College Football Betting News and Notes Thursday, October 2

Oregon, Arizona clash
By Sportsbook.ag

ARIZONA WILDCATS (4-0) at OREGON DUCKS (4-0)

Sportsbook.ag Line & Total: Oregon -23, Total: 70

No. 2 Oregon will look for some revenge on Thursday night when it hosts undefeated Arizona in Eugene.

Last season, these two teams met in Tucson, with the Wildcats dominating the Ducks in a 42-16 victory. The 26-point defeat was the worst loss that an Oregon team had suffered since a 44-10 loss at USC in 2008. Arizona (1-3 ATS) was outgained its opponent that day (506 to 482), but dominated the line of scrimmage, rushing for 304 yards while having the ball for 35:29. The best way to slow down the Ducks offense is to keep it off the field, and the Wildcats will try to do that again.

Arizona is coming off a thrilling victory against California, winning the game on a last second Hail Mary. However, the team has not done well the past three seasons coming off a big win, going 1-8 after two or more consecutive straight-up wins. Arizona has not defeated a ranked team on the road since a victory against USC in 2009, and lost 49-0 the last time it visited Eugene. The Ducks (1-3 ATS) had a week off after a much-tougher-than-expected victory against Washington State. That bye could play a big role in this game, as college football favorites of 21.5 to 31.5 points off a bye week are 51-17 ATS (75%) in the past 10 seasons. Oregon QB Marcus Mariota is one of the best players in the nation, but in the game last season, he threw two of his the interceptions he recorded on the season in that defeat. The only significant injury in this matchup is Oregon OL Jake Fisher (knee), who is considered questionable.

In the victory against Cal, the Wildcats scored 36 points in the final quarter to complete an incredible comeback. QB Anu Solomon (1,454 pass yards, 13 TD; 167 rush yards) had a huge game against the Bears, throwing for 520 yards. The freshman from Las Vegas has done a nice job of not turning the ball over this year, throwing only three interceptions. He is a big reason his team ranks in the Top 30 in the nation in passing (366 YPG, 8th), scoring (42.0 PPG, 16th) and 29th in rushing (228 YPG), making the offense very difficult to slow down. RB Nick Wilson (77 carries, 482 rush yards, 4 TD) explodes from the backfield, and is the perfect complement to the strong passing attack. The Wildcats have two wide receivers, Cayleb Jones (29 catches, 475 yards, 6 TD) and Austin Hill (15 catches, 263 yards, 3 TD) that are capable of stretching the defense. In the win against California, Jones had 13 catches for 186 yards and three touchdowns. Hill, on the other hand, caught the Hail Mary.

The Ducks have a star in the secondary in Ife Ekpre-Olomu, but he will be able to cover only one of those guys, and does not have the height to battle for the ball the pair of 6-foot-3 receivers. However, the offense should be able to score, but if the Wildcats are going to get the upset win, the defense will have to come to play. Linebacker Scooby Wright III (51 tackles, 7 TFL and 4 sacks) is the leader on a defense allowing a subpar 27.3 PPG (77th in the country). Senior safety Jared Tevis (37 tackles, 1.5 TFL, 1 INT) is a talented player that will play a huge role in this game. He will have to make sure the Ducks do not get behind him, while also having to help stop the run.

The Ducks have been one of the top offenses in the country the past few seasons, and this season is no different. Oregon enters this game ranked 4th in scoring (48.5 PPG), 16th in passing (330.3 YPG) and 33rd in rushing (225.3 YPG). There are so many players on this team that can make the can make the big play, but none of them do it better than QB Marcus Mariota (1,135 pass yards, 11.8 YPA, 13 TD, 0 INT) is as effective of a quarterback as there is in the country. He can provide the team with a big play at any given moment, but he also does not take the big risks that can hurt the team. Mariota has also gained 214 rushing yards and three touchdowns. However, his first instinct is not to run the ball, knowing he has teammates that can dominate the game from that position.

RB Royce Freeman (48 carries, 261 yards, 5 TD) is the workhorse back of the group, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. When the team is in third-and-short, this is the guy they are looking to. However, if they are seeking a long gainer, RB Byron Marshall (21 carries, 201 yards, 1 TD) is the man. Like the ground game, the Ducks rely on multiple players to catch passes from Mariota. WR Devon Allen (14 rec, 299 yards, 5 TD) has emerged as the top target for Mariota when he is attacking down the field. Marshall (235 rec. yards, 2 TD) and WR Keanon Lowe (13 rec, 221 yards, 3 TD) are also two guys that defenses have to focus on. Like the Wildcats, the offense is the strength of the Oregon team, but will need a huge performance from the defense to cover the hefty spread in this game.

