Tuesday
8:00 PM ET ESPN2: Louisiana Tech 3-4 @ #3 Boise State 6-0 (-37.5) - For the Broncos, this game, like almost all of their games, is about style points. The team is undefeated with the 4th ranked offense and #1 ranked defense, but with the way the BCS is shaping up, that might not be enough to get them a title shot. Their QB, Kellen Moore leads the nation in passer rating (190.36), yards per attempt (10.4), and is 8th in completion percentage (69.5|PERCENT|). Looking at the numbers, the only thing bad I can say about Boise State is that they average the 12th most yards in penalties per game (69.2). Louisiana Tech is coming off a two game winning streak, in which they beat Utah State and Idaho. QB Ross Jenkins is 6th in the nation in completion percentage at 70.2|PERCENT|. Against Idaho's 44th best pass defense (better than Wisconsin and Oregon), he threw for 422 yards, 3 TDs, and 0 INTs. The Broncos have won 8 straight against the Bulldogs.
Bulldogs Offense: 397.0 yards/game (51st), 5.2 yards/play (75th), & 36.5|PERCENT| 3rd Down (91st)
QB: SR Ross Jenkins - 147.8 ypg, 6 TDs, 2 INTs, & 70.2|PERCENT| comp.
RB: JR Lennon Creer - 81.1 ypg & 4 TDs
RB: SR Myke Compton - 22.7 ypg & 2 TDs
WR: JR Taulib Ikharo - 44.1 ypg & 1 TD
WR: SO Richie Casey - 44.0 ypg & 2 TDs
WR: JR Ahmad Paige - 30.0 ypg & 2 TDs
Broncos Defense: 210.2 yards/game (1st), 3.6 yards/play (1st), & 28.8|PERCENT| 3rd Down (7th)
Run (1st): 59.3 ypg & 4 TDs
Pass (8th): 150.8 ypg, 5 TDs, & 6 INTs
Broncos Offense: 523.8 yards/game (4th), 7.7 yards/play (1st), & 47.8|PERCENT| 3rd Down (21st)
QB: JR Kellen Moore - 261.2 ypg, 16 TDs, 1 INT, & 69.5|PERCENT| comp.
RB: JR Doug Martin - 90.7 ypg & 4 TDs
RB: SR Jeremy Avery - 32.0 ypg & 5 TDs
WR: SR Titus Young - 96.8 ypg & 4 TDs
WR: SR Austin Pettis - 64.5 ypg & 4 TDs
Bulldogs Defense: 448.7 yards/game (113th), 6.0 yards/play (91st), & 43.0|PERCENT| 3rd Down (90th)
Run (63rd): 152 ypg & 6 TDs
Pass (118th): 296.7 ypg, 15 TDs, & 5 INTs
Thursday
7:30 PM ET ESPN: #16 Florida State 6-1 (-4) @ NC State 5-2 - Both Christian Ponder and Russell Wilson threw 3 picks and fumbled the ball in their last game. The Seminoles were able to overcome those turnovers and beat Boston College, the Wolfpack however was not, as they lost to East Carolina in overtime. In terms of the ACC Atlantic, this game is important as NC State is only 1 game back of FSU in the loss column. The Seminoles defense is averaging 4.29 sacks per game, which is #1 nationally. Their match-up with Wilson is probably the most interesting in this game. For Ponder, he's been dealing with a ruptured bursa sac in his elbow, a bruised triceps, and a contusion on his right leg, none of which are expected to keep him out. Expect FSU to run the ball with their 19th ranked rushing attack even more, to keep Ponder from taking a beating. The Seminoles have won 3 straight against the Wolfpack.
Seminoles Offense: 421.1 yards/game (37th), 6.3 yards/play (26th), & 49.4|PERCENT| 3rd Down (18th)
QB: SR Christian Ponder - 169.6 ypg, 12 TDs, 7 INTs, & 60.2|PERCENT| comp.
