Capsule previews for Saturday's top college football games. All times Eastern and all rankings Associated Press.
INDIANA (4-4) at No. 7 IOWA (8-0), Noon, ESPN.
FAVORITE: Iowa by 17.
COACHES: Bill Lynch (14-19 in third year at Indiana) and Kirk Ferentz (78-53 in 11th year at Iowa).
LAST WEEK: Indiana lost at Northwestern, 29-28. Iowa won at Michigan State, 15-13.
SERIES HISTORY: Iowa leads, 39-27-4.
LAST MEETING: Iowa won, 45-9, last year.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Hawkeyes' 8-0 start is best in 120 years of Iowa football program.
GAME FACTS: Hoosiers haven't won Big Ten road game (0-9) since 38-20 win at Iowa in 2007. IU comes in reeling after blowing 28-3 first-half lead last week as awful secondary (last in Big Ten, 101st in nation vs. pass, 246.6 ypg, 13 TD passes given up, 9 ints.) once again was riddled for 312 yards passing, 2 TD passes. CB Ray Fisher's 93-yard TD kickoff return was his second of season while RB Darius Willis burst for 70-yard TD run. WR Tandon Moss' 54 catches rank third in Big Ten. Four of Hawkeyes' eight wins have been by 3 points or less including last week's heart-stopper won on QB Ricky Stanzi's 7-yard TD pass to WR Marvin McNutt on game's final play stretching overall winning streak to 12 (second longest in nation behind Florida) dating back to last season. Stanzi (48-of-88, 640 passing, 4 TDs, int. in last three games) is going to have to step up now with leading rusher freshman Adam Robinson gone for season with ankle injury. Freshman RB Brandon Wegher takes over for Robinson. Opportunistic Iowa leads Big Ten and is sixth in nation in turnover margin (22 gained, 11 given up).
PURDUE (3-5) at WISCONSIN (5-2), Noon, ESPN2.
FAVORITE: Wisconsin by 6.
COACHES: Chris Hope (first year at Purdue) and Bret Bielema (33-13 in fourth year at Wisconsin).
LAST WEEK: Purdue beat Illinois, 24-14. Wisconsin was off.
SERIES HISTORY: Wisconsin leads, 39-29-8.
LAST MEETING: Wisconsin won, 24-3, in 2008.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Since October, 2007, Boilermakers are winless in Big Ten road games (0-9) losing by average score of 25-14.
GAME FACTS: Energized by 26-17 upset of then-No. 7 Ohio State Oct. 17, Boilermakers have won two straight to rekindle bowl hopes. Senior QB Joey Elliott (540 total offense, 2 TD passes, TD run, int. in last two wins) seems to have found his groove. LB Jason Werner's 14 tackles for loss are second in Big Ten, 6th in nation. Badgers come in off opposite end with consecutive losses to Ohio State, Iowa as offense sputtered (23 points, 460 total yards in last two losses). Junior QB Scott Tolzien was awful (42-of-70, 393 passing, 5 ints.) in both games, but horrid protection (10 sacks given up) certainly didn't help. Bielema hopes bye week will help RB John Clay (leads Big Ten with 716 yards rushing but only 134 yards on 41 carries in last two losses), who has been bothered by bad ankle, TE Garrett Graham, who left Iowa loss Oct. 17 with concussion.
No. 1 FLORIDA (7-0) vs. GEORGIA (4-3), in Jacksonville, 3:30, CBS.
FAVORITE: Florida by 16.
COACHES: Urban Meyer (51-9 in fifth year at Florida) and Mark Richt (86-25 in 9th year at Georgia).
LAST WEEK: Florida won at Mississippi State, 29-19. Georgia was off.
SERIES HISTORY: Georgia leads, 46-38-2.
LAST MEETING: Florida won, 49-10, last year.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 1990, Gators are 16-3 vs. Bulldogs including 7 wins by 30 points or more.
