Cnotes College Football News-Notes-Rumors-Best Bets 2025-2026 !

[Cnotes53]

CNOTES COLLEGE FOOTBALL BEST BETS FOR OCTOBER !

10/14/2025....................3 - 1 - 0........................75.00%.................+ 9.50
10/11/2025....................3 - 7 - 0........................30.00%.................- 23.50
10/10/2025....................5 - 1 - 0........................83.31%................+ 19.50
10/09/2025....................2 - 3 - 1........................40.00%.................- 6.50
10/08/2025....................2 - 1 - 1........................66.66%.................+ 4.50
10/04/2025................14 - 11 - 1.......................56.00%.................+ 9.50
10/03/2025.....................1 - 5 - 0.......................16.66%.................- 22.50
10/02/2025.....................1 - 1 - 0.......................50.00%..................- 0.50

TOTALS.......................30 - 30 - 3.......................50.00%..................- 10.00

 

[Cnotes53]

Wednesday’s 6-pack:
Longest active home win streaks in college football:
15— Alabama, Boise State
12— Indiana
10— Memphis, Miami, Ohio U
9— Arizona State, Georgia Tech
8— Jacksonville State, Ole Miss
6— LSU, Oklahoma. TCU

Quote of the Day
“I don’t mind kids transferring. You just can’t transfer four times, because it’s not good for you. Four schools in four years, you’ll never have a college degree. But that last place you’ll be at, they’ll really be loyal to you? No, you’re a mercenary.”
John Calipari

Wednesday’s quiz
Since 1988, what two pitchers have thrown the most pitches in a playoff game (147)?

Tuesday’s quiz
In the history of the Cincinnati Bengals, Ken Anderson has the most passing yards.

Monday’s quiz
Bill O’Brien was the football coach at Penn State before James Franklin.

***********************************************

Wednesday’s Den: Mid-week musings…….​

— Dodgers 5, Brewers 1
Yoshinobu Yamamoto threw a complete game (111 PT)
Muncy/Hernandez homered for Los Angeles.
Dodgers’ bullpen got total of three outs in the first two games.
Dodgers lead series 2-0; Game 3 is in Los Angeles Thursday.

— Dodger P Blake Snell has very interesting career numbers:
March/April 7-12, 3.89 in 32 starts
May 6-12, 4.57 in 32 starts
June 11-12, 4.44 in 29 starts
July 13-6, 2.43 in 36 starts
August 23-10, 2.45 in 48 starts
September/October 21-10, 2.15 in 45 starts
Much, much better in second half of the season.

— In the 30 years before Indiana hired Curt Cignetti as its football coach, they averaged 4.1 wins per year. Cignetti is 16-2 at Indiana; he makes $9M a year.
Worth it.

— The world is going nuts, or maybe just daytime TV sucks; I walk into a bar for lunch Tuesday and there is a discussion on TV as whether the Baltimore Ravens should fire John Harbaugh.
Huh????
Harbaugh is 186-120 coaching the Ravens, won a Super Bowl. They’re off to a bad start this year; fire the defensive coordinator and move on. Discussing firing Harbaugh is nonsensical.

— I’m a believer that QB’s/WR’s should get stat credit for yardage they gain on pass interference penalties. Would have to be a separate category, but it would be interesting to see the numbers at the end of a season.

— I’m watching Miami-Atlanta NBA exhibition game the other night; they show the Hawks’ owner Anthony Ressler sitting with his wife and it dawns on me that he is married to actress Jami Gertz, who has 102 acting credits on IMDB.com
She was in the movie Less than Zero with Andrew McCarthy/Robert Downey Jr, a very good but very sad movie. She represented the Hawks at the NBA Draft Lottery twice. The Resslers have been married since 1989.

— Famous birthdays, October 15th:
Jim Palmer, 80
Joe Klecko, 72
Mark Wade, 60
Vanessa Marcil, 57
Fred Hoiberg, 53
Connor Barwin, 39
Blaine Gabbert, 36
Teoscar Hernandez, 33
Jack Flaherty, 30
Brandon Pfaadt, 27

— Liberty 30, New Mexico State 27
Liberty led 20-6 at halftime, held on for dear life.
New Mexico State missed a 47-yard FG on the last play.
Aggies outgained Liberty, 388-293, but had three turnovers.

— Florida International 25, Western Kentucky 6
Panthers kicked four field goals, led 19-6 at halftime.
FIU ran ball 39 times for 249 yards.
FIU had lost its previous five games vs Western Kentucky.

— Arkansas State 15, South Alabama 14
Red Wolves kicked a 38-yard FG at the gun for a walk-off win.
1-6 South Alabama led 14-3 after three quarters.
Arkansas State outgained the Jaguars, 367-293

— Last five baseball players to play for five teams in one season:
2018- Oliver Drake- Indians, Angels, Brewers, Twins, Blue Jays
2024- Mike Baumann- Orioles, Angels, Marlins, Mariners, Giants
2025- Jose Urena- Angels, Dodgers, Twins, Mets, Blue Jays

— Steve Weinman, who spent 13 years in the Chicago Bulls’ front office, has been hired by Wake Forest to be the general manager for the Deacons’ men’s/women’s basketball teams.
He’ll work closely with the head coaches on “roster construction, recruiting strategy, transfer portal evaluation, resource allocation and planning”.

— Air Force Falcons are only college football team that has gone over the total in every game they’ve played (6-0) this season.

— RIP to Sandy Alomar Sr, who passed away at age 81; he played 15 years in the big leagues for six different teams, mostly the Angels. He has two sons who played in the minor leagues, Sandy Alomar Jr and Roberto Alomar.
Sandy Alomar Jr had 1,168 career hits; he made the All-Star Game in 1970.
RIP, sir.

 

[Udog]

NCAAF
Weather Report

Wednesday, October 15

 

[Cnotes53]

Dan Mullen says 'I'm not going anywhere' as UNLV coach denies connection to Penn State coaching search​

Mullen is often one of the top names in the coaching carousel​

It appears as if UNLV coach Dan Mullen is staying put. Often a top name whenever coaching rumors swirl, Mullen denied any interest in accepting a hypothetical offer from Penn State as it searches for a replacement for James Franklin.

In fact, Mullen didn't seem too enthralled with the idea of leaving for any opening.

"I'm gonna be the head coach at UNLV next year," Mullen said during a weekly press conference. "I'll be here. I'm not going anywhere."

Though Mullen doesn't have any direct ties to Penn State itself, he is a native of Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania. He also played tight end at Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pennsylvania, and spent some time coaching in the Northeast at Wagner, Columbia and Syracuse.

Mullen did go so far as to address the Penn State coaching search with his team.

"I said, 'Well, good or bad, it's the transfer portal world. Don't get all excited and think I might go somewhere that you think is, like, a better place," Mullen said. "I'm gonna be here. You guys are stuck with me."

Mullen is in his first season back as a coach after spending a few years as an analyst with ESPN. UNLV is 6-0 midway through its 2025 campaign, including a 2-0 record in Mountain West play.

Mullen also coached at Mississippi State (2009-17) and Florida (2018-21) before his brief sojourn into television.

Penn State fired Franklin on Oct. 12 amid a 3-3 start to his 12th season with the Nittany Lions. Franklin departed Penn State with a 104-45 record, one Big Ten title and one appearance in the College Football Playoff.

 

[Cnotes53]

Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola addresses Matt Rhule being linked to the Penn State job: 'He ain't going nowhere'​

Rhule has been linked to the Penn State job since James Franklin was fired last weekend​

Just over a day after Nebraska coach Matt Rhule addressed the elephant in the room amid chatter that he viewed as one of the top candidates to succeed James Franklin at Penn State, his quarterback Dylan Raiola said on Tuesday that his coach "ain't going nowhere."

The comments from Nebraska's signal caller came after he posted on social media a picture of himself and his coach with the caption "Nebraska head ball coach" with a lock emoji. Raiola doubled down when asked about that post, going as far as to say that Rhule is "locked in as ever" despite the rumors.

"It doesn't phase him at all," Raiola said. "It's just people stirring stuff up and making things. It's bigger than it is. He's as locked in as ever on this football game to get this win. I just have to make sure everyone knew that's our head ball coach and he ain't going nowhere. He's staying. Staying right here."

Rhule, a Penn State alum and a former walk-on linebacker under Joe Paterno, has deep ties to the program. Despite Raiola shooting down the rumors that his coach would leave, Rhule spoke candidly about the opening earlier in the week, saying that he has "love" for Penn State while also reaffirming his commitment to Nebraska.

"Like I said, I'm not going to talk about it very often," Rhule said. "I'm certainly not going to talk about it with anyone but my wife. But Julie decides where we live. Her business, she loves it. It's been an unbelievable time in our lives, and I just think we can be a perennial top of the country, one of the best teams in the country."

Raiola, a five-star quarterback from the 2024 recruiting cycle in the 247Sports rankings, has Nebraska off to a 5-1 start in his second season with the program. The Cornhuskers face Minnesota on Saturday and have matchups against Northwestern, USC and UCLA before facing Penn State in Happy Valley on Nov. 22.

