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Scan the schedules for the five conferences who don't have an
automatic berth in the Bowl Championship Series this weekend and you
notice the dearth of big games, the kind of games that can determine a
league championship. In fact, there are few, if any games you
could consider "jockey games" — that is, games where teams are
jockeying for position down the home stretch. The schedule makers just decided to take a week off, apparently. Two
teams — Texas Christian and Fresno State — are in the Associated Press
Top 25. But don't look to them for close games this week, because these
games should be cakewalks. The Horned Frogs, No. 21 in the
nation, are already bowl eligible (6-1, 4-0) and have a one game lead
over Colorado State in the Mountain West Conference. TCU travels to Air
Force (3-4, 2-3), which is wounded but dangerous. Why? The Falcons are
one of the few teams left that run the wishbone offense. It seems
archaic, but it gives opponents fits because of the myriad of options
out of the backfield. TCU just destroyed Nevada-Las Vegas last
weekend, 42-7. But the Horned Frogs aren't the Rebels, believe me. The
Horned Frogs lead the nation in takeaways (26), turnover margin (+2.14
per game) and interceptions (15). The Horned Frogs are also +18 in
turnover ratio in their victories. And in case you're thinking, "Well,
Air Force will just run the ball," TCU's run defense is No. 2 in the
Mountain West and No. 35 in the NCAA. This game ought to be a walk for
the Horned Frogs. TCU 35, Air Force 10. In
other MWC games ... Brigham Young (3-3, 2-2) takes a break from
conference play to head east to face Notre Dame, smarting from its
last-second loss to No. 1 Southern Cal last Saturday. The Fighting
Irish will come into this game with a big chip on their collective
shoulder. It'll be a quick end to the Cougars' two-game winning streak.
Notre Dame 40, BYU 24. Wyoming (4-3, 2-2)
travels to Colorado State (3-3, 2-1). The game is key for the Rams, who
are hoping to stay within a game of TCU. Wyoming's Jovon Bouknight is
one of the best all-purpose players in college football. He is third
among current NCAA player in all-purpose yardage, and was the MWC
special teams player of the week last week after producing 246
all-purpose yards in a loss to New Mexico. The key matchup is the Rams'
passing game, led by quarterback Justin Holland (1,550 yards, 14 TDs)
against a Cowboys defense that is No. 1 in pass defense, total defense
and scoring defense. In the end, the Cowboys won't give the Horned
Frogs the breathing room they'd like in the MWC standings. Colorado State 37, Wyoming 31. Utah
(3-4, 1-3) at UNLV (2-5, 1-3) is a game that means diddly in the
conference standings, but a victory for Utah could keep the Utes on the
path to bowl eligibility. Utah 27, UNLV 17. New
Mexico (4-3, 2-2) is in San Diego to take on State (3-4, 2-2), a key
game for the Lobos, who have been to a bowl game each of the past three
seasons, the longest streak in the league. Slowing down the Lobos means
slowing down senior RB DonTrell Moore, who has 806 yards rushing and
nine touchdowns. He is second among active NCAA rushers, and has an
outside shot at surpassing 6,000 career rushing yards. Ultimately, San
Diego State's average rushing defense will be its downfall. New Mexico 31, San Diego State 20. Western Athletic Conference Fresno
State (4-1, 2-0), now No. 24 in the nation, travels to Idaho (1-5, 1-2)
to take on the Vandals. This one will be over early. The Vandals'
offense is pathetic (102nd in the nation) and the defense isn't much
better. Fueled by the nation's No. 5 scoring offense, the Bulldogs will
win big. Fresno State 49, Idaho 14. Hawai'i
(2-4, 2-2) ventures across the Pacific Ocean to face San Jose State
(1-5, 0-3) in a game more important to the Warriors. They've played in
each of the past three Hawai'i Bowls, but they'll need four more wins
to be considered bowl eligible. Hawai'i should get one of those wins
Saturday. It's beaten the Spartans four straight times. The passing
offense is No. 2 in the nation, with Colt Brennan calling the shots. he
has three 300-yard passing games this season. San Jose State's No. 100
pass defense will be powerless to stop him. Hawai'i 51, San Jose State 20. Boise
State (4-2, 2-0) at Utah State (2-3, 1-2) should see the Broncos run
away early. They've won four straight since opening the season 0-2.
They've also taken the past four meetings with USU. The Broncos lead
the conference in rushing, despite not having a 100-yard rusher this
season. The Ags are looking for their best six- game start since 1983,
but it's not going to happen. Boise State 56, Utah State 14. North
Texas (2-3) and Louisiana Tech (2-3) venture out of conference play for
their first meeting since 1987, when both were Division I-AA programs.
North Texas' rushing offense, usually its strength, isn't what it used
to be, as it ranks just No. 90 in the nation with the same two backs —
Patrick Cobbs and Jamario Thomas — that have previously led the nation
in rushing (Cobbs in 2003, Thomas in 2004). Still, La. Tech is only No.