GAME FACTS: Funny how Gators team riding nation's longest winning streak (16 games) can look so troubled. QB Tim Tebow, rest of offense faltered inside red zone last week with Tebow twice throwing ints. that were returned for TDs. Meyer spoke to team for 20 minutes following game about importance of "sticking together.'' UF sure did that last year as Tebow ran for 3 TDs, tossed 2 more as Gators avenged '07 loss to Bulldogs when Richt ordered his team to storm the field after Georgia's first TD. These Bulldogs are ghost of that talented team, especially on defense (11th in SEC, 84th in nation in scoring, 27.7 ppg) while turnovers (next-to-last in nation in turnover ratio, 20 given up, 9 forced) have been devastating. QB Joe Cox (13 TD passes, 9 ints.) has struggled trying to compensate for non-existent running game (last in SEC, 103rd in nation in rushing, 108 ypg). How UGA can move the ball vs. terrific UF defense (leads nation in total defense, 229.5 ypg, second in scoring, 10.1 ppg, and third-down defense, 23.4 pct., 13 sacks in last three games) is anybody's guess. Tebow's next TD run will be his 50th, breaking Herschel Walker's career SEC mark.
No. 17 MIAMI (5-2) at WAKE FOREST (4-4), 3:30, ABC (regional).
FAVORITE: Miami by 7.
COACHES: Randy Shannon (17-15 in third year at Miami) and Jim Grobe (58-48 in 9th year at Wake).
LAST WEEK: Miami lost at home to Clemson, 40-37, in overtime. Wake lost at home to Navy, 13-10.
SERIES HISTORY: Miami leads, 6-3.
LAST MEETING: Miami won, 16-10, last year.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Since joining ACC in 2004, Hurricanes are 3-0 vs. Demon Deacons outscoring Wake by combined 115-34.
GAME FACTS: Somehow, UM blew 7 different leads in frustrating Clemson, loss last week, which drooped 'Canes to 5th place in ACC Coastal and makes this pretty much of a must-win. QB Jacory Harris had fourth straight 200-yard game but his 3 ints (one returned for TD) were costly. With LB Sean Spence (knee) out, more burden falls on LB Colin McCarthy (leads team with 49 tackles, 6-1/2 for loss). Wake offense has utterly vanished in last two losses to Navy, Clemson (combined 13 points, 486 total yards). QB Riley Skinner has struggled (combined 24-of-49, 255 passing, TD, 2 ints. in last two games) and was even more ineffective (3-of-8 for just 57 yards) in last year's loss in Miami. Getting sacked 20 times (7th in ACC, 88th in nation) hasn't helped. Wake is 9-1 in ACC home games since late 2006.
KANSAS (5-2) at TEXAS TECH (5-3), 3:30, ABC (regional).
FAVORITE: Texas Tech by 7.
COACHES: Mark Mangino (50-43 in 8th year at Kansas) and Mike Leach (81-42 in 10th year at Texas Tech).
LAST WEEK: Kansas lost at home to Oklahoma, 35-13. Texas Tech lost at home to Texas A&M, 52-30.
SERIES HISTORY: Texas Tech leads, 10-1.
LAST MEETING: Texas Tech won, 63-21, last year.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Red Raiders lead nation in passing (418.8 yards per game) while Jayhawks are 10th in Big 12, 100th in nation in pass defense (246.6 ypg).
GAME FACTS: Both teams come in off deflating losses. KU really didn't have much chance vs. Oklahoma after three early ints. by QB Todd Reesing (22-of-42, 224 passing). WR duo of Kerry Meier (second in nation with 62 catches, 6 TDs) and Dezmon Briscoe (45 catches, third in nation with 731 yards receiving) is among nation's best. After promising start, defense (105 points given up in last three games) is showing holes. It may not sound like much, but win gives KU fifth straight 6-win season, which hasn't happened since 1902-06. After junior QB Taylor Potts had three turnovers in A&M debacle, frustrated Leach is turning to freshman Seth Doege, the Red Raiders' third different starting QB of season who hasn't started a game since his sophomore year of high school. Leach has also accused his team of being lackadaisical on game days. Mangino and Leach have remained friends since they worked on Bob Stoops' staff at Oklahoma 10 years ago.
MICHIGAN (5-3) at ILLINOIS (1-6), 3:30, ABC (regional).
FAVORITE: Michigan by 8.
COACHES: Rich Rodriguez (8-12 in second year at Michigan) and Ron Zook (19-36 in fifth year at Illinois).
LAST WEEK: Michigan lost at home to Penn State, 35-10. Illinois lost at Purdue, 24-14.