 

[Cnotes53]

College football coaching carousel tracker: Grades, analysis on coach changes, 2025-26 firings and hirings​

A running list of every open job in what's already been a historic season of turnover​

A record-breaking spin on the coaching carousel is already underway across college football.

We're up to five openings in the power conferences midway through the 2025 season -- and that doesn't count Stanford, where Frank Reich was named interim coach in March. Only five power jobs came open all of last season, when 30 total jobs (25 in the Group of 6) were filled.

Overall, the two years leading up to this cycle (2025-26) were the most hectic we've seen this century, with a total of 61 programs changing head coaches. That means an incredible 44.9% of FBS teams changed leadership during a two-year span. That number will skyrocket this fall and winter.

CBS Sports is tracking every move in the 2025-26 cycle and grading each hire below.

College football coaching carousel​

Team	In	Out	Analysis
		Kenni Burns	Kent State fired Kenni Burns in April for violations of his contract that included use of his personal card for expenses. Burns was a dismal 1-23 in two seasons leading the Flashes, including a 0-12 record in 2024.
		Troy Taylor	Stanford fired Taylor amid allegations of mistreating female staffers. Taylor posted a 6-18 record in two seasons with the program after coming to Palo Alto after a successful run at Sacramento State. He lost eight of last nine games. The Cardinal hired Frank Reich to serve as interim coach, which reunites him and Stanford general manager Andrew Luck; Reich coached Luck with the Indianapolis Colts for one season in 2018.
		DeShaun Foster	UCLA Foster only three games into his second season. The former All-American running back with the Bruins fished his tenure with a 5-10 record, including 3-6 in Big Ten matchups.
		Brent Pry	Pry's tenure at Virginia Tech came to an end following his team's 0-3 start. The decision came after the Hokies' 45-26 home loss to Old Dominion , which was the third straight by double digits. The Hokies were never ranked in the three-plus years of Pry's tenure as coach. Pry's predecessor, Justin Fuente, went 43-31 at Virginia Tech, but was fired after going 10-11 in his final two seasons at the helm.
		Mike Gundy	Oklahoma State outsted Gundy after he spent more than two decades at the helm of the Cowboys. The move ended a tenure that once positioned the program among the Big 12's elite. Gundy, 58, was the second-longest tenured FBS coach. He departed after a steep decline during the past two seasons, including a 3-9 record in 2024 and a 1-2 start to 2025.
		Trent Bray	Oregon State   fired Bray seven games into his winless second season leading the program. The Beavers dropped to 0-7 with Week 7's 39-14 loss to Wake Forest , which marked their fourth double-digit defeat of the year. Bray's first year in his new post got off to a decent start. The Beavers went 4-1 through the first half of the 2024 regular season, with their only loss coming against Oregon, the eventual Big Ten champion. But Oregon State spiraled to 1-6 down the stretch, causing it to miss a bowl game.
		Sam Pittman	Arkansas ' decision came following a 56-13 loss to Notre Dame and a week after the Razorbacks squandered an 18-point lead on the road at Memphis Situated on one of college football's hottest seats entering his sixth season at the program, Pittman finishes 32-34 overall at Arkansas, including a 14-29 mark against SEC competition. Since finishing 9-4 overall and finding a spot inside the final AP Top 25 poll to conclude the 2021 season, the Razorbacks sputtered under Pittman's guidance despite a bevy of coaching staff changes and roster alterations annually in recruiting and through the transfer portal.
		James Franklin	Penn State fired Franklin six games into his 12th season with the Nittany Lions -- amid a disastrous three-game slide. The No. 2 team in the preseason AP Top 25 just two months ago, the Nittany Lions slipped to 0-3 in Big Ten play following a stunning 22-21 home loss to Northwestern in Week 7 -- a game in which they were a three-touchdown favorite. The massive upset was Penn State's second in a row after falling at previously winless UCLA on Oct. 4, making it the first FBS team since 1978 to lose back-to-back games as favorites of at least 20 points.
		Trent Dilfer	UAB moved on from Dilfer six games into his third season with the Blazers. UAB's decision came just one day after the team dropped to 2-4 on the year in a 53-33 loss to FAU. Dilfer was on track for a third straight losing season with the Blazers. All four of their losses this year came by at least 14 points and only one of their wins came against an FBS opponent.

 

[Cnotes53]

Texas Tech's portal spending spree well worth the investment as transfer additions complete defensive overhaul​

The Red Raiders' unbeaten start is thanks in part to a new-look defense almost a year in the making​

After catching a movie during a recent team-building exercise, Joey McGuire pulled back his seat on Texas Tech's team bus to listen in on a conversation behind him.

It was heavy on Xs and Os, sparking McGuire's interest on his return to campus. Senior Jacob Rodriguez was the first to reveal what had him grinning ear to ear with fellow linebacker Ben Roberts.

"He was like, 'Coach, you don't understand, because of Lee Hunter, we can go make a play that's not necessarily in our gap because he's taking up two (blockers),'" McGuire told CBS Sports this month.

This newfound luxury for Rodriguez and Roberts, Texas Tech's top returning tacklers from last season's eight-win team, means greater flexibility for big plays as leaders on a defense ranked No. 1 nationally against the run and slotted inside the top 10 across multiple other categories including sacks, fewest total yards allowed, scoring and takeaways.

An impactful, 6-foot-4, 330-pound nose like Hunter was a necessity this offseason and a hot commodity in the transfer portal for a program seeking more girth and power at the line scrimmage. Hunter, who signed with Auburn before spending the last three years at UCF, was one of 10 new defensive additions as part of a 21-player group.

This is exactly what McGuire envisioned when his unbeaten and seventh-ranked Red Raiders went all-in this offseason with roster retention and additions.

"As a whole, this defense just plays so freaking hard, man," McGuire said. "One thing we talk about all the time is go take your shot. We're going to mess up, we're going to make mistakes. But you've got 10 brothers on that field with you that will be screaming to the football. I think our guys are playing with a level of confidence in (one another)."

Texas Tech's 2025 transfer class was rated as the second-best haul nationally by 247Sports -- a calculated and high-cost bet that's paying off for the Big 12 frontrunners. And if this level of heightened progress continues, this unit -- defined by a mix of returning veterans and portal stars -- could go down as the best in program history.

No team was better than Texas Tech this season in defensive stop rate entering last week's 42-17 win over Kansas. The Red Raiders were one of only four teams nationally giving up less than 1 point per drive this season. Stop rate is self-explanatory -- the percentage of a team's defensive possessions that end in punts, takeaways or a turnover on downs.

Against the Jayhawks, that statistical superlative was challenged after Kansas scored 17 points in the second quarter. Texas Tech responded with a shutout after intermission, holding Jalon Daniels and a talented offense to 120 total yards on 38 plays, and finished with a team-record nine sacks.

"We had trouble blocking them all second half, especially," Kansas coach Lance Leipold said. "That's a really good defensive front. I think it showed up, no doubt."

David Bailey, a spring addition for the Red Raiders from Stanford, leads college football with 8.5 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss and anchors that dominant front from left to right with Hunter, Skyler Gill-Howard and Romello Height at the other edge spot, among others.

Rodriguez has a team-best 50 tackles through six games, while Mississippi State transfer Brice Pollock is tied for the conference lead with three interceptions.

"Coach (Shiel) Wood and Coach (Jack) Teachey have those guys playing to a standard when they step on the field," McGuire said. "(It) starts with Jacob holding everybody to that standard and they follow his lead."

Red Raiders' transfer impact on defense​

Player	Production	Former school
David Bailey, Edge	8.5 sacks, 9.5 TFL	Stanford
Romello Height, Edge	4.5 sacks, 4.5 TFL	Georgia Tech
Lee Hunter, DL	15 tackles, 1.5 TFL	UCF
Skyler Gill-Howard, DL	13 tackles, 2.5 TFL	Northern Illinois
Brice Pollock, CB	21 tackles, 3 INT	Mississippi State
Cole Wisniewski, S	28 tackles, sack, 2 TFL	North Dakota State
AJ Holmes Jr., DL	3 sacks, 4.5 TFL	Houston

There's more depth in the secondary, too. After finishing at the bottom of the Big 12 last season in pass defense allowing 308.1 yards per game, Texas Tech secured signatures from five new players at the back end to solidify the plan.

Pollock, Cole Wisniewski, Tarrion Grant, Amier Boyd and Dontae Balfour have made their presence felt in a big way collectively, helping the Red Raiders move up to sixth-best in the conference in pass defense this season at 194.3 yards allowed per game through the air.

Should that number hold, that would be one of the best marks in school history.

Texas Tech's recruiting plan​

Immediate ROI was the expectation for the Red Raiders this season after former player and Texas billionaire Cody Campbell was instrumental in putting the plan together to help fund this star-studded two-deep. His influence is well-documented, but it was up to McGuire, his assistants and Texas Tech's personnel staff to figure out the pieces that fit and do so in a timely manner.

"It started with retaining the guys we had we felt were really good, keeping those guys and then going to get difference-makers up front," McGuire said of Texas Tech's recruiting plan. "If you're really going to go all in and you're wanting to challenge for the Big 12 and playoff, then the guys you're going to be playing against there are going to be really good.

