Bulls Drown in the Green Wave: Tulane Sinks USF in Tampa

Conference play is heating up, and as we head into Week 9, the action is more intense than ever. With Arkansas State and South Alabama continuing their dominant runs, and UNLV climbing the ranks behind Santi Melendez’s dynamic play, it’s clear that some teams are separating themselves from the pack. Meanwhile, Tulane and UNT are lighting up the scoreboard, though defensive question marks linger for both. And while Wyoming and Coastal Carolina are making their cases for national attention, other teams like ECU and Texas State are facing tough questions after a series of disappointing performances. Buckle up—because this week promises even more drama as the chase for conference titles and bowl bids kicks into high gear!

UNLV Stuns UCLA in a Thriller!

UNLV (5-1, 2-0 MWC) pulled off a dramatic 52-49 win against UCLA in an absolute thriller! Santi Melendez was unstoppable, throwing for 440 yards, 3 touchdowns, and adding 67 rushing yards with 2 more scores on the ground. He distributed the ball to 7 different receivers, with the standout play coming from Corey Thompson, who had one reception for an 85-yard touchdown. Talk about efficiency!

Senior running back Michael Allen chipped in with 59 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, giving the offense the firepower to match UCLA blow for blow. On defense, the Rebels came up clutch with 2 key interceptions, helping to seal the victory and continue their red-hot season. UNLV came into the game as a 7.0-point underdog, and they not only covered the spread—they shocked everyone by winning outright. The over/under was set at 57.0, and with a combined score of 101 points, the over was easily hit. For player props, Melendez’s passing yards were set at 300.5, and he demolished that with 440 yards. His rushing prop was 40.5, and he flew past it with 67 yards and 2 touchdowns. Corey Thompson’s receiving yards prop was set at 55.5, and he smashed it with his 85-yard touchdown reception.

UNLV will look to continue their winning ways as they return home to host Hawai'i for the Island Showdown Trophy next week.

Utah State Fails to Show Up in Embarrassing Loss to Fresno State

Utah State (3-4, 1-2 MWC) hit rock bottom this week, suffering an embarrassing 23-0 loss to Fresno State. Calling it a "game" might be generous. Utah State's offense was downright abysmal, managing only 120 total yards, with a laughable -4 yards rushing. Yes, you read that right. They couldn’t even break even on the ground, digging themselves deeper into a hole—literally and figuratively.

If the goal was to make Fresno State look like a powerhouse, mission accomplished. Utah State's offense was lifeless from start to finish, and it’s clear that something is fundamentally broken. The passing game was nonexistent, and the run game might as well have not shown up. For fans, this performance was an insult. At this point, it’s hard to tell if the Aggies are playing football or just killing time on the field.

While the spread had Fresno State favored by just 6.5 points, they easily covered it in a game that felt more like a scrimmage. The over/under was set at 47.5, but with Utah State barely contributing, the under was the only bet that hit. Even the prop bets for total offense were obliterated, as Utah State barely put together a drive worth mentioning.

Next week, Utah State is supposed to face San Diego State, but whether they actually show up and compete remains to be seen. After this performance, the Aggies might be better off forfeiting and saving everyone the embarrassment.

Nevada Soars Over Air Force in Big 40-21 Victory

Nevada (2-4, 1-1 MWC) finally hit their stride, securing an impressive 40-21 win over Air Force. After weeks of struggling, Brendon Lewis stepped up in a big way, delivering a career performance with 238 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, and only 1 interception, completing an ultra-efficient 12 of 15 passing attempts. It’s the kind of performance Nevada fans have been waiting for!

On the ground, Ashton Hayes was the workhorse yet again, racking up 151 rushing yards, giving the Wolf Pack much-needed balance on offense. Hayden George was a beast in the air, finishing with 139 receiving yards and

3 touchdowns, putting Nevada firmly in control of the game. The offense clicked from the start and didn’t let up.

Nevada came into this game as a slight 3.0-point underdog, but they blew past expectations, covering the spread with ease. The over/under was set at 52.0, and the total score of 61 pushed the game comfortably over. Props for Brendon Lewis’ passing yards (set at 200.5) were an easy win for bettors, as he soared past that with his best performance of the season.

