When It Mattered Most, Coastal’s Cocks Went Flaccid: Week 7 Recap

#23 UNT (3-1) vs. Army (1-3):

Final Score: UNT 66, Army 38

Recap: In a game that was close through the first half, UNT took control in the second half, outscoring Army 43-14 to secure a 66-38 victory. General Booty once again showcased his passing prowess, throwing for 540 yards and 6 touchdowns, though he also threw 1 interception and lost a fumble on a sack that resulted in an Army touchdown.

Zach Evans added balance to the offense with 11 carries for 92 yards and a touchdown. Landon Sides was the star of the receiving corps, hauling in 6 catches for 206 yards and 2 touchdowns, along with a punt return for a touchdown that shifted momentum further in UNT’s favor.

The win puts UNT at 1-0 in American Athletic Conference play, with a key matchup against Temple coming up in Week 8.

Betting Recap: UNT covered the 7.5-point spread comfortably, while the over/under of 53 was shattered with the combined score of 104. Booty’s yardage prop (set at 350.5) and touchdown prop (4.5) were both easily surpassed.

Next Game: UNT will face Temple in Week 8 as they look to build on their AAC success.

Utah State (3-3) vs. San Jose State (1-4):

Final Score: Utah State 29, San Jose State 27

Recap: Utah State pulled off a narrow 29-27 victory over San Jose State, bringing their Mountain West Conference record to 1-1. Once again, though, the win comes with little fanfare, as Utah State continues to be the least-watched team in the nation. The stats and details barely matter because, frankly, no one is tuning in to watch.

Betting Recap: Utah State was a 2.5-point underdog, but they managed to win outright. The over/under was set at 48, and the final total of 56 points hit the over.

Next Game: Utah State will look to continue their Mountain West campaign, though the spotlight might be somewhere else.

#20 UNLV (3-1) vs. Colorado State (0-3):

Final Score: UNLV 49, Colorado State 21

Recap: UNLV moved to 2-0 in Mountain West Conference play with a convincing 49-21 victory over Colorado State. Santiago Melendez had a mixed day, throwing for 280 yards and 2 touchdowns, but also tossing 3 interceptions. His dual-threat ability shone through, however, as he added 109 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns on the ground.

Corey Thompson Jr. continued his strong season with 5 catches for 134 yards, while Donavyn Pellot added a 57-yard pick-six to go along with 8 tackles, helping UNLV dominate on both sides of the ball.

Betting Recap: UNLV entered as 13.5-point favorites and covered the spread easily. The over/under of 60.5 was just surpassed, with the total of 70 points hitting the over. Melendez’s rushing yard prop (set at 70.5) hit comfortably, while his passing yard prop was narrowly surpassed as well.

Next Game: UNLV will face UCLA next week as they continue their non-conference schedule.

Troy (4-2) vs. Georgia Southern (2-3):

Final Score: Troy 49, Georgia Southern 17

Recap: Troy moved to 3-0 in Sun Belt play with a dominant 49-17 win over Georgia Southern. Despite Tucker Kilcrease throwing 6 interceptions, Troy’s defense and big plays on offense helped secure the victory. Kilcrease threw for 289 yards and 4 touchdowns, but his erratic decision-making raises questions about the playcalling.

Damien Taylor led the ground attack with 107 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Peyton Higgins continued his strong season with 102 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns.

Coach Khail has turned the team around after a rocky start, but rumors continue to swirl about him possibly leaving for the Liberty job. These distractions may be contributing to Kilcrease’s poor decisions on the field, as Troy will need to clean up their mistakes in order to maintain their momentum.

Betting Recap: Troy easily covered the 4-point spread, and the over/under of 55.5 was surpassed, with a total of 66 points. Kilcrease’s passing yardage hit the over (set at 250.5), though his interception prop (0.5) easily surpassed as well.

Next Game: Troy will look to continue their Sun Belt success as they move forward in conference play.

Texas State (1-4) vs. #10 Arkansas State (5-0):

Final Score: Arkansas State 56, Texas State 9

Recap: In what was a close contest until halftime, Arkansas State completely dominated Texas State in the second half, outscoring them 49-6 to secure a 56-9 victory. Jaylen Raynor threw for 268 yards and 5 touchdowns, but also added 3 more interceptions to his season total, which has become so astronomical that even the world’s brightest minds might struggle to count them. Despite the turnovers, Raynor’s connection with Corey Rucker remained strong, with Rucker hauling in 107 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns.

