College football capsules including Texas vs. Okla. St.

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Capsule previews for Saturday's top college football games. All times Eastern and all rankings Associated Press.No. 8 TEXAS TECH (7-0) at No. 19 KANSAS (5-2), Noon, ESPN.FAVORITE: Kansas by 2.COACHES: Mike Leach (72-37 in 9th year at Texas Tech) and Mark Mangino (42-38 in 7th year at Kansas).LAST WEEK: Texas Tech won at Texas A&M, 43-25. Kansas lost at Oklahoma, 45-31.SERIES HISTORY: Texas Tech leads, 8-1.LAST MEETING: Texas Tech won, 30-17, in 2005.STAT THAT MATTERS: Since October, 2006, Jayhawks have won 13 straight home games by average score of 45-12.GAME FACTS: If you like scoring, you'll love this one. Behind QB Graham Harrell (8th in nation in QB rating, 22-of-318, 2,761 passing, 23 TDs, 5 ints., 5 TD runs), Red Raiders (second in nation in total offense, 557 ypg) haven't been held under 35 points this year, topping 49 three times. Star WR Michael Crabtree (51 catches, 12 TDs) is questionable with sore ankle. Defense (103rd in nation vs. pass, 258.6 ypg, 11 ints., 7 TD passes given up) seems to be regressing (gave up 56 points, 570 yards passing in last two games) after promising start. Jayhawks counter with sizzling trio of QB Todd Reesing (69-of-101, 917 passing, 6 TDs, 3 ints. last three games), WR Dezmon Briscoe (school records with 12 catches, 269 yards last week, 2 TDs), RB Jake Shipp (221 rushing, 4 TDs last two games). But KU defense went belly-up as well vs. Oklahoma giving up staggering 36 first downs, 671 total yards as secondary played way too soft coverage. Pass rush (5th in Big 12 with 12 sacks) had looked respectable until vanishing last week with 0 sacks. That has to change or Harrell and his pals will have field day.ILLINOIS (4-3) at WISCONSIN (3-4), Noon, ESPN2.FAVORITE: Illinois by 1-1/2.COACHES: Ron Zook (17-26 in fourth year at Illinois) and Bret Bielema (24-9 in third year at Wisconsin).LAST WEEK: Illinois beat Indiana, 55-13. Wisconsin lost at Iowa, 38-16.SERIES HISTORY: Illinois leads, 36-33-7.LAST MEETING: Illinois won, 31-26, last year.STAT THAT MATTERS: Since losing at Champaign as No. 5 team in nation last year, Badgers are just 7-8, compared to 17-1 in first season-and-a-half under Bielema.GAME FACTS: Only his team's other shortcomings keep wondrous Illini QB "Juice'' Williams (8th in nation with 2,423 total offense for season, 55-of-89, 1,043 passing, 7 TD passes, int, 3 TD runs in last three games) out of Heisman contention. WR Arrelious Benn (44 catches, 3 TDs, 2 TD runs) finally looks to be over lingering shoulder problem from last year. Defense (107 points given up in 3 losses, 71 points given up in 4 wins) has got to play better in close games. Outscored 133-65 in current four-game losing streak, Badgers are a mess. Defense has been badly pushed around last two games (gave up 402 yards rushing, 5 TD runs in blowout losses to Iowa, Penn State). Bielema's switch to junior QB Dustin Sherer (17-of-34, 161 passing, 2 ints. in first career start last week) came up empty. After rushing for 379 yards, 4 TDs in 3-0 start, RB P.J. Hill has just 225 yards, 1 TD in last four losses and now has bad ankle. So look for freshman backup John Clay (16 carries, 89 yards last week) to get a lot more touches. No. 4 OKLAHOMA (6-1) at KANSAS STATE (4-3), 12:30, Fox Sports Net.FAVORITE: Oklahoma by 19.COACHES: Bob Stoops (103-23 in 10th year at Oklahoma) and Ron Prince (16-16 in third year at K-State).LAST WEEK: Oklahoma beat Kansas, 45-31. K-State lost at Colorado, 14-13.SERIES HISTORY: