Unlv at AIR FORCE...New regime at UNLV, but Rebels still in pointspread nosedive, going just 2-9 vs. spread last 11. AF QB Carney had a stellar day, completing 12 of 14 and rushing for 64 yds. in 27-10 win LY.
Arkansas at AUBURN...Arkansas is 6-2 as a home dog last 5+ years, and Hogs barely failed in one of those losses in 10-3 setback vs. Auburn in '03 as a 5?-pt. dog.
Toledo at BALL STATE...UT QB Gradkowski, who completed 28 of 35 for 468 yds., tied his own school record with 6 TDP in 52-14 throttling vs. Ball State LY.
Nebraska at BAYLOR...Ascending Baylor sick and tired of being abused by Nebraska since joining the Big XII, as Bears have dropped 5 straight in series by an avg. 53-11 score (DNP in '98,'99 and '02, '03).
San Jose St. at BOISE ST...BSU is 21-8 vs. spread as chalk on "blue carpet" since 2000. Doubt vastly-superior Broncos (33-pt. chalk LY!) take SJS for granted following unexpectedly-competitive 56-49 2-OT win in '04, which was moved up to 9:00 A.M for TV.
Wake Forest at BOSTON COLLEGE...BC sky high for ACC battle after blowing late leads in narrow 4 & 3- pt. losses vs. WF last 2 years. Year ago, Eagles starting PK Fassel was injured & replacement Ohlinger missed 3 costly FGs in 17-14 setback at WF.
Oregon State at CAL...Payback-minded OSU had won 5 straight in series until mortifying 49-7 loss vs. Cal in Corvallis LY (Beavers worst loss since 58-6 annihilation vs. Washington in '91).
Ohio at CENTRAL MICHIGAN...Ohio just 3-10 as road dog last 2+Ys (0-3 TY). CMU looking to regain some respect after getting destroyed in last two meetings by Bobcats (52-3 & 34-3 in 2000 & 2001 respectively).
Georgia Tech at DUKE...Duke has covered 3 straight in series (as avg. 15-pt. dog), and GT just 1-4-1 as road chalk since 2002.
Indiana at IOWA...Iowa has been nearly automatic at home under HC Ferentz, posting a sizzling 26-4 spread mark last 30 in Kinnick Stadium.
Oklahoma vs. Kansas (at Arrowhead)...Opposing coaches Stoops and Mangino (the latter served as OU o.c. in '01) are old friends. But after dropping to No. 3 in BCS last year, OU mentor Stoops said during the week of the KU contest he might have to start "rolling it up," which he did in 41-10 romp in Norman LY. Sooners scored their final TD on 8-yd. pass from starting QB White with :35 left.
Florida at LSU...Florida had been a good visiting dog (even under departed HC Ron Zook), going 6-1 in role previous 3 seasons (only loss at Florida State in 2002).
Wisconsin at MINNESOTA...Wisconsin has covered 5 of past 6 in series. Badgers jr. QB Stocco (hails from Richfield, Minn.) eager to shine in final appearance in his home state. Stocco had career-high performance (297 YP) in 38-14 romp vs. Minny LY.
Alabama at MISSISSIPPI...Home team has covered 5 straight in series.
Iowa State at MISSOURI...ISU out to settle a score in Columbia as it was knocked out of Big XII title game LY in 17-14 OT home loss vs. Mizzou LY. ISU had a chance to win in extra period, but QB Meyer threw int. in end zone on 3rd down from 3-yd. line. Cyclone PK Culbertson also missed potential game-winning 24-yd. FG with 1:02 left in 4th Q.
Michigan State at OHIO STATE...With hot QB Stanton (missed '04 contest) back, MSU eager for another crack at OSU after leading 19-17 with 2 mins. left in eventual 32-19 loss LY in East Lansing. In that misleading final, Buckeyes scored on 58-yd. pass to WR Ginn Jr., quickly followed by 5-yd.TD run as a result of an int. in final minute. Spartan backup QB Dowdell amassed 262 YP but threw 3 costly "picks."
Northwestern at PURDUE...Purdue in big revenge mode after 7-game series win streak was snapped in 13-10 upset at NW LY. Boilers claimed they came out "flat" following consecutive narrow home losses vs. Wisconsin & Michigan previous 2 weeks. But even with Purdue QB Orton missing more than half the game due injury, Wildcats still needed a TD with :38 left to pull out 3-point victory. Boiler backup QB Kirsch hit 5 of 9 for 67 yds.; rushed for 32 yds.
Rutgers at SYRACUSE...Host has covered 7 straight. Rutgers visits Carrier Dome for 2nd straight year, which is where 'Cuse got miracle cover in 41-31 victory. Down 34-31, Scarlet Knights failed to convert on desperation 4th-and-28 from their own 4; Orange took over and scored on 4-yd. run with 1:07 remaining. Ouch! Rutgers "throw-back" RB Leonard (surpassed 100 all-purpose yds. in 17 of past 18 games), who hails from Gouverneur, New York, excited to be returning to his old stomping grounds, especially after missing LY's game due to injury.
Colorado at TEXAS...UT has covered 8 of past 9 reg.-season games, including 31-7 pummeling of Buffs at CU LY. Horns totally controlled line of scrimmage, outrushing Buffs 326-3, and CU's only TD came on 37-yd. int. return in 1st Q.
Army at TCU...Not surprised Army (30 native Texans on squad) has performed well in Lone Star State lately, covering 5 of last 6 chances, as Black Knights typically recruit heavily there. TCU has lacked KO punch at home lately, recording a 2-9 DD chalk mark in Fort Worth since 2002.
Oklahoma State at TEXAS A&M...LY's 36-20 A&M victory not as close as score might indicate, as OSU scored 2 late garbage TDs vs. Aggie reserves. A&M QB McNeal licking his chops after generating 386 yds. (288 YP, 98 YR) in 16-point victory.
Kansas State at TEXAS TECH...TT is 12-5 as home chalk since 2002, while KSU just 1-6 vs. spread last 7 away from Manhattan.
San Diego State at UTAH...SDS wants payback following 51-28 home loss vs. Utah LY, which is Aztecs worst defensive allowance since 59-21 setback vs. BYU in 2001.
Georgia at VANDERBILT...UGA has covered 5 of last 6 in Nashville. In LY's one-sided 33-3 victory, Dawgs had 2 RBs (then-frosh Ware & Brown) surpass 100 YR for 1st time since '92.
Florida State at VIRGINIA...UVA entered contest higher ranked than FSU, and Virginia players were talking trash early on, but that mainly served to fire-up 'Noles, who won easily 36-3 in Tallahassee. FSU has won 9 in row SU in series, but Cav mentor Groh has covered last 8 as a home dog.