The defense enters the game ranked 42nd in the nation in points allowed (21.3 PPG). However, that unit allowed Washington State to throw for 436 yards on them two weeks ago. Safety Reggie Daniels (28 tackles) is the leading tackler on this team, but he will be tested a lot. CB Ifo Ekpre-Olomu (10 tackles) is one of the superior cover corners in the country, but he will have to remain disciplined for his team to get the sizable victory. DB Erick Dargan has three interceptions on the season, and he will also be counted upon to help slow down the Wildcats offense.

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Arizona at Oregon
By Joe Nelson
VegasInsider.com

College football is back to open up October on Thursday night with a huge game in the Pac-12. Last week’s Thursday night Pac-12 clash proved to be a blowout, but this week’s matchup of undefeated teams could provide a great test for Oregon, one of the national favorites going against an upstart Arizona team that beat the Ducks last season.

Match-up: Arizona Wildcats at Oregon Ducks
Venue: Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Oregon
Date: Thursday, October 2, 2014
Time/TV: 10:30 PM ET (ESPN)
Line: Oregon -23
Last Meeting: 2013 Arizona (+18.5) 42-16 at Arizona

Oregon has opened the season 4-0 with a big win over Michigan State under its belt. The Ducks are one of the favorites in the national picture this season, but the Pac-12 season will be a great challenge as the narrow conference opening win over Washington State displayed. While Stanford has handed Oregon its first loss each of the last two seasons, Arizona also beat Oregon last season in one of the more shocking results of the season.

Two weeks after then #2 Oregon lost at Stanford, they traveled to Tucson to face an Arizona team coming off back-to-back losses. Three Oregon turnovers helped the upset cause but Arizona dominated on the ground behind Ka’Deem Carey, with the Wildcats posting over 300 yards rushing. Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota had an interception on the first play from scrimmage and Arizona was in control the entire way. The last time these teams met in Eugene featured quite a different result with Oregon winning 49-0 in 2012.

Rich Rodriguez has resurrected his career in Tucson with back-to-back 8-5 seasons and the window may be open for the Wildcats in the Pac-12 South to produce an even stronger season in 2014. Arizona is 4-0, but it has not been a dominant start with each of the last three wins coming in one-score games, including a miraculous comeback at home against California two weeks ago. This game could prove to be a pivotal point in the season for the Wildcats as next week Arizona hosts USC and losing back-to-back games could be a big blow for a young team.

In a bit of a surprise, redshirt freshmen Anu Solomon won the starting quarterback job for the Wildcats and he has played well with 13 touchdown passes in four games though he has three interceptions in his last two games. Solomon attempted 73 passes in the win over California while also rushing 16 times as he led Arizona to 36 fourth quarter points. Arizona was lucky to win on a Hail Mary pass in the end, but Solomon’s resolve and leadership should go a long way to building confidence with his teammates.

The Arizona defense allowed big numbers in the Cal game and the Wildcats are allowing over 27 points per game this season. While Solomon has been a bigger passing threat than most expected, this is still a great rushing team, posting 228 yards on the ground Nick Wilson leading the team with 482 yards on 6.3 yards per carry. Sophomore wide receiver Cayleb Jones already has 29 receptions this season including 22 in the last two games as the top aerial threat for the Wildcats.

Mariota is a Heisman Trophy frontrunner for the Ducks and he has 13 touchdowns and no interceptions in four games this season while also rushing for 214 yards. Mariota has taken 10 sacks already this season and it is clear that the Oregon offensive line is not as strong this year as in past seasons for the program. Oregon is rushing for 225 yards as a team, but that is an average well down from last season when the team rushed for 274 yards per game. Oregon is still the fourth-highest scoring team in the nation at this point in the season, however, averaging over 48 points per game. By season’s end, putting up 46 points against Michigan State should look pretty impressive, but the big win for the Ducks was a bit misleading with 21 unanswered points late in the game.