Nevada looks to keep the momentum rolling as they head into a key MWC showdown against San Jose State next week. After this victory, the Wolf Pack are hungry for more!

Coastal Carolina Shakes Off Slow Start, Storms Back to Beat JMU 56-34

Coastal Carolina (5-1, 2-1 SBC) gave fans a rollercoaster of emotions in their 56-34 win over JMU. After falling behind 21-0 early, Brooks Stadium fell into a stunned silence. But just when it seemed like the game was slipping away, Coastal mounted one of the most jaw-dropping comebacks of the season, going on an unbelievable 56-13 run to close out the final three and a half quarters.

Coastal’s offense came alive, outgaining JMU by a staggering 634 to 275 yards. While quarterback Ethan Vasko had a rocky start with 4 interceptions, he more than made up for it by slinging 448 passing yards and 4 touchdowns. It wasn’t pretty at first, but Vasko showed resilience, leading the Cocks back from the brink.

Christian Washington added his usual brilliance with 132 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, but it was Malik Rutherford who stole the show late, exploding in the 4th quarter with 162 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns on just 4 catches! Rutherford’s heroics helped Coastal run away with the game, stunning JMU in the process.

On the defensive side, Coastal made life miserable for JMU’s Josh Douglas, forcing 4 interceptions and shutting down JMU after their early surge. Coastal Carolina came into the game as 10.5-point favorites, and despite the early scare, they covered the spread in dramatic fashion. The over/under was set at 59.5, and with the total score hitting 90, it was a no-brainer for anyone taking the over.

Coastal looks to keep their momentum going as they prepare for a big showdown against App State next week. After a comeback like this, Coastal is riding high!

Arkansas State Rolls Over Southern Miss 52-20 as Jaylen Raynor Finally Avoids an Interception... Sort of

Arkansas State (6-0, 2-0 SBC) keeps the good times rolling, taking down Southern Miss 52-20 in what was another offensive showcase. The real story here? Jaylen Raynor finally managed to make it through a game without throwing an interception! That’s right, folks, no picks for Raynor this time—though let’s not get too excited because, of course, he found other ways to keep things interesting.

Raynor threw for 390 yards and 5 touchdowns, and added 71 rushing yards and 2 more scores on the ground. But in true Jaylen Raynor fashion, he couldn’t help himself from putting the ball in harm’s way, fumbling 3 times in the game. What can we say? Jaylen’s just always got to live on the edge.

Ja'Quez Cross had 70 rushing yards, but no touchdowns—probably because his name isn’t Jaylen Raynor. However, Cross made up for it in the passing game, with 121 receiving yards on 9 receptions. Meanwhile, Malik Hornsby made the most of his opportunities, hauling in 3 touchdowns on just 3 catches for 111 yards—would you look at that!

Arkansas State entered the game as 21-point favorites and easily covered the spread with this dominant performance. The over/under was set at 61.5, and with a combined 72 points, the over hit comfortably. Raynor’s passing yards prop (set at 350.5) was another easy win, and despite his fumbles, the Red Wolves remain undefeated.

Arkansas State will host Louisiana next week as they continue to charge through Sun Belt play. Let’s see if Jaylen can keep up this no-interception streak—or find another creative way to keep fans on the edge of their seats!

Texas State Falls to Louisiana 17-9 as Bobcats Continue to Find New Ways to Lose

Texas State (1-6, 0-4 SBC) continues their downward spiral after a 17-9 loss to Louisiana in a game that was every bit as frustrating as the score suggests. Despite outgaining the Ragin' Cajuns 344 to 223 yards, the Bobcats somehow still managed to let this one slip away. At this point, it seems like finding new ways to lose is Texas State’s specialty.

Quarterback PJ Hatter put together another uninspiring performance with 135 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and an interception. Meanwhile, former Texas State QB TJ Finley must have relished torching his old team, racking up 221 yards and 2 touchdowns. Safe to say, the Bobcats probably wish Finley was still wearing a Texas State jersey right about now.

