Home

College football capsules including Arkansas, WVa.

Submitted by SHNS on Wed, 10/22/2008 - 17:51

Capsule previews for this week's top college football games. All times Eastern and all rankings Associated Press.THURSDAY:AUBURN (4-3) at WEST VIRGINIA (4-2), 7:30 p.m., ESPN.FAVORITE: West Virginia by 3.COACHES: Tommy Tuberville (84-36 in 10th year at Auburn) and Bill Stewart (first year at West Va.).LAST GAME: Auburn lost at home to Arkansas, 25-22, on Oct. 11. West Virginia beat Syracuse, 17-6, on Oct. 11.SERIES HISTORY: First meeting.STAT THAT MATTERS: Since October, 2005, Mountaineers are 18-2 in Morgantown while averaging 40 points per game.GAME FACTS: What was supposed to be rare SEC-Big East mega-clash has lost plenty of luster due to each school's offensive woes. Tuberville fired new offensive coordinator Tony Franklin Oct. 6 after his spread offense (107th in nation in total offense, 296 yards per game) hopelessly floundered. Move to Steve Ensminger as play-caller hardly helped when offense managed only 193 yards, 11 first downs, 1 TD scored in shocking loss to Arkansas. QBs Chris Todd, Kodi Burns (combined 10-of-28 for 137 yards, 3 ints.) were wretched. After averaging nearly 40 points and 457 yards a game last season, WVU offense has faltered as well (82nd in nation in scoring, 22.2 ppg, 112th in passing, 117.3 ypg) and didn't get much done vs. lowly Syracuse (7 points in first three quarters, only 268 total yards for game). RB Noel Devine (second in Big East with 642 rushing) did shine with career-high 188 yards including 92-yard TD burst. After missing Syracuse game with head injury, return of QB Pat White should help but the senior (1,018 total offense, 9 TD passes, int., 2 TD runs) hasn't been same player many regarded as preseason Heisman contender. Versatile P-K Pat McAfee (7th in nation in punting, 45.4 ypp) has made 110 straight extra points and has 190 career PATs (tied for most in Big East history).FRIDAY:No. 13 BOISE STATE (6-0) at SAN JOSE STATE (5-2), 9, ESPN.FAVORITE: Boise State by 7.COACHES: Chris Petersen (29-3 in third year at Boise State) and Dick Tomey (22-21 in fourth year at San Jose State).LAST WEEK: Boise State beat Hawaii, 27-7. San Jose State won at New Mexico State, 31-14.SERIES HISTORY: Boise State leads, 8-0.LAST MEETING: Boise State won, 42-7, last year.STAT THAT MATTERS: Since November, 2005, Broncos have won 19 of last 20 WAC games by average score of 44-20.GAME FACTS: After riding their offense to memorable Fiesta Bowl victory two years ago, these Broncos are now doing it with defense (second in nation in scoring, 10.2 ppg, 6th with 20 sacks, 16 turnovers forced) with CB Brandyn Thompson (3 ints. last week), S Jerron Johnson (leads team with 52 tackles) showing the way. Quick maturation of freshman QB Kellen Moore (leads WAC, 6th in nation in QB rating, 123-of-170, 1,591 passing, 13 TDs, 3 ints.) has helped out as well. BSU has struggled in winning last two trips to San Jose, including pulling out harrowing 23-20 win two years ago on FG in final seconds. These Spartans have won three straight and also feature strong defense (third in nation with 25 sacks, leads WAC in total defense, 272.6 ypg, and with 20 turnovers forced) led by the Ihenacho brothers, S Duke (leads nation with 5 ints., 2 returned for TDs), DE Carl (leads WAC with 7 sacks, tied school record with 6 tackles for loss last week). Offense survived through nightmarish game at Boise last year managing only 150 total yards (50 rushing on 32 carries) and wasn't much better last week (201 total yards, 11 first downs). If QB Kyle Reed struggles like he did at New Mexico State (8-of-18, 50 yards, 3 ints.) here, Tomey may consider benching him.(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)