College football caps: Louisville-Rutgers, Buffalo-Ball St.

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

THURSDAY:

LOUISVILLE (5-6) at RUTGERS (6-5), 7:30, ESPN.
FAVORITE: Rutgers by 11-1/2.
COACHES: Steve Kragthorpe (11-12 in second year at Louisville) and Greg Schiano (44-49 in 8th year at Rutgers).
LAST GAME: Louisville lost at home to West Virginia, 35-21, on Nov. 22. Rutgers beat Army, 30-3, on Nov. 22.
SERIES HISTORY: Rutgers leads, 5-2.
LAST MEETING: Louisville won, 41-38, last year.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Since starting last season 2-0, Cardinals are 9-12 while giving up 32 points per game in the losses.
GAME FACTS: Even with slim bowl hopes still out there, this one may be more about Kragthorpe's future at UL as natives are restless over current four-game losing streak (outscored 122-69). Turnovers (108th in nation in turnover ratio, 18 forced, 28 given up), nonexistent pass rush (103rd in nation with 14 sacks) have been big problems, along with QB Hunter Cantwell (61-of-110, 644 yards passing, 3 TDs, 5 ints. in last three losses) who has struggled playing with injuries. Defense misses CB Woodny Turenne (leads Big East with 6 ints.), out with a broken collarbone. Likely headed for PapaJohn's.com Bowl with a win, Scarlet Knights are headed in opposite direction shaking off 1-5 start with five straight wins that has seen RU average 36 points per game. QB Mike Teel (81-of-119, 1,290 passing, 13 TDs, 5 ints. in last four wins) has been catalyst with plenty of help from talented WRs Kenny Britt (78 catches, 5 TDs, leads nation with 119.1 yards receiving per game), Tiquan Underwood. Defense has had problems containing UL offense (given up 122 points in dropping two of last three).

FRIDAY:

Mid-American Conference Championship Game, in Detroit.
BUFFALO (7-5) vs. No. 12 BALL STATE (12-0), 8, ESPN2.
FAVORITE: Ball State by 16.
COACHES: Turner Gill (14-22 in third year at Buffalo) and Brady Hoke (34-37 in 6th year at Ball State).
LAST WEEK: Buffalo lost at home to Kent State, 24-21. Ball State beat Western Michigan, 45-22.
SERIES HISTORY: Ball State leads, 6-0.
LAST MEETING: Ball State won, 49-14, last year.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Cardinals' 12-game winning streak is third longest in nation and BSU's longest since winning 13 straight from 1977-78.
GAME FACTS: Having guided Bulls to first winning season since program became D-I in 1999, Gill has done terrific job but Buffalo looks more than a bit overmatched here. Defense gave up 426 yards last week and secondary (93rd in nation vs. pass, 242.7 ypg, 18 TD passes given up, 8 ints.) figures to have big problems containing Cardinals' QB Nate Davis. Bulls do have fine QB in unheralded senior Drew Wily (fourth in MAC in QB rating, 256-of-397, 2,885 passing, 22 TDs, 5 ints.) who's preferred target is WR Naaman Roosevelt (leads MAC, 9th in nation with 86 catches, 10 TDs). Hoping for a possible bowl matchup with fellow non-BCS unbeaten Boise State, Cardinals are a lot more than the talents of Davis (leads MAC, 6th in nation in QB rating, 218-of-324, 3,095 passing, 25 TDs, 6 ints., 4 TD runs). MiQuale Lewis (leads MAC, fourth in nation, 1,570 rushing, leads MAC, third in nation with 20 TDs) is best RB you've never heard of while line gives Davis excellent protection (fifth in nation with only 11 sacks allowed). Freshman S Sean Baker (86 tackles, 2 forced fumbles, leads MAC with 6 ints.), 32-year-old junior DE Brandon Crawford (7 tackles for loss) anchor solid defense (leads MAC, 10th in nation in scoring, 16.7 ppg).

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