Archive: 2009 Week Seven NCAA Football Top 25 Previews
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Wednesday, October 14th, 2009
# 5 Boise State Broncos (5-0) @ Tulsa Hurricanes (4-1)
Time: 8:00pm EST
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Preview: The Broncos will take their unbeaten record into Tulsa to take on the Golden Hurricanes in what looks to be a high scoring affair. The Broncos are averaging 40.2 points per game, while the Hurricanes are scoring 32.8. The Broncos have moved up to the # 5 position within the Associated Press Top 25. The Broncos are led by quarterback Kellen Moore and his 1217 yards and 13 touchdowns. Moore in his last game against UC Davis threw for 285 yards and three touchdowns. The Broncos defense has also been excellent; allowing just 72 points in five games. Boise State is the lone overall undefeated team in the Western Athletic Conference; with Idaho and Nevada also unbeaten within the conference. The Golden Hurricanes’ lone loss came on September 19th against Oklahoma. Since then Tulsa has scored 83 points, allowing just 13. The Hurricanes are on top of the Conference USA - West Division, tied with Southern Methodist (both at 2-0). Quarterback G.J. Kinne leads the team in passing yards, as well as rushing yards, with 1,142 passing and 173 rushing.
Saturday, October 17th, 2009
Arkansas Razorbacks (3-2) @ # 1 Florida Gators (5-0)
Time: 3:30pm EST
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Preview: The Arkansas Razorbacks have selected an awfully tough opponent to extend their season high two game winning streak against. Arkansas will head to Florida to take on the # 1 team in the land - Florida. The Razorbacks are coming off a 21 point blasting of unbeaten Auburn at home. The week before, Arkansas was a 28 point winner of Texas A+M. The Razorbacks two losses on the season came at home to Georgia and on the road at Alabama. Arkansas is led by Michigan transfer Ryan Mallett. Mallett has completed 91 of 160 passes for 1422 yards and 13 touchdowns. The Razorbacks are allowing over 37 points per game in the early going. Arkansas is seeking to get back to .500 in the SEC, as they are trailing Alabama, LSU and Auburn, with their 1-2 record. The Gators are coming off a huge road win at LSU. The Gators used stellar defense to shut down the Tigers offense to just 3 points. Tim Tebow played, despite missing practices with a concussion suffered in the win over Kentucky. Tebow is enjoying his final season as a Gator completing 55 of 84 passes for 777 yards and 7 touchdowns. Tebow has also ran for a team high 5 touchdowns. The Gators offense is averaging 39 points per game, while their defense has yielded just 6.4 per game. Florida has won 15 straight games.
# 22 South Carolina Gamecocks (5-1) @ # 2 Alabama Crimson Tide (6-0)
Time: 7:45pm EST
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Preview: The South Carolina Gamecocks behind Steve Spurrier has won four straight, and gotten in the mix in the SEC - East. The Gamecocks trail Florida by just a game in the conference. South Carolina will meet Florida on November 14th, at home. But before that, the Gamecocks will have to meet the # 2 team in the land - Alabama. The Crimson Tide are 6-0, and lead the SEC - West. South Carolina has been spurred on by quarterback Stephen Garcia. In the Gamecocks latest win, over Kentucky, Garcia completed 16 of 23 passes for 233 yards and a season high three touchdowns. Garcia also ran for the fourth touchdown in a 28-26 win. The Gamecocks are averaging just over 27 points per game. South Carolina’s lone loss came on September 12 at Georgia. The Crimson Tide moved up past Texas in the Associated Press poll. Alabama used Mark Ingram’s 173 rushing yards to push them past Mississippi 22-3. The Crimson Tide defense has been sharp all season, allowing just 12.5 points per game. Alabama’s closest win was their opening win against Virginia Tech, when they won 34-24.
