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IOWA STATE CYCLONES @ ARMY BLACK KNIGHTS +17
(22) Iowa State (2-0) at Army (0-2) @ 8:00 PM EST.
From The Sports Network/By Brian Mason, College Football Staff Writer
GAME NOTES: The 22nd-ranked Iowa State Cyclones will try to remain undefeated on the season when they invade West Point this Thursday for a non-conference matchup with the Army Black Knights from Michie Stadium. ISU has had a week to relish one of its most accomplished victories in recent memory, a 23-3 upset triumph over rival and previously eighth-ranked Iowa. It was the first time that the Cyclones have defeated a non-conference opponent with that high of a ranking and marked the first victory over the Hawkeyes in Ames since 2001. Head coach Dan McCarney is now 6-5 all-time against Iowa and has won six of his last eight games when coaching against the Cyclones' long-time rival. As for the Black Knights, they are off to an 0-2 start following an embarrassing 20-10 loss to Baylor last Saturday. The loss came at home for Army, which has now lost its last nine home-openers. Despite the Black Knights' recent woes in home lid lifters, they are still 94-19-3 all-time in such contests. This contest will mark just the second meeting ever between these two schools and the first since 1964. Army came out on top in that contest, 9-7, from West Point.
ISU quarterback Bret Meyer had another solid showing in the Cyclones' win over Iowa, completing 14-of-24 passes for 154 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Although converted quarterback Austin Flynn (three catches) hauled in Meyer's lone touchdown pass, it was Todd Blythe who posted team- highs with five receptions for 76 yards. Stevie Hicks guided an ISU rushing attack that finished with 169 yards, running for 118 yards on 28 carries. Hicks helped the Cyclones convert three of their four trips inside the Hawkeyes' red-zone. This improving offense is now averaging 27.5 ppg and just under 365 ypg in total offense. Hicks has been instrumental in their ability to control the tempo, running for 208 yards and a score. However, it is the progression of Meyer which has really jump started this offense. The young signal caller has completed 67.7 percent of his passes for 468 yards and two touchdowns.
ISU's defense is just as much responsible for the team's 2-0 start as its offense is. Opponents are averaging a mere 12 ppg against this unit, which is surrendering 131 ypg on the ground, but has yet to yield a rushing touchdown. Matt Robertson is currently leading the way with 17 tackles and two TFLs, while Tim Dobbins has been able to contribute with 12 stops, two TFLs, two broken up passes, two quarterback hurries and a sack. Shawn Moorehead has also been outstanding thus far, as five of his nine tackles this season have been for losses, including two quarterback sacks. He registered one of those takedowns in the win over the Hawkeyes, while also adding four tackles. Robertson finished with 11 stops and a fumble recovery, helping to hold Iowa to just three points and 174 passing yards.
Army's offense has been woeful to say the least this season, especially in the recent loss to the Baylor Bears. The Black Knights mustered just 55 yards rushing on 40 attempts (1.4 ypc) and made just two trips inside the Bears' 20- yard line. Carlton Jones had the one notable performance for Army, rushing for 80 yards. Zac Dahman managed to complete 19-of-37 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw two costly interceptions. His inconsistent play is one of the main reasons the Black Knights have just 17 points scored through two games. Dahman has now thrown four interceptions and is completing only 52.2 percent of his tosses. Jones has been able to rush for 151 yards, but is averaging just 3.0 ypc and does not have a touchdown to his credit thus far. Despite all the problems with Army's offense, it is still converting a respectable 41 percent of its third-down opportunities.
Defensively the Black Knights were supposed to be improved under the tutelage of head coach Bobby Ross, but that hasn't been the case in 2005. They are instead surrendering 32 ppg and 160.5 ypg on the ground. In fact, Army has already allowed five rushing touchdowns and has been equally ineffective trying to contain opposing passing attacks, giving up 247 ypg through the air. Cason Shrode is leading the team in tackles with 20 stops, while Caleb Campbell has 17 tackles and one of the squad's two interceptions. Shrode netted nine tackles against the Bears, seven of which were assisted stops. Rob Davis and Campbell each finished with interceptions, while Seth Lotts had four tackles and the squad's lone quarterback sack.
The Cyclones are now in the national rankings for the first time this season and don't expect them to have a letdown performance even though they are on the road and playing a lesser opponent in Army. Coach McCarney has his squad playing at an extremely high level right now and a shutout is not out of the question.
