Re: JEFF BONDS: 007 CFB INSIDER REPORT - WEEK 3

I'll be posting information inside of this thread throughout the week - I just can't wait to get away from the stock market and handicap sports full-time again

Read my analysis on my Week 2 CFB Play of the Week (Air Force Outright Underdog Winner)

1.  MARYLAND +14.5 (PAC-10 GOM)  OUTRIGHT WINNER

2.  AIR FORCE +4.5 at BetUS (2 DIME)  OUTRIGHT WINNER

• Read my analysis on this game

3.  NOTRE DAME +2 at BetUS  OUTRIGHT WINNER

• Read my thoughts on this non-conference clash in South Bend 

4.  GEORGIA TECH +6.5   WINNER

5.  NFC GAME OF THE WEEK (3 DIME)

Kansas

• Kansas had its second largest non-conference home crowd in the stands to watch Todd Reesing lead the Jayhawks to a 29-0 shutout victory.   Reesing passed for 412 yards - ranking third on the KU single-game list.

South Florida

• Improved its record to 4-0 all-time against CFU and pushed its record to 8-1 against teams from the state of Florida.
• USF played in its seven overtime game all-time - staying a perfect 7-0.

California

• Cal pulled off back-to-back wins in Pullman (2006 and 2008) for the first time since the Golden Bears reeled off back-to-back wins in Pullman in 1921 and 1923.

Maryland

• QB Josh Portis used his speed to add a new dimension to the Terps offense against Middle Tennessee State. The junior signal-caller rushed six times for 31 yards, including a long of 16 yards. Portis also completed his first pass as a Terp when he connected with WR Danny Oquendo for four yards in the second quarter.

Iowa State

• The Cyclones have already forced 10 turnovers in their first two games. ISU only had 18 turnovers forced in 12 games last season.
• Compiled five consecutive quarters of 10+ points - good for the most since at least 1976.

Iowa

• Iowa scored over 40 points in consecutive games to start the season. The last time Iowa scored 40 points or more in consecutive contests was the second and third games of the 2003 season (56 vs. Buffalo and 40 at Iowa State).

Penn State

• Penn State improves to 23-11 all-time in games against current members of the Pac-10. Oregon State was the last Pac-10 team that Penn State had not played. The Lions are 6-1 vs. Pac-10 squads since starting Big Ten play in 1993.
• The Nittany Lions had eight plays of 20 yards or more from scrimmage, giving them 16 in the first two games.

Clemson

• Clemson displayed a balanced and potent offense in today's win, tallying 252 yards on the ground and 273 yards through the air. All time, the Tigers are undefeated with a 50-0-1 record when totaling at least 200 yards of each.

Michigan

• The Wolverines had two new starters at linebacker against Miami as Jonas Mouton and John Thompson opened the game on the weak side and strong side, respectively. The start was the first of Mouton's career and fourth of Thompson's.

USC

• USC has fared well against the Big Ten recently - winning the last seven games by an average margin of 28 points.
• The Trojans have won their last 11 non-conference home games and last 10 home openers.
• Team holds an 11-9-1 series edge over Ohio State - winning five of the past six meetings.
• Compiled a 49-14-1 record following a bye week since 1955.
• USC is 7-6 all-time against AP No. 5 teams - including 2-0 against such current Big Ten squads.  Ohio State is 4-8 when facing an AP No. 1-ranked team.