Torrance Burgess continues to be the heart and soul of this team—and maybe of the entire San Marcos community—carrying the load with 172 rushing yards. But even Burgess’s Herculean efforts couldn’t save the Bobcats from themselves. In a game where Texas State didn’t punt once, their failure to convert on 3 key 4th down attempts proved to be the ultimate deathblow to their chances.

Texas State entered the game as 10-point underdogs, and while the defense did enough to keep it close, the offense just couldn’t get out of its own way. The over/under was set at 50.0, and with a total of 26 points, the under was the clear winner here.

The silver lining? Texas State will be on a bye next week, so at least they won’t lose again—this time, anyway.

South Alabama Dominates FCS Midwest in 80-30 Blowout, Eyes "Battle of the Belt" Next

South Alabama (7-0, 3-0 SBC) continues to assert their dominance, rolling over FCS Midwest in a commanding 80-30 victory. While this wasn’t a conference matchup, the Jaguars showed no mercy, putting on an offensive clinic. Bishop Davenport led the charge with 431 passing yards, 4 touchdowns, and 2 picks, but the scoreboard tells the real story—South Alabama is on a mission this season.

On the ground, PJ Martin and Kentrel Bullock combined for 93 rushing yards, with Bullock punching in 3 touchdowns. Anthony Eager continued to live up to his name with a monstrous day, racking up 188 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. When this offense gets rolling, there’s no stopping them.

In the trenches, Malachi Preciado and Julius Kidd were absolute forces, each putting up 12 pancakes, paving the way for the offense to thrive. Meanwhile, the defense wasn’t about to be left out of the fun. Reggie Neely was a game-changer, snagging 2 interceptions, including an 83-yard pick six, and racking up 111 total interception return yards. FCS Midwest had no answer for the relentless pressure from South Alabama.

The Jaguars easily covered the 45.5-point spread, and the over/under of 66.5 was obliterated with a combined 110 points. Davenport’s passing yard prop (set at 350.5) and Bullock’s rushing touchdowns (set at 1.5) were both easy wins for anyone betting the over.

South Alabama now turns its focus to one of the biggest games of the season, the "Battle of the Belt" against Troy. With their undefeated season still intact, the Jaguars are charging into this rivalry matchup with all the momentum.

UNT Obliterates Temple 84-35, But Defensive Concerns Linger

UNT (5-1, 2-0 AAC) continues to light up the scoreboard, but questions remain after their defense gave up 466 yards in an otherwise dominant 84-35 win over Temple. The offense? Absolutely electric. The defense? Well, let’s just say they’re keeping Denton on edge. But let’s talk about the fireworks first, because General Booty is on a tear—and he’s earned himself a promotion. Too bad General is the highest rank!

Booty put on an absolute show with 584 passing yards, 7 touchdowns, and no interceptions. He even added a rushing touchdown for good measure, just in case anyone doubted his all-around game. Zach Evans did his part too, racking up 67 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, while adding 149 receiving yards.

Matthew Golden was a star, hauling in 211 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns, and Nick Coffey made the most of his chances with 84 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns. But the fun didn’t stop there—Taylor Starling had a 73-yard pick six, and Landon Sides showed his versatility with 87 punt return yards and a touchdown, along with 58 receiving yards and 2 more touchdowns.

While the offense was firing on all cylinders, the defense's inability to slow down Temple’s attack is a growing concern. Allowing 466 yards isn’t exactly championship-caliber defense, and with UNT’s eyes on the AAC crown, that’s something that needs to be cleaned up. Still, UNT easily covered the 21.0-point spread, and the over/under of 74.5 was crushed by halftime.

UNT now turns its attention to a massive rematch against ECU in a showdown of last year’s AAC Championship game. With Booty in command and the offense rolling, UNT is ready for the challenge—now if only they could shore up that defense!

Tulane Dominates USF 42-14, Game Over by Halftime

Tulane (4-2, 2-0 AAC) made sure this one was over early, cruising to a 42-14 victory over USF (3-3, 0-2 AAC). By the time halftime rolled around with Tulane up 21-0, the game felt all but over. USF tried to get something going before the break but couldn’t convert, and though they made it interesting by cutting the lead to 28-14, it never really seemed like the Bulls had a chance.