# 20 Oklahoma Sooners (3-2) @ # 3 Texas Longhorns (5-0)
Time: 12:00pm EST
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Preview: This Red River Rivalry will surely see plenty of fireworks once again. The Oklahoma Sooners will look to spoil the Texas Longhorns unbeaten season when they square off in Dallas. Oklahoma has a very slim chance of getting back to the national title game, but they still have their eyes set on a Big 12 title. The Sooners were downed 14-13 to Brigham Young during the first week of the season, and then without Sam Bradford, the Sooners were downed by Miami 21-20, on the road. Bradford returned on Saturday in their 33-7 win over the Baylor Bears. The quarterback threw for 389 yards and a touchdown, after sitting one month with his shoulder injury. Also in the win, the Sooners defense yielded just 8 rushing yards. Oklahoma is scoring 35 points per game, including a week two win, in which they scored 64 points against Idaho State. The Longhorns won their fifth straight game to start the 2009 season on Saturday, but fell in the Associated Press Top 25. The Alabama Crimson Tide passed them up. Texas still feels their destiny is in their own hands, as if they can win out a national title game is in reach. The Longhorns trailed at halftime to Colorado 14-10, but scored the last 28 points of the game. Quarterback Colt McCoy has completed 135 of 184 passes for 1410 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season. Texas is averaging 47.5 points per game.
# 4 Virginia Tech Hokies (5-1) @ # 19 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-1)
Time: 6:00pm EST
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Preview: In a key Atlantic Coast Conference game, the Virginia Tech Hokies will travel to Atlanta to take on the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. Both teams come in with matching 5-1 records. The Hokies lead in the Coastal Division of the conference with a 3-0 record, while the Yellow Jackets are 3-1 in conference play. The Hokies are coming off a blowout win, in which they scored the first 34 points against Boston College, and walked away with a 48-14 win. Virginia Tech’s lone loss came during the opening week of the season when they dropped a 10 point affair to Alabama. The Yellow Jackets are coming off a 49 point outburst that sent Bobby Bowden and the Florida State Seminoles to their third straight loss. Josh Nesbitt had a career game for Georgia Tech, as he threw for 131 yards, rushed for 140 yards and had a total of four touchdowns. The Yellow Jackets lone loss came on September 17th when they were downed by Miami 33-17.
# 6 USC Trojans (4-1) @ # 25 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (4-1)
Time: 3:30pm EST
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Preview: In another game featuring two teams ranked in the Top 25, the USC Trojans will head to South Bend Indiana to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Both teams are coming off their bye week. USC has used a stellar defense that has allowed just 8.6 points per game in the first five games of the season. The Trojans lone loss came on September 16th when they were downed by conference rival Washington. USC, before the bye week, torched conference for California 30-3, holding a tough Golden Bear offense to the lone field goal. Notre Dame, before the break, beat the Washington Huskies 37-30 in overtime. Notre Dame took a week two loss at the hands of the Michigan Wolverines, in Ann Arbor. Notre Dame has been aided by stellar performances from quarterback Jimmy Clausen. Clausen has completed 100 of 148 passes for 1544 yards and 12 touchdowns. This game for Notre Dame is the last game against a team currently ranked inside the Top 25.
# 7 Ohio State Buckeyes (5-1) @ Purdue Boilermakers (1-5)
Time: 12:00 pm EST
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Preview: The Ohio State Buckeyes have been steamrolling opponents since their last minute defeat to the USC Trojans. Ohio State has won four straight games, by an average of 25 points per game. The Buckeyes defense has just allowed 27 points in those four games. In their most recent win over Wisconsin Ray Small keyed the Buckeyes win returning a kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. Ohio State was out gained in the game in total yards; 368 - 184. The Badgers also controlled the ball for 42:03 of the game, but three return touchdowns saved the Buckeyes. Ohio State leads the Big Ten, tied with Iowa, both unbeaten. Terrelle Pryor has been solid for Ohio State, passing for 941 yards and 9 touchdowns, along with rushing for 3. The Boilermakers have struggled to start the 2009 season, losing five of their first six games. Purdue’s lone win came on September 5th, a 52-31 win over Toledo. Since then, Purdue has dropped five straight; including an embarrassing 28-21 loss to Northern Illinois. The Boilermakers are averaging 28.5 points per game, while their defense is allowing 30.5.
# 9 Miami Hurricanes (4-1) @ Central Florida Knights (3-2)
Time: 7:30pm EST
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Preview: The Hurricanes have moved back into the Top 10, despite their one loss on the season. Miami is coming off a 48-16 win over FCS Florida A+M. The Hurricanes played their first four games against ranked opponents; winning three of them. Miami’s lone loss came on September 26th when the Virginia Tech Hokies blasted them 31-7. Jacory Harris has been solid behind center as a freshman quarterback. Harris has completed 85 of 136 passes for 1225 yards and 10 touchdowns. The Hurricanes are 2-1 within their conference - Atlantic Coast Conference, trailing the Hokies and Virginia; both unbeaten. The Central Florida Knights have yet to find a consistent groove in 2009. Each time the Knights win, they have turned around and gotten beat in their next game. Central Florida hopes that streak is stopped on Saturday, as they are coming off a 32-14 win over Memphis. The Knights are 1-2 within Conference USA play; with loses to Southern Miss and East Carolina. This game for the Knights is the first of three games against ranked opponents in their last 7 games.