"Texas has been extremely good on the offensive and defensive lines. Alabama, Georgia, Ohio State for years and years. All those draft picks the last (few) years are all coming out of those rooms. It was a big emphasis for us, going to get those guys."

Guess who's ranked higher than those three elite programs against the run this season? Texas Tech allows 62.5 rushing yards per game, 10 yards fewer than college football's second-best in the trenches (Missouri). And only Ohio State has allowed fewer rushing touchdowns (1) at midseason than the Red Raiders (2).

Determining program fit from a collection of portal talent is the hardest part of the recruiting process and McGuire said the Red Raiders utilized every information outlet available to them to ensure every transfer would help the program.

"Once we liked an athlete, we tried to connect with as many people as we could," McGuire said. "Mack Brown's a really good friend of mine, so when (offensive tackle) Howard Sampson got in the portal, I was able to call him. He was a big part in us landing Howard. We actually face-timed Mack on his visit. That was the key. Once you identify a player as scheme fit with the right athletic traits, you go from there."

Playoff or bust moving forward​

McGuire doesn't gloss over expectations for his football team and knows everyone in his building and those associated with Texas Tech football expect to get to the playoff this season.

One of three Big 12 teams with an unblemished conference record thus far, the Red Raiders travel to Arizona State this weekend before finishing with five games against league competition, including nationally-ranked BYU in Lubbock on Nov. 8.

Only one game separates first place in the Big 12 from a tie for seventh, so the margin for error is slim moving forward in the race to get to AT&T Stadium in Arlington for the league championship game on Dec. 6. Ironically, Texas Tech is currently projected to be the No. 4 seed in the playoff if it wins the Big 12, which could result in a second game at the Dallas Cowboys' home venue -- and a first-round bye -- in the postseason.

However, there's much to be decided before making plans for that scenario according to McGuire. For now, Texas Tech will refine its week-by-week approach with the mindset of pummeling the competition into submission at the line of scrimmage, a far cry from the pass-heavy, sexy Air Raid that had become synonymous with Texas Tech.

 

[Cnotes53]

Vanderbilt vs. LSU: Commodores to break 176-game streak as betting underdog vs. ranked opponent​

Vandy hasn't been favored vs. a ranked opponent since at least 1978​

The No. 17 Vanderbilt Commodores are in the midst of one of their best seasons in program history, having started the year 5-1. Vandy has a chance to register another statement victory this week when the No. 10 LSU Tigers come to town.

Believe it or not, Vanderbilt is favored in this matchup by 2.5 points over at FanDuel Sportsbook. According to CBS Sports Research, this is the first time the Commodores have been favored vs. LSU since 1948, and the first time they have been favored vs. a ranked opponent since at least 1978. Vanderbilt has played an astounding 176 straight games vs. ranked opponents as an underdog.

LSU is coming off a 20-10 win over South Carolina, in which Garrett Nussmeier threw for 254 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Nussmeier still hasn't reached 300 yards passing this season, and is 2-4 as a starter vs. ranked teams, having thrown 10 touchdowns compared to nine interceptions in those contests.

Vanderbilt, on the other hand, is coming off a bye and looking to bounce back following the Week 6 loss to Alabama. Diego Pavia's offense was held to 14 points in Tuscaloosa after averaging 49 points per contest over the first five games of the season. Pavia is 2-5 vs. ranked teams, but a win on Saturday would mark the first time Vandy has ever beaten multiple AP top-15 teams in a season.

Vanderbilt has a tough stretch ahead of them with No. 10 LSU, No. 16 Missouri and then No. 21 Texas on the road in back-to-back-to-back weeks. The Commodores are looking to prove they are a legitimate threat to make the College Football Playoff, and a home victory vs. LSU would certainly help their case.

 

[Cnotes53]

UCLA football coaching search 2025: Candidates, hot board, names to watch from Bruins experts​

The BruinReportOnline team just revealed their top UCLA coaching candidates after DeShaun Foster was fired on Sept. 14​

After landing quarterback Nico Iamaleava in the spring transfer portal, hopes were much higher for head coach DeShaun Foster and UCLA heading into 2025. Things have not gone to plan at all for Foster and Iamaleava as the Bruins started the year 0-3. UCLA fired Foster on Sept. 14 after falling to New Mexico as more than a two-touchdown favorite.

Tim Skipper is serving as the interim, and he's sparked UCLA, leading the Bruins to back-to-back wins, making a case to be the permanent replacement. Who are the top UCLA football coaching candidates the Bruins could target? If you love the Bruins, or just want to know who will be calling the shots for UCLA in the future, be sure to see what the proven team of experts are saying at BruinReportOnline (BRO), the 247Sports affiliate that covers UCLA.

BruinReportOnline's team of insiders are providing on-the-ground updates as the Bruins look for their next head coach. Stay in the know on all of the latest happenings surrounding the UCLA coaching search and sign up for a VIP membership to BruinReportOnline.

And right now, BRO is offering 60% off annual subscriptions*, so now is the time to sign up. The team at BRO already has a list out of several potential candidates and there are some surprising names on the list. Head to BruinReportOnline now to see them all.

Top UCLA football coach candidates​

One name the staff has identified as a potential target on the UCLA football coaching hot board is Michigan State head coach Jonathan Smith.

Smith is just 42-45 as a head coach, but he completely turned Oregon State around, and took over a tough situation at Michigan State, where he is 3-3 this year, including a loss to UCLA already.

"A proven rebuild guy," the staff at BruinReportOnline said. "Took Oregon State from the dumpster to respectable within a few years, and looks to be in the process of doing the same at Michigan State. A well-respected offensive mind who has had a great track record of developing quarterbacks and an effective run game. He's a West Coast guy originally, having been born in Glendora, and we've heard that UCLA is a job that he would be very interested in." See more candidates at BruinReportOnline.

How to get insider UCLA coaching search updates ​

The rest of the list includes several other exciting possibilities, including one of the most respected coaches in the nation who "could be a big swing." You can only see who it is at BruinReportOnline.

Who are the top names in the UCLA football coaching search, and which big-name coach could the Bruins take a big swing on? Go to BruinReportOnline to see their UCLA coaching hot board and more, all from a team of reporters with extensive experience covering the Bruins, and find out.

And remember, BruinReportOnline is offering 60% off an annual VIP membership as a coaching search special, so subscribe now before it's too late.

 

[Cnotes53]

Missouri's Eli Drinkwitz dismisses coaching carousel rumors, takes aim at social media speculation​

Drinkwitz had plenty in response to coaching rumors with a mix of frustration and humor​

Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz had plenty to say about his name surfacing in the college football coaching carousel -- and he didn't hold back. The Tigers sixth-year coach has been mentioned in recent days as a potential candidate for the Penn State job following James Franklin's ouster. But Drinkwitz dismissed the speculation with a mix of frustration and humor, using the moment to take aim at the rampant coaching rumors and the constant chatter on social media.

"I think the No. 1 issue right now amongst college football is the noise that's associated with people's programs at all points of the season, whether good, bad or indifferent," Drinkwitz said when asked about compartmentalizing outside distractions. "There's no such thing as journalistic integrity on social media. There's just wild, outlandish reporting and anybody's name -- I'll bet every sitting head coach has been listed as a candidate for some job so far."

Drinkwitz then denounced a report stating Missouri offensive coordinator Kirby Moore had interviewed for the Arkansas coaching job, calling the now-deleted social media post a "complete lie."

"(Moore) never interviewed. Didn't even talk to anybody at Arkansas," Drinkwitz said. "It was a bunch of bull crap put out there to try to create distractions and a narrative that then comes over after the fact after the game. It's really disappointing that this stuff happens. Because again, Twitter ain't real and it's just a bunch of bull crap thrown on message boards."

Whether deserved or not, it's the way of the industry. The moment a coach is fired, names immediately start circulating as potential replacements. Some of those early mentions eventually materialize into legitimate candidates, while others never go beyond speculation.

This year alone, there have already been eight coaching vacancies in the FBS, and programs are making changes earlier than ever to get ahead of the line for top candidates.

For Drinkwitz, the attention is a byproduct of Missouri's recent success. Although it took a few years to build the program into an SEC contender, the Tigers are 26-6 in the past three seasons under Drinkwitz. They've opened the 2025 campaign 5-1 and are on pace for a third-consecutive double-digit win season for the first time in program history.

But even amid the speculation, his focus remains on Missouri.

"So how do I block it out? I ignore it, and I get mad about it when people ask me about it -- no," Drinkwitz said jokingly. "As far as my name [being] associated with everything, that's awesome for the University of Missouri. It means we're doing something really good. Means that our administration is committed to excellence. It means all the investment that the people here have made has resulted in our success."

While there's still a chance Drinkwitz could be a candidate elsewhere at some point during this coaching carousel, he has no interest in entertaining the speculation during the season.

