Saturday 12/1/2018 ... Comps / Bonus Plays / Trends / Betting Info / Requests Etc

Clemson Tigers vs. Pittsburgh Panthers Preview and Predictions 12-01-2018
NCAAF PREDICTIONS BY GRACENOTE


Not many ACC teams can claim wins over Clemson in recent years, but Pittsburgh is one of them. The Panthers will try to play spoiler once again when they face the No. 2 Tigers on Saturday in the ACC Championship Game in Charlotte, N.C.

The Panthers handed Clemson a 43-42 home loss in the most recent meeting in 2016 - the Tigers' only loss en route to the national championship. Another loss to Pittsburgh would cost the Tigers their fourth consecutive ACC title, and it might deny them a chance to play for another national crown. Clemson has hardly been challenged lately, winning its past seven games by at least 20 points, though the vaunted defense had its most worrisome performance of the season in last week's 56-35 victory over rival South Carolina. Pittsburgh had its four-game winning streak snapped with a 24-3 loss at Miami last week as the offense inexplicably fell flat after totaling 86 points in the previous two contests.

TV: 8 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: Clemson -27.5


ABOUT CLEMSON (12-0, 8-0 ACC): The Tigers have been dominant on both sides of the ball as they rank third in the nation in total offense and seventh in defense. Clemson boasts one of the most prolific - and most balanced - offenses in the nation with freshman quarterback Trevor Lawrence (2,488 yards, 22 touchdowns, four interceptions) and running back Travis Etienne (1,307 yards, 19 TDs) leading the way. The defense has been especially tough against the run, allowing more than 117 rushing yards once and holding seven opponents to 90 yards or fewer on the ground.

ABOUT PITTSBURGH (7-5, 6-2): The Panthers averaged 40.8 points during their four-game run to clinch the ACC Coastal Division title, but managed only 200 total yards and did not find the end zone last week. To have a chance Saturday, they'll need a big rebound from running backs Qadree Ollison (1,134 yards, 10 TDs) and Darrin Hall (935 yards, nine TDs), and quarterback Kenny Pickett (1,825 yards, 12 TDs, 5 interceptions) can't make many back-breaking mistakes. They'll likely need to put up some points, because a defense that allows 399.9 yards and 27.8 points per game will have a tough time shutting down the Tigers.


EXTRA POINTS


1. Clemson has won eight consecutive games in December dating to a loss to Virginia Tech in the 2011 ACC Championship.


2. The Tigers have scored at least 27 points in a school-record 12 straight contests.


3. Pitt has won its last four games against top-three teams when unranked, including the 2016 victory over No. 2 Clemson and a 24-14 win over No. 2 Miami to close the 2017 regular season.


PREDICTION: Clemson 37, Pittsburgh 13

Northwestern Wildcats vs. Ohio State Buckeyes Preview and Predictions 12-01-2018
NCAAF PREDICTIONS BY GRACENOTE


Sixth-ranked Ohio State looks to strengthen its case for a College Football Playoff berth when it faces No. 21 Northwestern in the Big Ten Championship game on Saturday in Indianapolis. Ohio State eviscerated seventh-ranked Michigan 62-39 to capture the Big Ten East Division title and vault into contention for a postseason spot, but No. 4 Georgia and fifth-ranked Oklahoma are potential roadblocks in their path to the playoff as the Buckeyes aim to win their second consecutive conference championship game.


"When you start using terms like national championship and playoffs, that's very rare air," Ohio State coach Urban Meyer told reporters. "That's why we have a job to do ... to go win the Big Ten championship and worry about that down the road." Northwestern is making its first Big Ten Championship game appearance after ending Wisconsin's dominance in the West division. The Wildcats have won seven straight conference games, including a 24-16 victory over Illinois to capture the Land of Lincoln Trophy last week, and hope to ride the momentum by knocking off the Buckeyes for the first time since 2004. "I'm fired up to take the purple down to Indy as every year our goal is to win the Big Ten West and we've gotten over that hump," Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald told reporters. "We have an opportunity to take the team to the Rose Bowl and if that doesn't motivate you then I don't know what does."

