Championship implications everywhere on Saturday

THURSDAY

No. 13 Southern California (minus 14) at Utah

Trojans last game in Salt Lake city was 1917, won 51-0 ... USC 35-20.

SATURDAY

No. 23 Washington (plus 24) at No. 2 Oregon

Ducks have won eight straight meetings, all by at least 17 points ... OREGON 45-17.

No. 3 Florida State (plus 14½) at N.C. State

Wolfpack's pass defense is next-to-last in ACC ... FLORIDA STATE 42-21.

UPSET SPECIAL

No. 4 LSU (minus 2½) at No. 10 Florida

Shuffled offensive line has been a problem for Tigers ... FLORIDA 21-19.

No. 5 Georgia (plus 2½) at No. 6 South Carolina

In 65 meetings, Gamecocks have never won three straight ... SOUTH CAROLINA 34-28.

Kansas (plus 24) at No. 7 Kansas State

Coach Bill Snyder is 9-1 at home against Jayhawks ... KANSAS STATE 35-14.

No. 8 West Virginia (plus 6½) at No. 11 Texas

Now this is a week Geno Smith can make some real Heisman headway ... WEST VIRGINIA 42-38.

No. 9 Notre Dame (minus 13) vs. Miami at Chicago

Rivalry brings back memories; current Canes' D looks nothing like those from the glory days ... NOTRE DAME 31-21.

No. 21 Nebraska (plus 3½) at No. 12 Ohio State

Can Huskers contain Braxton Miller? ... OHIO STATE 28-24.

Washington State (plus 15) at No. 14 Oregon State

Who would have guessed Beavers have top passing offense in Pac-12? ... OREGON STATE 45-28.

BEST BET

Georgia Tech (plus 10) at No. 15 Clemson

Yellow Jackets have allowed 1,119 yards last two games ... CLEMSON 58-28

Iowa State (plus 11½) at No. 15 TCU

Cyclones LB duo of Jake Knott, A.J. Klein one of best in nation ... TCU 28-20.

No. 17 Oklahoma (minus 5½) at Texas Tech

Red Raiders No. 1 in total defense; time to see if it's for real ... OKLAHOMA 31-27.

Arizona (plus 9½) at No. 18 Stanford

Wildcats trying to avoid three-game skid after 3-0 start ... STANFORD 27-21.

No. 20 Mississippi State (minus 9½) at Kentucky

Wildcats to play two freshman quarterbacks ... MISSSISSIPPI STATE 35-14.

Connecticut (plus 8) at No. 22 Rutgers

Home team is 5-1 in series ... RUTGERS 21-10.

No. 24 Northwestern (plus 3) at Penn State

Nittany Lions QB Matt McGloin leads Big Ten with 1,217 yards passing ... PENN STATE 35-31.

No. 25 UCLA (minus 2½) at California

Bears are another home loss away from being in full downward spiral ... UCLA 38-24.

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Last week's record: 15-1 (straight); 12-3 (vs. points)

Season record: 86-15 (straight); 47-39 (vs. points)

Best bets: 1-4.

Upset specials: 2-3.

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Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphdursso