SIX GAMES TO WATCH

No. 9 UCLA (6-1) at No. 16 Washington St. (7-1)

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m.

TV: Channel 9.

Line: UCLA by 31/2.

UCLA update: Who decided one defeat ends a season? The loss to Stanford ended the giddiness of contending for the national championship game, but season is hardly over if Bruins overcome quarterback injuries to win.

Washington State update: Cougars’ loss to Oregon last week was their first defeat too. But Washington State got tailback David Minnich back after arthroscopic surgery, a significant boost.

Story line: Instead of showdown of undefeated teams, this is a desperate battle to stay in major bowl picture.

The pick: UCLA. DeShaun Foster and defense can lead the way.

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No. 10 Stanford (5-1) at No. 11 Washington (6-1)

Kickoff: 12:30 p.m.

TV: None.

Line: Stanford by 1.

Stanford update: Cardinal has beaten two top-five teams in a row, knocking off Oregon and UCLA. But Stanford hasn’t won at Washington since 1975.

Washington update: Huskies have won the last four against Stanford, and 14 of the last 15 overall.

Story line: This will help shake out the confusion at the top of the conference standings. Five Pacific 10 teams have one loss. Like UCLA-Washington State, this pares the field.

The pick: Stanford. Washington pulled out a last-minute victory last year, but the Huskies are overrated.

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No. 6 Michigan (6-1) at Michigan State (4-2)

Kickoff: 12:30 p.m.

TV: None.

Line: Michigan by 6.

Michigan update: Wolverines have done well since early-season loss at Washington, rising to fourth in bowl championship series ratings. And with victories over Purdue and Illinois they’re in the driver’s seat in the Big Ten.

Michigan State update: The Spartans have won three of the last five against Michigan in East Lansing, and quarterback Jeff Smoker might cause trouble for Michigan’s weak pass defense.

Story line: It’s a rivalry game, and Michigan is not untouchable.

The pick: Michigan. But the Wolverines might be the weakest team in the top 10 of the BCS rankings.

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No. 14 Florida State (5-2) at Clemson (5-2)

Kickoff: 12:30 p.m.

TV: None.

Line: Florida State by 71/2.

Florida State update: Don’t write them off quite yet. Seminoles knocked Maryland from list of unbeatens last week, improving Florida State’s Atlantic Coast Conference record to 74-3.

Clemson update: Bitter memory: Tigers lost to Florida State last season, 54-7. This is an important game, with Maryland and South Carolina still ahead.

Story line: It’s Bowden Bowl III, as son Tommy takes on his father Bobby for the third time. Dear Old Dad is 2-0.

The pick: Clemson. A vote for Tiger quarterback Woody Dantzler over improving Seminole starter Chris Rix.

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No. 7 Tennessee (5-1) at Notre Dame (3-4)

Kickoff: 11:30 a.m.

TV: Channel 4.

Line: Tennessee by 71/2.

Tennessee update: Like Notre Dame, the Volunteers beat USC. Only in Vols’ case, it was South Carolina.

Notre Dame update: Quarterback Carlyle Holiday is 50-50 for the game because of injury. Bob Davie wishes he could get those odds on his job.

Story line: A Notre Dame coach whose grip on his job is loosening faces a game he probably can’t win. Doesn’t it seem as if this Davie thing has been dragging on for a long time?

The pick: Tennessee. This shouldn’t be as hard as famous 1991 comeback, when Tennessee trailed, 31-7, but won, 35-34.

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No. 21 Illinois (6-1)

at No. 20 Purdue (5-1)

Kickoff: 9 a.m.

TV: ESPN

Line: Purdue by 3.

Illinois update: The Illini are on the verge of their best start since 1989, and Kurt Kittner made the list of finalists for the Unitas Award, given to the nation’s top quarterback.

Purdue update: Kittner’s counterpart, quarterback Brandon Hance, is only a freshman. But this is a school that has produced some good ones.

Story line: This looks as if it’s for second place in the Big Ten. Both teams lost to first-place Michigan.

The pick: Purdue. It doesn’t take a great team to be No. 2 in the Big Ten this year.