UCF quarterback McKenzie Milton scored an 18-yard rushing touchdown in the second quarter of Monday's Peach Bowl against Auburn. He commemorated the occasion by imitating a famous Tigers alumnus.
In a move synonymous with 2010 Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton, the sophomore pantomimed a Superman pose. Although he had completed just seven of 24 passes for 77 yards late in the third quarter, Milton had also amassed 86 rushing yards.
The score gave UCF an edge, but Auburn had jumped out to a 20-13 lead with two touchdowns in the third quarter.
Navy Demolishes Virginia 49-7 in 2017 Military Bowl, Racks Up 452 Rushing Yards
Dec 28, 2017
Navy's quarterback Malcolm Perry scores a touchdown against Virginia in the first half of the Military Bowl NCAA college football game, Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, in Annapolis, Md. (AP Photo/Gail Burton)
Virginia's Joe Reed returned the opening kickoff of Thursday's Military Bowl 98 yards for a touchdown, and at least for a few seconds, it looked as though it might be the Cavaliers' day.
Not so much.
Navy thoroughly dominated Virginia behind its option running attack and a suffocating defense, scoring 49 unanswered points after Reed's touchdown en route to a 49-7 victory at the Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis, Maryland.
Navy gave up a 98-yard KO return TD to Virginia on the first play of the game. How did it answer?
The Midshipmen attempted just one pass, an incompletion, but it didn't matter, as they rushed for 452 yards while holding an impressive 42 minutes in time of possession. Virginia, meanwhile, turned the ball over three times and managed just 175 yards from scrimmage.
Quarterbacks Malcolm Perry (16 rushes for 114 yards and two touchdowns) and Zach Abey (13 rushes for 88 yards and five scores) led the way for Navy, while running back Chris High added 101 rushing yards. Even by Navy's standards, Thursday's rushing performance was historic, per ESPN Stats & Information:
Navy had 76 rushes for 452 yards in its win over Virginia.
76 rush attempts are most by a Navy team since 2013 when it rushed 93 times in a loss to Toledo pic.twitter.com/Qc8wuhsTSM
Virginia was held to just 30 yards on the ground, meanwhile, with most of its offense coming from the inconsistent quarterback play of Kurt Benkert (16-of-36, 145 yards, no touchdowns, one interception).
Suffice it to say, things got pretty ugly for Virginia late in the game, as Jesse Varner of WTKR News 3 noted:
Frankly, the Cavaliers were comically bad at points.
Late in the third quarter, punter Lester Coleman turned the ball over while attempting to kick the ball away after he knelt to catch a low snap. In college, a player is automatically ruled down if his knee touches the ground, even if he wasn't contacted, so instead of punting, the Cavaliers turned the ball over on downs, losing 14 yards on the play and giving the Midshipmen the ball on the Virginia 23-yard line.
Virginia also missed a field goal, fumbled a punt return and had another turnover on downs at Navy's 30-yard line.
Nonetheless, Justin Ferber of Rivals tried to find the silver lining for the Cavaliers on a day when everything went wrong:
Next year will be a critical one, particularly for Robert Anae and the offense. The defense will have to replace Blanding, Brown and Kiser as well. Should be an interesting season in 2018.
Virginia head coach Bronco Mendenhall took the blame for the team's flat performance, per Sherree Burruss of NBC Washington:
UVA Head Coach Bronco Mendenhall said he didn't have his team prepared for today based off the way they played. Complimented Navy and their performance #militarybowlpic.twitter.com/uEm64Efd72
It should be noted that Navy not only played on its home field, but the frigid conditions favored its smashmouth brand of football. Nonetheless, the loss was a bitter end to Virginia's 6-7 season, the team's sixth straight season with a losing record.
Navy may not be pleased with a 7-6 campaign after winning at least eight games in the past five seasons, but Thursday's dominance will give the team something to build upon in 2018.
Auburn vs. UCF: Key Matchup and Prediction for Peach Bowl
Dec 28, 2017
BR Video
The high-powered offense of the UCF Knights will take on the Auburn Tigers in this year's Peach Bowl. Will Auburn's defense be able to contain UCF's playmakers? Watch above.
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South Florida quarterback Quinton Flowers (9) runs downfield during the first half the Birmingham Bowl NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2017 in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Albert Cesare)
A Tyre McCants touchdown catch with 16 seconds left allowed South Florida to emerge from a seesaw battle with a 38-34 victory over Texas Tech on Saturday afternoon in the 2017 Birmingham Bowl at Legion Field in Alabama.