TV: 8 p.m. ET, FOX. LINE: Ohio State -14


ABOUT NORTHWESTERN (8-4, 8-1 Big Ten): Clayton Thorson completed 12-of-18 passes for 110 yards and a pair of touchdowns while adding another on the ground as the Wildcats downed the Fighting Illini for the fourth consecutive time. Linebacker Paddy Fisher earned All-Big Ten First Team honors after making 92 tackles and forcing three fumbles, while defensive end Joe Gaziano was named to the second team following six sacks and 11 tackles for loss in 2018. Fitzgerald was named the Big Ten Coach of the Year after guiding the Wildcats to eight conference wins, which matched a single-season program record.

ABOUT OHIO STATE (11-1, 8-1 Big Ten): Dwayne Haskins continued his push for the Heisman Trophy as he threw for 396 yards and equaled a program record with six touchdown passes in the win against Michigan. Haskins was named the Big Ten Player of the Week for a record sixth time after his dominant display against the Wolverines, breaking the old mark of five set by former Heisman Trophy winner and former Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith in 2006. Defensive tackle Dre'mont Jones was selected to the Big Ten First Team after registering 7.5 sacks and 12 tackles for loss to go along with a pair of touchdowns while Chase Young earned second-team honors.


EXTRA POINTS


1. Ohio State has won six consecutive meetings with Northwestern.


2. Haskins set Big Ten single-season records with 4,081 passing yards and 42 touchdowns.


3. The Wildcats have won 15 of their last 16 Big Ten games dating back to last year.


PREDICTION: Ohio State 49, Northwestern 20

Fresno State Bulldogs vs. Boise State Broncos Preview and Predictions 12-01-2018
NCAAF PREDICTIONS BY GRACENOTE


For the second straight year, Fresno State and Boise State will meet in the Mountain West championship game on Saturday night. And it's fair to say the two teams are more than a little familiar with each other this time around.


This will be the fourth time in the span of 371 days that the two schools have played. Boise State has won two of those meetings, including 17-14 last year in the title game and 24-17 on Nov. 9, both at Albertsons Stadium, while Fresno State claimed a 28-17 victory at Bulldog Stadium in the first of the four contests on Nov. 25, 2017. "Going there is not new to us, so you know what to expect," Fresno State coach Jeff Tedford said. "We know what a challenge it is to go and play in a hostile environment against a great football team. We have to have a great week of preparation and do everything we can to go there and compete our best and let it all hang out." Both teams were ranked in this week's College Football Playoff rankings -- Boise State is No. 23 and Fresno State is No. 25 -- which means the winner might be in position for a New Years Six Bowl if the only other Group of Five conference team in the rankings -- No. 8 Central Florida, which lost star quarterback McKenzie Milton to a knee injury last week -- were to falter against Memphis earlier Saturday in the American Athletic Conference championship game.


TV: 7:45 p.m. ET, ESPN. LINE: Boise State -2.5


ABOUT FRESNO STATE (10-2, 7-1 Mountain West): This is the fourth Mountain West title game in six seasons for the Bulldogs, who defeated Utah State at home in 2013 but lost at Boise State in both 2014 and 2017 with the Broncos needing a 90-yard drive late in the fourth quarter to pull out last year's contest. Senior quarterback Marcus McMaryion ranks fifth in FBS in completion percentage (70.5 percent) and has passed for 3,283 yards and 24 touchdowns while throwing just three interceptions. Senior wide receiver KeeSean Johnson, who broke Davante Adams' school record for career receptions earlier this season, ranks eighth in the FBS in receptions (87) and seventh in receiving yards (1,267), while junior linebacker Jeff Allison (109 tackles), named Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year on Wednesday, leads a Bulldog defense that has allowed just 19 touchdowns this season, tied for second-fewest allowed in the FBS behind Mississippi State's 12.

ABOUT BOISE STATE (10-2, 7-1): The Broncos, who are bowl eligible for the 17th consecutive season, bring in a seven-game winning streak including a 33-24 victory over then-No. 14 Utah State last Saturday to clinch the Mountain Division. Junior running back Alexander Mattison had a season-high 200 yards against the Aggies and has rushed for 714 yards and nine touchdowns over the last five games and is tied for fifth in the FBS with 16 rushing touchdowns. Quarterback Brett Rypien, named the Mountain West's Offensive Player of the Year, has 29 touchdown passes and seven interceptions and is the leading active passer in the FBS with 13,456 career passing yards, while senior cornerback Tyler Horton, who leads the FBS with four fumble recoveries and has scored five defensive touchdowns in his career, leads a defense that has 37 sacks and leads the nation with 15 fumble recoveries.


