Trends for Big 18 football teams:
— Illinois
Under Bret Bielema, Illini is 15-4 ATS in road games.
— Indiana
In four years as a I-A coach, Curt Cignetti is 23-8 ATS as a favorite.
— Iowa
Since 2015, Hawkeyes are 19-8-1 ATS as a road favorite. Iowa’s new QB this season started 55 games at I-AA South Dakota State.
— Maryland
In his career, Mike Locksley is 10-17 ATS as a home favorite, 11-22 as a road underdog.
— Michigan
Last three years, Wolverines are 7-11-1 ATS as a home favorite, 6-3 as a road favorite
— Michigan State
Last three years, Spartans are 9-16-2 ATS in conference games.
— Minnesota
Since 2019, Golden Gophers are 5-0 SU/4-1 ATS in bowl games.
— Nebraska
In nine years as a college coach, Matt Rhule is 34-19-1 ATS as an underdog.
— Northwestern
Since 2018, Wildcats are 5-14-1 ATS as a home favorite.
— Famous birthdays, August 14th:
Steve Martin, 80
Guido Merkens, 70
Earvin (Magic) Johnson, 66
Mark Gubicza, 63
Halle Berry, 58
Wayne Chrebet, 52
Mike Vrabel, 50
Mila Kunis, 42
Tim Tebow, 38
Josh Bell, 33
TJ Friedl, 30
Eric Wagaman, 28
— Ohio State
Buckeyes won/covered last four bowl games, with all four wins by 14+ points.
— Oregon
Under Dan Lanning, Ducks are 21-11 ATS as a favorite.
— Penn State
Last four years, Nittany Lions are 28-11-1 ATS as a favorite.
— Purdue
Since 2018, Boilermakers are 5-16 ATS as a home favorite.
— Rutgers
Scarlet Knights are 12-6 ATS last 18 games as a home favorite, 14-6-2 last 22 games as a road dog.
— USC
In eight years as a college coach, Lincoln Riley is 9-21-1 ATS as a road favorite.
— UCLA
Since 2015, Bruins are 14-27 ATS as a home favorite.
— Washington
Since 2018, Huskies are 22-38 ATS in conference games..
— Wisconsin
Since 2015, Badgers are 23-11 ATS as a road favorite.
— Movie of the Day:
Invincible (2006)- Real-life story of Vince Papale, a 30-year old Philadelphia bartender who defies the odds and makes the Eagles as a special teams player.
Mark Wahlberg plays Papale, Greg Kinnear plays Dick Vermeil, Elizabeth Banks plays another bartender where Papale works, Michael Rispoli plays the owner of the bar, Kevin Conway plays Papale’s father, Paige Turco plays Carol Vermeil.
Coach Vermeil’s attention to detail is apparent; in the locker room scenes near the end of the movie, the names/numbers on the Eagles’ uniforms are accurate, which is unusual for a movie.
— Marlins 13, Guardians 4
Last week, Gavin Williams threw 126 pitches, nine more than anyone else this year, because he had a no-hitter in the 9th inning. Wednesday, Williams gave up four runs in 3 IP, throwing 75 pitches.
Jakob Marsee homered twice, knocked in seven runs for the Marlins.
— Braves 11, Mets 6
Mets led 6-0 after three innings; Atlanta scored nine runs in the 4th inning.
Michael Harris hit a grand slam for the Braves.
Mets have lost 12 of their last 14 games.
— Diamondbacks 6, Rangers 4
James McCann/Ketel Marte both homered in the 9th inning for Arizona.
Merrill Kelly gave up two runs in 6 IP against his old team.
Rangers are 2.5 games out of the AL’s last playoff spot.
— Astros 4, Red Sox 1
Hunter Brown got 20 outs, allowed only one run, got his 10th win.
Houston regains first place in AL West by a game over Seattle.
Top three hitters in Boston’s lineup went a combined 0-for-11.
— Orioles 4, Mariners 3
Jackson Holliday hit a walk-off double for the Orioles.
Loss snaps Seattle’s eight-game winning streak.
Taylor Rogers allowed only four hits, one run in 7 IP.
— Twins 4, New York 1
Joe Ryan got 20 outs, gave up a run and four hits.
Minnesota had lost its previous nine games against New York.
— Angels 6, Dodgers 5
Logan O’Hoppe had the game-winning hit in the 8th inning.
Halos went 6-0 against the Dodgers this season.
Shohei Ohtani threw a season-high 80 pitches in 4.1 IP.
— If the playoffs started today (they don’t):
NL: Phillies, Brewers, Padres. Wild Cards: Cubs, Dodgers, Mets
AL: Blue Jays, Tigers, Astros. Wild Cards: Mariners, Red Sox, New York
