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What to Watch: Week 8 in College Football (Part I)


Thursday

9:00 PM ET ESPN: UCLA 3-3 @ #2 Oregon 6-0 (-24.5) - Both the Ducks and the Bruins come into this game off a bye week, but dealing with injuries.  Bruins sophomore QB Kevin Prince is dealing with a sprained knee.  If he can not go, expect fellow sophomore Richard Brehaut to get the start.  For the Ducks, RB Kenjon Barner (concussion) is out, while DT Zac Clark (groin), DE Terrell Turner (toe), and CB Anthony Gildon (ankle) are all questionable to play.  This one might be over early as it will be tough for UCLA to keep pace with Oregon's offense that averages 54.3 points a game.  The Ducks have won 7 of the last 9 against the Bruins.

Bruins Offense: 318.5 total yards/game (99th), 4.9 yards/play (93rd), & 33.3|PERCENT| 3rd Down (102nd)
QB: SO Kevin Prince - 64.0 ypg passing, 3 TDs, 5 INTs, & 44.7|PERCENT| comp.; 18.3 ypg rushing & 3 TDs
QB: SO Richard Brehaut - 63.0 ypg, 0 TD, 1 INT, & 50|PERCENT| comp. - in 3 games
RB: SO Johnathan Franklin - 113.2 ypg & 5 TDs
RB: JR Derrick Coleman - 66.4 ypg & 4 TDs
WR: JR Nelson Rosario - 27.4 ypg & 0 TD
WR: FR Ricky Marvray - 22.0 ypg & 2 TDs

Ducks Defense: 338.5 total yards/game (38th), 4.6 yards/play (15th), & 30.2|PERCENT| 3rd Down (11th)
Run (38th): 126.5 ypg & 6 TDs
Pass (59th): 212.0 ypg, 6 TDs, 12 INTs, & 54.1|PERCENT| comp.

Ducks Offense: 567.0 total yards/game (1st), 7.2 yards/play (7th), & 48.2|PERCENT| 3rd Down (20th)
QB: SO Darron Thomas - 202.2 ypg passing, 14 TDs, 5 INTs, & 58.5|PERCENT| comp.; 36.8 ypg rushing & 2 TDs
RB: SO LaMichael James - 169.6 ypg & 9 TDs
WR: SR Jeff Maehl - 70.5 ypg & 5 TDs
WR: SR Drew Davis - 32.7 ypg & 1 TD
TE: JR David Paulson - 35.2 ypg & 2 TDs

Bruins Defense: 369.8 total yards/game (66th), 5.3 yards/play (55th), & 48.9|PERCENT| 3rd Down (112th)
Run (92nd): 182.3 ypg & 10 TDs
Pass (32nd): 187.5 ypg, 8 TDs, 3 INTs, & 59.3|PERCENT| comp.

Friday

8:00 PM ET ESPN2: South Florida 3-3 @ Cincinnati 3-3 (-7.5) - The Bearcats have won 14 straight conference games, a streak they'll look to improve upon at home this Friday.  They have the youngest defense among BCS conference teams, which is part of the reason they're last in the conference in takeaways (5).  On offense, junior QB Zach Collaros is having a fine season with the 10th highest passer rating in the nation (163.56) and a 17/3 TD/INT ratio.  For the Bulls, their defense isn't playing all that bad, as they've held their last 4 opponents under 21 points, but they have to start scoring more points on offense.  In their last two games they've scored a combined 15 points.  Sophomore B.J. Daniels, has 10 INTs to just 4 TDs passing.  His 56.0|PERCENT| completion rate ranks 86th highest in the nation, while his 104.52 passer rating ranks 100th.  The Bearcats have won 4 straight against the Bulls. 

Bulls Offense: 314.7 total yards/game (103rd), 5.2 yards/play (80th), & 26.2|PERCENT| 3rd Down (117th)
QB: SO B.J. Daniels - 133.8 ypg passing, 4 TDs, 10 INTs, & 56.0|PERCENT| comp.; 31.7 ypg rushing & 2 TDs
RB: SR Moise Plancher - 58.7 ypg & 4 TDs
RB: SO Demetris Murray - 63.2 ypg & 1 TD
WR: SR Dontavia Bogan - 63.4 ypg & 2 TDs
WR: SO Evan Landi - 37.5 ypg

Bearcats Defense: 366.0 total yards/game (62nd), 5.2 yards/play (46th), & 34.5|PERCENT| 3rd Down (31st)
Run (21st): 108.7 ypg & 5 TDs
Pass (104th): 257.3 ypg, 11 TDs, 2 INTs, & 67.3|PERCENT| comp.

