ShareThisCapsule previews of Saturday's top college games. All times EDT and all rankings from Scripps Legends Poll.
AIR FORCE (2-1) at NAVY (2-1), Noon, CBS.
Favorite: Navy by 3.
Coaches: Troy Calhoun (36-19 in fifth year at Air Force) and Ken Niumatalolo (29-15 in fourth year at Navy).
Last Week: Air Force beat Tennessee State, 63-24. Navy was off.
Series History: Air Force leads, 26-17
Last Meeting: Air Force won, 14-6, last year.
Stat That Matters: In its last 17 games vs. its fellow service academies, Midshipmen are 16-1.
Game Facts: Winner has leg up in battle for Commander-in-Chief's trophy for top football team among service academies. Both teams run option to perfection (Falcons lead nation in rushing, 411.7 yards per game, while Midshipmen are fourth, 358.3 ypg) yet struggle mightily against the run (Navy is 101st in nation vs. run, 199.3 ypg, AFA is 97th, 197 ypg). Falcons haven't won in Annapolis since 2001 (0-4). Last year, AFA broke 7-year losing streak to Mids behind two TD runs from QB Tim Jefferson, who is off to solid start this year (507 yards total offense, 4 TD passes, 2 TD runs, 2 ints.). RB Asher Clark had career-high 148 yards rushing in last week's rout. Mids nearly pulled huge upset in last game, falling at No. 10 South Carolina, 24-21, on TD in final three minutes. After playing in just six games the previous two seasons, QB Kriss Proctor (474 total offense, 4 TD runs, 3 TD passes, 2 ints.) has kept option attack running smoothly.
No. 21 ARKANSAS (3-1) vs. No. 13 TEXAS A&M (2-1), in Arlington, Texas, Noon, ESPN.
Favorite: Texas A&M by 2.
Coaches: Bobby Petrino (26-16 in fourth year at Arkansas) and Mike Sherman (21-20 in fourth year at Texas A&M).
Last Week: Arkansas lost at Alabama, 38-14. Texas A&M lost at home to Oklahoma State, 30-29.
Series History: Arkansas leads, 40-24-3.
Last Meeting: Arkansas won, 24-17, last year.
Stat That Matters: Under Sherman, Aggies are 3-10 vs. ranked foes.
Game Facts: Third Southwest Classic featuring old foes from Southwest Conference is held at Dallas Cowboys Stadium. Both teams come in off deflating losses. Razorbacks were held to just 226 total yards, second-fewest under Petrino including just 17 yards rushing. QB Tyler Wilson (22-of-35, 185 passing, 2 TDs, int.) was often harried and couldn't get much done downfield. Petrino says offense is struggling for identity. Last year, Hogs pretty much had their way with Aggies defense, rolling up 442 total yards in game they never trailed. A&M's collapse in second half last week saw 20-3 lead vanish as defense again came unglued giving up 438 yards passing. QB Ryan Tannehill threw for 309 yards, 2 TDs, but had 3 costly ints. -- this after throwing just 6 ints. in 7 starts last season. LB Sean Porter has 3-1/2 of Aggies' 14 sacks (most in nation), which makes secondary's struggles (109th in nation vs. pass, 279 ypg) even more puzzling. Aggie fans are likely more giddy about pending move to SEC.
NORTHWESTERN (2-1) at No. 23 ILLINOIS (4-0), Noon, ESPN2.
Favorite: Illinois by 8.
Coaches: Pat Fitzgerald (36-30 in sixth year at Northwestern) and Ron Zook (32-45 in seventh year at Illinois).
Last Week: Northwestern was off. Illinois beat Western Michigan, 23-20.
Series History: Illinois leads, 53-46-5.
Last Meeting: Illinois won, 48-27, last year.