Oregon’s game with Washington State two weeks ago to open the Pac-12 season provided reason for concern for the Ducks. Oregon had clobbered Washington State in the previous two seasons with the Cougars led by Mike Leach. This year, the Cougars had the ball with a chance to tie the game late and the yardage in the game was nearly identical. Washington State had two turnovers compared to none for the Ducks and Mariota played a simply remarkable game to lead the Ducks to the win, completing 21 of 25 passes with five touchdowns.

Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday certainly exposed the Oregon defense in passing for 436 yards for Washington State and if not for a few key plays it could have been a huge upset that would have completely shaken up the Pac-12 picture. That success should give confidence to a more versatile Arizona offense entering this game.

While an 11-2 season in Mark Helfrich’s first season leading the Ducks is nothing to scoff at, Helfrich has huge shoes to fill taking over for Chip Kelly and the expectations will remain sky high. Next up on the schedule is a huge game at UCLA that many figure to be a preview of the Pac-12 title game at the end of the season. This may be the more important game for the Helfrich and the Ducks, needing to bounce back after a shaky performance and while seeking to avenge an embarrassing loss from last season.

Arizona Historical Trends: The Wildcats have covered in six of the last nine meetings with Oregon going back to 2005, but they are just 3-7 ATS at Oregon since 1989 with just one S/U win. Arizona is on a 97-80-2 ATS run as an underdog going back to 1980 including going 62-45 ATS as a road underdog and 27-18 ATS as a double-digit road underdog.

Oregon Historical Trends: Despite some inflated spreads in recent years, Oregon is 39-32-2 ATS at home since 2003, and 30-26-2 ATS as a home favorite since 2005. Oregon is just 8-13-1 ATS since 2011 as a favorite of 20 or more, however, including failing in all three instances already this season.

There are two additional games on the Thursday night:

Florida Atlantic at Florida International

Line: Florida Atlantic -7

Florida Atlantic has failed to cover in three straight meetings in this South Florida series, although the Owls won 21-6 with convincing numbers in last season’s meeting, holding FIU to just 132 yards. Both teams are coming off upset wins last week as Florida Atlantic beat Texas San Antonio, 41-37 and Florida International won at UAB, 34-20. Both teams caught some breaks last week, but the winner of this game should emerge in the Conference USA East race or at least the bowl picture with the victor moving to 3-3. Florida Atlantic has played the tougher schedule and has the better offensive numbers, but Florida International has been stout defensively while creating 17 turnovers in five games.

The Panthers do have the worst third down conversion percentage in the nation as the offense has been very limited. With junior quarterback Jaquez Johnson healthy, the Owls are the more viable offensive team and he had a great game last week in a significant win over UTSA. The spread was nearly four touchdowns for the Owls at home last season as Florida International was a 1-11 team last season closing out the season, but both of these teams have looked improved in 2014. Florida Atlantic is 6-2 ATS as a road favorite since 2007.

Central Florida at Houston

Line: Houston -3

The Cougars have an impressive recent track record at home, but so far this season Houston has been a disappointment, failing in its two biggest games with losses to Texas-San Antonio at home and at BYU. This is the first AAC game of the season and after losing 19-14 to the eventual conference champions last season, this is a big game on the schedule. Central Florida has already lost more games than last season in a 1-2 start although both losses came against quality teams away from home.

UCF has had a lot of time to prepare for this game in what may prove to be a critical game to turn the season around for a program that has been very successful in now 11 seasons under George O’Leary. Both Houston wins have come against FCS foes, but the Knights have struggled this season and the strong run defense for UCF may not be a huge factor in this matchup given Houston’s tendency to pass. Opponents have converted over 50 percent of third down plays vs. UCF this season which is a concern for a defense-oriented squad. Central Florida is 11-6 ATS as a single-digit road underdog since 2005, but Houston is 19-9-1 ATS as a home favorite since 2008.

Game of the Day: Arizona at Oregon
By Covers.com

Arizona Wildcats at Oregon Ducks (-23.5, 76)

Two of the final three undefeated Pac-12 teams meet Thursday as Arizona visits fourth-ranked Oregon, which is looking to avenge last season’s 42-16 loss. Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota, who threw two interceptions in last season’s defeat, leads the Heisman Trophy race with 13 touchdowns and no interceptions while completing 74 percent of his passes through four games. Mariota should thrive against the Pac-12’s second-worst passing efficiency defense, but Arizona’s explosive offense has the weapons to keep pace.