EXTRA POINTS


1. Boise State is 113-8 at home on its blue Smurf Turf since 2000, tops in the FBS during that span.


2. Fresno State is tied for fifth in the FBS with 17 interceptions and has allowed 30 points or less in 23 straight games, the longest streak in the FBS.


3. Johnson has caught a pass in 48 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the FBS.


PREDICTION: Boise State 20, Fresno State 17

Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Georgia Bulldogs Preview and Predictions 12-01-2018
NCAAF PREDICTIONS BY GRACENOTE


Top-ranked Alabama will undoubtedly be part of the four-team College Football Playoff but fourth-ranked Georgia isn't a lock as the two squads prepare for Saturday's SEC championship game at Atlanta. The Bulldogs can clinch a CFP spot by beating the Crimson Tide but risk being bypassed for the playoff if they should lose the contest.


The two squads met in last season's national title game with Alabama prevailing 26-23 in overtime in what was the coming out party for Crimson Tide quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who came off the bench to throw three touchdown passes. "He can sit in the pocket and make every throw," Georgia coach Kirby Smart said during a press conference. "He's very confident, and he's got a presence about him in the pocket. He doesn't fear rush; if he's got guys bearing down on him, he sidesteps and gets the ball out, and that's what makes him very special." Alabama has been dominant all season but coach Nick Saban is very wary of Smart - his former defensive coordinator - and the Bulldogs. "Georgia is one of the most complete teams in the country," Saban said at a press conference. "I think Kirby's done a fantastic job there in terms of taking the players that were there and developing them in the style that he wants and doing a great job of recruiting to get new players to come and buy into their system. This is going to be the biggest challenge we've had to date."


TV: 4 p.m. ET, CBS. LINE: Alabama -13.5


ABOUT ALABAMA (12-0, 8-0 SEC): Tagovailoa has thrown a school-record 36 touchdown passes against two interceptions and the sophomore fuels an offense averaging 49 points per game. Jerry Jeudy is enjoying a standout season with 56 receptions for 1,079 and 11 touchdowns while fellow sophomore receiver DeVonta Smith (27 receptions) will forever be remembered in Alabama lore for catching the game-winning 41-yard touchdown pass in the national championship game. The Crimson Tide give up an average of 13.8 points with sophomore nose guard Quinnen Williams recording a team-leading 16 tackles for loss and senior defensive end Isaiah Buggs notching a team-best 9.5 sacks.

ABOUT GEORGIA (11-1, 7-1): Sophomore quarterback Jake Fromm was intercepted twice in last season's title game but has been picked off just five times this season while passing for 2,236 yards and 24 touchdowns. The attack that produces an average of 40.1 points per game also relies on two standout running backs in sophomore D'Andre Swift (962 yards, nine touchdowns) and junior Elijah Holyfield (896 yards, seven scores). The defense allows an average of 17.2 points with senior linebacker D'Andre Walker (team-high 6.5 sacks) and sophomore safety Richard LeCounte (team-leading 64 tackles) among the standouts.


EXTRA POINTS


1. Alabama has won the past four meetings.


2. Bulldogs junior WR Mecole Hardman leads the SEC with a 21.8 average on punt returns - he has one touchdown - and also averages 26.2 yards on kickoff returns.


3. Crimson Tide junior LB Terrell Lewis (knee) returned to practice from summer surgery and his availability will be determined later in the week.


PREDICTION: Alabama 27, Georgia 24

Memphis Tigers vs. Central Florida Knights Preview and Predictions 12-01-2018
NCAAF PREDICTIONS BY GRACENOTE


Seventh-ranked Central Florida attempts to finish the job after an emotional week and earn a second straight American Athletic Conference title when it hosts surging Memphis in the championship game Saturday. The Knights extended their national-best winning streak to 24 games with a resounding 38-10 victory at South Florida last Friday, but the triumph came at a cost as star quarterback McKenzie Milton was lost to a severe right knee injury.


