This week's Top 25 games
Note: Rankings reflect the SPLN Top 117 Poll results.
Saturday's games
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No. 2 OHIO STATE (11-0, 6-0) at
ILLINOIS (4-6, 3-3) 3:30 p.m. ET, Memorial Stadium, Champaign, ABC |
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| Two to go. Ohio State will play for this year's national championship if it can survive this trip to Illinois and win at home next week against Michigan. The Illini have won three of four and would become bowl eligible with a win here and at Northwestern next week. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| Illinois' Antoineo Harris will try to solve the Big Ten's top rushing defense (77.2 ypg). Harris needs 191 yards to shatter the school's season record. When he gets it going, the Illini are dangerously balanced offensively. | While Michigan was the thorn in the Buckeyes' side during John Cooper's year, the Illini might become the team that haunts Jim Tressel. Illinois knocked Ohio State out of last year's conference race and could deliver a crushing blow this year. | OSU's Michael Jenkins, the hero of last week's thrilling victory, caught 10 passes for 155 yards in last season's loss to the Illini. The Buckeyes field the league's stingiest scoring defense (12.2 ppg), ranking second in the country. Illinois owns the league's top total offense (450.7 ypg). |
| Bottom line: Bring on Michigan. Ohio State moves one step closer to a championship Fiesta. Buckeyes, 34-24. | ||
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No. 4 TEXAS (9-1, 5-1) at
TEXAS TECH (7-4, 4-2) 3:30 p.m. ET, Jones SBC Stadium, Lubbock, ABC |
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| Texas needs to keep winning and hope Oklahoma stumbles once more in order to reclaim a spot in the Big 12 title game. The league's top QB, Kliff Kingsbury, could make the Longhorns' task a difficult one. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| Since his collapse against Oklahoma, Chris Simms has been a steadying influence. He put up big numbers to help the Longhorns at Kansas State and Nebraska and won a duel with Seneca Wallace. This showdown with Kingsbury should bring out the best in him. | Oklahoma's secondary gets most of the attention in the Big 12, but it's Texas who leads the conference in pass defense (125.1 ypg). CBs Roderick Babers and Nathan Vasher rank second and third in the league in passes defensed; FS Dakarai Pearson leads the team with five picks. | Texas Tech freshman Taurean Henderson leads the conference with 81 receptions. Kingsbury leads the league in total offense (357.6 ypg) and pass efficiency (143.6). The Red Raiders are bowl eligible for the 10th consecutive season. |
| Bottom line: Texas' defense contains Kingsbury, leaving Simms to provide the rest. Longhorns, 37-20. | ||
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No. 5 OKLAHOMA (8-1, 4-1) at
BAYLOR (3-7, 1-5) 2 p.m. ET, Floyd Casey Stadium, Waco |
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| Coming off a disappointing setback at Texas A&M, Oklahoma gets to rebound with a potential walkover in Waco. This matchup gives the Sooners an opportunity to reassert their dominance against teams from Texas, against whom they had won 13 in a row before last week's loss. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| Baylor sophomore QB Aaron Karas has been one of the few bright spots in the team's otherwise dismal season. With top receiver Reggie Newhouse at his disposal, he could take advantage of an OU secondary that was victimized by long passes in last week's loss. | Bob Stoops is in search of his 40th victory as OU's coach. With at least four games remaining (possibly five if the Sooners get to the Big 12 Championship) he's almost certain to eclipse Barry Switzer's school-record total of 41 wins over his first four years in Norman. | Oklahoma ranks last in the Big 12 with just 15 sacks. Baylor is averaging a league-low 16.5 points per game. The Bears are 4-50 in league games since joining the conference. The Sooners won the last meeting between the schools 56-7 in 2000. |
| Bottom line: Oklahoma puts last week's setback behind it with an old-fashioned rout. Sooners, 59-3. | ||
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No. 6 IOWA (10-1, 7-0) at
MINNESOTA (7-3, 3-3) Noon ET, Metrodome, Minneapolis, ESPN |