Both teams are playing for the first time since Sept. 20, when the Wildcats used a Hail Mary pass from Anu Solomon to Austin Hill on the final play of the game to record a 49-45 win over California. Mariota was sacked seven times in the Ducks’ 38-31 triumph at Washington State, but he passed for 329 yards and five touchdowns - including the game-winner with less than six minutes remaining. Arizona, which snapped its five-game losing streak against Oregon last season, has won three of its four contests this year by seven points or fewer.

LINE HISTORY: Pinnacle Sports opened the Ducks as 22.5-point faves but that is now -23.5. The total opened at76.

INJURY REPORT: Arizona - DL Jeffrey Worthy (Questionable, concussion), WR Samajie Grant (Questionable, concussion).

WEATHER: Temperatures will be in the high-50s under clear skies. Wind will blow across the field at 4 mph.

WHAT CAPPERS SAY: "Revenge looms large for the Ducks who dropped a 42-16 decision as 18.5-point favorites at Arizona last year. With Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez 0-6 ATS in his last six games versus undefeated conference opponents, it would be no surprise to see the Wildcats to lose for the 11th time in a row in an away game off a pair of home games when facing a foe off a win." Covers Expert Marc Lawrence.

ABOUT ARIZONA (4-0 SU 1-0 Pac-12, 1-3 ATS, 2-2 O/U): Solomon, a redshirt freshman, overcame a slow start and completed 47-of-73 passes for a school-record 520 yards and five touchdowns against California. Wide receiver Cayleb Jones is an emerging star for the Wildcats’ offense, which averages 405 yards and features freshman Nick Wilson - who ranks second in the Pac-12 in rushing yards (482) and yards per game (120). The defense allowed 573 yards against California, but linebacker Scooby Wright III has been a bright spot as he leads the Pac-12 with 12.8 tackles per game.

ABOUT OREGON (4-0 SU 1-0 Pac-12, 1-3 ATS, 2-2 O/U): The bye week came at an opportune time for Oregon, which needed the extra rest to improve an offensive line that lost tackles Tyler Johnstone, Andre Yruretagoyena and Jake Fisher to leg injuries early in the season. The Ducks’ defense allowed 436 passing yards against Washington State and will be tested again by the Wildcats, who are hoping to repeat last year’s effort as they were 6-for-6 inside the red zone. “It’s a new year, and new teams, and I feel like both teams are better,” receiver Keanon Lowe told goducks.com. “That being said, we remember vividly that feeling of going in Arizona and getting our butt whooped.”

TRENDS:

* Home team is 5-2 ATS in their last seven meetings.
* Ducks are 0-5 ATS in their last five conference games.
* Under is 4-0 in Ducks last four Thursday games.
* Wildcats are 1-4 ATS in their last five Thursday games.

COVERS CONSENSUS: According to Covers Consensus, 50.17 percent of bettors are backing the visiting Wildcats.

NCAAF Week 6

Florida Atlantic lost all three road games, scoring total of 26 points, but FAU won six of last eight games in this series, with last four decided by 10+ points., Underdogs covered four of last five FAU-FIU games. Owls outgained Panthers 431-132 LY, 179-43 on ground; FAU is 2-9 in last 11 games as a road favorite. FIU upset UAB as 14-point dogs last week; they're 4-9 in last 13 games as home underdog, 1-1 in '14. Last two FAU games were decided by total of five points. Nationwide, home underdogs are 13-13 vs spread in confeence games.

Central Florida won last three games with Houston by 5-7-5 points, as underdogs covered three of last five in series; Knights split last two trips here, losing 51-31, winning 40-33. UCF hasn't played I-A foe in almost three weeks; they allowed 64 points in losing first two I-A games- they are 13-8 in last 21 games as a road dog. C-USA home favorites are 1-4 vs spread so far this year. Houston is 21-10 in last 31 games as home fave, 7-5 under Levine- all three of their lined games this year stayed under.

Oregon scored 44 ppg in winning first three I-A games, struggling 38-31 in last game at Wazzu; Ducks lost 42-16 at Arizona LY, after winning 11 of last previous 14 games vs Wildcats; Ducks' last three series wins were by 19+ points. Arizona is 4-0, with last three wins by 7 or less points; they scored 36 4th quarter points, 19 in last 4:00 to win last game 49-45. Wildcats are 2-5 as road dogs under RichRod. Oregon is 5-4 as home favorite under Helfrich; they play UCLA next week; better not look past this game. Pac-12 home favorites are 1-4 vs spread this season.

Armadillosports.com