The Miami Hurricanes have some things to clean up.
Quarterback Darian Mensah completed 24 passes to begin a 33-20 win over Wake Forest, set an ACC record with 35 straight completions over two games, then told reporters he “can’t even be happy about it” post-game.
That’s because when Mensah’s perfect start was halted, the Demon Deacons gave the Hurricanes a second-half scare by outscoring them 14-2 the final 20 minutes.
Miami escaped with the win but didn’t cover (-20.5).
While the Hurricanes have a lot of things to clean up, they’ve got two legitimate Heisman Trophy candidates, and a relatively easy schedule ahead of their highly anticipated showdown at Notre Dame in November.
Mensah, who is the first FBS QB in at least 30 years to complete 85% or more of his pass attempts in three straight games, is now +240 as the Heisman favourite.
His teammate wide receiver Malachi Toney, who had 13 receptions for 114 yards and a score versus Wake Forest, went from +1100 to +850 as the third choice to win the Heisman Trophy overnight at FanDuel.
Fifth-ranked Miami will return home to host Central Michigan next Saturday night.
In the meantime, we’ve got a loaded NCAA football slate for Week 3 that kicks off with three games on TSN Premium beginning at noon ET.
No. 2 Georgia is a 24.5-point favourite at Arkansas on TSN2.
North Carolina is a 3.5-point underdog at Clemson, while Kansas State is laying 20.5 points versus Tulane in two games you can watch on TSN Premium.
Of course, the main event isn’t until 7:30 PM ET.
The Game of the Week features No. 7 LSU at No. 8 Ole Miss as Lane Kiffin makes his highly anticipated return to Oxford to face his former team.
Kiffin is only the second head coach in AP Poll history to have a top-10 game against the same team that he coached the previous season.
Kiffin is 0-3 as a head coach in top-10 matchups and 1-8 on the road against AP Top 10 opponents.
Now he is set to walk back into Vaught-Hemingway Stadium as the visitor after ghosting the Rebels last season, like a groom showing up to his own wedding reception with a new date asking for a slice of cake.
The home team has won the last six head-to-head meetings between these teams, which could be especially relevant tonight in a game that Ole Miss fans have had circled on their calendar for months.
However, LSU has hovered around -3 for most of the week at FanDuel, with the total set at 58.5.
Bettors seem split between the two central narratives.
One side is backing the Tigers to win and cover in a Kiffin revenge game.
The other is backing Trinidad Chambliss and Ole Miss to get their own revenge against the coach that bailed on them late last season.
Rebels head coach Pete Golding will lean heavily on his veteran QB and running back Kewan Lacy against an LSU defence that ranks top-10 in success rate and EPA per drive in a small two-game sample.
On the other side, it appears Sam Leavitt will get the start for the Tigers after all.
Leavitt has scored five rushing touchdowns in LSU’s wins over Clemson and Louisiana Tech.
However, he’s also thrown four interceptions compared to just two touchdown passes, and he was initially listed as doubtful to play on the Wednesday injury report.
LSU has moved from +2700 to +1400 to win the College Football Playoff National Championship at FanDuel.
The Tigers have gone from +160 to -125 to make the playoff.
Now Kiffin’s new team is at a crossroad with a game against his former team that has major implications.
Chambliss threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns, with another 60 rushing yards and a score in a 41-38 win over Louisville in Week 1.
He followed that performance up with 225 passing yards and two more TD passes in a 41-9 win over Charlotte.
How Chambliss performs against a talented LSU defence could be the decisive factor in tonight’s contest.
Kiffin’s defence held Clemson’s QBs to 105 passing yards with an interception in Week 1, while holding their rushing attack to 1.5 yards per carry on 26 attempts.
That defence is talented enough to bottle up Chambliss and the Rebels offence, and nobody understands the strengths and weaknesses of Ole Miss better than Kiffin.
Whether or not that LSU defence can show up and play to its potential in front of a packed house in a hostile environment on the road will be something to watch.
Anything can happen on any given Saturday.
All eyes will be on LSU versus Ole Miss tonight.
Enjoy the game, everyone!
