EXTRAPOINTS
Denver Post staff writers John Henderson, Chris Dempsey and Natalie Meisler preview the weekend.
NATIONAL GAME
OF THE WEEK
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AT OREGON
If the top-ranked Trojans really are better than a year ago, they’ll find out soon. The Oregon matchup starts three games in four weeks against top-25 teams. USC lost starting cornerback Terrell Thomas to a season-ending knee injury and linebacker Dallas Sartz, the Trojans’ most experienced defender, to a dislocated shoulder.
BIG 12 GAME OF THE WEEK
COLORADO AT MIAMI
It is the home opener for the Hurricanes, who still have aspirations of getting in the national championship hunt. CU is interested to see how good it is when matched against one of the nation’s best defenses. This game is one of the three best nonconference matchups in the Big 12 this season.
MWC GAME OF THE WEEK
TEXAS CHRISTIAN AT BRIGHAM YOUNG
This is TCU’s first test as a member of the MWC in one of the MWC’s high-elevation sites. The Horned Frogs used hometown humidity to their advantage in beating Utah in overtime last week. BYU is the MWC’s biggest unknown after a 20-3 loss to Boston College and 45-10 rout of Eastern Illinois.
NATIONAL ROUT
OF THE WEEK
CALIFORNIA AT NEW MEXICO STATE
So what’s up with Hal Mumme’s chuck-‘n’-duck offense? The coach who made Kentucky an offensive threat has his 0-3 Aggies 100th nationally in total offense (290.7 yards per game) with only three TD passes against eight interceptions. Cal junior Joe Ayoob figures to light up the Aggies’ defense. The No. 13 Bears are 30-point favorites tonight.
BIG 12 ROUT OF THE WEEK
INDIANA STATE AT TEXAS TECH
Somehow Tech seems proud of probably being able to roll up 100 points on the Division I-AA Sycamores. Memo to Mike Leach: No one is impressed.
MWC ROUT OF THE WEEK
SAN JOSE STATE AT SAN DIEGO STATE
One of three MWC vs. WAC games. Let’s see now. San Jose State lost 40-19 to a struggling Big Ten team, Illinois, while San Diego State lost 27-6 to a Big Ten contender, Ohio State. San Diego State gets its first win, in a big way.
COLORADO CONNECTION
JOE MONTY, DE,
WISCONSIN
The junior from Fort Collins High School started the past two games and has two tackles for a loss, including a sack, this season.
GERREN CROCHET, WR, STANFORD
The senior from Bear Creek High School is a backup. He has three catches for 30 yards and scored his first career touchdown on 46-yard reverse in the opening game against Navy. For his career, he has 21 catches for 250 yards.
LAST WORD
“Daddy’s 76. He takes naps during the game. So I go off tape.”
Tommy Bowden, Clemson coach, on whether he asked his father, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, for advice on playing Boston College
