Sunday’s Den: Wrapping up a college football Saturday

Gambling is difficult.

Last week, Eastern Michigan won 30-21 at Arizona State, as a 20-point underdog; they went out Saturday and lost 50-31 at home to Buffalo, as a 7.5-point favorite. Go figure.

Last week, Tulane (+13.5) won 17-10 at Kansas State.
Saturday, Tulane (-11.5) lost 27-24 at home to Southern Miss, while K-State went to Oklahoma and upset the Sooners, 41-34. Speaking of which…….

Kansas State 41, Oklahoma 34
K-State beats the Sooners for third time in four years.
QB Martinez ran for 148 yards, 4 TD’s; he threw for 234 yards and a TD.
Oklahoma QB Gabriel threw for 330 yards and four TD’s.

Clemson 51, Wake Forest 45 OT
Clemson led 14-0 early, trailed 28-20 with 5:00 left in 3rd quarter.
Tigers tied game on a 52-yard FG with 4:01 left.
Clemson converted 16-23 on third down, Deacons 5-12
Clemson had 10 penalties for 120 yards, lot of pass interference calls.
Wake QB Hartman threw for 337 yards and six TD’s.

Middle Tennessee State 45, Miami 31
Blue Raiders’ first-ever win over a ranked team.
MTSU led this game 24-3 in 2nd quarter.
Blue Raiders had TD passes for 71-69 yards.
I’m guessing this score doesn’t sit well with Miami’s boosters.

Texas Tech 37, Texas 34 OT
Longhorns led 24-14 at halftime.
Tech went ahead 34-31 on a 45-yard FG with 0:21 left.
Texas tied game on a 48-yard FG with 0:00 left.
Tech was 7-20 on third down, Texas 3-9.
First time Texas lost in Lubbock since 2008.

Minnesota 34, Michigan State 7
Spartans also lost 39-28 at Washington last week.
Last year, Mel Tucker signed a 10-year contract for $95M, after only three years as a head coach, when he had an 18-14 record. Now his record is 20-16.
Gophers outgained Michigan State 508-240.

Texas A&M 23, Arkansas 21
Arkansas led 14-0 after first quarter.
Aggies ran a fumble back 82 yards for a TD.
Arkansas tried a 42-yard FG with 1:30 left; it hit the top of the right upright, went straight up in the air, and fell short of the crossbar. 

Tennessee 38, Florida 33
Total yardage: 594-576, Florida
Gators had 10 penalties, for only 47 yards.
Tennessee ran 70 plays; only 9 of them were on third down.

Auburn 17, Missouri 14 OT
Mizzou missed a 26-yard FG at the gun in regulation.
Mizzou lost a fumble on the 1-yard line in overtime that ended the game.
Auburn led 14-0 in first quarter,
No one scored in second half.
Mizzou outgained Auburn, 312-217
Teams combined to convert only 7-29 on third down.

UNLV 34, Utah State 24
Rebels were a road favorite for first time in six years; they covered as a road favorite for first time since 2013. UNLV is 3-1, by the way.

Kansas 35, Duke 27— Jayhawks are 4-0 for first time since 2009; their coach won FIVE national titles in D-III. He is a really good coach; this game sold out in Lawrence.

Oregon 44, Washington State 41:
Wazzu led this game 34-22 with 4:00 left to play.
Ducks scored 22 points in 5:42, including a pick-6.
Coogs had a 95-yard pick-6 in first half. 

Oregon had three FG’s shorter than 30 yards in first half; they weren’t good in red zone.

Upsets of the Week:
— Middle Tennessee State (+26) 45, Miami 31
— Navy (+16.5) 23, East Carolina 20 OT
— UTEP (+16.5) 27, Boise State 10
— Kansas State (+13.5) 41, Oklahoma 34
— Southern Miss (+11.5) 27, Tulane 24
— UL-Monroe (+9.5) 21, UL-Lafayette 17
— Buffalo (+7.5) 50, Eastern Michigan 31
— Miami OH (+7.5) 17, Northwestern 14

I-AA Sacramento State 41, Colorado State 10

USC 17, Oregon State 14— This game was on Pac-12 Network, which I don’t have. When USC/UCLA bolt for the Big 14, will the Pac-12 Network even exist anymore?

Memo to DirecTV— I pay you a lot of $$$, Add the Pac-12 Network!!!

Troy State 16, Marshall 7— Marshall won at Notre Dame, then lost to Bowling Green and Troy, all of which makes perfect sense.

James Madison 32, Appalachian State 28
App State led 28-3 with 6:00 left in first half- they never scored again.
Teams combined to convert 6-26 third down plays.
App State’s four games (2-2) were decided by a total of 9 points.

— By the way, Sun Belt plays pretty good football; can we get more of their games on TV? 

Author: Armadillo Sports

I've been involved in sports my whole life, now just write about them. I like to travel, mostly to Las Vegas- they have gambling there.