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College football caps: Va. Tech-Miami, Cincinnati-Louisville

Submitted by SHNS on Wed, 11/12/2008 - 16:33

Capsule previews for this week's top college football games. All times Eastern and all rankings Associated Press.THURSDAY:VIRGINIA TECH (6-3) at MIAMI (6-3), 7:30 p.m., ESPN.FAVORITE: Miami by 3.COACHES: Frank Beamer (173-88-2 in 22nd year at Va. Tech) and Randy Shannon (11-10 in second year at Miami).LAST WEEK: Va. Tech beat Maryland, 23-13. Miami was off.SERIES HISTORY: Miami leads, 16-9.LAST MEETING: Va. Tech won, 44-14, last year.STAT THAT MATTERS: Hokies have won four of last five over Hurricanes, holding UM to average of 13 points per game.GAME FACTS: Key game for both, who are each tied with North Carolina atop ACC Coastal Division. In must-win situation vs. Maryland, Hokies rode amazing effort of freshman RB Darren Evans, who set school record with 253 yards, TD on 32 carries. Despite sore ankle, QB Sean Glennon gutted his way through game and was effective (14-of-20, 127 passing, TD). Led by LB Cody Grimm (7 tackles, sack), swarming defense held Maryland to minus-12 yards rushing. Despite coming off bye, 'Canes come in banged-up with tackle Jason Fox, starter of all 32 games since coming to UM, doubtful with sprained ankle while WR Leonard Hankerson (leg) and RB Shawnbrey McNeal (illness) are both questionable. Four-game winning streak (three by 7 points or less) has pumped life back into season. In dramatic 24-17 win at Virginia Nov. 1, freshman QB Jacory Harris was hero, tying game with 26-yard TD pass to WR Laron Byrd with 55 seconds left, then providing winning margin with 9-yard scoring strike to WR Aldarius Johnson in OT. UM offensive line had problems with Tech last year giving up four sacks that helped lead to four turnovers. That can't happen again.FRIDAY:No. 22 CINCINNATI (7-2) at LOUISVILLE (5-4), 8, ESPN2.FAVORITE: Cincinnati by 3-1/2.COACHES: Brian Kelly (17-5 in second year at Cincinnati) and Steve Kragthorpe (11-10 in second year at Louisville).LAST WEEK: Cincinnati won at West Virginia, 26-23, in overtime. Louisville lost at Pitt, 41-7.SERIES HISTORY: Louisville leads, 26-20-1.LAST MEETING: Louisville won, 28-24, last year.STAT THAT MATTERS: In battle for Keg of Nails trophy that dates back to 1929, Cardinals have won five straight and nine of last 10 over Bearcats.GAME FACTS: Currently tied with Pitt and West Virginia atop Big East, this would be great time for Bearcats to snap frustrating skid vs. UL, which has included three losses by six points or less since 2003. UC avoided nightmarish loss last week winning in OT after blowing 13-point lead in final 1:11. QB Tony Pike's two-yard TD toss to TE Kazeem Alli was game-winner. Strong front seven (second in Big East vs. run, 111.1 ypg) held West Va. to 98 yards rushing, first time Mountaineers had been held under 100 since 2001 and added four sacks (13 in last five games). After loss to lowly Syracuse, ugly beating at Pitt, Cardinals' season -- and maybe Kragthorpe's future at UL -- is at stake here. One Web site called Kragthorpe "the George Bush of college football'' for "single-handedly bringing down a successful regime,'' referring to UL's 32-5 mark under Bobby Petrino from 2004-06. Things don't get any easier here with QB Hunter Cantwell (13 TD passes, 11 ints.) struggling and turnovers (last in Big East, 97th in nation in turnover ratio, 21 given up, 15 forced) piling up. At least WR Brent Guy has recovered from being shot outside club in August to catch 12 passes while CB Woodny Turenne leads Big East with 4 ints.(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)