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| Iowa looks to finish Big Ten play with a perfect record for the first time in 80 years and clinch at least a share of the conference title. Minnesota, which suffered its only home loss against Michigan last week, will be playing its home finale. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| Minnesota sophomore Terry Jackson II ranks second in the Big Ten in rushing yards (1,168). It will be up to him to help keep Iowa's explosive offense off the field, but he'll have to do it against the league's top rushing defense (67.1 ypg). | If Iowa gets through this one, it will notch its first conference title since finishing in a four-way tie in 1990. A victory also clinches the first 11-win season in school history, eclipsing 10-victory seasons under Hayden Fry in 1985, '87 and '91. | Iowa leads the Big Ten in scoring (38.4 ppg). Brad Banks leads league QBs in total offense (237.9 ypg), rushing yards (348) and pass efficiency (167.8). Hawkeyes K Nate Keading is tops in scoring (106 points). The winner is awarded the Floyd of Rosedale (a bronzed pig). |
| Bottom line: Iowa is sound in every aspect of the game. That will help avoid a slip. Hawkeyes, 27-15. | ||
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No. 7 GEORGIA (9-1, 6-1) at No. 25
AUBURN (7-3, 5-2) 3:30 p.m. ET, Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, CBS |
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| Georgia, seeking its first trip to the SEC Championship Game, needs a win here or a Florida loss in order to play for its first league title in 20 years. Auburn remains in the running for an SEC West title. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| Auburn RB Ronnie Brown has picked up right where Cadillac Williams left off, rushing for 700 yards and 10 TDs, and was a key factor in getting the team in position to win the SEC West. In must-win games over LSU and Ole Miss, the sophomore gained more than 300 yards and scored five times. | The SEC West remains muddled. Auburn needs LSU to stumble once more in league play in order to move into first. Last week's answered prayer against Kentucky hurt them more than anyone. Arkansas, which owns victories over Auburn and Ole Miss and still has LSU left to play, is also in the thick of it. | Auburn leads the SEC in total offense (413.0 ypg). The Tigers have rushed for more than 100 yards in every game. Georgia's David Pollack leads the conference with 10 sacks. The Bulldogs are third in the league in scoring offense (31.9). They have won their five league games by an average of 14.3 points. |
| Bottom line: Georgia's title hopes take a tumble on the plains as Mark Richt's offense gets shut down. Tigers, 29-13. | ||
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ARIZONA STATE (7-4, 4-2) at No. 8
SOUTHERN CAL (7-2, 5-1) 7 p.m. ET, Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, TBS |
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| USC looks to post its fifth consecutive victory and enhance its standing in the BCS when the slumping Sun Devils come to town. After winning its first four Pac-10 games, Arizona State has allowed 99 points in back-to-back losses. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| Carson Palmer is 290 yards shy of overtaking Stanford's Steve Stenstrom as the Pac-10's all-time passing leader. He has passed for 1,113 yards and 13 TDs over his past three games and should have another big game against ASU's porous pass defense. | One of the reasons for Palmer's success has been the emergence of freshman Mike Williams. Williams has already set the league's freshman record for receptions (58) and needs just 87 receiving yards over the last three games to become the first frosh in Pac-10 history to eclipse the 1,000 yard mark. | ASU QB Andrew Walter has set a single-season record with 2,992 passing yards. He has recorded four 400-yard passing games on the season. Terrell Suggs has already eclipsed the NCAA record with 19.5 sacks this year. USC's pass defense is tops in the league (200.2). |
| Bottom line: USC is peaking at the right time and could be BCS-bowl bound. Trojans, 48-23. | ||
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WISCONSIN (6-5, 1-5) at No. 10 MICHIGAN
(8-2, 5-1) Noon ET, Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, ESPN2 |
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| Michigan's offense has been exceptionally strong over the past few weeks, producing 90 points in two victories. Wisconsin is headed in the opposite direction, dropping five of six to sink perilously close to not being bowl eligible. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| Anthony Davis returns for the Badgers after missing last week's game recovering from a stab wound from a domestic dispute. Davis has gained 1,001 rushing yards through 10 games, giving Wisconsin its 10th consecutive season with a 1,000-yard rusher. | Wisconsin's victory over Fresno State this season doesn't count toward their bowl eligiblity total. As a result, the Badgers are 5-5 as bowls are concerned, meaning they have to defeat Michigan or Minnesota next week to return to the postseason after a year away. | Michigan QB John Navarre is second in the Big Ten in passing yardage (2,203) and TD passes (19). Wisconsin DB Jim Leonhard leads the conference with eight interceptions. The Badgers have a plus 16 turnover margin to lead the conference; the Wolverines, at plus 10, are tied for third. |
