URBAN PLANNING
Game into suspension, OSU looks near the top of the pack
Urban Meyer returned to the practice field Monday and, aside from knowing he’s still employed, the Ohio State coach had reasons to be optimistic. As Meyer might say, here’s the truth: The rest of the Big Ten’s East division is not as tough as advertised.
The Buckeyes put 77 points on the scoreboard in their season opener, and that’s no lie. Meanwhile, Jim Harbaugh’s supposed break-through year at Michigan already has stalled, and Michigan State and Penn Statee barely survived major scares.
The first weekend of college football action was full of surprises, as usual. While several big ’dogs cashed, the Nittany Lions escaped embarrassment as 24½-point favorites in a 45-38 overtime victory over Appalachian State.
“The biggest disappointment would have to be Penn State,” William Hill sports book director Nick Bogdanovich said.
Penn State needed Trace McSorley’s 15-yard touchdown pass with 42 seconds left to force OT. Michigan State, a 23½-point favorite, was fortunate to hold off Utah State 38-31. Harbaugh was not as lucky. Michigan, heavily bet from an underdog to a 3-point favorite, was ambushed early and fell short in a 24-17 loss at Notre Dame.
The Wolverines’ vaunted defense was surprisingly weak in the first half, and while new quarterback Shea Patterson might eventually prove to be the solution, Harbaugh’s offense still lacks creativity and an identity.
When the smoke cleared and Meyer reappeared, Ohio State’s status as the division favorite was even stronger. Meyer was banned from coaching the blowout of Oregon State and is serving a three-game suspension, but he’s back at practice and better off than Harbaugh.
Chip Kelly is another former NFL coach being humbled in his return to campus, and it will take some time before he’s regarded as a wizard in Westwood. UCLA, a 14½-point favorite, was stunned 26-17 by Cincinnati, a four-win team last season. Kelly’s offense was limited to 306 yards.
“UCLA looked pathetic. I know it’s early, but it’s not a good vibe with Kelly,” said Bruce Marshall, a handicapper for The Gold Sheet.
One game can lead to emotional overreactions. In Kelly’s case, two games will lead to 0-2. The Bruins will be big underdogs this week at Oklahoma, where life remains good after Baker Mayfield. Kyler Murray was a running and throwing star in the Sooners’ 63-14 throttling of Florida Atlantic. No sympathy cards will be sent to Lane Kiffin, whose Owls were out of their league.
Murray made it look easy, but it’s challenging to replace a quarterback drafted in the top 10. UCLA will miss Josh Rosen, and USC true freshman J.T. Daniels is not yet looking like the next Sam Darnold. Daniels was solid but far from spectacular for the Trojans, who needed 24 fourthquarter points to pull away in a 43-21 victory over UNLV.
“Daniels doesn’t have upside like Darnold,” Marshall said. “He does not have a big arm and he’s not a great athlete, you can see that. Maybe he’s smart, but he is not Darnold.”
Overall, it was a poor start for the Pac-12. Washington, the league favorite, went to SEC country and came back empty-handed after a sloppy 21-16 loss to Auburn. The Huskies had their chances, but after baffling play-calling in the red zone and dubious officiating, a loss is a loss, and now Chris Petersen’s team must run the table.
Stanford running back Bryce Love is not the Heisman Trophy favorite anymore, not after being held to 29 yards on 18 carries in a win against San Diego State. Arizona quarterback Khalil Tate was all but eliminated from the Heisman race after the Wildcats, 11-point favorites, were upended 28-23 by Brigham Young.
Tua Tagovailoa, who is the Heisman favorite, passed for 227 yards and accounted for three touchdowns as Alabama rolled to a 51-14 win and cover against Louisville. And Nick Saban has finally made a decision on his quarterback, naming Tagovailoa the starter.
Texas might be the team that deserves to be downgraded the most. Tom Herman’s second season started with another miserable loss to Maryland. The Longhorns were 13-point favorites against a Big Ten team in chaos.
Hawaii’s power rating requires the biggest boost. A week after upsetting Colorado State as 17-point underdogs, the Warriors were twotouchdown ’dogs in a 59-41 drubbing of Navy late Saturday night. Cole McDonald has passed for 846 yards and nine touchdowns in his first two career starts.
“It’s rare when you win once as a 14-point ’dog, let alone twice in two weeks,” Bogdanovich said. “Hawaii is the most surprising team, without question.”