Today’s Key Matchups

SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

No. 3 Louisiana State (11-1) vs. No. 5 Georgia (10-2)

* Site -- Georgia Dome in Atlanta, 5 p.m.

* Series Record -- LSU leads, 13-9-1.

* Last Meeting -- 2003, LSU 17-10.

* What to Watch -- In September, Georgia outgained LSU, 411-285, but had three missed field goals. The Tigers won on Matt Mauck’s touchdown pass with 1:22 remaining. Mauck has proved to be one of the conference’s best quarterbacks, completing 64% of his passes for 2,550 yards and 27 touchdowns. It helps that Mauck has Michael Clayton, the SEC’s leading receiver with 69 catches and 960 yards. If Georgia defensive end David Pollock -- possibly with help from what is expected to be a pro-Georgia crowd in Atlanta -- can disrupt the Tiger offense, the Bulldogs will have an excellent chance at repeating as SEC champions. Quarterback David Greene has been a steady leader, and Georgia’s fourth-ranked defense has kept them in every game.

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BIG 12 CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP

No. 13 Kansas State (10-3) vs. No. 1 Oklahoma (12-0)

* Site -- Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Mo., 5 p.m.

* Series Record -- Oklahoma leads, 66-16-4.

* Last Meeting -- 2001, Oklahoma, 38-37.

* What to watch -- As good as Kansas State has been over its last six games -- winning by an average of nearly 30 points -- Oklahoma has simply been better. The Sooners lead the nation with 48.3 points per game, and their defense is also the nation’s best, giving up an average of 234 yards. Quarterback Jason White is a Heisman contender, with 40 touchdown passes. He has completed 65.4% of his passes for 3,446 yards and only six interceptions. His favorite receiver, Mark Clayton, has set school records with 71 catches, 1,289 receiving yards and 15 touchdown receptions. When Oklahoma is on defense, the player to watch is defensive back Derrick Strait, who has three interceptions, four fumble recoveries, 11 breakups and, most important of all, seems to make big plays in big games. If he and the Sooners defense can control the Wildcats’ Darren Sproles and Ell Roberson, they’ll play for a second national title in four years. Sproles leads the nation with 1,713 yards rushing and has 15 touchdowns. Roberson has 881 rushing yards with 13 scores and has passed for 20 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.