Stat That Matters: Illini are fifth in nation vs. run (56.5 yards per game or 75 yards per game less than last year)
Game Facts: Teams battle for Land of Lincoln Trophy, which replaced Tomahawk Trophy in online vote three years ago. Wildcats will get boost with return of senior QB Dan Persa, who ruptured his Achilles tendon after scoring winning TD vs. Iowa last November. Sophomore Cain Colter (627 total offense, 4 TD runs, TD pass, int.) will also likely play after starting first three games. Last year in game at Wrigley Field, NU defense was trampled for 519 yards rushing. Illinois is 4-0 for the first time since 1951, the program's last national-championship season. It couldn't have come at better time for Zook, who may need 8-win season to survive. Junior DE Whitney Mercilus leads Big Ten with 4 sacks for improved defense (held first four foes to 52 points after giving up 171 points in final five games of last year). Sophomore QB Nathan Scheelhaase (second in Big Ten in QB rating, 47-of-66, 637 passing, 4 TDs, 2 ints., second on team with 224 yards rushing, 2 TD runs) is asked to do a lot by Zook and offensive coordinator Paul Petrino, brother of Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino.
AUBURN (3-1) at No. 10 SOUTH CAROLINA (4-0), 3:30 p.m., CBS.
Favorite: South Carolina by 10.
Coaches: Gene Chizik (25-6 in third year at Auburn) and Steve Spurrier (47-33 in seventh year at South Carolina).
Last Week: Auburn beat Florida-Atlantic, 30-14. South Carolina beat Vanderbilt, 21-3.
Series History: Auburn leads, 8-1-1.
Last Meeting: Auburn won, 56-17, in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 5.
Stat That Matters: Since Oct. 31, 2008, Gamecocks are 16-2 at home while holding foes to 19.7 points per game.
Game Facts: Teams meet for third time in a little more than a year. Tigers got the best of both matchups last year -- mostly thanks to departed QB Cam Newton, who steamrolled SC for 802 total yards, 5 TD runs, 6 TD passes. Though quite capable, junior QB Barrett Trotter (61-of-99, 783 passing, 8 TDs, 3 ints.) is no Newton, so struggling defense (last in SEC, 110th in nation in total defense, 477.5 ypg) needs to show up here. WR Trovon Reed (shoulder) will not play. With double dose of revenge on their minds, Gamecocks remain a puzzle. Future NFL talents include RB Marcus Lattimore (leads SEC, third in nation with 611 rushing, 9 TDs, leads SEC), WR Alshon Jeffrey (14 catches), freshman sensation DE Jadeveon Clooney (leads SEC with 4 sacks). But QBs Stephen Garcia, Connor Shaw have combined to complete barely 50 pct. of passes with 3 TDs, 7 ints. After Garcia threw 4 ints. last week and team fumbled 6 times (somehow losing none), Spurrier apologized to fans for "putrid" offensive performance. SC's only win over Auburn was 16-14 win in Birmingham in 1933 as Gamecocks are 0-6 vs. Tigers since joining SEC in 1992.
No. 16 BAYLOR (3-0) at KANSAS STATE (3-0), 3:30 p.m., ABC.
Favorite: Kansas State by 3.
Coaches: Art Briles (19-22 in fourth year at Baylor) and Bill Snyder (152-80-1 in 20th year at K-State).
Last Week: Baylor beat Rice, 56-31. K-State won at Miami, 28-24.
Series History: K-State leads, 6-2.
Last Meeting: Baylor won, 47-42, last year.
Stat That Matters: Bears are 18-102 in Big 12 play since the league was formed in 1996, with seven of those conference wins coming under Briles.
Game Facts: 3-0 for first tine since 2005, now Bears must show that they're legit Big 12 title contenders in Manhattan, where they've never won (0-3). QB Robert Griffin III (leads nation in QB rating, 962 passing, 13 TDs, 0 ints, only 12 incompletions) certainly is a serious Heisman candidate and tore up Wildcats last year in Waco with career-high 404 yards passing, 4 TDs. Senior WR Kendall Wright (31 catches, 4 TDs) is all-time leading receiver in school history with 225 receptions. Questions do surround defense (71st in nation in scoring, 26.3 ppg, given 31.2 ppg in last 7 Big 12 road games). Wildcats rode sophomore RB John Hubert's career-high 166 yards rushing to dramatic win at Miami, sealed when LB Tre Walker made three straight tackles inside K-State 2 on game-ending goal-line stand. Having played sparingly his first two years, junior QB Collin Klein (645 total offense, 4 TD passes, int., 3 TD runs) is breaking out in a big way. K-State hasn't beaten ranked foe since 2007, losing 8 in row.
