USC at Washington
Time: 2:30 p.m.
Place: Seattle
Line: USC by 10 1/2
TV: None
Records: USC (6-1), Washington (4-3)
What”s at stake: The teams are in a threeway tie for second in the PAC-10 and the winner of this game will put itself in a good position to win the conference.
Overview: USC quarterback Matt Leinart holds a 155.9 passer rating, placing him 10th in the nation. Leinart has guided USC to three straight blowout victories In last week”s win over Notre Dame, Leinart threw for 351 yards and four touchdowns. On offense Huskies wide receivers Reggie Williams and Charles Frederick have combined for 84 receptions — just one less than USC”s duo. Washington will look to maintain its unbeaten streak at home against the Trojans that has lasted since 1993.
Auburn at LSU
Time: 6:45 p.m.
Place: Baton Rouge, La.
Line: LSU by 4
TV: ESPN
Records: Auburn (5-2), LSU (6-1)
What”s at stake: This game will likely decide the winner of the SEC West championship.
Overview: After opening the season with two losses, Auburn responded with five straight victories. The team will look to continue that streak when it visits the ninthranked LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge. Auburn”s defense ranks 14th in rush defense, while LSU ranks first in the nation in rushing. Auburn depends on running back Carnell Williams, who has rushed for 496 yards in his last three games. LSU is second in the SEC and 21st nationally in scoring offense, averaging 34.4 points per game. Auburn will want to repeat last year”s result, when it defeated LSU 31-7 at home.
Oregon St. at Washington St.
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Place: Pullman, Wash.
Line: Washington St. by 7 1/2
TV: FSCH
Records: Oregon St. (5-2), Washington St.
(6-1)
What”s at stake: Washington State wants to remain at the top of the PAC-10 and continue its six-game win streak.
Overview: Washington State defeated Stanford 24-14 last week, despite a rough start. After gaining only 12 yards in the second quarter, quarterback Matt Kegel threw for 331 yards and three touchdowns though he separated his left shoulder in the fourth quarter. Oregon State is coming off of a 38-17 loss to Washington that dropped them out ofthe AP”s Top 25 Poll. Beavers” running back Steven Jackson is second in the nation with 1,007 rushing yards but was held to just 49 yards on 22 carries against the Huskies.
N. Illinois at Bowling Green
Time: 3 p.m.
Place: Bowling Green, Ohio
Line: Bowling Green by 3 1/2
TV: ESPN2
Records: Northern Illinois (7-0), Bowling
Green (6-1)
What”s at stake: Northern Illinois will look to remain one of the four unbeaten teams in Division I-A. Bowling Green has 10 straight conference wins at home, and Northern Illinois has won six straight conference away games.
Overview: In an attempt to battle sluggish starts, Northern Illinois used a hurry-up offense to start the game last week against Western Michigan. The strategy worked, as the Huskies scored on their first five possessions. The Falcons will rely on quarterback Josh Harris, who ran for 96 yards and threw three touchdowns in Bowling Green”s 33-20 win over Eastern Michigan. Harris has 37 career rushing touchdowns, just three short of the school record.
Oklahoma at Colorado
Time: 6 p.m.
Place: Boulder, Colo.
Line: Oklahoma by 25
TV: None
Records: Oklahoma (7-0), Colorado (3-4)
What”s at stake: Oklahoma hopes to remain on top of the college football rankings; Colorado will attempt to create a bright spot in a dull season.
Overview: The top-ranked Sooners have become an almost unstoppable power, plowing through teams as they continue their nine-game unbeaten streak, the longest active winning streak in Division I-A. Along with a defense ranked eighth in the nation, quarterback Jason White has guided the team to 45.7 points per game, good for second in the country. The Sooners must come prepared to face a struggling Colorado team in Boulder, however. The Buffaloes opened the season with impressive victories over Colorado State and UCLA but have since lost four of five. The team would like nothing more than to spoil Oklahoma”s unbeaten streak and its hold on the BCS top spot.
Arkansas at Mississippi
Time: 6:15 p.m.
Place: Oxford, Miss.
Line: Mississippi by 1 1/2
TV: ESPN2
Records: Arkansas (4-2), Mississippi (5-2)
What”s at stake: Ole Miss wants to remain undefeated in SEC play, while Arkansas hopes to remain in the Top 25.
Overview: Led by Heisman Trophy candidate Eli Manning, Ole Miss has rebounded from a poor start to win three straight, including an impressive 43-28 victory over Alabama. The Razorbacks have lost two straight after opening the season 4-0. To snap the losing streak, Arkansas will have to stop Manning and manage without star running back Cedric Cobbs who leads the SEC in rushing. Cobbs” backup De”Arrius Howard is also out with an injury.
BY PAUL TENORIO