"Everyone in our program has great love and respect for McKenzie and our thoughts and prayers are constantly with him," UCF coach Josh Heupel told reporters regarding the junior from Hawaii, who was responsible for 34 touchdowns this year. "At the same time, we're gonna go out and play our hearts out. He'll be part of who and what we're doing on the field." UCF, which is eighth in the College Football Playoff rankings, will hand out 40,000 leis to fans at the game to honor Milton, while freshman quarterback Darriel Mack Jr. gets the job of trying to lead the Knights to another title. Memphis comes to Orlando, Fla. with one of the nation's best running backs in junior Darrell Henderson, a four-game winning streak and the confidence of two near misses against UCF during the Knights' winning streak - but a 1-12 all-time record against the Knights. "We've competed extremely well against them, but at the same point, we always had mistakes late in games that have cost us," Tigers coach Mike Norvell, whose team lost in double-overtime at last year's title game and 31-30 against UCF on Oct. 13, told reporters. "They've made plays late in games that have helped them to victory."


TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, ABC. LINE: UCF -3


ABOUT MEMPHIS (8-4, 5-3 American): Henderson is second in the nation in rushing yards (1,699), tied for second in TDs on the ground (19) and second in yards per carry (8.6) after gaining 178 and scoring twice in the 52-31 win over Houston last week. Junior quarterback Brady White is 53 passing yards from reaching 3,000 on the season, but has thrown four interceptions (seven overall) and three TD strikes (25 overall) in the last two games. Sophomore wide receiver Damonte Coxie is White's top target with 63 catches for 1,062 yards and seven scores while junior Tony Pollard had career highs of eight receptions and 116 yards last week and is one of the top kick returners in the nation.

ABOUT CENTRAL FLORIDA (11-0, 8-0): The Knights will lean more toward the ground attack with the 6-3, 230-pound Mack at the helm as he has run for 281 yards (7.0 per carry) and completed just 48.8 percent of his passes in a limited role. UCF's rushing attack has gotten better each game and sophomore Greg McCrae (895 yards, eight TDs on the ground) took the leading role at the end of October while junior Adrian Killins Jr. (1,023 yards rushing and receiving) is always a threat. The Knights' defense, led by sophomore defensive back Richie Grant (team highs of 98 tackles, five interceptions) and senior lineman Titus Davis (six sacks, 15.5 tackles for loss), must step up again versus the talented Tigers.


EXTRA POINTS


1. Memphis junior RB Patrick Taylor Jr. needs 106 yards rushing to give the Tigers two players with 1,000 in a season.


2. UCF sophomore WR Gabriel Davis leads a balanced receiving corps with 44 catches for 655 yards and six TDs.


3. Tigers LB Bryce Huff is tied for 14th in the nation is tackles for loss per game (1.5) with 18 overall.


PREDICTION: Central Florida 38, Memphis 21

Stanford Cardinal vs. California Golden Bears Preview and Predictions 12-01-2018
NCAAF PREDICTIONS BY GRACENOTE


Two weeks after poor air quality in the Bay Area forced officials to postpone the annual rivalry game between California and Stanford, the teams are set to close the regular season Saturday in Berkeley. Cal has lost its last eight meetings against the Cardinal, which rebounded from back-to-back losses to the Washington schools by recording wins over Oregon State and UCLA.


Known for their run-first offense in recent years, the Cardinal have become a pass-oriented offense behind junior quarterback K.J. Costello, who ranks first in the Pac-12 in passing efficiency and second in the conference in passing yards per game. Costello has thrown 15 touchdown passes over his last four games and continued to impress in last Saturday's 49-42 win over UCLA, completing 23-of-37 passes for 344 yards and a career-high five scores. "Costello is coming into his own," coach David Shaw told reporters. "Over the next year, he's going to be one of the best quarterbacks in America." The Stanford offense figures to be tested by Cal's stellar defensive unit, which has allowed an average of 14.2 points over its last five games.


TV: 3 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: Stanford -3


ABOUT STANFORD (7-4, 5-3 Pac-12): JJ Arcega-Whiteside returned last week after missing one game due to injury and tied the school's single-season record with 14 touchdown receptions after recording seven catches for 106 yards and three scores against the Bruins. Bryce Love had 22 carries for 85 yards and a score but has battled injuries all season and is averaging 4.6 yards per carry, well below his 8.1 average from last year. Senior linebackers Sean Barton and Bobby Okereke have a combined 153 tackles to lead the defense, which needs to regroup after allowing 528 total yards against UCLA.

