ShareThisCapsule previews of Thursday and Friday's college football games. All times Eastern and all rankings Associated Press.
THURSDAY:
No. 21 AUBURN (1-0) at MISSISSIPPI STATE (1-0), 7:30 p.m., ESPN.
Favorite: Auburn by 3.
Coaches: Gene Chizik (9-5 in second year at Auburn) and Dan Mullen (6-7 in second year at Miss. State).
Last Week: Auburn beat Arkansas State, 52-26. Mississippi State beat Memphis, 40-7.
Series History: Auburn leads, 58-23-2.
Last Meeting: Auburn won, 49-24, last year.
Stat That Matters: Tigers have won eight of last nine over Bulldogs including last year when AU rolled up 589 total yards en route to most points in SEC game in four years.
Game Facts: A transfer from Florida, Tigers junior QB Cameron Newton was outstanding in his debut (9-of-14, 186 yards passing, 3 TD passes, 171 yards rushing, 2 TDs including 71-yard score). WR Mario Fannin was on receiving end of 36 and 38-yard scores while Quindarius Carr added 48-yard TD grab. Chizik has to be concerned about secondary which gave up 323 yards passing, this after allowing 532 yards through air in 38-35 win over Northwestern in Outback Bowl last January. It's no coincidence that Bulldogs' last win over Tigers came in 2007, coincidentally MSU's last bowl trip. There was hint of that kind of success in opening romp that featured four TD passes from backup QB Tyler Russell, on from starter Chris Relf. Defense also chipped in with pair of ints. while giving up only 237 total yards. A dismal 13-43 in SEC play since 2003, Mullen knows winning league games at home is first step toward building respectable program. To make matters worse, SEC had threatened to fine MSU up to $50,000 if Davis Wade Stadium fans kept up tradition of ringing cowbells during the game. But late compromise allows fans to ring them pregame, halftime and when Bulldogs score.
FRIDAY:
No. 23 WEST VIRGINIA (1-0) at MARSHALL (0-1), 7, ESPN.
Favorite: West Virginia by 13.
Coaches: Paul Stewart (20-8 in third year at West Virginia) and Doc Holliday (first year at Marshall).
Last Week: West Virginia beat Coastal Carolina, 31-0. Marshall lost at Ohio State, 45-7.
Series History: West Virginia leads, 9-0.
Last Meeting: West Virginia won, 24-7, last year.
Stat That Matters: In beating Thundering Herd last two years, Mountaineers have held MU to 10 points and 355 total yards including just 97 rushing.
Game Facts: Pressure is on Stewart to remain perfect in intrastate Friends of Coal Bowl. Sophomore QB Geno Smith looked solid (20-of-27, 216 passing, 2 TDs, int.) in first career start last week. Senior RB Noel Devine (111 yards on 23 carries, 1 TD in opener) is threat to score anytime he touches ball. Defense turned in first shutout in five years and has dominated Herd offense last two seasons. This will be emotional for Holliday, WVU's associate head coach/recruiting coordinator the last two years after being a Mountaineers assistant from 1979-99. His debut was pretty much a disaster last week as MU was held to 199 total yards (54 rushing), 11 first downs with only score coming on CB Ahmed Shakoor's 62-yard return of blocked FG. Defense wasn't much better giving up 529 total yards. Eight penalties, three turnovers including fumbling away opening kickoff, QB Brian Anderson's int. returned for TD didn't help, either. Home field advantage (5-5 vs. D-I foes in Huntington last two years) has not been there lately.
UTEP (1-0) at HOUSTON (1-0), 10:15, ESPN.
Favorite: Houston by 11.
Coaches: Mike Price (35-38 in 7th year at Texas-El Paso) and Kevin Sumlin (19-9 in third year at Houston).
Last Week: UTEP beat Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 31-10. Houston beat Texas State-San Marcos, 62-28..
Series History: UTEP leads, 4-3.
Last Meeting: UTEP won, 58-41, last year.
Stat That Matters: Miners have won three of last five over Cougars but real story has been teams combining for 379 points in those shootouts.
Game Facts: C-USA West showdown has produced fireworks last two years. In 2008, Cougars rallied from 28-9 deficit with three minutes left in third quarter for 42-37 win. Last year, Miners stormed to 581 total yards in upset of then No.-12 Cougars (second highest-ranked team UTEP has ever beaten). With Miners star RB Donald Buckram out with sore knee, backups Joe Banyard, Vernon Frazier stepped in to combine for 183 yards rushing, 4 TDs in opener while QB Trevor Vittatoe (17-of-27, 229 passing, int.) was efficient. Buckram, who was fourth in nation in rushing last year including 262-yard, 4-TD explosion vs. Houston, hopes to play. After leading nation in passing last year, Cougars senior QB Case Keenum picked right up where he left off in opener throwing for 274 yards, 5 TDs before sitting out second half. However, his 2 ints. give him 11 picks in last three games dating back to last year. UH's 16-game home winning streak is fourth longest in nation.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
