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Posted: Wednesday November 07, 2001 12:17 PM
Updated: Thursday November 08, 2001 11:16 AM

CNNSI.com's Stewart Mandel breaks down this week's games.
| Week Eleven |
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No. 1
Miami (7-0)
|
Noon EST Saturday (ABC) |
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Boston College (6-2)
|
• Game preview
• Miami team page
• B.C. team page
|
| The Setup |
What was supposed to be the first of four straight tough games to close Miami's regular season lost a lot of its luster Tuesday when BC's William Green, the nation's leading rusher, was suspended for violating team rules.
|
| The Plan |
Boston College relied heavily on Green and now needs QB Brian St. Pierre (19 TDs, 6 INTs) to shoulder a huge burden. He will come in handy against a Miami team averaging 41 points (No. 3), though BC will throw the nation's third-best pass defense (119.9 ypg allowed) at 'Canes QB Ken Dorsey.
|
| The Man |
Derrick Knight, RB, Boston College
Sophomore, with 32 carries for 194 yards, will try to fill Green's hefty shoes.
|
| The Call |
Miami, 38-13
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Kansas State (4-4)
|
3:30 p.m. EST Saturday (ABC) |
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No. 2
Nebraska (10-0)
|
• Game preview
• Kansas State team page
• Nebraska team page
|
| The Setup |
Nebraska long owned this series, winning 29 straight from 1969-'97 before K-State won two of the past three. The Wildcats are having a down year, though they seemed to be on the rebound in a 45-3 win over Iowa State last week.
|
| The Plan |
Both teams rely heavily on their quarterbacks in the running game. For Nebraska, the Eric Crouch/Dahrran Diedrick option duo is a proven weapon (combined 206.6 ypg), but K-State has a capable tandem of its own in QB Ell Roberson and Josh Scobey, who combined for 303 yards and four TDs last week.
|
| The Man |
Chris Kelsay, DE, Nebraska
Huskers' top pass rusher (17 tackles for loss) will look to frazzle the erratic Roberson.
|
| The Call |
Nebraska, 42-28
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Texas A&M (7-2)
|
Noon EST Saturday (ABC) |
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No. 3
Oklahoma (8-1) |
• Game preview
• Texas A&M team page
• Oklahoma team page
|
| The Setup |
While the Sooners were breezing through a 58-0 rout of Tulsa last week, the Aggies were suffering a disappointing 12-0 upset at the hands of Texas Tech. The Aggies gave OU its biggest scare a year ago.
|
| The Plan |
OU will again go with Nate Hybl at quarterback in place of the ailing Jason White. He'll face some significant pressure from the A&M Wrecking Crew but should be able to exploit the Aggies' secondary. Similarly, Aggies QB Mark Farris should attack the Sooners, who will be without top cover man Andre Woolfolk.
|
| The Man |
Quentin Griffin, RB, Oklahoma
Last week's 90-yard, three-TD rushing game was his biggest since the second week against Air Force (201).
|
| The Call |
Oklahoma, 31-7
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No. 4
Florida (7-1)
|
7:45 p.m. EST Saturday (ESPN) |
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No. 14
South Carolina (7-2) |
• Game preview
• Florida team page
• South Carolina team page
|
| The Setup |
It's a key SEC East showdown. The Gamecocks sit a half-game behind both Florida and Tennessee, who meet Dec. 1, and could still win the division with a victory over the Gators and a UF win over the Vols.
|
| The Plan |
South Carolina's aggressive defense has its work cut out against Rex Grossman and the explosive Gators, who average 44.9 points and 557.6 yards. The Gamecocks need to force UF turnovers, a la Auburn, because their inconsistent offense is unlikely to do much damage against the sound, Andra Davis -led Florida defense.
|
| The Man |
Sheldon Brown, CB, South Carolina
Gamecocks' top cover man (10 pass break-ups) must take on Florida speedster Jabar Gaffney (114.4 ypg).
