College football caps including Florida vs. Florida State

Capsule previews for Saturday's top college football games. All times Eastern and all rankings Associated Press.

No. 15 CLEMSON (8-3) at SOUTH CAROLINA (6-5), Noon, ESPN.

FAVORITE: Clemson by 3.

COACHES: Dabo Swinney (12-6 in second year at Clemson) and Steve Spurrier (34-27 in fifth year at Clemson).

LAST WEEK: Clemson beat Virginia, 34-21. South Carolina was off.

SERIES HISTORY: Clemson leads, 65-37-4.

LAST MEETING: Clemson won, 31-14, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 1988, Tigers are 15-5 vs. Gamecocks including 9-1 mark in Columbia.

GAME FACTS: Riding 6-game winning streak where they've averaged nearly 41 points per game, Tigers are one of nation's hottest teams. Now getting serious Heisman consideration, senior RB C.J. Spiller (third in nation with 2,066 all-purpose yards, third in ACC with 15 TDs) has keyed surge and is burned SC for 184 yards on ground last year. CB DeAndre's McDaniel's 8 ints. lead ACC (second in nation). Defense turned in season-high 7 sacks last week, including pair by NT Rennie Moore. Mired in 1-4 slide, 'Cocks may need win here just to go bowling as annual fade has begun (2-7 in November last three years). Sophomore QB Stephen Garcia (2,607 yards passing, 14 TDs, 8 ints.) has thrown an int. in five of last six games as poor protection (last in SEC, 109th in nation with 33 sacks allowed), non-existent running game (last in SEC, 97th in nation, 116 ypg) haven't helped, either. Bright spots have included freshman WR Alshon Jeffrey (34 catches, 17.9 ypc, 5 TD catches), senior DE Eric Norwood (third in SEC with 7 sacks, 29 career sacks) whose pressure has helped secondary shine (7th in nation vs. pass, 163.6 ypg), even though SC's 5 ints. are last in SEC.

NORTH CAROLINA (8-3) at N.C. STATE (4-7), Noon, ESPN2.

FAVORITE: North Carolina by 6.

COACHES: Butch Davis (20-16 in third year at UNC) and Tom O'Brien (15-21 in third year at N.C. State).

LAST WEEK: UNC won at Boston College, 31-13. N.C. State lost at Va. Tech, 38-10.

SERIES HISTORY: North Carolina leads, 63-29-6

LAST MEETING: N.C. State won, 41-10, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: In beating Tar Heels last two seasons, Wolfpack have scored 72 points while forcing 8 turnovers with five sacks.

GAME FACTS: Riding 4-game winning streak, Tar Heels want some revenge for last year, UNC's worst loss to State since 1989. Defense again carried day last week scoring twice in first quarter as UNC rolled up 21-0 lead including CB Kendric Burney's 30-yard int. TD return, second straight week he's found the end zone (5 ints. for season). Junior QB T.J. Yates (10 TD passes, 13 ints.) threw 3 ints. last week and has got to take better care of ball. Pack limps in on 1-6 slide. Last week's ugliness included 4 turnovers, 6 sacks given up and only 12 first downs from offense, which was without coordinator Dana Bible, who missed game with undisclosed health problem. After stellar freshman season that saw him lead nation throwing 17 TD passes vs. only 1 int. in 275 passes, QB Russell Wilson (204-of-351, 2,768 passing, 27 TDs, 11 ints.) has encountered sophomore jinx. Defense (100th in nation in scoring, 31.5 ppg) hasn't held a D-I team to under 30 points since 7-3 loss to South Carolina in opener Sept. 3.

No. 11 OKLAHOMA STATE (9-2) at OKLAHOMA (6-5), 12:30, Fox Sports Net.

FAVORITE: Oklahoma by 9.

COACHES: Mike Gundy (36-25 in fifth year at Oklahoma State) and Bob Stoops (115-29 in 11th year at Oklahoma).

LAST WEEK: Oklahoma State beat Colorado, 31-28. Oklahoma lost at Texas Tech, 41-13.

