No Big 12 blockbuster, but Mizzou can make news

With no Big 12 Game of the Century this week, and no other top 10 matchups, the schedule is kind of light. Think of it as the calm before the storm.

Only three teams control their own destiny for the BCS title game, and as it turns out, the only game this week between two Top 25 teams in the BCS standings involves one of them. South Carolina is at Florida in another one of those games where the on-field action might not be overly compelling, so most of the buildup is about Steve Spurrier. Right now, the way the Gators are playing, you better tune in early.

Jeremy Maclin's Missouri Tigers can clinch the Big 12 North -- with a little help from Texas. (US Presswire)

There has already been a little bit of action this week. Ball State, which is hoping for a miracle to land a BCS spot, is 10-0 for the first time after beating Miami (Ohio) 31-16 on Tuesday night (is there no day without a college football game anymore?).

The other Miami, the one in Florida, beat Virginia Tech 16-14 on Thursday to stay tied for first in the loss column in the ACC Coastal Division. North Carolina also has two conference losses and the Tar Heels hold the tiebreaker based on a win over the Hurricanes earlier this season. However, UNC travels to Maryland this week, and the Terrapins are undefeated against ranked opponents this season.

The other big game in the ACC features Boston College at Florida State. The Seminoles are tied for first in the ACC Atlantic, and the Eagles are a game back.

With a little bit of help, Missouri can clinch a spot in the Big 12 title game this week. The Tigers need to win at Iowa State and hope that Texas is able to knock off Kansas in Lawrence. That would leave Mizzou a game up on Nebraska with one to play, and the Tigers hold the tiebreaker.

That Kansas game is really the last chance Texas has to make its case to the voters for a spot in the Big 12 title game if a three-way tie with Oklahoma and Texas Tech comes about. The Longhorns don't just need to win, they need to put up a basketball score.

Last year, the Ohio State-Illinois matchup was one of the landmark games of the season. This year's edition doesn't have quite as much on the line, but the Illini need one more win to become bowl eligible -- and the Buckeyes still have Rose Bowl hopes.

In the Pac-10, Oregon State can get one step closer to a Rose Bowl berth with a win over Cal. The Beavers still control their own destiny. Southern California revisits last year's nightmare when it travels to Palo Alto to take on Stanford.