No. 9 USC (6-1) at No. 5 Oregon (6-1)

Noon, FSN Prime Ticket

FAVORITE: Oregon by 3.

COACHES: Pete Carroll (71-13 in seventh year at USC) and Mike Bellotti (103-49 in 13th year at Oregon).

LAST WEEK: USC won at Notre Dame, 38-0. Oregon won at Washington, 55-34.

SERIES HISTORY: USC leads, 36-15-2.

LAST MEETING: USC won, 35-10, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: In beating Oregon the last three years, Trojans have outscored Ducks, 124-56.

GAME FACTS: Underdog for first time since 2003 season opener at Auburn (span of 59 games), Trojans need win or hopes for a sixth straight Pac-10 title are pretty much history. Backup QB Mark Sanchez looked good in rout of Notre Dame going 21 of 38 for 245 yards with 4 TDs. Sanchez may start but Carroll says incumbent QB John David Booty's broken finger is "real close" to being healed. They'll face much tougher task vs. high-powered Ducks (second in nation in both total offense, 550.9 ypg, and scoring, 46.6 ppg) and QB Dennis Dixon (leads Pac-10, fourth in nation in QB rating, 138-of-199, 1,728 passing, 16 TDs, 3 ints., 416 rushing, 7 TD runs), who would like to atone for last year's drubbing when USC sacked him 5 times. Dixon has thrown and run for TD in six of seven games. RB Jonathan Stewart rumbled for career-best 251 yards, 2 TDs last week and has emerged as Pac-10's best RB, leading league with 940 yards rushing.

No. 6 West Virginia (6-1) at No. 25 Rutgers (5-2)

9 a.m., KABC (Ch. 7), KEYT (Ch. 3)

FAVORITE: West Virginia by 612.

COACHES: Rich Rodriguez (56-25 in seventh year at West Va.) and Greg Schiano (35-43 in seventh year at Rutgers).

LAST WEEK: West Virginia beat Mississippi State, 38-13. Rutgers beat South Florida, 30-27.

SERIES HISTORY: West Virginia leads, 28-4-2.

LAST MEETING: West Virginia won, 49 in triple overtime, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 1995, Mountaineers have beaten Scarlet Knights 12 in a row.

GAME FACTS: Neither team can likely afford loss in wide-open Big East race. Since 21-13 loss at South Florida Sept. 28, Mountaineers have trounced Syracuse, Miss. State by combined 93-27. As always, WVU spread attack will work edges of defense with combo of QB Pat White-RB Steve Slaton (combined 1,252 yards rushing, 18 TD runs). Amazingly playing its seventh home game of the season, Knights must get up after emptying emotional tank in huge win over then-No. 2 South Florida. Revenge for last year's loss, which cost RU Big East title, should be enough. RB Ray Rice was warrior last week with 181 yards rushing, but might be wearing down after carrying ball 109 times in last three games.

No. 20 Georgia (5-2) vs. No. 9 Florida (5-2)

12:30 p.m., KCBS (Ch. 2)

FAVORITE: Florida by 9.

COACHES: Mark Richt (66-19 in seventh year at Georgia) and Urban Meyer (27-6 in third year at Florida).

LAST WEEK: Georgia was off. Florida won at No. 8 Kentucky, 45-37.

SERIES HISTORY: Georgia leads, 45-37-2.

LAST MEETING: Florida won, 21-14, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 1990, Gators are 14-2 vs. Bulldogs including 7-1 mark vs. ranked Georgia teams.

GAME FACTS: Winner here stays alive in jumbled SEC East race. Richt hopes bye week can help ailing offense that managed only 34 points in last two games. Now Bulldogs are minus senior RBs Kregg Lumpkin (knee surgery) and Thomas Brown (collarbone) putting emphasis on freshman RB Knowshon Moreno (SEC freshman of week after 157 rushing in 20-17 win at Vanderbilt Oct. 6). Defense (third in SEC in total defense, 319.7 ypg) is in for challenge containing Gators QB Heisman-favorite Tim Tebow who Richt calls "like no one else in America." After destroying Kentucky last week (334 yards total offense, 4 TD passes, TD run, leads nation with TD run in 8 consecutive games), Tebow (leads nation in QB rating, 115-of-174, 1,711 passing, 17 TDs, 3 ints.) is dinged with a sore shoulder but will play. Gators lead nation and are fifth in nation converting 51 pct. on third downs. That stat could get even higher with WR Andre Caldwell (season-high 6 catches, TD last week) finally nearly healthy after knee problem.

