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College Football

Post-Mortems: Group of 5

VegasInsider Staff
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
8 minute read
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Power 5

Tulsa at Temple (-6.5/54.5): Golden Hurricane QB Luke Skipper was sacked five times and turned it over five times as the Owls defense looked closer to being the disruptive force we've grown accustomed to seeing from their program. QB Anthony Russo didn't play well but is expected to start against BC despite Frank Nutile getting closer to returning. Tulsa looks like it may be nearing a QB change too since it enters a bye week and could prepare a younger option like redshirt freshman Seth Boomer.Result: Temple 31-17. ATS: Favorite/Under

Florida Atlantic at UCF (-14/75): UCF QB McKenzie Milton took full advantage of his turn on a national stage, accounting for six touchdowns and putting on a show. He looks like a lock to finish top-five in the Heisman. Lane Kiffin's Owls failed to cover in either of the games they had circled on the calendar but Devin Singletary still managed to prove he's one of the country's most talented running backs. LSU should still win C-USA if it can tighten up its defense. Result: UCF 56-36. ATS: Favorite/Over

Virginia Tech (-28.5/53) at Old Dominion: This was the classic case of letting a team hang around so long that you supply confidence for them to choke you out with. The Hokies looked like a team that hadn’t done their homework all week and was just looking to show up and collect a win, possibly having already let their mind wander on to a trip to undefeated Duke in Durham. ODU turned to backup Blake LaRussa early and watched him throw for 495 yards, the second-highest total ever allowed by a Virginia Tech defense. When QB Josh Jackson went down in the third quarter, the door was left open for the Monarchs to rally and post a 28-7 fourth-quarter edge, becoming the talk of college football for a weekend. Jackson’s ankle will be an issue going forward and talented defensive lineman Trevon Hill was dismissed the following day. Old Dominion WR Jonathan Duhart, who drew a mention here last week, is a problem. Result: Old Dominion 49-35. ATS: Underdog/Over




Notre Dame (-6.5/59.5) at Wake Forest: The Irish were so impressive in dominating Wake Forest that Dave Clawson ultimately fired defensive coordinator Jay Sawvel since the unit had regressed staggeringly since Mike Elko left for Notre Dame. With Ian Book starting ahead of Brandon Wimbush, Notre Dame scored its most points on the road since a 57-7 win over Stanford back in 2003, converting via TD all seven times it reached the red zone. Leaving points on the board has been a major concern with Wimbush at the helm, so expect his days as a starter to be over. Book is definitely the better passer and will add more ammo to work with since RB Dexter Willliams has completed a four-game suspension and will be available for Stanford's visit. Result: Notre Dame 56-27. ATS: Favorite/Over

Nevada at Toledo (-10.5/68): This one had the feel of an arena league game and was actually closer than the final score indicated. Mitchell Guadagni stole the show in accounting for six scores, running for 131 yards and throwing for 211. Versatile WR Desmond Phillips threw for a score and blocked a punt that was scooped up for a TD. As long as they stay healthy, the Rockets have the firepower to win a wide open MAC. Wolf Pack QB Ty Gangi threw for 320 yards against a suspect defense, but the key development for Nevada despite the loss was freshman RB Toa Taua delivering 170 yards and three TDs. He's got a bright future and currently leads all freshman with 8.07 yards per carry.Result: Toledo 63-44. ATS: Favorite/Over

Connecticut at Syracuse (-30.5/75.5):Those who were on the Orange and the over could only watch helplessly as Tommy DeVito overthrew a wide open receiver late on the heels of settling for a field goal on their previous drive despite taking over inside the UConn 20 due to drops and miscues. The Huskies came within 30 points of an opponent in a loss for the first time this season. QB David Pindell caught a helmet to the knee, ending up with a bone bruise. Result: Syracuse 51-21. ATS: Underdog/Under

