NCAAF News and Notes Saturday 9/12

College Football Weekend Cheat Sheet: Week 2
By MATT SEVERANCE

There's only one game pitting two top-25 games this week, but it’s a doozy. Here’s a quick look at all the ranked teams in action (unless they are facing an FCS school).

Troy at No. 1 Florida (-36, 59)

UF coach Urban Meyer claims Troy has more NFL talent than “several” SEC schools. Then why did the Trojans lose by 17 points to Bowling Green last week? Troy did nearly beat LSU last year, leading 31-3 at one point.

Florida allowed 31 points the last time Troy visited in 2007, so Meyer will remind his Gators of that. But Troy has lost eight in a row to ranked opponents.

No. 2 Texas at Wyoming (+32.5, 56.5)

How on earth did Wyoming get Texas to visit for this one? The Horns are the highest-ranked team ever to play in Laramie. Cowboys coach Dave Christensen is Missouri’s former offensive coordinator, so he should know what to expect from UT.

It’s not like Texas will lose here, but UT could get caught looking ahead to dealing with high-flying Texas Tech next week. Plus the Horns will be playing at an altitude of 7,220 feet above sea level – Wyoming’s stadium is the highest above sea level in Division I.

No. 3 Southern Cal at No. 7 Ohio State (+6.5, 45)

Remember that USC will again be without No. 2 wideout Ronald Johnson (also a great return man) because of his broken collarbone. Starting center Kristofer O’Dowd is expected back after missing the season opener while recovering from shoulder surgery.

Frankly, both the Big Ten and Ohio State need this game or that conference will be limited to one BCS bowl berth this year because respect for it is dropping. While USC romped in this game last year, Terrell Pryor wasn’t starting then. Dual-threat QBs have given USC trouble in the past.

Florida International at No. 4 Alabama (-34, 48.5)

Well, FIU had about eight months to prepare for this game, as the school didn’t play last week. Nick Saban called Golden Panthers WR T.Y. Hilton a better offensive player than anyone the Tide saw against Virginia Tech.

The Tide seem sure to have a slight letdown after playing Virginia Tech. Alabama tailback Mark Ingram (150 yards vs. Hokies) has the flu but is expected to play.

Syracuse at No. 5 Penn State (-28.5, 52)

First-year QB Greg Paulus looked decent last week against Minnesota. But the Orange won’t have starting outside linebacker Ryan Gillum because of injury.

Nittany Lions star LB Navorro Bowman might not play, as he is still bothered by a pulled groin after taking himself out of Saturday’s win over Akron.

Houston at No. 6 Oklahoma State (-15.5, 67.5)

This game should be fun. Behind Case Keenum, the Cougars will score. They did put up 37 points in last year’s loss. But they can’t stop anyone and they can’t run the ball.

OSU will make Houston a one-dimensional passing team. The often-maligned Cowboy defense held Georgia to just 95 yards on the ground last week. Meanwhile, Oklahoma State rushed for 379 yards and four TDs last year against the Cougars.

Vanderbilt at No. 9 LSU (-14.5, 44.5)

Don’t laugh, but Vandy currently has the No. 2 rushing attack in the country after gaining 433 yards on the ground in a win over Western Carolina.

Les Miles will have LSU focused after the Tigers were sloppy at Washington last week. Plus LSU, which has won five in a row in this series, lost its final three SEC home games last year - if it needs any more motivation.

Miami of Ohio at No. 11 Boise State (-37, 51.5)

This one has letdown game written all over it for Boise State, coming after the big home win over Oregon and a trip to Fresno State next week.

Other than not focusing, there’s no reason for Boise not to cover. Miami won just twice last year and was crushed 42-0 by Kentucky last week, totaling just 188 yards.

No. 12 BYU at Tulane (+17.5, 53)

BYU is another team apt for a letdown after what it did to Oklahoma last week. The Cougars held the Sooners to their fewest points in three years and Tulane is not a good offensive team.

Tulane owns the nation's third-longest losing streak, losing to Tulsa last week for its ninth consecutive setback. But the team did play much better, especially QB Joe Kemp, after falling down 17-0.

Marshall at No. 15 Virginia Tech (-19, 43.5)

The Herd have to be salivating at dealing with Virginia Tech’s offensive line after the Hokies had 155 yards of offense last week and QB Tyrod Taylor was sacked five times and finished with minus 26 rushing yards.

Hokies defensive coordinator Bud Foster promised his unit will respond after getting gouged last week for 498 total yards by Alabama. Tech hasn’t dropped a home opener in 14 years.

No. 16 TCU at Virginia (+11, 40.5)

There’s no way the Horned Frogs would have been giving 11 points before Virginia was beaten at home by William & Mary last week. TCU didn’t allow a TD its final two opponents of 2008 and could start 2009 the same way.

Even TCU coach Gary Patterson admits he is leery of the Cavs off that embarrassing loss. And maybe the Frogs are rusty since they haven’t played yet. Virginia is 12-17 against ranked teams under coach Al Groh.

No. 17 Utah at San Jose State (+13.5, 47.5)

The Utes have the nation’s longest winning streak and just watched as San Jose State mustered all of nine yards rushing and 1-for-16 on third downs last week against USC.

As for the Spartans, they might be catching Utah in a look-ahead game, as the Utes visit Oregon next week.

Arkansas State at No. 18 Nebraska (-21.5, 56.5)

The Red Wolves might be able to move the ball some against Nebraska, as the Huskers allowed 358 yards to Florida Atlantic last week, drawing the ire of Coach Bo Pelini.

Both Nebraska running back Roy Helu and quarterback Zac Lee were impressive last week. Helu had 152 yards rushing and three touchdowns. Over the past five regular season games, he is averaging 7.7 yards per carry.

No. 19 North Carolina at Connecticut (+4, 45.5)

If last year is any indication, the Heels should roll. They blocked three punts and intercepted three passes in a 38-12 win. Also, UNC’s starting offensive line is on average 40 pounds bigger than the Huskies’ defensive front four.

UConn won’t have to deal with Heels WR Dwight Jones, who remains out following knee surgery. Huskies QB Zach Frazer must improve dramatically from last week’s game vs. Ohio.

No. 20 Notre Dame at Michigan (+3.5, 47.5)

In his past two games, Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen has been arguably the best signal-caller in college football. The Irish won’t have starting fullback James Aldridge, who hurt his shoulder against Nevada.

The Wolverines, meanwhile, appear to have found a QB of their own in freshman Tate Forcier. The UM defense was very good against Western Michigan QB Tim Hiller, who is an NFL prospect. Notre Dame has lost nine of its past 12 road openers.

South Carolina at No. 21 Georgia (-6.5, 37.5)

Take the under in this one. Only once this decade in this series has either team scored more than 21 points. And the Gamecocks, who lost to Georgia 14-7 last year, looked great on defense last week against N.C. State.

Georgia’s offense didn’t look good against Oklahoma State, but South Carolina was much worse against an inferior opponent. Dawgs QB Joe Cox will start again after struggling against the Cowboys, but the team may start to mix in backup Logan Gray.

No. 24 Oregon State at UNLV (+7, 53.5)

OSU may add another weapon in former starting QB Lyle Moevao. He could be ready to play after not being at full strength since offseason rotator cuff surgery. He won’t start, however.

UNLV was a solid team last year, beating Arizona State and hanging with BYU. The Beavers have lost six road openers in a row and eight of their last nine non-conference road games.

No. 25 Kansas at UTEP (+12.5, 62.5)

The Jayhawks cruised against Northern Colorado in their opener despite sitting star WR Dezmon Briscoe because of suspension. But he is expected to play on Saturday as KU looks to end a six-year winless streak (but just three games) on the road against non-conference teams.

The Miners lost at home to MAC team Buffalo last week and are 3-44 all-time against ranked opponents, including nine straight losses since 1997. Two defensive starters, Anthony Morrow and Cornelius Brown, were cleared from injury and will play this week.

Games to Watch - Week 2
By Chris David

Week 2

Saturday - Notre Dame at Michigan (ABC, 3:30 p.m.)

Skinny

Two programs and two coaches on the so-called "hot seat" square off this Saturday, as Michigan welcomes Notre Dame. Some pundits were surprised the Fighting Irish were ranked 23rd in the preseason polls, especially after last year's 7-6 campaign. ND closed 2008 with a 49-21 rout over Hawaii and it opened this season with a 35-0 blowout over Nevada. Even though the competition hasn't been the greatest, QB Jimmy Clausen has completed 37-of-44 passes for 716 yards and nine scores in the two victories. The offense has looked good but the defense deserves some credit too. The shutout was the first for the Irish in seven years and it came against two opponents that have success lighting up the scoreboard. Michigan almost put up a bagel too in its opener, but had to settle for a dominating 31-7 home win over Western Michigan. Freshman QB Tate Forcier (179 yards, 3 TDs) looked sharp in his debut and helped the offense ring up 439 yards. The defense held the Broncos to 301 yards and intercepted future pro QB Tim Hiller twice en route to the win.

Gambling Notes

Unfortunately, there haven't been a lot of close calls in this rivalry lately. Four of the last six have been double-digit blowouts, including Notre Dame's 35-17 home win over Michigan last year. Surprisingly, the Wolverines outgained (388-260) the Irish but were done in by six turnovers, including four fumbles. The home team has won eight of the last 10 in this series. Notre Dame's last win in Ann Arbor came in 2005, when Brady Quinn quarterbacked the squad to a 17-10 triumph over the Wolverines. Michigan is catching points in this contest and while it's too early to gauge Rich Rodriguez yet, he did go 1-1 both SU and ATS as a home 'dog in 2008. Even though the Irish haven't been listed as road favorites often under head coach Charlie Weis, gamblers should be aware that ND is 8-0 SU and 5-2-1 ATS as a road 'chalk' during his tenure. The 'over' has gone 3-0 in the last three played at South Bend, but the 'under' has prevailed to a 3-0 mark in the last three in the Big House.

Saturday - Southern California at Ohio State (ESPN, 8:00 p.m.)

Skinny

All eyes will be on Columbus this Saturday Night, as round two between the Buckeyes and Trojans takes place from the "Horseshoe." Most don't believe Ohio State has a shot to beat USC and after watching Jim Tressel's squad last week against Navy. The Buckeyes barely squeaked away with a 31-27 victory over the Midshipmen and while the offense (6 scores) was consistent, it was the defense that has concerns. The unit gave up 342 total yards, plus they allowed Navy to convert 8-of-12 third down conversions. The Navy triple-option attack is hard to prepare for, but OSU better shape up this week when it faces a USC attack that just rang up 342 yards on the ground in its 56-3 win over San Jose State last week. RB Joe McKnight led the charge with 145 yards and two scores, which helped take some pressure off freshman QB Matt Barkley (15-of-19, 233 yards, 1 TD). The Spartans' offense wasn't a true test for USC, but Pete Carroll's defense only gave up 121 total yards and they posted a 1-of-16 performance on third downs.

