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STAT THAT MATTERS: After giving up 36 points and 517 yards per game in last year's 1-11 nightmare, Golden Gophers have cut those down to 17 points (20th in nation) and 362 yards (69th nationally).

GAME FACTS: Dropping two of last three since 5-0 start, Wildcats' mistakes are piling up including 5 turnovers last week (11 in last three games). And now senior star RB Tyrell Sutton is gone for year with broken wrist putting more pressure on erratic QB C.J. Bacher (10 ints., 7 TD passes, 3 TD runs in last four games). Sutton's backup, senior Omar Conteh (223 yards rushing, 3 TDs) has some ability. Looking for first 8-1 start since 1960, Gophers are actually alive in Big Ten race with 3-1 conference mark as Brewster has changed team's mentality quickly. Unlike Northwestern, UM couldn't be more opportunistic (leads nation in turnover margin, 24 forced, 9 given up). QB Adam Weber (163-of-243, 1,824 passing, 10 TDs, 3 ints.) looks often for well-kept secret in WR Eric Decker (leads Big Ten, third in nation with 66 catches, 5 TDs). DE Willie VanDeSteeg (12 tackles for loss, 6 sacks) is force coming off edge.

WISCONSIN (4-4) at No. 22 MICHIGAN STATE (7-2), Noon, ESPN.

FAVORITE: Michigan State by 5.

COACHES: Bret Bielema (25-9 in third year at Wisconsin) and Mark Dantonio (14-8 in second year at Michigan State).

LAST WEEK: Wisconsin beat Illinois, 27-17. Michigan State won at Michigan, 35-21.

SERIES HISTORY: Wisconsin leads, 27-19.

LAST MEETING: Wisconsin won, 37-34, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 5-0 start last year that reached No. 5 in polls, Badgers are just 9-9 including 1-5 mark on road.

GAME FACTS: Since 1993, Badgers are 8-3 vs. Spartans but were drubbed, 49-14, in last visit to East Lansing in 2004 as No. 4 team in nation. Senior RB P.J. Hill is over foot problem but will now share carries with freshman John Clay (177 rushing last week), sophomore Zach Brown. Star TE Travis Beckum will miss rest of season after breaking leg last week. Tied with Ohio State in second place in Big Ten and with date at No. 3 Penn State Nov. 22, Spartans control their own destiny. Last week's rousing win over Michigan (first win over UM since 2001) saw RB Javon Ringer's 194 yards rushing, 2 TDs. That's expected but QB Brian Hoyer finally stepped up (17-of-29, 282 passing, season-high 3 TDs) as well. Spartans piled up 564 total yards vs. MSU last year but were stopped at Wisconsin 38 with 1:09 left in frustrating loss.

PITTSBURGH (5-2) at NOTRE DAME (5-2), 2:30, NBC.

FAVORITE: Notre Dame by 5.

COACHES: Dave Wannstedt (21-21 in fourth year at Pitt) and Charlie Weis (27-17 in fourth year at Notre Dame).

LAST WEEK: Pitt lost at home to Rutgers, 54-34. Notre Dame won at Washington, 33-7.

SERIES HISTORY: Notre Dame leads, 44-18-1.

LAST MEETING: Notre Dame won, 42-21, in 2005.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 1988, Fighting Irish are 12-2 vs. Panthers including 6-1 mark in South Bend.

GAME FACTS: This one might come down to whether Panthers can use superior speed of RBs LaSean "Shady'' McCoy (11th in nation with 835 rushing, leads nation with 14 TDs), LaRod Stephens-Howling, WR Derrick Kinder (23 catches) to blow past average Irish defense (41st against run, 120.6 ypg, and total defense, 332.8 ypg). Problem is QB Bill Stull suffered head injury, concussion last week and is questionable. Sophomore backup Pat Bostick played a lot last year but didn't impress (6-of-11, 59 yards, int.) in relief last week, his first playing time of season. Irish do not own win over team with winning record. But after 3-9 disaster last year, nobody in green is complaining. Sophomore QB Jimmy Clausen (94-of-149, 1,206 passing, 9 TDs, 3 ints. in last four games) is improving with each start. Running game (91st in nation at 122.7 ypg) simply is not. After missing six of eight FG tries on season, sophomore K Brandon Walker stunned ND fans drilling 28 and 42-yarders last week.

No. 5 FLORIDA (6-1) vs. No. 8 GEORGIA (7-1), in Jacksonville, Fla., 3:30, CBS.

FAVORITE: Florida by 7.

