No. 6 LSU (7-0) at No. 5 Auburn (7-0), today, 1:30 p.m., KCNC-4
Two months ago, before fall camp, quarterback Cam Newton wasn’t even listed on Auburn’s two-deep. Today he has the inside track on the Heisman Trophy. This afternoon he could become the heavy favorite.
The junior-college transfer tests his monstrous numbers against the No. 3 defense in the country in Louisiana State. Forget the Heisman for a moment. What’s most at stake is first place in the SEC West between two 7-0 teams (both 4-0 in league) ranked fifth and sixth in the country.
Fifth-ranked Auburn, a six-point favorite, has national title aspirations thanks to Newton, who leads the SEC in total offense (305.43 yards per game) and is second nationally in pass efficiency (180.53). The guy has passed for 13 touchdowns and rushed for 12 more.
“He’s playing better than any quarterback in the country,” LSU coach Les Miles said.
He’ll go against a team that has given up only 242.14 yards a game and held five of its past six opponents to no more than 14 points. Under second-year defensive coordinator John Chavis, LSU loves to blitz.
It’d better be careful. Against blitzes, Newton is hitting 70 percent of his passes, with eight TDs and zero interceptions.
His LSU counterpart, Jordan Jefferson, is one of the most embattled quarterbacks in the country.
He’s not even listed among the SEC’s top 10 quarterbacks (the SEC has 12 teams) as he’s thrown for only 577 yards with two touchdowns and seven picks.
However, Auburn is ninth in the SEC in total defense (367.86 ypg).
John Henderson: 303-954-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com
Texas Tech (3-3, 1-3 Big 12) at Colorado (3-3, 0-2)
1:30 p.m., Folsom Field
For Colorado, consider this a classic “swing game.” CU players sure are. “This game can make our season go either way,” Buffaloes QB Tyler Hansen said. “If we win, we’re 4-3 and can get at least a couple more wins and go to a bowl game.” And if the scoreboard goes the other way? “We don’t want it to go downhill from here,” senior CB Jalil Brown said. Under first-year coach Tommy Tuberville the Red Raiders are struggling against Big 12 competition. However, behind the passing of senior QB Taylor Potts they are quite capable of scoring in the 30s. Colorado has yet to prove it can keep up in a shootout. Tom Kensler
Colorado State (2-5, 1-2 MWC) at No. 9 Utah (6-0, 3-0)
4 p.m., Rice-Eccles Stadium, MTN
This is CSU’s fourth top-25 opponent this season. The game features two of the best young QBs in the West, Utah sophomore Jordan Wynn, who became a starter midway through last season, and CSU freshman Pete Thomas. This is a typical Utah team with an above-average power running game in Eddie Wide and Matt Asiata, who are virtually interchangeable, a deep group of receivers and an offensive line that has given up just two sacks. The big stars are missing from defense but the Utes are as effective as ever, tied for ninth nationally in scoring defense in yielding 14.0 points per game. Natalie Meisler
Air Force (5-2, 3-1 MWC) at No. 4 TCU (7-0, 3-0)
6 p.m., Amon G. Carter Stadium, CBSCS
AFA coach Troy Calhoun is brushing off a rash of injuries that have claimed five starters since Sept. 18 at Oklahoma. “We just have to go play and move on,” Calhoun said. Falcons guard A.J. Wallerstein is the leader of an offensive line that must grind out yards against a touted TCU defense (42 three-and-outs in 84 possessions, second nationally in total defense with a 218.3 ypg). The Falcons’ rushing offense (346.9 ypg) faces a team that leads the conference and ranks ninth nationally in rushing defense (90.3 average). TCU has held the Falcons to an average of 168.8 yards rushing the past four years. Irv Moss
Northern Colorado (2-5, 1-4 Big Sky) at Montana St. (5-2, 3-1)
1 p.m., Bobcat Stadium
If there is an Achilles’ heel for the Bobcats, it appears to be their pass defense. Montana State is allowing 255.6 yards a game through the air, third worst in the Big Sky. It has given up 13 touchdown passes, tied for the second most. However, the Bears are sixth in passing offense in the league (199 yards per game). The problem has been turnovers. QB Dylan Orms has thrown eight interceptions this season, including two costly ones last week against Eastern Washington. If the Bears can avoid those kind of mistakes, they should be able to move the football against the Bobcats. Matt Schuman, Greeley Tribune
Colorado Mines (6-1, 5-0 RMAC) at Western St. (1-6, 1-4)
1 p.m., Mountaineer Bowl
This could be an offensive show for Mines against a Western State defense that has struggled this season (last in conference in total defense, 429.0 ypg). Mines offense keeps rolling behind QB Clay Garcia and the Orediggers are up to No. 20 in the Division II poll. Mines redshirt freshman DB Ryan Wood is tied for second nationally in DII with five interceptions. Western senior WR Shaun Suttorp has been the spark in the offense, the favorite target of sophomore QB Miles Gorham (96-of-167 passing, 923 yards, 7 TDs, 8 INTs). Suttorp leads the team in receptions (37), receiving yards (337) and TD catches (four). David Krause
Players to watch
Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State
Coming off back-to-back career games, Blackmon leads the nation with 159 yards receiving per game. He’ll get his toughest test yet against Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara, an NFL prospect. 1:30 p.m., KMGH-7
Derrell Johnson-Koulianos, WR, Iowa
He caught three TD passes last week and is atop Iowa’s list in career receiving yardage. If the game against No. 10 Wisconsin is close, DJK’s playmaking ability could provide the difference. 1:30 p.m., ESPN
Matt Scott, QB, Arizona
The junior will be filling in for Matt Foles (sprained knee) against Washington. Foles was second nationally in completion percentage (75.3) and leads the Pac-10 with 305.8 yards per game. 8:15 p.m., ESPN
Vick Ballard, RB, Miss. State
The sleeper of the year in the SEC, scoring 12 TDs. A junior-college transfer, Ballard has a bruising 5-foot-11, 215-pound frame, but is also deceptively fast. 5 p.m., ESPNU