Gambling Notes

USC opened up as a 6 ½-point road favorite, a role that Carroll (22-18 ATS) and his troops are very familiar with. Being a home underdog isn't something Ohio State is used too, especially under Tressel (1-2 SU, 1-2 ATS). OSU owns a 55-8 record at home under JT and only two of those losses (12, 11) have come by double digits. The Buckeyes are 0-4 SU and 1-3 ATS in their last four games as an underdog, which includes last year's 35-3 blowout loss to USC. The Trojans controlled the line of scrimmage and the turnover battle (3-1) as well. The only bright spot in the setback was the play of then freshman Terrelle Pryor, who went 7-of-9 for 52 yards and also racked up 40 yards on the ground. If there is a conference that USC owns, then it's the Big 10. The Trojans have won and covered nine straight, and all of the victories have come by double digits. If USC does capture the road win here, it does face a possible pitfall next week on the road against Washington and former Trojan coordinator Steve Sarkisian.

Other Games to Watch

Central Michigan at Michigan State

The MAC went 3-9 in the first week of play, which included Central Michigan's 19-6 loss at Arizona. Considering the Chippewas are considered the class of the conference, they better step up against Michigan State. The Spartans helped the Big 10 go 10-1 last weekend and have a better defense than the Wildcats.

Houston at Oklahoma State

Oklahoma State diced up Houston for 699 yards on offense en route to a 56-37 victory. The Cowboys posted a solid 24-10 win over then No. 13 Georgia last week and could be in for a let-down spot against an explosive Houston attack. The Cougars and QB Casey Keenum will at the very least test an OSU defense that is still suspect even after last week's effort against the undermanned Bulldogs.

UCLA at Tennessee

UCLA stunned Tennessee 27-24 in overtime last year in a game that they had no right to win. The Volunteers opened the Lane Kiffin era with a 63-point effort against Western Kentucky. Can they repeat that performance against the Bruins? Even though they played the Hilltoppers, the Vols' running duo of Montario Hardesty and freshman Bryce Brown has people in Knoxville smiling.

South Carolina at Georgia

The SEC has three conference games scheduled in Week 2, including this battle. This game could be a trap, considering South Carolina stole the public's money last Thursday in a 7-3 road victory against N.C. State. And, Georgia was humbled 24-10 to Okie State on Saturday. Total players looking for a play, might want to lean to the 'under' here, which is on an 8-0 run in this series.

Vanderbilt at LSU

Florida, Alabama and Ole Miss are all ranked above LSU in the SEC, but the Tigers might be the last team standing at the end of the year. The Tigers open up conference play on Saturday against Vanderbilt, who turned a lot of heads last year with a 7-6 mark and bowl win. Will LSU's talent overwhelm the Commodores or are we looking at an early upset on the Bayou?

vegasinsider.com

Vandy, LSU kick off SEC play
By AllStar.com

Having been known as a top program during the decade, LSU struggled last season during SEC play and finished below .500 for the first time since 1999. The 11th-ranked Tigers went 3-5 in the highly competitive SEC last season, losing their last four games -- three at home -- to end up third in the West.

The Tigers started the 2009 season with a win, beating Washington 31-23 last Saturday. After getting this season off to a winning start, the Tigers will try to begin conference play in strong form when they host Vanderbilt on Saturday night for the first time in almost five years.

LSU hasn’t won a National Championship in two seasons and are hungry to get back on top. The Tigers will count on quarterback Jordan Jefferson and wide receiver Terrance Oliver to help LSU’s explosive offense against a not always strong Vanderbilt squad. Jefferson, a sophomore, went 11 for 19 for 172 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for 42 yards on eight carries. Toliver caught four passes for 117 yards and a career-high two TDs. The junior doubled his scoring total from all of last year, when he managed 22 receptions for 257 yards in a reserve role.

"We knew Terrance was going to get the ball a lot (Saturday)," said Jefferson, who will get his first start at Tiger Stadium after starting three road games last year, including a 38-3 win over Georgia Tech in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl. "They were coming with corner blitzes, and I just fed him the ball."

With Jefferson and Toliver commanding the offense, Tigers coach Les Miles is hoping for a better performance defensively. Senior linebacker Jacob Cutrera returned an interception 29 yards for a first-quarter touchdown, but the defense managed one sack while allowing 478 yards -- 321 through the air. The Tigers allowed 215.4 passing yards per game last year, ranking only better than Mississippi's 221.7 in the SEC. They also gave up 15 passing scores compared to eight interceptions, a far cry from the 23 picks and 19 TDs from the previous season. Those struggles prompted Miles to hire John Chavis as defensive coordinator. Chavis held the same position at Tennessee from 1995-2008. "I think our new defensive coaches did a good job. The team was in position to make tackles and do things," Miles said. "We missed some tackles early on. "At times I saw that Tiger defense that I want it to be."

LSU is 20-7-1 all-time against Vanderbilt, winning the last five meetings. Despite being conference rivals, the teams haven't met since the Tigers won 34-6 at Nashville on Oct. 8, 2005. They last played in Baton Rouge on Oct. 30, 2004, a 24-7 win for LSU as it improved to 10-2-1 there in the all-time series.

The Commodores split eight conference games last year, dropping four of the last five as part of a 2-6 stretch. That came after they opened the season with five consecutive wins to climb as high as 13th in the AP poll.

Vanderbilt opened this season with last Saturday's 45-0 win over Football Championship Subdivision team Western Carolina. The Commodores generated 433 rushing yards with five of their six touchdowns coming on the ground, and the defense held the Catamounts to 115 yards.

"I thought it was a good win," coach Bobby Johnson said. "We got off to a very good start. Our defense played like we expected them to play. It gives us a good starting point and maybe we can move forward. Obviously, this week the competition is going to be a whole lot better.

"Offensively, we're realistic. We're not going to be able to run the ball as easily against LSU as we did against Western Carolina." Vanderbilt's rushing game is led by freshmen Warren Norman and Zac Stacy. Norman had 105 yards and two touchdowns last weekend, while Stacy ran for 133 and a score.

Betting Trends:
Vandy is 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games as a road underdog
LSU is 0-7 ATS in their last 7 home games
LSU is 1-7 ATS in their last 8 games
The UNDER is 18-6 in Vandy’s last 24 games
The OVER is 16-6 in LSU’s last 22 games

Notre Dame visits Ann Arbor
By AllStar.com

Notre Dame Offense vs. Michigan Defense:

After starting out the season with a win against Nevada, Notre Dame Quarterback Jimmy Clausen will have a tougher test this week against Michigan. Expect Michigan’s new defensive coordinator Greg Robinson to throw a number of different looks at him to see if the Junior can have another productive day throwing the ball.

DE Brandon Graham is the only pass-rushing threat the Wolverines have but Irish RT Sam Young is capable of holding his own in that matchup. Clausen is an experienced quarterback playing with a great deal of confidence. He can get rid of the ball quickly when the protection can't account for all the pass-rushers, and he has the arm strength to strike deep when the protection can pick up the blitz. Wide receivers Golden Tate and Michael Floyd are known for stretching the field but they can also gain yards after the catch. Look for Michigan to jam Robinson at the line of scrimmage but by doing so risk getting beat over the top, or play off the line and give them space to get open quickly. Clausen also can check to a receiver screen if he sees the corners giving Tate and/or Floyd too much of a cushion. If Wolverines safeties Troy Woolfolk and Michael Williams start drifting outside, Rudolph has the burst to get behind the linebackers and track the ball down.

Michigan middle linebacker Obi Ezeh (243 pounds) is an effective interior run-stuffer, and Notre Dame will be without FB/RB James Aldridge, who hurt his shoulder last week. However, the Fighting Irish still should have some success running between the tackles, especially in the second half. C Eric Olsen anchors a Notre Dame interior offensive line capable of controlling the line of scrimmage and wearing down a relatively thin Michigan defensive tackle group. In addition, RB Armando Allen’s vision makes him an effective inside runner, and 234-pound backup Robert Hughes is capable of pushing the pile in short-yardage situations.

Michigan Offense vs. Notre Dame Defense:

The Notre Dame defense isn’t going to just sit back and let the Freshman from San Diego pick them apart. Look for Irish defensive coordinator Jon Tenuta to blitz frequently and bring additional pass-rushers from different areas of the field. By applying the blitz Forcier will have less time to find options two and three. He's far less likely to locate his "hot" reads or check down to another play if and when he sees pressure coming.

Look for Tenuta's blitz package to disrupt the Wolverines' running game as well. Michigan's multiple-receiver sets stretch defensive fronts and create vertical seams, which running backs Carlos Brown, Vincent Smith, and Michael Shaw have the second gear to exploit. Notre Dame's linebackers and safeties will have a tough time countering that speed if and when the Fighting Irish stay conservative. Look for Notre Dame to force the Michigan running game to sideline and keep the Wolverine backs from making the long run.

Game Notes:

The Michigan secondary could be without CB Boubacar Cissoko, he injured his shoulder last week. The Wolverines will have a difficult time slowing down Tate, Floyd and Rudolph. Just as importantly, the Wolverines don't have the pass-rushers up front to get to Clausen with any consistency when they don't blitz. It all adds up to another big day for Clausen and another victory for Notre Dame.

Betting Trends:
Notre Dame is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 road games
Michigan is 2-7 ATS in their last 9 games
Michigan is 1-4 ATS in their last 5 home games
The UNDERDOG is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 meetings between the two teams
The UNDER is 4-1 in the last 5 played in the series at Michigan

Blue Turf Mis-Match
By Sportspic

Boise State 12-1 (7-3-2 ATS) a year ago opened the 2009 campaign posting a 19-8 win over the Ducks giving the Broncos an unbelievable 62-1 (39-15-1 ATS) mark the past 10 years in front of the home crowd. Second year pivot Kellen Moore completing 19-of-29 passes for 197 yards and a major along with D.J. Harper's one-yard scoring run was all Broncos needed as the defense held last years Pac-10 scoring and overall offensive leaders to just 31 rushing, 121 passing yards in the victory. Meanwhile, Red Hawks sporting one of the Nations worst offenses last season (18.4 PPG) to go along with one of the worst scoring defenses (32.7 PPG) kicked off the new season getting pounded 42-Zip by Kentucky marking a sixth straight loss (1-3 ATS) and 12th the past 14 on the field (4-8 ATS). The weak Red Hawks squad aren't about to be Bronco-Busters, lay the expect -37 knowing Boise State is 6-3 ATS laying heavy lumber (+30), 22-8 ATS home after allowing <100 rushing yards the previous game. As always best of luck.

Big Day for the Big Ten
By Judd Hall

It was three years ago that then No. 1 Ohio State and then No. 2 Michigan played in one of the greatest games of their rivalry for a spot in the BCS Title Game. It was also three years ago that those same two squads helped cement the appearance that the Big Ten’s elite wasn’t qualifies another conference’s jock strap.

This Saturday marks a chance for those two programs to help bring the pride back to the league as they play host to some of the most talented clubs in college football. Will the Buckeyes avenge their embarrassing defeat to Southern California? Can Rich Rodriguez prove his doubters wrong with a Michigan win over the Fighting Irish in Ann Arbor?

Southern California at Ohio State – 8:00 p.m. EDT, ABC

I’m certain that nobody needs to be reminded of the 35-3 lambasting that the USC levied on Ohio State out in Los Angeles last season. Will the memories of that embarrassment serve as inspiration for the Bucks at the Horseshoe?