|
| The Call |
Florida, 41-17
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Kansas (2-6)
|
12:30 p.m. EST Saturday
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No. 5
Texas (8-1)
|
• Game preview
• Kansas team page
• Texas team page
|
| The Setup |
It could get ugly. Kansas is a lost team playing for interim coach Tom Hayes following Terry Allen's firing, while the Longhorns are red hot and suddenly right in the thick of the Rose Bowl hunt.
|
| The Plan |
Texas QB Chris Simms has been picking apart the opposition, and freshman RB Cedric Benson has been racking up yardage. The trend should continue against a Kansas defense allowing 422.3 yards per game (No. 90). The Jayhawks' inept offense won't find much room against UT's third-ranked defense (252 ypg).
|
| The Man |
Sloan Thomas, WR, Texas
Overlooked in the Horns' deep wideout corps, Thomas has 211 yards and five TDs in the past four games.
|
| The Call |
Texas, 58-10
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Memphis (4-4)
|
2 p.m. EST Saturday |
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No. 7
Tennessee (6-1) |
• Game preview
• Memphis team page
• Tennessee team page
|
| The Setup |
The Tigers always play their intrastate nemesis tough, including a memorable upset against the Peyton Manning -led Vols in '96. Last year's score was 19-17, two years ago it was 17-16.
|
| The Plan |
The Vols could try to control the game on the ground with Travis Stephens (133.3 ypg), but look for dangerous WR Kelley Washington to factor into the game plan. Memphis' offense has sputtered in recent weeks, using four QBs against UAB. Neil Suber and Danny Wimprine will probably both see time.
|
| The Man |
Travis Anglin, QB/WR, Memphis
The Tigers' starter behind center for much of two seasons has been seeing time at receiver.
|
| The Call |
Tennessee, 30-17
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No. 17
UCLA (6-2)
|
3:30 p.m. EST Saturday (ABC) |
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No. 7
Oregon (8-1) |
• Game preview
• UCLA team page
• Oregon team page
|
| The Setup |
In two weeks, the Bruins have tumbled from national title contender to having to play spoiler against teams like the Ducks, who are in a three-way tie for first in the Pac-10 with Washington and Washington State.
|
| The Plan |
UCLA's defense remains a formidable force but will be facing an explosive Ducks offense, led by QB Joey Harrington (22 TDs, 5 INTs) and RBs Onterrio Smith (103.7 ypg) and Maurice Morris (81 ypg). Bruins RB DeShaun Foster needs to avoid fumbles, while whoever plays QB needs to attack Oregon's secondary.
|
| The Man |
Marques Anderson, S, UCLA
Bruins' Thorpe Award semifinalist will figure prominently in slowing down the Ducks.
|
| The Call |
Oregon, 35-34
|
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 |
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No. 8
Washington (7-1)
|
3:30 p.m. EST Saturday (Fox Sports) |
 |
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Oregon State (3-5)
|
• Game preview
• Washington team page
• Oregon State team page
|
| The Setup |
An Oregon State season that began with high expectations is one loss from officially finishing with a losing record, while a supposed Huskies rebuilding year is suddenly filled with BCS aspirations.
|
| The Plan |
QB Cody Pickett leads a versatile Huskies offense that has recently picked up steam with the play of RB Willie Hurst (293 yards past two games). Defensively, Washington will look to bottle up prolific Beavers RB Ken Simonton, who needs 371 yards the next three games to secure his fourth 1,000-yard season.
|
| The Man |
Larry Triplett, DT, Washington
Outland candidate doesn't get sacks (two) but gets in the backfield (12 tackles for loss).
|
| The Call |
Washington, 35-24
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No. 9
BYU (9-0)
|
3 p.m. EST Saturday |
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Wyoming (2-6)
|
• Game preview
• BYU team page
• Wyoming team page
|
| The Setup |
The Cougars stand three games from an undefeated season and possible -- albeit slight -- BCS berth. The Cowboys, on the other hand, have lost five straight games and 13 of their past 16.
|
| The Plan |
QB Brandon Doman (2,925 total yards) has the gaudy posters and CD-ROMs, but RB Luke Staley (136.5 ypg, 19 TDs) is just as dangerous, scoring five touchdowns last week against Colorado State. The Cowboys, currently with a minus-9 turnover margin, will need to play a flawless game on all sides.
