SIX GAMES TO WATCH

No. 10 VIRGINIA TECH (9-2) at No. 9 MIAMI (8-2)

Kickoff: 10 a.m. Saturday.

TV: Channel 7.

The line: Miami by 7.

Virginia Tech update: In a 24-10 victory over Virginia last week, senior Bryan Randall set a school record for all-time passing yardage (6,061 yards) by throwing for 200 yards and two touchdowns in the Hokies’ seventh win in a row. Virginia Tech’s strength, however, is defense. It yields an average of 272.3 yards to rank seventh nationally.

Miami update: Brock Berlin is coming off a personal-best 361-yard, four-touchdown passing performance against Wake Forest. The Hurricanes have not played since that 52-7 triumph Nov. 20. They rank 26th in total defense, giving up 323.4 yards, but have surrendered only 22 touchdowns, one fewer than North Carolina State, which has the nation’s top-rated defense.

Story line: The winner claims the Atlantic Coast Conference championship and probably earns a trip to the Sugar Bowl.

The pick: Virginia Tech. The Hokies have given up only 16 touchdowns but will need to pressure Berlin to prevail.

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ARMY (2-8) at NAVY (8-2)

Kickoff: 11:30 a.m. Saturday.

TV: Channel 2.

The line: Navy by 13.

Army update: The Black Knights move the ball well -- they average 387.9 yards of total offense a game -- but they’re last in the nation in total defense, giving up an average of almost 500 yards. Safety Josh Smith has 101 tackles.

Navy update: Senior tailback Kyle Eckel has rushed for 883 yards and 10 touchdowns, and quarterback Aaron Polanco has rushed for 812 yards and 12 touchdowns. Polanco rushed for two touchdowns and passed for another in a 54-21 victory over Rutgers on Nov. 20. The Midshipmen have the nation’s third-ranked rushing attack (290 yards a game) and average 386.8 yards of total offense.

Story line: The annual battle for the Commander in Chief’s Trophy is also one of pride that has been waged for 105 years. Navy has won four of the last five, including a 34-6 triumph last year.

The pick: Navy. Pride and desire notwithstanding, the Black Knights are overmatched.

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No. 1 USC (11-0) at UCLA (6-4)

Kickoff: 1:30 p.m. Saturday.

TV: Channel 7.

The line: USC by 23.

USC update: The Trojans’ 41-10 rout of Notre Dame vaulted them from 17th to 15th nationally in total offense, with a 439.6-yard average. They’re fifth in total defense, yielding 269.45 yards. Matt Leinart’s 400-yard, five-touchdown effort against the Fighting Irish helped his case for the Heisman Trophy.

UCLA update: The Bruins have had three weeks to prepare for this game and try to improve a defense that ranks 109th against the run, yielding 221 yards. They’re much better against the pass (57th) but are 105th in total defense. Offensively, UCLA is ranked 18th, with an average output of 431.4 yards.

Story line: The Trojans need a victory to advance to the Orange Bowl, the BCS national championship game. The Bruins haven’t defeated the Trojans since a 34-17 triumph in 1998 at the Rose Bowl.

The pick: USC. The Bruins will keep it close for much of the game but will yield too many big plays in the end.

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No. 15 TENNESSEE (9-2) vs. No. 3 AUBURN (11-0)

Kickoff: 3 p.m. Saturday at Atlanta.

TV: Channel 2.

The line: Auburn by 14 1/2 .

Tennessee update: The Volunteers have won two in a row and six of their last seven. In last week’s 37-31 triumph over Kentucky, Rick Clausen passed for 349 yards and two touchdowns. Tennessee’s defense, however, continues to struggle and has slipped to 40th nationally, yielding an average of 341.5 yards.

Auburn update: The Tigers did not play last week, instead focusing on the USC-Notre Dame game, which did not produce the upset they had hoped for. They remain third in the national rankings and the BCS standings. The rest can only help a team anchored by the nation’s fourth-best defense, which has given up an NCAA-low 13 touchdowns.

Story line: The Tigers, who defeated the Volunteers in October, 34-10, need another convincing triumph in this Southeastern Conference championship game to keep their hopes alive of playing in the Orange Bowl for the national championship.

The pick: Auburn. With so much at stake, the Tigers will post another convincing victory over the Volunteers, then shift their attention to the Colorado-Oklahoma game.

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No. 4 CALIFORNIA (9-1) at SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI (6-4)

Kickoff: 4:45 p.m. Saturday.

TV: ESPN.

The line: Cal by 24.

California update: The Golden Bears start their season finale as the only team ranking in the top five in scoring offense (fifth at 38.4 points a game) and scoring defense (tied for third, yielding 13.1 points). Aaron Rodgers, who leads the Pacific 10 Conference and ranks fifth nationally in passing efficiency, guides the multifaceted offensive attack. Defensive end Ryan Riddle has 11 sacks.

Southern Mississippi update: The Golden Eagles, who started the season 5-1 and at that point were ranked 21st, became bowl-eligible last week after their 26-21 victory over Alabama Birmingham. Dustin Almond completed 10 of 14 passes for 129 yards and two touchdowns.

Story line: This is a trip Cal that should have made in September but was postponed by Hurricane Ivan. Who knew then what would be at stake now? A win assures the Golden Bears of a BCS bowl berth, whereas a loss relegates them to a lesser game.

The pick: Cal. The Golden Bears have one more job to do, and that’s win convincingly enough to hold on to their No. 4 spot in the BCS standings.

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No. 2 OKLAHOMA (11-0) vs. COLORADO (7-4)

Kickoff: 5 p.m. Saturday at Kansas City, Mo.

TV: Channel 7.

The line: Oklahoma by 21 1/2 .

Oklahoma update: The Sooners, winners of the Big 12 South Division, warmed up for Saturday’s conference championship game with a 35-0 rout of Baylor two weeks ago. The Bears ventured into Sooner territory only twice. Freshman tailback Adrian Peterson, a Heisman Trophy hopeful, rushed for 240 yards in 32 carries.

Colorado update: The Buffaloes were crowned Big 12 North Division champions after last week’s 26-20 victory over Nebraska, and after getting some help from Missouri, which defeated Iowa State, 17-14, in overtime. The Buffaloes’ offense has perked up in recent weeks under quarterback Joel Klatt and running back Bobby Purify.

Story line: The Sooners need to win, possibly win big, to ensure a spot in the Orange Bowl for the national championship game. Colorado is thanking the heavens, and Missouri, just to have this opportunity.

The pick: Oklahoma. The Sooners remember all too well being thumped by Kansas State, 35-7, in last year’s Big 12 championship game.