 

[Cnotes53]

College football odds, picks, predictions: Notre Dame vs. USC, Georgia vs. Ole Miss lead robust Week 8 slate​

CBS Sports experts Brad Crawford and Chris Hummer reveal their predictions for the weekend's 10 best games​

We've reached the point of college football season where every conference game has significant meaning, especially those pitting nationally-ranked teams or elites in the playoff conversation. Remaining unbeatens continue to dwindle and would could see another go down this weekend when Ole Miss visits Georgia, one of the headliners in Week 8 along with USC-Notre Dame and Tennessee-Alabama among others.

Three weeks from the selection committee's first top 25 playoff rankings reveal, several squads within the Power Four continue to jockey for positioning in hopes of getting one of those coveted top-4 seeds and first-round byes.

We're coming rapid-fire with this week's predictions and top plays, hoping to stay hot for you this season.

Last week's results: Brad Crawford (8-2 straight, 6-4 ATS); Chris Hummer (8-2, 7-3 ATS). Consecutive 7-3 marks against the spread for Hummer closes the gap near midseason ahead of what should be a scintillating final stretch. I picked the exact score of LSU's win over South Carolina and overall, it was another winning week for both of us as we nailed USC's dub against Michigan and Georgia's triumph at Auburn.

Season results: Crawford (53-17 straight, 40-30 ATS); Hummer (53-17; 34-36).

Hummer (Utah -3.5): This game comes down to who can stop the run. Both offenses thrive on the ground, pairing rushing QBs with good offensive line play. Which team is better in that category depends on what metric you consume, but they're both good against the run, ranking in the top 30 nationally in success rate. So, who gets the edge? Give me Utah. The Utes are the slightly more talented team and have the quarterback (Devon Dampier) who I trust more over a true freshman in Bear Bachmeier, who had some shaky moments last week against Arizona. … Utah 27, BYU 21.

Crawford (Utah -3.5): The Utes might be a machine. No disrespect to unbeaten BYU, but the Cougars have benefited from a soft early-season slate while Utah's lone loss came to Texas Tech. This team is clicking at the right time and a win in Provo puts Kyle Whittingham's squad right back in the middle of the Big 12 title race, creating a logjam of sorts behind the Red Raiders. Taking the Utes here to hand BYU its first loss. ... Utah 30, BYU 23.

No. 16 Missouri at Auburn​

Hummer (Missouri +2.5): This might be the most important game of the Hugh Freeze era. Missouri is good, but this is a game, at least based on talent, the Tigers of The Plains can win. Will Auburn play consistently enough to do so? I'm not willing to bet on it. Missouri has the better QB, O-line and D-line entering this game. Auburn does pose a threat to Missouri with its elite run defense. But I think Beau Pribula can do enough as a passer to keep Auburn honest. Expect Missouri to attack the run and force Jackson Arnold to beat them. I don't think he will. … Missouri 24, Auburn 21.

Crawford (Auburn -2.5): It's not going to happen for Hugh Freeze if the Tigers fail to impress against Missouri. An 0-4 start to SEC play would essentially doom the season at Auburn, despite AD John Cohen's backing -- well, sort of -- of Freeze this week. This one could look a lot like the Georgia game for Auburn, but you have to wonder where this team's collective heads are at after that emotional letdown. This would be a usual fade spot for me, but at home, I think Auburn gets it done. ... Auburn 24, Missouri 20.

No. 10 LSU at No. 17 Vanderbilt​

Hummer (LSU +2): This is a game where I'm going to begrudgingly stick with my preseason SEC title pick even though the evidence is mounting that there are real problems for LSU and its offense. I trust Vanderbilt more headed into this matchup. The Commodores are going to control the ball, play reasonably mistake free and limit possessions. LSU has the elite defense to slow down the Commodores. But what I really worry about is the Tigers' ability to put up points. Vanderbilt is a good but not great defense. What it does exceptionally well, however, is limit big plays. That means LSU is going to have to drive the football and avoid turnovers. Can Garrett Nussmeier play clean? It's been a problem this year. Still, I'm hanging onto to my preseason pick for dear life … LSU 24, Vanderbilt 21.

Crawford (Vanderbilt -2): LSU is leaking oil and there's no quick fix or get-right serum out there for this squad. The Tigers haven't scored more than 20 points in any game this season against a Power Four opponent, but somehow are very much in the thick of the SEC title discussion and playoff picture in mid-October. This is where the season starts to turn for the Tigers and the questions surrounding Brian Kelly's future ramp up again. The right team is favored here. ... Vanderbilt 27, LSU 20.

No. 12 Georgia Tech at Duke​

Hummer (Georgia Tech +2.5): I immediately figured I'd go upset with this pick. But I should have known the Blue Devils would be favored at home despite the ranking. This game is going to be close and will be decided by how Haynes King fares as a passer. The Blue Devils have a good pass rush and run defense, but they've been sliced apart through the air this season (116th in passing yards allowed per game). Georgia Tech is a good passing offense but it's not exactly their identity as a run-first unit. Given that Duke will score -- 27-plus points in all but one game -- it's going to be on the Yellow Jackets to keep up with that pace. I think they do enough. Duke wins outright, but there's too much value with Georgia Tech not to take them ATS. … Duke 31, Georgia Tech 30.

Crawford (Georgia Tech +2.5): Dangerous game for the Yellow Jackets this weekend. One of five remaining unbeatens in ACC play, Georgia Tech takes on a Duke team that's won three straight since the loss at Tulane and seems to have found themselves. Quarterback Darian Mensah's playing at an elite level, too. That said, the half-point here with Haynes King and Brent Key is too salivating. If you can get it near even or the Blue Devils at -1, go ahead and take it. ... Duke 28, Georgia Tech 26.

No. 7 Texas Tech at Arizona State​

Hummer (Texas Tech -10.5): This is a tough game to pick with Arizona State QB Sam Leavitt's status remaining a mystery midweek. If he doesn't play, this is a very easy cover for the Red Raiders. If he does play it's a far more interesting test for Texas Tech. Either way, I have a hard time seeing Arizona State having much success up front against the Red Raiders' elite defensive front. I also really wonder how a below-average ASU run defense will contend with a top-10 Tech rushing attack. The Red Raiders go on the road and cover. … Texas Tech 34, Arizona State 21.

Crawford (Texas Tech -10.5): At what point will the Red Raiders play a competitive game this season? It's coming, but as a bettor, the hardest part is determining when. The Sun Devils were waxed last week at Utah without quarterback Sam Leavitt and he's considered "week to week" according to Kenny Dillingham. Not great, especially when you consider Texas Tech's all-world defense through the first six games of the season. ... Texas Tech 34, Arizona State 17.

No. 14 Oklahoma at South Carolina​

Hummer (Oklahoma -4.5): I think both these teams could really struggle down the stretch. But the Sooners have an elite unit with their defense, which gives them the advantage in this game, especially against a Gamecocks offense that ranks 106th nationally in yards allowed per play. Plus, another week of recovery should only help John Mateer in his return from hand surgery. Give me the Sooners to bounce back on the road. … Oklahoma 24, South Carolina 17.

Crawford (South Carolina +4.5): The Sooners face some adversity for the first time this season following last week's loss to Texas in Red River and now travel to play a Gamecocks team that's a bit down on its luck after a surprising 1-3 start to SEC play. One would assume Oklahoma dominates this one defensively and handles an opposing offense that has struggled mightily this fall, but the 4.5-point line is a weird one. Shane Beamer fired his offensive line coach this week and promoted Shawn Elliott to that position. Will that unit perform differently, perhaps? The under here is the safest play. ... Oklahoma 17, South Carolina 13.

No. 4 Texas A&M at Arkansas​

Hummer (Texas A&M -7.5): This feels like a trap game. But I question Arkansas' ability to stay in this game, because they're going to get gashed defensively. It's just the reality for a team that's given up 30-plus points in each of its last four games and didn't show any real improvement following a coaching change. The question then becomes can Arkansas score enough against what's been a top 25 Aggies defense? I don't think they can. … Texas A&M 38, Arkansas 30.

Crawford (Arkansas +7.5): Three losses by a single possession this season is nausea-inducing for Razorbacks fans. And bluntly, this feels like another one Saturday in Fayetteville. The Aggies will be without leading rusher Le'Veon Moss and should be tested by an above-average offense from Arkansas. The Razorbacks were flattened last time they played at home by Notre Dame and should fare better this time around. If not and another embarrassing performances ensues. ... Texas A&M 34, Arkansas 27.

No. 11 Tennessee at No. 6 Alabama​

Hummer (Alabama -9.5): Tennessee is a bit overvalued early this season, but I'm still surprised to see that line pushing double digits. We'll see if Alabama can establish the run, a struggle this season, against what's been a venerable Vols run defense at 121st nationally in rushing success rate. Tennessee is going to give up points. It's allowed 31-plus in every SEC game this year. Can Alabama get enough stops to cover? I think an excellent Bama secondary does enough. … Alabama 38, Tennessee 28.

