Just got the hotel in here in the Philly suburbs...this is the weekly preview from the AAC.
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16
Tulsa (2-8, 1-5 AAC) at No. 23 USF (8-1, 4-1)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
THE GAME
Thursday’s game will be the second meeting between Tulsa and USF … The only previous matchup was in the 2014 season, when the Bulls took a 38-30 win in Tulsa … USF QB Mike White (now at Western Kentucky) threw three touchdown passes to WR Andre Davis, while RB Marlon Mack ran for two TDs in that game.
TULSA NOTES
Tulsa looks to snap a three-game slide after the Golden Hurricane fell 41-14 to Memphis Nov. 3 … Tulsa had a bye in Week 11 … Tulsa was tied 14-14 with Memphis, but the Tigers closed with 27 unanswered points … Tulsa is 0-5 in road games this season … The Golden Hurricane has 33 rushing touchdowns and five passing TDs this season … RB D’Angelo Brewer leads the squad with 1,099 rushing yards and eight TDs … RB Shamari Brooks had rushed for 687 yards and a team-high 10 TDs in his freshman season, but suffered a season-ending injury against SMU in October… QB Luke Skipper has started the last four games and has thrown for 1,022 yards and three touchdowns with four interceptions … QB Chad President has nine rushing touchdowns … WR Justin Hobbs has a team-high 46 receptions for 743 yards and two TDs
USF NOTES
USF bounced back from its only loss of the season with a 37-20 win against UConn prior to the Bulls’ open week… The Bulls gained a season-high 602 yards of offense in the win against UConn … USF leads the nation with 17 defensive interceptions … QB Quinton Flowers has thrown for 1,955 yards and 15 touchdowns with four interceptions and has rushed for 751 yards and nine TDs… Flowers became the seventh player in NCAA FBS history to register at least 7,000 career passing yards and 3,000 career rushing yards … RB Darius Tice has a team-high 780 rushing yards with nine TDs, while RB D’Ernest Johnson has 631 rushing yards and seven TDs … WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling has a team-high 44 receptions for 720 yards and five touchdowns .
Line: USF by 23
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18
No. 14 UCF (9-0, 6-0 AAC) at Temple (5-5, 3-3 AAC)
12 noon, ESPNU
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the fifth meeting between UCF and Temple in a series that started with the formation of the American Athletic Conference in 2013 … Each team has won two of the first four matchups … The Knights took the first two meetings, but the Owls have won the last two, including a 26-25 decision in Orlando last season.
UCF NOTES
UCF is ranked No. 14 in the Associated Press poll and No. 12 in the coaches’ poll for the second straight week after the Knights took a 49-24 win against UConn to remain unbeaten … UCF was No. 18 in the Nov. 7 College Football Playoff ranking … The Knights are 9-0 for the first time in program history … UCF leads the nation in scoring (48.6 ppg) … QB McKenzie Milton has enjoyed a breakout year with 2,720 passing yards and 22 touchdowns with five interceptions … Milton is ranked second nationally in pass efficiency (184.6) … RB Adrian Killins Jr. leads the team in rushing with 599 yards and eight TDs … WR Tre’Quan Smith has 40 catches for 761 yards and 10 touchdowns… CB Mike Hughes leads a talented secondary with three interceptions and nine pass breakups and is second nationally in punt return average (18.5 ypr).
TEMPLE NOTES
Temple has its sights set on a three-game winning streak after the Owls were 35-24 winners at Cincinnati last Friday… Temple is 17-5 in American Athletic Conference games since the 2015 season, while the Owls are a combined 8-1 in November since then … The Owls had been held to 16 points or fewer in four of their first five games, but have averaged 31.0 points in their last five … QB Frank Nutile has started the last three games … Nutile has completed 67 of 103 passes (65.0 percent) for 883 yards and six touchdowns with three interceptions this season … RB Ryquell Armstead has rushed for a team-high 482 yards and three touchdowns … WR Isaiah Wright has 36 receptions for 541 yards and three TDs … S Delvon Randall has 65 tackles and a team-high four interceptions … DE Sharif Finch leads the squad with 11.0 tackles for loss.
