2005 NCAA FOOTBALL BETTING PICKS

Part 2

Inside the Boxscores is a weekly feature from Matt Fargo that has been widely recognized as the best summation in college football over the past four years. He takes an in-depth look at each game and pulls out the most pertinent information that will help you handicap games in the future. College football is filled with quirky plays, misleading scores and surprise endings. Fargo takes you inside the action.

Inside the Boxscores is a weekly feature from Matt Fargo that has been widely recognized as the best summation in college football over the past four years. He takes an in-depth look at each game and pulls out the most pertinent information that will help you handicap games in the future. College football is filled with quirky plays, misleading scores and surprise endings. Fargo takes you inside the action.

(9) MIAMI-FLORIDA 52 Duke 7

Duke made a game of it for a quarter but Miami then exploded for 24 second quarter points and the rout was on. Miami tallied 557 yards of total offense while the defense held the Blue Devils to just 128 total yards and a measly five first downs. Duke finished with an unreal eight passing yards. The Blue Devils scored on an 81-yard run meaning they were shut down for 47 yards in their other 56 plays.

(5) Georgia 27 (8) TENNESSEE 14

Tennessee trailed by just six points heading into the final quarter put the Bulldogs extended the lead with a 54-yard punt return and scored again on its next drive to seal the win. Tennessee scored its final touchdown as time expired. Georgia held the Volunteers to just 48 yards rushing on 26 carries (1.8 ypc). The Bulldogs had a very balanced attack with 198 yards on the ground and 207 yards through the air.

(1) U-S-C 42 Arizona 21

USC started slow once again as Arizona was able to hang around for three quarters, trailing by just seven points. The Trojans were still able to generate 724 yards of offense while grabbing 39 first downs. The Wildcats had a chance to pull within seven midway through the fourth quarter but they threw an interception at the USC six yard line. All six of the USC touchdown drives were 80 yards or longer.

(15) Texas Tech 34 NEBRASKA 31

Nebraska fell behind early 21-0 but the Huskers mounted a comeback and took the lead at the beginning of the fourth quarter. They extended the lead to four points and had the game saving interception with just over a minute remaining. Instead of going down, they tried to run it out and fumbled which enabled the Red Raiders to get the ball back and score the game winning touchdown.

NEVADA 62 Idaho 14

Nevada racked up 537 yards of offense and also got two touchdowns from the defense. The defense also held Idaho to just 38 yards rushing on 23 carries (1.7 ypc). The Wolf Pack used a very balanced attack with 265 yards rushing and 272 yards passing. The Vandals scored a meaningless touchdown with less than a minute left. The problem for Nevada was 12 penalties for 101 yards.

(23) LOUISVILLE 69 No Carolina 14

Louisville dominated right from the start but surprisingly had only 119 more total yards and one more first down than the Tar Heels. North Carolina had four turnovers that included two fumbles that were returned for touchdowns in the fourth quarter. North Carolina actually controlled more of the clock but the Cardinals were too efficient as they finished 9-9 in the redzone.

Iowa 34 PURDUE 17

Iowa broke open a close game by scoring the final 14 points of the game. Purdue was down by just three points midway through the third quarter and then trailing by six points, the Boilermakers were driving but were picked off at the Iowa 10-yard line. The Hawkeyes then took the ball 80 yards to extend the lead to 12 points. Iowa finished with 535 yards of total offense.

Stanford 24 WASHINGTON ST 21

Stanford took the lead for good with a touchdown at the end of the third quarter and scored on three straight possessions to pull away. Washington St. finished with 246 yards rushing on 37 carries (6.6 ypc) but the Cougars were backed up all game long. Their average starting field position was their own 16-yard line and four of Stanford's five punts landed inside the 20-yard line.

U-C-F 38 Memphis 17

Central Florida won for the third straight time as the offense tore through the Memphis defense for 551 total yards. The Golden Knights had six drives that were 59 yards or longer but a short field goal and a missed field goal kept their point total down. Memphis was very successful in running the ball as it gained 221 yards on 32 carried (6.9 ypc) but had just 80 yards passing.

EAST CAROLINA 41 Rice 28

The Pirates outgained Rice 459-317 but still trailed by four points after the Owls scored a touchdown early in the fourth quarter. East Carolina then scored on its final three possessions including an 81-yard touchdown pass that put it up by 10 points. Rice controlled the time of possession thanks to 230 yards rushing but the Pirates had a 7.1-4.4 ypp advantage.

