Preview Roundups
November 22, 2014
Marshall at Alabama-Birmingham 12:00 PM ET
Marshall may have already sewn up the Conference USA title, but it still has plenty to play for as it travels to UAB on Saturday to face the Blazers. The No. 18 Thundering Herd come in as one of only two unbeaten teams in the Top 25, but will need to win out to improve their chances of landing in a marquee bowl game. Marshall is coming off a 41-14 victory over Rice and boasts the nation's second-ranked scoring offense.
Eastern Kentucky at Florida 12:00 PM ET
With their slim shot at the SEC East title officially extinguished in last week's hearbreaking loss to South Carolina, the Florida Gators must prepare to welcome Eastern Kentucky to Ben Hill Griffin Stadium on Saturday. Florida saw its two-game winning streak halted last weekend after Dylan Thompson's 4-yard touchdown run gave the Gamecocks a 23-20 win. Coach Will Muschamp resigned the following day.
Charleston Southern at Georgia 12:00 PM ET
Georgia’s euphoria from thrashing Auburn 34-7 last week was dampened by the season-ending knee injury to tailback Todd Gurley, but freshman Nick Chubb looks poised to become the next great Bulldogs’ back. The 10th-ranked Bulldogs host Charleston Southern on Saturday in what figures to be a tune-up for next weekend’s home contest with arch-rival Georgia Tech. Georgia would clinch the SEC East title and berth in the Dec. 6 championship game with a Missouri loss Saturday night at Tennessee.
Rutgers at Michigan State 12:00 PM ET
Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio has focused on prioritization since the Spartans’ loss to Ohio State took them out of the national title picture. So, bouncing back has been a big theme in East Lansing. It worked well in a 37-15 win over Maryland last week, and now Rutgers will see if it continues when the Scarlet Knights visit Spartan Stadium on Saturday.
Minnesota at Nebraska 12:00 PM ET
Nebraska must lick its wounds from a disparaging loss last week and take on another top running back when it hosts Minnesota in a Big Ten contest Saturday. The 19th-ranked Cornhuskers gave up a major-college NCAA single-game record 408 yards on the ground to Wisconsin’s Melvin Gordon in a 59-24 loss Nov. 15 and now face Minnesota’s David Cobb, who is seventh in the nation in rushing. The Golden Gophers dropped two of their last three, including a 31-24 loss to No. 7 Ohio State last week.
Indiana at Ohio State 12:00 PM ET
Ohio State is the Big Ten’s only promising team left for a spot in the College Football Playoff, and the Buckeyes still have a lot of work to do. Ohio State will try to close the gap on the top 4 when it hosts Indiana on Saturday. The Buckeyes took over prime position in the Big Ten by knocking off Michigan State but have advanced only as far as No. 6 in the CFP rankings, with the Big 12 champion the likeliest to leapfrog into the top 4.
Tulsa at Houston 12:00 PM ET
Houston looks to become bowl eligible for the second straight season when it takes on visiting Tulsa in an American Athletic Conference game Saturday. The Cougars are coming off a bye week after suffering an upset loss at home against Tulane (3-7) that severely damaged their chances to win an AAC title. Still, Houston can qualify for a bowl game for the ninth time in the past 14 years, including a loss to Vanderbilt in last season’s BBVA Compass Bowl.
Penn State at Illinois 12:00 PM ET
With rumors swirling that coach Tim Beckman's job could be on the line, Illinois hosts Penn State on Saturday in its final home game of the season. The Fighting Illini need to win their final two games against the Nittany Lions and next week at Northwestern to become bowl eligible. And getting two wins would double the amount of Big Ten wins Illinois has accumulated since Beckman arrived from Toledo in 2012.
Southern Methodist at Central Florida 12:00 PM ET
UCF has its sights on a second straight American Athletic Conference championship, but a loss to SMU would cripple its cause. The Knights look to post their seventh win in eight games when they host the winless Mustangs on Saturday. With a 4-1 AAC mark, UCF enters the weekend a half-game back of Memphis (5-1) in the league standings and tied with Cincinnati (4-1).