Line: UCF by 14
Cincinnati (3-7, 1-5 AAC) at East Carolina (2-8, 1-5 AAC)
12 noon, CBS Sports Network
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 21st meeting between Cincinnati and ECU in a series that dates to 1986 … The Bearcats have won the last six matchups to build a 12-8 series lead… Cincinnati QB Gunner Kiel threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns, while WR Khalil Lewis had three TD catches in last year’s 31-19 win at Nippert Stadium.
CINCINNATI NOTES
Cincinnati looks to bounce back from a 35-24 loss to Temple last Friday … The Bearcats were held scoreless in the first half against Temple and closed to within six points on two occasions in the second half, but saw Temple answer on the ensuing possession each time … Cincinnati has averaged 134.9 rushing yards and 221.1 passing yards per game … QB Hayden Moore has thrown for 2,176 yards and 15 touchdowns with seven interceptions… RB Gerrid Doaks has a team-high 513 rushing yards in his freshman season … WR Khalil Lewis has 53 catches for 528 yards and four touchdowns … LB Jaylyin Minor has a team-high 103 tackles and leads the American Athletic Conference with 10.3 tackles per game … LB Perry Young has a team-high 8.5 tackles for loss.
ECU NOTES
ECU plays at home for the second straight week as the Pirates took to rebound from last week’s 31-24 overtime loss to Tulane … The Pirates forced OT on a touchdown with 36 seconds left in the fourth quarter, but saw their bid for the tying score in overtime stopped on the 1-yard line … ECU ranks last nationally in scoring defense (45.0 ppg) and total defense (554.4 ypg) … QB Gardner Minshew has completed 115 of 205 passes for 1,345 yards and 10 touchdowns with four interceptions … QB Thomas Sirk has thrown for 1,655 yards and nine TDs and has three rushing touchdowns … WR Hussein How is the leading rusher with 324 yards on the heels of his first career 100-yard game… WR Davon Grayson has 57 receptions for 876 yards and six touchdowns to lead the team in all three categories … S Korrin Wiggins has a team-high 80 tackles.
Line: Cincinnati by 3.5
SMU (6-4, 3-3 AAC) at No. 18 Memphis (8-1, 5-1 AAC)
12 noon, ESPNews
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 10th meeting between Memphis and SMU … The series began in 1976 and resumed in 2007 … Memphis has won the last three meetings, including a 51-7 decision in Dallas last year as QB Riley Ferguson threw for 287 yards and four touchdowns … SMU’s last win against the Tigers was in 2013.
SMU NOTES
SMU, which is bowl eligible for the first time since 2012, looks to snap a two-game slide after the Mustangs fell 43-40 at Navy … SMU trailed 34-11 at halftime and rallied to tie the score at 40-40 in the fourth quarter before the Midshipmen got the game-winning field goal at the final gun … The Mustangs are 1-3 on the road in 2017 … QB Ben Hicks has thrown for 2,849 yards and 24 touchdowns with seven interceptions … RB Xavier Jones has rushed for 806 yards and seven touchdowns … WR Trey Quinn is the national leader in receptions at 9.6 per game and … Quinn has 96 catches for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns, while WR Courtland Sutton has 55 catches for 875 yards and 11 TDs … DE Justin Lawler leads The American with 7.5 sacks, while Lawler and LB Kyran Mitchell lead the team with 13.0 tackles for loss.
MEMPHIS NOTES
Memphis takes a five-game winning streak into Saturday’s game after a 41-14 win at Tulsa Nov. 3 … The Tigers would clinch a spot in the American Athletic Conference Championship with a win against SMU … Memphis has averaged 502.9 yards of offense through nine games … QB Riley Ferguson has completed 218 of 359 passes for 2,881 yards and a league-leading 27 touchdowns against seven interceptions … RB Darrell Henderson has rushed for a team-high 776 yards and four touchdowns and is averaging 8.2 yards per carry … RB Patrick Taylor has a team-high eight rushing TDs … WR Anthony Miller has 67 catches for 905 yards and 11 touchdowns … WR Tony Pollard is a difference-maker on special teams with three kickoff returns for touchdowns this season (five in his career)… Pollard leads the nation with 41.1 yards per return.
