Boston College at Wake Forest
Picked last in the ACC Atlantic, No. 22 Wake Forest (7-1, 3-1 ACC) can take first place by beating No. 16 Boston College (7-1, 3-1). A win would tie a school record for season victories from 1944, 1979 and 1992. This will mark only the second game between ranked teams in Groves Stadium and first since 1979. And the Demon Deacons are young. Riley Skinner, three attempts short of leading the league in passing, and leading rusher Kevin Harris are freshmen. But Harris (knee) is out and Wake is down to two healthy running backs. And BC, a 3 1/2-point favorite, is already second in the league in rush defense.
BIG 12 GAME OF THE WEEK
Oklahoma at Texas A&M
The 8-1 Aggies have been resurgent, but this game will let everyone know whether they are for real. It is one of three intriguing conference games, along with Missouri at Nebraska and Oklahoma State at Texas.
MWC GAME OF THE WEEK
Air Force at Army
Anytime a Mountain West team gets on ESPN2, it’s a big deal this year. There will be lots of pageantry, and two schools that don’t particularly like each other.
NATIONAL ROUT OF WEEK
Ball State at Michigan
How bad is Ball State (3-6, 3-3 Mid-American)? It gave Miami of Ohio its only win last week. Meanwhile, second-ranked Michigan (9-0, 6-0 Big Ten) is giving up only 28.4 rushing yards a game.
BIG 12 ROUT OF THE WEEK
Baylor at Texas Tech
Not many people know Baylor leads the all-time series over Texas Tech, 32-31-1. Expect that to be evened up this week as Tech should have few problems with a Bears team that has lost its starting quarterback, Shawn Bell, to an injured ACL.
MWC ROUT OF THE WEEK
San Diego State at Wyoming
The Cowboys look to get back on course for a bowl bid, while San Diego State is still trying to figure out how to beat a I-AA team at home. Senior Day at Wyoming could mean a long day in the cold for the Aztecs.
COLORADO CONNECTION
Zac Robinson, Oklahoma St., QB, Fr., Chatfield HS
The backup has hit 11-of-26 passes for 142 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions. He hit 7-of-16 for 94 yards and all three of his scores after replacing Bobby Reid in the second quarter of a 34-33 OT loss to Texas A&M on Oct. 21.
J.J. Williams, Utah, LB, Fr., Grandview HS
He’s a walk-on starting at rover and has 25 tackles, an interception and a forced fumble.
LAST WORD
“At 3:30 a.m. we got home, and the kids are expected to get up and go to class. If we want to do what’s best for the student-athletes, there has to be a line drawn somewhere.”
– Connecticut coach Randy Edsall, on a Sunday night ESPN game at Rutgers
