A look back at the week that was with three college football teams that impressed and three whose weekends did not go as planned.
Three Up
Washington Huskies
2016 Record: Straight-Up 6-0, Against-the-Spread 4-2
Jake Browning's #Pac12FB record-tying touchdown pass earns @UW_Football's @opusbank #12Best Moment! ????https://t.co/KKiHc2hjlp
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) October 9, 2016
Jake Browning threw for 304 yards and a school-record six touchdowns as Washington bowled over Oregon 70-21 on Saturday night. Browning was responsible for seven touchdowns, the second most in a single game this season in college football.
The Huskies’ win snapped a 12-game losing streak to Oregon. The 70 points the team scored were the most for Washington since 1944. Chris Petersen’s team has now scored at least 35 points in nine consecutive games. The Huskies are positioned to take one of the final four spots in the playoff should Alabama, Clemson, Ohio State or Michigan slip in the second half of the season.
Next Up: Oregon State
Trends
Washington has a bye before playing Oregon State. With extra rest, Chris Petersen’s teams have gone 24-14 ATS.
Michigan Wolverines
2016 Record: Straight-Up 6-0, Against-the-Spread 4-2
JABRILL PEPPERS IS AN ABSOLUTE FREAK #Michigan #Rutgers https://t.co/6pVaLFAje5
— foxy (@BigFoxy216) October 8, 2016
Jabrill Peppers ran for a career-high two touchdowns, set up another Michigan score with a 63-yard run and returned a punt 44-yards to the end zone (though it didn’t stand because of an illegal block). The Junior is firmly in the conversation for the Heisman as the Wolverines solidify their position in the College Football Playoff.
Michigan’s 78-0 win over Rutgers was the largest margin of victory since 1940. Rutgers was held to two first downs and only five passing yards. The Scarlet Knights punted 16 times and its longest play from scrimmage was 12 yards. It was Rutgers’ worst loss since an 82-0 beating at the hands of Princeton in 1888.
Michigan doesn’t play another ranked opponent until Ohio State in late November. The Wolverines will be big favorites in every game until their showdown with the Buckeyes. The Big Ten title and a spot in the College Football Playoff will be on the line.
Next Up: Illinois
Trends
Top 5 teams are just 1-6 against-the-spread vs. Illinois.
Oklahoma Sooners
2016 Record: Straight-Up 3-2, Against-the-Spread 1-4
Oklahoma QB Baker Mayfield running around with The OU flag after the #RedRiverShowdown win. pic.twitter.com/60zqyrI4s9
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) October 8, 2016
Baker Mayfield did a lot of running around during and after Oklahoma’s 45-40 victory over Texas. The Austin native threw for 390 yards and three touchdowns. Mayfield connected with Dede Westbrook for all three scores including a 71-yard hookup in the second quarter that was the longest touchdown pass ever by the Sooners against the Longhorns.
Samaje Perine rushed for 214 yards and two touchdowns helping OU rack up 672 yards of offense in the highest-scoring Red River Showdown of all time. After two early season losses to non-conference opponents the Sooners are back on track for a 10th Big 12 title.
Next Up: Kansas State
Trend
Since 2005, Oklahoma is 10-6 against-the-spread vs. teams from Kansas.
Three Down
Houston Cougars
2016 Record: Straight-Up 5-1, Against-the-Spread 4-2
When the Superintendent announces there is no class on Tuesday. pic.twitter.com/j2ioIapYEb
— Navy Athletics (@NavyAthletics) October 9, 2016
Navy quarterback Will Worth ran for 115 yards and threw for two touchdowns as the Midshipmen defeated Houston 46-40. Navy hadn’t beaten a top ten team since South Carolina in 1984.
Houston was a 16 point road favorite. The Cougars were receiving 83% of the spread tickets but the line moved from -17.5 to -16, an indication of sharp money on the Midshipmen. The loss likely ends Houston’s hopes of a qualifying for the College Football Playoff.
The Superintendent of the Naval Academy said there would be no school Tuesday “in honor of the win.”
Next Up: Tulsa
Trends
In the last 5 years, Houston is 14-4 straight-up in home conference games (8-10 ATS)
Tennessee Volunteers
2016 Record: Straight-Up 5-1, Against-the-Spread 3-3
Down by 21, the Vols almost did the impossible again.
But the Ags found a way, after this Trevor Knight TD in 2OT: https://t.co/MXQAwSLPax
— ESPN (@espn) October 9, 2016
Trevor Knight dove into the end zone for a one yard score as Texas A&M topped Tennessee 45-38 in double overtime. The Aggies improved to 6-0 for the first time since 1994.
Tennessee had rallied from double-digit deficits to win four of their last five games. The Vols trailed by 21 points in the third quarter and almost pulled off another escape trick before ultimately coming up short. Six turnovers were Butch Jones team’s ultimate downfall. Tennessee will need better ball security if they have any hope of beating the Crimson Tide next week.
Next Up: Alabama
Trends
Tennessee has lost 9 straight to Alabama (3-6 ATS)
Colorado Buffalos
2016 Record: Straight-Up 4-2, Against-the-Spread 6-0
#USC's Darreus Rogers (@DROG_UNO) over-the-back catch for a 46-yard gain. pic.twitter.com/ZU40Lif7bI
— USCFootball.com (@ThePeristyle) October 8, 2016
Darreus Rogers made a spectacular 46-yard gain that setup the go-ahead score. USC overcame four turnovers to beat No. 21 Colorado 21-17.
It was the Buffaloes first game as a ranked team since 2005. Colorado returned to the AP Top 25 poll for the first time in 11 years last week. The Buffs will likely tumble out of the rankings after losing to a .500 opponent.
Colorado is now 0-11 all-time against USC in a rivalry dating back to 1927.
Next Up: Arizona State
Trends
Colorado has covered in seven straight games with spreads ranging from 16.5 point dogs to 45.5 point favorites.