Line: Memphis by 12.5
Navy (6-3, 4-3 AAC) at No. 9 Notre Dame (8-2)
3:30 p.m., NBC
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 91st between Navy and Notre Dame in a series that dates to 1927 and has been played each year since … Notre Dame holds a 76-13-1 series lead and had won five straight before Navy’s 28-27 win last year in Jacksonville, Florida … Navy closed last year’s game with a final drive that spanned 7 minutes, 28 seconds.
NAVY NOTES
Navy snapped a three-game slide with a thrilling 43-40 win against SMU last Saturday … The Midshipmen, who let a 34-11 halftime lead get away, got the game-winning points on an 18-yard field goal at the final gun to clinch bowl eligibility for the sixth straight year … Navy is a combined 18-5 in American Athletic Conference regulars eason games since joining the league in 2015 … The Midshipmen lead the nation in rushing offense, averaging 369.8 yards per game … QB Zach Abey ranks fifth nationally, with 150.2 rushing yards per game … Abey has rushed for 1,202 yards and 13 touchdowns on 233 carries and has thrown for 717 yards and six TDs with six interceptions … RB/QB Malcolm Perry has rushed for 736 yards and seven TDs after he set The American’s single-game record with 282 yards against SMU.
NOTRE DAME NOTES
Notre Dame looks to rebound from a 41-8 setback to then No. 7 Miami (Fla.) in what was one of the more anticipated games on the college football schedule … Notre Dame had been ranked as high as No. 3 nationally after the Irish won eight of their first nine, with the only setback by one point to Georgia … Notre Dame is averaging 38.0 points per game … QB Brandon Wimbush has thrown for 1,405 yards and 12 touchdowns with four interceptions to go with 663 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns… RB Josh Adams has enjoyed a breakout year with 1,231 rushing yards and nine TDs … OG Quinton Nelson was an AP Preseason All-America first team choice, while OT Mike McGlinchey was a second-team selection … The defense is led by LB Te’Von Coney, who has 83 tackles and 11.0 TFL.
Line: Notre Dame by 18
Houston (6-3, 4-2 AAC) at Tulane (4-6, 2-4 AAC)
4 p.m., ESPNews
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 22nd meeting between Houston and Tulane in a series that dates to 1968 … Houston holds a 16-5 series lead and has taken 12 of the last 13 meeting, including each of the last two matchups … Last year’s meeting saw Houston QB Greg Ward Jr. throw two touchdown passes and rush for a TD in a 30-18 win.
HOUSTON NOTES
Houston looks for its third straight win after the Cougars took a 52-27 victory against ECU Nov. 4 heading into a Week 11 bye … The Cougars were 28-24 winners against then-No. 17 USF Oct. 28, which was their sixth win in seven games against top-25 opponents … QB D’Eriq King has started the last two games after playing primarily as a wide receiver … King has thrown for 489 yards and five touchdowns without an interception and has four rushing TDs … King is also the Cougars’ third-leading receiver with 29 catches for 264 yards and two TDs … RB Duke Catalon has a team-high 596 rushing yards with eight touchdowns… WR Linell Bonner has 58 catches for 652 yards and a team-high four touchdowns, wihle WR Steven Dunbar has 56 catches for 695 yards and two TDs … All-America DT Ed Oliver has 53 tackles and 10.0 tackles for loss.
TULANE NOTES
Tulane snapped a four-game slide and picked up its first road win of the season with a 31-24 overtime victory at ECU last Saturday … Tulane improved to 1-4 in road games and is 3-2 at home this season … Tulane’s opponents to date have a combined .577 winning percentage, which ranks 25th nationally and second in The American … QB Jonathan Banks has thrown for 1,232 yards and nine touchdowns and has rushed for 476 yards and seven TDs … RB Dontrell Hilliard has rushed for 997 yards, ranking third in The American, and has 11 TDs … WR Terren Encalade is the top receiver with 24 catches for 433 yards and three touchdowns … LB Rae Juan Marbley leads the defense with 80 tackles … CB Parry Nickerson, a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist, has four interceptions this season and holds The American’s career record with 14 picks.