Quinton Flowers put together another terrific performance for the Bulls, who scored a 46-39 win over South Carolina in the same bowl game last year. The USF quarterback threw for 311 yards and four touchdowns and added 106 yards on 14 carries while finding the end zone once on the ground.
His counterpart, Nic Shimonek, also shined for the Red Raiders despite the loss. He connected on 32 of his 59 attempts for 416 yards with three touchdowns and two interceptions. Keke Coutee caught 11 of those passes for 187 yards and a TD.
The expected shootout between teams that combined to average 72.6 points during the regular season didn't develop in a first half that finished 10-10.
After the sides exchanged field goals in the early going, the first touchdown was finally scored late in the opening quarter by Texas Tech.
Shimonek led an impressive 10-play, 81-yard drive that he capped with a five-yard strike to Coutee, who made a key 20-yard grab on third down earlier in the drive, for the Red Raiders' score:
South Florida got back even shortly before halftime. A Texas Tech three-and-out that burned just 24 seconds off the clock gave the Bulls an extra possession, and they capitalized.
A 15-yard punt by Dominic Panazzolo gave USF terrific field position at the TTU 25. Two plays later, they were in the end zone as Flowers connected with McCants for a 21-yard TD.
USF Football noted the touchdown pass allowed Flowers to set a new school record:
The offenses came alive after the break as the teams put up more points in the third quarter (21) than they did in the entire first half.
Texas Tech grabbed a 24-17 lead late in the period with a four-yard touchdown run by Tre King, but Flowers matched that with a five-yard scamper of his own with just under 10 minutes left in the contest to tie the game for the fourth time.
The Bulls' offense stole the show in the fourth. They scored three touchdowns, two through the air and one on the ground, and Flowers was involved in all of them.
After the Red Raiders grabbed a 34-31 lead with 1:31 to play on a touchdown grab by T.J. Vasher, USF responded by covering 75 yards in 75 seconds for the winning score.
The teams overcame a sluggish start to put up 1,110 yards of offense in the thriller.
Looking ahead, each program will be tasked with replacing its senior quarterback before next season. McLane Carter is in line to become the next leader of Texas Tech's high-powered attack, while USF could see a competition between Chris Oladokun and Brett Kean in the spring.
Both of the departing QBs have a chance to get selected in the latter stages of the 2018 NFL draft. Landing in the right system will be crucial for their development with Shimonek operating as a traditional pocket passer and Flowers bringing a dual-threat skill set to the table.
Courtland Sutton Declares for 2018 NFL Draft
Dec 22, 2017
SMU wide receiver Courtland Sutton (16) participates in warm-up drills before the start of an NCAA college football game against Central Florida, Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, in Dallas. (AP Photo/Mike Stone)
Wide receiver Courtland Sutton is taking his big-play potential to the NFL in 2018.
The SMU wideout made his intention to declare for the draft official Friday with a post on Instagram.
"I am absolutely humbled by the opportunity that I have ahead of me, and I couldn't have gotten here without the support and love from my family," Sutton wrote. "My degree from SMU is something I will forever cherish, and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me next!"
Despite playing at an under-the-radar football school, Sutton has been a standout offensive playmaker for the past three seasons. He averaged 16.7 yards per reception and had 31 touchdown receptions from 2015-17.
Sutton's career arc is interesting because he arrived at SMU in 2014 as a defensive back. He wasn't highly coveted coming out of high school as a safety, with 247Sports rating him as a 3-star prospect and the No. 1,169 player overall in his recruiting class.
Per David Ubben of The Athletic, SMU receivers coach Justin Stepp looked at Sutton's frame in 2015 and determined he was going to be a wide receiver.
"We can teach a receiver footwork and technique and how to improve their hands and ball skills," Stepp said. "We can't teach them to be that big."
Sutton is listed at 6'4" and 215 pounds by SMU's athletic website. He's translated that size into production at the collegiate level, with NFL scouts anxiously awaiting the opportunity to see what he can do.
B/R's Matt Miller has Sutton ranked as the No. 2 wide receiver prospect in the 2018 draft class, behind Alabama's Calvin Ridley, and said he has the best potential of any player at the position.
NFL.com's Daniel Jeremiah compared Sutton's physical attributes to current Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans in his first scouting analysis last July.