SERIES HISTORY: Oklahoma leads, 80-16-7.

LAST MEETING: Oklahoma won, 61-41, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: In beating Cowboys last six years, Sooners have averaged 45 ppg.

GAME FACTS: Cowboys need to break through in annual "Bedlam'' showdown for first 10-win season since 1988, shot at BCS at-large bowl bid. With QB Zac Robinson out after hard hit, OSU struggled last week having to rally from 21-10 third-quarter hole behind third-string QB Brandon Weeden's 2 TD passes, one a 47-yarder to RB Keith Toston, who also ran for 172 yards and a 45-yard TD burst. In last two years, Cowboys defense has been embarrassed by OU yielding 111 points and 1,041 total yards. But that was with Sooners Heisman-winning QB Sam Bradford (out for year wit shoulder problem), not mistake-prone freshman Landry Jones (7 ints., 6 TD passes last three games). Supposedly strong defense (8th in nation in scoring, 14.7 ppg) gave up season high 41 points and 549 total yards last week and will likely be without senior RB Ryan Reynolds (foot). Defense needs much better effort or OU's 29-game home winning streak (longest in nation) will fall leaving Stoops with worst mark at OU, eclipsing 7-5 debut in Norman in 1999.

FLORIDA STATE (6-5) at No. 1 FLORIDA (11-0), 3:30, CBS.

FAVORITE: Florida by 21.

COACHES: Bobby Bowden (315-96-4 in 34th year at FSU) and Urban Meyer (55-9 in fifth year at Florida).

LAST WEEK: Florida State beat Maryland, 29-26. Florida beat Florida International, 62-3.

SERIES HISTORY: Florida leads, 32-19-2.

LAST MEETING: Florida won, 45-15, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Gators' 21-game winning streak is longest in nation and fourth longest ever for an SEC team.

GAME FACTS: Trying to snap 5-game losing skid to Gators (FSU's longest in series since dropping 6 in row from 1981-86), Seminoles just don't seem to have what it takes considering how awful defense is (106th in nation in total defense, 434.4 ypg, 212 points given up in last six games), freshman QB E.J. Manuel (17-of-27, 206 passing, 3 ints. last week) making second career start with junior Christian Ponder (shoulder) out for year. Last two years haven't been too competitive with Gators romping by combined 90-27 with QB Tim Tebow (54 career TD runs, most in SEC history, 81 career TD passes) doing most of damage (616 yards total offense, 6 TD passes, 3 TD runs vs. FSU last two years). Maybe the best stat for coordinator Charlie Strong's terrific defense (leads nation in scoring, 9.8 ppg, second in total defense, 229.8 ypg) is third-down defense (second in nation giving up only 41 first downs in 153 chances). LB Brandon Spikes' 41-yard int. return for TD last week was his fourth pick-six in last two years (most in nation). There is no better team with the lead than Gators (43-1 under Meyer when scoring first, 49-3 when leading at halftime).

MISSOURI (7-4) vs. KANSAS (5-6), in Kansas City, 3:30, ABC (regional).

FAVORITE: Missouri by 3.

COACHES: Gary Pinkel (66-45 in 9th year at Missouri) and Mark Mangino (50-47 in 8th year at Kansas).

LAST WEEK: Missouri beat Iowa State, 34-24. Kansas lost at Texas, 52-20.

SERIES HISTORY: Tied, 54-54-9

LAST MEETING: Kansas won, 40-37, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: In current 6-game losing streak, Jayhawks have been outscored 210-111.

GAME FACTS: This edition of "Border War'' series that dates back to 1891 (second longest rivalry in nation) pretty much takes back seat to controversy swirling around Mangino for alleged abuse of current and former players. School is conducting internal investigation and if they can prove that Mangino could be fired for just cause, KU would not owe him $6 million for his contract that runs through 2012. In happier time last year, Jayhawks rallied to win on QB Todd Reesing's 26-yard TD pass to WR Kerry Meier (a former QB). Tigers WR Danario Alexander's 92 catches leads Big 12 and ranks third in nation and the senior is the only player in nation with two 200-yard receiving games this season. And just think how much faster Alexander and rest of Tigers will be in new Nike Pro Combat Uniform, which is 37 percent lighter than normal uniform and supposedly does not retain sweat or water like others. Mizzou is 10th school to try this outfit joining Clemson, Florida, Florida State, LSU, Miami, Virginia Tech, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Texas and TCU.