Bearcats Offense: 422.5 total yards/game (34th), 6.4 yards/play (22nd), & 42.5|PERCENT| 3rd Down (41st)
QB: JR Zach Collaros - 242.5 ypg, 17 TDs, 3 INTs, & 63.4|PERCENT|
RB: JR Isaiah Pead - 109.4 ypg & 1 TD
RB: SR John Goebel - 34.4 ypg & 3 TDs
WR: JR D.J. Woods - 91.7 ypg & 6 TDs
WR: SR Armon Binns - 87.5 ypg & 7 TDs

Bulls Defense: 301.5 total yards/game (17th), 4.7 yards/play (21st), & 34.1|PERCENT| 3rd Down (27th)
Run (44th): 135.8 ypg & 3 TDs
Pass (15th): 165.7 ypg, 8 TDs, 7 INTs, & 59.5|PERCENT| comp.

Week 7 Leaders

Passing:

1. Ross Jenkins (Louisian Tech) - 31/44, 422 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT vs Idaho
2. Ryan Griffin (Tulane) - 36/53, 412 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT vs Tulsa
3. Zac Dysert (Miami-OH) - 29/47, 399 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT vs Central Michigan
4. Ben Chappell (Indiana) - 26/42, 382 yards, 4 TDs, 0 INT vs Arkansas State
4. Stephen Garcia (South Carolina) - 20/32, 382 yards, 2 TDs, 2 INTs vs Kentucky
6. Dominique Davis (East Carolina) - 37/53, 376 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INT vs NC State
7. Nathan Enderle (Idaho) - 24/50, 373 yards, 3 TDs, 1 INT vs Louisiana Tech
8. Blaine Gabbert (Missouri) - 31/47, 361 yards, 3 TDs, 0 INT vs Texas A&M
9. Brandon Weeden (Oklahoma State) - 24/35, 356 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs vs Texas Tech
10. Matt Barkley (USC) - 25/37, 352 yards, 5 TDs, 0 INT vs Cal

Rushing:

1. Josh Harris (Wake Forest) - 20 carries, 241 yards, 2 TDs vs Virginia Tech
2. Bilal Powell (Louisville) - 24 carries, 209 yards, 2 TDs vs Cincinnati
3. Ronnie Hillman (San Diego State) - 24 carries, 191 yards, 2 TDs vs Air Force
3. Montel Harris (Boston College) - 26 carries, 191 yards, 0 TDs vs Florida State
5. Alex Gillett (Eastern Michigan) - 35 carries, 189 yards, 2 TDs vs Ball State
6. Cameron Newton (Auburn) - 25 carries, 188 yards, 3 TDs vs Arkansas
7. Lennon Creer (Louisiana Tech) - 23 carries, 179 yards, 2 TDs vs Idaho
8. Bobby Rainey (Western Kentucky) - 32 carries, 169 yards, 2 TDs vs Louisiana-Monroe
9. Robbie Rouse (Fresno State) - 16 carries, 150 yards, 2 TDs vs New Mexico State
9. Ronnie Weaver (Central Florida) - 30 caries, 150 yards, 0 TDs vs Marshall

Receiving:

1. Justin Blackmon (Oklahoma State) - 10 catches, 207 yards, 1 TD vs Texas Tech
2. Dwight Jones (North Carolina) - 7 catches, 198 yards, 2 TDs vs Virginia
3. Ryan Broyles (Oklahoma) - 15 catches, 182 yards, 1 TD vs Iowa State
4. Andrew Cruse (Miami-OH) - 8 catches, 179 yards, 2 TDs vs Central Michigan
5. Chris Matthews (Kentucky) - 12 catches, 177 yards, 1 TD vs South Carolina
6. Armon Binns (Cincinnati) - 8 catches, 175 yards, 3 TDs vs Louisville
7. Patrick Edwards (Houston) - 9 catches, 169 yards, 3 TDs vs Rice
8. Greg Childs (Arkansas) - 9 catches, 164 yards, 2 TDs vs Auburn
9. Michael Floyd (Notre Dame) - 9 catches, 157 yards, 3 TDs vs Western Michigan
10. Marcus Rucker (Memphis) - 4 catches, 155 yards, 2 TDs vs Southern Miss