Tennessee

• Tennessee owns a 46-4 all-time record against current members of Conference USA, and UT head coach Phillip Fulmer is 16-1 against C-USA opposition.  The Volunteers have never lost a home game against the conference - giving them a 33-0 mark.
• The veteran secondary lived up to its hype - recording three of the four interceptions against UCLA in Week 1.
• The Vols are 88-18-5 all-time in home openers and haven't lost one since 1994.
• Four players made their UT debut in the 27-24 loss to UCLA, which is small compared to 14 in 2007

North Carolina

• Carolina is coming off a 35-27 victory in its season opener over McNeese State.  The Tarheels led the game 14-0 before a 1 hour and 48 minute weather delay.  WR Brandon Tate was the star of the game with a school-record 397 all-purpose yards  and two TDs.  They haven't started 2-0 since the 2000 season.
• The Tarheels are 0-3 in the all-time series against Rutgers, including a 21-16 loss at Kenan Stadium in 2006.  The other two meetings came in 1894 and 1919.
• Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano served two seasons as North Carolina head coach Butch Davis' defensive coordinator at Miami.
• In last year's opener against James Madison, Carolina used 12 first-time
  starters.  Ten of those players are on this year's team.
  

Rutgers

• Over the last two years, Rutgers has delivered tremendous rating and two
  victories over top-three ranked teams on ESPN's Thursday night broadcast.  In 2006, they defeated No. 3 Louisville 28-25 and No. 2 South Florida 30-27 last season.
• Check out a KEY FACTOR for this game.
• Rutgers is 4-2 over its last six games versus non-conference BCS opponents.
• QB Mike Teel completed passes to seven different receivers in the Fresno State game.  The wide receiver tandem of Kenny Britt and Tiquan Underwood combined for 12 receptions and 162 yards vs. the Bulldogs to lead the Scarlet Knights offense.
• Rutgers has allowed just 19 sacks since the start of the 2006 season - the fewest amount in the nation.  The Scarlet Knights led the nation in fewest sacks allowed in 2006 and tied for second last year - giving up 10.

Kansas

• Kansas is 8-21 on the road under Mangino, but was 4-0 last year.  The Jayhawks have won 14 of its last 15 and 17 of its last 19 games overall.
• The Jayhawks will make its fifth all-time appearance on ESPN2.  Kansas has posted a 2-2 record on ESPN2 all-time and 6-6 on either ESPN or ESPN2.
• KU is 9-16 all-time in games where both teams are ranked.  They have compiled a 4-7 record during the Mangino era - with victories over #23 Missouri in 2003, #25 Iowa State in 2005, #24 Kansas State in 2007 and #8 Virginia Tech in the FedEx Orange Bowl.
• Compiled a 6-12 all-time record against current members of the Big East
  Conference.  Prior to the 13-7 victory over the Bulls in 2006, they last played a team from the conference in 1997.
• The KU defense has allowed just 406 yards in two games.  Opponents have converted just nine of 30 third-down conversions, as the defense returns nine starts - including 22 lettermen.
  

South Florida

• Head coach Jim Leavitt is 7-5 on ESPN2 and is 0-3 against Big 12 teams.  The Bulls are 50-11 in games played at Raymond James Stadium.
• Kicker Delbert Alvarado is just 1-for-4 on field goal attempts this season.
•  The USF defense led the country in turnovers forced, fumbles recovered and ranked in the top 5 in tackles for loss and interceptions last season.  They've yet to allow a rushing touchdown this season and has given up just eight rushing touchdowns in the past 17 games.
• Nine of the Bulls' 11 touchdown drives in the first two games have been scored on drives that lasted less than 2:47.
• QB Matt Grothe has 7,255 yards combined passing and rushing in his career is going to miss playing against UCF.  He had over 1,000 of those playing against them in three career games.

Big East Conference Notes

• Four Big East teams came away with wins on Saturday - with two teams scoring overtime decisions to remain unbeaten.
• Under its current alignment - the Big East was a combined 89-37 in non-league games through the 2007 season.
• The Big East is 0-1 against the Big 12 after Cincinnati's 52-26 loss at
  Oklahoma (Kansas at South Florida).  The conference is also 0-1 against the Big Ten - with Syracuse losing 30-10 versus Northwestern (Penn State at Syracuse).
  

