Two BCS bids up for grabs, and then Raiders, Sooners collide

Last week may have been a non-event, but there is plenty of action this Saturday as the season hits the home stretch.

Texas Tech can clinch a spot in the Big 12 title game against Missouri if its can do what nobody seems to think it can -- again. This time, the challenge is to beat Oklahoma in Norman, which is no small feat. OU has won 23 in a row at home, the longest current home winning streak in the nation, and is 59-2 there under Bob Stoops.

Ohio State faces Michigan in what is usually one of the big games on the calendar every year. This time though, it figures to be a yawner, but the Buckeyes will at least share the Big Ten championship with a win.

As that game comes to an end, Penn State and Michigan State will be kicking off in Happy Valley. The Nittany Lions will be looking to clinch their first Rose Bowl appearance since 1994. If Ohio State gets upset earlier in the day, then Michigan State is playing for a spot in the Rose Bowl, but a Buckeyes win and PSU loss puts Ohio State in Pasadena.

Once the Big Ten BCS representative is decided, Utah takes the field looking to become the second team in. The Utes face archrival BYU, looking to put a cap on a perfect 12-0 regular season. As the highest-rated non-major conference champion, they would earn a spot in a BCS game.

If Utah falls though, that honor could go to Boise State. The Broncos face the biggest challenge left on their schedule when they travel to Nevada.

On the outside looking in is 11-0 Ball State, which beat Central Michigan in a 31-24 thriller Wednesday night. Even at 13-0, the Cardinals can't catch the Mountain West champ, whether it's Utah or BYU, and earn a spot in a BCS game.

USC will be sitting around watching TV this weekend, and you can bet all eyes will be on Oregon State's game at Arizona. The Beavers need to win this one and next week against Oregon to go to the Rose Bowl as the Pac-10 champs. A loss by Oregon State opens the door for the Trojans to make a return trip to Pasadena. Honestly, I don't know which result USC is rooting for. The Trojans have been to three straight Rose Bowls. They might want to go somewhere else for a change.

While Cincinnati cannot technically clinch the Big East title this week, it can all but wrap it up. The Bearcats host Pittsburgh and both teams control their own destiny for the conference's BCS berth. A Cincy win means it only has to beat lowly Syracuse at home to finish the job. Pitt still has the backyard brawl with West Virginia, which is also tied for first in the league, and at Connecticut.

The ACC, as usual, is up for grabs. Miami had control of its own destiny in the Coastal Division, so in keeping with league tradition, it coughed it up. Georgia Tech pounded the Hurricanes 41-23 Thursday night to finish conference play at 5-3. Four other teams behind them also have three league losses, including Miami. This is bad news for Virginia Tech, which is now the team in control of its fate in the league. The Hokies host Duke, and will probably lose.

Maryland is in control in the Atlantic Division and welcomes Florida State this week.

The only place free of important games is SEC country, where Alabama is more likely to lose while taking the week off than Florida is facing The Citadel.