Nebraska (4-4) at No. 17 Texas (6-2)

12:30 p.m., KABC (Ch. 7), KEYT (Ch. 3)

FAVORITE: Texas by 22.

COACHES: Bill Callahan (26-19 in fourth year at Nebraska) and Mack Brown (98-24 in 10th year at Texas).

LAST WEEK: Nebraska lost at home to Texas A&M, 36-14.

SERIES HISTORY: Texas leads, 7-4.

LAST MEETING: Texas won, 22-20, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: In last three losses to Missouri, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Cornhuskers have been outscored 129-34, including 48-14 in second half.

GAME FACTS: Crumbling 'Huskers try to avoid first four-game losing streak since 1961. Last week's lackluster effort included pitiful defense (last in Big 12, 115th in nation vs. run, 227.4 ypg) giving up 459 total yards (359 on ground), offense losing three fumbles while having the ball only 23 minutes. With legend Tom Osborne now back as "interim" athletic director, it looks like Callahan is out at season's end, if not sooner. After discouraging losses to Kansas State and Oklahoma to drop to 0-2 in conference play for first time since 1956, Longhorns have roared past Baylor and Iowa State by combined 87-13. QB Colt McCoy has led the turnaround (48-of-63, 591 passing, 5 TDs, 2 ints., TD run in last two games), even making inspirational speech to teammates immediately following Oklahoma loss. Longhorns have won six of last seven over Nebraska, including last year's victory, which K Ryan Bailey secured with 22-yard FG with 23 seconds left.

No. 12 Kansas (7-0) at Texas A&M (5-2)

4 p.m., ESPN2

FAVORITE: Kansas by 212.

COACHES: Mark Mangino (35 in sixth year at Kansas) and Dennis Franchione (30-25 in fifth year at Texas A&M).

LAST WEEK: Kansas won at Colorado, 19-14. Texas A&M won at Nebraska, 36-14.

SERIES HISTORY: Texas A&M leads, 7-1.

LAST MEETING: Texas A&M won, 21-18, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Aggies have never lost to Jayhawks in College Station (3-0), part of 7-0 run vs. KU since losing first game of series, 28-10, in 1974.

GAME FACTS: Dismal 2-18 in Big 12 road games under Mangino entering season, Jayhawks have broken out with impressive wins at Kansas State and Colorado. Another here keeps Big 12 North leaders (7-0 for first time since 1995) on track for showdown with Missouri in Kansas City Nov. 24, which should be for spot in Big 12 title game. KU's Todd Reesing (fourth in Big 12 with 2,020 total offense, 17 TD passes) is best QB you've never heard of. At 5-0 at home this season, Aggies are tied with Oklahoma, Okla. State atop Big 12 South, thanks to last week's clubbing of Nebraska.

No. 15 South Carolina (6-2) at Tennessee (4-3)

4:45 p.m., ESPN

FAVORITE: Tennessee by 3.

COACHES: Steve Spurrier (21-12 in third year at South Carolina) and Phillip Fulmer (141-44 in 16th year at Tennessee).

LAST WEEK: South Carolina lost at home to Vanderbilt, 17-6. Tennessee lost at Alabama, 41-17.

SERIES HISTORY: Tennessee leads, 20-3-2.

LAST MEETING: Tennessee won, 31-24, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Vols are 12-1 vs. Gamecocks in Knoxville, though last three games at Neyland Stadium have been decided by 11 total points including SC's 16-15 win in 2005.

