College football capsules

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Capsule previews for this Saturday's top college football games. All times Eastern and all rankings Associated Press.MICHIGAN STATE (3-1) at INDIANA (2-1), .Noon, ESPN.FAVORITE: Michigan State by 8-1/2.COACHES: Mark Dantonio (10-7 in second year at Michigan State) and Bill Lynch (9-7 in second year at Indiana).LAST WEEK: Michigan State beat Notre Dame, 23-7. Indiana lost at home to Ball State, 42-20.SERIES HISTORY: Michigan State leads, 39-15-2.LAST MEETING: Michigan State won, 52-27, last year.STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 1991, Hoosiers are 1-16 in Big Ten openers including seven straight losses by average score of 36-17.GAME FACTS: Spartans have dominated battle for Old Brass Spittoon trophy, winning nine of last 11 including last year's thumping when they out-gained Hoosiers 558 total yards to 193. Much of the damage was done by Javon Ringer (203 yards rushing, 2 TDs) who is off to blazing start this year (leads nation with 11 TDs, second in nation with 699 rushing). At only 5-9 and 200 pounds, Ringer has carried 82 times last two games so Dantonio must be careful there. Struggles of senior QB Brian Hoyer (12-of-26, 143 passing last week) are puzzling. After rolling past lightweights Murray State, Western Kentucky, IU suffered inexplicable meltdown last week as defense was shredded for 463 total yards (224 rushing), usually-capable QB Kellen Lewis (11-of-25, 159 passing, 148 rushing, TD run) floundered with 2 ints., one run back for TD as Hoosiers were outscored 14-0 in second half. Team co-captain CB Chris Phillips went down for season with knee injury last week. After ranking among nation's leaders with 16 sacks last year, DE Greg Middleton has only one so far to go along with just four tackles -- hardly the kind of impact Lynch needs for struggling unit.NORTH CAROLINA (2-1) at MIAMI (2-1), Noon, ESPN2.FAVORITE: Miami by 7.COACHES: Butch Davis (6-9 in second year at UNC) and Randy Shannon (8-8 in second year at Miami).LAST WEEK: UNC lost at home to Virginia Tech, 20-17. Miami won at Texas A&M, 41-23.SERIES HISTORY: UNC leads, 6-5.LAST MEETING: UNC won, 33-27, last year.STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 2001, Tar Heels have lost 15 consecutive ACC road games outside the state of North Carolina.GAME FACTS: Tar Heels haven't won in Miami since 1957 (0-6). But at least those defeats were at Orange Bowl, not Dolphin Stadium, Hurricanes new home this season. This one will be even tougher with QB Tyler Yates out for at least six weeks with broken ankle. After he was injured last week, UNC blew 17-3, third-quarter lead as freshman backup Mike Paulus (brother of Duke basketball player Greg) completed just 3 passes while throwing 2 costly ints. Paulus needs to find explosive WR Brandon Tate (leads nation with 797 all-purpose yards, 3 TD catches, TD run, TD punt return) open in space and good things will happen. UM may have finally found a QB last week with freshman Robert Mavre (16-of-22, 212 passing, 2 TDs, int.) as offense piled up 398 total yards (258 more than 26-3 loss at Florida on Sept. 6). RB Craig Cooper (career-high 128 rushing, 2 TDs last week) must step up with RB Javarris James (ankle) out for a while. WR Kayne Farquharson came out of nowhere last week with first five catches of season, including 15-yard TD. Defense (second in ACC vs. run, 75 ypg and with 24 tackles for loss) still needs to improve overall tackling.No. 9 WISCONSIN (3-0) at MICHIGAN (1-2), 3:30, ABC (regional).FAVORITE: Wisconsin by 6.COACHES: Bret Bielema (24-5 in third year at Wisconsin) and Rich Rodriguez (first year at Michigan).LAST WEEK: Both schools were off.SERIES HISTORY: Michigan leads, 41-12-1.LAST MEETING: Wisconsin won, 37-21, last year.STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 1962, Wolverines are 16-1 at home vs. Badgers with only loss coming in 1994.GAME