ON TV

TODAY’S GAME

* Toledo (9-2) at Marshall (9-2), ESPN2, 4:30 p.m.: Adjustment period? In its first season in Division I-A, Marshall is poised to win the first Mid-American Conference title game and earn an automatic berth in the Motor City Bowl. This is almost startling for a school that was playing at the I-AA level last season. What’s more, Marshall gets to play tonight’s title game at home, one of the perks for signing on with the MAC. Marshall’s offense gets all the publicity, rightly so, with quarterback Chad Pennington (36 touchdown passes) and receiver Randy Moss (22 scoring receptions) leading one of the nation’s most dynamic offenses. But the Marshall defense has recorded consecutive shutouts in conference wins over Bowling Green and Ohio. Toledo has lost two of its last three after an 8-0 start.

* The Line: Marshall by 10.

SATURDAY’S GAMES

* Army (4-6) vs. Navy (6-4), Channel 2, 9 a.m.: Army seeks a series-record sixth consecutive victory over Navy. The 98th meeting will be played in the Meadowlands at Giants Stadium, only the fourth time since 1945 the academies haven’t played in Philadelphia. Navy, you’ll recall, defeated California in last year’s Aloha Bowl. The San Francisco 49ers were so impressed, they hired Cal’s Steve Mariucci to be their coach.

* The Line: Navy by 12 1/2.

* New Mexico (9-2) vs. Colorado State (9-2), Channel 7, 10 a.m.: Mountain champion New Mexico meets Pacific winner Colorado State in the second Western Athletic Conference title game in Las Vegas. The winner is probably headed for the Holiday Bowl. New Mexico hasn’t been to a bowl game since the 1961 Aviation. Colorado State is led by quarterback Moses Moreno, whose efficiency rating of 162 is second nationally to UCLA quarterback Cade McNown’s mark of 168.6. The Rams won WAC titles in 1994 and ‘95; the Lobos are seeking their first conference championship since 1964.

* The Line: Colorado State by 9 1/2.

* Tennessee (10-1) vs. Auburn (9-2), Channel 7, 5 p.m.: For once, the annual loss to Florida didn’t cost Tennessee a berth in the Southeastern Conference title game in Atlanta. Subsequent Florida losses to Georgia and Louisiana State provided a huge reprieve for the Volunteers, who are one victory away from a trip to the Orange Bowl. Tennessee probably would claim the national title with a win and a Michigan loss in the Rose Bowl. Auburn’s one-dimensional offense was exposed in stinging losses to Florida and Mississippi State, the Tigers having to rely almost exclusively on the passing of quarterback Dameyune Craig. The school that produced Bo Jackson, James Brooks and Joe Cribbs has been held to negative rushing yardage in two games this season, although a new, two-tight end set did produced 159 yards on the ground in a key win over Georgia.

* The Line: Tennessee by 6 1/2.

Selection Sunday. ESPN, 1 p.m. Watch middle-aged men in strange-looking jackets stare blankly into television cameras and explain the confounding alliance bowl selection process. Representatives from the Orange, Fiesta and Sugar bowls will make their final selections on live television. The Orange has the first two choices, followed by the Sugar (third and fifth) and the Fiesta (fourth and sixth). Gather the kids around the set to see how the Fiesta Bowl explains why it will take No. 10 Kansas State instead of No. 5 UCLA.

A restraining order. Tennessee assistant Rodney Garner was an Auburn assistant until Coach Terry Bowden fired him last year. Auburn officials, flabbergasted to learn recently that Garner had kept in touch with several Auburn players during this season, have demanded he stop. You’ll know he hasn’t if an Auburn player looks to the Tennessee sideline during Saturday’s Southeastern Conference title game and asks, “What do I do now, Coach?”

Kansas State to challenge the Mid-American champion for the “real” MAC title. Kansas State is 10-1 and probably headed to an $8-million alliance bowl in part because the Wildcats went 3-0 against the MAC. Kansas State didn’t dare schedule the MAC’s top two teams, Marshall and Toledo, but feasted on Northern Illinois, Ohio and Bowling Green.

A trade. The Gator Bowl is talking about swapping West Virginia or Virginia Tech to the Peach Bowl for Auburn if the Tigers lose to Tennessee. The Gator Bowl is trying to find a better opponent for No. 7 North Carolina, which defeated West Virginia in last year’s game.

Illinois to carry on a tradition. While Prairie View’s losing streak is safe, Illinois has lost 17 consecutive games and figures to make it 18 when the Fighting Illini open next Sept. 5 at Washington State. Illinois can only hope Ryan Leaf has moved on to the NFL.