SERIES HISTORY: Michigan leads, 66-22-2.
LAST MEETING: Illinois won, 45-20, last year.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Illini haven't beaten D-I team in almost a year, losing nine straight by combined score of 257-115.
GAME FACTS: Wolverines' skid from 4-0 start picked up steam last week in bad loss to Penn State, which featured 4 turnovers, season-low 250 total yards. UM will try to bounce back without C David Molk (knee) who is out for season and CB Boubacar Cissoko, who returned from two-game suspension last week, only to see Rodriguez dismiss him from team on Wednesday. Despite team's reeling play, Illini AD Ron Guenther said Sunday that Zook will return next year. What a difference a year makes for senior QB "Juice'' Williams. In last year's win in Ann Arbor, he set Michigan Stadium record for total yards when he piled up 121 rushing yards and 310 passing yards to go along with 2 TD runs and 2 TD passes. Now Zook isn't saying whether Williams or freshman Jacob Charest will start here. Defense (last in Big Ten, 104th in nation in total defense, 415.9 ypg) has been giving up yards in bunches.
CALIFORNIA (5-2) at ARIZONA STATE (4-3), 3:30, ABC (regional).
FAVORITE: Cal by 6.
COACHES: Jeff Tedford (64-32 in 8th year at Cal) and Dennis Erickson (19-13 in third year at Arizona State).
LAST WEEK: Cal beat Washington State, 49-17. Arizona State lost at Stanford, 33-14.
SERIES HISTORY: Tied, 14-14.
LAST MEETING: Cal won, 24-14, last year.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Bears led Pac-10, are 12th in nation in rushing (216 yards per game) while Sun Devils are second in Pac-10, sixth in nation vs. run (83.4 ypg).
GAME FACTS: After getting buried by combined 72-6 in losses to Oregon, USC, Bears appear to have righted themselves with blowouts of UCLA, Wash. State by combined 94-43. Bears are 5-0 when RB Jahvid Best (second in Pacc-10 with 775 rushing) scores TD, 0-2 when he doesn't. After torching UCLA, Wash. State for combined 6 TD passes, QB Kevin Riley must maintain momentum. With USC and trip to Oregon on deck, Sun Devils pretty much must win here or bowl hopes are all but gone. Defense got overpowered last week as Stanford plowed to 24-0 halftime lead. QB Danny Sullivan (33-of-58, 406 passing, 3 TDs, TD run in last two games) should play despite knee problem. LB Ryan McFoy has 3 ints. in last three games.
No. 12 PENN STATE (7-1) at NORTHWESTERN (5-3), 4:30, ESPN.
FAVORITE: Penn State by 13-1/2.
COACHES: Joe Paterno (390-128-3 in 44th year at Penn State) and Pat Fitzgerald (24-21 in fourth year at Northwestern).
LAST WEEK: Penn State won at Michigan, 35-10. Northwestern beat Indiana, 29-28.
SERIES HISTORY: Penn State leads, 9-3.
LAST MEETING: Penn State won, 33-7, in 2006.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Under Fitzgerald, Wildcats are 1-7 vs. ranked teams.
GAME FACTS: How long has Paterno been at Happy Valley? Well, consider that he'd already been Nittany Lions coach for more than 30 years when he coached against Fitzgerald the player, a Wildcats' LB from 1993-96. In first win in Ann Arbor since 1996 last week, Penn State QB Daryll Clark was superb (16-of-27, 230 passing) with 4 TD passes, 3 to WR Graham Zug. Rugged defense (leads nation in scoring, 8.8 ppg, third in total defense, 240.2 ypg) is led by LBs Navorro Bowman (44 tackles, 9 for loss), Sean Lee. Wildcats QB Mike Kafka (26-of-46, 312 passing, 2 TDs, 3 ints., 85 yards rushing, TD run) shined in allying 'Cats from 28-3 second quarter deficit last week with K Stefan Demons' 19-yard FG with 21 seconds left completing long road back. WR Zeke Markshausen is second in Big Ten with 58 catches.
KANSAS STATE (5-3) at No. 22 OKLAHOMA (4-3), 7, Fox Sports Net.
FAVORITE: Oklahoma by 24.