Note: Iowa State are 1-5 as DD road fav's, and 1-5 off a SU dog win, Army is also 5-1 as a home dog of 14.5-17 pts
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CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS @ NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES >>>> OVER 58.5
(13) California (3-0) @ New Mexico St. (0-3)
From The Sports Network/By Brian Mason, College Football Staff Writer
GAME NOTES: The 13th-ranked California Golden Bears, winners of 18 of their last 21 contests, will look to record their fourth win of the season when they take on the New Mexico State Aggies this Thursday in a non-conference affair from Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces. A 35-20 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini last weekend improved the Bears to 3-0 for the second straight season. It is the first time that Cal has posted back-to-back 3-0 starts since the 1951 and 1952 squads accomplished the same feat. The Bears are also now 11-5 in non-conference matchups under head coach Jeff Tedford and 15-5 in home games under his tutelage. As for the Aggies, they are losers over their first three games and come into this game fresh off of a 38-21 setback to rival New Mexico last Saturday. The Lobos have now won five of the last six meetings with the Aggies. This is the second home tilt of the season for NMSU, which opened the year with a 34-17 loss to UTEP back on September 3rd. This game will mark just the third all-time meeting between these two schools on the gridiron. The Bears have won both of the previous matchups with the Aggies, including a 41-14 triumph last season in Berkeley.
Cal was without the services of talented running back Marshawn Lynch (finger) last weekend against the Illini, forcing the Bears to turn to Justin Forsett and Marcus O'Keith. Both players responded with outstanding performances, especially Forsett who recorded career-highs with 187 rushing yards and two touchdowns. O'Keith chipped in with 66 yards and a score on 12 carries, helping the Bears tally 294 yards and average 8.4 yards per rushing attempt. Joe Ayoob, making just his second career start under center, finishing with 121 yards passing and one touchdown despite connecting on just 8-of-17 tosses. Although Ayoob has not been spectacular by any means for the Bears, they are still averaging 44 ppg thanks to a rushing attack that is rumbling for 264 ypg. Forsett has 276 yards and three scores to his credit and O'Keith has 238 yards and three touchdowns of his own already. The talented tandem makes for a crowded backfield, which expects to have the explosive Lynch back for this contest.
The Bears have been so explosive on offense over the past few seasons, that their defense often gets overlooked. That shouldn't be the case for this unit, which is giving up just 13.3 ppg thus far and a mere 81.7 ypg on the ground. Cal has also given up just two passing touchdowns and opponents are converting only 31 percent of their third-down opportunities. Desmond Bishop has been one of the main contributors for this defensive unit, leading it with 25 tackles (20 solo). Donnie McCleskey has had a strong start to the year as well, posting 18 tackles, two TFLs and one of the team's eight quarterback sacks. Brandon Mebane has been the squad's most effective pass rusher thus far, contributing with three sacks and 3.5 TFLs. In the win against Illinois, Bishop tallied 11 tackles and Mickey Pimentel had five tackles, three of which were for losses.
The 2005 season has gotten off to an awful start for the Aggies, who are averaging a mere 12.7 ppg and just 27 ypg on the ground, which ranks 116th in the nation. Justin Buries has been the only effective rusher for NMSU, contributing with 141 yards and a touchdown. The team's next leading runner is Muammar Ali, who has just 24 yards to his credit on eight carries. It hasn't gone much better for the Aggies when they have tried to throw the ball. Although they are averaging 259 ypg through the air, they have eight interceptions to just three touchdown passes. Royal Gill and Joey Vincent have both seen time under center, with Gill having spent the most time there. He threw for 116 yards in the team's recent loss to New Mexico, but completed only 7-of-16 pass attempts and was intercepted twice. Vincent was also intercepted in the contest and sacked four times, overshadowing his 103 passing yards.
The Aggies are going to have to make major improvements on the defensive side of the ball as well, surrendering 37 ppg and 214.7 ypg on the ground. The opposition has already scored six rushing and seven passing touchdowns against this unit, while also racking up 414 ypg in total offense per outing. Jimmy Cottrell is one of the few defensive players that has truly played up to expectations, posting team-highs with 49 tackles and three TFLs. Matt Griebel has been able to register 37 stops and a squad-best four broken up passes, while John Howell boasts 20 tackles and two sacks. Howell netted five stops against the Lobos, who finished with 309 rushing yards and 470 total yards last weekend. Griebel posted 15 stops and a TFL, while Cottrell had 12 tackles. Eric Carrie added 11 stops, two TFLs and the Aggies' lone interception of the contest.
The Bears are going to win this contest easily behind a rushing attack that has three players who are all difference makers with the ball in their hands. Ayoob still has a long way to go in terms of instilling confidence in his teammates, but he is starting to become more comfortable with each passing game.