Temple

• Under the direction of third-year head coach Al Golden, Temple stands 1-1 overall.  The Owls opened with a 35-7 win at Army and dropped a 12-9 overtime decision to Connecticut at home last week.
• Temple returned 20 seniors and 26 juniors this year - including 21 starters - from a team that led the MAC in defense last year.
• The Owls rank in the Top 5 nationally in three categories:  No. 1 in kickoff
  returns (43.25), No. 3 pass defense (80 ypg) and No. 4 in pass efficiency
  defense (68.71).
• Temple trails the all-time series with Buffalo, 1-11, with the Bulls claiming a 42-7 win at Lincoln Financial Field.

Toledo

• Toledo moved the ball wel enough but managed only three field goals in their first three trips into the red zone, while Arizona cashed in three TDs in the first half en route to a 24-6 half-time lead last week.  The Rockets eventually lost the game 41-16 to the Wildcats in Tucson.
  -Toledo has done well in the series with Eastern Michigan - winning seven of eight games - UT's last trip to EMU resulted in a 17-13 setback - the only time coach Tom Amstutz has lost to the Eagles in seven tries.
  -The Rockets have just 10 seniors on its 2008 roster - the second smallest class in the nation.
  

UAB

• UAB and Tennessee will meet for the third time on Saturday.  The Volunteers have won each of the previous contests between the schools with both games being played in Knoxville.  Tennessee took a 37-17 decision in 1998 and edged the Blazers by a 17-10 score in the 2005 season opener.
• After opening the 2008 season with a home game against Tulsa, UAB isnow into a September stretch that sees the Blazers playing three of four games away from home.
• Last season, the UAB defense ranked 119th against the run, allowing 256 yards per game.  Part of the trouble was that the Blazers started three freshman and a sophomore on the defensive line in 2007.
  

UL Lafayette

• The Cajuns ranked 7th in the nation in rushing in 2005, 11th in 2006 and 7th in 2007.  Over that span, UL has accumulated 8,080 yards and 77 TD's on the ground for an average of 231 yards.  UL Lafayette had 263 rushing yards in the season opener at Southern Miss.
• Only four starting quarterbacks in Division I-A posted a 4.0 GPA in both the fall and spring 2007-08 semesters.  Sam Bradford (Oklahoma), Tom Brandstater (Fresno State), Michael Desormeaux (Louisiana) and Tim Hiller (Western Michigan).
• UL Lafayette is 12-27 one week after a loss under current head coach Rickey Bustle.
  

Washington State

• Washington State and Baylor have previously met five times, with WSU trailing the all-time series, 2-3.  The Cougars have won each of the last two meetings and Baylor's last win came 40 years ago.
• WSU is 12-26 all-time against the Big 12, including a 5-13 record against the South.  The Cougars have won three of their last five games against the Big 12.
• The Cougars have won six of their last nine games played in the Central Time Zone.
• Opponents have scored all 11 times when reaching the red zone against the Cougars defense - including seven touchdowns.  Offensively, Washington State has scored just 60 percent of the time.
  

 Jeff,

          So your PAC 10 GOM is NOT a Game between TWO Pac 10 Teams? 

Chuck O'Luck

�Jeff,

��������� So your PAC 10 GOM is NOT a Game between TWO Pac 10 Teams?�

Missouri

• This is the first meeting between Missouri and Nevada.  MU is currently 6-0-1 all-time against teams currently comprising the WAC.
• Missouri's starters were pulled with 8:45 left in the 2nd quarter, in last
  week's 53 trouncing of SE Missouri State.
• Offense ranks 4th in the NCAA in total offense, averaging an incredible 570 yards per game.  The Tigers have scored exactly 52 points in each of their first two games - the first time in school history that MU has tallied 50+ points in consecutive games.
• The Tigers defense has been very good against the run through the early going in 2008, as MU ranks 30th in rushing defense - allowing just 82.5 yards per game.
• Team has compiled an impressive 26-6 record at home since naming their stadium "The Zou".  They have won 16 of thier last 17 home games - falling to #19 Oklahoma 26-10 in 2006.
  

