NCAA Top 10 Capsules

(1) USC 47, WASHINGTON ST 14 ----------------------------
LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- Southern California ended the 1,100th game in its rich history much like it did the first 1,099 - with a win. John David Booty threw for four touchdowns and directed the top-ranked Trojans to their 35th straight home win, a 47-14 victory over Washington State in the Pac-10 Conference opener for both teams. With the win, USC improved to 746-300-54 all-time since it began playing football in 1888. Booty opened the game by leading the Trojans (3-0, 1-0 Pac-10) down the field on a 13-play, 83-yard drive - capped off by six-yard touchdown pass to Fred Davis. After the Cougars (2-1, 0-1) countered with a long TD drive of their own, Booty helped the Trojans respond with 20 unanswered points to end the first half - including Davis' second TD reception - to extend the lead to 27-7. A 6-4, 250-pound tight end, Davis finished with nine receptions for 124 yards and two TDs - all season highs.

(2) LSU 28, (12) SOUTH CAROLINA 16 ----------------------------------
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (Ticker) -- Jacob Hester and Louisiana State passed the first of several tests in the Southeastern Conference. Hester paced a balanced ground attack and the second-ranked Tigers dominated the first three quarters en route to a 28-16 victory over No. 12 South Carolina. It was the 11th straight victory and the 16th consecutive home win for LSU (4-0, 2-0 SEC West), which won the final seven games of the 2006 campaign. Saturday's contest was billed as a possible thriller between two of the top defensive teams in the SEC. But LSU pounded out 287 rushing yards to improve to 15-2-1 all-time against South Carolina. Hester was the catalyst for the Tigers' running game, grinding out 84 yards and a TD on 17 carries. Wide receiver Trindon Holliday and backup quarterback Ryan Perrilloux also made big contributions on the ground, collecting 74 yards and 62 yards, respectively. The Tigers' overwhelming running game overshadowed a poor performance by Matt Flynn, who completed just 8-of-20 passes for 70 yards and an interception. However, LSU's defense also answered the call, limiting the Gamecocks (3-1, 1-1 East) to just 16 yards on the ground. It was an excellent all-around performance for a Tigers squad which has upcoming games against ranked conference foes Florida, Kentucky and Alabama on its schedule. South Carolina struck first when Mike Davis plunged into the end zone from a yard out to open the scoring with 2:46 left in the opening quarter. But it was all LSU from there, as Holliday raced for a 33-yard touchdown run to forge a 7-7 tie just 90 seconds later. The Tigers took the lead for good with 12:13 left in the first half when Flynn found tight end Richard Dixon for a one-yard score to make it 14-7. LSU used some trickery to double its advantage right before halftime. With placekicker Colt David lined up for a 32-yard field goal, Flynn received the snap as the holder. In a perfectly executed play, Flynn flipped the ball over his right shoulder to David, who scampered untouched for a 15-yard TD to make it 21-7 with 1:10 left in the first half. Hester closed out the scoring for LSU nine minutes into the third quarter with a nine-yard TD run to make it 28-7. After closing within 28-10 on Ryan Succop's 23-yard field goal with 7:44 to play, South Carolina made things interesting when Chris Smelley found Kenny McKinley for a one-yard TD pass. However, the Gamecocks failed to convert the ensuing two-point conversion, keeping their deficit at 28-16.

MICHIGAN 14, (10) PENN STATE 9 ------------------------------
ANN ARBOR, Michigan (Ticker) -- Mike Hart ran for 153 yards and a fourth-quarter touchdown and freshman quarterback Ryan Mallett sprinted for a 10-yard score to lead Michigan to a 14-9 victory over No. 10 Penn State in the Big Ten Conference opener for both schools. The Wolverines (2-2, 1-0 Big Ten), who have won two straight contests after a devastating 0-2 start, have won nine straight meetings with Penn State. Michigan also played its second consecutive game without injured quarterback Chad Henne, who suffered an injury to his right knee against Oregon on September 8. The 6-7, 252-pound Mallett completed 16-of-29 attempts for 170 yards and an interception for Michigan, which has beaten the Nittany Lions five consecutive times when Penn State is ranked in the top 10. However, Hart was the key factor late in the game. After the Nittany Lions (3-1, 0-1) pulled within 7-6 on Kevin Kelly's 29-yard field goal with 23 seconds left in the third quarter, Hart carried nine times on a 15-play, 77-yard drive that ended with the senior tailback scoring on a one-yard dive up the middle. Hart finished with a career-high 44 carries and registered a school-record 23rd 100-yard rushing game. Kelly cut the margin to 14-9 with 6:04 to play when he hit his third field goal of the game from 31 yards. Penn State had one last comeback opportunity when it received the ball with 88 seconds left, but Anthony Morelli threw four straight incompletions and Michigan took over on downs at the Nittany Lions 13 with just over a minute to play. Michigan converted a Penn State turnover early in the game to take a 7-0 lead. Morelli was sacked deep in his own territory by defensive end Brandon Graham and fumbled the ball, which was recovered by linebacker Chris Graham. Mallett, after a minus one-yard completion to Mario Manningham, sprinted 10 yards around left end for the touchdown with 9:35 left in the first quarter. Morelli, who was 15-of-31 for 169 yards, led Penn State on an 11-play drive to the Michigan 11 in the second quarter, but the Nittany Lions had to settle for a 28-yard field goal by Kelly to pull within 7-3 with 9:14 remaining in the period.