ARIZONA (6-4) at ARIZONA STATE (4-7), 3:30, ABC (regional).

FAVORITE: Arizona by 3.

COACHES: Mike Stoops (31-38 in 6th year at Arizona) and Dennis Erickson (19-17 in third year at Arizona State).

LAST WEEK: Arizona lost at home to Oregon, 44-41, in 2 OTs. Arizona State lost at UCLA, 23-13.

SERIES HISTORY: Arizona leads, 45-36-1.

LAST MEETING: Arizona won, 31-10, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Since starting 2007 season 8-0, Sun Devils are 11-17 including 5-7 mark at home vs. D-I teams.

GAME FACTS: Annual battle for Territorial Cup finds Wildcats trying to recover from crushing loss last week that ended hopes for first Pac-10 title. Now UA may need win here just to go bowling. Wildcats led 24-14 in final quarter before surrendering game-tying TD pass with six seconds left, wasting fantastic performance from sophomore QB Nick Foles (30-of-46, 314 passing, 4 TDs). He may have to do it again with RB Nick Grisby (shoulder) out and backup Keola Antolin questionable with his own bad shoulder. In fourth straight loss last week, Erickson turned to his third QB of season, sophomore Samson Szakacsy, who performed admirably (15-of-22, 197 passing, 2 TDs, int.) despite suffering four sacks moving ASU's total surrendered the last three seasons to 111 in 36 games. Line doesn't exactly run block well, either (8th in Pac-10, 90th in nation in rushing, 122.3 ypg). Defense (leads Pac-10 in total defense, 300.5 ypg) has actually played well for most part.

No. 19 MIAMI (8-3) at SOUTH FLORIDA (7-3), 3:30, ABC (regional).

FAVORITE: Miami by 5.

COACHES: Randy Shannon (20-16 in third year at Miami) and Jim Leavitt (95-55 in 13th year at USF).

LAST WEEK: Miami beat Duke, 34-16. USF beat Louisville, 34-22.

SERIES HISTORY: Miami leads, 1-0.

LAST MEETING: Miami won, 27-7, in 2005.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Since start of last season, Bulls are 12-0 when scoring 24 points or more and 3-8 when they don't.

GAME FACTS: For all Hurricanes have accomplished this year, Shannon needs win here and in bowl (which would be Miami's first 10-win season since 2003) for him to say program has turned the corner. QB Jacory Harris bounced back last week (25-of-43, 348 passing, 2 TDs, int.) from terrible 4-int game in loss at North Carolina Nov. 15. DT Allen Bailey (7 sacks, 2 forced fumbles) may be latest of UM's NFL-caliber defensive linemen. Only 22-12 since starting 2007 season 7-0 at reaching No. 2 in polls, Bulls aim to complete sweep of bigger Sunshine State bullies having already won at Florida State. Since replacing senior Matt Grothe who went down with knee injury in Sept., freshman QB B.J. Daniels has had his moments (20-of-34, 304 passing, TD pass, 141 rushing, 2 TDs last week), but also stumbled at key times (6 ints. vs. 1 TD pass in USF's three losses). S Nate Allen (64 tackles, 4 ints.), DE Jason Pierre-Paul (12-1/2 tackles for loss) anchor solid defense (third in Big East in scoring, 19.4 ppg).

No. 14 VIRGINIA TECH (8-3) at VIRGINIA (3-8), 3:30. ABC (regional).

FAVORITE: Va. Tech by 16.

COACHES: Frank Beamer (185-92-3 in 23rd year at Va. Tech) and Al Groh (59-52 in 9th year at Virginia).

LAST WEEK: Va. Tech beat N.C. State, 38-10. Virginia lost at Clemson, 34-21.