|
| The Man |
Jernar Gilford, CB, BYU
Star cover man leads the Cougars' defense with five interceptions.
|
| The Call |
BYU, 47-6
|
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N.C. State (5-3)
|
3:30 p.m. EST Saturday (ABC) |
 |
 |
No. 10
Florida State (6-2) |
• Game preview
• N.C. State team page
• Florida
State team page
|
| The Setup |
The Seminoles have turned it up a notch since a 49-27 loss to Miami and could be headed toward another ACC title. The game will be a homecoming for N.C. State coach Chuck Amato, an 18-year FSU assistant.
|
| The Plan |
FSU may be without RB Nick Maddox, but freshman QB Chris Rix is growing up in a hurry (10 TDs past three games), and his receiving corps is explosive, led by Javon Walker (23 ypc). Wolfpack QB Philip Rivers (14 TDs, 5 INTs) is the same age but with a season's more experience. Expect FSU to attack him often. |
| The Man |
Levar Fisher, LB, N.C. State
Butkus candidate is a tackling machine yet again this season, with 86.
|
| The Call |
Florida State, 45-21
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No. 11
Washington St. (8-1)
|
6:30 p.m. EST Saturday |
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Arizona State (4-4)
|
• Game preview
• Washington St. team page
• Arizona
State team page
|
| The Setup |
If WSU can win this one, it plays Washington the following week for the Pac-10 title. ASU has dropped two straight, to Washington and Oregon, and needs the upset to resuscitate its bowl hopes.
|
| The Plan |
Wazzu QB Jason Gesser gets the headlines, but the defense, led by S Lamont Thompson , has led the way in recent weeks. On the other side, QB Jason Krohn has been cleared to play after missing most of last week's game, and RB Delvon Flowers (89.5 ypg) poses a threat.
|
| The Man |
Nakoa McElrath, WR, Washington State
The nation's eighth-leading receiver (104 ypg) could burn the ASU defensive backfield.
|
| The Call |
Washington State, 35-28
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Minnesota (3-5)
|
Noon EST Saturday (ESPN2) |
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No. 12
Michigan (6-2) |
• Game preview
• Minnesota team page
• Michigan team page
|
| The Setup |
There are angry teams, and then there is Michigan, fuming following its controversial last-second loss to Michigan State. The Gophers have beaten the Spartans, but few others.
|
| The Plan |
Expect Wolverines QB John Navarre and WR Marquise Walker (101.1 ypg) to attack a fairly awful Gophers defense (No. 78 nationally). Minnesota does pose a stellar running game (240.5 ypg), led by Tellis Redmon, and has to be encouraged by T.J. Duckett's 211-yard performance against Michigan last week.
|
| The Man |
Ron Johnson, WR, Minnesota
Walker's counterpart entered the season with similar billing but has yet to attain a 100-yard game.
|
| The Call |
Michigan, 41-10
|
|
 |
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Clemson (5-3)
|
7 p.m. EST Saturday (ESPN2) |
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No. 13
Maryland (8-1) |
• Game preview
• Clemson team page
• Maryland team page
|
| The Setup |
Clemson is reeling from another drubbing at the hands of Florida State last week and faces a Terrapins club still in the thick of the race for its first ACC title in 16 years.
|
| The Plan |
An interesting matchup will be elusive Clemson QB Woodrow Dantzler (2,497 total yards) against mobile Terps LB E.J. Henderson (113 tackles. Maryland lacks the type of big-play receivers that Florida State used so successfully against the Tigers last week but makes up for it on the ground with RB Bruce Perry (117.9 ypg).
|
| The Man |
Derrick Hamilton, WR, Clemson
One of the few to survive Clemson's injury-ravaged receiving corps, with 518 yards.