# 11 Iowa Hawkeyes (6-0) @ Wisconsin Badgers (5-1)
Time: 12:00pm EST
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Preview: The hottest team in the country is the Iowa Hawkeyes. They will take their second longest winning streak in the country to Madison Wisconsin to take on the 5-1 Badgers. Wisconsin failed on an opportunity to make this game a battle of two unbeaten when they were downed by Ohio State in Columbus. Iowa used 283 yards from quarterback Ricky Stanzi in the win over Michigan Saturday. The win for the Hawkeyes led them to a 6-0 start for the first time since 1985. The Hawkeyes have also not started 2-0 in the Big Ten since 2002. Iowa is tied with Ohio State at the top of the conference. The Badgers need to find a way to beat Iowa, and then hope for an Ohio State loss to get back in the Big Ten race. Wisconsin out gained Ohio State 368 - 184, but three return touchdowns for Ohio State doomed the Badgers. The Badgers are averaging 422.3 yards of total offense, with 200.7 on the ground, and the rest via the air.
Colorado State Rams (3-3) @ # 12 TCU Horned Frogs (5-0)
Time: 4:00pm EST
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Preview: The Colorado State Rams will face one of the few remaining undefeated teams in the nation on Saturday. For Colorado State, it has been a story of two separate seasons. The Rams won the first three games of the season; over Colorado, Weber State and Nevada. Since that time, they have dropped three straight; Brigham Young, Idaho and Utah. Colorado State is 0-2 within the Mountain West Conference. In their most recent loss to Utah, the Rams led 17-10, but saw the Utes score the last 14 points of the game for the loss. For TCU, the Horned Frogs have found a way to win their first five and slide into the # 12 position within the Top 25. TCU has beaten Virginia, Texas Southern, Clemson, Southern Methodist and Air Force. In those five wins, the Horned Frogs have scored an average of 31.8 points per game. Andy Dalton leads the TCU offense, as quarterback. Dalton has thrown for 1012 yards and 6 touchdowns thus far.
Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-2) @ # 14 Penn State Nittany Lions (5-1)
Time: 3:30pm EST
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Preview: The Minnesota Golden Gophers will make the trip to Happy Valley to make a statement against the Nittany Lions. The Gophers have gotten off to a nice 4-2 start, including their most recent win; 35-20 over Purdue. Minnesota’s two losses came to California and Wisconsin. Minnesota is led by wide receiver Eric Decker. Decker leads the team with 689 receiving yards and five touchdown catches. The Golden Gophers are 2-1 in the Big Ten, behind undefeated leaders Ohio State and Iowa. Penn State is a team that also trails in the conference; at 1-1. The Nittany Lions lost their conference opener to Iowa, and then bounced back with a blow-out win over Illinois. The Nittany Lions are coming off a blow-out win over FCS Eastern Illinois on Saturday. Darryl Clark led the offense in the win, throwing for 234 yards and 3 touchdowns. It was the third time Clark threw for three touchdowns in a game. The Penn State defense is allowing just an average of 10.6 points per game.
Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-2) @ # 15 Nebraska Cornhuskers (-)
Time: 3:30pm EST
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Preview: This game will pit two Big 12 squads against each other for a game that should provide plenty of excitement. The Texas Tech Red Raiders, just coming off a 66 point outburst will travel to Lincoln to take on the Cornhuskers. Texas Tech is averaging 43.2 points per game, while their defense is allowing just over 21 per game. Taylor Potts, the Red Raiders starting quarterback missed Saturday’s game with a concussion, and is questionable for this weeks action. Back-up quarterback
Steven Sheffield led the way with 490 passing yards, and 7 touchdowns. The Cornhuskers are coming off an impressive performance on the road at Missouri. After trailing at halftime, the Cornhuskers blitzed their Big 12 - North counterparts. Nebraska scored 27 fourth quarter points. On the season, the Cornhuskers have scored 36.8 points per game, while the defense has allowed just 8 points per game. Nebraska is tied at the top of the Big 12 - North with Kansas.
