Jay GreesonLast week there were four very notable endings to college football games for those of us hunting entertainment and paying extra attention to the numbers beyond the scoreboard.
There was Georgia's 28-14 win at South Carolina, eased by the total of 42. (For those wondering, the total is a set number of points Vegas believes will be scored by the two teams - as in total points - and entertainment hunters can wager that "over" the total or "under" the total will be more entertaining.)
The total went over when Georgia speedster Terry Godwin returned an onside kick for a touchdown late in the fourth quarter, a move questioned even by Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart, who said afterward he thought Godwin should have just covered the ball.
That leads us to Southern California-Colorado, with the Trojans giving five points at ranked Colorado. The Buffaloes were down 21-14 with less than five minutes to play when they kicked a field goal on fourth-and-5 inside the USC 30. Leading 21-17, USC completed a third-down pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster, who broke into the clear and was headed for the end zone. But Smith-Schuster channeled his inner coach - call it a "Smart"play - fell to the ground and the Trojans ran out the clock to win by four and lose the entertainment by a point.
Two games picked in this space last week had notable endings. Bowling Green, getting 12 points and down 30-17 late, converted on fourth-and-27 with a 37-yard Hail Mary that bounced off a group of players twice and was caught for a touchdown to cover the number. On the other end of the spectrum, despite getting waxed by Fab 4 picks favorite Mike Leach and Washington State, Stanford scored on the last play of the game to lose 42-16 and slide past the over of 57.
And that's why we call it entertainment.
On to the picks, which - say it with us - are for entertainment purposes only. We are expecting a rebound after we went 3-4 (which included losses in both games that fell under the power of Hurricane Matthew) for our first losing week of the season. (All lines are from vegasinsider.com as of Thursday morning.)
Notre Dame minus-3 over Stanford. The Fighting Irish are bad; Stanford is worse. Buy the half to hedge a backdoor cover, but it may be immaterial, especially if All-America running back Christian McCaffrey doesn't play for Stanford. Notre Dame is better, and now add in the desperation factor for coach Brian Kelly and Co.
Texas-Iowa State over the 68. These teams have been involved in high-scoring contests that exceeded the total in eight of 11 games. Texas can score but can't stop a runny nose. Iowa State is spunky, considering the Cyclones have gone from one of the worst teams in the country to one averaging almost 300 passing yards per game with a quarterback rotation that includes former Georgia player Jacob Park. So when this game is 38-31 late in the third, you can appreciate your entertainment and look elsewhere.
Ohio State minus-10 over Wisconsin. Ohio State is the most complete team in the country. (Sorry, Johnny Tide fans.) By all accounts, the Buckeyes were flat against Indiana, and they still won by three touchdowns. Wisconsin is good on defense, but the Badgers simply can't score enough to keep pace. Buy the half, of course.
BYU minus-7 over Mississippi State. This game is tonight, so mark your calendars accordingly. This game also is in an awful spot for the Bulldogs as they try to find some offensive identity. Provo is hardly the place to figure that out, because it means facing a team that has Taysom Hill at quarterback and bruising running back Jamaal Williams. Those guys are better and more experienced than the Auburn tandem of Sean White and Kam Pettway, who torched Mississippi State last weekend. Buy the half, of course.
Nebraska minus-3 over Indiana. We have been on the Cornhuskers for a while this year, and they are 3-1-1 against the number and coming off a bye week. The Hoosiers have improved and at times impressed this season, but they're coming off a very physical and taxing loss at Ohio State. The Southeastern Conference equivalent would be playing a week after facing Alabama or LSU when it comes to aches and pains. Buy the half, of course.
Washington State minus-6.5 over UCLA. After two disappointing losses to start the season, Washington State has found its stride. The Cougars helped pull back the curtain on Oregon and Stanford with blowout wins and now return home for a date with equally underachieving UCLA, which lost to Arizona State last week. Even more damaging for the Bruins may be the unknown status of quarterback Josh Rosen, who injured his throwing shoulder last week and has coach Jim Mora using phrases like "considering his long-term health" when discussing Rosen's availability.
Northwestern-Michigan State under 44. Two defensive-minded teams with offensive questions - especially the Spartans, who may be getting the worst quarterback play in the country right now. This one will be played in the teens, so 44 is a very agreeable price.
Memphis-Tulane over 53. This game has two sneaky good offenses. Tulane will keep it close enough throughout to cause the Tigers to keep their foot on the gas.
Last week: 3-4 against the spread (42.9 percent)
This year: 21-13 against the spread (61.9 percent)
Third Saturday in October. It's a great name for a great rivalry that is as intense as any midseason game anywhere. It is magnified when it features two top-10 teams and could very well be round one of a two-round tussle in 2016 between No. 9 Tennessee and top-ranked Alabama. Each has a litany of future NFL players, but a lot of the Volunteers who will make their living on Sundays are banged up. For Tennessee - which has become almost a two-touchdown underdog at home - to win this one and end its 0-for-Saban streak, quarterback Josh Dobbs will have to be the national player of the week and enter the Heisman Trophy chase.
Ole Miss at Arkansas. We knew one of these teams would have one of the top quarterbacks in the league. Then Arkansas pulled out another Allen brother. Austin Allen threw for more than four bills against 11 future NFL defensive dudes wearing crimson in last week's loss to the Tide. Alabama at Tennessee may have more national intrigue, but the Rebels and Hogs could be a ton of fun Saturday night because of the two guys pulling the triggers. It also highlights the dearth of quality quarterback play in this league. By the numbers, the SEC's top two QBs in passer rating will be in Fayetteville on Saturday, with the Rebels' Chad Kelly rated No. 1 and Allen right behind him. From there, it's the less-than-Heisman-connected names of Sean White (Auburn), Jalen Hurts (Alabama) and Drew Lock (Missouri).
Friday night lights. Mississippi State invades Mormon territory for a rare Friday night kickoff reeling from an absolute beatdown last week at home at the hands of the Auburn Tigers. Still trying to find their answer at quarterback, a large part of the Bulldogs' struggles last week were because their best offensive player, receiver Fred Ross, struggled mightily with multiple dropped passes and two muffed punts. To win at BYU, Ross will need to be spectacular. Period.
Vanderbilt education. We all expect Georgia to be able to run the football enough to handle the Commodores on Saturday, right? I mean, right? Well, the more interesting subplot to watch with the Bulldogs right now is the early education of freshman quarterback Jacob Eason. (Or as Brent Musburger calls him, "Jason" Eason, which we are sure was Mr. and Mrs. Eason's next choice.) One week he's making a sideline throw to almost break Tennessee's heart. (Seriously, the Vols landed a Hail Mary to win the game; Eason threw a 45-yard bullet on the money over a poorly placed corner. The only "hail" in that puppy was Georgia fans saying, "Hail, yes, this kid's a freshman.") Then last Sunday at South Carolina, Eason was as bad as any quarterback in an SEC win I can ever remember. Call it growing pains, and I still believe the kid who delivered the dart is going to be a star and the kid who dropped a stinker in Columbia will be a distant memory.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6343.