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A rushing or passing matchup rating of 5 is an extremely attractive matchup for the offense, while a 1 means the team is facing a tough defensive matchup and should probably be avoided in daily fantasy lineups. The star rankings take into account the team's Vegas total, relative strength of the offense's passing and rushing attack against the opposing defense and the expected game script (including blowout potential). The matchup ratings will help you to focus your research on the smaller number of offensive position groups with the most talent and the best matchups.
Thursday Slate
Team |
Spread |
Game Total |
Team Total |
Opponent |
Run |
Pass |
Baylor | -17 | 67.5 | 42.25 | Kansas St | 4 | 4 |
W Michigan | -14.5 | 63 | 38.75 | Ball State | 4 | 4 |
App State | -10.5 | 61.5 | 36 | Arkansas St | 4 | 2 |
Nevada | -4 | 55.5 | 29.75 | Fresno St | 3 | 2 |
Fresno St | 4 | 55.5 | 25.75 | Nevada | 3 | 2 |
Arkansas St | 10.5 | 61.5 | 25.5 | App State | 3 | 2 |
Kansas St | 17 | 67.5 | 25.25 | Baylor | 2 | 2 |
Miss State | -7.5 | 42 | 24.75 | Missouri | 2 | 3 |
Ball State | 14.5 | 63 | 24.25 | W Michigan | 3 | 2 |
Buffalo | -2.5 | 45 | 23.75 | Kent State | 2 | 2 |
Kent State | 2.5 | 45 | 21.25 | Buffalo | 2 | 1 |
Missouri | 7.5 | 42 | 17.25 | Miss State | 1 | 1 |
4 Star Matchups
Baylor Run and Pass- This game is tough to peg due to Baylor breaking in true freshman quarterback Jarrett Stidham as the new starter. Will the passing game still be one of the nation's best? Will Baylor have to rely on a run-heavy gameplan? The bet here is that the extremely quarterback-friendly system will allow Stidham to have real success. He can't be expected to produce 100% of what Seth Russell was; but 75-80% of Russell's production is still elite. Kansas State has given up 281 passing yards per game at 7.6 yards per attempt; so Stidham should have some margin for error. Kansas State's run defense (4.5 YPA) is better than it's pass defense, but still just average. Expect Shock Linwood to have another big game.
Western Michigan Run and Pass- WMU has a balanced offense with a 52-48 run-to-pass ratio. They average 183 on the ground and 251 through the air. Ball State is weak in both facets, giving up 275 yards per game through the air and 197 yards per game on the ground. Western Michigan has been especially run-heavy in recent weeks and as two touchdown favorites, there are no guarantees of big production from the passing game. However, the entire Thursday slate features run-heavy offenses, so we have to grade this passing game matchup on a little bit of a curve. Zach Terrell is a solid option at quarterback and Daniel Braverman and Corey Davis are top notch talents at wide receiver. Jamauri Bogan has been the go-to rusher in recent weeks.
Appalachian State Run- App State is one of the most run-heavy offenses in the nation (69-31 run-to-pass ratio) and have are 8th nationally with 260 rushing yards per game. Arkansas State's defense is solid on paper, allowing only 4.3 yards per rush. But App State has a real talent advantage and are a step up in talent from most of Arkansas State's previous opponents. Expect App State to be able to rush for 300+ yards Thursday night.
Friday Slate
Team |
Spread |
Game Total |
Team Total |
Opponent |
Run |
Pass |
BYU | -14 | 57 | 35.5 | San Jose St | 4 | 4 |
Rice | -7 | 59 | 33 | TX El Paso | 4 | 3 |
Temple | -14 | 51.5 | 32.75 | S Methodist | 4 | 3 |
TX El Paso | 7 | 59 | 26 | Rice | 2 | 3 |
San Jose St | 14 | 57 | 21.5 | BYU | 2 | 2 |
S Methodist | 14 | 51.5 | 18.75 | Temple | 1 | 2 |
Saturday Early Slate
Team |
Spread |
Game Total |
Team Total |
Opponent |
Run |
Pass |
W Virginia | -8.5 | 79 | 43.75 | Texas Tech | 5 | 3 |
TX Christian | -5.5 | 76.5 | 41 | Oklahoma St | 3 | 5 |
Houston | -8 | 72 | 40 | Cincinnati | 5 | 3 |
Michigan | -24.5 | 51 | 37.75 | Rutgers | 4 | 2 |
Georgia | -14 | 58 | 36 | Kentucky | 4 | 2 |
Stanford | -16 | 56 | 36 | Colorado | 4 | 2 |
Oklahoma St | 5.5 | 76.5 | 35.5 | TX Christian | 3 | 3 |
Texas Tech | 8.5 | 79 | 35.25 | W Virginia | 2 | 5 |
Wash State | -2.5 | 66 | 34.25 | Arizona St | 1 | 5 |
Clemson | -12.5 | 56 | 34.25 | Florida St | 3 | 4 |
Iowa | -7 | 60.5 | 33.75 | Indiana | 5 | 2 |
N Carolina | -8 | 57 | 32.5 | Duke | 3 | 3 |
Mississippi | -11 | 54 | 32.5 | Arkansas | 2 | 4 |