| Bottom line: Michigan gets some rare heroics out of its beleaguered kicking game to escape the Badgers. Wolverines, 26-24. | ||
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No. 11 ALABAMA (8-2, 5-1) at No. 12
LSU (7-2, 4-1) 9 p.m. ET, Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, ESPN |
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| If Alabama weren't on probation, this one would be epic. Although not bowl-bound, the Crimson Tide can continue their impressive resurgence under Dennis Franchione by tripping up LSU, which currently controls its own destiny in the SEC West. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| LSU WR Devery Henderson caught three TD passes last week, including the memorable fling as time expired. Aside from hauling in a pair of scores in the third quarter of the Florida game, the junior wideout hasn't done much. It will be interesting to see whether he uses last week's heroics as a springboard. | For at least this week, Auburn roots for Alabama. How strange is that? Should Alabama derail LSU, it would vault Auburn into the driver's seat in the Western division. Of course, what they giveth, they could easily taketh right back; 'Bama plays host to the Tigers in their annual tussle next weekend. | Alabama and LSU field what are statistically the top two defenses in the SEC. LSU's total defense (246.4) ranks tops in the country; Alabama (249.1) is third. The Crimson Tide leads the conference with 35.5 sacks. They hold a surprising 22-6-2 lead in games played in Baton Rouge. |
| Bottom line: After dodging a bullet last week, a focused LSU squad ensures no heroics are necessary. Tigers, 30-14. | ||
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NEBRASKA (7-4, 3-3) at No. 13 KANSAS STATE
(8-2, 4-2) 12:30 p.m. ET, KSU Stadium, Manhattan, FSN |
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| Kansas State and Nebraska both cling to slim title hopes in the Big 12 North, although it would take a Colorado collapse. The Wildcats are coming off a 58-7 drubbing of Iowa State last weekend. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| RB Dahrran Diedrick, a preseason Heisman candidate, picked up his first 100-yard game of the year in last week's victory over Kansas. If he has regained his form and can complement freshman David Horne (who also gained 100 yards last week) and QB Jammal Lord (1,229 rushing yards), the Huskers will be a force down the stretch. | They may as well play this one down in Wall Street with so many options changing hands. Kansas State and Nebraska own the Big 12's top rushing offenses, but K-State has something Nebraska doesn't -- the league's top rushing defense (72.5). If they force Nebraska to beat them through the air, they will roll. | K-State's Darren Sproles ranks third in the league with 12 rushing TDs. QB Ell Roberson is fifth with 10. The Wildcats lead the Big 12 with 46.1 points per game. The Huskers have allowed their past three opponents to gain just 67.7 yards per game on the ground. |
| Bottom line: The Black Shirts are back. Nebraska might return to its familiar spot in the Top 25 after this one. Huskers, 35-23. | ||
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NORTH CAROLINA (2-8, 0-6) at No. 15
FLORIDA STATE (7-3, 6-0) 3:30 p.m. ET, Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee, ABC |
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| Florida State looks to clinch a share of the ACC title with a victory over the hapless Tar Heels. Although the Seminoles haven't looked pretty with Adrian McPherson at the helm, they are 2-0 since he took over as the team's starting quarterback. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| WR Anquan Boldin is really enjoying McPherson's insertion in the lineup. Boldin has caught TD passes in three consecutive games, all from McPherson, which includes mopup duty in the Notre Dame game. | This one reeks of revenge. The Tar Heels had no problem kicking Florida State around in last year's down season, 41-9. With UNC floundering, expect no mercy from Bobby Bowden and company. | North Carolina leads the ACC in passing offense (270.0 ypg), while the Noles are next-to-last in defending the pass (246.4). UNC senior Sam Aiken is the league's leading receiver (88.5 ypg). FSU is 43-1 at home in conference play. |
| Bottom line: FSU will be heading to a BCS bowl despite another lackluster season. Seminoles, 41-24. | ||
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No. 16 PENN STATE (7-3, 3-3) at
INDIANA (3-7, 1-5) 3:30 p.m. ET, Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, ESPN |