Navy

• Since 2003, Navy owns an 11-12 mark against BCS schools.  The 11 wins over BCS opponents are tied with Utah for the most by a non-BCS school since 2003.
• Navy trailed Duke 36-25 going into halftime last year, before outscoring the Blue Devils 21-7 in the second half - giving them a 46-43 victory.
• The Midshipmen are 103-72-5 all-time against current members of the ACC.
• Navy fell to Ball State 35-23 at Scheumann Stadium in Muncie, as the defense was unable to slow the opponents offense, as the Mids caused just one punt.
  

Nevada

• Nevada is 0-3 all-time against teams in the Big 12 conference and will hit the road for the first time this season.
• The Wolfpack suffered a big loss when senior running back Luke Lippincott was lost for the season after suffering a knee injury in the second quarter against Texas Tech.  Lippencott is the reigning WAC rushing king and team captain.
• The pistol offense has been hitting its mark early in the 2008 season - thanks to a powerful ground game.  Nevada has the No. 5 rushing offense in the nation with 325 yards per game.  The Pack is averaging 6.5 yards per carry.
  

Ohio

• For the second-straight game, both Theo Scott and Boo Jackson saw time under center.  Jackson entered the game at the end of the first quarter in place of Scott and played the remainder of the game.
• The Bobcats have allowed just 221 passing yards through their first two games of the 2008 season.  The last time the program allowed fewer in back-to-back games was Oct. 28, 2006 at Kent State (17-7) and Nov. 4 at Eastern Michigan (16-10).
• Since the 1998 season, Ohio is 33-13 when reaching the 28-point plateau.  The Bobcats had won 12 straight games when scoring at least 28 points - prior to the loss against Wyoming (34-33) last season.
  

Eastern Michigan

• Eastern Michigan split two non-conference games to start the season, shutting out a visiting Indiana State  team, 52-0 and following up with a 42-10 setback at Michigan State.
• EMU and Toledo are meeting for the 36th time in history, with Toledo holding a 24-11 edge in the series.  The teams split the last two meetings, with Toledo notching a 52-28 win, Nov. 3, 2007 and Eastern recording a 17-12 victory, Oct. 21, 2006.  Prior to those two games Toledo had won six in a row.
• When EMU turned in its 52-0 shutout of visiting Indiana State on Aug. 28 - it was the first shutout by the defense since Oct. 18, 1997.
  

Illinois

• Illinois' offense leads the Big Ten in two offensive categories - passing
  offense with 292.5 yards per game and total offense with 532.  The rushing offense, which has been No. 1 in the conference for the past two years, is ranked fourth with 240 ypg.
• The Ilini' 47-point performance vs. Eastern Illinois is the highest in the Ron
  Zook era and marks the fourt time in the Illini's last six games that they have topped the 40-point mark.
• Illinois head coach Ron Zook and UL-Lafayette head coach Rickey Bustle were on the same staff at Virginia Tech in 1987.
• The defense has forced five turnovers this season - three interceptions and two fumbles.  Illinois' offense has turned the ball over seven times this season - leading to just two scores.
  

Iowa

• The Hawkeyes have a 21-12 record vs. Iowa State in Iowa City.  Iowa State won last year's game in Ames (15-13).  Iowa has won three of the last five meetings.
• Iowa plays four of its first five games, including three straight, at home in
  Kinnick Stadium.  The Hawkeyes have won 34 of its last 41 home games.
• The defense has recorded at least one takeaway in 22 of their last 24 games - dating back to the 2006 season.  Iowa comes in with a +2 turnover margin, while Iowa State has a +6 margin.
• Holds an all-time record of 66-63-3 against current members of the Big 12 Conference. 
• Iowa has started on offense in 94 of its last 106 games, including both games this season.
  