Line: Houston by 9.5
UConn (3-7, 2-5 AAC) vs. Boston College (5-5, 3-4 ACC) - Fenway Park
7 p.m., CBS Sports Network
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 14th meeting between UConn and Boston College … The teams met eight times between 1908 and 1928, then four times between 2000 and 2004 before renewing the series last season … The Huskies are looking for their first win against the Eagles, who hold an 11-0-2 series lead.
UCONN NOTES
UConn looks to snap a three-game slide after the Huskies dropped a 49-24 decision at UCF last Saturday … UConn has faced back-to-back top-25 opponents, beginning with a 37-20 setback to USF Nov. 4 … UConn never led against UCF last week, but the Huskies trailed 28-17 after three quarters before the Knights reeled off 21 straight points … The Huskies, who averaged 320.0 yards per game last season, have averaged 412.1 yards in 2017 … QB David Pindell made his first start since the season-opener and threw for 201 yards and two touchdwns while adding 96 rushing yards with a TD … Freshman RB Kevin Mensah is the leading rusher with 422 yards … WR Hergy Mayala has 34 catches for 519 yards and five touchdowns … LB Junior Joseph leads the defense with 81 tackles.
BC NOTES
Boston College saw a three-game winning streak snapped with a 17-14 setback to North Carolina State last Saturday in Chestnut Hill … The Eagles, who were 2-4 through six games, need one win in their last two games to clinch bowl eligibility … Boston College announced Monday that QB Anthony Brown, who had started all 10 games, will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury suffered against NC State … QB Darius Wade is the likely starter against UConn … RB AJ Dillon has rushed for 1,039 yars and eight touchdowns on 221 carries and has set the Eagles’ freshman rushing record … WR Kobay White, another freshman, is the leading receiver with 28 catches for 368 yards and two touchdowns … DE Harold Landry has a team-high 5.0 sacks despite missing the last two games.
Line: Boston College by 21
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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16
Tulsa (2-8, 1-5 AAC) at No. 23 USF (8-1, 4-1)
7:30 p.m., ESPN
THE GAME
Thursday’s game will be the second meeting between Tulsa and USF … The only previous matchup was in the 2014 season, when the Bulls took a 38-30 win in Tulsa … USF QB Mike White (now at Western Kentucky) threw three touchdown passes to WR Andre Davis, while RB Marlon Mack ran for two TDs in that game.
TULSA NOTES
Tulsa looks to snap a three-game slide after the Golden Hurricane fell 41-14 to Memphis Nov. 3 … Tulsa had a bye in Week 11 … Tulsa was tied 14-14 with Memphis, but the Tigers closed with 27 unanswered points … Tulsa is 0-5 in road games this season … The Golden Hurricane has 33 rushing touchdowns and five passing TDs this season … RB D’Angelo Brewer leads the squad with 1,099 rushing yards and eight TDs … RB Shamari Brooks had rushed for 687 yards and a team-high 10 TDs in his freshman season, but suffered a season-ending injury against SMU in October… QB Luke Skipper has started the last four games and has thrown for 1,022 yards and three touchdowns with four interceptions … QB Chad President has nine rushing touchdowns … WR Justin Hobbs has a team-high 46 receptions for 743 yards and two TDs
USF NOTES
USF bounced back from its only loss of the season with a 37-20 win against UConn prior to the Bulls’ open week… The Bulls gained a season-high 602 yards of offense in the win against UConn … USF leads the nation with 17 defensive interceptions … QB Quinton Flowers has thrown for 1,955 yards and 15 touchdowns with four interceptions and has rushed for 751 yards and nine TDs… Flowers became the seventh player in NCAA FBS history to register at least 7,000 career passing yards and 3,000 career rushing yards … RB Darius Tice has a team-high 780 rushing yards with nine TDs, while RB D’Ernest Johnson has 631 rushing yards and seven TDs … WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling has a team-high 44 receptions for 720 yards and five touchdowns .
