GAMES OF THE WEEK

No. 24 Texas Tech (6-1) at No. 15 Missouri (5-1)

Only five quarterbacks in the nation average more than 375 passing yards per game. Two will meet in Columbia, Mo., on Saturday.

Red Raider quarterback Graham Harrell and Tiger quarterback Chase Daniel have combined to throw for more than 5,000 yards this season. Harrell and Daniel each has his fair share of outstanding weapons on the offensive side of the ball.

Harrell’s favorite target is freshman wide receiver Michael Crabtree, who leads the nation in scoring, receptions and receiving yards. Daniel frequently looks toward tight ends Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman, two of the nation’s best.

With so much firepower on both offenses, the winning team will likely be the one that avoids turnovers.

Kansas State (4-2) at Oklahoma State (4-3)

Kansas State’s James Johnson and Oklahoma State’s Dantrell Savage were the Big 12 Conference’s most impressive running backs last weekend.

Savage gouged the Nebraska defense for 212 yards and a touchdown while Johnson embarrassed Colorado with 159 yards and two touchdowns. The two will face significantly better rushing defenses this weekend.

Senior middle linebacker Justin Roland leads a strong rotation of linebackers for the Wildcats with seven tackles per game. Oklahoma State sophomore linebacker Patrick Lavine has transformed into one of the conference’s best as a fierce run stopper.

The Cowboys lead the all-time series by 10 games.

No. 17 Auburn (5-2) at No. 4 LSU (6-1)

The annual battle between the two Southeastern Conference teams with the nickname “Tigers” has showcased defense and close games the past three years. Neither team has scored more than 20 points or won by more than four in that span. There’s no reason to believe this weekend’s game will be any different.

LSU quarterback Matt Flynn has struggled with his accuracy and is only completing 53 percent of his passes. Despite the strong play of backup Ryan Perrilloux, Flynn remains the starter. Left without a top-shelf offensive line and his leading receiver from last year, Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox has thrown seven interceptions and only four touchdowns.

The nation’s two best defensive linemen will play in this game as LSU senior Glenn Dorsey faces off against Auburn senior Quentin Groves.

No. 15 Florida (4-2) at No. 8 Kentucky (5-1)

After last week’s monumental victory against LSU in Lexington, Ky., 22 people were arrested in the celebrating that ensued. If the Wildcats beat the Gators this weekend, expect that number to skyrocket.

The last time Kentucky beat Florida was 1986, one year before Emmitt Smith’s freshman season as a Gator. This year looks to be as good of a chance as ever for coach Rich Brooks’ Wildcats. New defensive coordinator Steve Brown has turned Kentucky’s defense from laughable to respectable in one year.

Led by sophomore cornerbacks Trevard Lindley and Paul Warford, the Wildcats rank 17th in the nation in passing-efficiency defense. They will prove to be formidable foes for Gator quarterback Tim Tebow, who is completing 65 percent of his passes with 13 touchdowns and only three interceptions on the season.

No. 12 California (5-1) at UCLA (4-2)

Last year UCLA ruined in-state rival USC’s season with an upset at its home stadium, the Rose Bowl. This year, it looks to do the same to its other in-state rival, California.

Bruin senior defensive end Bruce Davis is eighth in the nation with 6.5 sacks. UCLA will likely send a variety of blitzes in an attempt to startle Golden Bear backup freshman quarterback Kevin Riley.

Despite a miscue in the final play of the game where Riley failed to stop the clock, he played well in his first collegiate start. The Bruins offense starts with running back Kahlil Bell, who is averaging more than five yards per carry, opening up the pass.

OTHER GAMES:

No. 5 Oklahoma (6-1) at Iowa State (1-6)

The Cyclones’ three Big 12 losses are by an average margin of 32 points. Behind the nation’s 115th-ranked scoring offense, Iowa State will be lucky to stay that close to the Sooners in the first quarter.

Texas A&M (5-2) at Nebraska (4-3)

The coaches of these two teams are under more pressure than anyone in the nation to win. Aggie coach Dennis Franchione was publicly admonished by A&M officials last week for illegally selling information through a newsletter. Cornhusker coach Bill Callahan feels the heat after Nebraska fired its athletic director earlier this week.

No. 22 Texas (5-2) at Baylor (3-4)

It was a tumultuous Saturday for the Bears last weekend. After returning home from a 48-point loss to Kansas, Baylor offensive line coach Eric Schnupp was issued a citation for urinating on a local bar. A game against the Longhorns might make matters worse.

Michigan State (5-2) at No. 1 Ohio State (7-0)

Michigan State running back Javon Ringer averages more than seven yards per carry and will lead a Spartan surge to dethrone the top-ranked Buckeyes.

Vanderbilt (3-3) at No. 6 South Carolina (6-1)

South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier has never lost a game to the Commodores despite meeting them 14 times in his career.

Mississippi State (4-3) at No. 9 West Virginia (5-1)

The Mountaineers marched into Starkville, Miss., last year and embarrassed the Bulldogs with a 28-point win. But Mississippi State looks much improved in 2007.

No. 10 Oregon (5-1) at Washington (2-4)

The Duck pass rush has been relentless behind junior defensive end Nick Reed and freshman defensive end Kenny Rowe.

No. 14 USC (5-1) at Notre Dame (1-6)

The Trojans haven’t quite lived up to their superstar expectations this season, but they look like an All-Star team compared to the lowly Irish.

No. 19 Virginia (6-1) at Maryland (4-2)

Led by top a NFL prospect, senior defensive end Chris Long, the Cavaliers have consistently found ways to eke out victories. Four of their six wins have come by less than a touchdown.

No. 21 Tennessee (4-2) at Alabama (5-2)

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban will make his first appearance in the annual rivalry game dubbed “The Third Saturday in October” and said it would be one of the most physical games of the year.

No. 23 Cincinnati (6-1) at Pittsburgh (2-4)

The Bearcats rely on jumping to quick starts, outscoring teams 65-19 in the first quarter this season.

No. 25 Michigan (5-2) at Illinois (5-2)

Behind holes created by senior tackle Jake Long, Wolverine running back Mike Hart leads the nation with 150 rushing yards per game.

— Edited by Tara Smith