COACHES: Urban Meyer (37-9 in fourth year at Florida) and Mark Richt (79-20 in 8th year at Georgia).

LAST WEEK: Florida beat Kentucky, 63-5. Georgia won at LSU, 52-38.

SERIES HISTORY: Georgia leads, 46-37-2.

LAST MEETING: Georgia won, 42-30, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 1990, Gators are 15-3 vs. Bulldogs and haven't lost to UGA in consecutive years since dropping three straight from 1987-89.

GAME FACTS: Real drama for annual "Cocktail Party'' is what Gators will do to answer Richt's stunt last year when he ordered his entire team on to field to celebrate first Bulldogs' TD (drawing pair of personal foul penalties). In his book released in September, Meyer wrote "That wasn't right. It was a bad deal ... We'll handle it and it's going to be a big deal.'' Uh-oh. UF QB Tim Tebow (leads SEC in QB rating, 104-of-164, 1,415 passing, 12 TDs, 2 ints.) also has score to settle after playing last year's game on bad shoulder that limited his running. More important is can Gators defense (leads SEC, 6th in nation in scoring, 11.9 ppg, 16 turnovers forced including 4 ints. run back for TDs) slow down Bulldogs QB Matthew Stafford, who torched LSU last week (17-of-26, 249 passing, 2 TDs, TD run). RB Knowshon Moreno added 163 yards rushing and destroyed UF last year (188 yards, 3 TDs). Richt has to be concerned about secondary (11th in SEC, 77th in nation vs. pass, 221.2 ypg, 13 TD passes, 8 ints.), which isn't getting much help from pass rush (6th in SEC with 15 sacks). Georgia kicking and punt teams are on spot after Gators blocked 2 punts and FG last week. Also UF's Brandon James (5th in nation in punt returns, 20.2 ypr, 2 TDs, 11th in kickoff returns, 28.7 ypr) is excellent return man. 'Dawgs must be ready early (UF outscored foes 150-20 in first half.)

IOWA STATE (2-6) at No. 9 OKLAHOMA STATE (7-1), 3:30, ABC (regional).

FAVORITE: Oklahoma State by 31.

COACHES: Gene Chizik (5-15 in second year at Iowa State) and Mike Gundy (25-20 in fourth year at Oklahoma State).

LAST WEEK: Iowa State lost at home to Texas A&M, 49-35. Oklahoma State lost at Texas, 28-24.

SERIES HISTORY: Oklahoma State leads, 24-15-3.

LAST MEETING: Oklahoma State won, 37-10, in 2005.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Since November, 2006, Cowboys are 11-3 at home while averaging 39 points per game.

GAME FACTS: Losers of 11 straight Big 12 road games since November, 2005, Cyclones may not have much fight left considering they're also riding six-game losing skid where ISU has been outscored 208-121. Defense doesn't stop the run (87th in nation, 170.2 ypg) or pass (103rd in nation, 252.5 ypg, 16 TD passes, 8 ints.). QB Austin Arnaud has best game of season (26-of-41, 371 passing, TD, int., TD run) last week. Cowboys could be down after near miss at Texas with showdown at Texas Tech looming next week. RB Kendall Hunter (fourth in nation with 1,116 rushing) added to his Big 12-leading total with 161 tough yards, TD. QB Zac Robinson (fourth in nation in QB rating, 111-of-160, 1,687 passing, 15 TDs, 4 ints.), WR Dez Bryant (51 catches, leads Big 12, third in nation with 883 receiving yards, 11 TDs) should be able to hook up all day long.

No. 16 FLORIDA STATE (6-1) at GEORGIA TECH (6-2), 3:30, ABC (regional).

FAVORITE: Georgia Tech by 1-1/2.

COACHES: Bobby Bowden (306-88-4 in 33rd year at FSU) and Paul Johnson (first year at Ga. Tech).

LAST WEEK: Florida State beat Virginia Tech, 30-20. Georgia Tech lost at home to Virginia, 24-17.

SERIES HISTORY: FSU leads, 12-7-1.

LAST MEETING: FSU won, 14-13, in 2003.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Seminoles haven't lost to Yellow Jacket since 1975 winning 12 straight times.