Line: USF by 23
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 18
No. 14 UCF (9-0, 6-0 AAC) at Temple (5-5, 3-3 AAC)
12 noon, ESPNU
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the fifth meeting between UCF and Temple in a series that started with the formation of the American Athletic Conference in 2013 … Each team has won two of the first four matchups … The Knights took the first two meetings, but the Owls have won the last two, including a 26-25 decision in Orlando last season.
UCF NOTES
UCF is ranked No. 14 in the Associated Press poll and No. 12 in the coaches’ poll for the second straight week after the Knights took a 49-24 win against UConn to remain unbeaten … UCF was No. 18 in the Nov. 7 College Football Playoff ranking … The Knights are 9-0 for the first time in program history … UCF leads the nation in scoring (48.6 ppg) … QB McKenzie Milton has enjoyed a breakout year with 2,720 passing yards and 22 touchdowns with five interceptions … Milton is ranked second nationally in pass efficiency (184.6) … RB Adrian Killins Jr. leads the team in rushing with 599 yards and eight TDs … WR Tre’Quan Smith has 40 catches for 761 yards and 10 touchdowns… CB Mike Hughes leads a talented secondary with three interceptions and nine pass breakups and is second nationally in punt return average (18.5 ypr).
TEMPLE NOTES
Temple has its sights set on a three-game winning streak after the Owls were 35-24 winners at Cincinnati last Friday… Temple is 17-5 in American Athletic Conference games since the 2015 season, while the Owls are a combined 8-1 in November since then … The Owls had been held to 16 points or fewer in four of their first five games, but have averaged 31.0 points in their last five … QB Frank Nutile has started the last three games … Nutile has completed 67 of 103 passes (65.0 percent) for 883 yards and six touchdowns with three interceptions this season … RB Ryquell Armstead has rushed for a team-high 482 yards and three touchdowns … WR Isaiah Wright has 36 receptions for 541 yards and three TDs … S Delvon Randall has 65 tackles and a team-high four interceptions … DE Sharif Finch leads the squad with 11.0 tackles for loss.
Line: UCF by 14
Cincinnati (3-7, 1-5 AAC) at East Carolina (2-8, 1-5 AAC)
12 noon, CBS Sports Network
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 21st meeting between Cincinnati and ECU in a series that dates to 1986 … The Bearcats have won the last six matchups to build a 12-8 series lead… Cincinnati QB Gunner Kiel threw for 348 yards and four touchdowns, while WR Khalil Lewis had three TD catches in last year’s 31-19 win at Nippert Stadium.
CINCINNATI NOTES
Cincinnati looks to bounce back from a 35-24 loss to Temple last Friday … The Bearcats were held scoreless in the first half against Temple and closed to within six points on two occasions in the second half, but saw Temple answer on the ensuing possession each time … Cincinnati has averaged 134.9 rushing yards and 221.1 passing yards per game … QB Hayden Moore has thrown for 2,176 yards and 15 touchdowns with seven interceptions… RB Gerrid Doaks has a team-high 513 rushing yards in his freshman season … WR Khalil Lewis has 53 catches for 528 yards and four touchdowns … LB Jaylyin Minor has a team-high 103 tackles and leads the American Athletic Conference with 10.3 tackles per game … LB Perry Young has a team-high 8.5 tackles for loss.
ECU NOTES
ECU plays at home for the second straight week as the Pirates took to rebound from last week’s 31-24 overtime loss to Tulane … The Pirates forced OT on a touchdown with 36 seconds left in the fourth quarter, but saw their bid for the tying score in overtime stopped on the 1-yard line … ECU ranks last nationally in scoring defense (45.0 ppg) and total defense (554.4 ypg) … QB Gardner Minshew has completed 115 of 205 passes for 1,345 yards and 10 touchdowns with four interceptions … QB Thomas Sirk has thrown for 1,655 yards and nine TDs and has three rushing touchdowns … WR Hussein How is the leading rusher with 324 yards on the heels of his first career 100-yard game… WR Davon Grayson has 57 receptions for 876 yards and six touchdowns to lead the team in all three categories … S Korrin Wiggins has a team-high 80 tackles.