No. 22 GEORGIA TECH (4-0) at N.C. STATE (2-2), 3:30 p.m., ESPN/ABC (Check local listings).
Favorite: Georgia Tech by 11.
Coaches: Paul Johnson (30-14 in fourth year at Ga. Tech) and Tom O'Brien (27-27 in fifth year at N.C. State).
Last Week: Ga. Tech beat North Carolina, 35-28. N.C. State lost at Cincinnati, 44-14.
Series History: Ga. Tech leads, 17-10.
Last Meeting: N.C. State won, 45-28, last year.
Stat That Matters: Since 1995, Yellow Jackets are 10-3 vs. Wolfpack including three straight wins in Raleigh.
Game Facts: After successful runs at Georgia Southern and Navy, Johnson's option offense (leads nation in total offense, 630.5 ypg, and scoring, 53.2 ppg) continues to befuddle defenses as Jackets are 4-0 for first time since national-title season of 1990. RB Orwin Smith (fifth in ACC with 349 rushing, 5 TDs) leads group of five backs to gain at least 159 yards on ground. And QB Tevin Washington (27-of-42, 821 passing, 8 TDs, int.) is making defenses pay for playing run alone. So heat is on reeling Wolfpack defense (11th in ACC, 93rd in nation in total defense, 408.2 ypg) that looked awful last week (gave up 503 total yards). QB Mike Glennon shook off four sacks to throw for 334 yards, 2 TDs with 2 ints. as running game was hopeless (minus-26 yards on 26 carries). Some State fans had hoped last year's 9-4 finish would lead to bigger things than this. But unless things quickly improve, 'Pack's fourth losing season in last five years looms.
MICHIGAN STATE (3-1) at OHIO STATE (3-1), 3:30 p.m., ABC/ESPN (check local listings).
Favorite: Ohio State by 3.
Coaches: Mark Dantonio (36-20 in fifth year at Michigan State) and Luke Fickell (first year at Ohio State).
Last Week: Michigan State beat Central Michigan, 45-7. Ohio State beat Colorado, 37-17.
Series History: Ohio State leads, 27-12.
Last Meeting: Ohio State won, 45-7, in 2008.
Stat That Matters: Since 2000, Buckeyes have won 7 straight over Spartans by average score of 33-16.
Game Facts: Both teams come in unranked for only second time since 1994. Spartans haven't won in Columbus since shocking No. 1 Ohio State in 1998, costing OSU shot at first BCS national title. Senior QB Kirk Cousins (fourth in Big Ten in QB rating, 81-of-117, 947 passing, 5 TDs, 2 ints.) gives them real shot at snapping that jinx along with stout defense (leads nation in total defense 172.2 ypg). Secondary also tops land in pass defense (101 ypg, 3 TD passes given up, 6 ints.), which is not good news for OSU freshman QB Braxton Miller, who looked better than his so-so numbers (5-of-13, 83 yards passing, 2 TDs, 83 yards rushing) in first start last week. More troubling to Fickell is defense that has given up 300 yards or more to three straight opponents for first time since 2004 and has yet to face QB as talented as Cousins. Fighting through player suspensions, specter of NCAA investigation after replacing Jim Tressel in late May, Fickell has likely done as well as can be expected.
No. 14 CLEMSON (4-0) at No. 9 VIRGINIA TECH (4-0), 6 p.m., ESPN2.
Favorite: Va. Tech by 7.