GAME FACTS: Tied with Maryland atop ACC Atlantic, young Seminoles (22 true freshmen have already played) need this and have played better on road this season (2-0 in ACC road games after losing five of last six coming into season). RB Antone Smith (540 rushing, 11 TDs) has been star lately including 39-yard TD run last week. QB Christian Ponder found WR Gregg Carr for 3 long strikes totaling 100 yards last week as FSU rallied from 13-10 halftime deficit. K Graham Gano has now made school-record 13 straight FGs (4 from outside 50 yards). After jumping to 14-3 lead in first quarter, Jackets fizzled out managing only 141 total yards in final three quarters of damaging loss to Virginia. Johnson's option offense (leads ACC, 9th in nation in rushing, 236.6 ypg) has bogged down as sophomore QB Josh Nesbitt (12-of-27, 194 passing, TD, int. in last two games) has struggled passing. A game behind Virginia, win would keep Tech alive in ACC Coastal race.

No. 23 OREGON (6-2) at CALIFORNIA (5-2), 3:30, ABC (regional).

FAVORITE: Cal by 3.

COACHES: Mike Bellotti (112-54 in 14th year at Oregon) and Jeff Tedford (55-27 in 7th year at Cal).

LAST WEEK: Oregon won at Arizona State, 54-20. Cal beat UCLA, 41-20.

SERIES HISTORY: .Cal leads, 38-30-2.

LAST MEETING: Cal won, 31-24, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Bears have beaten Ducks three of last four years, which equals Cal's win total over Oregon from 1989-2003 (3-10).

GAME FACTS: Ducks are tied with USC atop Pac-10 with 4-1 conference mark but face tough assignment here. Coordinator Chip Kelly is showing you can run out of spread offense (leads Pac-10, 5th in nation in rushing, 278.7 ypg, lead nation with 30 TD runs) keyed by RB LeGarrette Blount (650 rushing, 12 TDs). Bellotti will use both QBs Jeremiah Masoli (232 total offense, TD pass, TD run, int. last week) and Justin Roper. Offense piled up 497 total yards in frustrating loss last year. Bears RB Jahvid Best (second in Pac-10 with 643 rushing, 6 TDs, 19 catches) is bolt of lightning out of backfield. After splitting time with senior Nate Longshore in recent weeks, sophomore QB Kevin Riley went route last week and didn't make many mistakes though his numbers were hardly gaudy (11-of-22, 153 passing, 2 TDs). Taking care of ball (third in nation in turnover ratio, 19 forced, 9 given up) has helped Bears, currently lurking in third in Pac-10 with 3-1 conference record.

WASHINGTON (0-7) at NO. 7 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (6-1), 6:30, Fox Sports Net.

FAVORITE: USC by 43.

COACHES: Tyrone Willingham (11-32 in fourth year at Washington) and Pete Carroll (82-15 in 8th year at USC).

LAST WEEK: Washington lost at home to Notre Dame, 33-7. USC won at Arizona, 17-10.

SERIES HISTORY: USC leads, 47-26-4.

LAST MEETING: USC won, 27-24, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: In November games, Trojans are unbeaten (23-0) under Carroll.

GAME FACTS: You have to wonder how Huskies will respond after Willingham announced Monday he's stepping down at end of the season. Embarrassing effort vs. Notre Dame (out-gained 459 total yards to 124) that saw Husky fans stream for exits at halftime was final straw in 9th straight loss dating back to last year (tied with North Texas for longest losing streak in nation). Closest to bright spots were LB Donald Butler (4 tackles, sack), CB Nate Williams (3 tackles, int.). Homecoming in L.A. is usually fun for Trojans fans (7-0 in HC games under Carroll) and this will be more of same. USC was hardly at its best last week (10 penalties, 2 turnovers, 17 points scored was fewest in last 11 games), but survived thanks to RB Stafon Johnson's 184 all-purpose yards, TD run, QB Mark Sanchez's 34-yard TD pass to RB Stanley Havili in third quarter. Stingy defense saw its streak of 11 scoreless quarters end but still yielded only 188 total yards (54 in second half) with LBs Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews (1-1/2 sacks) combining for 20 tackles.

TENNESSEE (3-5) at SOUTH CAROLINA (5-3), 7, ESPN2

FAVORITE: South Carolina by 6.

COACHES: Phillip Fulmer (150-50 in 17th year at Tennessee) and Steve Spurrier (26-19 in fourth year at South Carolina).

LAST WEEK: Tennessee lost at home to Alabama, 29-9. South Carolina was off.

SERIES HISTORY: Tennessee leads, 21-3-2.

LAST MEETING: Tennessee won, 27-24, in overtime.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Under Fulmer, Vols are unbeaten (7-0) in Columbia and are 14-1 overall vs. Gamecocks.