Texas State’s offense, on the other hand, struggled mightily. PJ Hatter had one of the worst performances of his career, throwing 4 interceptions and managing just 49 passing yards. His QBR for the game was a dismal 7.9, leading to increasing rumblings that Coach Uncle Matt might need to consider a change at quarterback. Texas State’s highlights were few and far between, with sophomore punter Darius Green’s 134 punting yards standing out as one of the few positive stats.

Betting Recap: Arkansas State covered the 24-point spread with ease, and the over/under of 58.0 was surpassed, thanks largely to Arkansas State’s second-half explosion. Jaylen Raynor’s interception prop (set at 1.5) hit the over, but his touchdowns more than made up for the turnovers.

Next Game: Texas State will face Louisiana in Week 8, while Arkansas State will take on Southern Miss as they look to remain unbeaten in Sun Belt play.

Coastal Carolina (4-1) vs. Marshall (5-1):

Final Score: Marshall 44, Coastal Carolina 37 (OT)

Recap: In what will go down as an ESPN classic, Coastal Carolina lost a hard-fought overtime thriller to Marshall, 44-37. Ethan Vasko put on another impressive performance, throwing for 426 yards and 3 touchdowns, though he also tossed 2 costly interceptions. Christian Washington continued to impress on the ground with 85 rushing yards and a touchdown, while Matt Sauer was dominant with 140 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns.

Senior tight end Cane Berrong had a mixed game, recording 6 catches for 73 yards but also committing 2 uncharacteristic drops in key moments. Coastal’s offensive line was anchored by senior center Sawyer Goram-Welch, who put in a massive effort with 14 pancakes on the day.

Despite their valiant efforts, Coastal Carolina drops to 1-1 in Sun Belt play and will need to regroup as they prepare for their next challenge.

Betting Recap: Coastal Carolina entered as 9.5-point favorites, but Marshall’s upset victory means they failed to cover. The over/under was set at 54.5, and the total of 81 points far surpassed the line. Vasko’s passing yardage and touchdowns hit the over, though his interceptions hit the over as well.

Next Game: Coastal Carolina will face JMU next week as they look to bounce back from this tough loss.

Tulsa (5-0) vs. #14 ECU (3-2):

Final Score: Tulsa 31, ECU 7

Recap: In a game that was never close, Tulsa handed ECU a crushing 31-7 defeat, remaining undefeated and making a strong case for national attention. Despite only amassing 164 total yards of offense, Tulsa capitalized on ECU’s mistakes, with ECU gaining 210 yards but managing just one score.

ECU’s rushing woes continued as they recorded an unbelievable -31 rushing yards. Jake Garcia had 231 yards passing with 1 touchdown, but his 3 interceptions doomed the Pirates. Tulsa’s Daedrion Garrett turned one of those interceptions into a 67-yard pick-six, further burying ECU’s hopes of a comeback.

Betting Recap: ECU entered as 10.5-point favorites, but Tulsa’s shocking upset made that spread irrelevant. The over/under was set at 56.5, and the final total of 38 points came in well under the line. Garcia’s interception prop (1.5) hit the over.

Next Game: ECU will travel to UTSA next week, looking to rebound from this disappointing loss.

#22 Tulane (3-2) vs. UAB (4-2):

Final Score: Tulane 76, UAB 28

Recap: Tulane’s offense put on a show, racking up a staggering 781 total yards, with 695 coming through the air in a 76-28 dismantling of UAB. Senior quarterback Ty Thompson finally put together a complete game, throwing for 8 touchdowns while completing 75% of his passes.

Running back Shaadie Clayton-Johnson added 72 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns, while Mario Williams continued his dominant season with 8 catches for 382 yards and 5 touchdowns. For those of us non-engineers at home, that’s an average of 47.8 yards per catch—an almost unbelievable stat line. Freshman kicker Ian Helmcke made a statement, converting all 10 of his extra points, showing he earned that scholarship.

Betting Recap: Tulane entered as 14.0-point favorites and easily covered the spread. The over/under was set at 59.5, but the combined total of 104 points obliterated that line. Thompson’s passing touchdowns (set at 4.5) and yardage (set at 350.5) both easily hit the over, as did Mario Williams' receiving yard prop (set at 120.5).

Next Game: Tulane will face USF next week as they look to continue their offensive explosion.