FACTS: Badgers go for consecutive wins over UM for only second time since 1960. Offense had their way last year piling up 477 total yards, 24 first downs -- a feat even more remarkable considering injuries limited RB P.J. Hill to 14 yards. This time, that's not a problem for the hard-running 228-pound senior (second in Big Ten with 379 rushing, 4 TDs). Helped by perfect protection (no sacks allowed), QB Allen Evridge, transfer from Kansas State, is making enough of the throws (36-of-60, 526 passing, 3 TDs, int.) to keep defense honest. Secondary (88th in nation vs. pass, 230 ypg, 4 ints., 3 TD passes given up) has shown some holes. As many predicted, Rodriguez's spread offense (last in Big Ten, 105th in nation in total offense, 290.7 ypg, 9 turnovers lost) has sputtered early. In 35-17 loss at Notre Dame Sept. 13, freshman QB Steven Threet flashed potential (16-of-23, 175 passing, TD). Additional youth movement has freshman RB Sam McGuffie (213 rushing, TD, 9 catches, TD catch) getting more touches. Sophomore LB Obi Ezeh (26 tackles), junior DE Brandon Graham (leads Big Ten with 6-1/2 tackles for loss) anchor sound defense (second in Big Ten vs. run, 65.3 ypg). Loss here would not only mean UM's first 1-3 start since 1967, but also start to put NCAA-best streaks of 33 straight bowl games, 40 straight winning seasons in peril.ARKANSAS (2-1) at No. 7 TEXAS (3-0), 3:30, ABC (regional).FAVORITE: Texas by 27.COACHES: Bobby Petrino (first year at Arkansas) and Mack Brown (105-25 in 11th year at Texas).LAST WEEK: Arkansas lost at home to Alabama, 49-14. Texas was off.SERIES HISTORY: Texas leads, 55-21.LAST MEETING: Texas won, 22-20. in 2004.STAT THAT MATTERS: Since November, 1999, Longhorns are 47-4 at home including 34 wins by 21 points or more.GAME FACTS: Hard to figure how Petrino's young team (only 7 returning senior starters) will respond after terrible beating vs. Alabama, which was actually fairly predictable after UA squeaked past I-AA Western Illinois, La.-Monroe by combined 56-51. QB Casey Dick threw 3 ints., including pair run back for TDs while defense got trampled for 328 yards on ground. RB Michael Smith was bright spot with 91 yards rushing, 6 catches, 1 TD. No one in nation is playing better than Longhorns QB Colt McCoy (third in nation in QB rating, 63-of-81, 833 passing, 11 TDs, 1 int., 194 rushing, 2 TDs), though competition faced (wins over Fla.-Atlantic, UTEP and Rice by combined 146-33) has been suspect. McCoy has spread it around well with WRs Quan Cosby, Jordan Shipley, RB Chris Ogbonnaya, TE Blaine Irby all catching at least 9 passes. UT's Rodrick Muckelroy (27 tackles, TD fumble return) has great name for an LB. DE Brian Orakpo leads Big 12 with 3-1/2 sacks.TENNESSEE (1-2) at No. 15 AUBURN (3-1), 3:30, CBS.FAVORITE: Auburn by 7-1/2.COACHES: Phillip Fulmer (148-47 in 17th year at Tennessee) and Tommy Tuberville (83-34 in 10th year at Auburn).LAST WEEK: Tennessee lost at home to Florida, 30-6. Auburn lost at home to LSU, 26-21.SERIES HISTORY: Auburn leads, 25-21-3.LAST MEETING: Auburn won, 38-28, in the 2004 SEC Championship Game.STATS THAT MATTER: Tigers are 6-2-1 vs. Vols at home and are 3-0 vs. UT since 2003 outscoring Vols by combined 100-59.GAME FACTS: Call this the Hangover Bowl with both schools trying to shake off disheartening losses. Vols was more devastating as UT was never competitive vs. Fla. after falling behind 17-0 in first quarter. QB Jonathan Crompton struggled mightily with lost fumble, int. both inside UF 5. Defense played decently giving up only 253 total yards. But punting game has been nightmare so far (next-to-last in nation in net punting, 22 ypp, gave up TD punt return last week, blocked punt for TD in loss at UCLA Sept. 1). That must improve or Vols' first 1-3 start since 1994 looms. Tigers succumbed last week for second straight year in dramatic fashion to LSU, this time a TD pass with 1:03 left after squandering 14-3 halftime edge. After