Conference realignments and program shifts have the complexion of a couple of Power 5 leagues looking differently.Normally, however, it takes some time for teams to ascend in a conference and make some noise.Central Florida hasn't gotten into the rigors of Big 12 play, but as it approaches its first conference showdown this weekend at Kansas State, there's not much different than what we've come to expect with the Knights.UCF has the No. 1 offense in the nation, gaining 617.7 yards per game, backed by the country's second-best rushing attack that is rumbling for 299.3 yards per game. But it's not all ground-and-pound for the Knights, as they're also bringing the No. 16 passing game that nets 318.3 yards per game to Manhattan, Kansas.UCF has surpassed 500 or more yards in each game this season, including 723 yards in the season opener against Kent State, the most yards by any team in the country this year in a single game.On the other side of the ball, the Knights have yet to allow an opponent to score more than 16 points in a game - the only team in the Big 12 Conference to accomplish that feat this season.The Knights' scoring defense ranks 16th nationally and second in the Big 12 with 12.0 points per game.Now they're ready to prove they're not just any "new kid in school," as they've been down this road before.The Knights joined the Mid-American Conference in 2002 and remained in that league through the 2004 season for football only. UCF became a member of Conference USA from 2005-12 and most recently the American Athletic Conference.The Knights were 57-23 in conference games during its tenure in the American, the best mark of any team during that span. UCF was 40-21 in CUSA games and 8-16 versus opponents in the MAC.The Knights are catching either +4.5 or +5 points in Manhattan, as of Wednesday morning.Here are more College Football Observations heading into Week 4:WILY WOLVERINES - Second-ranked Michigan may have one of the more potent - and balanced - offenses in the nation, but it's the defense Big 10 opponents should fear.Michigan has allowed a mere 16 points combined after three games. That's just 5.3 per contest - tops in the nation, just ahead of Big Ten-rival Ohio State 6.7 points per game.The Wolverines boast the No. 7 pass defense (141.3 yards per game) and No. 17 run defense (81.0 yards per game), good enough rank+ them second in total defense (222.3 yards per game). Michigan has held all three of its opponents to less than 250 total yards each game.More impressively, Michigan's stingy stop unit has allowed the opposition to score just four times - three field goals and one touchdown - in 33 opposition drives.Michigan opens conference play at home Saturday against Rutgers, laying -24 points to the visiting Scarlet Knights.PANIC IN TUSCALOOSA - Alabama is out of the top 10 of The Associated Press college football poll for the first time in eight years, as it's dropped to No. 13 after barely getting by South Florida last week in an ugly 17-3 win. The Crimson Tide's streak of consecutive AP poll appearances ranked in the top 10 was snapped at 128.Coach Nick Saban and his troops shouldn't necessarily be worried about trivial things like a poll, though. Instead, one has to wonder if it's time to panic in Tuscaloosa, that not only the program is seeing slippage, but the intimidation factor was worn off.After all, Georgia is looking for its third straight title, aforementioned Michigan has people intrigued with a chance to dethrone the Bulldogs, Texas has made headlines especially after upsetting Alabama a couple of weeks back, and Deion Sanders has everyone wondering about Colorado.Nobody seems to be worried about Alabama.The Tide rank 82nd in the nation in total offense with a passing game that checks in at No. 100 with just 196.0 yards per game. The defense is in the upper half out of 130 teams, ranked 45th, but that's not the Alabama we've become used to over the year.Perspective: Alabama is -7 at home against Ole Miss on Saturday. Over the past 10 meetings, the average point spread has been 17.8. And when they've met in Tuscaloosa, the average spread has been 21.1.Beware in your investment on Alabama as SEC play begins.SECOND-HALF HOOK 'EM - If you're looking for a solid second-half team, look no further than third-ranked Texas.Out of the locker room, the Longhorns - with the nation's 47th-tying highest 34.0 points per game - have been most dominant in the final two quarters of their first three games.In the opener, Texas led Rice 16-9 at halftime. The 'Horns outscored the Owls 21-7 in the second half.Against Alabama the following week, Texas broke free from a 13-6 halftime lead by outscoring the Tide 21-18.And versus Wyoming last week, a slim 10-7 lead at the break sparked a 21-3 second half for a 21-point win.Overall, Texas has outscored its opponents 63-28 after intermission and rolls into this week's game at Baylor with a 2-0-1 ATS mark in the second half. The Longhorns are laying -15 in Waco, but for those tuning into the 7:30 pm eastern kick, a second-half play may be the smart move.CHALK CHECK-IN - Laying between 15 and 19.5 points paid off last week, as favorites in that range went 5-0. Across the regular board games, favorites and underdogs batted .500 with a 27-27 mark.In the other five point-spread ranges, favorites were either .500 or below, with underdogs challenging the number throughout.Every week I'll update you with regular board games (no FCS or added), broken down into different point-spread ranges. There were a few pushes this week and a pk'em game to consider, but through Week 3, favorites are 76-73 with the following breakdown:
1-3 1/2 .................. 14-11
4-7 1/2 ................ 15-19
8-10 1/2 ................. 6-8
11-14 1/2 ................. 9-9
15-19 1/2 ................ 9-4
20 and up .......... 23-22
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