Northwestern at Purdue 12:00 PM ET
Coming off a bye week and in search of his first Big Ten Conference home win, second-year Purdue coach Darrell Hazell has been working hard on trying to improve his porous defense before Northwestern visits Saturday. On the other side, Wildcats coach Pat Fitzgerald is just wondering which Northwestern team will show up Saturday. The Wildcats have beaten Wisconsin, Notre Dame and Penn State this season but have lost to Northern Illinois, Michigan and Iowa.
South Alabama at South Carolina 12:00 PM ET
Thanks to an overtime win at Florida last week, South Carolina can lock up a bowl bid when they host South Alabama on Saturday. With Clemson on deck, the Gamecocks better take care of business to gain their 10th straight bowl berth. South Carolina turned a late blocked punt into a tying touchdown in the final seconds last week to stun the Gators.
Virginia Tech at Wake Forest 12:30 PM ET
Virginia Tech needs two win one of its two remaining games to avoid missing out on a bowl trip for the first time since 1992, and Saturday's trip to Wake Forest might be the Hokies' best chance at bowl eligibility. The Demon Deacons have lost six straight games, including a 42-13 thrashing last week at North Carolina State. Virginia Tech has won five straight meetings dating to 1984 - the last three by more than 20 points - and hasn't lost in Winston-Salem since 1970.
Washington State at Arizona State 1:00 PM ET
A stumble last week knocked Arizona State out of first place in the Pac-12 South, and the No. 14 Sun Devils look to rebound when they host Washington State on Saturday. The Sun Devils are in a three-way tie for second after losing to Oregon State, a defeat that allowed USC to take a half-game lead in the division. The Cougars are playing out the string but new quarterback Luke Falk is more than adequately replacing injured Connor Halliday.
New Mexico at Colorado State 1:30 PM ET
Colorado State will try to continue its best season in two decades when the No. 23 Rams host New Mexico in a Mountain West Conference game Saturday. Colorado State is 9-1 for the first time since 1994 and has won eight in a row for the first time since 1997. The Rams are riding quarterback Garrett Grayson, who broke the school’s single-season touchdown mark last game and has been particularly efficient the last five games, throwing 13 touchdown passes with no interceptions.
Kansas at Oklahoma 1:30 PM ET
Freshman Cody Thomas makes his second career start when No. 22 Oklahoma hosts Kansas on Saturday, and coach Bob Stoops expects a better game from the 6-4, 211-pound quarterback. "I feel confident he'll even make a bigger jump this week, having been out there that whole game and having the experience of it,'' Stoops told reporters about Thomas, who was 10-of-20 for 133 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions in a 42-30 victory over Texas Tech last week.
Mississippi at Arkansas 3:30 PM ET
Both teams have plenty at stake Saturday when Arkansas hosts No. 8 Ole Miss in an SEC West clash. The Rebels likely saw their hopes of reaching the inaugural College Football Playoff evaporate with consecutive losses to LSU and Auburn by a combined seven points, but they bounced back to thrash Presbyterian 48-0. Arkansas is one win away from becoming bowl-eligible for the first time since 2011 and is after its second straight win over a ranked opponent after beating LSU 17-0 last week.
Boston College at Florida State 3:30 PM ET
Top-ranked and defending national champion Florida State has won 26 consecutive games, but continues to walk the tightrope toward a potential College Football Playoff berth. The Seminoles, who have trailed at halftime five times and won four contests by six points or fewer, host dangerous Boston College on Saturday. “You never want to put yourself in those positions consistently,” coach Jimbo Fisher said of falling behind during his weekly press conference. “They will (catch up with you).”
Texas Tech at Iowa State 3:30 PM ET
The frustration has bubbled over for Iowa State and head coach Paul Rhoads as his team endures a dismal season. The Cyclones may have their best remaining chance to salvage something of the campaign when they host Texas Tech in a matchup of Big 12 bottom-feeders on Saturday. "I'll tell them I'm frustrated as hell," Rhoads told reporters this week when asked what he would say to the fans who have watched his team claim last place alone following three straight losses.
