ShareThisCapsule previews for Thursday and Friday's top college football games. All times Eastern and all rankings Associated Press.
THURSDAY:
No. 14 GEORGIA TECH (2-0) at No. 20 MIAMI (1-0), 7:30, ESPN.
FAVORITE: Miami by 4-1/2.
COACHES: Paul Johnson (11-4 in second year at Ga. Tech) and Randy Shannon (13-13 in third year at Miami).
LAST WEEK: Ga. Tech beat Clemson, 30-27. Miami was off.
SERIES HISTORY: Ga. Tech leads, 10-4
LAST MEETING: Ga. Tech won, 41-23, last year.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Yellow Jackets have beaten Hurricanes last four straight including last year when Tech piled up season-high 472 yards rushing.
GAME FACTS: Jackets blew 24-0 lead in second quarter last week before rallying with K Scott Blair's 2 FGs in final five minutes including game-winner from 36 yards with :57 left. Blair also threw 34-yard TD pass to WR DeMaryius Thomas on fake FG. Troubling aspects were QB Josh Nesbitt's miserable passing (3-of-14 for 83 yards, 2 ints.), defense giving up 261 yards passing including 63 and 77-yard TDs. DE Derrick Morgan was all over field with 10 tackles (4 for loss). Tech threw only seven passes in last year's punking of Hurricanes. UM wants revenge for that and has edge with blossoming Jacory Harris, who was sensational (21-of-34, 386 yards passing, 2 TDs, 2 ints., TD run) in dramatic 38-34 win at Florida State Sept. 7, only sophomore's third career start. DE Eric Moncur missed opener with groin problem but his return would help defense that had problems (gave up 404 total yards, 294 of it passing) in opener. With trip to Va. Tech, visit from Oklahoma looming next two weeks, UM really could use this one.
No. 10 BOISE STATE (2-0) at FRESNO STATE (1-1), 9, ESPN
FAVORITE: Boise State by 7.
COACHES: Chris Petersen (37-4 in fourth year at Boise State) and Pat Hill (93-62 in 13th year at Fresno State).
LAST WEEK: Boise State beat Miami of Ohio, 48-0. Fresno State lost at Wisconsin, 34-31 in 2 OTs.
SERIES HISTORY: Boise State leads, 8-5.
LAST MEETING: Boise State won, 61-10, last year.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 2001, Broncos are 7-1 vs. Bulldogs including wins last three seasons by combined 140-52.
GAME FACTS: Perhaps the toughest road test for Boise (54-2 in WAC play since 2002), which must be passed if BSU is to go undefeated, earn second BCS bowl trip since 2006. So far, so good, with wins over Oregon, Miami of Ohio by combined 67-8. QB Kellen Moore (35-of-55, 508 yards passing) is proving his terrific freshman season was no fluke. But defense (sixth in nation in total defense, 173 ypg, 6 turnovers forced) has been even more impressive. In last three losses to Broncos, Bulldogs have wilted in second half (outscored 86-21). It was similar story last week as 21-7 second quarter lead quickly vanished. QB Ryan Coburn (22-of-36, 289 yards passing, 4 TDs) did a lot of good things, but his third int., this one in second overtime set up game-losing FG. Defense gave up 413 yards, a bad sign considering BSU ripped them for 492 last year as Broncos scored final 51 points after game was tied 10-10 late in second quarter. So that unit must tighten up if FSU hopes to break 9-game losing streak to ranked opponents.
(E-mail John Lindsay at lindsayj(at)shns.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
