College Football Doings

Yes, it is still very early in the football season, but right about now is when you need to begin paying closer attention to the weather than you probably did in early September. For instance, Thursday night Colorado is playing at West Virginia in a non-conference game. The weather in Morgantown, West Virginia, for the evening is going to be in the low to mid 40s. Not exactly warm, September-like weather anymore, is it?

It's important to start factoring that into your handicapping. West Virginia is primarily a running team, but Colorado has a pass-happy offense for Coach Dan Hawkins and junior QB Cody Hawkins, putting up 251 yards passing per game. Hawkins is completing just 52.6 percent of his passes, has been sacked eight times and has almost as many interceptions (four) as touchdown passes.

The defense hasn't been very good, though they beat West Virginia 17-14 at home a year ago. They beat Wyoming last week (24-0), but lost to Colorado State (23-17) and At Toledo on national TV (54-38), giving up 624 yards (305 rushing). Colorado is 8-19-1 ATS on the road the last 4+ years.

West Virginia (2-1 SU, 2-0 ATS) has scored 30 points or more in every game behind senior QB Jarrett Brown. Brown threw for 334 yards and four TDs as West Virginia paid back East Carolina with a 35-20 victory, rolling up 509 yards. Brown is completing 68.5 percent of his passes, has been sacked only twice and averages almost 70 yards per game rushing.

Some good news of the West Virginia defense is that LB Reed Williams seems good to go. The return of Williams would be significant, which faced a similar situation a year ago when the Mountaineers played at Colorado. Williams had missed the first two games of the 2008 season while trying to recover from twin shoulder surgeries and returned for the Colorado game. He played well, including a pass interception, but would play in only one other game after that before deciding to take a redshirt year.

Last year Colorado beat West Virginia at home, 17-14 in overtime, as a +3 dog, although West Virginia had 311 yards rushing and the Buffaloes had 184 yds rushing, 179 passing.

Further down south, UAB is hosting Southern Miss in a conference USA tilt. Sophomore QB Austin Davis (8 TDs, 1 pick) leads an offense that is averaging 35.8 points, 201 yards rushing and 237 passing. They have two star offensive players in speedy sophomore WR DeAndre Brown and senior RB Damion Fletcher, though Fletcher has a groin injury and is questionable, which is why there hasn't been a line much of the week.

Alabama Birmingham (1-3 SU/ATS) hasn't played well for coach Neil Callaway, with a defense that is allowing 35.5 ppg. UAB is in the middle of a stretch playing 5 road games in 6 games, this being their only home game. Southern Miss has won all nine meetings with UAB, including a 70-14 rout last season in Hattiesburg. Southern Miss had the edge in yards 610-223 and ran for 463 yards while UAB is 1-5 ATS the last 6 meetings.

Weather won't be a factor in that game. Just remember that games taking place in the south or southwest have less of a weather factor to examine, while games in the north can start to get cold or windy as we sail into October.

Back to Article Listing