Crawford (Alabama -9.5): No opposing team has been able to stop Tennessee's offense this season. The Vols lead the SEC with a 48.2 points per game average, which includes a 44-41 double-overtime loss to Georgia. That said, the other side of the football hasn't kept opposing teams out of the end zone, either. Only Arkansas ranks lower in scoring defense and that's a worrisome sign approaching Saturday night's tussle with the Crimson Tide. A fourth straight ranked win for Alabama should undoubtedly make this team the league frontrunner if it's not already. ... Alabama 38, Tennessee 27.

No. 20 USC at No. 13 Notre Dame​

Hummer (USC +7.5): The Irish have been a bit off the radar after their 0-2 start, but their defense is starting to round into form having allowed 27 total points over the last three games against Arkansas, Boise State and NC State. The Trojans are another high-flying passing attack and will test a secondary that's had some up and down moments this year. The problem is, I'm just not sure how USC gets stops with any sort of consistency against the Irish. USC keeps it close for a while, but Notre Dame gets the win. … Notre Dame 31, USC 24.

Crawford (USC +7.5): USC bullied Michigan last week for a Lincoln Riley signature win and has a shot at further strengthening a potential playoff resume in South Bend during what should be one of Week 8's best games. Since being quieted in the opener, Jeremiyah Love has scored at least one touchdown in every start since and has been a weapon in the receiving game out of the backfield. He'll punctuate a late drive for the Fighting Irish to win this one, but the Trojans cover. ... Notre Dame 31, USC 24.

No. 5 Ole Miss at No. 9 Georgia​

Hummer (Ole Miss +6.5): Ole Miss is the play here. We haven't seen anything from Georgia this season to justify that line, especially when you consider how the Bulldogs struggled with the best three teams (Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn) on their schedule so far. I won't go so far as to pick an upset, but I do question Georgia's ability to put pressure on Trinidad Chambliss and to limit the Ole Miss passing game. I know Ole Miss came out slow a week ago against Washington State. Don't expect that to be the case here. … Georgia 28, Ole Miss 27.

Crawford (Georgia -6.5): Here's a key number game. It's either going to be a Bulldogs blowout or one that's tight in the final minutes in a one-possession contest. This line has fluctuated this week and could be over a touchdown by kickoff. Ole Miss was lucky to get through Washington State after Lane Kiffin admitted his team was focused on this weekend's date with Georgia. The Rebels dominated last season's game in Oxford, but Georgia should take care of business and take out one of the SEC's lone remaining unbeatens. ... Georgia 27, Ole Miss 20.

 

[Cnotes53]

Wednesday, October 15​

Game	Time(ET)	Pick	Units
DEL at JVST	07:00 PM	DEL -3.0 O 57.5	+500 +500
UTEP at SHSU	07:00 PM	SHSU +2.5 O 47.5	+500 +500

 

[Cnotes53]

CNOTES COLLEGE FOOTBALL BEST BETS FOR OCTOBER !

10/1/2025......................3 - 1 - 0........................75.00%..................+ 9.50
10/11/2025....................3 - 7 - 0........................30.00%.................- 23.50
10/10/2025....................5 - 1 - 0........................83.31%................+ 19.50
10/09/2025....................2 - 3 - 1........................40.00%.................- 6.50
10/08/2025....................2 - 1 - 1........................66.66%.................+ 4.50
10/04/2025................14 - 11 - 1.......................56.00%.................+ 9.50
10/03/2025.....................1 - 5 - 0.......................16.66%.................- 22.50
10/02/2025.....................1 - 1 - 0.......................50.00%..................- 0.50

TOTALS........................30 - 30 - 3.......................50.00%..................- 10.00

 

[Cnotes53]

2025 college football
Top games of the week
Friday’s game
South Florida @ North Texas (-1.5)
South Florida (4-1, 1-0)
USF scored 35.3 ppg in its three I-A wins.
Bulls’ only loss was 49-12 at Miami.
Bulls have 8 starters back on offense, 8 on defense.
USF has 115 returning starts on offensive line.
Junior QB Brown started five games last year.

Last two games, USF ran ball for 252-407 yards.
Under Golesh, Bulls are 7-6 ATS as an underdog.
USF is 7-5 ATS last 12 games as a road underdog.
Under Golesh, Bulls are 8-9 ATS in conference games.
In their one loss, Miami ran ball for 205 yards.

North Texas (5-0, 1-0)
UNT scored 43-3 ppg in its four I-A games.
Last three games, Mean Green is +8 in turnovers.
Mean Green has 5 starters back on offense, 9 on defense.
North Texas has 72 starts returning on offensive line.
Frosh QB Mestemaker started UNT’s bowl game last year.

Under Morris, North Texas is 6-3 ATS as a home favorite.
Under Morris, North Texas is 9-7 ATS in conference games.
UNT gave up 200+ rushing yards in 3 of 4 I-A games.
North Texas has given up 25 ppg vs I-A opponents.
Over is 3-1 in their last four games.

These teams haven’t met since 2002.
Favorites are 9-4 ATS in AAC conference games.

Saturday’s games
Alabama (-2.5) @ Missouri
Alabama (4-1, 2-0)
Alabama won first two SEC games: 24-21 @ Georgia, 30-14 vs Vandy
Alabama gained 450+ yards in 3 of its last 4 games.
Alabama has 7 starters back on offense, 8 on defense.
Crimson Tide has 95 returning starts on the offensive line.
Junior QB Simpson threw 25 passes last year.

Alabama is 7-13 ATS last 20 games as a road favorite.
In his career, DeBoer is 10-11 as a road favorite.
Crimson Tide is 13-6 ATS in its last 19 SEC games.
Alabama is +9 in turnovers this season.
Alabama threw for 340+ yards in three of last four games.

Missouri (5-0, 1-0)
Mizzou won its SEC opener 29-20 over South Carolina.
Tigers scored 41.3 ppg in its four I-A games.
Tigers have 6 starters back on offense, 9 on defense.
Tigers have 77 returning starts on the offensive line.
Last 2 years, Junior QB Pribula was a backup QB at Penn State.

Under Drinkwitz, Mizzou is 16-11 ATS as an underdog.
Under Drinkwitz, Mizzou is 8-3 ATS as a home underdog.
Under Drinkwitz, Mizzou is 24-19 ATS in SEC games.
Mizzou is 13-9-1 in last 23 games coming off a win.
Over is 3-1 in Mizzou’s I-A games.

Alabama is 5-0 SU/4-1 ATS in last five series games.
This is Alabama’s first visit to Missouri since 2020.
SEC home teams are 11-5 ATS in conference games.

Pittsburgh @ Florida State (-10)
Pittsburgh (3-2, 1-1)
Pitt lost its only road game, 31-24 at West Virginia.
Panthers scored 45-48 points in I-A wins, 24-27 in I-A losses.
Panthers have 8 starters back on offense, 8 on defense.
Panthers have 78 returning starts on the offensive line.
Frosh QB Heintschel played in LW’s 48-7 win over BC.

Under Narduzzi, Pitt is 28-26 ATS as an underdog.
Pitt is 1-9 ATS last ten games as a road underdog.
Under Narduzzi, Pitt is 17-17 ATS as a road underdog.
Under Narduzzi, Panthers are 46-39-1 ATS in ACC games.
Pitt is 6-3 ATS in last nine games coming off a win.
Over is 3-1 in Pitt’s I-A games.

Florida State (3-2, 0-2)
Florida State lost last 2 games, 46-38 at Virginia, 28-22 Miami.
Seminoles ran for 230+ yards in three of four I-A games.
FSU has 8 starters back on offense, 8 on defense.
Seminoles have 129 returning starts on offensive line.
Senior QB Castellanos started 20 games at Boston College.

Florida State is 9-8 ATS as a home favorite.
Under Norvell, Seminoles are 17-16 ATS as a favorite.
Under Norvell, Seminoles are 19-24 ATS in conference games.
In his career, Norvell is 39-38-1 ATS in conference games.
Over is 3-1 in Florida State’s I-A games.

Road team won last three series games.
Pitt won 41-17 in last visit to FSU, in 2020.
ACC home favorites are 4-6 ATS in conference games.

Indiana @ Oregon (-7.5)
Indiana (5-0, 2-0)
Hoosiers won their Big 18 games, 63-10/20-15.
Indiana won first road game LW, 20-15 at Iowa.
Hoosiers have 9 starters back on offense, 7 on defense.
Hoosiers have 80 returning starts on the offensive line.
Junior QB Mendoza started 19 games at California.

Under Cignetti, Indiana is 0-1 ATS as a road underdog.
In his career, Cignetti is 2-2 ATS as a road underdog.
Indiana is +6 in turnovers in its I-A games.
In his career, Cignetti is 19-8 ATS in Big 18 games.
Under Cignetti, Indiana is 10-4 ATS in games coming off a win.

Oregon (5-0, 2-0)
Oregon is 2-0 in Big 18 games, winning 34-14/30-24
Ducks won their two I-A home games, 69-3/41-7.
Oregon has 8 starters back on offense, 6 on defense.
Ducks have 124 returning starts on the offensive line.
Soph QB Moore started 5 games at UCLA in 2023.