Wyoming (3-2) vs. Fresno State (1-3):

Final Score: Wyoming 63, Fresno State 20

Recap: Wyoming moved to 2-0 in Mountain West Conference play after routing Fresno State 63-20. Evan Svoboda continued his aerial dominance, throwing for 503 yards and 7 touchdowns, though he added 1 interception. Sam Scott made another appearance, officially ending his time in witness protection, with 139 rushing yards and a touchdown, including a 71-yard breakaway run.

Tyler King put up absurd numbers, hauling in 8 catches for 342 yards and 5 touchdowns. While the stat line is impressive, it feels a bit like taking advantage of an overmatched Fresno State team, raising questions about the true value of the performance. Nevertheless, Wyoming handled their business and dominated from start to finish.

Betting Recap: Wyoming covered the 3.0-point spread with ease, and the over/under of 52.5 was surpassed with the final total of 83 points. Svoboda’s passing yards (set at 375.5) and touchdowns (set at 4.5) both hit the over, while King’s ridiculous yardage (set at 150.5) blew past the mark.

Next Game: Wyoming will be on a bye next week as they regroup for the rest of their conference schedule.

Nevada (1-4) vs. San Diego State (2-3):

Final Score: San Diego State 37, Nevada 22

Recap: Nevada found themselves in a familiar position, down big at halftime (34-6) before mounting a second-half comeback attempt. Unfortunately, like in previous games, the comeback fell short, resulting in a 37-22 loss to San Diego State.

Brendon Lewis had a busy day under center, throwing for 431 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions. Ashton Hayes, however, struggled on the ground, managing just 16 yards on 13 carries. Tyrone Howell was a bright spot in the passing game, recording 10 catches for 279 yards, while Hayden George added 5 receptions for 135 yards and a touchdown.

In a bizarre stat line, KK Meier had an interception, but somehow was credited with -120 yards. I’m no expert, but I’m pretty sure that’s not possible unless we missed a physics lesson. Nevertheless, Nevada’s defensive struggles and turnovers proved too much to overcome.

Betting Recap: Nevada entered as 6.5-point underdogs, and San Diego State easily covered the spread. The over/under was set at 51.0, and the combined total of 59 points hit the over. Lewis’ passing yardage prop (set at 275.5) and interceptions (1.5) both hit the over.

Next Game: Nevada will travel to Air Force next week, hoping to find some consistency and avoid another slow start.

#11 South Alabama (6-0) vs. App State (2-3):

Final Score: South Alabama 56, App State 27

Recap: South Alabama remains unbeaten after taking down App State 56-27, though it wasn’t the cleanest of games for star quarterback Bishop Davenport. Davenport threw for 346 yards but failed to find the end zone, adding just one interception to his stat line—a rare quiet performance by his standards.

The Jaguars turned to their ground game, where Kentrel Bullock rushed for 88 yards and 2 touchdowns to carry the offensive load. Jarvis Durr also contributed with 7 catches for 92 yards and a touchdown, keeping the passing game alive when needed.

On the defensive side, star ball-hawk Rickey Fletcher was unable to add to his impressive interception total for the season, but the Jaguars’ offense more than made up for it. South Alabama continues to look like a serious contender in the Sun Belt.

Betting Recap: South Alabama covered the 12.5-point spread comfortably, and the over/under of 57.0 was hit with the combined total of 83 points. Davenport’s passing yard prop (set at 325.5) and Bullock’s rushing touchdowns (1.5) both hit the over.

Next Game: South Alabama will play FCS Midwest next week as they look to stay undefeated.

Updated Top 25 Rankings:

#12 Arkansas State

#13 South Alabama

#17 UNLV

#19 Tulane

#20 UNT

#24 ECU

Week 7 Power Rankings:

1. South AlabamaUndefeated and rolling through opponents, even when Bishop Davenport has an off day. They’re the most complete team right now.

   
   

2. Arkansas StateAnother dominant win, but Jaylen Raynor’s interception issues keep them from the top spot. Still, the offense is a force to be reckoned with.

   
   

3. UNLVSanti Melendez continues to shine despite a few turnovers, and the Rebels keep winning. They’re starting to look like a real threat in the MWC.

   
   

4. TulaneTulane’s offense exploded in their win over UAB, but consistency needs to be there. Mario Williams is a game-changer, and Ty Thompson had a career day.

   
   

5. UNTUNT handled Army and keeps their offensive firepower rolling. General Booty will need to avoid turnovers in future games, but they’re trending in the right direction.

   
   

6. Coastal CarolinaDespite the loss in an overtime thriller, Coastal’s offense remains potent. They’ll need to tighten up to avoid more close losses like this one.