COACHES: Bill Snyder (136-68-1 in 18th year at K-State) and Bob Stoops (113-27 in 11th year at Oklahoma).
LAST WEEK: K-State won at Colorado, 20-6. Oklahoma won at Kansas, 35-13.
SERIES HISTORY: Oklahoma leads, 69-17-4.
LAST MEETING: Oklahoma won, 58-35, last year.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 1935, Sooners are 61-8-1 vs. Wildcats though six of KSU's wins over that span have come under Snyder.
GAME FACTS: Huge game for Big 12 North-leading Wildcats, who have shaken off 1-2 start with 4-1 surge. RB Daniel Thomas has been on mission last two weeks with 236 yards rushing, 5 TDs on just 38 carries. That's good thing considering ineffective QBs Carson Coffman, Grant Gregory have combined for 5 TD passes, 5 ints. With closure to saga of QB Sam Bradford with Heisman-winner's decision to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery and head for NFL, Sooners responded in rousing win last week as defense (3 sacks, 3 ints.) turned things up a notch while freshman QB Landry Jones (26-of-38, 262 passing, 2 TDs, int.) turned in efficient, cool performance. Stoops always wants Sooners to play well vs. Snyder, who gave him his first job in big-time coaching as KSU assistant in 1989. Junior DT Gerald McCoy (second in Big 12, 8th in nation with 11-1/2 tackles for loss) is likely to join Bradford in heading for NFL early.
WASHINGTON STATE (1-6) at No. 25 NOTRE DAME (5-2), 7:30, NBC.
FAVORITE: Notre Dame by 30.
COACHES: Paul Wulff (3-17 in second year at Wash. State) and Charlie Weis (34-23 in fifth year at Notre Dame).
LAST WEEK: Wash. State lost at Cal, 49-17. Notre Dame beat Boston College, 20-16.
SERIES HISTORY: Notre Dame leads, 1-0.
LAST MEETING: Notre Dame won, 29-26 in overtime, in 2003.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Under Wulff, 10 of Cougars' 17 losses have been by 28 points or more.
GAME FACTS: Since Fighting Irish had no interest in going to Pullman and Martin Stadium (capacity 35,117), WSU is home team at Alamodome neutral site. How bad are Cougars? Outside of P Reid Forrest (15th in nation at 43.8 ypp), no player ranks in the top 70 nationally in anything while team ranks 100th or worse in 11 different categories including scoring offense (116th, 15.1 ppg), total defense (next-to-last at 499.6 ypg), sacks allowed (35, last). So as soon as Irish QB Jimmy Clausen (second in nation in QB rating, 150-of-230, 2,050 passing, 16 TDs, 2 ints.) has put up some numbers, look for Weis to substitute liberally, especially with tough finishing stretch (Navy, at Pitt, UConn, at Stanford) looming ahead. RB Armando Allen (514 rushing, 3 TDs) hasn't had 100-yard game since Week 3. That figures to change. Why have Irish done so well in close games (4-2 in games decided by 7 points or less)? ND ranks fourth in nation in turnover ratio (15 gained, 5 given up).
No. 21 SOUTH CAROLINA (6-2) at TENNESSEE (3-4), 7:45, ESPN.
FAVORITE: Tennessee by 5.
COACHES: Steve Spurrier (34-24 in fifth year at South Carolina) and Lane Kiffin (first year at Tennessee).
LAST WEEK: South Carolina beat Vanderbilt, 14-10. Tennessee lost at Alabama, 12-10.
SERIES HISTORY: Tennessee leads, 21-4-2.
LAST MEETING: South Carolina won, 27-6, last year.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Vols are 13-1 vs. Gamecocks in Knoxville with SC's 16-15 win at Neyland Stadium in 2005 in Spurrier's first year the only blemish.
