Colorado-area college football capsules, Oct. 3

By Jim Benton, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 2, 2008 at 5:47 p.m.

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Texas at Colorado

* The game: 5 p.m. Saturday, Folsom Field (53,750 capacity), Boulder.

* The records: No. 5 Texas is 4-0; CU is 3-1. Big 12 opener for both teams.

* The series: Texas leads 9-7.

* TV/radio: FSN; KOA-AM (850).

* Who's favored: Texas by 13.

* Injury update: CU - WR Jason Espinoza (collarbone), OT Ryan Miller (leg) are out; OLB B.J. Beatty (leg) is doubtful; DE Jason Brace (concussion), S Bret Smith (knee) are day-to-day. Texas - FB Luke Tieman (knee) is out for the season.

* Scouting report: CU is fielding a patchwork offensive line, and that probably has Texas' defensive front - particularly sack master end Brian Orakpo - champing at the bit to get at Buffaloes quarterback Cody Hawkins. To keep him out of harm's way, CU has to run effectively, and that won't be easy against a Texas run defense that has allowed a Big 12-best 52.5 yards a game. When the Longhorns have the ball, quarterback Colt McCoy poses a pass/run threat for the Buffaloes. He's 24-6 as Texas' starter and with 1,296 yards in total offense (1,018 passing, 278 rushing), could be the league's most underrated dual-threat quarterback.

* Stat that matters: The Longhorns have registered seven sacks in each of the past two games and have 16 total (144 yards) in four games.

Navy at Air Force

* The game: 2 p.m. Saturday, Falcon Stadium (46,692 capacity), Air Force Academy.

* The records: Navy is 3-2; Air Force is 3-1.

* The series: Air Force leads 25-15.

* TV/radio: Versus; KVOR-AM (740) in Colorado Springs, KCKK-AM (1510) in Denver.

* Who's favored: Air Force by 51/2.

* Injury update: Navy - KR John Angelo (concussion) is out; RT Andrew McGinn (concussion) and DE Michael Walsh (toe) are doubtful; CB Kevin Edwards (ankle) and QB Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enada (hamstring) are probable. Air Force - WR Ty Paffett (back) and TE Travis Dekker (ankle) are probable.

* Scouting report: The Falcons have had an extra week to polish their offensive execution. But Air Force can't afford to get into a scoring contest with the Midshipmen, so the Falcons defense will have to contain a Navy offense that is averaging 415.2 yards a game. Navy has the second-best rushing offense in Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A), averaging 335 yards a game.

* Stat that matters: Navy is 34-4 during the past seven seasons when leading at halftime and 42-4 when leading after three quarters.

Nevada-Las Vegas at Colorado State

* The game: Noon Saturday, Sonny Lubick Field at Hughes Stadium (34,400 capacity), Fort Collins.

* The records: UNLV is 3-2, 0-1 in the Mountain West Conference; CSU is 2-2, 0-0.

* The series: CSU leads 11-4-1.

* TV/radio: the mtn.; KLZ-AM (560).

* Who's favored: CSU by 2.

* Injury update: UNLV - None reported. CSU - S Amadeus Waters (knee) is out; CB Brandon Owens (sprained ankle) is questionable.

* Scouting report: If CSU hopes to extend its five-game winning streak against the Rebels, it needs to put together a consistent offensive attack, improve its special-teams play and contain a UNLV offense that is capable putting up big numbers.

* Stat that matters: UNLV's Frank Summers has rushed for more than 100 yards twice this season, but CSU's defense has not allowed a 100-yard rusher.

Wyoming at New Mexico

* The game: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, University Stadium, (40,094 capacity), Albuquerque.

* The records: Wyoming is 2-3, 0-2 Mountain West Conference; New Mexico is 2-3, 0-1.

* The series: Wyoming leads 32-28.

* TV/radio: the mtn.; KEPN-AM (1600).

* Who's favored: New Mexico by 111/2.