(3) FLORIDA 30, OLE MISS 24 ---------------------------
OXFORD, Mississippi (Ticker) - Despite a stellar performance by Tim Tebow, third-ranked Florida needed to hold off a second-half rally before escaping with a 30-24 Southeastern Conference victory over Mississippi. Florida (4-0, 2-0 SEC East) appeared to be in control after Tebow threw a 37-yard TD pass to Louis Murphy to give the Gators a 27-9 lead with 5:17 left in the third quarter. Tebow completed 20-of-34 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for a pair of scores, accounting for 420 yards of offense. But Ole Miss (1-3, 0-2 West) scored a field goal and two touchdowns on its next three possessions in a span of just over five minutes to give the Gators a major scare. The Rebels closed to 27-24 on Seth Adams' 77-yard TD pass to Mike Wallace and the subsequent conversion pass with seven seconds left in the third quarter. Ole Miss forced a punt and marched into Florida territory on its next possession as well, but linebacker Tony Joiner may have preserved the victory with an interception at the Gators 39-yard line. After an exchange of punts, Florida put together a 12-play, 53-yard drive to take a 30-24 lead on Joey Ijjas' 25-yard field goal with 4:59 remaining. After picking up one first down, Ole Miss faced a 4th-and 11 from its 33 with still more than three minutes remaining. Despite having all three timeouts left, the Rebels attempted a faked punt. The move backfired, as Robert Lane was stopped three yards short of a first down on a pass play. The Gators took over on downs and were able to run out the clock.

(9) WISCONSIN 17, IOWA 13 -------------------------
MADISON, Wisconsin (Ticker) -- Wisconsin turned to P.J. Hill when the going got tough. Hill scored the go-ahead touchdown midway through the fourth quarter as the Badgers held off Iowa, 17-13, in a rugged Big Ten Conference opener for both teams. Hill carried 29 times for 113 yards as Wisconsin extended the nation's longest winning streak to 13 games and improved to 21-1 in the last 22 home night games since 1995. Trailing 10-7 mid-fourth quarter, Wisconsin (4-0, 1-0 Big Ten) turned to its bread-and-butter. An all-conference preseason selection, Hill imposed his will on a tough Hawkeyes defense. The 5-11, 227-pound Hill carried 10 times for 43 yards, and capped the drive with a two-yard score to put the Badgers up, 14-10, with 9:42 left. It was the first rushing touchdown allowed by the stingy Iowa (2-2, 0-1) defense, which entered the game ranked fifth nationally and third in scoring defense (6.0).

(5) WEST VIRGINIA 48, EAST CAROLINA 7 ----------------------------
MORGANTOWN, West Virginia (Ticker) -- No. 5 West Virginia rumbled for 340 rushing yards en route to a 48-7 thrashing East Carolina. The Pirates (1-3) had been the only team to hold the Mountaineers (4-0) under 200 yards rushing in each of the past two seasons. But West Virginia had no such problems, surpassing 300 yards rushing for the 16th time in its last 20 games. Steve Slaton rushed for 108 yards on 18 carries in less than three quarters of action. The junior Heisman Trophy candidate put the Mountaineers ahead, 10-0, midway through the first quarter with a one-yard touchdown run. The drive was highlighted by a 64-yard scamper by wide receiver Darius Reynaud. Quarterback Pat White made it 17-0 with a 13-yard run early in the second quarter. Also a Heisman hopeful, White then hooked up Reynaud on a 12-yard TD pass to help the Mountaineers open a commanding 27-0 lead at the half. White completed 20-of-22 passes for 186 yards and a pair of TDs. The junior also rushed nine times for 44 yards and a pair of scores. White's second TD pass was for 14 yards to Reynaud on West Virginia's first drive of the second half. His second rushing score was for four yards with 4:27 left in the third quarter, making it 41-0.