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| Penn State has a New Year's Day bowl in its sights as it visits potential spoiler Indiana. The Nittany Lions have never lost to the Hoosiers in seven meetings. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| RB Larry Johnson needs 159 rushing yards to set a single-season record at Penn State. He has already shattered the all-purpose yardage record (1,959) after finishing with 251 in last week's victory over Virginia. Expect a huge day against the Big Ten's second-worst rush defense (217.2 ypg). | This game showcases three of the Big Ten's top defensive linemen. Penn State's Jimmy Kennedy and Michael Haynes have been terrorizing opposing offenses all season, combining for 33 tackles for loss and 16.5 sacks. IU's Kris Dielman has 11 tackles for loss and four sacks. | Indiana QB Gibran Hamdan leads the conference in passing yards per game (221.0) but has thrown just eight TDs against 13 interceptions. The Hoosiers have a minus 10 turnover margin, while the Nittany Lions are sitting at plus 10. Penn State is averaging 31.8 points (second in Big Ten); Indiana ranks last in scoring (22.3 ppg). |
| Bottom line: Zach Mills rallies Penn State after a mistake-ridden first half, pulling out a victory. Nittany Lions, 43-34. | ||
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No. 18 MARYLAND (8-2, 4-1) at
CLEMSON (6-4, 4-3) 7:45 p.m. ET, Memorial Stadium, Clemson, ESPN2 |
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| Surging Maryland looks for its eighth consecutive victory when it visits "Death Valley," a place they haven't won at since 1985. The Tigers have a modest winning streak in place, having notched consecutive victories with freshman QB Charlie Whitehurst. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| Maryland's Steve Suter helped deliver last week's victory over N.C. State with a 36-yard reception that set up the Terps' game-winning field goal. The diminutive Suter has remarkable speed, and Ralph Friedgen makes sure he touches the ball as often as possible, lining him up as a return man, slotback and receiver. He also had a 64-yard TD run against the 'Pack. | Through his first two starts, Whitehurst has set school records for completions and passing yards and delivered eight TD passes. He got last week's rout of North Carolina started with an 83-yard TD pass, third-longest in school history. He has an astronomical pass efficiency rating of 181.52. | Clemson freshman RB Tye Hill rushed for a career-high 105 yards in last week's win over UNC. Maryland RB Chris Downs needs 106 yards to reach the 1,000-yard mark. Suter leads the ACC in punt return average (14.2) and has tied an NCAA record by returning four for TDs. |
| Bottom line: Whitehurst ends the Terps' winning streak, eliminating them from title contention. Tigers, 35-24. | ||
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No. 19 N.C. STATE (9-2, 4-2) at
VIRGINIA (6-4, 4-2) Noon ET, Scott Stadium, Charlottesville, Jefferson Pilot |
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| Thanks to losses in its past two league games, N.C. State's ACC title hopes have been extinguished. The Wolfpack, which plays host to Florida State next week, must find a way to win this tough road test just to avoid slipping to the middle of the league standings. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| It's going to be up to Philip Rivers to rally his team through this tough time. The junior QB leads the ACC in passing (247.1 ypg), total offense (253.5 ypg) and pass efficiency (150.7). | Jerricho Cotchery needs just 61 yards to become the third 1,000-yard receiver in school history. The other two to accomplish the feat, Torry Holt and Koren Robinson, are playing on Sundays. | Virginia ranks last in the ACC in total offense (362.1 ypg). N.C. State owns the league's stingiest defense (309.3 ypg). Wolfpack freshman RB T.A. McClendon continues to lead the conference in scoring, averaging 9.0 points per game. |
| Bottom line: N.C. State perseveres under difficult circumstances, riding a strong defensive effort. Wolfpack, 27-10. | ||
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SOUTH CAROLINA (5-5, 3-4) at No. 21
FLORIDA (7-3, 5-2) 6 p.m. ET, Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, Gainesville, ESPN |