Iowa State

• Iowa State has won seven of the last 10 games in the series against Iowa.
• The Cyclones defense has forced 10 turnovers that have resulted in 34 ISU points.  Iowa State opponents have scored just seven points off four Cyclone turnovers.
• Running back is the team's deepest position, with three runners who rushed for at least 100 yards in a game last season.  The Cyclones 229 yards vs. South Dakota State was the team's best effort on the ground since netting 229 yards vs. Kansas State in 2005.
• High percentage passes is one of the team's goals this season.  Iowa State quarterbacks have combined to have a pass efficiency rating of 181.33 - ninth best in the nation.  Only Texas and Oklahoma have better ratings in the Big 12.
  
  

Ball State

• Ball State and Akron have met 19 times in a series which dates back to 1964 and is tied at 9-9-1.  Ball State won the last meeting, a 23-17 victory in Muncie in 2005, but Akron has won three of the last four meetings.
• The offensive line is tied for first in the nation with zero sacks allowed this season.  The Cardinals are one of only 10 teams in the country who have played two games and allowed no sacks.
• QB Nate Davis ranks fourth in the nation in passing efficiency with a 217 mark.  He has completed 42-or-52 passes for an 81 percent mark through his first two games.
  

Baylor

• Baylor is 12-11 all-time against teams currently playing football as members of the Pac-10 conference.  This is the Bears' first game against a Pac-10 team since the 2006 loss to Washington State.
• The Bears are 20-17-2 all-time when 1-1 on the season, while they are 6-10-1 when 1-1 following a win. 
• Has won 14 of its last 18 non-conference home games.  Baylor is 121-62-2 all-time in September.
• Baylor's 2008 opponents currently have a 20-4 combined record.
• QB Robert Griffin ranks ninth nationally and fourth in the Big 12 with a 187.09 passing efficiency rating.  Baylor has completed 35 passes this season, 22 of which resulted in first downs.
• Baylor is 1-6 against non-conference BCS opponents since the inception of the BCS in 1998.   The Bears' lone victory was its second such game, a 33-30 victory against NC State.
  

Duke

• Duke and Navy have met on the gridiron 37 times with the Midshipmen leading the series, 20-12-5.  Navy has won the last four contests with the Blue Devils' last win coming at Navy in 2002.  The Midshipmen picked up a 46-43 victory in the last meeting - holding a 35:25 to 24:35 time of possession edge.
• The team has four rushing touchdowns in two games of 2008 after running for only five touchdowns as a team in 2007.
• This season, Duke's opponents have converted their third down attempts only 19.1 percent of the time.
• The Blue Devils have outscored it opponents 20-0 in the third quarter this season - outgaining opponents by a 310-105 total yard margin.
• Last season, Duke QB Thaddeus Lewis had a career day against Navy with 428 passing yards and a school record tying four touchdowns on 23-of-36 passing.
• Offensive line has three starters who have started at least 25 games in their careers.  The Blue Devils rank tied second in the ACC and tied for 28th nationally in sacks allowed.  In 2007, Duke allowed a total of 45 sacks in 12 games to rank last in the ACC.
  

East Carolina

• Defense has forced at least two turnovers in four straight games and 10 of the last 11.
• East Carolina leads the all-time series, 7-2, against Tulane - having won six of the last seven meetings, including a 35-12 win last season.
• Since joining Conference USA in 1997, East Carolina has recorded a 30-41 mark when playing away from Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium.
• The Pirates claimed a sweep a year ago against C-USA West Division.  ECU owns a 6-3 mark against the "other side" since the league began divisional play in 2005.
• ECU will attempt to book their first 3-0 start since the 1999 season.
• The fact that the Pirates have surrendered only two turnovers in their first
  two games of the '08 season continues a trend that allowed ECU to stand an impressive fourth nationally in fewest turnovers surrendered (14) last season.
• The Pirates currently stand among the top 15 nationally in pass defense - allowing just 105 yards per game.  The defense has allowed just three touchdowns in their last three regular season games.