Ty Thompson was in control for Tulane, throwing for 316 yards and 4 touchdowns while adding a rushing touchdown. Though he threw 2 picks, it hardly mattered with Tulane dominating the scoreboard. Shaadie Clayton-Johnson contributed 70 rushing yards and a touchdown, while senior tight end Alex Bauman exploited soft spots in the USF zone defense, racking up 114 receiving yards. Interestingly, Mario Williams was held in check, managing just 25 receiving yards in a quiet day for the star wideout.

On the other side, Byrum Brown struggled to find any rhythm, completing just 13 of 26 passes for 204 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions. Alvon Isaac did his best to keep the Bulls in it with 78 rushing yards and 37 receiving yards, but the offense sputtered too often. The bright spot for USF was Jeyquan Smith, who finished with 110 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns, but it wasn’t nearly enough.

Tulane easily covered the 13.5-point spread, and the under (set at 60.0) narrowly hit, thanks to USF’s inability to capitalize late. Tulane looks like a team hitting its stride at the right time, while USF needs to regroup fast.

Next week, Tulane will travel to Temple as they look to keep their momentum rolling, while USF will head to Memphis to try to bounce back.

ECU Falls to UTSA 19-10. Offensive Struggles Continue for the Pirates

ECU (3-3, 0-2 AAC) dropped their second straight conference game, falling to UTSA in a frustrating 19-10 loss that highlighted the ongoing offensive struggles for the Pirates. Despite being vocal about his lack of playing time, Jake Garcia once again showed why he’s not featured more in the offense, ending the day with just 145 passing yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions. His 54% completion rate on only 22 attempts left much to be desired, though he did add 62 rushing yards to try and salvage his performance.

The lone bright spot for ECU was freshman receiver Daniel Clark, who hauled in 62 receiving yards and a touchdown. But even with the Pirates limiting UTSA to just 94 passing yards, they were gashed on the ground, giving up nearly 200 rushing yards.

ECU’s struggles on third down—both offensively and defensively—were a key factor in their defeat. Turnovers and a lack of execution when it mattered most doomed them, as they couldn’t stay on the field when they needed to and couldn’t get off the field on defense.

The Pirates entered the game as 7.5-point favorites but failed to live up to expectations, with UTSA covering the spread and controlling the game. The over/under was set at 52.0, and with a combined score of just 29 points, the under hit easily.

ECU will look to bounce back in a tough Week 9 matchup against UNT in what feels like a must-win game to stay competitive in the AAC.

Week 9 Top 25:

#10 Arkansas State

#11 South Alabama

#16 UNLV

#18 Tulane

#19 UNT

Others receiving votes:

Wyoming

Coastal Carolina

Dropped out:

ECU

Week 9 Power Rankings:

1. Arkansas State – The Red Wolves stay undefeated at 6-0 and continue to look like the team to beat in the Sun Belt.

   
   

2. South Alabama – Another week, another dominant win. They’re right on Arkansas State’s heels.

   
   

3. UNLV – Santi Melendez is carrying the team with his electric play, and UNLV continues to impress in the Mountain West.

   
   

4. Tulane – The Green Wave is rolling, and their offense has been clicking, especially with Ty Thompson under center.

   
   

5. UNT – General Booty and the high-powered offense are putting up monster numbers, but defensive concerns keep them from being higher.

   
   

6. Coastal Carolina – Despite early stumbles, Coastal is hitting their stride, but that defense still needs to tighten up.

   
   

7. Wyoming – Riding some big wins recently, but the defense has been inconsistent. Still, they’re finding ways to win.

   
   

8. Troy – Troy has quietly improved, and Coach Khail has this team trending in the right direction.

   
   

9. USF – Back-to-back losses have exposed some issues, particularly on offense. They’ll need to regroup fast.

   
   

10. Nevada – After a solid win over Air Force, Nevada is showing signs of life. Can they build on it?

    
    

11. Texas State – Torrance Burgess is a lone bright spot, but the team as a whole continues to struggle in all phases.

    
    

12. ECU – After a tough loss to UTSA, ECU drops down the ranks, and with their quarterback woes, things aren't looking up.

    
    

13. Utah State – Still struggling to get anything going, Utah State looks lost. They remain firmly at the bottom.