The Saints have covered six straight games as an underdog...

Dallas should send a thank-you note

There are late starts for teams from the Eastern Time zone -- and there is this extreme one. Seriously, 11 p.m. (ET) in the Rose Bowl? The Boilermakers are behind the eight-ball before kickoff. UCLA has awakened late in its outings, pulling away from California and San Diego State after sleepy starts. Bruins QB Nico Iamaleava has been a subpar passer through two games but has atoned with his running to supplement an effective two-headed RB tandem. Purdue has shown hints of improvement but faces a lengthy road ahead from its two wins in 2025, neither against Power Four squads.

James Madison heads west feeling good about itself after mauling Wagner 87-3. Let's not forget the Dukes slid by Liberty by a TD the week before. JMU has taken the word ”rebuilding” to a new level, with 61 new players — 39 of them transfers. Only one offensive starter repped the Dukes a season ago. San Diego State shut out UCLA (and its slew of transfers from JMU) well into the third quarter last Saturday. Points will be vastly harder to come by for the visitors. The 10 p.m. (ET) kickoff offers an additional edge to the Aztecs, who have covered in six of the last seven at home.

If there is a true sandwich game in September, it's this one. Texas must return from the clouds after a comeback for the ages against Ohio State, and Tennessee looms next week. The Longhorns failed to impress for three quarters against the Buckeyes, so they hardly are coming off a complete game. Visiting QB Owen (son of Josh) McCown will not be cowed by the scene; he has started 28 straight games. UTSA rolled into Austin in 2022 and played the Horns even into the third period before falling. The 'Runners can feast in ATS terms with this sandwick scenario.

Mississippi State’s 23-point shellacking of Minnesota on the road fell under the radar last weekend. Through two wins, the Bulldogs have carved out an 8.4-yard gain per snap, double what the defense has yielded. Almost overnight, QB Kamario Taylor has advanced from virtual unknown to fringe Heisman Trophy candidate. Only one TD has been registered against South Carolina, but the schedule has been tissue soft, with wins over Kent State and Towson. Two key Gamecocks -- edge rusher Dylan Stewart and O-lineman Jaccarius Peak -- are expected to belatedly launch their seasons after injury rehab but reportedly will be limited.

This gargauntuan line seems rooted in the perception that Oregon will unload its frustrations from the stunning loss to Oklahoma State on the little ol' Vikings. With Southern Cal looking next week, it's doubtful coach Dan Lanning will heavily deploy his regulars just to vent. Portland State's defense is dreadful, but the team has tallied 20-plus points in three outings against decent competition. The average margin in six recent meetings is 52.8. That's massive but still shy of this line. If the Vikes can manage a couple of TDs, the Ducks would have to climb into the 70s for a cover.

Monday mystery: How can a team that finished eight games ahead of its opponent receive nearly a field goal? K.C. QB Patrick Mahomes missed the tail end of the season with a knee ailment, but the Chiefs went 6-8 with him starting. He has been dealt an undesirable re-entry game. The Bronco defense topped the league in sacks, and the unit returns virtually intact whilt the Chiefs start undrafted rookie Kahlil Benson at left tackle. On offense, new WR Jayden Waddle could become QB Bo Nix’s best friend. Closing argument: Denver was won three in a row SU in the series.

Under coach DeMeco Ryans, the Texans have solved the mystery on how to defend QB Josh Allen. His SU record against the Allen-led Bills is 4-1. The 2024 clash was a nightmare, with Allen going 9 for 30. Last year was the nightmare of a lifetime, with the current MVP favorite enduring eight sacks and two picks. Allen is familiar with Joe Brady, who will continue wearing Buffalo’s play-calling hat with his promotion to head coach, but this is an unappetizing inaugural assignment for a first-time leader. Buff's defense also has a new boss, with Jim Leonhard revamping a shaky unit that might need time to jell.

Coach Ben Johnson and QB Caleb Williams have figured out the Rubik Cube of offense n the Windy City. The Bears wound up with the league’s No. 6 ranking. The defense? Well, it was fourth worst while relying too much on takeaways, but Carolina may wield too few playmakers to make the Bears regret not upgrading their D in the offseason. A relatively high total (46.5) hints at plenty of points, and Chicago owns a much higher ceiling for keeping the scoreboard operator busy. In season openers with QB Bryce Young, the Panthers have squeezed out a measly 10 points.

Teams with fresh head coaches are often a stay-away in Week 1. Not so with Pittsburgh since Mike McCarthy is hardly a new kid on the block. His experience is matched by QB Aaron Rodgers, who remarkably displayed minimal decline in his 21st season. Coach Kevin Stefanski does bring seasoning to his new gig in Atlanta. Yet his side cannot match the Steelers' talent, especially at QB, where Cooper Rush could start as a result of Tua Tagovailoa's practice injury. Rodgers' reduced mobility might not be problematic; the Falcons are missing QB chasers James Pearce, who is suspended, and Jalon Walker, who is hurt.

We are buyers on the revamped USC defense operated by new coordinator by Hall of Famer Gary Patterson. It has yielded just one rushing TD in two games. The D even pulled off a pair of safeties in blanking Fresno State. For Louisiana, the scheduling leap from an FCS foe (Lamar) to a national title contender is beyond ambitious. As if the Trojans needed another edge: Kickoff is 10 p.m. (CT), an absurd late show for the Cajuns.

Wait, a visiting current FCS member, albeit a bully on that level, is spotting more than a field goal to an FBS card-carrier off to a blazing start? This matchup might have the wrong team favored. Nevada gutted Western Kentucky last week, while Montana State defeated an opponent (Butler) that doesn't even offer scholarships and rang up 24 points. The Bobcats’ first victim (Utah Tech) just stepped up from FCS. The Wolf Pack are distancing themselves from a 3-9 season in 2025, though one that closed promisingly with two SU wins in the last three games. The Pack is back.

North Dakota State’s inaugural season in the FBS is off to a smashing success, with two effortless wins by a cumulative score of 71-7. Up next, however, after a pair of soft foes is a late-night matchup at high altitude against a host with a quirky offense. Too many trap doors here to back the Bison. Air Force shut out Duquesne, allowing 10 first-time Falcons starters to wiggle their toes in the big-boy football pool. The defense permitted just 107 yards, while the offense hogged the ball for nearly 41 minutes. While Air Force has been in rebuilding mode recently, it should not be on the receiving end of points against an FBS newbie.

UNLV, fresh off an unflashy win at Hawaii, must repack for another road trip. The Rebels have sent off mixed signals so far, having bowed in their opener at home to Memphis. The Mean Green were a cash cow a year ago throughout a 12-2 SU season. Despite the lopsided score against Indiana in this season’s opener, it outgained the high and mighty Hoosiers. Coach Neal Brown, dealt a difficult card for his debut as the NTSU coach, gets to settle in against a beatable guest.