Category: College Football

After playing five SEC games in a row, LSU has a bit of an unconventional matchup in Week 8.

The Tigers will be hosting a service academy in Army, which will mark just the second time LSU has faced a service academy after the two teams squared off in 1931, a game the Black Knights won 20-0.

College football has changed quite a bit since the interwar period, and LSU enters this game as a heavy favorite. Following this matchup, it’s a bye and then a road contest against Alabama that could decide the SEC West.

The Tigers can’t get ahead of themselves, however. Here’s how our staff at LSU Wire sees this weekend’s contest against Army playing out.

Tyler Nettuno, Site Editor

Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports

Throwing a game against a service academy in the middle of SEC play is certainly a bit awkward, and it would be a much tougher matchup to prepare for if Army was still running a more traditional triple-option attack. It isn’t this fall, and I think that will hurt its ability to control the time of possession in this game as it would like to. No one is slowing down this LSU offense, and a team that doesn’t really scare you with its passing attack seems like a great matchup for a struggling Tigers defense.

Prediction: LSU 52, Army 10

Will Rosenblatt, Staff Writer

Syndication: The Daily Advertiser

LSU caught a break with the schedule this year, getting a nonconference Group of Five game headed into the bye. LSU should be expected to take care of business in this one. Army will play hard, but LSU has the talent to win out. It’s the final chance for the defense to get tuned up before the showdown with Alabama. On the offensive side of things, we know what to expect. LSU is going to put up big numbers. I like LSU to win.

Prediction: LSU 41, Army 10

Kyle Richardson, Staff Writer

Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports

It will be a…

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Teams at opposite ends of the American Athletic Conference standings collide when the SMU Mustangs and Temple Owls square off on Friday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The Mustangs (4-2 overall, 2-0 in AAC) enter the week in a four-way tie for first place in the conference, along with Tulane, FAU and UTSA. They are coming off a 31-10 victory at East Carolina. Meanwhile, the Owls (2-5, 0-3) sit at the bottom of the standings and are one of three teams still winless in conference play. On Saturday, they were blown out 45-14 by North Texas. 

Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET. The Mustangs are 20.5-point favorites in the latest SMU vs. Temple odds via the SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points scored is 55. Before making any Temple vs. SMU picks, you need to see the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of more than $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed the model has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on SMU vs. Temple and identified its picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model’s CFB picks. Here are several college football odds and trends for Temple vs. SMU:

SMU vs. Temple spread: Mutangs -20.5SMU vs. Temple over/under: 55 pointsSMU vs. Temple money line: Mustangs -1400, Owls +800SMU: The Mustangs are sixth in the nation in fumbles lost (one)TEM: The Owls rank seventh in the country in penalty yards per game (32.57)SMU vs. Temple: See picks at SportsLine SMU vs……

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Oct. 18—Kyle McCord, Penn State quarterback?

The signal-caller for the Buckeyes said Wednesday night he could have been suiting up for the visiting team Saturday night if things had worked out differently.

“In the recruiting process, they were great,” said McCord, who was a five-star prospect in the class of 2021 at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia. “They were probably my No. 2 choice, but I think when Coach Day gave me the green light to commit there was really no doubt this was the place to be given their track record.”

McCord was a recruit in the stands in 2018 when Penn State played host to Ohio State for its annual “White Out” game. That turned out to be one of the classic games in the series as Dwayne Haskins Jr. rallied Ohio State from a 12-point deficit in the final eight minutes for a 27-26 win.

“That was really one of Dwayne’s first big games, and seeing how they used him in the offense, I was like, ‘If Ohio State ever recruits me, I think that would definitely be something to consider the way they’re using Dwayne and the way they’re throwing the ball,’” McCord recalled.

Although Urban Meyer was still the head coach of the Buckeyes, that was the first season with Ryan Day coaching quarterbacks and coordinating the offense with Kevin Wilson.