Coaches: Dabo Swinney (23-15 in fourth year at Clemson) and Frank Beamer (202-95-2 in 25th year at Va. Tech).
Last Week: Clemson beat Florida State, 35-30. Va. Tech won at Marshall, 30-10.
Series History: Clemson leads, 17-12-1.
Last Meeting: Virginia Tech won, 41-23, in 2007.
Stat That Matters: Under Beamer, Hokies are 115-5-1 when holding foes to 13 points or less.
Game Facts: Under Swinney, Tigers are 0-3 vs. ranked foes on road. After racking up impressive numbers at home, sophomore QB Tajh Boyd (leads ACC with 1,310 total offense, 9 TD passes, 2 TD runs) makes first road start facing Lane Stadium crowd of 66,000 and must avoid mistakes like terrible int. returned for TD last week that got Florida State back into game. Defense (9th in ACC, 90th in nation in total defense, 405.5 ypg) has shown cracks in all four wins. After overwhelming I-AA Appalachian State, East Carolina, Arkansas State, Marshall by combined 137-40, we'll find out if Hokies are up to running nation's longest streak of 10 wins or more to 8 years. Junior David Wilson (second in ACC with 522 rushing, 5 TDs) is latest Tech RB to emerge as playmaker. But can 6-6, 254-pound junior QB Logan Thomas (4 TD passes, 4 ints.) make defenses pay for ganging up on run game? Sophomore DE J.R. Collins leads ACC with 4-1/2 sacks. Tech is 15-3 in Saturday-night home games under Beamer.
No. 1 ALABAMA (4-0) at No. 12 FLORIDA (4-0), 8 p.m., CBS.
Favorite: Alabama by 3-1/2.
Coaches: Nick Saban (42-11 in fifth year at Alabama) and Will Muschamp (first year at Florida).
Last Week: Alabama beat Arkansas, 38-14. Florida won at Kentucky, 48-10.
Series History: Alabama leads, 21-14.
Last Meeting: Alabama won, 31-6, last year.
Stat That Matters: Since 2008, Crimson Tide is 16-5 vs. ranked foes, including 5-2 mark on road.
Game Facts: First huge SEC showdown of year. Tide has dominated last two meetings, including winning 2009 SEC Championship Game, by combined 63-19. RB Trent Richardson (second in SEC with 441 rushing, leads SEC with 9 TDs) turned in his third straight 100-yard game last week, while WR Marcus Maze broke loose for 83-yard TD punt return. Led by LB Dont'a Hightower (25 tackles), S Mark Barron, terrific defense (second in nation in total defense, 184 ypg) simply limits almost all options for opposing offenses. Gators senior QB John Brantley can vouch for that after he was hounded by UA last year (16-of-31, 202 passing, 2 ints.). For what it's worth considering the competition, Gators ripped their way for 405 yards rushing last week, including Will Demps' 84-yard TD burst, RB Chris Rainey's third straight 100-yard game. K Caleb Sturgis is perfect on season (leads nation, making all 11 FGs, 14 PATs). Old Gators' bravado emerged earlier this week with S Matt Elam Tweeting "We ready to shock the world!''
No. 8 NEBRASKA (4-0) at No. 4 WISCONSIN (4-0), 8 p.m., ABC.
Favorite: Wisconsin by 9
Coaches: Bo Pelini (34-12 in fourth year at Nebraska) and Bret Bielema (53-16 in sixth year at Wisconsin).
Last Week: Nebraska won at Wyoming, 38-14. Wisconsin beat South Dakota, 59-10.
Series History: Nebraska leads, 3-2.
Last Meeting: Wisconsin won, 21-20, in 1974.
Stat That Matters: Under Bielema, Badgers are 1-5 vs. Top 10 teams.