(22) Iowa State (2-0) at Army (0-2) @ 8:00 PM EST.
From The Sports Network/By Brian Mason, College Football Staff Writer
GAME NOTES: The 22nd-ranked Iowa State Cyclones will try to remain undefeated on the season when they invade West Point this Thursday for a non-conference matchup with the Army Black Knights from Michie Stadium. ISU has had a week to relish one of its most accomplished victories in recent memory, a 23-3 upset triumph over rival and previously eighth-ranked Iowa. It was the first time that the Cyclones have defeated a non-conference opponent with that high of a ranking and marked the first victory over the Hawkeyes in Ames since 2001. Head coach Dan McCarney is now 6-5 all-time against Iowa and has won six of his last eight games when coaching against the Cyclones' long-time rival. As for the Black Knights, they are off to an 0-2 start following an embarrassing 20-10 loss to Baylor last Saturday. The loss came at home for Army, which has now lost its last nine home-openers. Despite the Black Knights' recent woes in home lid lifters, they are still 94-19-3 all-time in such contests. This contest will mark just the second meeting ever between these two schools and the first since 1964. Army came out on top in that contest, 9-7, from West Point.
ISU quarterback Bret Meyer had another solid showing in the Cyclones' win over Iowa, completing 14-of-24 passes for 154 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Although converted quarterback Austin Flynn (three catches) hauled in Meyer's lone touchdown pass, it was Todd Blythe who posted team- highs with five receptions for 76 yards. Stevie Hicks guided an ISU rushing attack that finished with 169 yards, running for 118 yards on 28 carries. Hicks helped the Cyclones convert three of their four trips inside the Hawkeyes' red-zone. This improving offense is now averaging 27.5 ppg and just under 365 ypg in total offense. Hicks has been instrumental in their ability to control the tempo, running for 208 yards and a score. However, it is the progression of Meyer which has really jump started this offense. The young signal caller has completed 67.7 percent of his passes for 468 yards and two touchdowns.
ISU's defense is just as much responsible for the team's 2-0 start as its offense is. Opponents are averaging a mere 12 ppg against this unit, which is surrendering 131 ypg on the ground, but has yet to yield a rushing touchdown. Matt Robertson is currently leading the way with 17 tackles and two TFLs, while Tim Dobbins has been able to contribute with 12 stops, two TFLs, two broken up passes, two quarterback hurries and a sack. Shawn Moorehead has also been outstanding thus far, as five of his nine tackles this season have been for losses, including two quarterback sacks. He registered one of those takedowns in the win over the Hawkeyes, while also adding four tackles. Robertson finished with 11 stops and a fumble recovery, helping to hold Iowa to just three points and 174 passing yards.
Army's offense has been woeful to say the least this season, especially in the recent loss to the Baylor Bears. The Black Knights mustered just 55 yards rushing on 40 attempts (1.4 ypc) and made just two trips inside the Bears' 20- yard line. Carlton Jones had the one notable performance for Army, rushing for 80 yards. Zac Dahman managed to complete 19-of-37 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown, but he also threw two costly interceptions. His inconsistent play is one of the main reasons the Black Knights have just 17 points scored through two games. Dahman has now thrown four interceptions and is completing only 52.2 percent of his tosses. Jones has been able to rush for 151 yards, but is averaging just 3.0 ypc and does not have a touchdown to his credit thus far. Despite all the problems with Army's offense, it is still converting a respectable 41 percent of its third-down opportunities.
Defensively the Black Knights were supposed to be improved under the tutelage of head coach Bobby Ross, but that hasn't been the case in 2005. They are instead surrendering 32 ppg and 160.5 ypg on the ground. In fact, Army has already allowed five rushing touchdowns and has been equally ineffective trying to contain opposing passing attacks, giving up 247 ypg through the air. Cason Shrode is leading the team in tackles with 20 stops, while Caleb Campbell has 17 tackles and one of the squad's two interceptions. Shrode netted nine tackles against the Bears, seven of which were assisted stops. Rob Davis and Campbell each finished with interceptions, while Seth Lotts had four tackles and the squad's lone quarterback sack.
The Cyclones are now in the national rankings for the first time this season and don't expect them to have a letdown performance even though they are on the road and playing a lesser opponent in Army. Coach McCarney has his squad playing at an extremely high level right now and a shutout is not out of the question.
