. Jets (0-2) at Tampa Bay (2-0): Tampa Bay, which began 2-0 for the fifth consecutive season, looks to win its first three games of a season for the first time since 2005. The Buccaneers are the first team since the 1970 merger to score a game-winning touchdown in the final minute of each of their first two games of a season. Indianapolis (2-0) at Tennessee (0-2): Indianapolis looks to start 3-0 for the first time since 2009. In the first two weeks, the Colts became the first team in NFL history to score on each of their first 10 offensive possessions of a season and the first team in the Super Bowl era to not punt in either of their first two games in a season.Indianapolis quarterback Daniel Jones is one of four players in NFL history with at least 270 passing yards, a touchdown pass and a rushing touchdown in each of his team’s first two games of a season, joining Jack Kemp (1965 with Buffalo), Kyler Murray (2021 with Arizona) and Cam Newton (2011 with Carolina).  Denver (1-1) at the Los Angeles Chargers (2-0): The Los Angeles Chargers can begin the season with three straight wins for the first time since 2002. With divisional wins over Kansas City and Las Vegas in the first two weeks, the Chargers can become the third team since realignment in 2002 to defeat division opponents in each of their first three games of a season, joining the 2006 Chicago Bears and 2003 Minnesota Vikings.

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Inside The College Football Boxscores Week 3 – Part 1