ABOUT CAL (7-4, 4-4): The Bears' defense forced a season-high five turnovers in last Saturday's 33-21 win over Colorado as Elijah Hicks and Ashtyn Davis each scored on interception returns for touchdowns. Freshman Chase Garbers (13 touchdowns against five interceptions) has settled in as a reliable starter for the Bears, who clinched their first winning season since 2015 with last week's victory. Running back Patrick Laird had 153 rushing yards in last season's 17-14 loss to Stanford but has been held under the 100-yard mark in his last four games.


EXTRA POINTS


1. Stanford holds a 63-46-11 lead in the all-time series - including a 27-21-6 advantage at Berkeley.


2. Cal linebackers Jordan Kunaszyk and Evan Weaver lead all FBS duos in solo tackles per game (13.7) and all Power 5 duos in total tackles per game (23.2).


3. Stanford is 7-0 this season when forcing at least one turnover and 0-4 when not recording a turnover.


PREDICTION: Cal 27, Stanford 24

Drake Bulldogs vs. Iowa State Cyclones Preview and Predictions 12-01-2018
NCAAF PREDICTIONS BY GRACENOTE


With rumors beginning to swirl around coach Matt Campbell, the Iowa State coach remains focused on this week's game. The Cyclones host Drake to conclude the regular-season on Saturday and, for now, Campbell insists that he is not looking at NFL jobs.


"We're fortunate that we've continued to be able to build in a positive direction and we're going to continue to build in a really positive direction," Campbell said this week. The third-year coach has won 15 games in the past two seasons and will be taking the Cyclones to a bowl game for the second straight year. First, however, is a matchup with Drake, an FCS opponent that has allowed 10 points or fewer four times this season, including each of the last two games. Iowa State should be up to the task after putting up 42 points -- its second-highest mark of the season -- in last week's comeback victory over Kansas State.


TV: Noon ET, Cyclones.TV. LINE: None


ABOUT DRAKE (7-3): The Bulldogs have given up 16 points in the last two games and held Morehead State scoreless over the final three quarters in their most recent outing. Grant Kraemer took care of the offense with two touchdown passes and a rushing score. Steve Doran accumulated 159 yards on five catches and scored twice, while Braeden Hartwig pitched in with 50 rushing yards and a score.

ABOUT IOWA STATE (7-4): The Cyclones trailed by 17 with under 11 minutes left against Kansas State before rallying with three late touchdowns, capped by David Montgomery's third rushing score of the day with 4:34 to play. "This team has never disappointed me," Campbell said. "We're not flashy. We're not pretty.
But you better not count us out." Hakeem Butler caught his ninth touchdown pass of the season and went over 100 yards for the fifth time as he continues to enjoy a stellar junior campaign.


EXTRA POINTS


1. Freshman QB Brock Purdy is 6-1 since taking over as Iowa State's starter; his 337 passing yards against Kansas State marked a new career high.


2. This is Drake's first meeting with an FBS team since 1997.


3. Montgomery has averaged 13.5 rushing attempts in the last four games after a five-game stretch in which he rushed at least 20 times in every contest.


PREDICTION: Iowa State 39, Drake 13

East Carolina Pirates vs. NC State Wolfpack Preview and Predictions 12-01-2018
NCAAF PREDICTIONS BY GRACENOTE


East Carolina visits North Carolina State on Saturday afternoon in a game that was scheduled after both teams were forced to cancel games in September due to Hurricane Michael. The Wolfpack are looking to finish the season strong as wins on Saturday and in their bowl game will get them to double digits in wins for just the second time in the 127-year history of the program.


NC State is coming off an exciting 34-28 overtime win over North Carolina last Saturday where running back Reggie Gallaspy scored his fifth touchdown of the game from one-yard out for the win. The rivalry game was stained by a brawl that broke out after Gallaspy's winning score, however, and because of it the Wolfpack will be shorthanded as offensive tackles Tyler Jones and Justin Witt as well as defensive back Freddie Phillips Jr. have all been suspended by the ACC for the first half of Saturday's game. The Pirates will be looking to end a miserable season on a positive note as they've lost six of seven, including a 56-6 drubbing at Cincinnati on Nov. 23. Quarterback Holton Ahlers is expected to play after leaving in the third quarter last week with a leg injury.