Under Lanning, Ducks are 13-7 ATS as a home favorite.
Under Lanning, Oregon is 20-12 ATS in conference games.
Ducks are 18-9 ATS in last 27 games coming off a win.
Oregon held three of four I-A foes under 280 total yards.
Ducks had week off since their 30-24 win at Penn State.

Indiana (+20.5) won 30-24 at Oregon last year.
Ducks outgained Indiana 495-198 in that game.
Big 18 home favorites are 3-6 ATS in conference games.

Oklahoma vs Texas (-2.5) (@ Dallas)
Oklahoma (5-0, 1-0)
Oklahoma has two quality wins: Michigan (24-13), Auburn (24-17)
Sooners held those two teams to 288-287 total yards.
Oklahoma has 8 starters back on offense, 8 on defense.
Sooners have 111 returning starts on the offensive line.
Soph QB Matter started 12 games for Wazzu last year- he is banged up (check status).

Under Venables, Oklahoma is 3-2 ATS as an underdog.
Since 2015, Sooners are 7-3 ATS as an underdog.
Under Venables, Oklahoma is 11-15-1 ATS in conference games.
Under Venables, Oklahoma is 11-14-1 ATS in games coming off a win.
Under is 4-0 in Oklahoma’s I-A games.

Texas (3-2, 0-1)
Texas lost 14-7 at Ohio State, 29-21 at Florida.
Longhorns beat three stiffs, by 31-17-55 points.
Longhorns have 4 starters back on offense, 7 on defense.
Longhorns have 47 returning starts on the offensive line.
Soph QB Manning has 2 career starts (939 PY last year, 9 TD, 2 INT)

Under Sarkisian, Texas is 24-20 ATS as a favorite.
In his career, Sarkisian is 46-36 ATS as a favorite.
Under Sarkisian, Texas is 17-21 ATS in conference games..
Under Sarkisian, Texas is 8-12 ATS in road games.
Under is 3-2 in Texas games this season.

Oklahoma is 7-3 in last 10 games in this rivalry.
Texas pounded the Sooners 34-3 last year.
Favorites covered four of last five meetings.

Iowa State (-2.5) @ Colorado
Iowa State (5-1, 2-1)
Iowa State lost its first game LW, 38-30 at Cincinnati
Bearcats ran ball for 260 yards in that game.
Cyclones have 7 starters back on offense, 6 on defense.
Cyclones have 105 returning starts on offensive line.
Soph QB Becht started 13 games last season.

Iowa State scored 24-39-30 points in its 2-1 Big X start.
In his career, Campbell is 17-18-1 ATS as a road favorite.
Under Campbell, ISU is 12-13-1 ATS as a road favorite.
Cyclones are 13-9 ATS in last 22 Big X games.
Since 2015, Iowa State is 35-17-1 ATS coming off a loss.

Colorado (2-4, 0-3)
Colorado scored 20-20-21-21 points in losses, 31-37 in wins.
Buffs gave up 200+ rushing yards in three of four losses.
Colorado has 3 starters back on offense, 8 on defense.
Colorado has 112 returning starts on offensive line, mostly transfers.
Senior QB Salter started 29 games at Liberty.

Favorites are 5-1 ATS in Colorado games this season.
Sanders is 10-6 ATS as an underdog with Colorado (1-3 TY).
Under Sanders, Colorado is 5-1 ATS as a home underdog.
Under is 4-2 in their games this season.
Under Sanders, Colorado is 14-8 ATS in conference games.

Home team won last seven series games.
Cyclones are 0-5 SU/2-3 ATS last five visits to Boulder.
Favorites are 12-6 ATS in Big X conference games.

TCU @ Kansas State (-1.5)
TCU (4-1, 1-1)
TCU is 1-1 in Big X: 24-27 at ASU, 35-21 over Colorado.
Horned Frogs were held to 10-94 rushing yards in those games.
TCU has 6 starters back on offense, 8 on defense.
Horned Frogs have 93 returning starts on the offensive line.
Junior QB Hoover started 19 games the last two years.

Under Dykes, TCU is 3-3-2 ATS as a road underdog.
In his career, Dykes is 23-22-2 ATS as a road underdog.
Under Dykes, Frogs are 16-11-3 ATS in Big X games.
In their I-A games, TCU scored 35.5 ppg.
Last three TCU games stayed under the total.

Kansas State (2-4, 1-3)
Last two games, Wildcats gained 434-501 total yards.
K-State gained 501 yards LW in 35-34 loss at Baylor.
Wildcats have 5 starters back on offense, 5 on defense.
K-State has 43 returning starts on the offensive line.
QB Johnson started 13 games last year.

Under Klieman, K-State is 25-21 ATS as a favorite.
Under Klieman, K-State is 20-11 ATS as a home favorite.
Wildcats are 5-9 ATS in their last 14 Big X games.
Last 5+ years, K-State is 16-7 ATS in games coming off a loss.
Under is 4-1 in their I-AA games.

K-State won five of last six meetings.
TCU lost last three visits to Manhattan, by 38-19-7 points.
Under is 8-1 in last nine series games.

Florida @ Texas A&M (-14.5)
Florida (2-3, 1-1)
Gators are 0-3 vs I-A teams, scoring 15.5 ppg.
Florida’s losses were by 2-10-19 points.
Florida has 8 starters back on offense, 7 on defense.
Gators have 98 returning starts on the offensive line.
Soph QB Lagway started eight games last year.

Under Napier, Florida is 13-9 ATS as an underdog
In his career, Napier is 24-12-1 ATS as an underdog
Under Napier, Florida is 6-4 ATS as a road underdog
In his career, Napier is 14-7-1 ATS as a road underdog
Under Napier, Florida is 15-12 ATS in SEC games.
Under is 3-1 in Florida’s I-A games.

Texas A&M (5-0, 2-0)
Aggies are 2-0 in SEC: 16-10 Auburn, 31-9 Miss State.
Aggies ran ball for 207-299 yards in their SEC games.
Aggies have 8 starters back on offense, 7 on defense.
A&M has 156 returning starts on offensive line.
Soph QB Reed started eight games last year.

Under Elko, A&M is 3-7 ATS as a home favorite.
In his career, Elko is 10-9 ATS as a home favorite.
Aggies are 8-12-3 ATS in last 23 games coming off a win
A&M is 9-14-3 ATS in last 26 SEC games.
In his career, Elko is 14-12 ATS in conference games.

Texas A&M won three of last four series games.
Road team won four of last five series games.
Gators won two of last three visits to College Station.
Over is 3-0 in last three meetings.
SEC home favorites are 7-5 ATS in conference games.

Georgia (-3.5) @ Auburn
Georgia (4-1, 2-1)
Georgia beat Tennessee 44-41 in their only road game.
Dawgs’ only loss was 24-21 at home to Alabama.
Dawgs have 5 starters back on offense, 6 on defense.
Georgia has 35 returning starts on offensive line.
Junior QB Stockton has three career starts.

Georgia is 1-7 ATS last eight games as a road favorite.
Last 2+ years, Georgia is 8-13 ATS in SEC games.
In his career, Smart is 20-15 ATS as a road favorite.
In his career, Smart is 46-39 ATS in SEC games.
Dawgs are 5-18-1 ATS in last 24 games coming off a win.

Auburn (3-2, 0-2)
Auburn lost SEC games 24-17 at Oklahoma, 16-10 at Texas A&M.
Tigers scored 38-42-31 points in their three wins.
Auburn has 9 starters back on offense, 6 on defense.
Tigers have 140 returning starts on the offensive line.
Junior QB Arnold started 10 games for Oklahoma.

Tigers ran ball for 67-52 yards in their two losses.
Under Freeze, Auburn is 3-1 ATS as a home underdog.
In his career, Freeze is 12-5 ATS as a home underdog.
Under Freeze, Auburn is 9-9 ATS in conference games.
Auburn is 12-14 ATS in last 25 games coming off a loss.
Under is 4-0 in Auburn’s last four games.

Georgia is 7-0 SU/5-2 ATS last seven series games.
Dawgs are 4-1 SU/3-2 ATS last five visits to Auburn.
Under is 11-4 in last fifteen series games.

Michigan @ USC (-2.5)
Michigan (4-1, 2-0)
Michigan is 1-1 on road: 13-24 at Oklahoma, 30-27 at Nebraska
Last 3 games, Michigan allowed 65.7 rushing yards/game.
Wolverines have 7 starters back on offense, 7 on defense.
Michigan has 77 returning starts on offensive line.
Frosh QB Underwood threw for 1,003 yards in his five games.

Since 2019, Michigan is 7-7 ATS as an underdog.
Since 2020, Michigan is 4-2 ATS as a road underdog.
Since 2021, Michigan is 21-13-1 ATS in conference games.
Wolverines ran ball for 286/175 yards in their Big 18 games.
Michigan is +6 in turnovers this season.

USC (4-1, 2-1)
Trojans (-6.5) got upset 34-32 at Illinois last week.
USC has scored 48 points/game this season.
Trojans gained 460-517 yards in its Big 18 games.
USC has 9 starters back on offense, 7 on defense.
Trojans have 75 returning starts on the offensive line.
Junior QB Maiava started 15 games the last two years.

