RATING THE TV GAMES

* * * * Whoa, Nellie

* * * Order some pizza

* * Channel-surf ... or get out of the house

* A fine time for chores

* * No. 12 Illinois (8-1) at No. 25 Ohio State (6-3), 9 a.m., ESPN: With a victory, the Illini stay alive in the Big Ten race--but leading rusher Antoineo Harris has a broken wrist. LINE: Illinois by 1.

* * Michigan State (5-3) at Purdue (5-3), 9 a.m., ESPN2: It’s not a great year for watching Big Ten also-rans. LINE: no line.

* Iowa State (5-4) at Kansas (2-7), 9:30 a.m., Fox Sports Net: The team that gave up 48 to Nebraska visits the team that gave up 51 to Nebraska. Don’t watch. LINE: Iowa State by 81/2.

* Montana (9-1) at Montana State (5-5), 11 a.m., Fox Sports Net 2: Big intrastate game--in a state with less than a third the population of Orange County. LINE: no line.

* Navy (0-8) at Notre Dame (3-5), 11:30 a.m., Channel 4: Notre Dame Coach Bob Davie says, “I totally plan on being back.” Whatever, dude. LINE: Notre Dame by 271/2.

* * * Alabama (4-5) at No. 17 Auburn (7-2), 12:30 p.m., Channel 2: This rivalry has been awarded permanent three-star status. LINE: Auburn by 3.

* * * * No. 14 Syracuse (8-2) at No. 1 Miami (8-0), KSPN 1110, 12:30 p.m., pay-per-view: Something tells us one of the next three teams--Syracuse, Washington or Virginia Tech--might get Miami. LINE: Miami by 21.

* * * No. 9 Washington State (9-1) at No. 16 Washington (7-2), 12:30 p.m., Channel 7: Wazzu can stay in Pacific 10 title chase by winning the Apple Cup, but Oregon only has to beat Oregon State to clinch. LINE: Washington State by 11/2.

* * No. 18 Virginia Tech (7-2) at Virginia (4-6), 12:30 p.m., ESPN: Yes, Al Groh, we might have traded down to live in Charlottesville, Va., too. LINE: Virginia Tech by 141/2.

* * * No. 20 UCLA (6-3) at USC (5-5), KMPC 1540, KXTA 1150, 3:30 p.m., Fox Sports Net: Still one of the great afternoons in sports--but let’s try that NCAA rules seminar one more time. LINE: UCLA by 31/2.

* * * Utah (7-2) at No. 8 Brigham Young (10-0), 4 p.m., ESPN2: BYU could go undefeated and not get a sniff at the national title. LINE: BYU by 7.

* * No. 10 Maryland (9-1) at North Carolina State (6-3), 4:45 p.m., ESPN: Terrapins try to nail down their first Atlantic Coast Conference title since 1985. LINE: Maryland by 3.

* * * No. 21 Florida State (6-3) at No. 4 Florida (8-1), 5 p.m., Channel 2: We’re not sure the Gators aren’t the best team in the country, in spite of the goofy loss to Auburn. LINE: Florida by 15.

* Miami (Ohio) (7-3) at Hawaii (6-3), 8 p.m., Fox Sports Net 2: May we suggest dinner and a movie? LINE: Hawaii by 71/2.