The betting shops certainly don’t think they’re going to exact some revenge after listing the Trojans as seven-point road favorites with a total of 44 ½.

Gamblers aren’t buying into the Buckeyes as far as sportsbook.com are concerned with 89 percent of the public’s money is on Southern Cal to cover the spread. However, 83 percent of the cash on money line wagers are taking Ohio State to win outright for a plus-240 return (risk $100 to win $240).

You can’t fault the bettors that are taking the Trojans to cover after what happened in Columbus last weekend.

Ohio State was a 22-point home “chalk” against the Midshipmen. And everything was going according to plan for the Bucks as they took a 20-7 lead into halftime. Navy took advantage of the lackadaisical play that OSU employed to come within a two-point conversion late in the game. Brian Rolle intercepted Ricky Dobbs’s pass for a two-pointer to clinch a 31-27 victory.

Despite the scare, the Bucks did have some quality performances last Saturday. Terrelle Pryor completed 14 of 21 passes for 174 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed six times for 30 yards and another score. Daniel “Boom” Herron also ran for 72 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.

Ohio State’s defense knew that it was going to have its hands full with the triple-option. And sure enough, the Middies rushed 44 times for 186 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Luckily for the Bucks, USC runs a pro style attack that they’re much more familiar in defending. What will be interesting is how the Trojans handle coming into a hostile environment with a rookie under center.

Matt Barkley is the much ballyhooed true freshman quarterback running the show for Southern California this year. And he’s looked as good as advertised by connecting on 15 of his 19 pass attempts for 233 yards and one touchdown. Joe McKnight also shined as he compiled 145 yards and two scores on 14 carries.

While Barkley has shown he can be efficient on the field, he’s never seen a crowd like what he’ll see at Ohio Stadium on Saturday night. Randy Scott, sportsbook manager for betED, believes he factors into the line, but not to read much into that. “We think Barkley is being considered here because the line isn't more that a touchdown - this still is USC, one of the Top 3 favorites to win the national championship. When the line first opened at -7, we initially took action on OSU, but since have seen only USC action.”

Despite last year’s blowout, Ohio State is still 13-6 straight up and 10-8-1 against the spread in its last 19 games against Pac-10 schools.

Southern Cal has owned Big Ten programs as of late, posting a 17-8 SU and ATS mark against them recently.

The Buckeyes haven’t been listed as home ‘dogs often, just nine times since 1988. They are 3-5-1 SU and 5-4 ATS in those situations.

Pete Carroll’s squad has been great on the road against non-conference opponents, as evidenced by a 10-2 SU and 9-3 ATS record since 2001.

Notre Dame at Michigan – 3:30 p.m. EDT, ABC

The Irish and Wolverines have fallen on hard times over the past few years, but this year’s battle has a little more weight on it thanks to how last week played out.

Michigan had a horrible 3-9 record in Rich Rodriguez’s first season with the team last year. But that looked like a distant memory for the Wolverines after dumping Western Michigan as a 14-point home favorite, 31-7.

Tate Forcier appears to be the read deal for the Maize and Blue as a true freshman. The young gun slinger completed 13 of his 20 passes for 179 and three touchdowns. Michigan also got a solid outing from Denard Robinson by gaining 74 rushing yards and a score on 11 carries.

What could be a problem for the Wolverines is the fact that they gave up 301 yards to the Broncos. However, 263 yards of that came through the air. And 293 yards of that total came after Michigan was up 31-0.

Regardless of how they gave up the yards, Michigan will have its work cut out this Saturday against the Fighting Irish.

Jimmy Clausen was nearly flawless in Notre Dame’s 35-0 victory as a 14 ½-point home “chalk” against the Wolf Pack. Beano Cook’s boy toy completed 15 of his 18 passes for 315 yards and four touchdowns.

The Irish were in the same boat as Michigan defensively. They gave up 307 yards altogether, but Nevada split it up evenly (153 rushing, 154 passing). 188 of that total was amassed after Notre Dame held a 28-0 lead late in the first half.

Most sportsbooks have installed Notre Dame as a three-point road favorite with a total of 48.

It’s rare to see Michigan as a home pup; it’s happened just five times this decade. But gamblers should know that the Wolverines are 2-3 SU and ATS in those matches. The ‘over’ is 3-2 in that stretch. Notre Dame, on the other hand, has covered the spread the last six times they were listed as a road favorite.

The Fighting Irish is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 head-to-head meetings with Michigan. The ‘under’ is 4-1 in the past five games at Michigan Stadium.

vegasinsider.com

SEC Notebook
By B Edwards

With Georgia’s 24-10 loss at Oklahoma State serving as the lone exception, the SEC strutted its stuff in Week 1. South Carolina went on the road and knocked off North Carolina St., while Alabama took care of business against Va. Tech at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta. SEC schools went 11-1 straight up and 6-2 against the spread.

On the eve of Week 2, we have three conference matchups to whet gamblers’ appetites for what promises to be another compelling season of SEC football. Let’s take a look at all three of those contests and more…

Steve Spurrier brings South Carolina (1-0 straight up, 1-0 against the spread) to Athens after winning a 7-3 decision in Raleigh last Thursday (note the two extra days of rest for the Gamecocks). USC hooked up its backers as a four-point underdog and money-line players brought home a plus-170 return (risk $100 to win $170).

Devin Taylor, a redshirt freshman defensive end, forced a fumble on his first career snap that led to the Gamecocks’ lone touchdown. Taylor finished the night with six tackles, including three for losses and one sack. Eric Norwood and Cliff Matthews also played well as each player had a pair of sacks on All-ACC QB Russell Wilson.

Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened Georgia (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS) as a 7 ½-point favorite with a total of 37. As of late Friday afternoon, most books had the Dawgs favored by seven with the total adjusted to 38.

In the last 10 head-to-head meetings between these border rivals, the highest scoring game was a 31-7 UGA win in 2003. Six of the last eight games have been decided by seven points or less.

Mark Richt’s team captured a 14-7 win at South Carolina last season. The Gamecocks had a chance to tie the game late in the fourth quarter, but senior RB Mike Davis coughed up a fumble at the goal line and the Dawgs recovered.

UGA is reeling from last week’s defeat in Stillwater. Not only did the Dawgs lose, but they lost stud OT Trinton Sturdivant for the season – again – with a torn ACL.

USC is 9-4-1 ATS as a road underdog during Spurrier’s tenure. Spurrier’s teams (one at Florida and two at USC) are 2-1 SU and 3-0 ATS at Sanford Stadium.

ESPN2 will provide television coverage at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

Auburn (1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS) will play host to Mississippi State (1-0 SU, 0-0 ATS) in the second game for the new head coaches, Gene Chizik and Dan Mullen. Most books are listing the Tigers as 14-point favorites with a total of 44. Of course, all gamblers remember the “thriller” played in Starkville last season when Auburn won by a 3-2 count at Scott Field.

The Bulldogs are plus-450 on the money line at most spots (risk $100 to win $450).

Chizik’s debut went off without a hitch on The Plains as the War Eagles collected a 37-13 win over La. Tech as a 12-point home ‘chalk.’ The Tigers, who had an atrocious offense last year that led to Tommy Tuberville’s dismissal, produced 556 yards of total offense. Most importantly, QB Chris Todd completed 17-of-26 throws for 255 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions.

True freshman RB Onterio McCalebb burst on the scene with 148 yards rushing and one touchdown. Senior RB Ben Tate also had a big game with 20 carries for 117 yards. Mario Fannin leads the SEC catches after Week 1, hauling in eight receptions for 82 yards.

Mississippi St. destroyed Jackson St. 45-7 in Mullen’s introduction at Scott Field. Sophomore QB Chris Relf completed 7-of-10 passes for 75 yards and three TDs, while also rushing for 82 yards on 12 carries.

Senior RB Anthony Dixon, who I called the nation’s most underrated RB over the summer, sat out the opener due to a suspension stemming from a DUI charge over the summer. Dixon, MSU’s career leader in rushing attempts who is just 610 yards shy of breaking Jerious Norwood’s all-time school record, will be back in the lineup this week.

MSU senior QB Tyson Lee left last week’s game with shoulder spasms, but he is expected to start. Relf will also see plenty of playing time under center.

Auburn has won seven of the last eight head-to-head meetings against the Bulldogs. However, MSU upset the Tigers in ’07 when Derek Pegues was the catalyst in a 19-14 triumph.

Auburn will be without four starters again Saturday. WR Montez Billings (academics) is out for the team’s first four games, while WR Tim Hawthorne (broken foot) won’t return until early October. Also, CB Aairon Savage (Achilles) is out for the season and safety Mike McNeil (broken leg) isn’t expected back until mid-October at the earliest.

FSN will have the telecast at 7:00 p.m. Eastern.

Coming off its first bowl berth since 1982, Vandy followed up its 16-14 win over BC at the Music City Bowl by waxing Western Carolina, 45-0. It was the first time the Commodores had dealt out bagel treatment in a decade.

A pair of true freshmen running backs – Zac Stacy and Warren Norman – eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in the victory over the Catamounts. Gamblers should expect both backs to get the bulk of carries again this week as veteran RB Jared Hawkins (listed as “doubtful”) continues to rehab the broken foot he sustained late in the 2008 campaign.

Vandy’s next task will be more challenging than its opener. The ‘Dores will come to Baton Rouge to face LSU as 14 ½-point road underdogs. The total is 45 and Vandy is plus-475 to win outright.

Les Miles’ team beat Washington 31-23 last week but failed to cover the spread as an 18 ½-point road favorite. The 54 combined points slipped ‘over’ the 53-point total thanks to Jake Locker’s nine-yard TD pass with three seconds remaining.

These schools haven’t met since 2005 when the Bayou Bengals beat up on Jay Cutler in a 34-6 win as 15 ½-point road favorites in Nashville. LSU has won five in a row and nine of the last 10 against Vandy.

LSU is 2-10 ATS in its last 12 games as a double-digit favorite. Meanwhile, Bobby Johnson’s squad is 9-2 versus the number in its last 11 games as a double-digit underdog.

The Lane Kiffin Era started in spectacular fashion at Neyland Stadium last week. The Vols spanked Western Kentucky 63-7 behind the stellar play of QB Jonathan Crompton, who threw for 233 yards and five TDs. Montario Hardesty ran for an SEC-leading 160 yards on 18 carries and scored one touchdown. Bryce Brown, the true freshman RB who most recruitniks tabbed as the nation’s No. 1 prospect, rushed for 104 yards and one TD on 11 totes.

Tennessee takes on UCLA this week. This is a huge revenge game for the Vols, who lost a heartbreaker to the Bruins in overtime last year. However, this spot also represents a classic look-ahead situation with UT’s showdown at Florida looming next Saturday.

The number for this game has been on the move all week. LVSC had UT at 6 ½ on the send-out, but the Vols were favored by 10 late Friday afternoon. The total is 45 and UCLA is plus-320 on the money line.

