Previewing Thursday night's college football games
No. 11 Kansas State (7-2) at West Virginia (6-4)
Time/TV: 7 p.m. ET/Fox Sports 1. Surface: Artificial.
Line: West Virginia by 2 . Sagarin difference: K-State by 3.20.
Synopsis: It's been a long 12 days for the Wildcats since their decisive loss to TCU cost them the outright Big 12 lead. They can still make some noise in the league, but their two toughest remaining games are on the road starting with tonight's long trek to Morgantown. The Mountaineers are just as eager to get back on the field as they look to snap a two-game skid. K-State's inability to run the ball with consistency caught up to it in the TCU loss. WVU was gashed in the ground game by Texas in its last outing, but the Wildcats are still largely dependent on air travel via QB Jake Waters and WR Tyler Lockett. WR Curry Sexton and TE Zach Trujillo have also become a big part of the passing attack, giving S Daryl Worley and the Mountaineers' secondary more to study for. West Virginia is a pass-first team as well, though RB Dreamius Smith has been productive of late. WR Kevin White was kept out of the end zone at Texas, something QB Clint Trickett will look to remedy quickly to fire up the home crowd. DE Ryan Mueller will lead the Wildcats' efforts to disrupt their timing.
North Carolina (5-5) at No. 25 Duke (8-2)
Time/TV: 7:30 p.m. ET/ESPN. Surface: Grass.
Line: Duke by 6 . Sagarin difference: Duke by 11.02.
Synopsis: Duke's not-so-good Saturday got a bit better this past weekend. Despite a loss to Virginia Tech early in the day, the Blue Devils still control their own destiny in the ACC Coastal thanks to Miami's subsequent loss to Florida State. But another Duke loss tonight or, less likely, next weekend against Wake Forest, would hand the division crown to Georgia Tech, already in the clubhouse with a 6-2 league mark. The Tar Heels' season has been eventful both on and off the field. But they have a chance to go bowling, and they'd like nothing more than to get their sixth win at the expense of their archrivals. Duke should have an easier time lighting the scoreboard against the UNC defense, which is giving up an alarming 41.2 points a game and has not held an opponent to fewer than 27 all season. Senior WR Jamison Crowder remains the primary target for Duke QB Anthony Boone, but WR Issac Blakeney as well as TBs Shaun Wilson and Shaquille Powell will likely factor in the game plan as well. When the Tar Heels have won, they've done it by putting up a big number themselves. QB Marquise Williams is the driving force, providing 18 TDs by air and 10 more by land. He tends to take a lot of punishment, however, so he'll want to get the ball into the hands of WRs Mack Hollins and Ryan Switzer as quickly as possible.
Arkansas State (6-4) at Texas State (5-5)
Time/TV: 9:30 p.m. ET/ESPNU. Surface: Artificial.
Line: Arkansas State by 6 . Sagarin difference: Arkansas State by 9.52.
Synopsis: This Sun Belt contest rounds out the tonight's slate as the Red Wolves look to improve their postseason position while the Bobcats look to get eligible. Arkansas State was dealt its second conference loss by Appalachian State in its last outing and hopes to shore up its defense tonight. Texas State has dropped its last two, both by less than a touchdown, and hopes to come through with the key plays this time on its home turf. The Bobcats' triggerman is QB Tyler Jones, who makes frequent use of WR Brandon Smith and TE Bradley Miller. The Red Wolves will counter with QB Fredi Knighten. He hopes to regain the services of top WR J.D. McKissic, who missed the Appalachian game with an ankle injury. Knighten can run it himself as well, but he'd prefer to hand it to RB Michael Gordon.
Lines furnished by Glantz-Culver.
Jeff Sagarin's power ratings show the relative strength of teams; 3.15 points were added to the home team's rating to calculate the difference.