Note: Iowa State are 1-5 as DD road fav's, and 1-5 off a SU dog win, Army is also 5-1 as a home dog of 14.5-17 pts
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CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS @ NEW MEXICO STATE AGGIES >>>> OVER 58.5
(13) California (3-0) @ New Mexico St. (0-3)
From The Sports Network/By Brian Mason, College Football Staff Writer
GAME NOTES: The 13th-ranked California Golden Bears, winners of 18 of their last 21 contests, will look to record their fourth win of the season when they take on the New Mexico State Aggies this Thursday in a non-conference affair from Aggie Memorial Stadium in Las Cruces. A 35-20 victory over the Illinois Fighting Illini last weekend improved the Bears to 3-0 for the second straight season. It is the first time that Cal has posted back-to-back 3-0 starts since the 1951 and 1952 squads accomplished the same feat. The Bears are also now 11-5 in non-conference matchups under head coach Jeff Tedford and 15-5 in home games under his tutelage. As for the Aggies, they are losers over their first three games and come into this game fresh off of a 38-21 setback to rival New Mexico last Saturday. The Lobos have now won five of the last six meetings with the Aggies. This is the second home tilt of the season for NMSU, which opened the year with a 34-17 loss to UTEP back on September 3rd. This game will mark just the third all-time meeting between these two schools on the gridiron. The Bears have won both of the previous matchups with the Aggies, including a 41-14 triumph last season in Berkeley.
Cal was without the services of talented running back Marshawn Lynch (finger) last weekend against the Illini, forcing the Bears to turn to Justin Forsett and Marcus O'Keith. Both players responded with outstanding performances, especially Forsett who recorded career-highs with 187 rushing yards and two touchdowns. O'Keith chipped in with 66 yards and a score on 12 carries, helping the Bears tally 294 yards and average 8.4 yards per rushing attempt. Joe Ayoob, making just his second career start under center, finishing with 121 yards passing and one touchdown despite connecting on just 8-of-17 tosses. Although Ayoob has not been spectacular by any means for the Bears, they are still averaging 44 ppg thanks to a rushing attack that is rumbling for 264 ypg. Forsett has 276 yards and three scores to his credit and O'Keith has 238 yards and three touchdowns of his own already. The talented tandem makes for a crowded backfield, which expects to have the explosive Lynch back for this contest.
The Bears have been so explosive on offense over the past few seasons, that their defense often gets overlooked. That shouldn't be the case for this unit, which is giving up just 13.3 ppg thus far and a mere 81.7 ypg on the ground. Cal has also given up just two passing touchdowns and opponents are converting only 31 percent of their third-down opportunities. Desmond Bishop has been one of the main contributors for this defensive unit, leading it with 25 tackles (20 solo). Donnie McCleskey has had a strong start to the year as well, posting 18 tackles, two TFLs and one of the team's eight quarterback sacks. Brandon Mebane has been the squad's most effective pass rusher thus far, contributing with three sacks and 3.5 TFLs. In the win against Illinois, Bishop tallied 11 tackles and Mickey Pimentel had five tackles, three of which were for losses.
The 2005 season has gotten off to an awful start for the Aggies, who are averaging a mere 12.7 ppg and just 27 ypg on the ground, which ranks 116th in the nation. Justin Buries has been the only effective rusher for NMSU, contributing with 141 yards and a touchdown. The team's next leading runner is Muammar Ali, who has just 24 yards to his credit on eight carries. It hasn't gone much better for the Aggies when they have tried to throw the ball. Although they are averaging 259 ypg through the air, they have eight interceptions to just three touchdown passes. Royal Gill and Joey Vincent have both seen time under center, with Gill having spent the most time there. He threw for 116 yards in the team's recent loss to New Mexico, but completed only 7-of-16 pass attempts and was intercepted twice. Vincent was also intercepted in the contest and sacked four times, overshadowing his 103 passing yards.
The Aggies are going to have to make major improvements on the defensive side of the ball as well, surrendering 37 ppg and 214.7 ypg on the ground. The opposition has already scored six rushing and seven passing touchdowns against this unit, while also racking up 414 ypg in total offense per outing. Jimmy Cottrell is one of the few defensive players that has truly played up to expectations, posting team-highs with 49 tackles and three TFLs. Matt Griebel has been able to register 37 stops and a squad-best four broken up passes, while John Howell boasts 20 tackles and two sacks. Howell netted five stops against the Lobos, who finished with 309 rushing yards and 470 total yards last weekend. Griebel posted 15 stops and a TFL, while Cottrell had 12 tackles. Eric Carrie added 11 stops, two TFLs and the Aggies' lone interception of the contest.
The Bears are going to win this contest easily behind a rushing attack that has three players who are all difference makers with the ball in their hands. Ayoob still has a long way to go in terms of instilling confidence in his teammates, but he is starting to become more comfortable with each passing game.