Under Riley, USC is 13-7 ATS as a home favorite.
In his career, Riley is 31-20 ATS as a road favorite.
Under Riley, USC is 12-19 ATS in conference games.
In his career, Riley is 36-42-1 ATS in conference games.
Four of their five games went over the total.

Michigan (+4.5) upset USC 27-24 last year.
That was teams’ first meeting since 2006.

BYU (-1.5) @ Arizona
BYU (5-0, 2-0)
BYU is 2-0 on road: ECU 34-13, Colorado 24-21.
BYU has scored 30.8 ppg in its I-A games.
Cougars have 5 starters back on offense, 4 on defense.
Broncos have 61 starts returning on the offensive line.
QB Bachmeier is 79-115/1,048 passing (7 TD’s, one INT)

BYU is 4-3 ATS last seven games as a road favorite.
In his career, coach Sitake is 11-14 ATS as a road favorite.
BYU is 10-12 ATS in its 2+ years of conference play.
BYU is 9-6 ATS in its last 15 games coming off a win.
Under is 3-1 in BYU’s I-A games this year.

Arizona (4-1, 2-1)
Arizona is 2-1 in Big X; 23-17 K-State, 41-13 Oklahoma State
Wildcats’ only loss was 39-14 at Iowa State.
Arizona has 7 starters back on offense, 9 on defense
Wildcats have 84 starts back on offensive line.
Junior QB Fifita has 21 career starts

Arizona is 9-5 ATS last 14 games as a home underdog.
In his career, Brennan is 10-9-1 ATS as a home underdog.
Since 2021, Arizona is 20-19 ATS in conference games.
In his career, Brennan is 36-30-1 ATS in conference games.
Arizona is 9-7 ATS in last 16 games coming off a win.
Under is 3-1 in Arizona’s I-A games this year.

BYU is 4-0 SU/3-1 ATS last four series games.
This is BYU’s first visit to Tucson since 2018.
Under is 6-1 in last seven meetings.

Arizona State @ Utah (-5.5)
Arizona State (4-1, 2-0)
ASU QB Leavitt is hurt, won’t start this game.
ASU won 27-24 in both Big X games (at Baylor, vs TCU).
ASU has 8 starters back on offense, 9 on defense.
Sun Devils have 76 returning starts on the offensive line.
Backup QB Sims started 25 games at Ga Tech/Nebraska.

Under Dillingham, Sun Devils are 16-5-1 ATS in Big X games.
Under Dillingham, ASU is 10-7 ATS as an underdog.
Under Dillingham, ASU is 6-3 ATS as a road underdog.
Under Dillingham, ASU 11-6-1 ATS in games coming off a win.
Under is 4-0 in Sun Devils’ I-A games.

Utah (4-1, 1-1)
Utah’s five games were all decided by 24+ points.
Utes allowed 484-346 yards in its two Big X games.
Utes have 10 starters back on offense, 7 on defense.
Utah has 113 returning starts on offensive line.
Junior QB Dampier started 12 games at New Mexico.

Since 2017, Utah is 26-15 ATS as a home favorite.
Overall, Whittingham is 53-45-2 ATS as a home favorite.
Utah is 5-9 ATS in last 14 games coming off a win.
Since 2016, Utes are 51-32 ATS in conference games.
Utah ran ball for 242+ yards in three of four I-A games.

Utah won/covered four of last five series games.
ASU lost last three visits to Utah, by a combined 110-27.
Under is 8-4 in last 12 meetings.

 

[Udog]

NCAAF
Weather Report

Thursday, October 16

 

[Cnotes53]

Thursday’s 6-pack:
College football spreads this week:
— Baylor @ TCU (-4)
— Ole Miss @ Georgia (-6)
— Texas A&M (-8) @ Arkansas
— Utah (-2) @ BYU
— USC @ Notre Dame (-9)
— Tennessee @ Alabama (-8)

Quote of the Day
“I’ve got to look at myself as the leader protecting the team. I don’t feel like I did that to the best of my abilities. I felt like I let the emotions of the game get to me after the game. And that’s something that I can learn from as a leader on this team and what happens in-house should be protected and none of that should have gotten out.”
Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa

Thursday’s quiz
Where did Chargers’ QB Justin Herbert play his college football?

Wednesday’s quiz
Since 1988, David Cone/Curt Schilling have thrown the most pitches in a playoff game (147).

Tuesday’s quiz
In the history of the Cincinnati Bengals, Ken Anderson has the most passing yards.

*****************************************

Thursday’s Den: Doing some thinking out loud…….​

— Blue Jays 13, Mariners 4
Vladimir Guerrero was 4-for-4 with a home run.
Toronto hit five homers; they had 18 hits overall.
Road team has won all three series games; Seattle leads, 2-1
Game 4 is Thursday in Seattle.

— Jacksonville State 38, Delaware 25
Cam Cook ran ball for 117 yards, three TD’s.
Gamecocks led 20-6 at halftime.
Delaware threw ball for 422 yards, but was minus-2 in turnovers.

— Texas-El Paso 35, Sam Houston State 17
Skyler Locklear threw for 236 yards, 2 TDs; ran ball for 48 yards, 2 more TD’s
Miners led 14-10 at halftime.
UTEP ran ball 34 times for 175 yards (5.1 yards/carry)

— NHL’s New York Rangers are first NHL team ever to get shut out in their first three home games of a season.

— Famous birthdays, October 16th:
Mel Counts, 84
Timothy Robbins, 67
Kevin McReynolds, 66
Adrian Murrell, 55
Kordell Stewart, 53
Bryce Harper, 33
John Wolford, 30
Steve Avila, 26
Noelvi Marte, 24

— When Gonzaga visits San Francisco this year, the game will be at the Chase Center, home of the Golden State Warriors, for the third year in a row. Gonzaga draws fans, and bigger arena makes USF a lot more money than playing in their campus gym would.

— In the history of the baseball playoffs, there have been 25 teams who hit two 3-run homers in the same game (or a 3-run and grand slam); all 25 of those teams won.

— Russell Westbrook signed on with the Sacramento Kings; this will be his 18th year in the NBA, the Kings are his 7th NBA team:
2008-19- Oklahoma City
2019-20- Houston
2020-21- Washington
2021-23- Lakers
2023-24- Clippers
2024-25- Nuggets
2025-26- Kings
In his career, Westbrook has earned $348,234,946 in salary.

— Some NBA over/under win totals for the coming season:
Thunder 62.5
Cavaliers 56.5
Nuggets 53.5
Rockets 52.5
Celtics 40.5
Bulls 32.5
Wizards 21.5
Jazz 18.5

— Angels/Orioles seem to be competing to hire Albert Pujols as their next manager; Orioles went 60-59 this season under interim manager Tony Mansolino, after they fired Brandon Hyde.
Last year, Pujols won a championship with Leones del Escogido of the Dominican Winter League; it was the first time he had managed. He is supposed to manage the Dominican Republic in next spring’s World Baseball Classic.

— Sacramento Kings signed Keegan Murray to a five-year, $140M rookie contract extension that will keep him in Sacramento through the 2030-31 season.

 

[Cnotes53]

Thursday, October 16​

Game	Time(ET)	Pick	Units
TLSA at ECU	07:30 PM	TLSA +16.5 U 54.0	+500 +500

 

[Cnotes53]

CNOTES COLLEGE FOOTBALL BEST BETS FOR OCTOBER !

10/16/2025....................1 - 1 - 0........................50.00%.................- 0.50
10/15/2025....................3 - 1 - 0........................75.00%..................+ 9.50
10/11/2025....................3 - 7 - 0........................30.00%.................- 23.50
10/10/2025....................5 - 1 - 0........................83.31%................+ 19.50
10/09/2025....................2 - 3 - 1........................40.00%.................- 6.50
10/08/2025....................2 - 1 - 1........................66.66%.................+ 4.50
10/04/2025................14 - 11 - 1.......................56.00%.................+ 9.50
10/03/2025.....................1 - 5 - 0.......................16.66%.................- 22.50
10/02/2025.....................1 - 1 - 0.......................50.00%..................- 0.50

TOTALS........................31 - 31 - 3.......................50.00%..................- 10.50

 

[Cnotes53]

2025 college football
Top 13 games of the week
Friday’s games
Louisville @ Miami (-12.5)

Louisville (4-1, 1-1)
Louisville is 1-1 in ACC: W34-27 @ Pitt, L30-27 @ Virginia
Cardinals ran for 53-54 yards in those two games.
Cardinals have 8 starters back on offense, 8 on defense.
Louisville has 203 returning starts on offensive line.
Senior QB Moss started 10 games at USC

Last three weeks, Louisville threw for 327 yards/game.
Since 2018, Louisville is 5-13-1 ATS as a road underdog.
Under Brohm, Cardinals are 1-1 ATS as a road underdog.
In his career, Brohm is 16-11-1 as a road underdog.
Under Brohm, Cardinals are 8-11 ATS in ACC games.
Under Brohm, Louisville is 2-5 ATS in games coming off a loss.