The Bruins beat San Diego St. 33-14 in their opener, taking the cash as 18-point home favorites. Kevin Prince, a redshirt freshman QB, got the starting nod against the Aztecs but committed three turnovers (2 INT’s and 1 fumble) in his debut. Obviously, this will be his first career road start and he’ll face a raucous environment with more than 100,000 fans in Knoxville.

Kickoff on ESPN is slated for 4:00 p.m. Eastern.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--LSU has won 30 consecutive home games at night.

--Arkansas QB Ryan Mallett had a splendid debut for the Razorbacks in their 48-10 home win over Missouri St. in a non-lined affair. The Michigan transfer completed 17-of-22 passes for 309 yards and a touchdown. The Hogs are off this week before hosting Georgia in Week 3.

--Florida is a 36 ½-point home favorite for Saturday’s game vs. Troy at The Swamp. The SEC Network will have television coverage at 12:20 p.m. Eastern. These schools met at the same venue in 2007 when the Gators won by a 59-31 count. The ‘over’ hit before intermission on that day. This time around, the total is 60 at the few books that have posted one.

--South Carolina senior LB Rodney Paulk is out for the season after tearing his ACL at N.C. St. On the bright side, WR Dion LeCorn is “probable” after sitting out the win against the Wolfpack. Also, junior DE Clifton Geathers will be available after sitting out last week due to a suspension. Junior DT Ladi Ajiboye is “out” as he serves the second game of a three-game suspension.

--Ole Miss had 24 players come down with the flu this week, including QB Jevan Snead and RB/WR Dexter McCluster. Fortunately for the Rebels, they have an open date this week before taking on a double-directional (SE La.) next Saturday. Houston Nutt called the situation “perfect timing.”

--Quote from my Dad this week: “The only thing that’ll prevent the Gators from winning the national championship is the swine flu.”

vegasinsider.com.

Play the under in Week 2

Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Defenses around the country prevailed in college football's opening week, as the under got the best of the over with a 24-15-1 record for a 61% winning percentage.

It's interesting to note that a large proportion of over/under totals had dropped significantly early last Saturday morning, signifying how high the figures were to begin with. Of the 40 lined games, only 15 totals were 48 points or lower, and surprisingly, the over dominated those games with a 9-5-1 mark for a winning percentage of 63%. That means the under was victorious in 15 of the 25 games in which the number was 48.5 or higher.

Keep an eye on the totals this weekend to see if the oddsmakers have adjusted the numbers accordingly. If not, stick with the unders once again as it usually takes a couple of weeks for offenses to get rolling. In addition, there will be 31 quarterbacks starting this weekend that have thrown fewer than 100 career passes.

Favorites did not do as well as expected in the first week of the season with a 20-20 mark, considering they went 24-16 (60% winning percentage) in the opening week a season ago. That '08 mark came on the heels of a 31-15-1 advantage for the betting choice the previous year (67% winning percentage).

Teams favored by both a touchdown or less and three touchdowns or more covered fewer than 50% of the time, while those clubs giving between 10 and 20 points dominated the underdogs at 11-6 for a 65% winning percentage.

INSIDE WEEK TWO

My record after week one stands at 10-9 with a 1-2 mark in Five-Star plays, 1-3 in Three-Star plays, 5-3 in Two-Star selections and 3-1 in One-Star picks.

The Five-Star plays are when my Power Plays and Key Plays coincide. The Three- Star selections are the rest of my Power Plays: games where there is at least a five-point differential between my line and the actual line. The Two-Star picks are the remaining Key Plays and the One-Star plays are the secondary selections.

THE FIVE-STAR SELECTION

North Texas surprised almost everyone last Thursday with its 20-10 victory over Ball State. Even though the Mean Green outgained the Cardinals by over 200 total yards, the score was still tied at 10 early in the fourth quarter.

Quarterback Riley Dodge threw for over 200 yards against a Cardinals secondary that had lost its top three cornerbacks to graduation. But perhaps more impressive was a Mean Green ground attack that piled up 296 yards on 51 carries.

On the other side of the ball, Ball State came into the game with only one returning offensive line starter and a redshirt freshman quarterback in Kelly Page, who obviously still needs time to develop as evidenced by his 44% completion percentage.

It will be interesting to see how North Texas reacts after its first win against a FBS opponent since the middle of the '07 season. Coming back home might not be the best recipe for success, considering the club went 0-5 SU last season at Fouts Field and 1-4 ATS as a home underdog.

Ohio failed miserably in its home opener losing by seven to Connecticut, a game that got away from the Bobcats late in the third quarter. Quarterback Theo Scott was sacked for a safety and the Huskies followed the two-point play with a touchdown on their next possession.

Take Ohio minus the points.

THREE-STAR PLAYS

This week's Three-Star selections include four favorites: Notre Dame (at Michigan), Virginia Tech (vs. Marshall), Oklahoma State (vs. Houston) and South Florida (at Western Kentucky), and four underdogs: Florida International (at Alabama), Central Michigan (at Michigan State), Kent State (at Boston College) and San Jose State (vs. Utah)

TWO-STAR PLAYS

UNLV hosts Oregon State almost one year to the day of its huge overtime victory over Arizona State. The Rebels, primed for another upset, are 11-5 ATS as home underdog under Mike Sanford while the Beavers are 1-5 ATS in their last six road openers when giving points.

Despite holding Portland State to seven points last week, Oregon State allowed 351 yards, including 188 in the first half. The Beavers defense did not record any sacks and the Vikings threw the ball 41 times. Don't forget, Portland State went 4-7 last year and got ripped by Washington State, 48-9.

The Rebels are primed for their first winning season since '00 and they have the offense to match strides with Oregon State. Additionally, the defense should be much improved, so look for a close contest at Sam Boyd Stadium.

Take UNLV plus the points.

Colorado has a difficult task traveling and playing Toledo on Friday just five nights after a dismal home effort against Colorado State. The team's practice time has been cut to next-to-nothing due to the short week, which certainly won't help matters any considering how much work is needed on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

One area that was supposed to be a major strength was the power running game behind an offensive line loaded with top prospects. However, the Buffaloes rushed for only 29 yards on 21 carries, and the line allowed four sacks. It's interesting to note that the Rams recorded just 10 sacks in 13 games last season.

Toledo will play its first home game under new head coach Tim Beckman and even though the Rockets fell to Purdue, 52-31, they gave up 21 points off turnovers. Expect a much better effort against a Colorado defense that lost all four defensive line starters from a season ago.

Take Toledo plus the points.

North Carolina travels to Connecticut to take on a Huskies team that turned the ball over four times against Ohio but still walked off with a seven-point win. Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon combined for 257 rushing yards in the first game without the school's all-time career rushing leader, Donald Brown.

The Tar Heels blew out The Citadel, 40-6, but T.J. Yates completed less than 50% of his tosses for just 114 yards and it could be a long season for the offense with not many options at wide receiver and an overrated offensive line

Last year's matchup saw the Huskies outgain North Carolina 378 yards to 263, but the Tar Heels blocked three Connecticut punts to pull out the 38-12 win. In addition, the game was played in Chapel Hill and the Huskies were 8-17 on the road between '04 and '08. (They went 24-9 at home over that time span.)

Take Connecticut plus the points.

Iowa and Iowa State hook up in Ames, where the Cyclones have won the last two meetings and four of the last five. In fact, they have defeated the Hawkeyes seven of the last 11 games.

Iowa State outgained them 325 to 240 in Iowa City in '08, a year the Cyclones went 2-10 and the Hawkeyes were 9-4. Iowa struggled mightily vs. Northern Iowa in its home opener, needing a pair of blocked field goals inside the final few seconds to win the game. The Panthers won the total yards battle (354-329) and sacked Ricky Stanzi four times.

The Cyclones have the momentum coming into this contest and will take care of business for the third straight time against Iowa at Jack Trice Stadium.

Take Iowa State plus the points.

Vanderbilt caught a ton of breaks last year to finish 7-6, as the Commodores were outgained by an average margin of 320 to 256.

To rectify the offensive problems, head coach Bobby Johnson instituted the hurry-up, no-huddle attack and the results were phenomenal in the opener against Western Carolina. Vanderbilt racked up over 300 total yards before the end of the first half, finishing with 620.

It will be tougher to pile up the yardage against LSU, but the Tigers defense was not all that impressive against Washington last week giving up 478 yards. The Huskies completed 58% of their third-down opportunities and recorded 25 first downs.

LSU has been brutal ATS the last few years failing to cover its last 10 SEC home games while going 8-17 as a home favorite under Les Miles.

Take Vanderbilt plus the points.

ONE-STAR PLAYS

Go with Tulsa (at New Mexico), Fresno State (at Wisconsin), TCU (at Virginia), Southern Cal (at Ohio State) and Louisiana Tech (at Navy).

College Football Weekly Predictions - Week 2
by Alan Matthews

OK, it’s Week 2 of college football season, and Week 1 wasn’t exactly a huge success. I didn’t realize that Notre Dame QB Jimmy Clausen has now morphed in Joe Montana, and the Irish bombed Nevada, which seemed a lock getting more than two touchdowns. As for the other loss ... well, it sure looked like a win until Memphis (+17) folded in the fourth quarter last Sunday at home against Ole Miss. The Rebs outscored the Tigers, 28-7, in that quarter to turn what seemed a sure Memphis cover into a 45-14 loss.

On the bright side, we did hit on Oklahoma State giving the points to Georgia. Hey, if we go perfect on games involving two ranked teams all year, most people would take that!

For the season: 1-2 (-100)

Here we go with this week’s top picks:

North Carolina at Connecticut

Current line: UNC -4 (44.5). This line has been on the move all week – although it’s back where it started. It was up to five at one point and as low as 3.5.

Who the public likes: Approximately 71 percent favor the No. 19 Heels as of this writing. That figure hasn’t moved much.

I am shocked that North Carolina is giving only four points here – I would expect it to be somewhere near a touchdown. First off, UNC beat UConn, 38-12, in Chapel Hill last year, and I would argue the Heels are better in 2009 and the Huskies (now without Donald Brown, who had 161 rushing yards in the game last year) are worse. Last week, UConn didn’t look very good in beating Ohio, 23-16, while UNC beat The Citadel, 40-6, its largest margin of victory in eight years. The Heels picked off Huskies QB Zach Frazer three times last year, and Frazer had three more picks last week. In addition, Huskies starting linebacker Scott Lutrus, who has started 26 games in a row and who led the team in tackles last year, is only 50-50 to play because of an injury. Meanwhile, that North Carolina defense is a beast with nine starters back. The Huskies will try to forge a running game with the tandem of Jordan Todman and Andre Dixon, who combined for 257 rushing yards last week. It won’t work, and the pressure will be on Frazer again – it doesn’t seem like he can handle it yet.

Take North Carolina.

Kansas at UTEP

Current line: Jayhawks -12.5 (62.5). This one opened at 11, so you can see the action is heavily favoring No. 25 Kansas.

Who the public likes: Approximately 78 percent favor KU as of this writing. That has been pretty steady.