(8) OHIO ST 58, NORTHWESTERN 7 ------------------------------
COLUMBUS, Ohio (Ticker) -- Todd Boeckman, Brian Robiskie and Ohio State continued to rip through their regular-season opponents. Boeckman threw four touchdowns - three to Robiskie - as the eighth-ranked Buckeyes ambushed Northwestern, 58-7, in the Big Ten Conference opener for both teams. Maurice Wells ran for two TDs for Ohio State (4-0), which recorded a school-record 22nd consecutive regular-season victory. The Buckeyes' last loss came in last January's BCS Championship Game against Florida. One of the premier programs in the nation, Ohio State won all 12 of its regular-season contests in 2006 - capped by an emotional three-point victory over then-No. 2 Michigan. Despite the loss of Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, game-breaking wide receiver Ted Ginn Jr. and a host of other contributors, the Buckeyes have not let up this season. Ohio State outscored its first three opponents this campaign, 91-20 - including a 33-14 road victory against Washington last week. Boeckman wasted no time getting the Buckeyes on the board in this one, connecting with Robiskie on a 42-yard strike on just the third play of the game. The duo made it 14-0 with a 28-yard throw and catch with 11:31 left in the opening period. Robiskie capped a three-play, 38-yard drive with his third TD catch of the afternoon to make it 35-0 just 58 seconds into the second quarter. The junior wide receiver had three catches for 89 yards. Boeckman was 11-of-14 for 179 yards, giving way to reserves Antonio Henton and Rob Schoenhoft in the third quarter. Ryan Pretorius had a 99-yard kickoff return for a touchdown for the Wildcats (2-2), who were outscored, 28-0, in the first quarter.

(7) TEXAS 58, RICE 14 ---------------------
AUSTIN, Texas (Ticker) -- Colt McCoy made sure Texas would not have to sweat out a game for the third straight week. McCoy threw for 333 yards and three touchdowns to lead seventh-ranked Texas to a dominating 58-14 victory over Rice. Last week, the Longhorns (4-0) trailed in the fourth quarter at Central Florida before winning the game, 35-32. Texas also had to rally from a 10-0 third-quarter deficit against TCU the week before. But Texas pulled away early in this one, as McCoy threw for 295 yards and three scores in the first half - leading the Longhorns to a 41-7 lead after two quarters. It was the ninth straight time Texas has beaten its intrastate foe. The Longhorns have defeated Rice (0-4) in 37 of their past 38 meetings. McCoy led Texas to another score on their first possession of the second half before sitting out the rest of the game with most of the other offensive starters. He finished 20-of-29 without an interception. Limas Sweed caught five passes for a career-high 139 yards and two touchdowns while Jamaal Charles rushed for 78 yards and three scores for the Longhorns, who begin Big 12 Conference play next week against Kansas State. After Charles fumbled on Texas' first possession, McCoy led the Longhorns down the field on a 13-play, 67-yard drive on their second possession, capped by an 18-yard touchdown pass to Quan Cosby. The sophomore quarterback completed all seven pass attempts on the drive to give the Longhorns a 7-0 lead with 8:28 left in the first quarter. Texas added three more when Ryan Bailey kicked a 43-yard field goal to make the score 10-0 with 4:34 left in the opening quarter. Texas scored on its first five possessions of the second quarter to put the game out of reach.

(6) CALIFORNIA 45, ARIZONA 27 -----------------------------
BERKELEY, California (Ticker) -- California opened its Pac-10 Conference slate in impressive fashion, pounding Arizona, 45-27. Justin Forsett rushed 23 times for 117 yards and a pair of touchdowns and Nate Longshore completed 16-of-30 passes for 235 yards, a touchdown and one interception for the Golden Bears (4-0, 1-0 Pac-10), who jumped out to a 28-3 lead in the first quarter and cruised to their 21st victory in their last 23 home games. Cal also exacted some revenge for last season, when a 24-20 loss at the hands of the Wildcats on November 11 in Tucson knocked the team out of the Pac-10 title picture and and ruined a possible trip to the Rose Bowl. The Golden Bears looked as if they might take a step back in the running game prior to the season, with 2006 top rusher Marshawn Lynch moving on to the NFL's Buffalo Bills. But Forsett, a senior, has filled in capably and entered Saturday's contest leading the conference at 122.3 yards per game. Forsett rushed for 23 yards on the Golden Bears' first scoring drive, capping the possession with a nine-yard touchdown run. He added a three-yard score with 8:53 remaining in the final quarter to push Cal's advantage to 45-27. Longshore had his best drive in the first quarter, completing 3-of-4 passes for 78 yards - including an 18-yard touchdown pass to Lavelle Hawkins - to open up a 14-3 advantage. A junior, Longshore was efficient in the second half, needing just seven pass attempts to guide his team to victory. Arizona had a hard time getting anything going in the running game, gaining just 21 yards on 20 total rushing attempts. With his team struggling on the ground and forced to overcome a huge deficit early, Wildcats quarterback Willie Tuitama attempted 61 passes in the contest, completing 42 for 309 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed for a score. Tuitama made his job harder by turning the ball over three times. His fumble in the first quarter was returned four yards for a touchdown by defensive tackle Tyson Alualu to make the score 28-3. The Golden Bears were 6-of-11 on third-down conversions and scored four touchdowns on the ground, outrushing Arizona, 188-21.