FOUR GAMES TO WATCH

No. 3 LOUISVILLE (8-0) at No. 15 RUTGERS (8-0)

* Kickoff: Today, 4:30 p.m. PST.

* TV: ESPN.

* Line: Louisville by 6 1/2 .

Louisville update: The Cardinals are No. 2 in the nation in total offense, averaging 492.6 yards a game. Quarterback Brian Brohm, who sat out two games because of a thumb injury, showed he was fully healed by passing for a season-high 354 yards a week ago against West Virginia. Louisville gives up 316.5 yards per game but only 15.3 points.

Rutgers update: The Scarlet Knights, only a few years removed from losing games by scores such as 80-7 and 61-0, have one of the stingiest defenses in the nation. They rank No. 2 in total defense (227.4 yards per game) and scoring defense (9.1 points). On offense, the Scarlet Knights play ball-control with running back Ray Rice, who is among the nation’s leaders with 1,203 yards rushing and 13 rushing touchdowns.

Story line: Louisville this week jumped to No. 3 in the Bowl Championship Series standings and into position to play for the national title. Rutgers is the biggest test remaining for the Cardinals, who beat Rutgers last season, 56-5. The Scarlet Knights have never been involved in a game featuring two ranked teams.

The pick: Rutgers. Playing the biggest football game in school history for consecutive weeks will be too much for the Cardinals to handle.

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NEBRASKA (7-3) at No. 24 TEXAS A&M; (8-2)

* When: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. PST.

* TV: Game Plan (only on West Coast).

* Line: Nebraska by 1.

Nebraska update: Nebraska’s resurgence can be credited to an offense that is No. 10 in the nation at 435 yards a game and No. 12 in scoring at 34.2 points a game. Quarterback Zac Taylor has 2,273 yards passing with 20 touchdowns, and running backs Brandon Jackson and Marlon Lucky have combined for 1,262 yards rushing. The Cornhuskers gave up 104 points in their first seven games, 83 in their last three.

Texas A&M; update: The Aggies are coming off a 17-16 loss to Oklahoma and with a game against No. 4 Texas looming, this is their best chance to avoid a three-game slide. Running backs Mike Goodson and Javorskie Lane and dual-threat quarterback Stephen McGee have combined for 1,717 yards rushing and the Aggies are eighth in the nation in rushing offense at 212.7 yards a game. Lane’s 18 touchdowns are second in the nation.

Story line: The Cornhuskers took control of the Big 12 North last week with a victory over Missouri and need to win one of their last two games to clinch a spot in the conference title game for the first time since 1999.

The pick: Texas A&M.; The Aggies’ running attack will be too much to handle for a Nebraska defense that has struggled in recent games.

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SOUTH CAROLINA (5-4) at No. 6 FLORIDA (8-1)

* When: Saturday, 12:30 p.m. PST.

* TV: Channel 2.

* Line: Florida by 13 1/2 .

South Carolina update: The Gamecocks are 0-4 against ranked teams. The last three of those losses, against Auburn, Tennessee and Arkansas, have been by a touchdown or less. Quarterback Syvelle Newton is the top threat on offense with 1,316 yards and 12 touchdowns passing and 330 yards and three touchdowns rushing. The Gamecocks are averaging 22.6 points a game, low for a Steve Spurrier-coached team.

Florida update: With a spot in the Southeastern Conference title game already clinched, the Gators are playing for a spot in the national title game. At No. 4 in the BCS standings, they are the highest-ranked one-loss team. They rely on a defense that gives up only 13 points a game, which is No. 7 in the nation, and 70.11 yards rushing a game, which is No. 5. Quarterbacks Chris Leak (1,903 yards passing) and Tim Tebow (320 yards rushing) rotate to keep defenses off balance.

Story line: Spurrier, who coached Florida for 12 seasons, including the 1996 national title season, returns as an opposing coach for the first time since his departure after the 2001 season. The Gamecocks defeated Florida, 30-22, last year at South Carolina.

The pick: Florida. There’s too much at stake for the Gators to have any kind of letdown.

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No. 13 TENNESSEE (7-2) at No. 11 ARKANSAS (8-1)

* Kickoff: Saturday, 4 p.m. PST.

* TV: ESPN2.

* Line: Arkansas by 5 1/2 .

Tennessee update: Quarterback Erik Ainge, No. 14 in the nation with 2,216 yards passing, injured his ankle two weeks ago and is questionable for this game. Last week, he played only the first quarter against Louisiana State. Running back Arian Foster, the team’s second-leading rusher, is suspended for the first half after being arrested Saturday night and charged with disorderly conduct and underage drinking. Safety Antonio Wardlow and fullback David Holbert are suspended for the entire game because of the same incident.

Arkansas update: Running backs Darren McFadden and Felix Jones have a combined 1,752 yards rushing and they lead a powerful ground attack that ranks No. 4 in the nation with 238.89 yards a game. McFadden is 10th in the nation with 1,038 yards. Coach Houston Nutt chose Casey Dick as the starter at quarterback over Mitch Mustain.

Story line: The Razorbacks, the only team without a conference loss, need victories in two of their final three games to secure a spot in the SEC title game against Florida. They play Mississippi State (3-7) next week, followed by No. 12 Louisiana State (7-2).

The pick: Arkansas. The Razorbacks are still fighting for national respect.