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Newcastle are top of the Sky Bet Championship but just how good are Rafael Benitezs side? Whoscored.com dig into the stats ahead of Sundays clash with Leeds United live on Sky Sports...The return of the Championship is bookended by the two biggest matches of the weekend, with the Sky cameras pitching up at the Amex Stadium for Brightons clash with Aston Villa on Friday night before Newcastles clash with Leeds at Elland Road on Sunday.High-flying Brighton are unbeaten in 10 games and host a resurgent Villa side who are yet to lose under new boss Steve Bruce. Its not an easy game, but it represents a chance for Chris Hughtons charges to move level on points with the team to beat at the top of the table. In the summer the bookies priced up Newcastle as the strongest favourites ever to win the Championship, such was the support behind a club that invested heavily in the transfer market and, crucially, kept hold of a manager whose CV is unrivalled at this level.Rafael Benitezs decision to stay on at St. James Park despite last seasons relegation from the Premier League was arguably the biggest factor behind the Magpies early billing as the second tiers best ever side. Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez was the Sky Bet EFL Manager of the Month for October Optimism was dampened after they lost their opening two matches to Fulham and Huddersfield at the start of the campaign, but having acclimatised to their new surroundings and bedded in a large number of summer arrivals, they are once again being touted as overwhelming favourites, despite Brightons close proximity in the table.A look at WhoScored.coms statistical team ratings actually suggests the Seagulls have been the stronger side over the course of the season. Their score of 7.02 is the highest in the league ahead of Newcastles 6.98, though both figures rank highly in relation to previous promoted sides. Leeds vs Newcastle November 20, 2016, 1:00pm Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass In fact, the only two teams to have gone up in the last two seasons with a higher rating than either of this seasons top two are Leicester (7.00), in their title-winning 2013/14 campaign, and Bournemouth (7.04), when they won the league the following season. The subsequent success of both of those sides in the top-flight certainly suggests that both Newcastle and Brighton are well-equipped to make the step up.Moreover, if you were to exclude Newcastles ratings from their first two games of the season, the Magpies WhoScored.com rating would be 7.07. Its a figure that will surely rise further if they continue in their current vein of form, demonstrating that few teams in the Championships history can match the current leaders strength.One of the key factors behind the success of Benitezs side thus far has undoubtedly been their effective movements in the summer transfer window. While Dwight Gayle steals the spotlight in that regard, leading the scoring charts in Englands second tier with 11 goals for a rating of 7.34, the impact of a number of less heralded recruits has been just as decisive. Whoscored.coms top rated Newcastle players this season Of their first team regulars this season, four of Newcastles top six rated players are new arrivals.Top of the list is Ciaran Clark (7.42), who few would have expected to become such a key member of the side. Indeed, when Newcastle announced the capture of the defender from touted promotion rivals Aston Villa, it seemed a slightly odd move at the time. Benitez had already signed Grant Hanley to bolster his defensive ranks, had named Jamaal Lascelles as his captain and could also call upon Chancel Mbemba.In fact, Clarks addition was tipped in the local media to provide competition at left-back as much as centre-half, perhaps reading too much into the fact that the Ireland international had made a handful of appearances in that position at Villa. Ciaran Clark has impressed for Newcastle since his arrival from Aston Villa Make no mistake, though, Clark is central defender, and hes proving to be a very good one at this level. He has scored twice and is offering both the most interceptions (2.1) and clearances (8.1) per game for the club, while Newcastles record with the 27-year old at the back is exceptional.Ironically, the only game in 11 that Clark has not been on the winning side this season was a 1-1 draw back at Villa Park, with the Magpies losing three of five without him in the XI. Rafa not thinking of promotion Rafael Benitez insists hes not thinking about promotion yet. Meanwhile, alongside the impressive Jonjo Shelvey in the middle of the park, Isaac Hayden has also played an important role in ensuring Newcastles defence has been much improved. The Magpies were exposed to counter-attacks last season, but Hayden has provided the necessary protection. His average of 2.6 tackles per game is a team high, with 1.9 interceptions bettered only by Clark, helping him to a rating of 7.25.Along with Gayle, Matt Ritchie was the other real marquee signing and while the winger