ShareThisCapsule previews for Thursday and Friday's college games. All times Eastern.
THURSDAY:
FLORIDA STATE (2-4) at NORTH CAROLINA (4-2), 8, ESPN.
FAVORITE: North Carolina by 2.
COACHES: Bobby Bowden (311-95-4 in 34th year at FSU) and Butch Davis (16-15 in third year at UNC).
LAST GAME: FSU lost at home to Ga. Tech, 49-44, on Oct. 10. UNC beat Georgia Southern, 42-12, on Oct. 10.
SERIES HISTORY: Florida State leads, 14-1-1.
LAST MEETING: FSU won, 38-16, in 2004.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Since start of 2007 season, Seminoles are 18-14, which is one more loss than FSU suffered in the entire 1990s (109-13-1).
GAME FACTS: Never thought FSU would face must-win game on Oct. 22 just to have hopes for a bowl. But with November trips to Clemson, Wake Forest and Florida, that's the predicament for Bowden, as cries for his retirement grow louder. Defense (107th in nation in total defense, 426.7 yards per game) utterly collapsed vs. Ga. Tech, yielding 532 total yards as Yellow Jackets never punted. And now LB Maurice Harris (neck) is out for season. QB Christian Ponder (leads ACC with 1,904 total offense) is holding up his end. In three games FSU has scored on opening possession, Seminoles have averaged 44 points and 485 total yards compared to 15 points and 367 yards when they come up empty initially. Tar Heels haven't beaten I-A team since 31-17 win over East Carolina on Sept. 19. Before snapping out of it in win over I-AA Ga. Southern, offense looked hopeless in losses to Ga. Tech and Virginia (combined scored 10 points with 328 total yards). Typical of trouble is RB Shaun Draughn, who has 199 yards in two wins over I-AA foes vs. 156 yards in UNC splitting games vs. UConn, East Carolina, Ga. Tech and Virginia. QB T.J. Yates (7 ints., 6 TD passes) has had trouble with accuracy. DE Robert Quinn leads ACC with 7 sacks and 11 tackles for loss, which has helped out secondary (leads nation vs. pass, 15.2 ypg, 8 ints., 1 TD pass allowed) a lot.
FRIDAY:
RUTGERS (4-2) at ARMY (3-4), 8, ESPN2.
FAVORITE: Rutgers by 10.
COACHES: Greg Schiano (50-53 in 9th year at Rutgers) and Rich Ellerson (first year at Army).
LAST WEEK: Rutgers lost at home to Pitt, 24-17. Army lost at Temple, 27-13.
SERIES HISTORY: Army leads, 18-17.
LAST MEETING: Rutgers won, 30-3, last year.
STAT THAT MATTERS: In beating Cadets last two years, Scarlet Knights have outscored Army, 71-9, outgained them, 967 total yards to 371 while enjoying 50-17 edge in first downs.
GAME FACTS: In Eastern rivalry that dates back to 1891, Knights have dominated lately (5-0 mark since 1998 by average score of 35-9). Rutgers got out-rushed last week by staggering 223-38 margin, which put too much pressure on freshman QB Tom Savage (23-of-39, 248 passing, TD, int.). CB Devin McCourty was all over field with 11 tackles, blocked punt. Soft schedule has helped (RU's four wins are over I-AAs Howard, Texas Southern along with Maryland, Florida International, who have a combined record of 3-10). Already having equaled last year's win total in Ellerson's debut, Cadets could use upset here as springboard to first bowl trip since 1996. Freshman QB Trent Steelman (673 total offense, 3 TD runs, 2 TD passes, int.) has flourished in Ellerson's spread option system (12th in nation in rushing, 222.6 ypg). Real improvement has been on defense (17th in nation in total defense, 285 ypg) that's giving up 65 yards a game less than last season with DE Josh McNary (third in nation with 15-1/2 tackles for loss), LB Stephen Anderson (57 tackles) leading the way.
(E-mail John Lindsay at lindsayj(at)shns.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
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