Line: Cincinnati by 3.5
SMU (6-4, 3-3 AAC) at No. 18 Memphis (8-1, 5-1 AAC)
12 noon, ESPNews
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 10th meeting between Memphis and SMU … The series began in 1976 and resumed in 2007 … Memphis has won the last three meetings, including a 51-7 decision in Dallas last year as QB Riley Ferguson threw for 287 yards and four touchdowns … SMU’s last win against the Tigers was in 2013.
SMU NOTES
SMU, which is bowl eligible for the first time since 2012, looks to snap a two-game slide after the Mustangs fell 43-40 at Navy … SMU trailed 34-11 at halftime and rallied to tie the score at 40-40 in the fourth quarter before the Midshipmen got the game-winning field goal at the final gun … The Mustangs are 1-3 on the road in 2017 … QB Ben Hicks has thrown for 2,849 yards and 24 touchdowns with seven interceptions … RB Xavier Jones has rushed for 806 yards and seven touchdowns … WR Trey Quinn is the national leader in receptions at 9.6 per game and … Quinn has 96 catches for 1,008 yards and eight touchdowns, while WR Courtland Sutton has 55 catches for 875 yards and 11 TDs … DE Justin Lawler leads The American with 7.5 sacks, while Lawler and LB Kyran Mitchell lead the team with 13.0 tackles for loss.
MEMPHIS NOTES
Memphis takes a five-game winning streak into Saturday’s game after a 41-14 win at Tulsa Nov. 3 … The Tigers would clinch a spot in the American Athletic Conference Championship with a win against SMU … Memphis has averaged 502.9 yards of offense through nine games … QB Riley Ferguson has completed 218 of 359 passes for 2,881 yards and a league-leading 27 touchdowns against seven interceptions … RB Darrell Henderson has rushed for a team-high 776 yards and four touchdowns and is averaging 8.2 yards per carry … RB Patrick Taylor has a team-high eight rushing TDs … WR Anthony Miller has 67 catches for 905 yards and 11 touchdowns … WR Tony Pollard is a difference-maker on special teams with three kickoff returns for touchdowns this season (five in his career)… Pollard leads the nation with 41.1 yards per return.
Line: Memphis by 12.5
Navy (6-3, 4-3 AAC) at No. 9 Notre Dame (8-2)
3:30 p.m., NBC
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 91st between Navy and Notre Dame in a series that dates to 1927 and has been played each year since … Notre Dame holds a 76-13-1 series lead and had won five straight before Navy’s 28-27 win last year in Jacksonville, Florida … Navy closed last year’s game with a final drive that spanned 7 minutes, 28 seconds.
NAVY NOTES
Navy snapped a three-game slide with a thrilling 43-40 win against SMU last Saturday … The Midshipmen, who let a 34-11 halftime lead get away, got the game-winning points on an 18-yard field goal at the final gun to clinch bowl eligibility for the sixth straight year … Navy is a combined 18-5 in American Athletic Conference regulars eason games since joining the league in 2015 … The Midshipmen lead the nation in rushing offense, averaging 369.8 yards per game … QB Zach Abey ranks fifth nationally, with 150.2 rushing yards per game … Abey has rushed for 1,202 yards and 13 touchdowns on 233 carries and has thrown for 717 yards and six TDs with six interceptions … RB/QB Malcolm Perry has rushed for 736 yards and seven TDs after he set The American’s single-game record with 282 yards against SMU.
NOTRE DAME NOTES
Notre Dame looks to rebound from a 41-8 setback to then No. 7 Miami (Fla.) in what was one of the more anticipated games on the college football schedule … Notre Dame had been ranked as high as No. 3 nationally after the Irish won eight of their first nine, with the only setback by one point to Georgia … Notre Dame is averaging 38.0 points per game … QB Brandon Wimbush has thrown for 1,405 yards and 12 touchdowns with four interceptions to go with 663 rushing yards and 13 rushing touchdowns… RB Josh Adams has enjoyed a breakout year with 1,231 rushing yards and nine TDs … OG Quinton Nelson was an AP Preseason All-America first team choice, while OT Mike McGlinchey was a second-team selection … The defense is led by LB Te’Von Coney, who has 83 tackles and 11.0 TFL.