Buffalo (-6/53.5) at Rutgers: The Bulls put this out of reach quickly as there was no push back from a Scarlet Knights' squad that should've been embarassed after being crushed at Kansas, falling behind 35-6. The Bulls out-gained Rutgers 220-40. Freshman Art Sitkowski threw a pair of interceptions that were returned for touchdowns, getting pulled for senior Gio Rescigno. Nothing is going right in Piscataway. Meanwhile, the Bulls are legitimately solid and can win the MAC if a hamstring injury to likely NFL first-round WR Anthony Johnson doesn't become a lingering issue. Result: Buffalo 42-13. ATS: Favorite/Over

Western Kentucky at Ball State (-3.5/52.5): Steven Duncan took over for QB Davis Shanley due to an injury suffered coming out of halftime and helped lead a second-half comeback over the disappointing Cardinals, who have been unable to build on an impressive performance at Notre Dame. WR Lucky Jackson and TE Mik’Quan Deane came up with key grabs for the Hilltoppers to complement Joshua Samuel and Gino Appleberry, Jr., a freshmen tandem getting the nod with senior D’Andre Ferby out injured. WKU picked up a valuable win for its youth movement while Ball State let another one get away in Muncie, allowing the visitors to convert on a fake punt and ultimately stage a comeback against a veteran group that was moving the football well via QB Riley Neal and sophomore RB Caleb Huntley. This result was a strange one, a game where you wondered how the outcome ended up where it landed. Result: WKU 28-20. ATS: Underdog/Under

Northern Illinois at Florida State (-10/45.5): Willie Taggart beat his first FBS foe by getting the 'Noles off early, which took a little luck since their first score came on a fortunate bounce that could've easily gone another way and resulted in a turnover. Coming up empty could've been a killer given all the angst FSU was working with entering the week after two team meetings and a testy week of practice, but instead, the offense scored on their first two drives. They were penalty-free too, setting the tone for a 473-yard day. With the offense getting healthier as OT Landon Dickerson and RB Jacques Patrick near a return, the 'Noles have a chance to put their best foot forward when they open October in Miami. NIU's offense continues to sputter but did acheive some success in a comeback bid as Marcus Childers accounted for three TDs. Result: Stanford 17-3. ATS: Favorite/Under

Tulane at Ohio State (-38/67): Urban Meyer was pleased with how his team handled his absence and ecstatic over how the Buckeyes fared in his return, ending the Green Wave's challenge quickly and efficiently thanks to a 42-6 lead at the break. Parris Campbell hauled in nearly half of Dwayne Haskins 304 passing yards and the Buckeyes have a truly imposing downfield passing game for the first time since Cardale Jones' brief championship-winning run. Tulane held Ohio State to a single second-half score but came up empty on the scoreboard and failed to cover. Result: Ohio State 49-6. ATS: Favorite/Under

Army at Oklahoma (-29/60): The Black Knights came into Norman with a plan and executed to perfection, nearly coming away with a monumental upset. Controlling time of possession kept their defense from being dominated by the Sooners' speed and power and almost helped them steal this. Army held the ball for 44:41 of the 60 minutes that they played OU to a tie in, running 78 times for 339 yards and running 87 plays while their highly-ranked foes ran 40. Kelvin Hopkins' final pass was intercepted in overtime, ending the upset bid, but it's hard to say many teams pulled off exactly what they wanted to better than Army. Oklahoma has to be concerned that Trey Sermon wasn't more effective in his first game starting at running back or that kicker Austin Seibert missed a chip-shot game-winner to put the season in jeopardy. Result: Oklahoma 28-21 OT. ATS: Underdog/Under

Eastern Michigan at San Diego State (-10.5/48.5): You can understand if the Aztecs don't look back fondly on their victory here since they lost starting RB Juwan Washington, who was following nicely in the footsteps of Rashaad Penny, to a broken collarbone that will keep him out a few months. Despite a horrible call keeping San Diego State from likely winning in regulation, kicker John Barron II delivered on a 50-yarder to force OT and won it in the bottom-half of the extra period after a Darren Hall interception shut down the Eagles. Eastern Michigan was able to take advantage of Washington's absence by dominating the second half, which has to be disconcerting for Rocky Long and SDSU. Eastern has been a pill all season and should be a contender in the MAC if it stays healthy. Result: Notre Dame 56-27. ATS: Favorite/Over

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