took a little time to adjust, he has also proven an astute acquisition. With two goals and five assists to his name in the league - the latter is a joint high in the Championship - he is beginning to have the sort of effect Benitez would have hoped in the final third. Matt Ritchie has made a strong start to life at St James Park Ritchie, after all, is a player that has excelled in a title-winning campaign, ranking among the top ten players in the second tier as Bournemouth were promoted, with a rating of 7.44 courtesy of superb figures of 15 goals and 17 assists.Its clear then, that while Newcastles enviable firepower in the form of Gayle, Mitrovic and Perez is seen as their greatest asset, Benitez has built a team that warrants its billing as outright favourites.Their credentials will be tested against an improving Leeds side on Sunday in a fixture steeped in top-flight tradition. While both will certainly be aiming to be back in the big time before long, its the Magpies who are flying right now. They are justifying the hype to make an immediate return appear a near certainty.Also See:Newcastle videoNewcastle fixturesNewcastle statsGet a ￡10 free bet!Randy White Cowboys Jersey . 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It set a program FCS-record 687 yards in a 55-52 win at Abilene Christian on Sept. 10 before falling 47-21 to Colorado State of the FBS in its final nonconference tuneup.The Bears caught a bit of a break in last weekends Big Sky opener with Case Cookus, the 2015 STATS FCS Freshman of the Year, out with a shoulder injury for Northern Arizona. They pulled out a 21-18 victory, but it was hardly a thing of beauty.Northern Colorado was outgained 493-263 in total yards while picking up just 40 after halftime. The defense was on its heels most of the second half before coming up with a pair of huge takeaways, recovering two NAU inside its own 5-yard-line in the fourth quarter to escape.Theyre just playing together, Bears coach Earnest Collins said. Its leadership. We got some young leaders and some old leaders. Its the continuity and togetherness and the camaraderie of our team is a lot better than its been in the past.Collins likes the direction his team is heading but realizes it has plenty to clean up, especially on defense.Northern Colorado is 12th in the 13-team Big Sky in total defense, allowing 507.8 yards per game, and has routinely been shredded through the air. It ranks 119th out of 125 FCS schools in pass defense at 324.5 yards per game and is one of only seven teams without an interception.None of that bodes well for trying to contain Gage Gubrud, Cooper Kupp and the high-flying Eagles (4-1, 2-0).Gubrud joined Kupp on the STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year Watch List on Tuesday after passing for a career-high 486 yards with six touchdowns and no interceptions in last Saturdays 63-30 win over UC Davis -- Eastern Washingtons highest-scorinng game since 2001.ddddddddddddThe sophomore quarterback leads the FCS with 1,916 passing yards, 18 touchdowns and 2,191 total yards -- 673 more than the next-closest individual.With a nine-yard pass to Kupp in the second quarter, Kupp set the Division I record for career receiving yards. The senior, who wound up catching 12 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns, enters with 5,417 receiving yards. The 2015 STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year also has a Division I-record 63 touchdown catches and his 352 career receptions are second all-time in the FCS to Elons Terrell Hudgins 395.The Bears are no stranger to Kupps exploits.Kupp set a school record with 20 receptions for a career-best 275 yards and three TDs in last Octobers 43-41 victory as EWU improved to 8-0 in the series since the Bears joined the Big Sky.The Eagles Jordan Dascalo hit a 44-yard field goal as time expired after Northern Colorados Michael McCauley had a pair of touchdown catches in a 49-second span to put the Bears ahead with 1:23 to play.It was a battle last year, it was a grinding tough battle here in 2014 and it was a battle down there in our national title year in 2010. It seems like we play competitive battles with them every time, EWU coach Beau Baldwin said. I think coach Collins has a spirit, attitude and a real toughness about him in a great way. I really respect him, and his team emulates him -- there is a toughness, a grit and no fear. Hes done a great job with that program.The ground game has been a big part of the Bears early success, averaging 192 yards to rank third in the Big Sky.Sophomore Trae Riek has amassed 350 yards in the last three games while averaging 5.1 per attempt. He carried the ball 12 times for 62 yards in last seasons matchup and could be primed for a fourth straight 100-yard game going up against an EWU defense that is allowing an average of 218.8 run yards in its last four contests.The thing that we learned from last year is that our kids are starting to believe and understand that we can play with people in this conference, Collins said. We just have to do what were supposed to do and do our job. ' ' '