73 against the run. But it's No. 7 in third-down defense. And this will
be a close one. Louisiana Tech 24, North Texas 20. Mid-American Conference Temple
(0-7) continues its slide toward oblivion with a trek to Clemson (3-3)
Saturday. The Tigers are coming off a 31-10 win last week that snapped
a three- game losing streak. The Tigers won't start another losing
streak against the provisional MAC member. Clemson 41, Temple 7. Northern
Illinois (3-3, 2-1 MAC West) is just a game back of Toledo in the
standings, so each game is key. The Huskies travel to Kent State (1-5,
0-3 MAC East), which has little to play for. The Huskies have won three
of their last four and are back to .500. They hope to get over that
hump behind third-string back Adrian Davis, who rushed for 73 yards
last week. The team's and league's top back, Garrett Wolfe (144 yards
per game) is out with a knee injury, and second-stringer A.J. Harris is
questionable. Even with the injuries, NIU leads the conference in total
offense. Northern Illinois 27, Kent State 14. Ball
State (1-5, 1-2 MAC West) is at Ohio (2-4, 1-2 MAC East). The Bobcats
are 2-0 at home this season, so the karma is certainly there. So is the
ground game, as Kalvin McRae (6th, 74.8 ypg) and Voncarie Owens (10th,
40.4 ypg ) are among the conference's top 10 rushers. Should be too
much for BSU, but it'll be close because neither team scored more than
one touchdown in losses last week. Ohio 21, Ball State 18. Western
Michigan (3-3, 1-2 MAC West) travels to Bowling Green (4-2, 3-0 MAC
East) to try and put a dent in the Falcons' armor. The Falcons have
pounded their three previous MAC opponents, outscoring them 105-52. QB
Omar Jacobs is No. 2 in pass efficiency in the MAC and already has 20
touchdown passes and only five interceptions. That should be more than
enough to stay undefeated in conference. Bowling Green 37, Western Michigan 17. Miami
(3-3, 2-2 MAC East) travels to Eastern Michigan (3-4, 2-2 MAC West), as
the RedHawks have won the last four meetings. But they haven't played
since 2000. Miami's Brandon Murphy is second in the MAC in rushing
(126.7 ypg). EMU has some of the conference's top young defenders,
including pass rusher Jason Jones. Offense wins this one, though. Miami 23, Eastern Michigan 20. Army
(0-6), coming off a loss at TCU, travels to Akron (3-3, 2-2). The Zips
win close games, and Bobby Ross always has his Army teams prepared.
Akron's never won in this short series, and there's no time like the
present. Akron 21, Army 20. Buffalo (0-6, 0-3
MAC East) travels to Toledo (5-1, 3-0 MAC West), a game that should
present no difficulties for Toledo. The Rockets have won the last three
meetings. Toledo 37, Buffalo 10. Sun Belt Conference Troy (3-4, 2-1) defeated Florida International (1-5, 0-3) Thursday night.. Louisiana-Lafayette
(1-5, 0-2) travels to Middle Tennessee (2-3, 1-1), a critical game for
the Blue Raiders, who have already lost to North Texas and cannot
afford another loss as they chase conference-leading Louisiana-Monroe.
MT has the best scoring defense in the Belt (17.2) and La.-La. has the
best rushing offense (230.7 ypg.) Something's gotta give, and it'll be
the Blue Raiders. Louisiana- Lafayette 28, Middle Tennessee 24. Florida
Atlantic (1-6, 1-2) at Arkansas State (3-3, 2-1) also features a team
trying to stay close in the hunt for the conference title. The Indians
have the conference's top scoring offense (35.8 ppg) by far. Arkansas
State does it on the ground, as it has the second-best run offense in
the league. That's FAU's Achilles' heel, as it gives up a league-worst
239.3 yards per game. Arkansas State 31, Florida Atlantic 17. As
written earlier, North Texas is out of league play this week at
Louisiana Tech. Conference leader Louisiana-Monroe (3-4, 3-0) is off
this weekend. Conference USA The
insanity of this conference is that four teams are currently tied for
the East Division lead. Some of that might get sorted out this weekend.
On Friday, Southern Miss (3-2, 2-1 East) is at
Alabama-Birmingham (3-3, 1-2) and the Golden Eagles are looking for
their second straight league win. USM should win, but it will be close.
The five games in this series have been decided by an average of 5.6
points. USM 23, UAB 20 Also Friday, Central
Florida (3-3, 2-1 East) hosts Tulane (2-3, 1-2) in a game moved up a
day due to Hurricane Wilma. Tulane continues its road warrior campaign
after being displaced by Hurricane Katrina. UCF gets the edge with the
accelerated game time and the fact that they're 2-0 at home. UCF 28, Tulane 21. Southern
Miss 23, UAB 20. Houston (3-3, 2-2 West) is out of league play for a
date against Mississippi State. The Cougars are coming off a big loss
to Memphis, and the Bulldogs aren't going to be the antidote to those
blues. Mississippi State 31, Houston 10. Southern
Methodist (2-5, 1-3 West) has little chance to beat West-leading Tulsa
(4-3, 3-1) as the Golden Hurricane eyes bowl eligibility. But wait, you
should know this — SMU has won eight of the nine meetings, and it won
in overtime, 41-35, last year after Tulsa scored 28 second-half points
to tie the game and send it to OT. Tulsa wins, but it will be a
barn-burner. Tulsa 41, SMU 34 (OT). East
Carolina (3-3, 2-1 East) travels to Memphis (3-3, 2-2) in a must-win
for the Tigers. DeAngelo Williams must be stopped if ECU expects to
have any shot of winning. Williams is ninth all-time in NCAA history in
rushing yards, and had 225 yards and four touchdowns in his last
meeting with the Pirates. Memphis 27, ECU 21. Navy
sets sail for Houston to face Rice (0-5, 0-3 West) in a game with no
league implications. But Rice seeks to end its 11-game losing streak,
now tied for the longest in the country. Rice 27, Navy 24. Marshall
(3-3, 2-1 East) is at Texas-El Paso (4-1, 2-1 West) a game that might
be the most pivotal in the league this weekend. The loser isn't out of
the division title race, but the odds certainly get longer. It's their
first meeting ever, and Marshall is out to break a five-game road skid.
Texas-El Paso 23, Marshall 19. Oh, and by the way. Astros in Seven. |