|
| The Call |
Maryland, 28-20
|
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Penn State (3-4)
|
3:30 p.m. EST Saturday (ABC) |
 |
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No. 15
Illinois (7-1) |
• Game preview
• Penn State team page
• Illinois team page
|
| The Setup |
The once forlorn Nittany Lions have reeled off three consecutive victories, but the Illini are equally hot, winning four straight since Michigan, with whom they've moved into a tie for first in the Big Ten.
|
| The Plan |
Illinois' opportunistic defense, which returned two interceptions for TDs last week against Purdue, looks to slow down Penn State QB Zack Mills (45-of-73, 614 yards past three games). The Illini have a far more experienced arm in senior Kurt Kittner , who will have his eyes on favorite target Brandon Lloyd (102.8 ypg).
|
| The Man |
Carey Davis, RB, Illinois
Sophomore fullback has added a third punch behind Rocky Harvey and Antoineo Harris.
|
| The Call |
Illinois, 31-20
|
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No. 16
Stanford (5-2)
|
7 p.m. EST Saturday (ABC) |
 |
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Arizona (4-5)
|
• Game preview
• Stanford team page
• Arizona team page
|
| The Setup |
The Wildcats, who snapped a five-game losing skid last week against Cal, look to keep their slim bowl hopes alive with an upset of the Cardinal, 42-28 losers to Washington last week.
|
| The Plan |
QB Chris Lewis leads a capable Cardinal offense, but it's standout punt returner Luke Powell (17.3 yards per return) and the Pac-10's leading rush defense (98.6 ypg allowed) that should pose problems for the Wildcats. Arizona must have a big game from star RB Clarence Farmer (103.3 ypg).
|
| The Man |
Bobby Wade, WR, Arizona
Had his biggest game of the season last week with six catches for 118 yards.
|
| The Call |
Stanford, 45-31
|
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No. 18
Syracuse (7-2)
|
Noon EST Saturday |
 |
 |
West Virginia (3-5)
|
Game preview
• Syracuse team page
• W. Virginia team page
|
| The Setup |
The Mountaineers hope they didn't use up all their scoring in last week's 80-7 rout of Rutgers. They're facing a defensive-minded Syracuse team that hasn't lost since Sept. 1. |
| The Plan |
The Orangemen's defense, led by DE Dwight Freeney (14.5 sacks), allows only 16 points per game, 10th nationally. They'll look to bottle up RB Avon Cobourne (127.9 ypg) and the dangerous WVU ground game. Meanwhile, QB R.J. Anderson leads a vanilla but effective Syracuse offense.
|
| The Man |
James Mungro, RB, Syracuse
While Anderson has been the spark, Mungro has been a staple all along (95.4 ypg).
|
| The Call |
Syracuse, 30-13
|
|
 |
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No. 24
Auburn (6-2)
|
3:30 p.m. EST Saturday (CBS) |
 |
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No. 19
Georgia (5-2)
|
• Game preview
• Auburn team page
• Georgia team page
|
| The Setup |
In a key matchup for both of the SEC's division races, Georgia looks to reverse a disturbing trend in this 105-year-old series -- no wins in Athens since 1991. It's the seventh-most played rivalry in Division I-A.
|
| The Plan |
Auburn looks to do to Georgia what it did to Florida -- slow down a high-powered offense. It would help to force normally unflappable QB David Greene into mistakes. The Tigers' starter at QB will be ex-Bulldog Daniel Cobb, but the goal will be to pound the ball with freshman starting RB Carnell Williams.
|
| The Man |
Fred Gibson, WR, Georgia
True freshman is Greene's favorite target, with 508 yards in four games.
|
| The Call |
Georgia, 27-24
|
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No. 20
Georgia Tech (6-2)
|
3:30 p.m. EST Saturday |
 |
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Virginia (3-6)
|
Game preview
• Ga. Tech team page
• Virginia team page
|
| The Setup |
The Yellow Jackets still hold slight hopes of winning the ACC and its automatic BCS berth. They'll have to win this one first, against a struggling Cavalier team that's lost five straight.
|
| The Plan |
Tech QB George Godsey (1,878 yards) has been less dominant than last season, but the Jackets have compensated with added use of RB Joe Burns (103.4 ypg). Virginia QBs Matt Schaub and Bryson Spinner have both struggled and face an aggressive pass rush from DE Greg Gathers (nine sacks).