GAME FACTS: With 11-6 mark vs. Tennessee at three different schools (South Carolina, Florida, Duke), Spurrier, who was born in Johnson City, Tenn., always gets jazzed up to face the Vols. He couldn't have been happy about offense's effort last week as Gamecocks somehow turned 431 total yards into just 14 points. QB Steven Garcia turned in best game of season (22-of-33, 312 passing, 2 TDs) including 43-yard TD strike to WR Alshon Jeffrey in final quarter, one of freshman's 8 catches for 161 yards. Vols' emotional level here is questionable after shot at upsetting No. 1 Alabama went awry when K Daniel Lincoln (1-for-4 on FGs last week) twice had FGs blocked in final quarter, including 44-yard try on game's final play. After several shaky performances, senior QB Jonathan Crompton has improved greatly (61-of-106, 834 passing, 7 TDs, 2 ints. in last three games). S Eric Berry has only one int. this season after leading nation with 7 last year and the junior needs 14 return yards on his next int. to break NCAA career record of 501 total yards.
No. 4 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (6-1) at No. 10 OREGON (6-1), 8, ABC or ESPN2 (check local listings).
FAVORITE: USC by 3.
COACHES: Pete Carroll (94-16 in 9th year at USC) and Chip Kelly (first year at Oregon).
LAST WEEK: USC beat Washington State, 42-36. Oregon won at Washington, 43-19.
SERIES HISTORY: USC leads, 37-16-2.
LAST MEETING: USC won, 44-10, last year.
STAT THAT MATTERS: With 70 percent chance of rain Saturday in Eugene, Trojans are 21-21-2 all-time when major portion of game is played in rain including 2-1 mark at Autzen Stadium.
GAME FACTS: As proven by 89-10 mark since start of 2002 season, this is stage where Trojans usually bring their "A'' game. Freshman QB Matt Barkley (15-of-25, 202 passing, 2 TDs, 2 ints., TD run), junior RB Allen Bradford (career-high 147 rushing, 2 TDs) certainly did last week. But defense (leads Pac-10, fifth in nation vs. run, 79.9 ypg) that looked so formidable early in season is now springing leaks (43 points given up first five games, 63 points given up last two games). But can Ducks take advantage considering how little they did offensively last year in L.A. (239 total yards)? UO has certainly looked good lately (6-game winning streak outscoring foes by combined 161-38 in last four games). Freshman RB LaMichael James continues to impress with season-high 154 yards, 2 TD runs last week. In return after missing one game with knee problem, junior QB Jeremiah Masoli looked good enough (14-of-22, 157 passing, TD pass, 2 TD runs) vs. Washington. Led by DE Kenny Rowe (third in Pac-10 with 7 sacks), defense (second in Pac-10 with 22 sacks) must turn up pressure on Barkley, force turnovers. Freshman RB Kenjon Barner (second in Pac-10 in kickoff returns, 31.2 ypr, TD) is capable of big play in return game.
No. 3 TEXAS (7-0) at No. 13 OKLAHOMA STATE (6-1), 8, ABC or ESPN2 (check local listings).
FAVORITE: Texas by 9.
COACHES: Mack Brown (122-28 in 12th year at Texas) and Mike Gundy (33-24 in fifth year at Oklahoma State).
LAST WEEK: Texas won at Missouri, 41-7. Oklahoma State won at Baylor, 34-7.
SERIES HISTORY: Texas leads, 21-2.
LAST MEETING: Texas won, 28-24, last year.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 1997, Longhorns have beaten Cowboys 11 straight times while averaging 40 points per game.
GAME FACTS: Just in time, Longhorns' offense finally came around last week piling up 400 total yards, 26 first downs as QB Colt McCoy (26-of-31, 269 passing, 3 TDs, int.) played more like a Heisman contender. WR Jordan Shipley (fourth in nation with 58 catches) now has 190 career catches to rank third on all-time UT list. Terrific defense (leads nation vs. run, 41.3 ypg, second in nation in total defense, 235.6 ypg) just isn't giving up much of anything. This is not the kind of game OSU has won under Gundy (1-7 vs. top-10 foes). But OSU has come oh-so-close last two years vs. 'Horns leading in second half of both games including squandering 35-14 final period lead in Stillwater two years ago. QB Zach Robinson couldn't have looked better (23-of-27, 250 passing, 3 TDs) in last week's tune up. But what he wouldn't have given to have WR Dez Bryant, now suspended by NCAA for season for improper dealings with Deion Sanders' marketing firm. Is so-so defense (6th in Big 12, 56th in nation in total defense, 352.1 ypg) really good enough to get job done? New coordinator Bill Young must make his troops believe for all 60 minutes.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
Post new comment