"Sutton has an outstanding build for the position," Jeremiah wrote. "He's tall with a long, muscular frame. He uses his size/strength combination to win a lot of 50/50 balls. Sutton is a matchup nightmare in the red zone. He easily boxes out defenders, times his jump and catches the ball at the highest point."
One potential concern is Sutton's readiness to take on elite competition. He had one catch for zero yards in SMU's biggest game of the season against TCU.
Some of that may have also been about the team around Sutton, so it's not likely to have a dramatic impact on where he's taken in the draft.
It's rare to find a wide receiver with the kind of size and power combination that Sutton possesses. He's had no problems transitioning to the offensive side of the ball and will look to continue his evolution as one of the top players in the 2018 NFL draft class.
UCF RB Adrian Killins Says Auburn in for 'Rude Awakening', SEC Lacks Speed
Dec 14, 2017
Central Florida running back Adrian Killins Jr. (9) runs for a 2-yard touchdown against Memphis during the overtime period in the American Athletic Conference championship NCAA college football game, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, in Orlando, Fla. Central Florida won in overtime 62-55. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
UCF running back Adrian Killins is not afraid of Auburn. In fact, he thinks the Tigers should be afraid to play the only undefeated team in the country.
"SEC football, they don't have a lot of speed, honestly," Killins told Shannon Green of the Orlando Sentinel. "So, Auburn hasn't seen any speed like we have here, so I would say they're in for a rude awakening."
Killins has rushed for 762 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, with the 5'8" back emerging as an electrifying force on the offense despite smaller stature.
UCF is averaging an FBS-high 49.4 points per game this season. The Knights have scored at least 31 points in every game this season on their way to a 12-0 regular season. Their offense averages more than 540 yards per game.
"UCF football, we're UCF fast and UCF fierce," Killins said. "Defense will get 11 hats to the ball, fast and furious, and offense, we've got a lot of guys who can go up and get the ball, make you miss and make big plays."
Auburn was one of the best two-way teams in the country during the regular season. The Tigers rank 10th nationally in points allowed and have not given up more than 28 points in a game all season.
Football Outsiders'adjusted offensive metrics rank UCF the second-best offense in the country and Auburn the nation'sfifth-ranked defense. The contrasting of styles should make the Peach Bowl one of the best non-playoff games over the next month.
Mike Norvell, Memphis Reportedly Agree to Contract Extension Through 2022 Season
Dec 5, 2017
Memphis head coach Mike Norvell looks up at the scoreboard during a timeout in the first half of the American Athletic Conference championship NCAA college football game against Central Florida, Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Memphis and head football coach Mike Norvell have agreed to a contract extension.
Norvell announced his extension Twitter on Tuesday:
Per Mark Giannotto and Geoff Calkins of the Commercial Appeal, Norvell's new deal is for $13 million over five years through the 2022 season.
Norvell was hired by the Tigers in December 2015, taking over the program after Justin Fuente went to Virginia Tech. He spent four years at Arizona State from 2012-15 as the offensive coordinator on Todd Graham's staff.
Barrett Salleeof CBS Sports reported on Dec. 3 that Arkansas was looking at Norvell to take over as its head coach.
In two years at Memphis, Norvell has posted an 18-7 record. That success has led to direct results in recruiting, with247Sportsranking the Tigers' 2017 class No. 2 in the American Athletic Conference, trailing only Central Florida, which enters its bowl game undefeated at 12-0.
The Tigers' 10 wins in 2017 ties the school record set three years ago and they reached No. 20 in the final College Football Playoff rankings.
Memphis can set a school record with its 11th win if it defeats Iowa State in the Liberty Bowl on Dec. 30.
Kevin Sumlin Rumors: UCF 'Moving On' After Failed Talks with Former Texas A&M HC
Dec 5, 2017
Texas A&M coach Kevin Sumlin reacts on the sideline during the first half of the team's NCAA college football game against LSU in Baton Rouge, La., Saturday, Nov. 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The University of Central Florida is reportedly moving on in its search for a new head football coach after talks with Kevin Sumlin stalled, according to ESPN.com's Adam Rittenberg.
Sumlin reportedly met with UCF officials Sunday, but the two sides were unable to reach an agreement.
The Knights are looking to replace Scott Frost, who agreed on Saturday to become the new head coach at his alma mater of Nebraska.
Per Rittenberg, Sumlin is weighing other coaching opportunities, including a potential opening at Oregon should Willie Taggart decide to leave for the Florida State job, which was vacated due to Jimbo Fisher's move to Texas A&M.