Maryland at Michigan 3:30 PM ET
For all its struggles and all the calls for Brady Hoke's job, Michigan can become bowl-eligible this week with a win over visiting Maryland on Saturday. The Wolverines have struggled at times this season, but a winning record is still within their reach. The Terrapins - in their first year in the Big Ten - already have the required six wins for a bowl game, but they'd certainly like to make their first trip to the Big House for a conference game a memorable one.
Tulane at East Carolina 3:30 PM ET
East Carolina’s dreams of an American Athletic Conference title have taken a big hit over the last two weeks as the offense and defense have taken turns disappointing. The Pirates will try to avoid a third straight loss when they host Tulane on Saturday. The Green Wave did East Carolina no favors by putting up little fight in a homecoming loss to Memphis last week and are among the lowest scoring teams in the Football Bowl Subdivision.
Syracuse at Pittsburgh 3:30 PM ET
It feels like years ago that Syracuse was 2-0 and Pittsburgh was 3-0. The teams have combined for two wins since their solid starts, and they will square off Saturday with a much-needed victory on the line. The visiting Orange have lost seven of eight, managing a total of 33 points during their current three-game slide, while the Panthers have given up 147 points in losing their last three games.
Georgia State at Clemson 3:30 PM ET
The good news for Clemson in the wake of last week’s demoralizing 28-6 loss to Georgia Tech is freshman quarterback Deshaun Watson may still play again this season. It will not be Saturday however, as the Tigers host struggling Georgia State in what should be little more than a tune-up for their Nov. 29 rivalry contest against South Carolina. Watson injured his left knee in the first quarter against the Yellow Jackets, in his first action since breaking a bone in his hand Oct. 11.
Arizona at Utah 3:30 PM ET
Anu Solomon’s nimble feet will be tested by the best pass rush in the country Saturday when No. 13 Arizona travels to No. 21 Utah for a Pac-12 Conference game. The Utes lead the nation with 47 sacks this season, a category they’ve topped for seven consecutive weeks. Solomon is almost as good with his legs as he is with his right arm, however, and the offensive line has done a good job providing protection, giving up 22 sacks so far, but this will be their biggest test by far.
Wisconsin at Iowa 3:30 PM ET
Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon looks to follow up his record-breaking performance when the Badgers visit Iowa on Saturday for a critical Big Ten contest. Gordon rushed for a major-conference NCAA single-game record 408 yards as Wisconsin routed Nebraska 59-24 last week for its fifth consecutive win, moving closer to clinching a spot in the conference championship game. Iowa can still claim a share of the Big Ten West title with victories over the Badgers and Nebraska.
Louisville at Notre Dame 3:30 PM ET
It’s been a rough four-game stretch for Notre Dame, which played its way out of the College Football Playoff mix. Louisville, which visits the Fighting Irish on Saturday, finds itself at No. 24 in the playoff rankings but in third place in its own ACC division thanks to two losses in the last four games. The Cardinals are handing the quarterback job back to freshman Reggie Bonnafon after Will Gardner suffered a season-ending injury in the last game.
Stanford at California 4:00 PM ET
Stanford’s offense operated at near-peak efficiency in a rout of rival California on its way to a strong finish last season. A day shy of one year later, the Cardinal seek answers for their offensive woes and hope to become bowl-eligible on Saturday when they visit the Bears in the 117th installment of “The Big Game”. Stanford clinched a berth in the 2013 Pac-12 Championship Game when Kevin Hogan threw four of his career-high five touchdowns to Ty Montgomery in a 63-13 triumph.
South Florida at Memphis 4:00 PM ET
Riding a four-game win streak and sitting atop the American Athletic Conference standings, there’s a lot for Memphis to be excited about. Still, coach Justin Fuente has some words of caution as the Tigers prepare to host South Florida on Saturday. "Here's the deal: If all you do is spend your time thinking about the good things down the road, then you're going to lose sight of what gave you the opportunity to be in that situation to begin with,” Fuente said at his weekly news conference.
Western Carolina at Alabama 4:00 PM ET
No. 2 Alabama is taking a break from the wild SEC West with a visit from FCS foe Western Carolina on Saturday, but the Crimson Tide are not taking the week off. Coach Nick Saban wants his team — No. 1 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings — to stay focused and continue improving. "I think the most important thing to do at this time of the year is everybody stay focused on what they've got to do," Saban said at Monday's news conference.