TV: Noon ET, ACC Network. LINE: North Carolina State -23.


ABOUT EAST CAROLINA (3-8): Ahlers, who was just 8-of-22 for 184 yards with a touchdown and an interception, fumbled twice against the Bearcats but is the team's leading passer (127-of-263, 1,785 yards, 12 TDs, three interceptions) and rusher (119 carries for 592 yards). The Pirates went three-and-out on each of their first three drives last week and the defense wasn't able to do their part either, as the Bearcats opened up a 35-0 lead and amassed 641 total yards. Cincinnati's top-ranked defense in the American Athletic Conference held East Carolina to just 303 total yards, including 83 rushing yards on 33 attempts.

ABOUT NORTH CAROLINA STATE (8-3): The Tar Heels missed a 37-yard field goal on the first possession of overtime before the Wolfpack ended the game with seven straight running plays. Gallaspy ran for a career-high 129 yards and tied a school record with his five rushing scores en route to earning co-ACC Running back of the Week honors. Quarterback Ryan Finley will be looking for a bounce-back performance against East Carolina after going 16-of-28 for 200 yards and an interception in what was one of his worst games of the season last week.


EXTRA POINTS


1. NC State junior WR Jakobi Meyers had seven catches for 111 yards against UNC.


2. Wolfpack leading tackler Germaine Pratt missed last week but is listed atop the depth chart for Saturday.


3. East Carolina didn't record a first down until the second quarter against the Bearcats.


PREDICTION: North Carolina State 38, East Carolina 20

Texas Longhorns vs. Oklahoma Sooners Preview and Predictions 12-01-2018
NCAAF PREDICTIONS BY GRACENOTE


Lincoln Riley's dynamic offense at Oklahoma has consistently been explosive enough this season to make up for one of the worst defenses in the country, but Texas knows all about the one time it wasn't. The fifth-ranked Sooners hope to avenge their only loss of the season and impress the College Football Playoff committee enough to move up from the No. 5 spot in the CFP rankings when they meet No. 9 Texas on Saturday in the Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium in Dallas.


Oklahoma, which leads FBS in scoring (50.3 points) and total offense (583.8 yards), finished the regular season on a six-game winning streak despite surrendering 47.3 points per game in its last four contests - and at least 40 points in each contest - by averaging 53.3. The Sooners have failed to score at least 48 points in only three games, the last of which came on Oct. 6 when Oklahoma needed less than six minutes in the fourth quarter to erase a 21-point deficit before the Longhorns got a game-winning 40-yard field goal from freshman Cameron Dicker as time expired for a 48-45 victory. Texas has been living on the edge for most of the season, playing all but one of its last eight opponents within one score and winning six of them. The Longhorns are making their sixth Big 12 Championship appearance and first since 2009, while the Sooners are seeking their fourth consecutive conference crown and a ninth championship win in 18 league title games.


TV: Noon ET, ABC. LINE: Oklahoma -8


ABOUT TEXAS (9-3): Sam Ehlinger, who produced 386 yards of total offense and five total touchdowns in the first meeting, is responsible for the two highest total offense outputs by a Longhorn quarterback in the 113-game history of this rivalry (388 last season) but has been playing through a shoulder injury since Oct. 13. Lil'Jordan Humphrey (72 catches, 1,058 receiving yards and eight TDs) and Collin Johnson (57, 768, six) are one of only 14 duos in FBS with at least 55 catches, and Humphrey is only the fifth player in school history with at least 1,000 yards and eight receiving TDs in a season. Dicker's 34-yard field goal against the Jayhawks tied him with Dusty Magnum (16; 2001) for the most made field goals ever by a Texas freshman.

ABOUT OKLAHOMA (11-1): Heisman Trophy candidate Kyler Murray is the first player in FBS history to average at least 300 passing yards (306.2) and 60 rushing yards (71.1) for an entire regular season and leads an offense that is the first in FBS history to record at least 500 yards of total offense in nine regular-season games. With Trey Sirmon (shoulder) still limited due to injury, freshman Kennedy Brooks took over the team lead in rushing with 993 yards and boasts an FBS-best 9.6 yards per carry (minimum five rushing attempts per game). Since returning to full strength prior to the Oklahoma State victory on Nov. 10, junior receiver Marquise Brown has caught 25 passes for 450 yards and three TDs.


