Weekend Preview

Second straight pedestrian weekend for college ball in general and the mid majors are no exception. The biggest game for the non AQ weekend isn’t even on Sat. it’s the Friday night showcase on ESPN2 between the home dogs, literally Louisiana Tech and the Boise State Broncos, more on that game to come. Biggest storyline of the weekend has to be can these teams come away with what should be easy wins and then rack up the style points that they all supposedly need to stay where they are. The hidden story is can TCU and Utah avoid looking ahead to next weekends showdown.

A couple schools step outta conference this week to take on BS conference schools, starting Thursday night in another primetime showcase VA Tech travels yes travels to East Carolina looking to avenge last season’s home opening loss to the Pirates. The Hookies are not playing up to expectations and the Pirates are always a competitive and the speed to play with an ACC school who they know they can beat. Second game is Texas v. UCF the Knights took the 07 match up till the final minutes losing by only a field goal, and again the Knights have the speed to play with UT so it may not be the woodsheding that it comes off as.

#6 TCU @ San Diego State

TCU Field Cred W’s @UVA, @Clemson, @BYU
The Frogs take the rare two time zone trip to play the Aztecs so don’t be surprised by a slow start. However that’s probably as close as it will be. TCU hasn’t played a game decided by less than 30 since beating AFA by three. TCU has outscored its opponents by almost 200 points 282-89, that includes two road wins against the ACC and against offensive power BYU, and in the last three including the Y its handed out beat downs by a 123-13 count. As for this week TCU has to avoid over looking the Aztecs and the trip and looking to next weeks MWC showdown. TCU hasn’t lost to SDSU since joining the MWC for the Tec’s they have won three of four but had to squeak out a home win against winless New Mexico who has packed a punch lately (that was my attempt at a bad Mikes Locksley joke). For Super Frog they have to continue racking up the style points to please their east coast voters. Look for the Frogs to start slow and then blow out the Aztecs.

#7 Boise State @ Louisiana Tech

BSU Field Cred W’s against Oregon, @Fresno St
The Broncos take their second extremely long road trip in the last three weeks, how has it affected them? Back to back 40 plus victories is how. Since their close call at Tulsa the Broncos have pilled on those much needed style points against sub par opponents and will need to do so again being on national TV for the first time since. The sub plot for this match-up is two fold, one BSU can’t be looking to next weeks Spud State Super Bowl, and two the reason why is yes the Dogs are only 1-8 vs. the Broncos but always play BSU close at home and have won 11 of 12 at home. Harping on the style points, QB Kellen Moore is second in FBS in passing yards per game and the Bronco D is ranked 10th nationally and is the main reason BSU has become a legit national power. Again similar to TCU the Broncos will probably start slow then poor it on in the second half.

#14 Utah against New Mexico

Utah Field Cred W against Louisville, (only loss @Eugene)
The Utes have cupcake city this week at home against winless New Mexico and need to take full advantage. A month full of close calls leaves the Utes needing a big win against a bad team. One would look at the debacle that has become the Lobo program and say this is it, but last seasons 10-7 Utah victory says it may be a little closer, maybe. The bigger question for Utah is at the QB position junior Terrence Cain had controlled the spot until last week when super frosh Jordan Wynn came in after halftime and led the Utes to 19 unanswered and if Kyle Whittingham wants to make the switch this is the week to get the youngster some pt, because next week is @Ft. Worth in the conference game of the year part II. There’s no slow starts here the Utes should take it to the Lobos from the start.

#15 Houston @ Tulsa

Houston Field Cred W’s @ Okie St, against Texas Tech, @ Mississippi St.
The Cougars have to show how they deal with success coming off their last big win they promptly went to El Paso and watched their season disappear. Now they travel to Tulsa and the Hurricanes are a proud program looking to right their season and a home win against a top 15 team will do just that. This lines up to be another mid major comparison game, how will the Coug’s fair compared to the Broncos who snuck out of the Sooner state with only a touchdown victory. Case Keenum leads the nation in passing with 422 yards per game not good news for the Golden Canes who gave up over 350 to pass happy SMU last week. Tulsa plays extremely well at home and Houston has struggled in Tulsa 6-9 all time, the game should be the closest of the weekend match ups but look for the Cougars to win by at least double digits they have too much at stake in dark horse BCS dreams and Case Keenums outside Heisman chances.