That duo re-energized an offense that relied heavily on running quarterbacks in the Meyer era — and somewhat late in the Jim Tressel era, too — by re-imagining the passing game.

McCord certainly noticed even though he did not have an offer from Ohio State at that time.

“It just opened my eyes to it because I just never thought Ohio State was going to be the school I’d end up at just because of the traditional track record with Braxton and Terrelle Pryor and all that,” McCord said. “It wasn’t really a pocket passing type of offense for the quarterback. Funny enough, a…

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The Sam Houston Bearkats (0-6) host the FIU Panthers (3-4) on Wednesday night in a Conference USA matchup. The Panthers have struggled mightily in conference play, losing eight straight conference games dating back to last season. Six of those eight losses were by double figures. Meanwhile, Sam Houston is looking to secure its first win after joining the FBS level this season. 

Kickoff from Elliot T. Bowers Stadium in Huntsville is set for 7 p.m. ET on CBS Sports Network. The Bearkats are 5.5-point favorites in the FIU vs. Sam Houston odds via SportsLine consensus, while the over/under for total points is 41.5. Before making any Sam Houston vs. FIU picks, you need to see the college football predictions and betting advice from SportsLine’s proven computer model.

The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every FBS college football game 10,000 times. Since its inception, the proprietary computer model has generated a stunning profit of more than $2,000 for $100 players on its top-rated college football picks against the spread. Anyone who has followed the model has seen huge returns.

Now, the model has set its sights on Sam Houston vs. FIU and identified its picks and predictions. You can visit SportsLine now to see the model’s CFB picks. Here are several college football odds and trends for FIU vs. Sam Houston:

FIU vs. Sam Houston spread: Bearkats -5.5FIU vs. Sam Houston over/under: 41.5 pointsFIU vs. Sam Houston money line: Bearkats -218, Panthers +178SHSU: Hit the game total under in last two gamesFIU: Hit the 1H money line in three of last five away games FIU vs. Sam Houston picks: See picks at SportsLineFIU vs. Sam Houston live stream: fubo (try for free)

Why FIU can cover

The Panthers have a solid and versatile backfield. FIU…

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Penn State and Ohio State will meet in the biggest Big Ten game of the year to date this weekend in Columbus. The 6-0 Nittany Lions travel to Ohio Stadium, a real house of horrors for Penn State over the years, to face the 6-0 Buckeyes with both teams having eyes on the inside track to the Big Ten East Division championship. Both teams have young star quarterbacks on the rise this season that will take the spotlight this weekend.

The most unique part of this quarterback battle is Penn State’s Drew Allar is a former Ohio high school star and Ohio State’s Kyle McCord was a standout on the Pennsylvania high school football fields. Now the two are intertwined in one of the Big Ten’s upcoming QB battles.

Penn State and Ohio State will often be familiar with each other’s players after pursuing many of the same players on the recruiting trail. There may be no more accurate suggestion when it comes to the quarterbacks. Being the star quarterbacks in their respective states put Allar firmly on Ohio State’s radar and McCord on Penn State’s. But as fate would gave it, they each went to the neighboring state’s powerhouse program.

So far, those decisions have seemed to work out.

McCord is in his third season with Ohio State but his first as the starting quarterback. The New Jersey native who thrived at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia has finally gotten back in sync with former high school teammate wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., and the Ohio State offense is thriving more because of it. McCord has also helped lead his Buckeyes to a massive road victory in a defensive battle at Notre Dame.

Coming into this week, McCord is the Big Ten’s second-leading passing leader with 1,651 passing yards and 11 touchdowns with just one interception thrown.