|
| The Man |
Billy McMullen, WR, Virginia
Virginia's lone bright spot on offense has 791 yards and 10 TDs.
|
| The Call |
Georgia Tech, 31-14
|
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No. 21
Colorado (7-2)
|
7 p.m. EST Saturday (Fox Sports) |
 |
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Iowa State (5-3)
|
Game preview
• Colorado team page
• Iowa
State team page
|
| The Setup |
While ISU has suffered consecutive setbacks to Texas A&M (24-21) and Kansas State (42-3), the Buffs have made back-to-back comebacks and can win the Big 12 North with victories over the Cyclones and Nebraska.
|
| The Plan |
Iowa State QB Seneca Wallace (1,898 total yards) is a superb athlete, but ISU needs a big game from slumping star RB Ennis Haywood (75 yards past two games). The Buffs' running game ranks third in the conference (209.3 ypg) and will look to feast on the Cyclones' 98th-ranked rush defense (205.5 ypg allowed).
|
| The Man |
Bobby Pesavento, QB, Colorado
Has excelled in relief of the ailing Craig Ochs (32-of-42 past two games).
|
| The Call |
Colorado, 24-19
|
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Indiana (2-5)
|
Noon EST Saturday |
 |
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No. 22
Michigan State (5-2)
|
Game preview
• Indiana team page
• Michigan
State team page
|
| The Setup |
Both teams are coming off benchmark victories, MSU's 26-24 stunner over rival Michigan and the victory-starved Hoosiers' 56-21 thrashing of Northwestern.
|
| The Plan |
Spartans RB T.J. Duckett is rolling (397 yards past two games) and figures to rack up more yards against an Indiana defense allowing 412.7 yards per game, No. 84 nationally. Prolific QB Antwaan Randle El (237.6 ypg) is the heart and soul of the Hoosiers, though RB Levron Williams rivals Duckett (120.3 ypg).
|
| The Man |
Charles Rogers, WR, Michigan State
Sophomore is a true game-breaker, averaging 21 yards per catch and 11.4 per punt return.
|
| The Call |
Michigan State, 44-20
|
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No. 23
Virginia Tech (6-2)
|
Noon EST Saturday |
 |
 |
Temple (2-6)
|
Game preview
• Virginia Tech team page
• Temple team page
|
| The Setup |
Both teams are reeling -- to different degrees. One-time Rose Bowl contender Tech has lost two straight, including a 38-7 puzzler to Pitt last week, while the Owls have been outscored 116-10 in three consecutive losses.
|
| The Plan |
The Hokies need to resurrect their struggling offense (201.5 ypg past two games) in a big way, starting with QB Grant Noel, though the presence of newly annointed starting RB Kevin Jones will help. The Owls' defense ranks a decent 31st nationally (324.8 ypg allowed) but Temple only scores 15.6 points per game. |
| The Man |
Ben Taylor, LB, Virginia Tech
Butkus candidate has 82 tackles, 16 for loss.
|
| The Call |
Virginia Tech, 45-3
|
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Houston (0-8)
|
2 p.m. EST Saturday |
 |
 |
No. 25
Louisville (8-1)
|
Game preview
• Houston team page
• Louisville team page
|
| The Setup |
Talk about a mismatch. The Cardinals have won five straight and stand three wins from repeating as C-USA champs. The Cougars have dropped their past two contests 58-14 and 45-6.
|
| The Plan |
Louisville QB Dave Ragone (2,267 total yards) has a pair of dynamic receivers in WR Deion Branch (16.2 ypc) and Zek Parker (14.9 ypc). The Cardinals' defense isn't bad either -- 30th nationally -- which doesn't bode well for struggling Cougars QB Nick Eddy (14-of-34, 139 yards last week).
|
| The Man |
Dewayne White, DE, Louisville
Agressive pass rusher has 10 sacks for the Cardinals.
|
| The Call |
Louisville, 50-7
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All rankings from The Associated Press.
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