Carolinas college football preview capsules
TULSA (3-2, 0-1 AAC)
AT EAST CAROLINA (3-3, 1-1)
Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium, Greenville, N.C., Noon, ESPNNews
The Pirates have won five straight and seven of their past nine games against the Golden Hurricanes. … Tulsa quarterback Dane Evans is fifth nationally in passing yards (367.8 per game). Receiver Keyarris Garrett is seventh in receptions (8.2 per game) and yards (126.6 per game).
WINGATE (5-1, 2-1 SAC)
AT LENOIR-RHYNE (4-1, 2-0)
Moretz Stadium, Hickory, Noon, WCCB
The 16th-ranked Bears have won four straight over the Bulldogs, and lead the all-time series 19-10. … Lenoir-Rhyne has won three straight – not counting last week’s 92-0 exhibition win against University of Faith. Wingate saw its five-game winning streak end in a 26-17 loss to Tusculum.
GARDNER-WEBB (2-3, 1-0 BIG SOUTH)
AT KENNESAW STATE (4-1, 0-0)
Fifth Third Bank Stadium, Kennesaw, Ga., 1 p.m.
Last week’s 34-20 victory over No. 15 Liberty was the Bulldogs’ first against a top-15 team since 2013, when they knocked off three that season. … Garder-Webb has not opened 2-0 in conference play since the 2009 season.
DAVIDSON (1-4, 0-2 PIONEER)
AT BUTLER (3-2, 1-1)
Butler Bowl, Indianapolis, 1 p.m.
The Wildcats snapped a 15-game losing streak in beating Kentucky Wesleyan 14-7 in overtime. However, Davidson has lost 19 consecutive conference games, dating to the end of the 2012 season. … The Wildcats are 5-4 all-time against the Bulldogs, but Butler has won the past four games.
FAYETTEVILLE STATE (3-3, 2-0 CIAA)
AT JOHNSON C. SMITH (1-5, 0-3)
Irwin Belk Complex, 3 p.m.
The Golden Bulls enter Saturday’s game having lost their past four games, while the Broncos have won three straight. … J.C. Smith linebacker Austin Jacques has earned CIAA Defensive Player of the Week three consecutive weeks.
VANDERBILT (2-3, 0-2 SEC)
AT SOUTH CAROLINA (2-4, 0-4)
Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, 4 p.m., SEC Network
The Gamecocks will play their first game under interim coach Shawn Elliott, who took over after Steve Spurrier stepped down Tuesday. … South Carolina is 20-4 against the Commodores, including wins in the past six games.
BOSTON COLLEGE (3-3, 0-3 ACC)
AT CLEMSON (5-0, 2-0)
Memorial Stadium, Clemson, S.C., 7 p.m., ESPNU
The Tigers climbed to No. 5 in the AP Top 25 poll this week, their highest ranking since moving to No. 3 on Oct. 13, 2013. … Clemson is one of 16 FBS teams still undefeated. … The Tigers lead the series against the War Eagles 13-9-2, and have won four straight.
APPALACHIAN ST. (4-1, 1-0 SUN BELT)
AT LA.-MONROE (1-4, 0-1)
Malone Stadium, Monroe, La., 7 p.m.
The Mountaineers have won seven consecutive conference games and 10 of their past 11. … Appalachian State’s defense leads the nation in defensive touchdownss (three) and red-zone defense (25.0 percent), and is fourth in points allowed (11.4 per game).
Bill Kiser
This story was originally published October 16, 2015 at 6:56 PM with the headline "Carolinas college football preview capsules."