by Matt Fargo

Tuesday, Sep 16, 2025

Fargo looks past the top line scores and goes deep into the box scores to get a better picture of what really happened for all of the FBS games the past weekend.NC State 34, Wake Forest 24Wake Forest returned the opening kickoff of the game for a touchdown and jumped ahead 14-0 after one quarter and had a 10-point lead late in the second quarter but NC State outscored the Demon Deacons 20-0 the rest of the way. The Wolfpack scored its second touchdown on an interception return, one of two forced turnovers. NC State outgained Wake Forest 406-311 and doubled the Demon Deacons up on first downs 24-12 while winning the time of possession by nearly 17 minutes.Houston 36, Colorado 20Houston outgained Colorado 431-300 and the score could have been a lot worse but the Cougars had to settle for six field goal attempts, converting five of those and ended up punting only once the entire game. The Cougars won the time of possession by over 13 minutes and ran 19 more plays and averaged just 5.6 yppl compared to 5.2 yppl for the Buffaloes so it was not complete domination. It was a balanced attack for Houston as it rushed for 209 yards and passed for 222.Arizona 23, Kansas State 17The brutal start for Kansas St. continued as it took a 3-0 lead but gave up a touchdown on the next Arizona possession and never regained the lead. Even though it was only a six-point win, Arizona controlled the game as it had the ball for nearly 14 more minutes, ran 26 more plays and outgained Kansas St. 412-193. 75 of those yards for Kansas St. came on its opening play of the second half for a touchdown while it registered only 8 first downs as it went 3-17 on third and fourth down.New Mexico 35, UCLA 10UCLA suffered its third straight loss to open the season and the start ended up costing head coach DeShaun Foster his job. New Mexico jumped out to a 14-0 lead but the Bruins came back to make it a game as they trailed 14-10 early in the fourth quarter until the Lobos took over with a 21-0 game ending run. New Mexico could have put the game away earlier but turned the ball over twice at the UCLA three-yard line, once with a fumble and once on downs. The Lobos won the yards 450-326.Alabama 38, Wisconsin 14Alabama dominated from the start as it jumped ahead 28-0, the fourth touchdown scored on its first play of the second half. Wisconsin returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown and scored its other touchdown in garbage time on a drive that accounted for 70 of their 209 total yards. The Crimson Tide put up 454 yards of offense on just 52 plays (8.7 yppl) but it was not a perfect game as they rushed for only 72 yards on 22 carries (3.3 ypc) while going 2-8 on third down.Georgia Tech 24, Clemson 21Georgia Tech kicked the game-winning 55-yard field goal as time expired to pull off the upset. Clemson outgained the Yellow Jackets 381-358 but lost the turnover battle 2-0 as it fumbled deep in its own territory to open the game and threw an interception at the Georgia Tech nine-yard line. The Tigers tied the game with just over three minutes remaining but were unable to stop Georgia Tech on its last 10-play possession. The two teams combined for only five penalties.Oklahoma 42, Temple 3This game was over early as Oklahoma built a 25-0 lead five minutes into the second quarter and never looked back. The Sooners outgained Temple 515-104 while holding the Owls to only seven first downs. Temple could not get anything going on the ground as it rushed for 26 yards on 27 carries (1.0 ypc) which led to long third down attempts where it went 3-16 resulting in 12 punts. The Owls only score came after an Oklahoma fumble where they lost three yards before kicking the field goal.Memphis 28, Troy 7Memphis outgained the Trojans 430-112 in a very balanced attack, rushing for 217 yards and passing for 213 yards. The Tigers managed only four touchdowns as they were just 6-15 on third down and were forced to punt in four of five second half possessions while turning it over twice in the first half. The Trojans only score came on a 15-yard fumble return for a touchdown as 73 of their 112 yards came on their final drive, resulting in an interception. Troy punted in its first 11 possessions.Michigan 63, Central Michigan 3Michigan piled up 616 total yards that included 381 yards rushing on 55 carries (6.9 ypc) and it finished with 35 first downs which led to running 27 more plays. The Wolverines missed a field goal in the first quarter and threw an interception in the second quarter but scored a touchdown on all nine other possessions not counting the six-play drive to end the game. Central Michigan had an 81-yard drive that resulted in its field goal and had only 58 yards in its other 11 possessions.Oregon 34, Northwestern 14The Ducks dominated from the start as they took a 34-0 lead early into the fourth quarter and took the foot off the gas. The Wildcats then went on a 75-yard drive for their first score, forced a punt and then scored on a 79-yard run three plays later to find the backdoor. Oregon only outgained Northwestern 373-313 but the Wildcats racked up garbage yards while throwing two interceptions and turning it over on downs twice. Oregon was balanced and efficient, committing no penalties.Buffalo 31, Kent State 28Kent St. is now 0-23 in its last 23 FBS games after blowing a few leads. The Golden Flashes jumped ahead 14-0 before Buffalo ran off 24 unanswered points but Kent St. retook the lead with a pair of touchdowns but the defense allowed the Bulls to go 76 yards on eight plays in just 1:29 for the game-winning touchdown. Kent St. won the time of possession by nearly 15 minutes yet ran only eight more plays but rushed the ball 15 more times than Buffalo for the discrepancy.Auburn 31, South Alabama 15Auburn was never threatened as it went ahead 21-3 early in the second quarter but the game was closer than what the score says. The Tigers outgained South Alabama by only 27 yards 337-310 as the Jaguars missed out on numerous opportunities. They missed an early field goal, had two turnovers while failing on a fourth down try and those four possessions wasted 183 yards with no points. Despite just 46 combined points scored, there were only three punts the entire game.Missouri 52, Louisiana 10It was complete domination from the Tigers as the offense racked up 606 total yards and controlled the ball for nearly 43 minutes. Missouri punted only once, threw an interception deep in its own territory that led to a Louisiana field goal and missed a field goal so it could have been even worse. The Cajuns lone touchdown came on an 84-yard run on a one play drive and they had only 37 total yards other than that and was limited to four first downs with one of those by way of penalty.Delaware 44, UConn 41Connecticut had its second straight devastating loss, losing in overtime again. Delaware tied the game at the end of regulation on a 43-yard field goal and scored a touchdown after forcing a Huskies field goal to pick up its first FBS win since joining the FBS. The Huskies won the yardage battle 521-512 with each team finishing with 29 first downs. It was a clean game with no turnovers and 13 combined penalties and only seven punts. Both teams rushed for 5.5 ypc.Georgia 44, Tennessee 41It was back and forth all day as Tennessee built a 21-7 lead in the first quarter but Georgia ran off 20 straight points to take its first lead, gave it back and then regained it to open the fourth quarter. Tennessee upped its lead to eight points but the Bulldogs went 75 yards in 4:08 to tie the game and then scored the game winner three plays into overtime. Georgia outgained the Volunteers 502-496 but ran 17 more plays and were outgained 7.1 to 5.8 yppl but Tennessee committed 10 penalties.Texas Tech 45, Oregon State 14This was no contest out of the gate as Texas Tech opened up a 45-0 lead early in the fourth quarter, outgaining the Beavers 575-177 over that stretch. Oregon St. scored two late touchdowns in garbage time to save some face where it put up 112 yards. The Red Raiders threw for 478 yards but rushed for only 121 yards on 40 carries (3.0 ypc) which kept time of possession nearly equal. The Beavers rushed for only eight yards on 22 carries (0.4 ypc) and finished just 7-17 on third down.

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