Colorado at Oregon 4:30 PM ET
Third-ranked Oregon figures to light up the scoreboard in its typical style when it hosts struggling Colorado on Saturday. The Ducks, who are seeking their sixth straight win, are No. 2 in the College Football Playoff rankings as they face a team that is winless in Pac-12 play this season. Oregon has already clinched a spot in the Pac-12 title game so this contest is more about sending a statement that the Ducks are one of the nation’s top four teams.
Samford at Auburn 7:00 PM ET
Two weeks ago, Auburn occupied third in the playoff rankings, but two straight losses have knocked the Tigers out of contention for the national title and the SEC championship. On Saturday, the No. 17 Tigers will wrap up the home portion of their schedule against Samford in what will be the final appearance at Jordan-Hare Stadium for 27 members of the Auburn football team, including quarterback Nick Marshall, who was disappointed by the consequences of his team's two-game slide.
Miami at Virginia 7:00 PM ET
The pain of losing to rival and defending national champion Florida State remains, but if Miami can win the rest of its games, beginning Saturday at Virginia, some of the lingering anguish would be removed. The Hurricanes have been eliminated from contention for a spot in the ACC championship game, but the objective now is winning out against the reeling Cavaliers, Pittsburgh in the regular-season finale and a bowl game, which would give them nine wins in back-to-back seasons.
Oklahoma State at Baylor 7:30 PM ET
No. 6 Baylor isn't thinking about revenge or rising in the College Football Playoff rankings when it hosts Oklahoma State on Saturday night. The Cowboys are just another hurdle on the way to a Big 12 Championship — although the Bears would enjoy those other perks. The Bears, powered by the nation's top offense, can move into a first-place tie with idle TCU with a win.
Vanderbilt at Mississippi State 7:30 PM ET
No. 4 Mississippi State lost its first game of the season last Saturday but didn’t lose its spot in the top four of the College Football Playoff rankings. The Bulldogs, who fell at Alabama 25-20, slipped from first to fourth in the rankings released Tuesday night, and they’ll go into Saturday’s home finale against Vanderbilt knowing the SEC West Division title and a national semifinal berth are still very much on the table.
Missouri at Tennessee 7:30 PM ET
With all the focus on the SEC this year, it might be hard to believe that a team from the league could be somewhat forgotten. But No. 20 Missouri hasn't exactly been a focus of the national media, even though it could be playing in the league's championship game with two more wins, starting Saturday night at Tennessee. The Volunteers don't have championship game aspirations, but a bowl game is within reach for coach Butch Jones' squad.
Southern California at UCLA 8:00 PM ET
The path hasn’t been as smooth as expected, but No. 12 UCLA controls its own destiny heading into Saturday’s Pac-12 South showdown against visiting USC. The Bruins rebounded from back-to-back losses against Utah and Oregon with four straight wins and can secure a spot in the Pac-12 championship game by defeating No. 24 USC and Stanford. UCLA has won the last two meetings against USC, which can clinch the division with a win over the Bruins and one Arizona State loss in its final two games.
Cincinnati at Connecticut 8:00 PM ET
Coming off its most impressive win of the season, Cincinnati hopes to avoid a letdown on Saturday when it travels to Connecticut. The Bearcats posted their season-high fourth straight victory last Thursday in a 54-46 shootout with East Carolina, remaining one-half game off the pace in the American Athletic Conference. “We’ve been beat up mentally and physically. We’ve got our foot in the door for the conference (title), but it’s just in the door,” Bearcats coach Tommy Tuberville told reporters.
Oregon State at Washington 10:30 PM ET
Oregon State looks to build on its upset win over Arizona State on Saturday when the Beavers visit Washington, which has lost four of its last five. Both teams are one game short of bowl eligibility entering the contest, and the Beavers hold all the momentum after Terron Ward and Storm Woods rushed for a combined 273 yards in last week’s 35-27 win over the Sun Devils. Washington was on the verge of its own upset before suffering a demoralizing last-second 27-26 loss at Arizona.