GAME FACTS: Loss would all but assure Vols' second losing season in last four years, put Fulmer's precarious job status further into peril. As if wretched offense (11th in SEC, 112th in nation in total offense, 280.6 ypg, haven't topped 300 total yards since Week 2, outscored 73-25 in first half of last 6 games) wasn't bad enough, now UT's defensive line is all banged-up with DTs Dan Williams (ankle), Walter Fisher (toe) both questionable. Sophomore QB Nick Stephens (50-of-97, 679 passing, 4 TDs) must get ball down field more. Gamecocks' defense (leads SEC, third in nation in pass defense, 140.4 ypg, 3 TDs given up, 8 ints., leads SEC, fourth in nation in total defense, 256.1 ypg) should be able to make life miserable for Stephens. In 24-17 loss at home to LSU Oct. 18, Spurrier went the distance with freshman QB Stephen Garcia (14-of-26, 215 passing, TD, int.), but sophomore Chris Smelley could also play, if not start. SC would love revenge for last year when they out-gained UT 501 total yards to 317 (301-70 in second half) but lost when K Ryan Succop missed from 40 yards in OT.

No. 1 TEXAS (8-0) at No. 6 TEXAS TECH (8-0), 8, ABC.

FAVORITE: Texas by 4.

COACHES: Mack Brown (111-25 in 11th year at Texas) and Mike Leach (73-37 in 9th year at Texas Tech).

LAST WEEK: Texas beat Oklahoma State, 28-24. Texas Tech won at Kansas, 63-21.

SERIES HISTORY: Texas leads, 42-14.

LAST MEETING: Texas won, 59-43, last year.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Longhorns have beaten Red Raiders eight of last nine years, including five straight wins where UT has averaged 48 points per game.

GAME FACTS: Fourth straight foe ranked in top 11 for Longhorns, who now face first 8-0 Red Raiders' squad since 1976. Wear and tear started to show last week as UT was held scoreless in fourth quarter, barely holding on after Heisman favorite QB Colt McCoy's run of perfection (95-of-112, 1,014 yards 5 TDs, 3 TD runs in last three games) was abruptly halted with int., lost fumble. McCoy torched Tech last year (21-of-30, 268 passing, 4 TDs, int.), but Longhorns hardly slowed down Red Raiders QB Graham Harrell (36-of-48, 466 passing, 5 TDs, int.), either. Difference in game was Texas out-rushing Texas Tech 283 yards to 10. It will be interesting to see if Leach will have patience to change that and stick with talented RBs Baron Batch, Shannon Woods (combined 1,018 rushing, 14 TD runs). As for biggest game ever in Lubbock, Leach offers his simple perspective: "We just need to be the best we can be ... we can't control what they do.'' Future NFL WR Michael Crabtree (60 catches, 14 TDs, second in Big 12) has TD catch in 11 straight games. S Darcell McBath would love to reproduce his monster effort at Kansas that included 3 ints., 7 tackles.

NEBRASKA (5-3) at No. 4 OKLAHOMA (7-1), 8, ESPN.

FAVORITE: Oklahoma by 22.

COACHES: Bo Pelini (first year at Nebraska) and Bob Stoops (104-23 in 10th year at Oklahoma).

LAST WEEK: Nebraska beat Baylor, 32-20. Oklahoma won at Kansas State, 58-35.

SERIES HISTORY: Oklahoma leads, 43-37-3.

LAST MEETING: Oklahoma won, 21-7, in the 2006 Big 12 Championship Game.

STAT THAT MATTERS: Since 2002, Sooners have won 22 straight Big 12 home games by average score of 42-15.

GAME FACTS: This used to be game of year in the old Big 8. Now it's an afterthought on national scene, thanks largely to sagging Cornhuskers' program (10-13 since'06 Big 12 title loss to OU which is only three fewer losses than NU suffered in entire 1990s). For what it's worth, they have raced past Iowa State, Baylor last two weeks by combined 67-27 behind QB Joe Ganz (59-of-83, 664 passing, 4 TDs, TD run in last two games). Sooners haven't lost to Cornhuskers since 2001 (3-0) but are only 5-10-1 vs. Nebraska since 1988. That won't matter much to sizzling QB Sam Bradford (third in nation in QB rating, 183-of-270, 2,775 passing, 29 TDs, 5 ints.) who has thrown 28 TD passes with only 4 ints. in his last 8 home games dating back to last year. And 'Huskers have neither the secondary (78th in nation vs. pass, 221.5 ypg, 7 TD passes, 5 ints.) nor pass rush (sixth in Big 12 with 16 sacks) to slow him down. But Stoops may be worrying about his own pass defense (91st in nation, 239.4 ypg), which has yielded 1,117 yards passing, 7 TD passes in last three games.

(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service, http://www.scrippsnews.com)