Miami FL (4-0, 1-0)
Miami won ACC opener, beat Florida State 28-22.
Hurricanes are +6 in turnovers this season.
Miami has 7 starters back on offense, 8 on defense.
Hurricanes have 87 returning starts on the offensive line.
Senior QB Beck started 13 games for Georgia last year.

Under Cristobal, Miami is 10-16 ATS as a favorite.
Miami is 6-2 ATS in last 8 games as a home favorite.
In his career, Cristobal is 20-32-2 ATS as a home favorite.
Under Cristobal, Miami is 8-17 ATS in ACC games.
Miami is 10-19 ATS last 29 games coming off a win.

Miami won three of last four series games.
Teams split last two meetings played here.
Last four meetings went over the total.
ACC home favorites are 6-7 ATS in conference games.

North Carolina @ California (-8.5)

North Carolina (2-3, 0-1)
North Carolina’s three losses are by 34-25-28 points.
UNC’s only I-A win was 20-3 at Charlotte.
Tar Heels have 7 starters back on offense, 5 on defense.
Tar Heels have 155 returning starts on offensive line.
Senior QB Johnson has started games at LSU/Texas A&M.

Since 2022, Tar Heels are 5-2 ATS as a road underdog.
Tar Heels are 13-21 ATS in last 34 conference games.
UNC gave up 399 passing yards in last game, vs Clemson.
Last two games, UNC ran ball for only 63-57 yards.
Under is 3-1 in their last four games.

California (4-2, 1-1)

Cal is 1-1 in ACC: W28-24 @ BC, L21-45 vs Duke.
Cal was held under 70 rushing yards in three of last four games.
Golden Bears have 6 starters back on offense, 8 on defense.
Golden Bears have 110 returning starts on the offensive line.
Frosh QB Sagapolutele has thrown 9 TD’s, 7 INTs.

Under Wilcox, Golden Bears are 16-24-1 ATS as a favorite.
Under Wilcox, Cal is 10-17-1 ATS as a home favorite.
Last 2+ years, Cal is 8-11 ATS in conference games.
Last three games, California is minus-6 in turnovers.
Under is 3-1 in their last four games.

These teams haven’t met since 2018.
ACC home favorites are 6-7 ATS in conference games.

 

[Cnotes53]

Friday’s 6-pack:
— Bengals 33, Steelers 31- Bengals kicked a 36-yard FG with 0:07 left.
— Dodgers 3, Brewers 1- Milwaukee has scored 3 runs in series; they trail, 3-0.
— Blue Jays 8, Mariners 2- SS Gimenez had 4 RBI; series is 2-2.
— East Carolina 41, Tulsa 27- Houser passed for 300 yards, 2 TD’s.
— Milwaukee Bucks signed AJ Green to a 4-year, $45M deal.
— Indiana football coach Curt Cignetti signed an 8-year, $93M deal to stay with the Hoosiers.

Quote of the Day
“I want to help 25 to 30 more families. The only way you do that is you’re transformational as a coach. You’re not transactional. If I become transactional — I’m going to pay you this to do this and that — then I won’t do this anymore. I don’t need to.”
Arkansas hoop coach John Calipari

Friday’s quiz
Toronto Blue Jays won consecutive World Series in 1992-93; who was their manager?

Thursday’s quiz
Chargers’ QB Justin Herbert played his college football at Oregon.

Wednesday’s quiz
Since 1988, David Cone/Curt Schilling have thrown the most pitches in a playoff game (147).

***************************************

Friday’s Den: Getting ready for college basketball…….​

Things to think about, with college/minor league basketball around the corner…….
— This will sound weird, but Sacramento State is going to be fascinating to follow this year; the Hornets haven’t had a winning season in Big Sky games since 2015, they’re on their fifth head coach in six years, but they’re going to be fun to watch this season.
The new coach is Mike Bibby, who played 14 years in the NBA, scoring 14.7 ppg; one of his new players is 6-8 F Shaqir O’Neal, whose father is Shaquille O’Neal.
Shaquille O’Neal is the new general manager for Sacramento State, which means we’re going to be seeing some Big Sky games on TV this season. Shaq is good at generating publicity.
Mikey Williams is a Hornet now; he was a big prospect a couple years ago, ran into some issues off the court, but he’s in Sacramento now, and is a key to Sacramento State’s season.

— Next year will be a dizzying year, with more teams changing leagues. There are a few teams changing leagues this year, but not that many.
Grand Canyon moves from the WAC to the Mountain West; Antelopes won 103 games the last four years, have been in four of last five NCAA Tournaments. Last year, Grand Canyon had the #29 eFG% in the country; they got 24% of their points on the foul line (#9 in country). Will they still get as many calls in their new, tougher league?
WAC was the #15 league last year; Mountain West was #6.

— Seattle is also bolting the WAC, which only has seven teams left; Redhawks are moving to the WCC, which won’t look the same at this time next year, with Gonzaga bolting to the Mountain West.
Seattle was 23-14 two years ago, but 14-18 last year; they were a terrible shooting team last year (#334 eFG%). Last four years, Redhawks were 44-28 in the WAC and they’ve got three starters back, but they need to make more shots.
WAC was the #15 league last year; WCC was #7 league.

— UMass bolted from the Atlantic 15 to the MAC, a huge help to their basketball program; MAC was the #23 league LY, A-15 was the #8 league— the move was football-based, but it should make life simpler on the hardwood.
UMass is 47-47 in three years under Frank Martin, was 24-30 in A-15 games. Minutemen have not been in the NCAA’s since 2014- they’ve brought in 10 new players after last year’s 12-20 season, when they shot 28% on the arc, 2nd-worst in the country.

— Two teams bolted to Conference USA, for football reasons…….
Delaware was in the NCAA’s in 2022, going 22-13, but they went 23-31 in CAA games since then.
Blue Hens were 16-20 LY, 5-13 in CAA, but they won four games in the CAA tourney and lost in the final, 76-72 to NC-Wilmington, playing for the fifth night in a row.
Delaware was #324 in defensive efficiency LY; CAA was #20 league last year, C-USA was #9, so this is a step up for the Blue Hens.

— Missouri State bolts to C-USA from the Missouri Valley, the #10 league; Bears were 9-23/2-19 last year, a dismal team that turned the ball over 20.7% of the time (#346).
Missouri State has had some good teams recently, but they haven’t been to the NCAA’s since Steve Alford led them there, in 1999. They’ve had seven 20-win seasons since then, but haven’t made it back to March Madness.

— Famous birthdays, October 17
Michael McKean, 78
Mike Bratz, 70
Dan Pasqua, 64
Jay Humphries, 63
Danny Ferry, 59
John Mabry, 55
Myles Straw, 31

— SEC had 14 of its 16 teams in the NCAA’s last year, which seems excessive; Florida was the first SEC team to win a national title since Kentucky in 2012.
Texas/Oklahoma both went 6-12 in SEC games, tied for 13th; if you finish tied for 13th in your league, you shouldn’t make the NCAA’s.

— Kentucky’s NIL budget/payroll is $22M this season; consensus is that nationally, top 10 teams have an average payroll of $10M or so. High expectations for coach Mark Pope.
Wildcats were 24-12 LY, making their first Sweet 16 since 2019; teams shot 53.9% inside the arc vs Kentucky (#295). Hopefully they spent some of that $22M on big guys who can defend.

— Auburn was 32-6, 15-3 in SEC, made the Final Four for the second time in seven years under Bruce Pearl, but last month, Pearl abruptly quit, so his son Steven could take his place. Bruce Pearl is going into the TV studio this season.
Auburn will play six top 40 teams before Christmas, as they prepare for the rigors on of SEC play, which worked for them LY, when they played the #19 non-conference schedule.

— Last five years, the ACC ranked #5-5-7-5-5 nationally, a downturn from 2014-19, when the ACC was a top 3 league every year. Only four ACC teams made the NCAA’s LY, but couple of new coaches figure to re-vitalize their programs.
Will Wade went 58-11 at McNeese State, made the NCAA’s five of six years before that at LSU, VCU. In the NIL era, Wade seems like a good man for the job.
Ryan Odom is the new coach at Virginia; his teams at VCU/Utah State were 78-30 the last three years. In 2018, he coached #16-seed UMBC to the first #16-seed over #1-seed upset in, when his Retrievers upset………Virginia.

— Four of the top 11 teams in the preseason top 25 are from the Big 18, a league that hasn’t won a national title since Michigan State in 2000.

— BYU signed AJ Dybantsa, the best recruit in the country; Cougars also bring back last year’s leading scorer, Richie Saunders- they’ve added four guards in the transfer portal.
Last year, BYU had the #7 eFG% in the country; 47.6% of their shots were 3’s- they made 36.8% of those. Cougars went 26-10, winning their first NCAA Tournament game since 2011.

— Last five years, Cal-Irvine went 68-23 in Big West games, but was 4-5 in their conference tournament- they surprisingly haven’t been to the NCAA’s since 2019.
Last year, Anteaters were 32-7; they lost the NIT final in overtime. This year, they get G Derin Saran back; he went to Stanford LY, but it didn’t work out well, so he is back in Irvine, where hopefully the Anteaters will fare better in the conference tournament.