Missouri Tigers (4-1) @ # 16 Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-1)
Time: 9:15pm EST
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Preview: The Missouri Tigers will head south and take on the Oklahoma State Cowboys on Saturday. Missouri is still stinging from their 27-12 loss at home to Missouri. The Tigers led 9-0 at halftime, but were out scored by Nebraska 27-3 in the second half. Missouri now trails Nebraska and Kansas at the top of the Big 12 North. Missouri won their first four games of the season against Illinois, Bowling Green, Furman and Nevada. The Tigers will face three ranked opponents the remainder of the season. The Cowboys come in without their top receiver Dez Bryant, who was ruled ineligible. Bryant leads the team in receiving yards and touchdowns. Quarterback Zac Robinson threw for 279 yards in the latest win over Texas A+M. The Cowboys lone loss on the season came on September 12th against the Houston Cougars. Since that loss, Oklahoma State has won three straight games.
# 17 Kansas Jay Hawks (5-0) @ Colorado Buffaloes (-)
Time: 7:00pm EST
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Preview: Kansas and Colorado will match up in a night game that could see the weather cool and slow down Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing. Reesing has started red hot for the Jay Hawks throwing for 1579 yards and 13 touchdowns. Kansas has started the season 5-0, behind the high powered offense that has scored and average of 40 points per game. The Jay Hawks needed 442 total yards of offense from Reesing on Saturday when they downed Iowa State 41-36. The Jay Hawks are tied with Nebraska at the top of the Big 12 - North. Is has been quite the opposite for Coach Dan Hawkins and his Colorado Buffaloes. They have started the season winning one of the first five games. Coach Hawkins has also made the tough decision to bench his starting quarterback, and also his son Cody Hawkins. Hawkins has been extremely unimpressive thus far, throwing nine interceptions on the season. Colorado is coming off a 38-14 loss to Texas, after leading at halftime 14-10. The Buffaloes have allowed 150 points in five games this season.
# 18 Brigham Young Cougars (5-1) @ San Diego State Aztecs (2-3)
Time: 6:00pm EST
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Preview: The Cougars of Brigham Young have won three straight since their first loss of the season on September 19th. On that night, the Cougars allowed a struggling Florida State team to put up 54 on them. Since then, BYU has knocked off Colorado State, Utah State and UNLV. In the most recent win for the Cougars, quarterback Max Hall completed 78 percent of his passes for 320 yards and two touchdowns. The Cougars have scored 232 points and allowed 131. The Cougars are tied at the top of the Mountain West Conference with Wyoming, TCU and Utah. The Aztecs come into the game after knocking off New Mexico State 34-17 on Saturday. The other win for San Diego State came on September 12th when they downed Southern Utah 35-19.
# 23 Houston Cougars (4-1) @ Tulane Green Wave (2-3)
Time: 3:30pm EST
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Preview: The Houston Cougars made their way back into the Top 25, after their win over Mississippi State. The Cougars are 4-1 on the season, with their October 3rd loss at UTEP. In that loss, the Cougars defense yielded 58 points. Offensively the Cougars have been red-hot in 2009, scoring 201 points. Case Keenum leads that offense, throwing for 2130 yards and 17 touchdowns. The Cougars are 0-1 within Conference USA play. Tulane is 2-3 on the season, and coming off a 31-10 pasting from Marshall. Before that loss, the Green Wave had won two straight games; over McNeese State and Army. The Green Wave have been out scored 170 - 85 on the season.
# 24 Utah Utes (4-1) @ UNLV Running Rebels (2-4)
Time: 10:00pm EST
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Preview: The Utah Utes are another team that have found their way back inside the Top 25. Utah has won two straight games, and four of five overall. The Utes lone loss on the season came on September 19th at Oregon 31-24. Utah is one of four unbeaten teams, in conference play, in the Mountain West. Terrence Cain leads the offense with 1162 yards and 8 touchdown passes. The latest win for Utah was a come from behind type. The Utes trailed Colorado State 17-10 heading into the fourth and final quarter only to out score the Rams 14-0. The Running Rebels of UNLV have lost three straight games, including two where they have allowed 59.5 points per game. Wyoming, Nevada and Brigham Young have feasted off on the Running Rebels defense. Before that streak, UNLV beat Sacramento State and Hawaii, falling at home to Oregon State. UNLV is 0-2 within the Mountain West Conference.
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