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| By the time the second quarter rolls around, Florida might be playing for a spot in the SEC Championship. The Gators need a win and a Georgia loss earlier in the day to secure yet another SEC Eastern Division title. South Carolina needs a victory here or next week at Clemson to become bowl eligible. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| RB Earnest Graham could help the Gators set the tone in what should be a physical game. The Florida tailback ranks fourth in the league in rushing (80.2 ypg) and will be a big factor in keeping his defense off the field against a Gamecocks attack that is tied for second in the SEC in average time of possession. | Despite a tumultous start, Ron Zook may actually guide the Gators to their customary spot atop the SEC East. Don't be surprised, but some Florida fans would rather he didn't. Zook's team is still struggling against the likes of Kentucky and Vanderbilt, and this potential SEC title game berth may mask what has been a dubious first season. | Florida WR Taylor Jacobs leads the SEC in receiving yards (905) and TD receptions (8). The Gators never lost three conference games during the Steve Spurrier era. They are 8-0 against the Gamecocks in Gainesville. USC's last victory over Florida was in 1939. |
| Bottom line: A big fourth quarter saves Florida from what might have been Zook's last straw. Gators, 27-21. | ||
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IOWA STATE (7-4, 4-3) at No. 22 COLORADO
(7-3, 5-1) 7 p.m. ET, Folsom Field, Boulder, FSN |
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| Iowa State could be playing for its share of the North Division lead, but last week's 58-7 loss at Kansas State eliminated those chances. Although they still have mathematical hopes, the Cyclones are pretty much playing spoiler, looking to cloud Colorado's path to the Big 12 championship. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| Chris Brown has carried the Buffaloes offense for most of the season, registering seven consecutive 100-yard games. The nation's leading rusher (1,617 yds) could have a big day against a Cyclones defense that has disappeared in recent weeks. | Since engineering a breath-taking comeback at Iowa in mid-September, Seneca Wallace has hit a steady decline. He was average in the Cyclones' big victory over Nebraska, awful at Oklahoma, mediocre at Texas and was caught in an avalanche last week at Kansas State. As he goes, so go the Cyclones. | Iowa State won the last time these teams played in Boulder (2000), snapping a 16-game losing streak against the Buffs. Colorado has won 12 of its past 14 league games. The Buffaloes own the league's worst red-zone offense, scoring just 68.6 percent of the time. |
| Bottom line: Colorado grinds out another win, inching closer to another Big 12 Championship game berth. Buffaloes, 28-17. | ||
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No. 23 COLORADO STATE (8-2, 4-0) at
SAN DIEGO STATE (3-7, 3-2) 7:05 p.m. ET, Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego |
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| San Diego State has dropped its past two conference games, surrendering any chance it had at a postseason bid. The Aztecs hope to catch league-leading Colorado State looking ahead to next week's showdown with second-place New Mexico. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| J.R. Tolver, San Diego State's all-time leading receiver, will be playing his final home game. He's tops in the Mountain West and second in the nation in catches per game (8.70) and receiving yards per game (128.0). He's a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff. | Colorado State stumbled against the Aztecs last season, losing 14-7 in Fort Collins. Should it falter again this year, it can still claim the league title next week with a victory over New Mexico. A Rams victory or Lobos loss this week gives CSU a share of the MWC title. | San Diego State has dropped nine consecutive games against Top 25 teams. The Aztecs have the Mountain West's top passing offense (315.8 ypg), but are still last among eight teams in scoring average (21.0 ppg). The Rams are averaging 31.1 points, second in the MWC. |
| Bottom line: San Diego State's air attack is grounded by the CSU's grind-it-out style. Rams, 27-16. | ||
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WASHINGTON (5-5, 2-4) at No. 24 OREGON
(7-3, 3-3) 3:30 p.m. ET, Autzen Stadium, Eugene, ABC |
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| Rick Neuheisel needs an upset here or next week at Washington State to gain bowl eligiblilty. Both teams were expected to contend for the Pac-10 title and have had disappointing seasons. | ||
| Who to watch | Random thoughts | Fast facts |
| Cody Pickett is inching closer to 4,000 passing yards. He should get a big boost here. The Pac-10's leading passer is going up against the league's worst pass defense (285.8 ypg). | Onterrio Smith is looking for his eighth 100-yard rushing game of the season, which would tie a school record. He's the Pac-10's second-leading rusher with 1,079 yards. | Pickett became Washington's career passing leader last weekend (5,917 yds). He'll surpass Ryan Leaf's single-season passing record (3,637) with just 135 yards. Oregon PK Jared Siegel is 18-for-20 on FG attempts. |
| Bottom line: As has been the case for most of the season, a big day by Pickett goes for naught. Ducks, 47-38. | ||