With Sumlin reportedly out of the running at UCF, the Knights are reportedly considering other options such as Clemson co-offensive coordinator Tony Elliott, Toledo head coach Jason Candle, Troy head coach Neal Brown and Michigan passing game coordinator Pep Hamilton.
Sumlin was fired by Texas A&M after going 7-5 this season in what was his sixth campaign at the helm for the Aggies.
Texas A&M was 51-26 overall under Sumlin, but after posting an 11-2 mark in 2012, it was never able to reach double-digit wins again.
Prior to joining Texas A&M, Sumlin went 35-17 in four years as the head coach at Houston.
The UCF job promises to be an appealing one among those outside the Power Five conferences, as the Knights are the only undefeated FBS team remaining this season, and will face Auburn in the Peach Bowl.
The UCF Knights ended the regular season 12-0 following Saturday's thrilling double-overtime victory over the Memphis Tigers in the AAC Championship Game.
That wasn't enough to get the team into the College Football Playoff, something the program joked about after the fact.
On Sunday afternoon, it was announced Clemson, Oklahoma, Georgia and Alabama were selected for the playoff. While it wasn't surprising UCF didn't get invited to the party, the program nevertheless tweeted the following:
"Dang...Bama got in over us."
UCF should still feel proud, as Saturday's win helped the team make program history:
AAC Championship Game: Memphis vs. UCF Odds, Analysis, Betting Pick
Nov 29, 2017
ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 24: McKenzie Milton #10 of the UCF Knights looks to pass the ball in the first quarter against the South Florida Bulls at Spectrum Stadium on November 24, 2017 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Logan Bowles/Getty Images)
The Central Florida Knights own 10 victories in a row over the Memphis Tigers, including a 40-13 romp earlier this season. Central Florida hopes to make it 11 in a row over Memphis and secure the title as the best Group of 5 team in the country, when the teams meet in the AAC championship game Saturday afternoon on the Knights' home field in Orlando.
College football point spread: The Knights opened as 7.5-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report)
Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more picks and a breakdown of this week’s top sports betting news.
Why the Memphis Tigers can cover the spread
The Tigers are 7-0 SU and 6-0-1 ATS since that loss to Central Florida back in September, finishing their regular season last week with a 70-13 blowout of East Carolina. Memphis scored touchdowns on its first six possessions last week, led 49-0 at the half and cruised home from there, easily covering a 30-point spread.
On the day, the Tigers tallied 635 yards of offense, 333 on the ground and 302 through the air. They also got a 100-yard kickoff return for a touchdown from Tony Pollard, who's averaging a ridiculous 44 yards per return this season.
So Memphis has outgained six of its last seven opponents, five of them by 170 yards or more. Two weeks ago, the Tigers put up 66 points on SMU; just before that, they scored 41 against Tulsa; and just before that, they posted 56 on Tulane.
At 10-1 on the season, a victory Saturday might garner Memphis a New Year's Day bowl bid.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHaKc1e5fnc
Why the UCF Knights can cover the spread
The Knights just completed a perfect regular season with a crazy 49-42 victory over a pretty good South Florida team last Friday. UCF spotted the Bulls the game's first touchdown, scored the next 21 points, trailed 34-28 through three quarters but ultimately won it on a 95-yard kickoff return for a score by Mike Hughes that broke a 42-42 tie with just over a minute to go.
For the game, the Knights produced 533 yards of offense, as quarterback McKenzie Milton threw for 373 and four touchdowns.
On the season, Central Florida has outgained nine of its 11 opponents, eight of them by 100 yards or more. And, at 11-0 overall, UCF probably won't make the College Football Playoff, but a victory Saturday would earn the Knights a New Year's Day bowl bid.
Smart pick
Central Florida outgained Memphis by more than 200 yards in that victory back in September and easily covered as a six-point favorite. But the Tigers are a better team right now than they were that day. The Knights might still win this game, but the betting value sides with Memphis.
College football betting trends
The total has gone under in four of Memphis' last five games against Central Florida.
Central Florida is 1-4 ATS in its last five games after consecutive wins.
The total has gone under in five of Central Florida's last six games in Week 14.
All college football odds and betting trends courtesy of Bleacher Report’s official odds partner, OddsShark. All quotes gathered firsthand unless otherwise noted. Check out Twitter for injury and line-movement updates and the OddsShark YouTube page for picks and analysis, or download the free odds tracker app.
