Capsule previews of Thursday and Friday's top college games. All times Eastern and all rankings Associated Press.
THURSDAY:
No. 23 VIRGINIA TECH (5-3) at EAST CAROLINA (5-3), 7:30, ESPN.
FAVORITE: Va. Tech by 12.
COACHES: Frank Beamer (182-91-2 in 23td year at Va. Tech) and Skip Holtz (34-25 in fifth year at East Carolina).
LAST WEEK: Va. Tech lost at home to North Carolina, 20-17. East Carolina won at Memphis, 38-19.
SERIES HISTORY: Va. Tech leads, 9-5.
LAST MEETING: East Carolina won, 27-22, last year..
STAT THAT MATTERS: Hokies are 15-5 in ESPN Thursday night games, including 6-2 mark on road.
GAME FACTS: Sure, Hokies want revenge for last year when Tech blew 22-13 fourth quarter-lead. But last week's baffling loss brings focus for late-season, non-conference trip into question. Freshman RB Ryan Williams (leads ACC with 930 yards rushing) continues to excel but his late fumble set up North Carolina's game-winning FG on final play. After throwing for only 2 TDs (with 7 ints.) and 1,036 yards last year, QB Tyrod Taylor has already jumped his numbers to 1,315 yards, 9 TDs, 3 ints. (in 141 passes) to rank second in the ACC in QB rating. Under Beamer, Hokies have blocked 123 kicks but only one this season. Erratic Pirates have come alive last two game rolling past Memphis, Rice by combined 87-32. But ECU flunked tests vs. BCS schools West Virginia, North Carolina in September with two losses by combined 66-37. Against Memphis, ground game looked great plowing away for season-high 275 yards behind RB Dominique Lindsay's 139 yards on 22 carries. QB Patrick Pinkney was on as well with 216 yards passing, TD pass and 2 TD runs. Pirates proved turnabout is fair play blocking punt for TD in final quarter of last year's upset.
FRIDAY:
No. 5 BOISE STATE (8-0) at LOUISIANA TECH (3-5), 8, ESPN2.
FAVORITE: Boise State by 20.
COACHES: Chris Petersen (43-4 in fourth year at Boise State) and Derek Dooley (15-16 in third year at La. Tech).
LAST WEEK: Boise State beat San Jose State, 45-7. La. Tech lost at Idaho, 35-34.
SERIES HISTORY: Boise State leads, 7-4.
LAST MEETING: Boise State won, 38-3, last year.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 2002, Broncos are 57-2 in WAC play including seven straight wins over Bulldogs by average score of 43-17.
GAME FACTS: 7th in this weeks BCS rankings, one spot behind TCU in theory for BCS at-large bowl bid, Bulldogs may look to run it up vs. Tech team that hasn't given them much trouble lately. WR Titus Young (tied for team lead with 41 catches) won't be leading the way as Petersen is tired of his excessive celebration penalties and he's been demoted to backup. In leading nation in QB rating, sophomore QB Kellen Moore has been phenomenal (153-of-227, 1,903 passing, 24 TDs, 2 ints.) and now has 49 career TD passes vs. just 12 ints. After not exactly slowing down Moore (20-of-28, 315 passing, 2 TDs, int.) last year, Bulldogs hope improved secondary (third in WAC vs. pass, 190.2 ypg, 9 ints., 8 TD passes given up) can step up. It sure didn't last week as Tech blew 34-21 lead with six minutes left, squandering fine performance by junior QB Ross Jenkins (17-of-30, 220 passing, 3 TDs), who split time with freshman backup Colby Cameron (10-of-16, 105 passing). Bulldogs haven't exactly been giant-killers of late (8 straight losses to ranked teams by combined score of 367-93).
(E-mail John Lindsay at lindsayj(at)shns.com. Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
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