awful showing in 3-2 win at Miss. State Sept. 13, new coordinator Tony Franklin's offense looked better (320 total yards) but still produced only 14 points and 70 yards rushing. QB Chris Todd threw for 250 yards, including go-ahead 15-yard TD to WR Robert Dunn with six minutes left. But Todd still threw 2 critical ints. RB Brad Lester has come out of game last two weeks and not returned with neck and leg injuries but Tuberville insists he'll play. A former TE, DE Gabe McKenzie showed his athletic skills on pretty 24-yard int. return for TD last week.No. 25 FRESNO STATE (2-1) at UCLA (1-2), 3:30, ABC (regional).FAVORITE: Fresno State by 7.COACHES: Pat Hill (87-56 in 12th year at Fresno State) and Rick Neuheisel (first year at UCLA).LAST WEEK: Fresno State won at Toledo, 55-54, in double overtime. UCLA lost at home to Arizona, 31-10.SERIES HISTORY: UCLA leads, 6-1.LAST MEETING: .Fresno State won, 17-9, in the 2003 Silicon Valley Classic.STATS THAT MATTER: Since dramatic 27-24 overtime upset of Tennessee in opener, Bruins have lost to BYU, Arizona by combined 100-10 while getting out-gained 854 total yards to 475.GAME FACTS: After blowing 10-point lead in final quarter, Bulldogs survived last week when LB Nick Herron knocked down 2-point pass in second OT to seal win. QB Tom Brandstater was superb (22-of-28, 231 passing, 4 TDs) when game mattered most in OT, hitting TD pass, scoring on TD sneak to provide winning points. But Hill has to be concerned after his defense gave up 598 total yards and now will be without starting DTs Cornell Banks, Jon Monga, both out with injuries. There's not much more that LB Ben Jacobs (14 tackles, TD fumble return last week) can do. Whatever mojo Bruins had with opening win seems long gone after successive shellackings. Maybe return of RB Kahlil Bell (ankle) will help, but QB Kevin Craft (15-of-31, 81 passing last week) must see field better, make quicker decisions. Injury problems include C Micah Reed, LB Kyle Bosworth, bout out with knee injuries and WR Marcus Everett (toe) questionable.COLORADO (3-0) vs. FLORIDA STATE (2-1), in Jacksonville, 3:30, ABC (regional).FAVORITE: FSU by 6.COACHES: Dan Hawkins (11-17 in third year at Colorado) and Bobby Bowden (302-88-4 in 33rd year at FSU).LAST WEEK: Colorado beat West Virginia, 17-14, in overtime. FSU lost at home to Wake Forest, 12-3.SERIES HISTORY: FSU leads, 2-0.LAST MEETING: FSU won, 16-6, last year.STAT THAT MATTERS: Seminoles' 18 losses since start of 2005 season are one fewer than they suffered from 1987-2000 when FSU set record with 14 consecutive A.P. top five finishes.GAME FACTS: After rousing win last week on K Aric Goodman's 25-yard FG in OT, interesting to see how Buffaloes will respond on road, where they haven't been very good (2-8 in away games under Hawkins) lately. Offense looked great in first quarter last week with QB Cody Hawkins throwing pair of TD passes, but then didn't do much aside from freshman RB Rodney Stewart's 166 yards rushing. Defense had its moments limiting West Va. to 43 yards passing, but struggled stopping run, giving up 311 yards on ground. Hard to say what Bowden, offensive coordinator-coach-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher do now with offense after last week's gamble of playing freshmen QBs Christian Ponder, D'Vontrey Richards turned out to be a disaster (combined 12-of-36, 118 passing, 5 ints.) with any pass over 10 yards turned into a ghastly misadventure. 