SIX GAMES TO WATCH

No. 12 KANSAS STATE (0-0) at USC (1-0)

Kickoff: 3:30 p.m., Fox Sports Net

The line: Kansas State by 31/2

Kansas State update: We’ve ripped Bill Snyder for years about his cushy schedule, but now it’s time to praise the coach for playing a meaningful game before Big 12 Conference play starts. Kansas State has won 11 games each of the last four years but that record was always followed by a “Yeah, but,” as in, “Yeah, but I’ve seen fewer cream puffs in a bakery.” The new BCS formula puts greater weight on strength of schedule, meaning Kansas State will not only benefit from playing USC, it will also pick up points for USC’s tough schedule.

USC update: So far so good for Pete Carroll, who won his debut last week over San Jose State. OK, now what? A victory over Kansas State would do wonders for USC’s sagging national image and almost certainly would earn the Trojans a spot in next week’s top 25. The running game looked super last week, with Sultan McCullough rushing for 172 yards and three touchdowns.

Story line: USC needs another efficient performance out of quarterback Carson Palmer, who completed 21 of 28 passes last week for 213 yards. The Trojans must contain Aaron Lockett, Kansas State’s talented receiver and kick returner.

The pick: USC. With Kansas State breaking in a new quarterback and kicker, this is a game the Trojans could steal. If Kansas State loses, look for Snyder to get on the phone and quickly book a game with Duke.

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No. 14 UCLA (1-0) at Kansas (1-0)

Kickoff: 9:30 a.m., Fox Sports Net

The line: UCLA by 13.

UCLA update: The Bruins open the season with two road games for the first time since 1986, but they won’t mind a bit if they come out of it 2-0. The temptation here is to say the easy part is over, with UCLA having defeated Alabama in Tuscaloosa last week, but the Bruins have no business taking any team, season or parking spot for granted.

Kansas update:Don’t get too worked up over 1-0. The victory was over Division I-AA Southwest Missouri State. This is a must-win year for fifth-year Coach Terry Allen, who is 18-27 since taking over in 1997. Allen got a good first start last week from sophomore quarterback Zach Dyer, who threw for 231 yards and a touchdown. The Jayhawks’ new offensive coordinator is Tom Hayes, a long-time assistant under former UCLA Coach Terry Donahue.

Story line: If UCLA starts out overconfident and sleepy-eyed because of the 9:30 body-time start, it could get jumped in the first quarter and have to play catch-up. UCLA must also get wide receiver Brian Poli-Dixon involved. He did not catch a pass in the victory over Alabama and he is prone to dropping balls.

The pick: UCLA. The Bruins may be the most talented team in the Pac-10, and this is a game in which talent should prevail.. A win would put UCLA at 2-0, with four of the next five games at home, including headliners against Ohio State on Sept. 22 and Washington on Oct. 13.

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No. 19 Fresno State (2-0) at No. 23 Wisconsin (1-1)

Kickoff: 9 a.m., ESPN

The line: Wisconsin by 4

Fresno State update: Victories in consecutive weeks against Colorado and Oregon State have made the Bulldogs the talk of the early season. Fresno State senior David Carr, not Oregon’s Joey Harrington, may be the best quarterback on the West Coast. Against Oregon State Sunday night, Carr threw for 340 yards and four touchdowns and tossed one pinpoint pass after another over and around the Beavers’ star corner, Dennis Weathersby.

Wisconsin update: This was supposed to be a rebuilding year in Madison, but the Badgers look typically tough after a home victory against Virginia and a three-point loss at Oregon last weekend. Backup Jim Sorgi filled in admirably for injured starter Brooks Bollinger last week. In Anthony Davis, the Badgers also appear to have found a running back to replace Michael Bennett.

Story line: Fresno State Coach Pat Hill says his team will play “anyone, anywhere, any time,” but we’re not so sure we would have recommended this trip. Wisconsin will be in a fowl (as in Duck) mood after missing a chance to upset Oregon in Eugene. The Badgers are better than advertised, and defensive tackle Wendell Bryant is scary-good.

The pick: Wisconsin. If Fresno State wins this game, it might well go 13-0 and end up in a BCS bowl, but we can’t see the Bulldogs sustaining the energy level required to score an upset in Madison.