Oklahoma leads, 68-17-4.LAST MEETING: Oklahoma won, 43-21, in 2005.STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 1935, Sooners are 60-8-1 in vs. Wildcats including 26-4 mark in Manhattan.GAME FACTS: NFL scouts already drooling over him, Sooners junior QB Sam Bradford (second in nation in QB rating, 170-of-234, 2520 passing, 26 TDs, 5 ints.) could easily light up poor KSU secondary (93rd in nation vs. pass, 238.7 ypg, 14 TD passes, 4 ints., 52 TD passes vs. 13 ints. over last two years), especially if Stoops goes through with the unheard of and lets him call his own plays. WR Manny Johnson (8 TD catches to lead OU) is game-time decision after suffering horrific-looking elbow injury last week. With LB Ryan Reynolds (knee) gone for year, Stoops moved Nick Harris from strong safety to LB last week. Wildcats' 13 points last week was KSU's worst offensive output since 23-13 loss at Auburn to start last season (span of 17 games). QB Josh Freeman has been more threat with his feet (150 rushing, 7 TDs in last three games) than his arm (54-of-95, 671 passing, TD pass in last three games) lately. CB Josh Moore was bright spot at Colorado with 13 tackles, int., recovered fumble.No. 9 GEORGIA (6-1) at No. 11 LSU (5-1), 3:30, CBS.FAVORITE: LSU by 2-1/2.COACHES: Mark Richt (78-20 in 8th year at Georgia) and Les Miles (40-7 in fourth year at LSU).LAST WEEK: Georgia beat Vanderbilt, 27-17. LSU won at South Carolina, 24-17.SERIES HISTORY: LSU leads, 14-11-1.LAST MEETING: Georgia won, 34-14, in the 2005 SEC Championship Game.STAT THAT MATTERS: Since November, 2006, Tigers are 5-0 vs. top-10 teams.GAME FACTS: This mega-SEC showdown might only be Round 1 if the two square off again in SEC title game in December. Bulldogs have bounced Tennessee, Vanderbilt since humbling 41-30 loss at home to Alabama Sept. 27. RB Knowshon Moreno was SEC offensive player of week after 172-yard, TD-effort vs. Vandy. QB Matthew Stafford (38-of-59, 504 passing, 3 TDs, 4 ints. in last two games) may have to get rid of ball quickly if young offensive line (3 freshman, 2 sophomores) has trouble with Tigers' pressure (fourth in SEC with 15 sacks). Miles went back to playing both QBs Jarrett Lee, Andrew Hatch last week and it paid off as Tigers rallied from 17-10 third-quarter deficit. Hatch's 7-yard TD pass to TE Richard Dickson followed by RB Charles Scott's 2-yard TD plunge with 4:16 left were pivotal. All of 5-5 and 159 pounds, RB Trindon Holliday (second in nation in punt returns, 23 ypr, TD, 21.2 per kickoff return) might be most exciting little guy in nation. WR Brandon LaFell leads SEC with 33 catches, 462 receiving yards. DE Tyler Jackson (2 sacks last week), rest of front seven could use return of talented DT Ricky Jean-Francois, who missed last week with groin injury. This is first of 5 straight home games at Death Valley for Tigers.No. 7 OKLAHOMA STATE (7-0) at No. 1 TEXAS (7-0), 3:30, ABC (regional).FAVORITE: Texas by 12.COACHES: Mike Gundy (26-19 in fourth year at Oklahoma State) and Mack Brown (110-25 in 11th year at Texas).LAST WEEK: Oklahoma State beat Baylor, 34-6. Texas beat Missouri, 56-35.SERIES HISTORY: Texas leads, 20-2.LAST MEETING: Texas won, 38-35.STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 1998, Longhorns have beaten Cowboys 10 straight times including comebacks from 21 points (2004), 19 points (2005) and 21 points (last year).GAME FACTS: 7-0 for first time since 1945, Cowboys are also shooting for first win over No. 1 team ever (0-7). OSU has certainly had Longhorns in crosshairs before, most notably last year when 