Kansas looked pretty good last week in routing Northern Colorado, 49-3, while UTEP lost at home to a MAC team, Buffalo, 23-17. The Jayhawks sat star receiver Dezmon Briscoe (92 catches for 1,407 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2008) for disciplinary reasons, but it’s thought he will play on Saturday. KU hasn’t won a non-conference road game in six years, but that’s misleading because it’s just three games. You probably know about how good Jayhawks QB Todd Reesing is, but UTEP has an under-the-radar talent in Travis Vittatoe, who ranks fourth (one ahead of Ressing) nationally among active quarterbacks in passing yards per game. But KU simply has way too much offense. It has scored at least 31 points in its past five true road games and at least 24 points in nine consecutive games away from home. The Miners, meanwhile, ranked 25th in the nation in scoring offense last season, averaging 32.9 points per game.

Give the points and take the over.

East Carolina at West Virginia.

Current line: WVU -6.5 (43.5). This line really hasn’t moved since its open at the same number.

Who the public likes: Approximately 53 percent favor the Mountaineers.

If this line were at seven, I might not love this game. But at 6.5, I like WVU in a revenge game. Last year, the Mountaineers lost, 24-3, at ECU and were never the same. Coach Bill Stewart used that game all offseason to motivate his team to get more physical, because the Pirates pushed WVU around. I tend to think oddsmakers are giving too much credence to West Virginia struggling last week against Liberty as well. ECU also struggled in beating Appalachian State – which was without its star quarterback. In a way, West Virginia might be more well-rounded this year without Pat White. I’m not saying Jarrett Brown is the athlete that White was, but Brown has a better arm, and coaches say they are going to pass downfield more. But also look for WVU to use Noel Devine more. In 12 career visits to Morgantown, the Pirates are 0-12. The last trip was a 48-7 loss. This one won’t be that lopsided but will be by more than a TD.

Give the points and take WVU.

Game of the day: USC at Ohio State
Nick Parsons

USC Trojans at Ohio State Buckeyes (+7, 45)

Believe the hype. Hollywood invades the Horseshoe when No. 3 USC visits No. 7 Ohio State in what is seen as the biggest game in the early college football season. The importance of the game extends beyond the reputation of the Buckeyes to win during big games, as the credibility of the Big Ten is at stake as well.

As for USC, it has dominated non-conferences BCS opponents on the road, winning eight straight. But with the Oregon loss to Boise State last week and recent BCS title game snubs, the image of the PAC -10 as always, lies within Trojans’ non-conference performances.

Pressuring Barkley

Most of the attention is centered around the quarterbacks, sophomore Terrell Pryor and true freshman Matt Barkley. Both were the No. 1 QBs out of high school, but the similarities stop there. Pryor made his commitment process a long drawn out drama that extended beyond national signing day, while Barkley committed to USC in grade 11. Pryor's a dual-threat QB while Barkley's a traditional pocket passer.

Many people are eager to see how the true freshman Barkley will handle the crowd in Columbus. He went 15-for-19 for 233 yards and one TD in his college debut last week. USC has done well on the road with new quarterbacks, but Palmer, Leinart, Booty and Sanchez were not true freshman when they first faced a hostile crowd.

Barkley joked with the Daily News that the toughest crowd he ever went against was "Maybe in the seventh grade, when the parents got in a fight at a junior All-American game,"

Expect early pressure from the Ohio State defense in an attempt to rattle the freshman. The key battle will be along the line. Southern Cal has one of the best offensive lines in the country, but Ohio State’s defensive line boasts great depth and defensive coordinator Jim Heacock will be rotating fresh bodies constantly. The last time Ohio State faced a high profile freshman QB was in 2006 against Colt McCoy of Texas. The Buckeyes beat No. 2 Texas in Austin 24-7 as two point underdogs.

Containing Pryor

A big key for the game will be stopping Terrelle Pryor, who brings back nightmares of Vince Young and the 2006 Rose Bowl

Southern Cal’s reputation of struggling against scrambling QBs is a bit unjustified as very few people could stop Vince Young that year and USC did only lose by three points. The Trojans will look to spy a lot and will leave the secondary in man coverage for most of the game. When Pryor did see success against the Trojans last year it was on draws and rollouts. Head coach Pete Carroll will be expecting the same this year.

Ohio State has a bit of an edge at QB with Pryor not having to split duties with Todd Boeckman, who threw two interceptions in last year's game. Southern Cal took at hit losing an experienced signal caller in Mark Sanchez. Pryor was 7-for-9 in last year's game, throwing for 52 yards and rushing for 40.

USC run game

Despite the media focus on the QBs, the key to the game may actually lie within USC's run game. Southern Cal again has a talented rotation of running backs that goes five deep and fullback Stanley Havili is a huge offensive threat. As is the case with the last couple of years, it’s hard to tell what that rotation will be, but Joe McKnight and Stafon Johnson are expected to get the bulk of the carries.

In last week's contest against San Jose State, USC's run pass ratio was 2-to-1, with the team rushing for 343 yards. The offense, under new coordinator John Morton, features 32-year-old Jeremy Bates who will be calling plays. Bates seemed to be running a more passive gameplan and will be cautious with Barkley. Despite his age Bates does have a wealth of experience having tutored Jay Cutler as an assistant with the Denver Broncos.

Buckeyes secondary

Ohio State’s biggest weakness is the secondary. The focus on pressuring Barkley and on stopping the run could leave the Buckeyes in single-coverage trouble with a talented receiving core that is led by Damian Williams. This year, USC will also not have to gameplan around former star CB Michael Jenkins, who now plays on Sundays.

Most the of the criticism has been directed towards safety Anderson Russell, who was beat on both TD passes from Navy last week and is known for giving up the game-winning TD against Texas in the Fiesta Bowl last year. The team seems to be addressing the problem with Russell relegated to the second team in practice and JR Jermale Hines taking over his place in the first team.

Throw out last week's result

USC's 52-3 blowout of San Jose St. and Ohio State's season opening nail biter against Navy should not be completely ignored. But those games are not a clear indication of how each team will come out Saturday.

The Trojans were slowly working in a true freshman at QB and USC's scout-team defense is perhaps a notch above San Jose St. Barkley himself claimed that the hardest part of the game was, "The run up the tunnel at halftime”.

Things were a bit tougher in Columbus with Navy coming within a two-point conversion of tying the game late in the fourth quarter.

Many critics will compare the opener with the narrow 26-14 victory over the Ohio Bobcats last year, which occurred a week before the USC game. Ohio, however, was a 4-8 team while Navy has been to six straight bowl games.

It’s a safe bet that the Buckeyes were looking ahead and the close game against Navy may actually work in their favor, having already put themselves in a pressure situation.

Trojan quick bits

- CB Kevin Thomas and DT Jurrell Casey reportedly had the flu earlier in the week, but Carroll confirmed that they will be ready to play Saturday
- Fourth string QB Garrett Green, who runs a 4.5 40-yard dash, played the role of Terrelle Pryor during practice this week
- DT Averell Spicer and C Kristofer O'Dowd were both out for the opener vs. San Jose State, but are expected to play
- The game will also be broadcast in 3D, which will be shown at USC's Galen Center

Buckeye quick bits

- Star WR DeVier Posey reportedly walked with a limp earlier in the week, but went through full practice Wednesday. This may gave freshman Duron Carter, son of Hall of Famer Chris Carter, a chance to shine
- Brandon Saine and Dan Herron are expected to split carries
- Punt return duties are expected to be split between Dane Sanzenbacher and Ray Small

Odds, trends, and weather

There hasn't been that much movement with the line. It opened at -6.5 in favor at USC and now sits at -7 at most books.

Southern Cal has been a double-digit favorite in its last 15 games and has not had the benefit of dealing with a single-digit spread since November of 2007, when it was a 3.5-point favorite against then-No.7 Arizona State.

As single digit favorites, the Trojans are on a seven-game ATS winning streak and have covered by a large margin. The spread was covered by an average of 13.7 points in those games. The last time the Trojans failed to cover a single-digit spread was against Vince Young and the Texas Longhorns in the 2006 Rose Bowl.

In last year's game the Buckeyes were 10.5-point underdogs, which the Trojans easily covered. The game went under the total of 44.5, with USC winning 35-3. This year's total opened at 45 and has seen only slight half point movements.

Expect lows in the lower 50s with North winds around 5 mph Saturday night. It’s partly cloudy but no rain is expected. The last time the Trojans visited the Horseshoe was in 1990 and the contest ended with 2:36 left on the clock. The game was called due to heavy rains and severe thunder and lightning. USC won 35-26.

Trojans invade Columbus
By AllStar.com

It is a testament to the quality of Ohio State and USC football that an 11-1 or 10-2 season is considered an "off year", but that is the reality of the situation in Columbus this weekend. Pete Carroll and Jim Tressel set the bar high in 2002, 2004 and 2005 by winning National Championships and that is the standard. For Buckeye and Trojan fans the mantra is "championship or bust” and many feel that a BCS Title shot will be lost for the loser of this game. Tressel and Carroll are the pre-eminent recruiters in College Football (Kudos Urban Meyer/Mack Brown) and both rosters are filled with four and five star recruits at nearly every position including Terrelle Pryor and Matt Barkley who face off as opposing quarterbacks. This will be USC’s first visit to the Horseshoe Since 1990. The Trojans have dominated this series, winning six straight beginning in 1974. The Trojans' beat Ohio State during their last visit to Columbus in 1990, 35-26, and smashed the Bucks last year in Los Angeles, 35-3.

Quarterbacks:

The Trojans are led on offense by true freshman Matt Barkley; he arrived on campus with a fat scrapbook and is ready to break out. Barkley completed 79% of his passes, was 15 of 19 passing for 233 yards and with one touchdown against San Jose State. Pete Carroll raves about this kid’s poise and he will need every bit of it with 105,000 screaming Buckeye faithful trying to make his second college a difficult one.

QB Terrelle Pryor, who can beat you throwing and/or running saw Jim Tressel build an offense around Troy Smith, which resulted in Smith winning a Heisman Trophy in 2006. Look for the offense to look more like that 06 Ohio State attack as Pryor gets more comfortable. Pryor is a spectacular talent who continues to develop with every game he plays. The Trojans plan on taking it to Pryor and seeing if he can beat them, he will see every blitz and formation from the very beginning of this one.

Running Backs:

There is not another team with more offensive weapons at tailback than USC. Going five running backs deep, their running game is one of the best in the country. Joe McKnight, Stafon Johnson, Allen Bradford, CJ Gable and Marc Tyler make up the Trojans’ stable of backs that combined for 337 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns against San Jose State last weekend. They are an electric group of players that can beat you in a variety of ways. The Trojans have a massive and mobile offensive line which will open holes for the horses and keep the kid QB’s uniform clean.

TB Dan (Boom) Herron will pound the ball behind a veteran line. Herron ran for 439 yards and six touchdowns in limited time behind Beanie Wells last season. Brandon Saine joins Herron in the backfield looking to put an injury plagued 2008 season behind him. The Offensive line is the key for the Buckeyes they will face a relentless attack they must open holes for the tailbacks to keep the pressure off of Pryor.