RB: SO Chris Thompson - 63.7 ypg & 4 TDs
RB: JR Jermaine Thomas - 61.4 ypg & 6 TDs
RB: JR Ty Jones - 53.0 ypg & 2 TDs
WR: JR Taiwan Easterling - 48.6 ypg & 2 TDs
WR: JR Bert Reed - 43.4 ypg & 1 TD
WR: SO Willie Haulstead - 39.1 ypg & 3 TDs
Wolfpack Defense: 350.4 yards/game (47th), 5.5 yards/play (66th), & 28.7|PERCENT| 3rd Down (6th)
Run (58th): 148.4 ypg & 8 TDs
Pass (46th): 202.0 ypg, 12 TDs, & 7 INTs
Wolfpack Offense: 448.9 yards/game (21st), 5.6 yards/play (51st), & 40.5|PERCENT| 3rd Down (54th)
QB: JR Russell Wilson - 303.4 ypg passing, 18 TDs, 9 INTs, & 57.8|PERCENT| comp.; 28.6 ypg rushing & 2 TDs
RB: FR Mustafa Greene - 59.9 ypg & 4 TDs
RB: FR Dean Haynes - 41.4 ypg & 3 TDs
WR: SR Owen Spencer - 74.9 ypg & 1 TD
WR: SR Jarvis Williams - 60.1 ypg & 3 TDs
WR: JR T.J. Graham - 36.4 ypg & 4 TDs
Seminoles Defense: 308.1 yards/game (20th), 4.3 yards/play (9th), & 32.1|PERCENT| 3rd Down (16th)
Run (17th): 104.9 ypg & 4 TDs
Pass (49th): 203.3 ypg, 7 TDs, & 6 INTs
Friday
8:00 PM ET ESPN2: West Virginia 5-2 (-6.5) @ UConn 3-4 - After each losing a conference game last week, the Mountaineers and Huskies both need a win to stay in the Big East title race. For the Mountaineers, QB Geno Smith is going have to be more accurate and cut down on the picks. Against Syracuse he was 20/37 for 178 yards, 1 TD, and 3 INTs. Their defense got got shoved around in the trenches for 183 yards rushing, which was the most rush yards they'd given up this season. Running the ball is something the Huskies are quite good at as RB Jordan Todman is the nation's 5th leading rusher at 140.2 ypg. In their 0-26 loss to Louisville, UConn was gashed for 160 rushing yards, so watch for West Virginia's RB Noel Devine to possibly have a big game. The Mountaineers have won the last 6 against the Huskies.
Mountaineers Offense: 363.1 yards/game (70th), 5.2 yards/play (75th), & 42.3|PERCENT| 3rd Down (40th)
QB: SO Geno Smith - 219.4 ypg, 15 TDs, 5 INTs, & 65.9|PERCENT| comp.
RB: SR Noel Devine - 89.4 ypg & 4 TDs
RB: SO Ryan Clarke - 22.7 ypg & 2 TDs
RB: SO Tavon Austin - 8.7 ypg rushing; 63.6 ypg receiving & 3 TDs
WR: SR Jock Sanders - 52.9 ypg & 2 TDs
WR: FR Stedman Bailey - 27.9 ypg & 3 TDs
WR: JR Brad Starks - 26.1 ypg & 4 TDs
Huskies Defense: 357.1 yards/game (55th), 5.1 yards/play (36th), & 38.9|PERCENT| 3rd Down (65th)
Run (61st): 151.0 ypg & 7 TDs
Pass (57th): 206.1 ypg, 10 TDs, & 9 INTs
Huskies Offense: 347.1 yards/game (77th), 5.5 yards/play (58th), & 30.6|PERCENT| 3rd Down (112th)
QB: SR Zach Frazer - 121.0 ypg, 2 TDs, 1 INT, & 53.5|PERCENT| comp.
QB: FR Michael Box - 21.7 ypg, 0 TDs, 1 INT, & 35.3|PERCENT| comp.
