College football capsules including Miami vs. Georgia Tech

Capsule previews for this week's top college football games. All times Eastern and all rankings Associated Press.

THURSDAY:

No. 23 MIAMI (7-3) at GEORGIA TECH (7-3), 7:30, ESPN.

FAVORITE: Ga. Tech by 3-1/2.

COACHES: Randy Shannon (12-10 in second year at Miami) and Paul Johnson (first year at Ga. Tech)

LAST WEEK: Miami beat Va. Tech, 16-14. Ga. Tech was off.

SERIES HISTORY: Miami leads, 9-4.

LAST MEETING: Ga. Tech won, 17-14, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: In winning last three over Hurricanes, Yellow Jackets have held UM to 47 points.

GAME FACTS: Winner stays alive in jumbled ACC Coastal race. 'Canes lead division with 4-2 league mark, thanks to five-game winning streak that has seen defense (second in ACC, 10th in nation in total defense, 283.2 yards per game) hold opponents' offenses to 246 yards and 14 points a game. Freshman DE Marcus Robinson led charge last week with three of UM's six sacks. QBs Robert Mavre, Jacory Harris (combined 14 TD passes, 13 ints.) have played like freshmen. Johnson is hopeful QB Josh Nesbitt (hamstring, ankle) can play with CB Jahi Word-Daniels (hamstring) also questionable. Leading ACC in rushing with 1,056 yards, RB Jonathan Dwyer has flourished in Johnson's option attack (leads ACC, 8th in nation in rushing, 250.7 ypg). S Morgan Burnett is tied for lead in nation with 6 ints. and is also sure tackler with 66 stops. Tech defense loves to bring pressure (third in nation with 90 tackles for loss, third in ACC with 28 sacks). K Scott Blair misfired twice in 28-7 loss at North Carolina Nov. 8 and is only 8-for-15 on season.

FRIDAY:

FRESNO STATE (6-4) at SAN JOSE STATE (6-5), 9:30, ESPN2.

FAVORITE: Fresno State by 3.

COACHES: Pat Hill (91-59 in 12th year at Fresno State) and Dick Tomey (23-24 in fourth year at San Jose State).

LAST WEEK: Fresno State beat New Mexico State, 24-17. San Jose State lost at Nevada, 41-17.

SERIES HISTORY: Fresno State leads, 36-33-3.

LAST MEETING: Fresno State won, 30-0, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 1991, Bulldogs are 13-1 vs. Spartans including seven wins by 30 points or more.

GAME FACTS: A disappointing 19-20 since starting 2005 season 8-1, loss here likely keeps Bulldogs out of bowl game for only second time in last 10 years. Aside from recent dominance of SJSU, 4-1 road mark this year is encouraging. With running game hampered by injuries, QB Tom Brandstater was cool under pressure last week (14-of-20, 146 passing, 2 TD runs). After giving up 472 yards rushing in 41-28 loss at home to Nevada Nov. 7, defense bounced back holding NM State to minus-9 yards on ground but still ranks 109th in nation vs. run (212.7 ypg, 17 TD runs given up). That may not matter much as Spartans can't run at all (110th in nation in rushing, 95 ypg) as proven by pitiful effort at Nevada (minus-23 yards on 16 carries). WR David Richmond (64 catches, 6 TDs) is closest thing Tomey has to offensive weapon. Usually strong defense (leads WAC, 5th in nation with 90 tackles for loss) has started to crumble (919 yards rushing allowed in last four games), despite best efforts of DE Jarron Gilbert (leads nation with 21-1/2 tackles for loss), S Duke Ihenacho (62 tackles, 5 ints.). Win puts Spartans in fine shape for only second bowl bid since 1990.

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)