35-14 final quarter-lead disappeared. QB Zac Robinson (third in nation in QB rating, 94-of-134, 1,488 passing, 14 TDs, 4 ints.) was brilliant vs. UT last year (30-of-42, 430 passing, 2 TDs, TD run). Top-notch offense (fourth in nation in scoring, 46.4 ppg) also features WR Dez Bryant (45 catches, 11 TDs, second in nation with 809 yards receiving), RB Kendall Hunter (leads Big 12 with 955 rushing, 9 TDs). Pass rush (8 sacks, 11th in Big 12, 101st in nation) may be defense's Achilles Heel. That figures to be huge factor vs. Heisman frontrunner Longhorns QB Colt McCoy (fourth in nation in QB rating), who is an amazing 57-of-67 for 614 yards with 3 TDs, 2 TD runs in last two wins over Oklahoma and Missouri. Running game woke up with 203 yards last week. Pressure defense (fourth in nation with 24 sacks) is making plays when game matters. But Brown has to be worried about how OSU carved them up for 494 total yards last year when UT managed only one sack. Third straight game vs. top-12 team will certainly test Longhorns mettle and toughness.VIRGINIA TECH (5-2) at No. 24 FLORIDA STATE (5-1), 3:30, ABC (regional).FAVORITE: FSU by 5.COACHES: Frank Beamer (172-87-2 in 22nd year at Va. Tech) and Bobby Bowden (305-88-4 in 33rd year at FSU).LAST WEEK: Virginia Tech lost at Boston College, 28-23. FSU won at N.C. State, 26-17.SERIES HISTORY: FSU leads, 21-11-1.LAST MEETING: Virginia Tech won, 40-21, last year.STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 1975, Seminoles are 12-1 vs. Hokies, only loss coming last year in game FSU led 21-20 in fourth quarter before Tech rolled.GAME FACTS: Hokies look for first win in Tallahassee since 1974. Then again, they've only been to Doak Campbell Stadium once since (39-28 loss in 1990). In tough loss at BC, QB Tyrod Taylor was terrific running (110 yards on 15 carries), but not so much throwing (12-of-27, 90 yards, int.). CB Victor "Macho'' Harris has intercepted pass in last four games including 55-yard TD return last week. This will be good test to see how improved Seminoles offense actually is, considering Hokies held them to 267 yards, 13 first downs while forcing 3 turnovers last year. RB Antone Smith (72 carries, 335 yards, 8 TDs in last three games) has been workhorse and leads ACC with 11 TDs. Sophomore QB Christian Ponder (23-of-35, 254 passing, TD last week) is improving as well. K Graham Gano (hit last 10 FG tries) came to rescue at N.C. State with 4-for-4 performance that included game clinching 53-yarder. WR Bert Reed has been suspended for violation of team rules and will not play which could hurt fragile offense.UCLA (3-4) at CALIFORNIA (4-2), 3:30, ABC (regional).FAVORITE: Cal by 17.COACHES: Rick Neuheisel (first year at UCLA) and Jeff Tedford (54-28 in 7th year at Cal).LAST WEEK: UCLA beat Stanford, 23-20. Cal lost at Arizona, 42-27.SERIES HISTORY: UCLA leads, 49-28-1.LAST MEETING: UCLA won, 30-21, last year.STAT THAT MATTERS: Since starting last year 5-0 and reaching No. 2 in nation, Golden Bears are 6-8 while allowing 31 points per game in the 8 losses.GAME FACTS: Home team has won last eight years in Pac-10 rivalry that dates back to 1933. After ugly 3-game losing skid, Neuheisel and Bruins have righted themselves with wins over Washington State, Stanford, close 31-24 loss at Oregon. Improvement of QB Kevin Craft (73-of-118, 798 passing, 5 TDs, 2 ints. in last three games) has been key, especially last week when junior shook off 7 sacks to find WR Cory Harkey with 7-yard TD pass with 10 second left to win game. Bears defense was hurt by big play last week giving