Houston 35 TULANE 14

Houston outgained the Green wave 440-240 and scored 28 consecutive points in the third and fourth quarters to break open a 7-7 game. Tulane held Houston to just 80 total yards in the first half but could not stop the Cougars in the second half. After tying the game in the first quarter, Tulane generated only 126 yards in it next 10 possessions.

BOWLING GREEN 38 Ohio U 14

The Falcons outgained Ohio 573-239 but the game was still in question late in the third quarter when the Bobcats pulled to within a touchdown. Bowling Green then tacked on 10 more points before putting the game away for good by picking off a pass that set up an easy touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter. Ohio scored its first touchdown on a blocked punt return and had only one drive longer than 43 yards.

COLORADO STATE 21 Utah 17

Colorado St. rallied from a 14-3 fourth quarter deficit by scoring three touchdowns but because of three missed two-point conversions, the game was still up for grabs. Utah had a chance to win the game as it drove down to the Rams four-yard line but Colorado St. held on four plays that gained just three yards. The Utes finished with a 425-377 total yardage advantage.

COLORADO 41 Texas A&M 20

Colorado stormed out of the gates with three long touchdown drives on its first three possessions and never looked back. Texas A&M drove down to the Buffaloes 18-yard line to open the game but fumbled and Colorado took advantage. The Aggies put two field goals on the board through the first three and a half quarters and scored two garbage touchdowns late.

ARKANSAS 44 UL-Monroe 15

Arkansas ran through the Indians defense for 321 yards on 49 carries (6.6 ypc) and scored touchdowns on six straight possessions. UL-Monroe had one long touchdown drive in the second quarter but was forced to punt on its first five possessions of the second half. The Indians didn't help things by committing 15 penalties for 114 yards.

S-M-U 28 U-A-B 27

SMU pulled out the miracle win on a 31-yard jump ball touchdown pass as time expired. The Mustangs had a five-point lead early in the fourth quarter but it looked like they would come up short once again as UAB scored the next 10 points to take a five-point lead. The Blazers punted with 23 second remaining but SMU drove 80 yards on four plays on the game-winning possession.

LOUISIANA TECH 46 Hawaii 14

Louisiana Tech outgained the Warriors 476-280 but clung to a slim two-point lead late in the second quarter. The Bulldogs then exploded for 30 unanswered points. They held the ball for over 15 minutes longer and scored on every possession with the exception of the final one of the game. After pulling to within two points in the first half, Hawaii was held to 107 total yards the rest of the way.

TOLEDO 30 Eastern Mich 3

Toledo jumped out early to take a 10-0 lead and after Eastern Michigan pulled to within seven points, the Rockets defense shut the Eagles out the rest of the way. Two Eastern Michigan turnovers led to 10 Toledo points and the Eagles also missed a field goal early in the game. The Rockets rushed for 295 yards on 41 carries (7.2 ypc).

Ball State 60 WESTERN MICH 57

The wildest game of the weekend took five overtimes to decide. Both teams scored touchdowns in the first three overtimes while no points were scored in the fourth. Ball St. forced a fumble in the fifth overtime and the Cardinals made a 30-yard field goal to end it. Only two yards separated the total yardage numbers as they combined for 1,090 yards

(11) L-S-U 34 VANDERBILT 6

LSU scored on its first possession but the offense could not muster anything until late in the third quarter when it added a field goal. The Tigers then scored touchdowns on its next two possessions and then returned a fumble 22 yards for its final score. LSU held Vanderbilt to 138 total yards and just 10 first downs. The Commodores didn't have a drive longer than 21 yards until the fourth quarter.

(20) U-C-L-A 47 (10) California 40

Cal led for the majority of this game as UCLA didn't take its second lead until late in the fourth quarter on a screen pass for a touchdown. The Bruins added a late touchdown as time expired. The Bears actually outgained UCLA 545-395 but the Bruins used an 81-yard punt return for a score and then scored on their final three possessions to pull out the win after trailing by 12 points midway through the final quarter.

(16) PENN STATE 17 (6) Ohio State 10

The defenses dominated this game especially in the second half as the only points scored was a Penn St. field goal. Penn St. gained only 230 yards on offense but held the Buckeyes to just 195 total yards. The second half saw Ohio St. gain 105 yards and Penn St. gain just 74 yards. The difference ended up being an interception by the Nittany Lions that was returned to the two-yard line that set up the go ahead touchdown.

Tulsa 34 SOUTHERN MISS 17

Tulsa held the Golden Eagles to just 169 total yards and 11 first downs. Both of Southern Mississippi's touchdowns were set up by interceptions, one that was returned for a score and another that was returned to the 5 yard line.