| Week Thirteen |
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No. 12
Washington (8-2)
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8 p.m. EST
Saturday (ABC) |
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No. 1
Miami (9-0)
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• Game preview
• Washington team page
• Miami team page
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| The Setup |
Miami has been waiting nearly two years to avenge a 34-29 loss at Washington on Sept. 9, 2000, the Canes' last defeat prior to their current 19-game winning streak.
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| The Plan |
Washington QB Cody Pickett and stud WR Reggie Williams (11 catches, 203 yards last week) will be significantly challenged by Miami's staunch pass defense (No. 3 nationally), led by S Edward Reed. Miami counters with likely Heisman finalist Ken Dorsey, who will look to attack a susceptible UW secondary.
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| The Man |
Frank Gore, RB, Miami
Freshman, who gained 153 yards against Syracuse, is averaging a staggering 9.9 yards on 50 carries.
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| The Call |
Miami, 38-17
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No. 2
Nebraska (11-0)
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2:30 p.m. EST
Friday (ABC) |
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No. 14
Colorado (8-2)
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• Game preview
• Nebraska team page
• Colorado team page
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| The Setup |
The winner will advance to next week's Big 12 championship game.
The Buffs have not beaten the Huskers since 1990, but the past five meetings have been decided by a combined 15 points. |
| The Plan |
Colorado's formidable defense faces its toughest challenge of the season against the nation's most powerful ground game (311.1 ypg), led by Eric Crouch (86.7 ypg) and Dahrran Diedrick (120.5). Buffs QB Bobby Pesavento (243.5 ypg, 4 TDs past two games) may be able to produce some scores through the air.
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| The Man |
Roman Hollowell, PR, Colorado
If CU pulls off the upset, the nation's top punt returner (19.1 yards per return, 2 TDs) will likely be a factor.
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| The Call |
Nebraska, 24-17
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Oklahoma State (3-7)
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3:30 p.m. EST
Saturday
(Fox Sports) |
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No. 4
Oklahoma (10-1)
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• Game preview
• Oklahoma St. page
• Oklahoma team page
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| The Setup |
Last year's Bedlam game proved tough for the Sooners, who prevailed 12-7 en route to the national championship. This year's game is in Norman, where the Sooners have not lost in Bob Stoops' three seasons.
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| The Plan |
Sooners QB Nate Hybl appears to be gaining confidence with each game. He'll look to feast on the Cowboys' horrid pass defense, 11th in the Big 12 (243.5 ypg allowed). OSU's offense revolves around solid QB Aso Pogi (11 TDs, 5 INTs), who will be going against the nation's No. 3 defense (256.4 ypg allowed).
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| The Man |
Trent Smith, TE, Oklahoma
More of a wideout than a tight end, Smith leads the Sooners in catches (56), yards (510) and TDs (6).
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| The Call |
Oklahoma, 34-7
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No. 5
Texas (9-1)
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Noon EST
Friday (ABC) |
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Texas A&M (7-3)
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• Game preview
• Texas team page
• Texas A&M team page
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| The Setup |
The Longhorns lead this always-heated rivalry 68-34-5, though the Aggies have won six of the past 10 and 16 of the past 26. UT is looking at a possible BCS bid if it can finish the season on a six-game win streak.
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| The Plan |
Chris Simms isn't likely to repeat his 383-yard day from last year, but he'll prosper if the Horns first establish RB Cedric Benson (141.8 ypg past five games). A&M is capable of stuffing him, ranking 21st against the run, but the Aggies are hurting on offense, with WR Jamaar Taylor and RB Derek Farmer doubtful. |
| The Man |
Bo Scaife, TE, Texas
Underrated threat is Texas' third-leading receiver with 25 catches for 327 yards.
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| The Call |
Texas, 31-14
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Vanderbilt (2-7)
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3:30 p.m. EST
Saturday (CBS)
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No. 7
Tennessee (8-1)
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• Game preview
• Vanderbilt team page
• Tennessee team page
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| The Setup |
The Vols have won 18 straight over the Commodores, the longest streak in the series for either team. Tennessee still has SEC and national title aspirations, while Vandy is playing out the string.