up 56 and 35-yard TD passes, 20-yard TD run. Tedford continued his game of musical QBs starting senior Nate Longshore (18-of-37, 219 passing, 2 TDs) then pulling him in early in fourth quarter after he threw int. that was run back for TD. Sophomore Kevin Riley (7-of-19, 97 passing, int.) wasn't any better. Just giving ball more to speedy RB Jahvid Best (528 rushing, 7.0 per carry, 5 TDs for season, including 67-yarder last week) might be a better idea.No. 2 ALABAMA (7-0) at TENNESSEE (3-4), 7:45, ESPN.FAVORITE: Alabama by 6-1/2.COACHES: Nick Saban (14-6 in second year at Alabama) and Phillip Fulmer (150-49 in 17th year at Tennessee).LAST WEEK: Alabama beat Ole Miss, 24-20. Tennessee beat Mississippi State, 34-3.SERIES HISTORY: Alabama leads, 45-38-7.LAST MEETING: Alabama won, 45-17, last year.STAT THAT MATTERS: Vols are 106th in nation in total offense (296 yards per game) as offense has scored only 8 TDs in last five games.GAME FACTS: In biggest win over UT since 1986, Crimson Tide rolled up 510 total yards last year as QB John Parker Wilson (32-of-46, 363 passing, 3 TDs) enjoyed career day. After starting season as backup, RB Glen Coffee is second in SEC in rushing with 760 yards. Even without mammoth 355-pound DT Glen Cody (out 2 weeks with knee injury), tough defense (fourth in nation vs. run, 66.1 ypg, only 1 TD run given u, 15 turnovers forced) should have no problem shutting down punch-less UT. Fulmer is 10-3 vs. 'Bama but has dropped 2 of last 3 as Vols enters storied rivalry with losing record for only second time since 1994. Switch three games ago to sophomore QB Nick Stephens (33-of-67, 500 passing, 3 TDs in last three starts) has hardly sparked listless Vols' offense (56 points scored in four losses), which could be without WR Gerald Jones, G Anthony Parker, each with high ankle sprains. Speedy sophomore RB Lennon Creer got bulk of carries last week as senior Arian Foster (43 yards in last two games) has lost explosiveness. Sophomore S Eric Berry (44 tackles, leads nation with 5 ints., set SEC career int. return yards record with 68-yard TD return last week) is amazing when he gets hands on ball. So desperate Fulmer might try him somewhere on offense for a few snaps.No. 3 PENN STATE (8-0) at No. 10 OHIO STATE (7-1), 8, ABC.FAVORITE: Penn State by 2.COACHES: Joe Paterno (380-125-3 in 43rd year at Penn State) and Jim Tressel (80-17 in 8th year at Ohio State).LAST WEEK: Penn State beat Michigan, 46-17. Ohio State won at Michigan State, 45-7.SERIES HISTORY: Ohio State leads, 12-11.LAST MEETING: Ohio State won, 37-17, last year.STAT THAT MATTERS: Since joining Big Ten in 1994, Penn State is 0-7 in Columbus losing by average score of 27-6.GAME FACTS: Thanks to soft remaining schedule (at Iowa; Indiana and Michigan State at home), win here would give Nittany Lions inside track to first Big Ten title since 1994, inside track to BCS national title game Jan. 8 in Miami. Unheralded senior QB Darryl Clark (second in Big Ten in QB rating, 114-of-180, 1,531 passing, 11 TDs, 2 ints., 8 TD runs) has emerged as PSU's best QB in years. Sophomore DE Aaron Maybin leads Big Ten with 10 sacks (fourth in nation) while fellow sophomore Navorro Bowman (71 tackles, 9 for loss, 2 forced fumbles) upholds Lions' tradition of great LBs. In winning five straight since humbling 35-3 loss at USC last month, Buckeyes defense has gotten job done (only 58 points given up in last 5 wins) behind leadership of LB James Laurinitis (second in Big Ten with 78 tackles). In leading rout last week, freshman QB Terrelle Pryor made no mistakes (7-of-11, 116 passing, TD, 72 yards rushing, TD run). Then again, it's not hard to hand to RB "Beanie'' Wells (523 rushing, 5 TDs in last four games). If it comes down to a field goal, both teams are set with PSU's Kevin Kelly (12-of-14 on FGs) against Buckeyes senior Ryan Pretorious (second in Big Ten with 13 FGs). Tressel may want to avoid kicking to Lions dangerous WR Derrick Williams (leads Big Ten, fifth in nation in kickoff returns, 32.2 ypr, 2 TDs, fifth in Big Ten in punt returns, 10.3 ypr, TD).NOTRE DAME (4-2) at WASHINGTON (0-6), 8, ESPN2.FAVORITE: Notre Dame by 10-1/2.COACHES: Charlie Weis (26-17 in fourth year at Notre Dame) and Tyrone Willingham (11-31 in fourth year at Washington).LAST WEEK: Notre Dame was off. Washington lost at home to Oregon State, 34-13.SERIES HISTORY: Notre Dame leads, 6-0.LAST MEETING: Notre Dame won, 36-17, in 2005.STAT THAT MATTERS: Huskies have been outscored 244-106 this season and are 2-15 since starting last year 2-0.GAME FACTS: With tough finishing stretch (Pitt, trips to Boston College, USC over final five weeks), win here would solidify Fighting Irish's bowl chances. It certainly would help QB Jimmy Clausen (80-of-123, 1,005 passing, 8 TDs, 2 ints. in last three games) even more if dormant running game (108th in nation in rushing, 101.2 ypg) finally broke loose here. Defense is not producing big plays (only 7 sacks, 14 turnovers forced). It's hard to imagine a scenario where Willingham is coaching UW next year. Nonetheless, win over his former employer, who ditched him for Weis in 2004 would be huge personally. Unfortunately, defense is atrocious (last in Pac-10, 117th in nation in total defense, 483 ypg, 9th in Pac-10, 115th in nation in scoring, 40.7 ppg) and with QB Jake Locker (broken arm) gone for year, freshman backup Ronnie Fouch (17-of-32, 276 passing, 3 ints. last week) will have to take lumps has he learns. No. 6 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (5-1) at ARIZONA (5-2), 10:15, Fox Sports Net.FAVORITE: USC by 16.COACHES: Pete Carroll (81-15 in 8th year at USC) and Mike Stoops (22-31 in fifth year at Arizona).LAST WEEK: USC won at Washington State, 69-0. Arizona beat Cal, 42-27.SERIES HISTORY: USC leads, 25-6.LAST MEETING: USC won, 20-13, last year.STAT THAT MATTERS: Since falling behind Oregon, 10-3, on Oct. 4, Trojans have outscored Oregon, Arizona State and Washington State in last 10-1/2 quarters by combined score of 138-0, USC's longest streak of holding foes scoreless since 1971.GAME FACTS: Under Carroll, Trojans are 6-0 vs. Wildcats, but had to sweat it out last year in QB Mark Sanchez's first career start. Now a junior, Sanchez (15-of-20, 253 passing, school-record 5 TDs despite not playing most of second half) is a bit more poised. LBs Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushin, Clay Matthews (combined 99 tackles, 9 for loss, 5 sacks, 3 forced fumbles), are best trio in nation. Upset here would all but clinch UA's first bowl trip since 1998. QB Willie Tuitama (55-of-82, 677 passing, 5 TDs in last three games) is quietly putting together a fine season. Sophomore RB Nic Grigsby (627 rushing, 5.9 per carry, 9 TDs) has talent but has also been plagued by fumbles (4 on season, 3 lost). WR Mike Thomas (42 catches, 4 TDs) needs four more grabs to move his career total to 231 and pass Bobby Wade for tops on all-time Wildcats list. Secondary (leads Pac-10, 6th in nation vs. pass, 143 ypg, 6 TDs given up, 10 ints.) likes man-to-man coverage, which is risky vs. Sanchez and Trojans.(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)