SERIES HISTORY: Va. Tech leads, 48-37-5.

LAST MEETING: Va. Tech won, 17-14, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 1998, Hokies are 9-1 vs. Cavaliers including five straight wins where they've held UVA to average of 12 points per game.

GAME FACTS: Created in 1996, battle for Commonwealth Cup has been dominated by Hokies lately. Tech doesn't really have much to play for here except maybe improving bowl position slightly. Son of former NFL star Russ Grimm, LB Cody Grimm tied D-I record with three forced fumbles last week and leads nation on season with 7. Potent 1-2 punch of freshman RB Ryan Williams (leads ACC with 1,355 rushing, tied for first with 16 TDs), improved junior QB Tyrod Taylor (13 TD passes, 3 ints. this year vs. 2 TD passes vs. 7 ints. last year) provides enough on offense. This looks like farewell for Groh with Cavs staring at worst mark since 2-9 finish in 1982. Inept offense (last in ACC, 118th in nation in total offense, 267.3 ypg, 39 sacks allowed, last in ACC, 116th in nation) has been main culprit. Senior QB Jameel Sewell (11-of-17, 160 passing, TD pass, TD run) hasn't given up yet despite getting little help.

ARKANSAS (7-4) at No. 17 LSU (8-3), ,7, ESPN.

FAVORITE: LSU by 4.

COACHES: Bobby Petrino (12-11 in second year at Arkansas) and Les Miles (50-14 in fifth year at LSU).

LAST WEEK: Arkansas beat Mississippi State, 42-21. LSU lost at Ole Miss, 25-23.

SERIES HISTORY: LSU leads, 33-19-2.

LAST MEETING: Arkansas won, 31-30, last year .

STAT THAT MATTERS: Since October, 2007, Tigers are 4-5 in games decided by 6 points or less including pair of losses to Razorbacks.

GAME FACTS: Win gives Razorbacks three consecutive wins over Tigers for first time since 1927-29. UA brings in 4-game winning streak albeit over sketchy competition (Eastern Michigan, South Carolina, Troy and Miss. State) as QB Ryan Mallet (leads SEC, third in nation in QB rating, 193-of-328, 3,195 passing, 28 TDs, 6 ints.) has already set 11 single-season school records. After being -minus 9 in turnover ratio last year, opportunistic 'Hogs are plus-12 (25 forced, 13 given up, second in SEC, 7th in nation). DE Jake Bequette helped out with 3 sacks last week. Miles has a lot to explain after bizarre ending last week as confused QB Jordan Jefferson tried to spike ball from Ole Miss 10 with one second left instead of Miles sending out FG team for easy game-winning kick. Miles then seemed to contradict himself in post-game interviews saying he didn't know who ordered ball to be spiked. Bottom line is offense is sputtering badly averaging 20 points and 263 total yards over last three games. Now RB Keiland Williams (ankle) now joins RB Charles Scott (shoulder) out for season. Highly-touted freshman Russell Shepard (6 carries for 20 yards last week) appears to be next man up. Since winning 2007 national title, Tigers are just 7-8 in SEC play, which won't cut it among Tigers faithful.

NOTRE DAME (6-5) at STANFORD (7-4), 8, ABC (regional).

FAVORITE: Stanford by 10.

COACHES: Charlie Weis (35-26 in fifth year at Notre Dame) and Jim Harbaugh (16-19 in third year at Stanford).

LAST WEEK: Notre Dame lost at home to Connecticut, 33-30, in 2OTs. Stanford lost at home to Cal, 34-28.

SERIES HISTORY: Notre Dame leads, 17-6.

LAST MEETING: Notre Dame won, 28-21, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: In winning last seven years over Cardinals, Fighting Irish have averaged 33 points per game.