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| The Plan |
Tennessee struggled last week against Kentucky, especially on defense. Look for that unit to clamp down against a sometimes dangerous Vandy offense, and look for Vols RB Travis Stephens (1,136 yards, 8 TDs) to establish himself early against a defense allowing 491.1 yards, worse than all but three teams nationally.
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| The Man |
Will Overstreet, DE, Tennessee
Made his presence felt against the Wildcats with 1.5 tackles for loss and a big fumble recovery.
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| The Call |
Tennessee, 42-14
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Northwestern (4-6)
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1 p.m. EST
Thursday |
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No. 10
Illinois (9-1)
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• Game preview
• Northwestern page
• Illinois team page
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| The Setup |
The Illini will clinch at least a share of the Big Ten title and first 10-win season since 1989 with a defeat of the Wildcats, the league's preseason favorites who have inexplicably dropped five straight games.
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| The Plan |
Illinois QB Kurt Kittner (260.7 ypg) is foaming at the mouth to face a Northwestern defense (No. 104 nationally) that's allowed more than 500 total yards four of the past five games. Wildcats QB Zak Kustok is still very capable (532 total yards last week), but injuries have left NU down to third-string RB Torri Stuckey.
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| The Man |
Brandon Lloyd, WR, Illinois
Top target (86.6 ypg) due for a big game after being held to three catches for 44 yards the past two weeks.
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| The Call |
Illinois, 58-21
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Ohio State (6-4)
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1 p.m. EST
Saturday (ABC) |
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No. 11
Michigan (8-2)
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• Game preview
• Ohio State team page
• Michigan team page
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| The Setup |
While others square off for some funny-named trophy, Michigan and Ohio State, it is said, play for the Big Ten title. Such is true for the Wolverines, who need a win to beat out Illinois for a spot in the BCS.
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| The Plan |
Buckeyes QB Steve Bellisari is reinstated but won't start against the Wolverines, who will see Craig Krenzel (11-of-23, 164 yards, 2 INTs last week). It will be up to Larry Foote and the Michigan D to shut down RB Jonathan Wells (112.8 ypg) and allow dangerous Marquise Walker to get back on the field.
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| The Man |
Derek Ross, CB, Ohio State
Among the nation's leaders with seven interceptions, for a combined 194 return yards.
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| The Call |
Michigan, 24-16
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Notre Dame (4-5)
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8 p.m. EST
Saturday
(ABC) |
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No. 13
Stanford (7-2)
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• Game preview
• Notre Dame page
• Stanford team page
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| The Setup |
While the Irish cling to their slim postseason hopes, the Cardinal know they're going bowling, it's just a matter of where. The home team has won the past five games in the series.
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| The Plan |
The Cardinal offense, which has gained at least 400 yards in seven games, soared under QB Chris Lewis, but Randy Fasani (12 TDs, 2 INTs) returns as starter this week. The Irish, led by RB Julius Jones (117 yards last week), rely heavily on the ground game, but Stanford ranks 16th against the run (103.9 ypg allowed).
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| The Man |
Luke Powell, WR, Stanford
One of nation's top punt returners, Powell burned Cal as a receiver last week (152 yards, 2 TDs).
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| The Call |
Stanford, 38-7
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No. 17
Louisville (10-1)
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6 p.m. EST
Friday (ESPN) |
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TCU (4-5)
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• Game preview
• Louisville team page
• TCU team page
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| The Setup |
While the Horned Frogs have struggled through its first season post-L.T. (and post-Dennis Franchione), the Cardinals have already clinched Conference USA and their second straight Liberty Bowl trip.
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| The Plan |
Louisville's high-flying offense, led by QB Dave Ragone (20 TDs, 7 INTs), is averaging 41.7 points per game over its past three games. TCU's defense is respectable (25th nationally), but has only four interceptions. Meanwhile, QB Casey Printers must avoid a Cardinal defense that's produced 38 sacks and 16 interceptions.
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| The Man |
Deion Branch, WR, Louisville
Likely high NFL pick next spring having a monster senior season, with 1,055 yards and eight TDs.
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| The Call |
Louisville, 28-7
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No. 19
Georgia (6-3)
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7:45 p.m. EST
Saturday (ESPN) |
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No. 21
Georgia Tech (7-3)
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• Game preview
• Georgia team page
• Georgia Tech page
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| The Setup |
The Bulldogs hold a 52-38-5 lead in the series, but the Jackets have won the past three. Beforehand, Georgia will visit starting DT David Jacobs, hospitalized in Atlanta following a stroke.
