ShareThisCapsule previews of Thursday and Friday's top college games. All times Eastern and all rankings Scripps-Legends Poll.
THURSDAY:
CALIFORNIA (3-1) at No. 9 OREGON (3-1), 9, ESPN.
Favorite: Oregon by 23.
Coaches: Jeff Tedford (75-43 in 10th year at Cal) and Chip Kelly (25-5 in third year at Oregon).
Last Week: Both schools were off.
Series History: Cal leads, 39-32-2.
Last Meeting: Oregon won, 15-13, last year.
Stat That Matters: Ducks have won 18 straight home games including all 15 under Kelly by average score of 51-17.
Game Facts: Bears believe they can pull shocker here after holding Ducks to season-low 15 points, 317 total yards last year in Berkeley. Problem is only five starters returned from last year's defense, and replacements have struggled so far (Cal has given up 64 points in splitting road games at Colorado, Washington). A transfer from Buffalo, junior QB Zach Maynard has played well (72-of-138, 1,073 passing, 10 TDs, 3 ints.), often finding WRs Keenan Allen (third in Pac-10 with 30 catches), Marvin Jones. Since frustrating loss to LSU in opener, Ducks have looked like dominating selves crushing Nevada, Missouri State and Arizona by combined 181-58. After busting loose for career-high 288 yards vs. Arizona, RB LaMichael James now leads nation with 613 yards while also topping nation in punt returns (22.8 ypr) and scoring 9 TDs (fourth in nation). Junior QB Derron Thomas has 12 TD passes vs. 1 int. this year and now has 42 TD passes,10 ints. since becoming starter last year. Run defense has struggled giving up 181.2 ypg (93rd in nation, 10th in Pac-12, 53 more than last year).
FRIDAY:
No. 6 BOISE STATE (4-0) at FRESNO STATE (2-3), 9, ESPN.
Favorite: Boise State by 20.
Coaches: Chris Petersen (65-5 in 6th year at Boise State) and Pat Hill (110-74 in 15th year at Fresno State).
Last Week: Boise State beat Nevada, 30-10. Fresno State lost at home to Ole Miss, 38-28.
Series History: Boise State leads, 9-4.
Last Meeting: Boise State won, 51-0, last year.
Stat That Matters: Broncos have beaten Bulldogs five straight years by combined score of 241-86.
Game Facts: Broncos have won 17 of last 18 on road including 13 wins by 17 points or more. That's testament to superb senior QB Kellen Moore (11th in nation in QB rating, 113 career TD passes, 23 ints.), who needs four more wins to pass David Greene as D-I's all-time winningest QB. Senior WR Tyler Shoemaker has 6 TD catches already compared to 9 in his previous three years combined. With 2,460 career-rushing yards, senior RB Doug Martin is seventh on BSU career list. DE Shea McClellin's 3-1/2 sacks give him 17 for his career (10th all-time at BSU). As if last year's humiliation in Boise wasn't bad enough ("They totally dominated us in every way,'' Hill said), Bulldogs stagger in off bad loss that saw defense give up 38 points, 430 total yards to Ole Miss team that came in ranked 118th in nation in total offense. Offense fumbled five times while QB Derek Carr was intercepted for third time in last two games. RB Robbie Rouse (600 rushing, 4 TDs) leads nation with 133 carries, 7 more than anybody else.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