Game Facts: Cornhuskers draw wicked assignment for their Big Ten debut as Badgers have won 13 straight at home while averaging 46 points per game. RB Rex Burkhard's career-high 170 yards rushing led way last week, including 45-yard TD run, giving Burkhard 7 TDs on season. QB Taylor Martinez (1,068 total offense, 7 TD runs, 4 TD passes, 2 ints.) is better runner than passer. No transfer in recent memory has had as big effect on team as QB Russell Wilson (leads Big Ten, second in nation in QB rating, 69-of-91, 1,136 passing, 11 TDs, int.) has for Badgers, with WR Nick Toon (21 catches, 5 TDs) finally blossoming into star. Considering whom they've played (UNLV, Oregon State, Northern Illinois, South Dakota), is Badgers' defense (leads Big Ten, third in nation in scoring, 8.5 ppg) really that good? One problem is that it has forced only three turnovers (last in Big Ten, 103rd in nation). And just how will Camp Randall Stadium crowd treat thousands of Big Red fans storming Madison looking for nonexistent tickets?
NOTRE DAME (2-2) at PURDUE (2-1), 8 p.m., ESPN.
Favorite: Notre Dame by 11
Coaches: Brian Kelly (10-7 in second year at Notre Dame) and Danny Hope (11-16 in third year at Purdue).
Last Week: Notre Dame won at Pitt, 15-12. Purdue was off.
Series History: Notre Dame leads, 54-26-2.
Last Meeting: Notre Dame won, 23-12, last year.
Stat That Matters: Since 1987, Fighting Irish are 20-5 vs. Boilermakers.
Game Facts: Irish gritted their way to .500 last week with QB Tommy Rees finding TE Tyler Effert on 6-yard TD pass with four minutes left. RB Jonas Gray had only three carries, but one was 79-yard TD gallop. In Kelly's ND debut in South Bend last year, Irish defense ruled the day turning in 4 sacks, 2 turnovers yielding 322 total yards. LB Manti Te'o had 9 tackles that day, one fewer than last week. Hard to figure what to make of Boilermakers, who crushed I-AA Southeast Missouri State, 59-0, on Sept. 17 after splitting close ones with Middle Tennessee (27-24 win) and Rice (24-22 loss). With senior QB Robert Mavre's knee healed, Hope could bring him in some to spell junior Caleb TerBush, who has been decent so far (51-of-81, 546 passing, 3 TDs, int., TD run). Junior RB Ralph Bolden (223 rushing, 2 TDs) has also made way back after missing all of last year with knee injury. After giving up 26 points per game or more in five of last six seasons, Hope thinks defense (20th in nation in scoring, 16 ppg) is finally improving.
OLE MISS (1-3) at FRESNO STATE (2-2), 9:15 p.m., ESPN2.
Favorite: Fresno State by 3-1/2.
Coaches: Houston Nutt (23-19 in fourth year at Ole Miss) and Pat Hill (110-73 in 15th year at Fresno State).
Last Week: Ole Miss lost at home to Georgia, 27-13. Fresno State beat Idaho, 48-24.
Series History: Ole Miss leads, 1-0.
Last Meeting: Ole Miss won, 55-38, last year.
Stat That Matters: In current 2-9 slide dating back to last year, Rebels have yielded 32 points per game.
Game Facts: With home games vs. Alabama, Arkansas, trip to Auburn following this one, Rebels pretty much have to win here to have any shot at bowl game. Sputtering offense (last in SEC, 118th in nation in total offense, 235 ypg) produced only 183 yards, 8 first downs last week as QBs Randall Mackey, Zack Stoudt were woeful (combined 12-of-30, 149 passing, TD, 2 ints., sacked 3 times). Punting game has been bright spot with P Tyler Campbell (leads SEC at 49.1 ypp), RB Jeff Scott (leads SEC in punt returns, 20.1 ypr, TD). Bulldogs also have brute on deck with Boise State coming in next week. Junior RB Robbie Rouse (477 rushing, 3 TDs) is one of nation's underrated talents. Hill has to hope sophomore QB Derek Carr found himself last week with 371-yard, 5-TD pass effort, 2 to WR Jalen Saunders. But protecting Carr (80th in nation with 9 sacks allowed) remains big problem.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