12 penalties for 139 yards didn't help, either. LBs Korey Mangum, Kendrick Smith (combined 10 tackles, sack, forced fumble, recovered fumble) led inspired defensive effort. Defeat also dropped Bowden game behind Penn State's Joe Paterno on all-time win list (376-375). FSU did beat No. 22 Alabama, 21-14, last year in game like this at Alltell Stadium, home of NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars.PURDUE (2-1) at NOTRE DAME (2-1), 3:30, NBC.FAVORITE: Notre Dame by 2.COACHES: Joe Tiller (85-55 in 12th year at Purdue) and Charlie Weis (24-16 in fourth year at Notre Dame).LAST WEEK: Purdue beat Central Michigan, 32-25. Notre Dame lost at Michigan State, 23-7.SERIES HISTORY: Notre Dame leads, 51-26-2.LAST MEETING: Purdue won, 33-19, last year.STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 1976, Fighting Irish are 14-1 vs. Boilermakers in South Bend. GAME FACTS: As usual, Boilermakers are being dragged down by shoddy defense (last in Big Ten, 103rd in nation in total defense, 427 ypg, last in Big Ten, 99th nationally vs. run, 192.3 ypg). After poor effort in 32-26 OT loss to Oregon Sept. 13, QB Curtis Painter rebounded (27-of-36, 261 passing, TD, int.) last week, but it took RB Kory Sheets' 46-yard TD run with a minute left to stave off bad loss in Tiller's final year as coach. Irish took big step backwards on several fronts last week, most notably run defense (gave up 201 yards to MSU's Javon Ringer), QB Jimmy Clausen, who did throw for 242 yards and a TD, but also threw 2 more ints. and was sacked 3 times. K Brandon Walker also misfired twice on FGs, making him 0-for-3 on season, 6-for-15 in his career. Non-existent running game (111th in nation in rushing, 78 ypg) makes offense look even worse. S David Bruton (30 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, int.) is top playmaker on defense.MISSISSIPPI STATE (1-3) at No. 5 LSU (3-0), 7:30, ESPN2.FAVORITE: LSU by 24.COACHES: Sylvester Croom (18-33 in fifth year at Miss. State) and Les Miles (37-6 in fourth year at LSU).LAST WEEK: Mississippi State lost at Georgia Tech, 38-7. LSU won at Auburn, 26-21.SERIES HISTORY: LSU leads, 65-33-3.LAST MEETING: LSU won, 45-0, last year.STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 1992, Tigers are 15-1 vs. Bulldogs including last seven wins by combined score of 340-81.GAME FACTS: Never really much during surprise 8-5 season last year, Bulldogs' offense has gone in the tank (only 7 points last two games, 3 TDs scored n 3 games vs. D-I foes). And exactly how is it going to get better here, vs. Tigers who held MSU to 9 first downs and 146 total yards (10 rushing) last year? After throwing only 7 ints. all last year, QB Wesley Carroll already has 6 (vs. 3 TD passes). Defense inexplicably crumbled last week giving up over 500 yards for first time since 2005. Miles' amazing go-for-broke act paid off again last week. Eschewing FG that would have given LSU the lead, freshman QB Jarrett Lee threw game-winning 18-yard TD pass to WR Brandon LaFell with 1:03 left. Lee went most of the way after sophomore Andrew Hatch was knocked out with concussion in second quarter. RB Charles Scott (leads SEC, 7th in nation with 394 rushing, 9.0 per carry, 4 TDs) is one of SEC's most physical runners. Sophomore Kelvin Shepherd (9 tackles, 2 for loss last week) is latest of Tigers' dominating LBs while junior CB Chris Hawkins picked perfect time for his first 2 ints. of his career at Auburn.No. 8 ALABAMA (4-0) at No. 3 GEORGIA (4-0), 7:45, ESPN .FAVORITE: Georgia by 7.COACHES: Nick Saban (11-6 in second year at Alabama) and Mark Richt (76-19 in 8th year at Georgia).LAST WEEK: Alabama won at Arkansas, 49-14. Georgia won at Arizona State, 27-10.SERIES HISTORY: Alabama leads, 35-25-4.LAST MEETING: Georgia won, 26-23 in overtime, last year.STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 2002, Crimson Tide have lost eight straight games to ranked opponents on the road.GAME FACTS: Early SEC intra-division showdown may come down to QB play. And that's bad news for Tide, who has much-maligned senior John Parker Wilson (9 TD passes, 7 ints. in last 8 games dating back to last season), compared to Bulldogs' junior Matthew Stafford (leads SEC in QB rating, 919 yards passing, 5 TDs, 0 ints. in 102 passes), who NFL scouts are drooling over. Stafford also beat Tide with 25-yard TD pass to WR Mikey Henderson in OT in Tuscaloosa last year. Saban had to like forceful running game (14th in nation in rushing, 236.7 ypg) last week that ground out 328 yards including RB Glen Coffee's 87 and 31-yard TD bolts. CB Javier Arena's returned int. 63 yards for TD in first half before being outdone moments later by S Justin Woodall, who had 74-yard pick-six. With blackout ordered for Sanford Stadium, Richt has Bulldogs wearing rare black jerseys. They went black twice last year, hammering Auburn and Hawaii in Sugar Bowl by combined 86-30. Sophomore Knowshon Moreno (second in SEC with 455 rushing, 6.6 per carry, leads SEC, third in nation with 9 TDs) might be Georgia's best RB since Herschel Walker. LB Rennie Curran (3 sacks) leads defense that has piled up 40 sacks in last 10 games dating back to last year.No. 22 ILLINOIS (2-1) at No. 22 PENN STATE (4-0), 8, ABC (regional).FAVORITE: Penn State by 14.COACHES: Ron Zook (15-24 in fourth year at Illinois) and Joe Paterno (376-125-3 in 43rd year at Penn State).LAST WEEK: Illinois was off. Penn State beat Temple, 45-3.SERIES HISTORY: Penn State leads, 12-3.LAST MEETING: Illinois won, 27-20, last year.STAT THAT MATTERS: Since Penn State joined Big Ten in 1993, Nittany Lions are 9-2 vs. Illini.GAME FACTS: Illini just haven't looked very solid, falling to Missouri, 52-42, on Aug. 30, then beating I-AA Eastern Illinois, 47-21, before holding on for 20-17 win over lowly Louisiana-Lafayette on Sept. 13. Offense seems to be relying too much on creativity outside pocket of QB "Juice'' Williams (leads Big Ten with 941 total offense, 7 TD passes, 5 ints., 2 TD runs). Others need to get more involved. Defense is giving up way too many yards on ground (85th in nation vs. run, 163 ypg). Back on sideline after leg problem forced him to press box for second half last week, Paterno is sure to go after that with Lions' balanced ground game (8th in nation in rushing, 274.2 ypg) setting up play-action passing of QB Daryll Clark (leads Big Ten in QB rating, 48-of-78, 715 passing, 7 TDs, int.). Since combined record of I-A victims (Oregon State, Syracuse and Temple) is 3-8, it's hard to figure if offense is as good as gaudy numbers (third in nation in scoring, 52.7 ppg, 6th in total offense, 538.5 ypg). Defense might get boost in containing Williams if Paterno decides to play DE Maurice Evans, DT Abe Koroma, former starters re-instated after 3-game suspension following involvement in marijuana arrest at their off-campus apartment Sept. 2.VIRGINIA TECH (3-1) at NEBRASKA (3-0), 8, ABC (regional)FAVORITE: Nebraska by 7.COACHES: Frank Beamer (170-86-2 in 22nd year at Va. Tech) and Bo Pelini (first year at Nebraska).LAST WEEK: Va. Tech won at North Carolina, 20-17. Nebraska was off.SERIES HISTORY: Nebraska leads, 1-0.LAST MEETING: Nebraska won, 41-21, in the 1996 Sugar Bowl.STAT THAT MATTERS: In winning last four home games dating back to last year, Cornhuskers have averaged 48 points per game.GAME FACTS: Helped out by injury to North Carolina QB Tyler Yates, Hokies nonetheless dug deep last week, rallying from 17-3 third-quarter deficit with 17-point eruption in six-minute span. Darren Evans and Kenny Lewis had TD runs and Dustin Keys' 44-yard FG was decisive. Sophomore QB Tyrod Taylor (11-of-21, 125 passing last week) threw 2 ints. to give Hokies (114th in nation in passing, 99 ypg) 5 ints., 1 TD pass on year. And that leads to abysmal third-down conversion rate (35 pct., 85th in nation). After racing past Western Michigan, San Jose State, New Mexico State by combined 120-43, 'Huskers get first real test of Pelini regime. RB Marlon Lucky (169 rushing, 4 TDs) needs to get going to take pressure off QB Joe Ganz (6th in Big 12 in QB rating, 50-of-78, 719 passing, 5 TDs, 3 ints.). Despite nice early numbers (second in Big 12 vs. runs, 77.7 ypg, 9 sacks) somewhere in the back of 'Huskers defenders minds is those horrifying losses late last year to Kansas and Colorado when UN gave up unfathomable 141 points.(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)