Oregon's offense should do its part in contributing to an Under. The Ducks are down to their third QB, Brock Thomas, who has yet to start in college. Primary WR Evan Stewart is doubtful, so he could join fellow WR Jeremiah McClellan out of uniform. Oregon just exited a game against UCLA with 32 points scored. Nebraska's latest wasn't much better -- a 37-pointer with Indiana. The Huskers are allowing 15.1 ppg, 17th fewest in FBS. They are a tempting ATS play, but the late start (10 p.m. CT) adds an element that favors the host, so an Under seems the safer option.

All credit to Wake, picked 13th in the ACC preseason poll and in contention for a title. The dream season likely will hit a pothole at some point, and this seems like a possibility with the 10:30 p.m. (ET) kickoff. Cal's season, conversely, was a bust until it rallied past another East Coast invader, Virginia Tech, last weekend. The Bears could welcome back QB/team leader Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele from an injury layoff, though stand-in Jackson Brousseau has been acceptable. On the other side, the nation's receptions leader, WR Carlos Hernandez, is iffy.

Utah has whipped every opponent by at least two touchdowns, and some opponents have been superior to Colorado. The Buffaloes have fallen four consecutive times ATS -- and three SU, scoring just 27 points in the process. They have yet to exceed 14 points against FBS competition. The Buffs' QB situation is a mess. They often hold an edge at home with the setting well above sea level, yet that is no factor here, given that the Utes hail from high altitude. If they neglect to cover, looking ahead next week to Houston might be the culprit. So far this season, they have been disinclined to let up.

Sac State was dealt a rough hand last week with an early 9 a.m. (PT) kickoff in the state of Ohio. The Hornets get paid back here with a late 10 p.m. (ET) start at home against another Buckeye State school. No doubt the Bobcats are better, but their lone win in three roadies was by a field goal over pushover Kent State. Their defense must adjust to the first true pocket passer, QB Jackson Sharman, on the schedule so far. Sac State might not be up to its first win in FBS but should stay within the generous spot.

Until Ball State wins on the road outright, it's a play against. The Cardinals have dropped 14 straight, 11 under coach Mike Uremovich. Bowling Green has turned around from a dreadful start with Ws over Miami (Ohio) and Sacramento State. The Cardinals are giving up 39 ppg, most in the MAC. B.G. boasts the league's top pass prevention, while LB Myles Bradley has a conference high in sacks.

Gift us with the Heisman frontrunner on offense and the stingiest defense for yards per play, and even hallowed Indiana is a stay-away. WR Jeremiah Smith can get a firm grip on the trophy by chopping up a secondary that is prone to yielding big gains. The Hoosiers have only covered once, and their two wins came by six and three points. The Buckeyes’ lone smudge is a hardly embarrassing one-point defeat at Texas when they controlled the bulk of the game. Indiana's remarkable run must screech to a halt soon. This seems like the time and place.

What little hope Mississippi State held for an upset might have gone up in smoke with ailing QB Kamario Taylor and primary RB Fluff Bothwell reduced to doubtful. The Bulldogs are reeling from a 35-point beatdown by Alabama and are heading into the Tigers' den as the hosts hope to bounce back from a stinging overtime defeat at Kentucky. The 'Dogs defense ranks 13th in the SEC, a full seven slots below LSU, while the Tigers' offense rates two places better than the visitors.

Memphis stands 5-1 straight-up, with three straight Ws by an average of 33 points. RB Jaylin Carter can call his shots against a defense that yields more yards per game than all but five FBS card-carrying backs. The Green Wave also rank poorly for sacks per game, so QB Marcus Stokes can bide his time in the pocket. Both teams can generate chunk plays, but Tulane's offense is considerably less consistent.

Statesboro is expected to catch remnants of a tropical storm, which could douse the offensive firepower both teams have shown at times. Weather aside, James Madison's defense can be counted on to keep the scoring reasonable. Opponents average just 13.2 ppg against it, the 10th-lowest in FBS. The Eagles, who throw more than they run, might have to call an audible on offense to accommodate any rain. Won't be a snap against JMU's vaunted D.

This number has sunk four points since a dire weather forecast was circulated. It could travel farther south. The teams are gearing up for hurricane-like conditions, including heavy rain and winds in the mid-20s. While Bama's offense has been uber-impressive, Georgia's defense ranks a lofty seventh in FBS. The Bulldogs' offense has rung up points but lacks the dynamism of previous iterations.

Running Air Force's offense is not an easy task, and a newbie likely steps into the role here. An injury has ended the season of QB Liam Szarka, with little-used Evan Medders next in line. The Academy managed just 14 points with Szarka last Saturday against Navy. NIU has scrounged up just 55 points in four games, though there is little shame in getting shut out by Iowa. The visitors customarily take their sweet time on offense and will be in no rush with a stand-in at QB.

Umbrellas will be popping open in Lexington, where heavy rain (along with stiff winds) will become a significant sidebar to the game. LSU might be known for its dynamic offense under coach Lane Kiffin, but the rush defense is the second stingiest in FBS. If weather forces Kentucky to revert to a ground game, it could be in trouble. What's more, the Wildcats rank low in converting third (and fourth) down. With the program rejuvenated under new coach Will Stein, the defense should be enthused enough to keep the Tigers' offense in check.

Stormy weather often levels the playing field for teams at different levels. In this case, it might prove the opposite. Undefeated Duke’s Nate Sheppard paces FBS runners with 161 ypg, and he'll likely get his uniform dirty with a heavy workload. Plus, the Blue Devils’ defense is giving up 11 ppg, so Tech could be starved for points if the forecast for significant rain and wind holds up. The Yellow Jackets have lost their way since mid-2025, dropping seven of the last nine outright. Their lone win this season came against an FCS victim, and the long list of injuries released Wednesday is disheartening this early in the schedule.

Oklahoma was kept out of the end zone by Texas in three of the past four Red River Rivalry series renewals, and it could happen again. The Sooners' legacy of powerful offenses is taking a beating. They have registered 37 points in the past three games and, with reputable QB John Mateer guilty of six turnovers during the stretch, backups are getting increased practice reps. Mateer might get yanked if Texas keeps dropping a defensive hammer: 30 points allowed the last three games, 2.6 points and 46 yards on average over each of the last nine quarters. It has induced more turnovers than permitted TD drives. The Sooners, patching their wounds from a beatdown by No. 2 Georgia, now must brace themselves for No. 1.

While acknowledging that Dylan Raiola is among the best backup QBs in the land, he is no Dante Moore. Oregon's luminous QB has been ruled out again, leaving Raiola to generate enough scoring to counter UCLA's points-gobbling offense. The Bruins average 44.8 ppg, the seventh-highest in FBS. They are particularly potent on the ground, with a nation's best 6.95 ypc and 4.5 rushing TDs per game. This narrow spread would have been inconceivable at the start of the season. First-year coach Bob Chesney has something going in Westwood, and the week off to prepare can only help.