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Florida, WVU with chance for breakthrough wins

By WTOP Staff

RALPH D. RUSSO
AP College Football Writer

Some victories can be a sign that a program that has hit hard times could be heading for better days.

Florida and West Virginia are coming off those types of wins.

Then there are victories that have the potential to change a season, accelerate the rebuilding process and alleviate the pressure on a coach who has been facing heavy scrutiny.

The Gators and Mountaineers have a chance for that kind of breakthrough Saturday. Florida is at No. 3 Alabama. West Virginia hosts No. 4 Oklahoma.

The Gators are coming off a 37-30 overtime win against Kentucky. Beating the Wildcats won’t stamp Florida as a Southeastern Conference contender, but the Gators’ new spread offense was potent. Just the cure coach Will Muschamp was hoping for after a 4-8 season.

“They’re all statement games,” Muschamp said this week. “They’re all important. They all count for one, so we understand the importance of the game. “

West Virginia’s spread gave Alabama trouble in the opener, and the Mountaineers have followed up that encouraging performance with two straight victories, including last week’s 40-37, last-second win at Maryland.

Mountaineers coach Dana Holgorsen entered this season looking to reverse a trend of dwindling wins in Morgantown. Upsetting the Sooners might qualify as the biggest victory of his four-year tenure.

The picks:

MARQUEE MATCHUPS

No. 5 Auburn (minus 9) at No. 20 Kansas State, Thursday

Tigers have rushed for at least 200 yards in each of last 13 games, longest active streak in FBS. Even more impressive, Auburn has rushed for 300 in eight of the last 11. The magic number for the Wildcats to pull the upset is probably around 250 … AUBURN 35-24.

No. 22 Clemson (plus 16) at No. 1 Florida State

Introducing Sean Maguire, the Seminoles’ backup quarterback who will try to keep FSU moving while Jameis Winston serves first-half suspension … FLORIDA STATE 34-17.

UPSET ALERT

Florida (plus 14 1/2) at No. 3 Alabama

Teams haven’t played since 2011. Tide won last three meetings by average score of 34-10 … ALABAMA 34-10.

No. 4 Oklahoma (minus 7 1/2) at West Virginia

Sooners have won both meetings since Mountaineers joined Big 12 — by a combined 10 points … OKLAHOMA 38-28

No. 2 Oregon (minus 23 1/2) at Washington State

The phrase Upset Alert has never been more loosely applied. Ducks have won seven straight against Cougars, scoring at least 43 points in each game … OREGON 48-24.

UPSET SPECIAL

Mississippi State (plus 10) at No. 8 LSU

Tigers have won 14 straight against Bulldogs. So Mississippi State is due, right? … MISSISSIPPI STATE 24-23.

WORTH A LOOK

Virginia (plus 14) at No. 21 BYU

Long way to go, but the mere thought of how an unbeaten BYU will be treated by playoff selection committee makes for interesting speculation … BYU 27-17.

Miami (plus 7 1/2) at No. 24 Nebraska

Hurricanes vs. Cornhuskers used to mean a national championship was on the line. The difference between ranked and unranked … NEBRASKA 28-20.

BEST BET

Indiana (plus 13 1/2) at No. 18 Missouri

Yet another chance for the Big Ten to get a little credibility back, though this could be a tall order … MISSOURI 42-21.

CONFERENCE CALLS

No. 14 South Carolina (minus 21 1/2) at Vanderbilt

Gamecocks finally get a breather after tough opening three games … SOUTH CAROLINA 33-10.

UNRANKED BUT NOT UNINTERESTING

Iowa (plus 6 1/2) at Pittsburgh

Panthers going for first 4-0 start since 2000 … IOWA 21-20.

North Carolina (plus 2) at East Carolina

Pirates try to make it two straight against the ACC. With a victory, could be honorary members of Coastal Division … NORTH CAROLINA 42-39.

Utah (plus 5) at Michigan

Wolverines can’t afford any missteps at home considering their struggles away from the Big House (7-12 under coach Brady Hoke) … MICHIGAN 28-21.

Northern Illinois (plus 14) at Arkansas

Huskies might be able to test Razorbacks’ defense, but Arkansas’ powerful running game is too much to withstand … ARKANSAS 35-17.

MISMATCHES

No. 6 Texas A&M (minus 33) at SMU

Mustangs’ first game since coach June Jones stepped down … TEXAS A&M 54-14.

Eastern Michigan (plus 45 1/2) at No. 11 Michigan State

Don’t hurt ’em Sparty … MICHIGAN STATE 43-0.

Troy (plus 39 1/2) at No. 13 Georgia

Todd Gurley gets two or three touchdowns and the fourth quarter off — at least … GEORGIA 48-7

Bowling Green (plus 26 1/2) at No. 19 Wisconsin

Falcons lost to Western Kentucky, then beat Indiana … WISCONSIN 42-17.

___

Last week: Last week: Record straight: 16-4; vs. points 11-8-1.

Season: Record straight: 44-13; vs. points 24-33-1.

Best bet: 1-2.

Upset special: 1-2.

___

Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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