* Scouting report: Karsten Sween returns to the huddle as the Cowboys' starting quarterback, but the 2007 starter will have a short leash after Wyoming used four quarterbacks last week in hopes of stabilizing its turnover-prone offense. The Cowboys suffered five turnovers, including four interceptions, during the loss against Bowling Green and have committed 19 turnovers this season, the most in the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A). The Cowboys might be wise sticking to the run behind Devin Moore, whose average of 101.2 rushing yards a game ranks second in the Mountain West Conference behind New Mexico running back Rodney Ferguson (104.6). Wyoming has lost its two league games by a combined 67-3.

Northern Colorado at UC Davis

* The game: 7 p.m. MDT Saturday, Aggie Stadium (10,743 capacity), Davis, Calif.

* The records: UNC is 0-3; UC Davis is 1-4.

* The series: UC Davis leads 3-1.

* TV/radio: No television; KRKS-AM (990) in Denver, KFKA-AM (1310) in Greeley.

* Scouting report: The Bears have suffered consecutive tough-luck losses, losing by three points in the final minutes each of the past two weeks. Both teams have posted similar averages on offense, but the Bears are allowing 410 yards a game on defense. UNC has lost 11 consecutive road games but looks to finally break through behind an offense that has scored 67 points, a total the Bears did not reach until the sixth game last year. UNC has lost three consecutive games against UC Davis, including the first game of coach Scott Downing's tenure in 2006.

Mesa State at Colorado Mines

* The game: Noon Saturday, Brooks Field, (3,000 capacity), Golden.

* The records: Mesa State is 3-2, 3-0 Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference; Colorado Mines is 4-1, 3-0.

* TV: Altitude2.

* Scouting report: Two of the league's three undefeated teams look to keep pace with Chadron State atop the RMAC standings. Mesa State and Mines boast two of the league's top offenses, but those units get the job done differently. The Mavericks own the top rushing attack in the league behind Bobby Coy (135 rushing yards a game). Mines counters with quarterback David Pesek, the RMAC's leading passer, and receiver Adam Saur, who leads the league in receptions (36) and touchdown receptions (eight). Mesa State has won nine of its past 10 games against Mines, including the past three in a row.

Western State at Fort Lewis

* The game: Noon Saturday, Ray Dennison Memorial Field (4,000 capacity), Durango.

* The records: Western State is 2-2, 2-1 RMAC; Fort Lewis is 1-4, 0-3.

* Scouting report: Western State has averaged 43.5 points while posting consecutive victories, getting 385 passing yards and five touchdowns from quarterback Cameron Merrill in a 53-24 win last week against Western New Mexico. Fort Lewis has scored only 36 points during its four-game losing streak.

Nebraska-Kearney at CSU-Pueblo

* The game: 1 p.m. Saturday, Neta and Eddie DeRose ThunderBowl (7,000 capacity), Pueblo.

* The records: Nebraska-Kearney is 2-3, 2-1 RMAC; CSU-Pueblo is 2-2, 1-2.

* Scouting report: The revamped CSU-Pueblo program almost added to its solid start by narrowly missing an upset win last week at Colorado Mines, losing in overtime. The ThunderWolves have been opportunistic, leading the league with a turnover margin of plus-seven.

Adams State at Western New Mexico

* The game: 1 p.m. Saturday, Ben Altamirano Stadium (3,000 capacity), Silver City, N.M.

* The records: Adams State is 0-5, 0-3 RMAC; Western New Mexico is 0-4, 0-3.

* Scouting report: The only RMAC teams without a victory this season square off. Both teams are allowing more than 36 points a game and are scoring 15.5 points or less a game.

Austin College at Colorado College

* The game: Noon Saturday, Washburn Field (3,000 capacity), Colorado Springs.

* The records: Austin is 1-3, 0-2 Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference; CC is 0-3, 0-2.

* Scouting report: CC has committed nine turnovers and has scored only one touchdown.

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