   
   

7. WyomingA dominant win over Fresno State keeps Wyoming moving up. While their offensive stats look gaudy, they need to prove they can do it against tougher competition.

   
   

8. ECUA rough loss to Tulsa knocks them down a few spots. The Pirates need to regroup after a tough outing, but they still have the talent to bounce back.

   
   

9. TroyTroy continues to build momentum in the Sun Belt, but Tucker Kilcrease’s turnover issues need addressing if they’re going to contend down the stretch.

   
   

10. USFAfter a close loss to Kentucky and a tough win against Nevada, USF remains a mixed bag. Byrum Brown needs to clean up his turnovers to get them back on track.

    
    

11. NevadaAnother near-comeback attempt fell short, and their slow starts are becoming a theme. Brendon Lewis and Tyrone Howell can’t do it all by themselves.

    
    

12. Texas StateTexas State continues to struggle, and PJ Hatter’s poor performances are leading to more questions about the future at quarterback.

    
    

13. Utah StateEven with a win, Utah State stays at the bottom. Their low viewership and inconsistent play don’t inspire much confidence moving forward.

Week 8 Preview, Predictions, and Betting Lines:

#12 Arkansas State vs. Southern Miss

Spread: Arkansas State -21.0O/U: 61.5Prediction: Arkansas State should handle Southern Miss with ease, though Jaylen Raynor’s turnover issues could make it closer than expected. Southern Miss doesn’t have the firepower to keep up.

Pick: Arkansas State 45, Southern Miss 17

#13 South Alabama vs. FCS Midwest

Spread: South Alabama -45.5O/U: 66.5Prediction: South Alabama should cruise in this one, as they continue to prepare for the tougher stretch of their schedule. Expect big numbers from Bishop Davenport and Anthony Eager.

Pick: South Alabama 59, FCS Midwest 10

#17 UNLV at UCLA

Spread: UCLA -7.0O/U: 57.0Prediction: UNLV will have its toughest test of the season so far. If Santi Melendez can limit turnovers, the Rebels could pull off an upset, but UCLA’s depth will likely be the difference.

Pick: UCLA 31, UNLV 28

#19 Tulane vs. USF

Spread: Tulane -13.5O/U: 60.0Prediction: Tulane’s offense is firing on all cylinders, and USF’s turnover issues will likely keep them from making this competitive. Expect another big game from Ty Thompson and Mario Williams.

Pick: Tulane 42, USF 24

#20 UNT vs. Temple

Spread: UNT -9.0O/U: 55.5Prediction: UNT’s offense will likely overwhelm Temple, but General Booty’s turnovers could keep this one closer than expected. UNT should come out on top, but they’ll need to clean things up.

Pick: UNT 38, Temple 27

#24 ECU at UTSA

Spread: ECU -7.5O/U: 52.0Prediction:* ECU’s defense will likely be the difference in this one, but UTSA has the potential to keep it close. Jake Garcia will need to bounce back from last week’s rough outing.

Pick: ECU 30, UTSA 21

Wyoming at Air Force

Spread: Air Force -3.0O/U: 50.5Prediction:* Wyoming’s offense has been explosive, but Air Force’s disciplined play could limit their big plays. This game could go either way, but Wyoming’s firepower might win out.

Pick: Wyoming 31, Air Force 27

Troy at Louisiana

Spread: Troy -4.0O/U: 54.5Prediction:* Troy is starting to hit their stride in Sun Belt play, but Louisiana’s defense could slow them down. Tucker Kilcrease needs to avoid turnovers for Troy to continue their run.

Pick: Troy 34, Louisiana 28

Coastal Carolina vs. JMU

Spread: Coastal Carolina -10.5O/U: 56.0Prediction:* Coastal Carolina’s offense is too powerful for JMU, but they’ll need to limit mistakes to avoid an upset. Ethan Vasko should lead the way in another big offensive performance.

Pick: Coastal Carolina 41, JMU 24

Texas State vs. Louisiana

Spread: Louisiana -10.0O/U: 50.0Prediction:* Texas State has struggled to keep up with better competition, and this game will likely be no different. The Bobcats’ offense will need a miracle to stay competitive.

Pick: Louisiana 35, Texas State 17

Nevada at Air Force

Spread: Air Force -9.0O/U: 53.5Prediction:* Nevada’s slow starts have been a recurring theme, and Air Force should capitalize. Brendon Lewis will need to avoid turnovers to give Nevada a shot, but it might not be enough.

Pick: Air Force 34, Nevada 20