Wide Receivers:

The Trojans are lead at receiver by Damian Williams, David Ausberry and TE Anthony Mc Coy. Damian William a Biletnikoff Award candidate and future NFL player has game changing ability every time he touches the ball. The Trojans love to throw the toss in the flat on third downs especially to Joe McKnight and FB Stanley Havili. Five star recruit from Michigan Ron Johnson is out until week five against Cal with an injured collar bone.

Junior wide receiver Dane Sanzenbacher caught two passes for 57 yards in the season-opener against Navy, including this38-yard touchdown catch in the first quarter. Sanzenbacher is a possession type guy who is joined at the position by a ton of talent that features plenty of speed including Duron Carter. Carter is only a true freshman, but Carter is quickly forming chemistry with Pryor. Since DeVier Posey is questionable with an ankle injury, the son of former OSU great Cris Carter could have a huge role Saturday night.

Defense:

Troy's defensive leader is 2-time All-American S Taylor Mays, who gave up a chance to be a Top 10 pick in last year’s NFL draft to captain USC’s defense for one more year and try to lead the Trojans to a National Championship. Mays is not all alone, though, as recruiting at USC never leaves the cupboard bare. Chris Galippo, Malcolm Smith, and Michael Morgan step into the vacated linebacker spots and look to be the next great crop of Southern Cal linebackers. Everson Griffen anchors the defensive line that will look to take full advantage of any inadequacies that OSU’s front five may have shown last week against Navy. The Trojans are going to put eight in the box, send ever blitz they have at Pryor and see if he can beat them, the corners will be left alone outside with Mays patrolling the middle.

The Buckeyes lost some marquee defensive players, and they now turn to the likes of S Kurt Coleman, DT Doug Worthington, LB Ross Homan and Brian Rolle to make the stops. Ohio State must get more production out of its linebackers and safety Anderson Russell, who was victimized on two long touchdown passes against Navy. If Russell falters again, junior Jermale Hines could quickly take over. Ohio State has a defensive line capable of hanging with the Trojans. Veterans Doug Worthington, Cameron Heyward and Thaddeus Gibson possess experience against top Big Ten teams and Texas in the Fiesta Bowl. OSU's linebackers couldn't keep up with USC's powerful and fast fleet of tailbacks last year. Most of those guys are gone, however. Rolle demonstrated great speed last week in returning an interception 99 yards against Navy. He is primed for a breakout season.

Special Teams:

Vulnerability for USC might be with their special team units. Their return game, particularly McKnight on punt returns is explosive, but punter Billy O’Malley averaged only 34.7 yards on six punts last week. Kicker Jordan Congdon was 8/8 on extra point attempts last weekend against SJSU, but he last saw significant action in the 2006 season when he was 5 of 7 on field goals.

As always, special teams will be a big part of Tressel’s game plan. Both Thoma and punter and Pettrey at kicker looked solid last week. Thoma averaged nearly 45 yards on two punts including a deft 53 yard coffin corner that pinned the Middies in the beginning moments of the third quarter. Pettrey was 3/3 on field goals last weekend including a 52-yarder. Dane Sanzenbacher is listed as the punt returner this week.

Trends:
Over is 11-1 in Trojans last 12 games as a road favorite of 3.5-10.0
Trojans are 10-1 ATS in their last 11 vs. Big Ten
Buckeyes are 5-1-1 ATS in their last 7 vs. Pac-10
Buckeyes are 4-1 ATS vs. a team with a winning record
Buckeyes are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 non-conference games
Trojans are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 games as a road favorite
USC is 13-4 ATS against Big 10 conference opponents since 1992
USC is 8-1 ATS in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons
USC is 8-1 ATS in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
USC is 1-0 against the spread versus OHIO ST over the last 3 seasons
USC is 1-0 straight up against OHIO ST over the last 3 seasons
The Buckeyes have beaten only two top-10 teams since 2005.
Southern Cal is 14-4 against ranked teams since 2005

Oregon hopes to rebound
By AllStar.com

Oregon started the season ranked and had very high hopes, so it will be interesting to see whether the Boilers face a flat Oregon team or one that's still determined to accomplish its preseason goals. We'll have to wait late into Saturday night for that answer. The last time Purdue and Oregon met, the two teams gave us a double-overtime thriller a year ago in West Lafayette. Oregon prevailed in the second extra stanza, thanks to a LaGarrette Blount touchdown scamper. That won't be happening this time around. The Oregon starting tailback was suspended for the remainder of the season after he punched a Boise State player following last week's season-opening road defeat. That is a big hole to fill for the Ducks.

Quarterbacks:

New Purdue coach Danny Hope wanted to throw the ball more last week against Toledo, but the Boilermakers were doing such a great job rushing the ball, he didn't want to mess with a good thing. That's not going to be the case this week. QB Joey Elliott will need to make some plays down the field for Purdue to have a chance at the upset. Elliot threw for 220 yards and three TD’s against Toledo, but will face a much stiffer test with Oregon's secondary.

QB Jeremiah Masoli traveled but did not play in last year’s game at Purdue. Jeremiah Masoli threw for 121 yards, while rushing for 14 yards and a TD in the loss to Boise State. Masoli was thrown off of his game by the pressure of the Boise State defense and he needs to focus up and lead his team. Oregon totaled only 152 yards of offense and ran just 44 plays on offense. Oregon’s total offense output was its lowest since gaining 94 yards at Washington State, Oct. 8, 1994. The Ducks rank last among all FBS teams in time of possession (17:28) and third from the bottom in total offense.

Running Backs:

Ralph Bolden’s first start at running back not only turned out to be the third-best outing by a Boiler rusher in school history, it was also the top ground effort by a FBS player in the opening week of college football. Bolden rushed 21 times for 234 yards and had touchdown runs of 78 and 14 yards. Jaycen Taylor is the back up and he rushed for 81 yards against Toledo.

A pair of red shirt freshmen, La Michael James and Kenjon Barner, has moved up the depth chart as a result of the Blount incident. There is another key player in the effort to stabilize the Ducks running situation Senior Andre Crenshaw enters Saturday’s game vs. Purdue with 30 career games under his belt, he will take the field against the Boilermakers 14 yards shy of 1,000 all-purpose yards for his career. His 551 career yards rushing and five touchdowns aren’t gaudy by any stretch, but have to consider that he has been the back up to Blount and Jonathan Stewart during his entire time in Oregon.

Wide Receivers:

With his 117-yard receiving day last week, Purdue’s wide receiver Keith Smith has eclipsed the century mark in two consecutive games, dating back to last season's finale against Indiana. The coaches are banking on freshman Gary Bush and Xavier Reese to make an impact.

Senior TE Ed Dickson and Junior WR Jeff Maehl had seven receptions apiece at Purdue in 2008. Ed Dickson, a 6-foot-5, 243-pound senior from Bellflower, Calif., is in the top five at Oregon all-time in career receptions and yards by a tight end. He was on the preseason watch list for the John Mackey Award as the best tight end in college football.

Defense:

Purdue coaches were disappointed with the amount of missed tackles against the Rockets, particularly in the first half. Short passes were turned into big plays as a result of shoddy tackling. That won't work against the Oregon Ducks. Purdue must tighten up its sloppy tackling against Oregon.

The Ducks held the Broncos well off their offensive season averages of a year ago, allowing 17 points on defense and shutting out Boise State for nearly the entire second half. They did it using a new package coaches believe improves their versatility in the front seven and takes better advantage of Oregon’s team speed. The most striking development was the way the Ducks used their defensive ends, particularly junior Kenny Rowe. Rowe alternated between putting his hand on the ground as an end and standing up like an outside linebacker, Rowe ranks for fourth nationally and leads the Pac-10 in sacks with 2.0 after Week 1.

Special Teams:

Carson Wiggs' 59-yard field goal to end the first half last week was the longest in Purdue history, tied for the longest in Ross-Ade Stadium history and tied for the seventh longest in Big Ten history.

Not all was dire from a statistical standpoint in Oregon’s loss at Boise State. Freshman Punter Jackson Rice averaged 43.9 yards on seven punts in his first college football game, placing him 22nd in the nation. Thanks to the true freshman, Oregon leads the Pac-10 in net punting.

Analysis:

Will Oregon find the intestinal fortitude and self-belief needed to overcome the hellhole of the Boise State stumble, and the darkness of the LeGarrette Blount rampage? The answer won't be found in Xs and Os. It will be found in the hearts and souls of some young men and untested coaches who will learn a lot about themselves this Saturday.

Betting Trends:
Purdue is 4-1-1 ATS in their last 6 against the Pac 10
Oregon is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 against the Big 10
The OVER is 5-0 in Oregon’s last 5 home games

(3) USC (1-0 SU and ATS) at (8) Ohio State (1-0, 0-1 ATS)

The game of the day comes from the Horseshoe in Columbus, where Ohio State will be out for revenge as it hosts USC and true freshman quarterback Matt Barkley.

The Trojans ran their winning streak to 11 last Saturday and did so in emphatic fashion, pummeling San Jose State 56-3 and covering easily as a 34-point home favorite. USC actually trailed the Spartans 3-0 after the first quarter then scored 28 points in less than 11 minutes in the second quarter and never looked back, finishing with a 621-121 edge in total offense, including 343-9 on the ground. Barkley, the first true freshman to start under center for the Trojans, went 15-for-19 for 233 yards with one TD and no INTs.

The Buckeyes survived a scare against Navy in their opener, holding on for a 31-27 victory but coming up way short as a 22-point home favorite. Ohio State held a 29-14 lead midway through the fourth quarter, but it needed a two-point interception return on a botched Navy two-point conversion try with 2½ minutes to play to seal the win. The Buckeyes had 363 total yards (153 rushing) but allowed the Midshipmen to pile up 342 (186 rushing), and QB Terrelle Pryor was inconsistent (14-for-21, 174 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT).

USC crushed the Buckeyes 35-3 as a 10½-point home favorite exactly a year ago, but Ohio State had two first-half touchdowns called back on penalties. The Trojans’ defense allowed just 207 yards, Pete Carroll’s squad finished with a 164-71 edge in rushing yards, and then-USC QB Mark Sanchez tossed four TD passes.

USC went just 1-4 ATS in its last five as a road chalk in 2008, but the Trojans otherwise are on impressive pointspread upticks of 35-17 in non-Pac-10 games, 8-2 in non-conference roadies and 7-0 against the Big Ten and 14-2 as a single-digit favorite (8-0 last eight). They’re also 11-1 SU and ATS the last 12 years in their road opener.

Ohio State has won 47 of its last 48 non-conference home games, the lone defeat coming against Vince Young and No. 2 Texas in 2005. The Buckeyes are 12-5 ATS in their last 17 non-conference games, 11-4 ATS in their last 15 after a non-cover and 9-3 SU and ATS in their last 12 against Pac-10 foes. On the downside, the Buckeyes have failed to cover in seven of their last eight at home as well as six straight September outings.

The Trojans carry “under” trends of 17-7-1 overall, 13-6 in non-league games, 21-9-1 as a favorite, 11-1 as a single-digit chalk and 4-1 in September. Meanwhile, Ohio State has topped the total in four of its last five overall, but otherwise the under is 11-5 in its last 16 in September, 4-1 in its last five versus the Pac-10 and 5-1 in its last six as an underdog.