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No. 11 Michigan (1-0) at No. 15 Washington (0-0)

Kickoff: 12:30 p.m., Channel 7

The line: Washington by 3

Michigan update: The Wolverines opened the season last week with a 31-13 victory over Miami of Ohio, but Wolverine Coach Lloyd Carr found plenty to complain about, criticizing his team’s missed blocks and poor tackling. Carr has been in a sour mood since his star quarterback, Drew Henson, left to pursue a baseball career, a move that probably cost Michigan a shot at the national championship.

Washington update: Rick Neuheisel has performed so well in preseason camp, Athletic Director Barbara Hedges bumped his salary to a $1.4 million before the Huskies have played their first game. Star quarterback Marques Tuiasosopo has moved on, and the Huskies now enter-- ta da! --the Cody Pickett era. He beat out Taylor Barton, who followed Neuheisel from Colorado. Paul Arnold, once a prized recruit at tailback, has been switched to wide receiver. On defense, Washington got a break when nose tackle Larry Tripplett took a pass on the NFL and returned for his senior year.

Story line: This is the first meeting between the schools since Michigan defeated Washington in the 1993 Rose Bowl game, depriving the Huskies of the chance to become the first team to win three in succession. Michigan may have a slight advantage, having already played a game.

The pick: Washington. It’s the prudent, Pac-10 provincial thing to do.

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No. 17 Notre Dame (0-0) at No. 5 Nebraska (2-0)

Kickoff: 5 p.m., Channel 7

The line: Nebraska by 14

Notre Dame update: The Irish haven’t played a down yet, but Coach Bob Davie is calling this the most talented team he’s had in South Bend. You wouldn’t have known it, based on last year’s 41-9 Fiesta Bowl loss to Oregon State, when the Beavers exposed Notre Dame’s glaring lack of speed at the skill positions. Expect the Irish to be mechanical and efficient, led by sophomore quarterback Matt LoVecchio, who won his first seven games as a starter last season.

Nebraska update: The Cornhuskers have opened with relatively easy wins over Texas Christian and Troy State, but the offense looks about as one-dimensional--Eric Crouch left, Eric Crouch right--as it did last year, when it was exposed at times. Frank Solich will be coaching with a heavy heart; his father died last week.

Story line: It will be tough for the schools to top last year’s thriller in South Bend. Irish fans were so resigned to defeat, they sold their tickets in droves in the shadow of Touchdown Jesus. Those scalpers missed a great game. Notre Dame put up a valiant fight that ended when Crouch won the game for Nebraska, 27-24, on a seven-yard touchdown run in overtime.

The pick: Nebraska. The Cornhuskers have won 51 of their last 52 home games and we don’t expect the streak to end here. But this could be a very close game. If it’s close, the Irish pull off one of the season’s early upsets.

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No. 16 Northwestern (0-0) at Nevada Las Vegas (0-1)

Kickoff: 5 p.m, ESPN

The line: Northwestern by 3

Northwestern update: After a late summer of tragedy--senior safety Rashidi Wheeler died during an Aug. 3 conditioning workout--the Wildcats finally get the chance to change the conversation to football for a few hours. Before the Wheeler tragedy, Northwestern fans had looked forward to this season with rapt anticipation. The Wildcats, who have 10 of 11 starters back from an offense that averaged 38.5 points a game last year, have won or shared three Big Ten titles since 1995, and have been picked to win again this season.

Nevada Las Vegas update: The Rebels are trying to recover from a disheartening 14-10 defeat at Arkansas. UNLV dominated the game and did not allow Arkansas a first down on offense until halfway through the fourth quarter. The Rebel defense was superb, but the special teams folded. UNLV missed two short field goals that could have clinched the game, then botched a punt that allowed Arkansas to drive for the winning touchdown in the final minute.

Story line: How will Northwestern respond after a month of sadness and intense scrutiny? Will Wheeler’s death draw the Wildcats closer as a team? Or will the controversy have a residual effect on the field?

The pick: UNLV. The Rebels’ defense looked brilliant against Arkansas and should be able to slow down Northwestern’s offense. And no way Thomas plays as poorly as he did against Arkansas.