GAME FACTS: With Weis all but assured of being fired sometimes after this game ends, it got even worse for ND as QB Jimmy Clausen was reportedly punched by an irate fan outside a South Bend bar last Sunday morning. Despite a black eye, Clausen (7th in nation in QB rating, 266-of-395, 3,382 passing, 23 TDs, 4 ints.) is expected to start. WR Golden Tate's 83 catches are 9th in nation while his 12 TD catches are second most in one season in ND history. Already assured of first bowl trip since 2001, Cardinal look poised to break Irish jinx. One can only imagine how much RB Toby Gerhart (third in nation with 1,531 rushing, second with 23 TDs, 537 yards rushing, 10 TDs in last three games) will get vs. porous Irish run defense. Thanks to Gerhart, Stanford needs just 69 yards to break single season school rushing record of 2,481 yards, which has stood since 1949. QB Andrew Luck finally looked like a freshman last week (10-of-30, 157 passing) throwing game-losing int. from Cal 13 with 1:36 left.

GEORGIA (6-5) at No. 7 GEORGIA TECH (10-1), 8, ABC.

FAVORITE: Georgia Tech by 7.

COACHES: Mark Richt (88-27 in 9th year at Georgia) and Paul Johnson (19-5 in second year at Ga. Tech).

LAST WEEK: Georgia lost at home to Kentucky, 34-27. Ga. Tech was off.

SERIES HISTORY: Georgia leads, 59-39-5.

LAST MEETING: Ga. Tech won, 45-42, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Yellow Jackets are second in nation in rushing (314.1 yards per game) while Bulldogs are 34th nationally against run (120.5 ypg).

GAME FACTS: Bulldogs need upset to avoid first 6-loss season since 1996. Bulldog Nation is not thrilled with 6-6 mark vs. D-I teams since end of last season. Biggest problem has been defense, which has given up 30 or more points nine times in last 17 games (4-5 mark in those games), offense coughing ball up (next-to last in nation in turnover margin, 26 given up, 8 forced). Tech rallied from 28-12 halftime deficit last year rolling up 409 yards rushing. QB Josh Nesbitt (2,265 yards total offense, 16 TD runs, 8 TD passes, 4 ints.), RB Jonathan Dwyer (1,203 rushing, 11 TD runs) look ready to do that again as Jackets tune up for next week's ACC Championship Game showdown with Clemson in Tampa. Junior DE Derrick Morgan (leads ACC, fourth in nation with 12-1/2 sacks) is a force off the edge and is one of nation's most underrated players.

UCLA (6-5) at No. 24 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (7-3), 10, Fox Sports Net.

FAVORITE: USC by 13.

COACHES: Rick Neuheisel (10-13 in second year at UCLA) and Pete Carroll (95-18 in 9th year at USC).

LAST WEEK: UCLA beat Arizona State, 23-13. USC was off.

SERIES HISTORY: USC leads, 43-28-7.

LAST MEETING: USC won, 28-7, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Trojans' current 9-1 run vs. Bruins is USC's best run ever in Los Angeles rivalry that dates back to Trojans' 76-0 win in 1929.

GAME FACTS: Upset here would be real sign Neuheisel is putting bite back into Bruins, who haven't been real competitive lately with average score of last nine losses to Trojans being USC 36, UCLA 16. Bruins do at least bring 3-game winning streak in, albeit vs. pretty much dregs of the Pac-10 in Washington, Washington State and Arizona State. Formidable defense (leads Pac-10 in scoring, 20.6 ppg) once again took matters into its own hands last week scoring TDs on CB Alterraun Verner's 68-yard int. return, LB Akeem Ayers' 9-yard fumble return. Ayers also added 7 tackles, 2 sacks and 2 forced fumbles. Reeling from stunning 55-21 collapse against Stanford Nov. 15, Trojans try to avoid losing consecutive games for first time since October, 2001. Run defense (52nd in nation vs. run, 135.6 ypg) has been trampled for 716 yards, 9 TD runs in losses to Stanford and Oregon by combined 102-41. Freshman QB Matt Barkley (49-of-81, 495 passing, 4 TDs, 5 ints. in last three games) just hasn't been up to tough job of playing from behind. Trojans have made history by giving up 47 points or more twice in same season for first time in 119 years of football.

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)