EXTRA POINTS


1. This game marks the second in-season rematch between the arch-rivals and first since 1903.


2. Oklahoma's eight-game streak of scoring at least 45 points is tied for the longest among FBS teams since at least 1980.


3. The Longhorns, who are the only school in the Big 12 with a winning record against the Sooners (62-46-5), are 6-3 in one-possession games this season.


PREDICTION: Oklahoma 48, Texas 41

Marshall Thundering Herd vs. Virginia Tech Hokies Preview and Predictions 12-01-2018
NCAAF PREDICTIONS BY GRACENOTE


With an overtime win over in-state rival Virginia in the 100th edition of the Commonwealth Clash last Friday, Virginia Tech will host Marshall this Saturday needing a victory to gain bowl eligibility for a 26th straight season - thus extending the longest streak in the country. The school announced on Nov. 18 this game - taking the place of the East Carolina game cancelled due to Hurricane Florence - would be played only if the Hokies needed a win to keep their bowl streak alive.


The task won't be an easy one as Marshall comes to town riding a three-game winning streak, including a 28-25 victory over Florida International last Saturday which knocked the Panthers out of the Conference USA title game. "This (bowl) streak is really special and it's hard to do," Tech defensive coordinator Bud Foster told the Roanoke Times. "We are going to play a really good and talented Marshall football team. I'd like to play someone else but it is what it is." The Hokies extended their season when Brian Johnson kicked a 42-yard field goal in overtime and Emmanuel Belmar recovered a fumble on Virginia's ensuing possession to secure the 34-31 victory and snap a four-game losing streak. The Hokies needed some help just to get to the extra session, as wide receiver Hezekiah Grimsley recovered a fumble by running back Steven Peoples in the end zone with 1:51 to play.


TV: Noon ET, ACC Network. LINE: Virginia Tech - 4.5.

ABOUT MARSHALL (8-3): Isaiah Green (14 touchdowns, nine interceptions, 55.7 completion percentage) finished 18-of-27 for 176 yards, two TDs and two interceptions against Florida International, Brenden Knox ran for 109 yards on 19 carries, linebacker Omari Cobb returned an interception 25 yards for a score and safety Brandon Drayton blocked a punt and recovered it in the end zone for another TD. Leading rusher Tyler King (655 yards, 6.1 per carry) is questionable with an injury, meaning Green could look more often to wideout Tyre Brady, who has 64 catches for 890 yards and nine TDs this season. Linebacker Chase Hancock (87 tackles, 3.5 sacks) and safety Malik Gant (83 tackles, eight for loss) lead a defense that has surrendered just 12.7 points per game during the win streak, 20.3 during the season (22nd in FBS) and 2.9 yards per carry.

ABOUT VIRGINIA TECH (5-6): Ryan Willis (57 percent completion, 2,185 yards, 18 TD, eight interceptions) completed 14-of-33 for 199 yards against the Cavaliers with a touchdown and two interceptions, while Peoples (682 yards) rushed for 96 yards on 19 carries as Tech finished with 453 yards of offense. Freshman Tre Turner (four catches, 69 yards, one run for 43 yards) made a one-handed grab of a Willis pass for a 7-yard touchdown that gave the Hokies a 7-0 lead in the second quarter, and moments later, blocked a punt that was recovered in the end zone by Jovonn Quillen. "He is a competitor. He really is. Obviously, he has talent, and he can run and those sorts of things, but he's a highly intelligent competitor," coach Justin Fuente said of Turner. "If he continues to work, he's going to have a really nice career here. It's really nice to see guys like that be willing to play big roles on special teams. That sets a great a great example to our other players."


EXTRA POINTS


1. The Herd finished 6-2 in conference play, tied for second in the East Division. In its one game against a Power Five opponent, Marshall lost 37-20 to North Carolina State.


2. The last season Virginia Tech did not play in a bowl was 1992 after a 2-8-1 season.


3. Turner has caught four passes in each of the Hokies' past three games and has 22 grabs for 396 yards and three TDs this season.


PREDICTION: Virginia Tech 24, Marshall 16