GAME FACTS: Another SEC East elimination game. Spurrier is 8-4 all-time vs. Fulmer, though dean of SEC coaches has managed to split last six meetings. Gamecocks' erratic offense utterly collapsed last week managing season-low 6 points on only 282 total yards while giving up 7 sacks with 4 turnovers. QBs Chris Smelley and Blake Mitchell were combined 22-of-43 for 256 yards with 3 ints. Third downs (only two conversions in 24 attempts in last two games) have been absolute nightmare. That also describes Vols' debacle at Alabama (outscored 34-3 over final 44 minutes, shut out in second half for first time all season), which leaves Fulmer on shaky ground at best. RB Arian Foster was lone bright spot with 91 yards rushing, TD on just 13 carries to go along with four catches for 75 yards.

No. 1 Ohio State (8-0) at No. 24 Penn State (6-2)

5 p.m., KABC (Ch. 7), KEYT (Ch. 3)

FAVORITE: Ohio State by 4.

COACHES: Jim Tressel (70-14 in seventh year at Ohio State) and Joe Paterno (369-123-3 in 42nd year at Penn State).

LAST WEEK: Ohio State beat Michigan State, 24-17. Penn State won at Indiana, 24-17.

SERIES HISTORY: Tied, 11-11.

LAST MEETING: Ohio State won, 28-6, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: When ranked No. 1 in nation, Buckeyes have won 13 straight regular-season games and are 55-3-1 in regular season as No. 1 team since 1969.

GAME FACTS: Facing only second ranked team of season, Buckeyes need to show they're truly an elite team. Stingy defense (leads nation in total defense, 208.5 ypg, scoring, 49 points given up all season, second vs. run, 62.4 ypg) has locked down foes all year. OSU has won 11 straight road games since 17-10 loss in Happy Valley two years ago. For Nittany Lions to do it again, QB Anthony Morelli (38-of-60, 415 passing, 3 TDs, int. in last two games) must avoid mistakes, something he didn't do in last year's ugly loss in Columbus, when he threw 3 ints. and was sacked 3 times.

No. 18 Cal (5-2) at No. 7 Arizona State (7-0)

7 p.m., FSN Prime Ticket

FAVORITE: Arizona State by 3.

COACHES: Jeff Tedford (48-22, sixth year at Cal) and Dennis Erickson (7-0 in first year at Arizona State).

LAST WEEK: Cal lost to UCLA 30-21, Arizona State was idle.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Under Tedford, Bears are 4-0 vs. Sun Devils outscoring ASU, 182-82.

GAME FACTS: Bears' season of great expectations has unraveled in consecutive losses to Oregon State, UCLA. Playing on bad ankle, QB Nate Longshore returned last week but tossed 3 costly ints. WR Robert Jordan (catch in 36 consecutive games) should be back after missing last week with sore shoulder.

— John Lindsay, Scripps Howard News Service

MICHIGAN STATE (5-3) at IOWA (3-5)

Noon, ESPN2.

FAVORITE: Michigan State by 3.

COACHES: Mark Dantonio (5-3 in first year at Mich. State) and Kirk Ferentz (58-48 in 9th year at Iowa).

LAST WEEK: Michigan State lost at No. 1 Ohio State, 24-17. Iowa lost at Purdue, 31-6.

SERIES HISTORY: Iowa leads, 19-17-2.

LAST MEETING: Iowa won, 38-16, in 2004.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Since then-undefeated 13th-ranked Hawkeyes lost to Ohio State, 38-17, on Sept. 30, 2006, Iowa is 2-9 in Big Ten games, including six losses by 14 points or more.

GAME FACTS: Hard to figure what Spartans' comeback at Ohio State last week meant. Outscoring top team in nation 17-7 in second half is good, but offense was simply wretched (season-low 3 points scored by offense, 185 total yards, 9 first downs). S Otis Wiley scored on 54-yard int. return while LB SirDarean Adams added 25-yard TD on fumble return. They'll take aim at floundering UI offense (last in Big Ten, 117th in nation in scoring, 15 ppg) that has scored only two TDs in last three games. QB Jake Christensen (3 ints., lowest among Big Ten QBs) has been done in by lousy protection (32 sacks allowed, last in Big Ten, 116th in nation). Ferentz's program simply lacked the depth to overcome 11 players from offense now either out with injuries or suspended since last spring. LB Mike Humpal (second in Big Ten with 83 tackles) continues to play hard on defense.