ShareThisCapsule previews for Thursday and Friday's top college football games. All times Eastern and all rankings Associated Press.
THURSDAY:
COLORADO (3-6) at No. 12 OKLAHOMA STATE (8-2), 7:30, ESPN.
FAVORITE: Oklahoma State by 16.
COACHES: Dan Hawkins (16-30 in fourth year at Colorado) and Mike Gundy (35-25 in fifth year at Oklahoma State).
LAST WEEK: Colorado lost at Iowa State, 17-10. Oklahoma State beat Texas Tech, 24-17.
SERIES HISTORY: Colorado leads, 26-17-1.
LAST MEETING: Oklahoma State won, 30-17, last year.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Buffaloes haven't won a road game in more than two years, losing 10 straight by average score of 35-18.
GAME FACTS: Only thing floundering Buffs have going here is history. Since 1989, CU is 11-3 vs. Cowboys and hasn't lost to OSU in consecutive seasons since falling to Barry Sanders and Co. in 1987-88. But take your pick of embattled Hawkins' woes, mostly centering on poor offensive line (last in Big 12, 117th in nation with 38 sacks allowed, 11th in Big 12, 112th in nation in rushing, 90.8 yards per game), which has led to 27 turnovers (last in Big 12, 116th in nation). Through it all, sophomore QB Tyler Hansen has showed some promise (39-of-70, 529 passing, 2 TDs, 2 ints., 95 rushing last two games). Win here on Senior Night in Stillwater and vs. Oklahoma next week (or in bowl game) gives Cowboys first 10-win season since 1988. OSU ground out win last week with 243 yards rushing, 99 of it from senior QB Zac Robinson, who threw for season-low 90 yards (second-lowest of his career). LB Patrick Lavine's 21-yard int. return for TD with 8 minutes left provided winning points. It was Lavine's 5th pick of season (second in Big 12, 8th in nation). Senior RB Keith Toston is heating up with 282 yards rushing, 4 TDs in last two games.
FRIDAY:
No. 6 BOISE STATE (10-0) at UTAH STATE (3-7), 9:30, ESPN2.
FAVORITE: Boise State by 22.
COACHES: Chris Petersen (45-4 in fourth year at Boise State) and Gary Andersen (first year at Utah State).
LAST WEEK: Boise State beat Idaho, 63-25. Utah State beat San Jose State, 24-9.
SERIES HISTORY: Boise State leads, 11-4.
LAST MEETING: Boise State won, 49-14, last year.
STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 1998, Broncos are 8-0 vs. Aggies including wins last four years by combined score of 195-55.
GAME FACTS: Winners of 59 of last 61 WAC games since 2002, Broncos need some style points here to keep up slim hopes of moving up from 6th in BCS standings, or at least hold spot for second BCS Bowl appearance in last four years. No QB in nation is playing better than sophomore Kellen Moore (leads nation in QB rating, 203-of-300, 2,558 passing, 32 TDs, 3 ints.), who was nearly perfect last week (22-of-32, 299 passing, 5 TDs). Defense (12th in nation in total defense, 295.8 ypg) has given up 60 points last two games. Andersen, the former def. coordinator at Utah, didn't inherit much here considering Aggies have not won consecutive games since 2003 and are 18-62 over that span. Utah State has shown it can run the ball (second in WAC in rushing, 201 ypg,), behind RB Robert Turbin (second in WAC with 1,122 rushing, 9 TDs), who burst for 190 yards, 2 TDs last week. QB Diondre Borel leads WAC with 2,748 total offense, to go along with 13 TD passes, 3 ints., 6 TD runs. Problem is they can't stop the run (110th in nation vs. run, 220.8 ypg, 17 TD runs allowed) or anything else (97th in nation in scoring, 30.7 ppg, 106th in total defense, 435.9 ypg), a bad combination against Boise.
(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)
