Betting news, trends, odds and predictions from various handicappers and websites for Friday 9/28/18
Friday
Memphis won its last five games with Tulane, winning 24-14/38-7 in last two visits here; Tigers scored 111 points in winning their last two games, but lost 22-21 (-7) at Navy in their only road game this month. Under Norvell, Memphis is 4-3 as road favorites- since ’08, they’re 20-9 when laying double digit points. Tulane is 0-3 vs I-A teams, losing by 6-7-43 points; they lost at home in OT to Wake Forest. Under Fritz, Green Wave is 4-2 as home underdogs- they’re 9-13 in last 22 games when getting 10+ points.
UCLA is already 0-3, the QB’s father is ripping the coach; Fresno State outgained them 420-270 in the Rose Bowl last game. Bruins won four of last five games with Colorado, splitting last two visits to Boulder- Buffs won last meeting here 20-10 (-13). Since 2013, UCLA is 8-5 as a road underdog; they allowed 87 points in their last two games. Colorado gave up 329 yards in a 33-28 win at Nebraska three weeks ago; under MacIntyre, Buffs are 13-8 as favorites, 11-5 at home. Colorado had last week off; played a I-AA team week before that.
Memphis Tigers vs. Tulane Green Wave Preview and Predictions 09-28-2018 in NCAAF
NCAAF Previews 25th September 2018 by Gracenote
Scheduled Yulman Stadium New Orleans
Tulane got a look at just how far away it is from a top FBS program while getting smacked around at Ohio State last weekend, and the defense will not get much of a chance to recover in Week 5. The Green Wave will try to turn things around on that side of the ball when they face another prolific offense as Memphis comes to town.
Tulane was ripped for 570 total yards - 419 through the air - in the 49-6 loss at Ohio State and ranks 120th out of 130 FBS teams in passing defense while yielding an average of 304 yards. "I just talked to the (defensive backs) after practice, and I told them at this point you've got to find something new," safety Roderic Teamer told the New Orleans Advocate. "Whatever you've been doing is not getting you the results you want. Whether it's being harder on yourself, harder on your teammates, just hold each other more accountable and be positive. Our season isn't thrown away because we're 1-3." That suspect Green Wave defense is going up against a Tigers squad that ranks fourth in FBS in total offense at an average of 593 yards while putting up 49.5 points. That Memphis offense is led by quarterback Brady White, who is in the top 10 nationally in completion percentage (72.2) and owns 12 touchdown passes against one interception through the first four games.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, ESPN2. LINE: Memphis -14
ABOUT MEMPHIS (3-1, 0-1 AAC): White led the Tigers offense to an average of 59 points in their three wins and guided three fourth-quarter TD drives in last week's 52-35 triumph over South Alabama. "He's very calm, collected, when people blitz, he's able to get the ball out," Memphis coach Mike Norvell told reporters. "He processes information really quickly, and he's done a nice job when it's come to that." White gets plenty of support from the running game, as junior Darrell Henderson has rushed for at least 188 yards and two TDs in each of the last three games.
ABOUT TULANE (1-3, 0-0): The Green Wave built themselves around the running game on offense under head coach Willie Fritz but are trying to add more through the air this season, and quarterback Jonathan Banks is stepping up. Banks is averaging 8.7 yards per passing attempt with five TDs and one INT and has a pair of receivers (Darnell Mooney and Terren Encalade) over 300 yards apiece. Fritz's rushing attack remains strong behind junior Corey Dauphine, who is averaging 11.6 yards per carry.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Tulane has rushed for at least 100 yards in 31 consecutive games.
2. The Memphis special teams blocked a kick in each of the last two games.
3. The Tigers have taken the last 11 meetings in the series.
PREDICTION: Memphis 42, Tulane 27
UCLA Bruins vs. Colorado Buffaloes Preview and Predictions 09-28-2018 in NCAAF
NCAAF Previews 25th September 2018 by Gracenote
Scheduled Folsom Field Boulder
Two programs who have had vastly different starts clash Friday night when winless UCLA visits unbeaten Colorado in Boulder. The game serves as the Pac-12 Conference opener for both teams.
The Buffaloes are 3-0 for the second straight season but are hoping this year brings a better finish as Colorado proceeded to drop seven of its nine Pac-12 games a season ago to finish last in the Pac-12 South. So far, the Buffaloes have beaten Colorado State (45-13), Nebraska (33-28) and FCS-foe New Hampshire (45-14), but that trio of teams is a combined 1-10 on the season. It's been the mirror-opposite for UCLA, whose first three foes - Cincinnati, No. 5 Oklahoma and Fresno State - are a combined 10-1 so far. Regardless, the Chip Kelly Era is off to a rough start, and the Bruins are hoping to avoid their first 0-4 record since 1971, when they finished 2-7-1.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, FS1. LINE: Colorado -10
ABOUT UCLA (0-3, 0-0 Pac-12): Quarterback issues have helped lead to the Bruins' winless start as opening game-starter Wilton Speight was lost to a back injury, and dual-threat freshman Dorian Thompson-Robinson has started the two games since, even while the latter's father generated headlines by criticizing Kelly's play calling on Twitter. Meanwhile, sophomore quarterback Devon Modster, who started two games a season ago in place of the injured Josh Rosen, announced last Friday that he is transferring from the program, leaving the Bruins thin on backup options. Kazmeir Allen and Bolu Olorunfunmi have led the tailback rotation, combining to rush for 237 yards and five TDs while strong safety Adarius Pickett is averaging a team-best 13.3 tackles per game.
ABOUT COLORADO (3-0, 0-0): The Steven Montez-Laviska Shenault connection has clicked 26 times for 455 yards and three touchdowns so far, and the sophomore wide receiver easily leads the FBS with his average of 151.7 receiving yards per game. Virginia Tech transfer Travon McMillian paces the Buffaloes on the ground with 290 yards and three TDs on 33 carries after rushing for a career-high 162 yards against New Hampshire. Sophomore linebacker Nate Landman leads the defense with 11.3 tackles per outing and has intercepted a pair of passes.
EXTRA POINTS
1. UCLA has won six of the seven meetings since Colorado joined the Pac-12 in 2011, including a 27-23 home win last season.
2. Shenault also has three carries for 10 yards and a TD on the ground and earlier this week was added to the Biletnikoff Award watch list.
3. Penalties (23 for 199 yards), pass protection (12 sacks allowed) and turnovers (five) have hampered the Bruins this season.
PREDICTION: Colorado 34, UCLA 23