ATS ADVANTAGE: USC and UNDER

(19) North Carolina (1-0, 0-0 ATS) at Connecticut (1-0 SU and ATS)

The Tar Heels’ stingy defense will be put to the test when they stroll onto Rentschler Field for a non-conference matchup with UConn.

North Carolina allowed just 30 yards rushing in a 40-6 blowout of The Citadel on Saturday in a non-lined contest. The Heels’ defense, with nine returning starters from a year ago, forced three turnovers in the victory, including two INTs for Deunta Williams. Coach Butch Davis’ offense wasn’t too shabby either, gaining 357 total yards, including 261 on the ground, its most productive rushing game since 2004.

The Huskies went to Ohio on Saturday and scored a 23-16 victory, cashing as four-point road favorites. Despite the loss of RB Donald Brown (first-round NFL pick), UConn’s running game was in midseason form, amassing 259 yards on 49 carries, with Jordan Todman going for 157 yards and a TD, while teammate Andre Dixon chipped in with 100 yards. On the downside, coach Randy Edsall’s team committed four turnovers on Saturday, with QB Zach Frazer leading the way with three INTs after getting picked six times last year in just 83 attempts.

These two squads met last season at Chapel Hill, N.C., with the Tar Heels delivering a 38-12 beatdown, easily cashing as eight-point favorites.

North Carolina comes in at just 5-11 ATS in its last 16 as a favorite, but otherwise it is on ATS runs of 4-1 in non-conference action and 5-2 against winning teams. UConn is just 1-6 ATS in its last seven following a spread-cover and 3-9 ATS in its last 12 against winning teams, but the Huskies are on positive pointspread streaks of 8-3 at home, 5-2 in September, 5-1 as a home ‘dog and 30-14-1 in non-conference action.

North Carolina has stayed below the posted total in 10 of 14 games as a road chalk, but otherwise the Heels are on “over” runs of 7-3 overall, 5-2 on the highway, 4-0 in non-conference action and 8-2 against Big East teams. The Huskies have gone over the number in five of six at home and four of five non-conference games, but the “under” for UConn is on streaks of 7-3 versus ACC teams and 13-6-1 in September.

ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE

Iowa (1-0, 0-0 ATS) at Iowa State (1-0, 0-0 ATS)

A week after surviving a scare at home against a Division I-AA opponent, Iowa makes the short trek to Ames, Iowa, for its annual battle with the Cyclones.

The Hawkeyes needed two blocked field goals in the waning seconds to hold off Northern Iowa 17-16 in a non-lined home game last Saturday. Iowa actually got outgained 354-329 and managed just 87 rushing yards, but still managed to win its fifth straight game dating to last season. In fact, the Hawkeyes are 7-1 SU in their last eight and 6-2 ATS in lined action since last October.

The Cyclones snapped a 10-game losing skid with last week’s 34-17 home win over Division I-AA North Dakota State, with QB Austen Arnaud throwing for 227 yards and two TDs, though the defense surrendered 210 rushing yards. It was the first time since a 17-5 loss at Iowa in Week 3 of last season that Iowa State had given up fewer than 28 points and just the second time in that span that it had allowed less than 34 points.

The home team has taken the last five meetings in this annual matchup, but the Cyclones took the money in all five (all as an underdog), cashing in last year’s 17-5 setback as a 13-point underdog. Iowa State is 10-1 ATS in the last 11 against the Hawkeyes, including 4-1 ATS in the last five in Ames.

Despite their spread-covering struggles against Iowa State, the Hawkeyes are on positive ATS streaks of 6-2 overall, 6-1 on the road and 4-1 as a favorite, but they’re 4-8 ATS in their last 12 as a road chalk. The Cyclones failed to cash in five of their last seven lined games of 2008, but they’re 15-6 ATS in their last 21 on grass and 6-2 ATS in their last eight in September.

The under is 4-0 in the last four battles in this rivalry. Also, Iowa is on “under” tears of 17-7-1 overall, 20-7-1 on the road, 13-3 in September, 11-1 in non-conference play, 5-0 versus the Big 12 and 11-5 as a favorite. However, the over is 5-0 in Iowa State’s last five lined contests overall and 5-1 in its last six at home.

ATS ADVANTAGE: IOWA STATE and UNDER

Fresno State (1-0, 0-0 ATS) at Wisconsin (1-0, 0-1 ATS)

Wisconsin and Fresno State hook up in a non-conference meeting for the second year in a row, with the scene shifting from central California to Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wis.

The Bulldogs hammered UC Davis 51-0 in a non-lined season opener last week, finishing with a 511-231 edge in total yards (310-43 on the ground) in snapping a two-game losing skid to end last year. Fresno State cashed easily in their season opener in 2008, whipping Rutgers 24-7 as a 3½-point road underdog, but then went 1-10 ATS the rest of the way.

Wisconsin overcame three turnovers and held off Northern Illinois 28-20 a week ago, but failed to cover as a 16½-point home favorite despite outgaining the Huskies 433-274. New QB Scott Tolzien hit on 15 of 20 passes for 257 yards and a touchdown, but he threw two interceptions. The Badgers have won four consecutive regular-season games, but they’ve failed to cover in their last three lined outings.

The Badgers jumped out to a 10-0 halftime lead at Fresno last year then held on for a 13-10 victory, cashing as a two-point road favorite despite getting outgained 343-304. The Bulldogs were doomed by three missed field goals in the contest.

Fresno State is 1-5 SU and ATS in its last six games against Big Ten foes. Also, in addition to its 1-10 ATS slump to end last season, the Bulldogs are in pointspread ruts of 10-29-1 overall, 1-6 on the road, 4-13 against winning teams, 1-5 in September and 0-4 in non-league action. One bright spot: They’re 4-1 ATS in their last five as a road pup.

Wisconsin is on ATS slides of 7-16 overall (0-3 last three), 1-4 at home, 3-7 as a double-digit favorite and 2-5 in September, but the Badgers are 13-6 ATS in their past 19 non-conference affairs.

Fresno is on “over” streaks of 7-3-1 overall, 5-1-1 on the road, 7-2 in non-conference games and 6-0 on artificial turf. The over is also 7-3 in Wisconsin’s last 10 on turf and 6-2 in its last eight as a favorite.

ATS ADVANTAGE: OVER

South Carolina (1-0 SU and ATS) at (21) Georgia (0-1 SU and ATS)

The Bulldogs return home after a disappointing season-opening loss at Oklahoma State, and awaiting them will be SEC rival South Carolina.

Georgia marched down the field on the opening drive in Stillwater last Saturday and scored a touchdown, then got stymied from there, falling to the Cowboys 24-10 as a 5½-point road underdog. Senior QB Joe Cox, replacing NFL No. 1 overall pick Matthew Stafford, played despite having flu-like symptoms and went 15-for-30 for 162 yards with a TD and an INT. Cox and the offense produced just 257 total yards.

South Carolina rode a stifling defense to a 7-3 upset win at North Carolina State last Thursday, prevailing as a five-point road underdog. The victory snapped a three-game SU and ATS slide for the Gamecocks, who gained just 256 yards but limited N.C. State to just 133 yards and 11 first downs. The winner has covered in each of South Carolina’s last nine games.

These teams meet in the second week of the season every year, and Georgia is 6-1 SU but just 3-3-1 ATS in the last seven battles. Last year, the Bulldogs earned a hard-hitting 14-7 victory, pushing as a seven-point road chalk. The visitor has won the last three meetings and is 6-2 SU in the last eight (5-2-1 ATS). Finally, the underdog is 3-1-1 ATS in the last four, and six of the last eight meetings were decided by seven points or less.

Despite last week’s upset of North Carolina State, South Carolina is still just 1-4 ATS in its last five as an underdog. As for the Bulldogs, they’re in ATS slumps of 2-8 overall (1-5 last six), 1-5 at home, 1-6 as a favorite and 1-6 in SEC action.

The under has hit in 12 consecutive Georgia-South Carolina clashes, with the last five battles in Athens, Ga., staying low. Also, the under is 24-8 in Georgia’s last 32 September contests and 6-1-1 in South Carolina’s last eight in September. Finally, both teams stayed way under the total in their Week 1 games.

ATS ADVANTAGE: SOUTH CAROLINA and UNDER

UCLA (1-0 SU and ATS) at Tennessee (1-0 SU and ATS)

After an impressive performance in coach Lane Kiffin’s debut, Tennessee now looks to exact some revenge on UCLA when the two powerhouses meet at Neyland Stadium in Knoxville.

The Bruins spotted lowly San Diego State a quick 14-3 lead last Saturday then turned on the jets and cruised to a 33-14 victory, barely covering as an 18½-point home favorite, thanks to a blocked field goal returned for a touchdown late in the third quarter, the final score of the contest. UCLA finished with 359 yards and outgained the Aztecs on the ground by a 144-39 margin, and the secondary came up with three interceptions.

Tennessee torched Western Kentucky 63-7, easily cashing as a 29½-point home favorite in Kiffin’s debut. QB Jonathan Crompton was sharp, going 21 of 28 for 233 yards and five TDs, but he also threw two picks. The Vols piled up 657 total yards while surrendering just 83.

The Volunteers thoroughly outplayed UCLA for 3½ quarters in Pasadena, Calif., last year, but still lost 27-24 in overtime as a seven-point road favorite. Tennessee gave up a go-ahead score with 27 seconds left, but managed to get a tying 47-yard field goal as time expired to force the extra session, with the Bruins getting a 42-yard field goal to win it. The Vols lost despite forcing four interceptions and despite having a 366-288 yardage edge (177-29 in rushing).

UCLA is 4-0 ATS in the last four meetings with the Vols going back to 1994, covering three times as an underdog and once in a pick-em contest. Additionally, the Bruins are on pointspread rolls of 12-5 overall, 14-8 in non-conference road games, 22-7 as an underdog, 5-0 against the SEC, 14-5 in September and 27-11 versus winning teams.

Tennessee has won and covered three straight dating to the end of last year, and the Vols are 10-5 ATS in their last 15 as a favorite, 8-3-1 ATS in their last 12 as a home chalk and 6-2 ATS in their last eight when laying between 3½ and 10 points. However, they’ve failed to cover in four of their last five against the Pac-10.

The over is 4-0 in UCLA’s last four non-conference games and 7-1 in their last eight in September. Otherwise, though, the Bruins carry “under” streaks of 4-1 overall, 4-1 as an underdog, 13-4-1 against winning teams and 8-2-1 after a non-cover. Likewise, Tennessee is on “under” streaks of 17-5-1 overall, 35-16-3 at Neyland Stadium, 8-2-1 as a favorite and 14-3 when playing on grass.

Finally, the under is 4-1 in the last five meetings between these teams going back to 1991, with the lone “over” occurring last year in Pasadena.

ATS ADVANTAGE: UNDER

Purdue (1-0 SU and ATS) at Oregon (0-1 SU and ATS)

The Ducks look to put a tumultuous week behind them when they entertain Purdue in a non-conference game under the lights at Autzen Stadium in Eugene.