Penn State’s Allar is also in his first year as the starting…

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Who’s Playing

Western Kentucky Hilltoppers @ Jacksonville State Gamecocks

Current Records: Western Kentucky 4-2, Jacksonville State 5-2

How To Watch

When: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. ETWhere: Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium — Jacksonville, AlabamaTV: ESPN UniversityOnline streaming: fuboTV (Try for free. Regional restrictions may apply.)Follow: CBS Sports App

What to Know

The Western Kentucky Hilltoppers and the Jacksonville State Gamecocks are set to square off in a Conference USA battle at 7:30 p.m. ET on October 17th at Burgess-Snow Field at JSU Stadium. Western Kentucky will be hoping to continue their three-game streak of scoring more points each match than the last.

Western Kentucky gave up the first points two weeks ago, but they didn’t let that get them down. They walked away with a 35-28 victory over Louisiana Tech. Western Kentucky’s offense checked out after the first half but had enough points banked to take the game anyway.

Among those leading the charge was Malachi Corley, who picked up 207 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Corley’s biggest highlight was a 70-yard reception that he brought in for a touchdown in the first quarter. Another player making a difference was Austin Reed, who threw for 297 yards and three touchdowns.

Meanwhile, after a string of three wins, Jacksonville State’s good fortune finally ran out on Tuesday. They took a 31-13 bruising from Liberty. The matchup was a 10-10 toss-up at halftime, but Jacksonville State was blown out by Liberty in the second.

Western Kentucky’s victory bumped their season record to 4-2 while Jacksonville State’s defeat dropped theirs to 5-2.

Looking ahead to Tuesday, Western Kentucky is the favorite in this one, as the…

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The Southeastern Conference has set the TV schedule for Week 9. On Oct. 28, the SEC will have five games due to bye weeks.

The Georgia-Florida game, which kicks off at 3:30 p.m. ET, will be televised on CBS. Georgia (7-0) and Florida (5-2) both have bye weeks before the World’s Largest Outdoor Cocktail Party in Jacksonville, Florida.

LSU and Alabama have bye weeks in Week 9 ahead of their Nov. 4 matchup. Arkansas and Missouri both have bye weeks on the Oct. 28 weekend. Missouri plays at Georgia on Nov. 4 after its bye week.

Week 9 features Texas A&M hosting South Carolina, Mississippi State playing at Auburn, Tennessee traveling to play at Kentucky, and Vanderbilt playing at Ole Miss.

Georgia will look to move to 8-0 against Florida. The Bulldogs will have to do it without star tight end Brock Bowers.

Story originally appeared on UGA Wire

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Watching the Week 7 outcomes unfold, a theme arose: Some schools aren’t getting a good — or even adequate — return on investment from their high-dollar coaches. The college football coaching market has ballooned and universities hand out massive contracts like candy on Halloween. 

Texas A&M is the poster child for this with its humungous, fully guaranteed deal for Jimbo Fisher, whose team is now 4-3 after a 20-13 road loss at Tennessee. Mark Stoops is making over $9 million dollars a year at Kentucky, and he’s lost his last two games by a combined score of 89-34. Stoops’ status within the program is unwavering, but the price per win is notable. 

Michigan State, in fact, may avoid a considerable buyout nearing $80 million depending on the result of a sexual misconduct case against former coach Mel Tucker.

Some programs pay a king’s ransom to attract a top-billed coach from another program. Miami ran off a Manny Diaz to sign Oregon’s Mario Cristobal to a 10-year contract worth $80 million. The Hurricanes are off to an 0-2 start in ACC play in Year 2 under Cristobal following one of the worst blunders in college football history against Georgia Tech and a follow-up loss to North Carolina. 

USC made Lincoln Riley the fourth-highest paid coach in the sport, and now the Trojans appear, at best, to be the third-place team in the Pac-12. Their 28-point loss to Notre Dame was a thorough dispatching. The Sooners, meanwhile, are paying Brent Venables, Riley’s replacement, just over $7 million a year — nearly $4 million less — and he has Oklahoma right in the thick of the College Football Playoff race. 

To be fair, some of these crazy extensions and big-money deals work out. Coaches like Alabama’s Nick Saban and Georgia’s Kirby Smart…

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