RB: JR Jordan Todman - 140.2 ypg & 8 TDs
RB: JR Robbie Frey - 53.8 ypg & 3 TDs
WR: JR Michael Smith - 59.1 ypg & 2 TDs
WR: JR Kashif Moore - 38.3 ypg & 3 TDs
Mountaineers Defense: 245.9 yards/game (4th), 4.2 yards/play (7th), & 24.0|PERCENT| 3rd Down (1st)
Run (11th): 97.4 ypg & 1 TD
Pass (4th): 148.4 ypg, 7 TDs, & 8 INTs
Week 8 Leaders
Passing:
1. Zach Collaros (Cincinnati) - 30/53, 463 yards, 3 TDs, & 1 INT vs South Florida
2. Robert Griffin (Baylor) - 26/38, 404 yards, 4 TDs, & 1 INT vs Kansas State
3. Bryant Moniz (Hawaii) - 25/41, 389 yards, 1 TD, & 2 INTs vs Utah State
4. Alex Carder (Western Michigan) - 17/24, 372 yards, 5 TDs, & 0 INTs vs Akron
5. Stephen Garcia (South Carolina) - 31/39, 355 yards, 2 TDs, & 1 INT vs Vanderbilt
6. Mike Hartline (Kentucky) - 27/43, 353 yards, 4 TDs, & 1 INT vs Georgia
7. Garrett Gilbert (Texas) - 34/57, 344 yards, 2 TDs, & 3 INTs vs Iowa State
8. Zac Dysert (Miami-OH) - 21/36, 332 yards, 2 TDs, & 4 INTs vs Ohio
9. Kirk Cousins (Michigan State) - 29/43, 331 yards, 3 TDs, & 0 INTs vs Northwestern
10. Jeremiah Masoli (Ole Miss) - 21/36, 327 yards, 3 TDs, & 0 INTs vs Arkansas
Rushing:
1. Jay Finley (Baylor) - 26 carries, 250 yards, & 2 TDs vs Kansas State
2. Cam Newton (Auburn) - 28 carries, 217 yards, & 2 TDs vs LSU
3. Alexander Teich (Navy) - 26 carries, 210 yards, & 0 TDs vs Notre Dame
4. Ed Wesley (TCU) - 28 carries, 209 yards, & 2 TDs vs Air Force
5. Kendall Hunter (Oklahoma State) - 26 carries, 201 yards, & 2 TDs vs Nebraska
6. Knile Davis (Arkansas) - 22 carries, 176 yards, & 3 TDs vs Ole Miss
7. Alex Green (Hawaii) - 14 carries, 172 yards, & 4 TDs vs Utah State
8. Andre Ellington (Clemson) - 20 carries, 166 yards, & 2 TDs vs Georgia Tech
9. Washaun Ealey (Georgia) - 28 carries, 157 yards, & 5 TDs vs Kentucky
10. Javonti Greene (Eastern Michigan) - 8 carries, 155 yards, & 2 TDs vs Virginia
Receiving:
1. Julio Jones (Alabama) - 12 catches, 221 yards, & 0 TDs vs Tennessee
2. Nick Harwell (Miami-OH) - 11 catches, 219 yards, & 0 TDs vs Ohio
3. Juan Nunez (Western Michigan) - 6 catches, 192 yards, & 3 TDs vs Akron
4. Marcus Barnett (Cincinnati) - 9 catches, 174 yards, & 1 TD vs South Florida
5. Jordan White (Western Michigan) - 8 catches, 168 yards, & 2 TDs vs Akron
6. Greg Salas (Hawaii) - 9 catches, 158 yards, & 1 TD vs Utah State
6. Armon Binns (Cincinnati) - 12 catches, 158 yards, & 2 TDs vs South Florida
6. Tyshon Goode (Kent State) - 12 catches, 158 yards, & 2 TDs vs Bowling Green
6. Alshon Jeffery (South Carolina) - 9 catches, 158 yards, & 1 TD vs Vanderbilt
10. Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State) - 5 catches, 157 yards, & 2 TDs vs Nebraska