NCAA Football Team Trends

Louisville at RUTGERS (Thursday)...Rutgers has circled this one following humiliating, nationally-televised 56-5 bashing at Papa John’s LY. L’Ville made Scarlet Knights pay for jumping on its logo at midfield before the game (when will they learn?), as infuriated Cardinals continued to pass in 4th Q. Rutgers now-starting QB Teel (12 of 24, 2 ints.) went the distance for injured starter Hart.

Wyoming at BYU (Thursday)...After failing to cover previous 6 in series, BYU has covered past 2, and cookin’ Cougars 8-0-1 vs. spread in ‘06.

Western Michigan at CENTRAL MICHIGAN (Friday)...WMU has covered 4 straight in series, but CMU is 7-1-1 vs. spread in ‘06.

Utep at UAB (Friday)...UTEP craving for this rematch after stunning 35-23 home upset vs. UAB LY, Miners’ only defeat in El Paso in ‘05. UTEP outgained Blazers 485-383, as QB Palmer hit 33 of 52 for 337 yds., but 3 ints. set up easy UAB scores.

Georgia at AUBURN...Auburn pulled out wild 31-30 series win LY on a 20-yd. FG with :06 left. Tiger QB Cox had 279 YP, and fired up RB Irons rushed for 179 yds. in winning cause.

North Carolina State at CLEMSON...NCS is 10-3 as road dog last 5+ seasons (but 0-2 TY).

Louisiana Tech at HAWAII...Honolulu has been no paradise for visitors, as UH now 10-3 as chalk L2+Ys. And Warriors in inhospitable mood following 46-14 crushing at La. Tech LY.

Michigan at INDIANA...No. 2-ranked Michigan has a just little lookahead with top-ranked Ohio State next week. IU 2-1 as home dog TY after 1-6 in role previous 2 campaigns.

Georgia Tech at NORTH CAROLINA...GT QB Ball had a ball in LY’s 27-21 home win vs. UNC, as he threw for season-high 320 yds. & 3 TDs, but Tar Heels got “back-door” cover on 17-yd. TD pass with 4:16 left.

Texas Tech at OKLAHOMA...TT’s outspoken HC Mike Leach, who served as OU o.c. for one season (1999) before leaving for Lubbock, has failed to cover 4 of last 5 vs. Sooners, including LY’s controversial 23-21 win (Red Raiders were 7 pt. fav.). On final drive, TT had 4th-and-3 pass appear to be intercepted, but simultaneous catch was ruled apparently one yd. short of FD. But refs spotted ball for FD, and on the game's final play TT RB Henderson, from 2, ran into the line and appeared down after short gain, but refs ruled it a TD in absence of clear replay evidence to overrule on field.

Baylor at OKLAHOMA STATE...Revenge game for OSU, which had its 9-game series winning streak snapped in sloppy 44-34 victory in Waco LY. Cowboys outgained Baylor 473-318, but season-high 8 TOs (one int. returned for TD) was waaayyy too much to overcome.

Temple at PENN STATE...Teacher vs. pupil. New Temple mentor, 36-year-old Al Golden is a former Nittany Lion (2-year starter at TE in ‘89-91) and served as an assistant under “JoPa” in 2000 before becoming the youngest d.c. in nation at Virginia in 2001.

Boise State at SAN JOSE STATE...Heavily-favored BSU (33 pt.-chalk) was lucky to escape with a 56-49 OT win in last trip to San Jose State 2 years ago. Broncos, however, left little doubt LY on the “blue carpet,” mounting 31-7 halftime lead before Spartans then-backup QB Tafralis engineered two late TD drives to cover 31-pt. spread in 38-21 final.

Syracuse at SOUTH FLORIDA...Syracuse psyched for this rematch following painful 27-0 whitewash in Carrier Dome LY. Orange, retiring Floyd Little’s jersey that day, suffered 1st home shutout since 2000. ‘Cuse QB Patterson completed just 5 of 16 with 1 int. before benching.

Nebraska at TEXAS A&M...A&M is a quiet 9-2 vs. spread last 11, and Nebraska just 2-5 as road dog since 2003.

Stanford at WASHINGTON...Emotional game for UW mentor Ty Willingham (left), who served as Stanford RB coach from ‘89-’91 under Dennis Green, then later took over as head man from ‘95-‘01 before going to South Bend for couple years (before abrupt firing) prior to current job.

Houston at SMU...UH in a payback mode following 29-24 home upset loss vs. old SWC rival SMU in ‘05. Cougs outgained Mustangs 393-241, but UH dug itself early hole when SMU scored on 69-yd. int. return in 1st Q. Cougar QB Kolb completed 25 of 46 for 273 yds. but just 1 TD.

Southern Miss at TULANE...Tulane was understandably fatigued entering reg.-season ending 26-7 loss LY, as Green Wave was playing 11th straight away from home due to catastrophic Hurricane Katrina. Tulane’s normally-productive QB Ricard eager for rematch after hitting just 7 of 20 for season-low 109 yds. & 2 ints.

Rice at TULSA...LY’s 41-21 Tulsa victory not as one-sided as score indicates. Rice had one more FD and was outgained by just 67 yds., but Golden Hurricane scored on 19-yd. fumble return & 96-yd. KO return to extend margin.

Oregon State at UCLA...This one has extra special meaning for OSU QB Matt Moore, who transferred from UCLA (5 starts as a Bruin in ‘03) prior to 2004 season.

Colorado State at UTAH...Utah in a nasty mood for this rematch following controversial 21-17 loss at Fort Collins LY. Utes had 1st-and-goal at CSU 4-yd. line. On 3rd-and-goal from 1, it appeared that they had scored winning TD, but play was ruled short, and their 4th-down run was also stopped.

Cincinnati at WEST VIRGINIA...WV cruised in LY’s 38-0 whitewash (led 31-0 in 3rd Q, then pulled starters), with dynamic duo of RB Slaton & QB White each surpassing 100 yds. rushing in typical fashion. Mounties are 11-3 vs. spread last 14.

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