Not only did Oregon get pushed around in last Thursday’s 19-8 loss at 14th-ranked Boise State as a 3½-point road underdog, but the Ducks lost star running back LeGarrette Blount for the remainder of the season. Blount was suspended by first-year coach Chip Kelly for punching a Boise State player after the game ended. Oregon’s explosive offense, which averaged 42 points and nearly 280 rushing yards per game last year, was limited to one touchdown and 152 total yards (31 rushing), while the defense allowed 361 yards (164 rushing).

Unlike Kelly with Oregon, new Boilermakers coach Danny Hope had a successful debut, leading his team to a 52-31 rout of Toledo, cashing as a 10-point home favorite. The normally pass-happy Boilermakers had 315 of their 535 total yards on the ground, and while new QB Joey Elliott threw for 220 yards and three scores, he also tossed three INTs. Also the defense allowed 423 passing yards.

Oregon went to Purdue a year ago and earned a 32-26 double-overtime victory, but came up just short as a seven-point road favorite. The teams combined for 911 yards of offense, with the winning score ironically coming on Blount’s 3-yard TD run after Purdue missed a winning field goal on the final play in regulation.

Purdue has now covered in three straight games since last season and is on additional ATS upticks of 4-1-1 against the Pac-10 , 4-0-1 as an underdog of more than 10 points and 5-1-1 in non-conference roadies, but the Boilers are 2-6-1 ATS in their last nine on artificial turf.

The Ducks had a four-game SU and a three-game ATS winning streak snapped with the loss at Boise. However, Oregon remains on pointspread surges 13-6 in September, 7-3 against the Big Ten, 15-6 as a home favorite and 12-3 when laying more than 10 points at home.

The under is 5-2 in Purdue’s last seven road games, but the over is 10-4-2 in its last 16 non-league contests (all in September). Conversely, despite staying well under the total at Boise State last Thursday, the Ducks are on “over” stretches of 4-0-1 at home, 7-0-1 after a non-cover, 16-5-2 in September and 4-1-1 versus Big Ten competition.

ATS ADVANTAGE: NONE

(18) Notre Dame (1-0 SU and ATS) at Michigan (1-0 SU and ATS)

The Fighting Irish and Wolverines hope to capitalize on the momentum gained from easy season-opening victories, with Notre Dame traveling to the Big House in Ann Arbor for this annual September tussle.

Notre Dame throttled Nevada 35-0 as a 14½-point home favorite last Saturday, with junior QB Jimmy Clausen going 15-for-18 for 315 yards and four TDs – including one from 70 yards and another from 88 yards – in helping the Irish build a 28-0 halftime lead. While Clausen and the offense (510 total yards) were sharp, the defense stole the show, holding one of the nation’s most prolific offenses to 307 yards, forcing three turnovers and posting Notre Dame’s first shutout since 2002.

Michigan put aside some off-the-field turmoil and manhandled Western Michigan 31-7 as a 13-point home favorite in Week 1. The Wolverines, who lost seven of their final eight games (SU and ATS) in coach Rich Rodriguez’s debut season with the team in 2008, had a 439-301 edge in total offense, and new quarterback Tate Forcier was on the mark (13-for-20, 179 yards, 3 TDs, no INTs).

The Irish ended a two-game SU and ATS slide to Michigan with last year’s 35-17 victory as a one-point home underdog. The Wolverines dominated from a yardage perspective (388-260) but committed six turnovers, including a fumble that was returned 35 yards for a score in the fourth quarter. Notre Dame is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 series meetings, the underdog is 8-2 ATS in the last 10 clashes, and the visitor has won eight of the last 10 battles outright (6-4 ATS).

The SU winner is 11-0 ATS in Michigan’s last 11 games, 8-0 in Notre Dame’s last eight and 7-0 in the last seven years in this rivalry.

The Irish are on ATS runs of 7-3 on the road, 6-2 as a favorite and 6-0 as a road chalk. On the flip side, despite the easy cover against Western Michigan a week ago, the Wolverines are in pointspread dips of 1-4 at home, 1-4 in non-conference play, 1-4 as an underdog, 0-4 after a SU win and 3-8 on artificial turf.

The under is 4-1 in the last five Notre Dame-Michigan battles in the Big House. The under is also 4-1-1 in the Irish’s last six overall, 11-2 in their last 13 on the road, 5-0 in their last five on artificial turf, 4-1 in Michigan’s last five on turf and 8-2 in Michigan’s last 10 in September.

ATS ADVANTAGE: NOTRE DAME and UNDER

(16) TCU (0-0 SU and ATS) at Virginia (0-1, 0-0 ATS)

Coming off one of its most embarrassing losses in school history, Virginia now has to deal with the 16th-ranked Horned Frogs, who make their season debut at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville.

After closing out 2008 with four straight defeats (1-3 ATS), the Cavaliers christened 2009 with a shocking 26-14 home loss to William & Mary in a non-lined game, their first loss to a Division I-AA opponent since 1986. Virginia held a 14-10 lead late in the first half but failed to score from there and got outgained 309-268 while committing a whopping seven turnovers, including three interceptions by QB Jameel Sewell.

TCU (11-2, 8-4 ATS) posted its third 11-win season in the last four years in 2008 and finished ranked No. 7 in the national polls after knocking off then-undefeated Boise State 17-16 in the Poinsettia Bowl, though the Frogs failed to cover as a three-point favorite in that contest. TCU fielded the top-ranked defense in the country last year, giving up just 11.3 points, 170.7 passing yards and 47.1 rushing yards per game. The Horned Frogs’ only losses came at Oklahoma (35-10) and at Utah (13-10 in the final seconds), two teams that finished ranked No. 5 and No. 2, respectively.

Coach Gary Patterson, who enters his ninth season at TCU, has to replace seven starters from last year’s top-ranked defense, but his top offensive weapons return, including dual-threat QB Andy Dalton (59 percent completion rate, 2,242 passing yards, 11 TDs, 5 INTs; 432 rushing yards, 8 TDs).

These schools last met in the 1994 Independence Bowl, with Virginia prevailing 20-10 but failing to cover as an 11-point favorite.

The Horned Frogs have failed to get the money in four of their last five road games, but otherwise they’re on ATS runs of 12-5 overall, 25-10 as a favorite, 6-1 when laying more than 10 points and 8-4 in non-conference games.

Virginia is 3-9 ATS in its last 12 lined non-conference games, 0-4 ATS in its last fourt against the Mountain West Conference and 5-11 ATS in its last 16 in September. However, the Cavaliers are on pointspread upticks of 5-2 as a pup, 16-5 as a home underdog and 4-1 when catching more than 10 points at home.

TCU is on “under” runs of 4-1 on the road and 15-7 as a favorite, while the Cavs are on “under” streaks of 5-1 overall, 4-1 at home and 8-2 after a SU defeat.

ATS ADVANTAGE: TCU and UNDER

Houston (1-0, 0-0 ATS) at (5) Oklahoma State (1-0 SU and ATS)

Oklahoma State looks to avoid getting caught in a letdown when it hosts Houston a week after knocking off 13th-ranked Georgia.

The Cowboys spotted Georgia a quick 7-0 lead last Saturday and didn’t get on the scoreboard until less than three minutes remained in the first half, but they took control in the second half and scored a 24-10 victory as a 5½-point home favorite. Star QB Zac Robinson tossed two TD passes and didn’t get intercepted, but he was otherwise pedestrian in going 11-for-22 for just 135 yards while rushing for 39 yards on nine carries. Oklahoma State’s much-maligned defense stole the show, limiting the Bulldogs to just 257 total yards and forcing three turnovers.

Houston throttled Northwestern State 55-7 in a non-lined home game last week, piling up 538 yards and allowing just 263 despite having the ball for just 23½ minutes. QB Case Keenum was sensational, going 23-for-30 for 359 yards with four TDs and no picks.

These teams met in Week 2 last year and the Cowboys cruised to a 56-37 victory as a 15½-point home favorite. In 2006, the Cougars earned a 34-25 home win over OSU, cashing as a 2½-point home chalk.

The Cougars lost their first three Division I-A games last year, including the Oklahoma State blowout followed a pair of three-point defeats, but since then, they’re 7-2 SU (4-4 ATS in lined action). While Houston has covered in five of its last seven as a road pup of more than 10 points, it is otherwise in pointspread slumps of 5-12 overall, 1-7 on the road, 1-4 in non-league contests, 1-4 in September and 2-9 after a SU win.

Oklahoma State snapped a four-game ATS slide with last week’s spread-cover. The Cowboys are on ATS surges of 7-2 at home, 42-20-2 as a favorite, 7-0 as a home chalk, 22-5 when laying double digits, 10-1 as a double-digit home favorite, 5-1 in non-conference play, 8-1 on artificial turf and 4-0 in September.

Houston is on “over” stretches of 5-1 in September, 5-2 as an underdog and 8-3 as a double-digit pup, while the Cowboys carry “over” trends of 29-10 at home, 9-3 as a home chalk and 5-1 in September. Finally, both meetings between these schools this decade have eclipsed the posted total.

ATS ADVANTAGE: OKLAHOMA STATE and OVER

Vanderbilt (1-0, 0-0 ATS) at (11) LSU (1-0, 0-1 ATS)

After a lackluster season-opening victory at Washington, LSU returns to Tiger Stadium looking to knock off the Commodores for the sixth consecutive time in an SEC clash.

The Tigers fell behind 7-0 five minutes into the game at Washington last Saturday and never led by more than two touchdowns, but still prevailed 31-23, never threatening to cover as a 17½-point road favorite. LSU’s defense got torched for 478 yards (321 passing) while the offense produced just 321 yards, and the Tigers had the football for barely 23 minutes.

Vanderbilt cruised to a 45-0 non-lined home victory over Western Carolina, finishing with a ridiculous 620-125 advantage in total offense, including 433-51 on the ground. However, if you take away a 16-14 upset win over Boston College in last year’s Music City Bowl, the Commodores have lost six of their last seven to Division I-A competition (2-5 ATS).

These teams last met in 2005, with LSU cruising to a 34-6 win as a 17-point road favorite. Prior to that, however, Vanderbilt had cashed in four of five meetings against the Tigers (all as an underdog). The last time the Commodores beat LSU outright was in 1990, a 24-21 home win as a 17-point pup, and Vanderbilt hasn’t won in Baton Rouge since 1951.

Vandy is 1-9 ATS in its last 10 games when coming off a victory of more than 20 points, but otherwise it is on positive ATS runs of 5-2 on the road, 8-2 as an underdog, 14-4 as a road pup, 9-2 as a double-digit ‘dog and 13-3 in September.

LSU has failed to cover in seven consecutive regular-season games and carries further ATS downturns of 5-19 overall, 0-7 at home, 0-5 as a favorite, 1-10 as a double-digit chalk, 7-19-1 in SEC action and 1-5 in September.

The Commodores are on “under” runs of 18-6-1 overall, 4-1 on the road, 4-1-1 in September and 13-3-1 in SEC play. On the flip side, LSU has topped the total in 16 of 22 overall, nine of 13 at home, 11 of 16 in September and 13 of 18 as a favorite. Finally, the last six series meetings in this rivalry have stayed under the total.

ATS ADVANTAGE: VANDERBILT

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