Line: Notre Dame by 18
Houston (6-3, 4-2 AAC) at Tulane (4-6, 2-4 AAC)
4 p.m., ESPNews
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 22nd meeting between Houston and Tulane in a series that dates to 1968 … Houston holds a 16-5 series lead and has taken 12 of the last 13 meeting, including each of the last two matchups … Last year’s meeting saw Houston QB Greg Ward Jr. throw two touchdown passes and rush for a TD in a 30-18 win.
HOUSTON NOTES
Houston looks for its third straight win after the Cougars took a 52-27 victory against ECU Nov. 4 heading into a Week 11 bye … The Cougars were 28-24 winners against then-No. 17 USF Oct. 28, which was their sixth win in seven games against top-25 opponents … QB D’Eriq King has started the last two games after playing primarily as a wide receiver … King has thrown for 489 yards and five touchdowns without an interception and has four rushing TDs … King is also the Cougars’ third-leading receiver with 29 catches for 264 yards and two TDs … RB Duke Catalon has a team-high 596 rushing yards with eight touchdowns… WR Linell Bonner has 58 catches for 652 yards and a team-high four touchdowns, wihle WR Steven Dunbar has 56 catches for 695 yards and two TDs … All-America DT Ed Oliver has 53 tackles and 10.0 tackles for loss.
TULANE NOTES
Tulane snapped a four-game slide and picked up its first road win of the season with a 31-24 overtime victory at ECU last Saturday … Tulane improved to 1-4 in road games and is 3-2 at home this season … Tulane’s opponents to date have a combined .577 winning percentage, which ranks 25th nationally and second in The American … QB Jonathan Banks has thrown for 1,232 yards and nine touchdowns and has rushed for 476 yards and seven TDs … RB Dontrell Hilliard has rushed for 997 yards, ranking third in The American, and has 11 TDs … WR Terren Encalade is the top receiver with 24 catches for 433 yards and three touchdowns … LB Rae Juan Marbley leads the defense with 80 tackles … CB Parry Nickerson, a Jim Thorpe Award semifinalist, has four interceptions this season and holds The American’s career record with 14 picks.
Line: Houston by 9.5
UConn (3-7, 2-5 AAC) vs. Boston College (5-5, 3-4 ACC) - Fenway Park
7 p.m., CBS Sports Network
THE GAME
Saturday’s game will be the 14th meeting between UConn and Boston College … The teams met eight times between 1908 and 1928, then four times between 2000 and 2004 before renewing the series last season … The Huskies are looking for their first win against the Eagles, who hold an 11-0-2 series lead.
UCONN NOTES
UConn looks to snap a three-game slide after the Huskies dropped a 49-24 decision at UCF last Saturday … UConn has faced back-to-back top-25 opponents, beginning with a 37-20 setback to USF Nov. 4 … UConn never led against UCF last week, but the Huskies trailed 28-17 after three quarters before the Knights reeled off 21 straight points … The Huskies, who averaged 320.0 yards per game last season, have averaged 412.1 yards in 2017 … QB David Pindell made his first start since the season-opener and threw for 201 yards and two touchdwns while adding 96 rushing yards with a TD … Freshman RB Kevin Mensah is the leading rusher with 422 yards … WR Hergy Mayala has 34 catches for 519 yards and five touchdowns … LB Junior Joseph leads the defense with 81 tackles.
BC NOTES
Boston College saw a three-game winning streak snapped with a 17-14 setback to North Carolina State last Saturday in Chestnut Hill … The Eagles, who were 2-4 through six games, need one win in their last two games to clinch bowl eligibility … Boston College announced Monday that QB Anthony Brown, who had started all 10 games, will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury suffered against NC State … QB Darius Wade is the likely starter against UConn … RB AJ Dillon has rushed for 1,039 yars and eight touchdowns on 221 carries and has set the Eagles’ freshman rushing record … WR Kobay White, another freshman, is the leading receiver with 28 catches for 368 yards and two touchdowns … DE Harold Landry has a team-high 5.0 sacks despite missing the last two games.
Line: Boston College by 21
