Michigan State, Penn State battle for conference title

No. 15 Michigan State at No. 8 Penn State

3:30 p.m. Saturday – ABC

Since being bounced from the national championship picture with a one-point loss to Iowa, the Nittany Lions have their sights set on a Rose Bowl bid. They can punch their ticket to Pasadena with a win against the Spartans.

Michigan State’s offense has relied heavily on running back Javon Ringer, who has rushed for 20 touchdowns this season. The Spartans have lost 10 straight games against ranked opponents, and have never beaten Penn State coach Joe Paterno in Happy Valley.

Michigan at No. 10 Ohio State

3:30 p.m. Saturday – ABC

What has been called one of the best rivalries in sports has been fairly lopsided in recently. Ohio State looks to defeat Michigan for the fifth consecutive year for the first time in school history, despite struggling offensively.

The Buckeyes have the 86th-ranked offense in the nation in total yards. But their defense has been able to hold opponents to an average of less then two touchdowns per game.

Since 2001, if Ohio State scores at least 20 points, it has a record of 72-8. However, there is good news for first-year U-M coach Rich Rodriguez: a fresh face at head coach has usually meant success for the Wolverines against their Big Ten rival as only one coach has ever lost his first meeting against Ohio State – Harry Kipler.

No. 2 Texas Tech at No. 5 Oklahoma

8 p.m. Saturday – ABC

Texas Tech will have its third consecutive game against a top 10 opponent this week against No. 5 Oklahoma.

But this time the Red Raiders will leave the friendly confines of Lubbock, Texas, for Norman, Okla. The game features a matchup of the best quarterbacks in the nation as senior Graham Harrell and sophomore Sam Bradford have totaled 74 touchdowns and more than 7,000 yards passing. Harrell and Bradford lead the third and first highest scoring offenses in the nation, respectively.

The Sooners are averaging more than 51 points per game, and are 38-1 when scoring more than 40 points since 2001. The race for the Big 12 title is separated by one game in the South Division, but this game could send either team to a BCS title game.

No. 14 Brigham Young at No. 7 Utah

6 p.m. Saturday

The Utes need just one win to likely earn to reach a BCS bowl game, and it’s against one of their biggest rivals – Brigham Young.

Unbeaten Utah also will look to lock up the Mountain West title against the Cougars in the the 90th meeting between the two schools. BYU still can earn a share of the conference title with a win in Salt Lake City.

The rivalry between the Utes and Cougars has been a good one lately – Utah won 41-34 in overtime in 2005, and 10 of the last 11 meeting has been decided by fewer than seven points.

No. 20 Pittsburgh at No. 19 Cincinnati

7:15 p.m. Saturday

First place in the Big East will be on the line Saturday when the Panthers visit Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati.

Pittsbugh, which leads the all-time series 7-0, looks to move ahead of the Bearcats and come closer to securing the conference’s BCS berth. The Panthers are 3-1 in the Big East, while the Bearcats are 4-1. West Virginia also is in the mix at 3-1.

Former CMU coach Brian Kelly has led Cincinnati to three straight wins and could win a conference title in his second season at the school. A win against the Panthers would virtually clinch the Big East title for the Bearcats, who have already beaten West Virginia.

Compiled by Senior Reporter D.J. Palomares.