Cincinnati | 8 | 72 | 32 | Houston | 2 | 4 |
Arizona St | 2.5 | 66 | 31.75 | Wash State | 3 | 3 |
Notre Dame | -8.5 | 53.5 | 31 | Pittsburgh | 3 | 3 |
Wisconsin | -12.5 | 48.5 | 30.5 | Maryland | 4 | 2 |
Florida | -21 | 37.5 | 29.25 | Vanderbilt | 3 | 2 |
Indiana | 7 | 60.5 | 26.75 | Iowa | 2 | 2 |
Duke | 8 | 57 | 24.5 | N Carolina | 2 | 2 |
Pittsburgh | 8.5 | 53.5 | 22.5 | Notre Dame | 2 | 2 |
Kentucky | 14 | 58 | 22 | Georgia | 2 | 2 |
Florida St | 12.5 | 56 | 21.75 | Clemson | 2 | 2 |
Northwestern | -2.5 | 40.5 | 21.5 | Penn State | 2 | 1 |
Arkansas | 11 | 54 | 21.5 | Mississippi | 2 | 1 |
Colorado | 16 | 56 | 20 | Stanford | 1 | 2 |
Penn State | 2.5 | 40.5 | 19 | Northwestern | 2 | 1 |
Maryland | 12.5 | 48.5 | 18 | Wisconsin | 1 | 1 |
Rutgers | 24.5 | 51 | 13.25 | Michigan | 1 | 1 |
Vanderbilt | 21 | 37.5 | 8.25 | Florida | 1 | 1 |
5 Star Matchups
West Virginia Run- The Mountaineers have been a good rushing team (209 yards per game, 4.3 YPC), but not great. However, they are facing a Texas Tech defense allowing 271 yards per game on the ground and 5.9 YPC. Wendell Smallwood should be able to have a big game in what should be a high-scoring affair.
TCU Pass- The Oklahoma State pass defense has been pretty good on the season, but has been proven to be extremely vulnerable against top competition; the Cowboys gave up 480 passing yards to Texas Tech last week. TCU has averaged 389 passing yards per game despite taking their foot off the gas in the second half of a number of their contests. While TCU could be held below season scoring averages, Trevone Boykin should again have a big day and continue to cement his Heisman finalist bona fides.
Houston Run- The Cougars are rushing for 275 yards per game and face a relatively soft Cincinnati defense that has allowed 173 yards per game and just under 5.0 yards per carry against. The dynamic backfield duo of quarterback Greg Ward Jr. and running back Kenneth Farrow should have major success with a team total of 40.
Texas Tech Pass- The Red Raiders enter as touchdown underdogs, but with a game total of ~80, there should be points to go around. The game script sets up for another huge day from Pat Mahomes III. Texas Tech is averaging 413 passing yards per game and WVU's lack of pass rushing threat has left their secondary to get exposed in recent weeks.
Washington State Pass- The Cougars passing offense has been on fire lately. They have averaged over 425 passing yards per game over the last three (all against P12 opponents). The Sun Devils have given up an average of 338 passing yards over their last three outings, so the recent trends point to an especially prolific passing day from Luke Falk and the Washington State offense Satuday.
Iowa Run- The Hawkeyes have been killing teams on the ground of late; they're averaging 227 rushing yards per game in their last three. Perhaps even more importantly from a fantasy perspective, Iowa has been scoring nearly all of their touchdowns on the ground with two different backs producing 200+ yard, four touchdown games over the past six weeks. The backfield is getting a little crowded with the return of LeShun Daniels Jr. but if Jordan Canzeri remains out, Akrum Wadley should excel. Indiana is weak against both the run and pass and balanced offenses have had their choice of how to attack them.
Saturday Late Slate
Team |
Spread |
Game Total |
Team Total |
Opponent |
Run |
Pass |
Oklahoma | -25.5 | 61.5 | 43.5 | Iowa State | 4 | 4 |
Texas | -28.5 | 54.5 | 41.5 | Kansas | 4 | 3 |
USC | -18 | 65 | 41.5 | Arizona | 3 | 4 |
Oregon | -4.5 | 76 | 40.25 | California | 4 | 3 |
Ohio State | -23 | 52.5 | 37.75 | Minnesota | 4 | 3 |
Memphis | -7.5 | 64 | 35.75 | Navy | 3 | 4 |
California | 4.5 | 76 | 35.75 | Oregon | 2 | 4 |
Texas A&M | -7 | 59 | 33 | Auburn | 4 | 3 |
Michigan St | -5.5 | 58 | 31.75 | Nebraska | 3 | 3 |
Navy | 7.5 | 64 | 28.25 | Memphis | 4 | 1 |
Alabama | -6.5 | 47 | 26.75 | LSU | 3 | 2 |
Nebraska | 5.5 | 58 | 26.25 | Michigan St | 2 | 2 |
Auburn | 7 | 59 | 26 | Texas A&M | 3 | 1 |
Arizona | 18 | 65 | 23.5 | USC | 2 | 2 |
Washington | -1.5 | 44.5 | 23 | Utah | 1 | 2 |
Utah | 1.5 | 44.5 | 21.5 | Washington | 2 | 1 |
LSU | 6.5 | 47 | 20.25 | Alabama | 2 | 1 |
Iowa State | 25.5 | 61.5 | 18 | Oklahoma | 1 | 1 |
Minnesota | 23 | 52.5 | 14.75 | Ohio State | 1 | 1 |
Kansas | 28.5 | 54.5 | 13 | Texas | 1 | 1 |