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| The Plan |
It should be another shootout, a la Tech's 51-48 overtime win in '99. Georgia QB David Greene and WR Fred Gibson will look to exploit the Jackets' secondary. Tech will go to workhorse RB Joe Burns (103.8 ypg), but QB George Godsey should have a big day against UGA's 101st-rated pass defense (267.7 ypg allowed).
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| The Man |
Charles Grant, DE, Georgia
After missing last season and starting slow this year, ex-Freshman All-America has five sacks in two games.
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| The Call |
Georgia, 45-38
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Youngstown St. (8-2)
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7 p.m. EST
Saturday |
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No. 20
Marshall (9-1)
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• Game preview
• Youngstown St. page
• Marshall team page
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| The Setup |
The Thundering Herd already have accepted their GMAC Bowl bid and qualified for the MAC championship game, but still can't overlook the Penguins, a perennial I-AA power.
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| The Plan |
Marshall QB Byron Leftwich has slipped under the national radar despite throwing for 3,493 yards and 31 TDs. Expect more big numbers from him and WR Darius Watts (1,292, 17 yards). YSU's offense put up 609 yards in last week's 45-7 win over Elon.
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| The Man |
P.J. Mays, RB, Youngstown State
Former Conference USA All-Freshman pick at Cincinnati has 1,245 yards and 18 touchdowns.
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| The Call |
Marshall, 40-17
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No. 25
Boston College (7-3)
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7 p.m. EST
Saturday (ESPN2) |
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No. 23
Syracuse (8-3)
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• Game preview
• Boston College page
• Syracuse team page
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| The Setup |
Syracuse must recover quickly from its 59-0 whipping at Miami. The winner finishes second in the Big East and remains in contention for a New Year's Day Gator Bowl bid.
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| The Plan |
Boston College relies heavily on the nation's top rusher, William Green (153 ypg), but will need QB Brian St. Pierre to play a role as well if it wants to keep Dwight Freeney and the Orangemen on their toes. Likewise, Syracuse, which runs incessantly, needs R.J. Anderson to make some plays on BC's ninth-rated pass defense.
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| The Man |
Sean Guthrie, DE, Boston College
Freeney obviously leads the Big East in sacks (16.5). Guthrie is second (nine).
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| The Call |
Boston College, 23-17
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San Jose State (3-7)
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4 p.m. EST
Friday |
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No. 23
Fresno State (9-2)
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• Game preview
• San Jose St. page
• Fresno State page
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| The Setup |
The Bulldogs' BCS hopes are long gone, their WAC title hopes growing slim, but they're still very much alive for a bowl bid. They'll need to dispatch both the Spartans and Utah State first.
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| The Plan |
Prolific Fresno State QB David Carr (3,539 yards, 34 TDs, 7 INTs) could be headed toward a monster game against San Jose State's horrid pass defense (297.8 ypg allowed), worse than all but two teams nationally. The Spartans also allow 492.4 total yards (No. 114) and 38 points (No. 108) per game. |
| The Man |
Edell Shepherd, WR, Fresno State
Has a combined 13 catches for 336 yards -- 25.8 yards per catch -- his last two games.
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| The Call |
Fresno State, 49-21
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No. 24
Arkansas (7-3)
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2:30 p.m. EST
Friday (CBS) |
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LSU (6-3)
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• Game preview
• Arkansas team page
• LSU team page
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| The Setup |
Two of the three remaining contenders in the SEC West collide, the Razorbacks on a six-game win streak. LSU controls its own destiny, while Arkansas needs to win this one, then hope the Tigers beat Auburn next week.
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| The Plan |
Arkansas makes no secret of its plans to play ball-control offense (180.4 rushing ypg) while relying on its defense to keep the score down. LSU's offense, led by QB Rohan Davey (293.7 ypg) and WR Josh Reed (145.7 ypg), is capable of exploding, but RB LaBrandon Toefield (15 TDs) will be vital.
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| The Man |
Cedric Cobbs, RB, Arkansas
After struggling most of the season, Cobbs exploded for 101 yards and three TDs last week.
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| The Call |
LSU, 24-14
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All rankings from 
