Six Games to Watch

No. 21 OKLAHOMA (1-1) at UCLA (2-0)

Kickoff: 12:30 p.m.

TV: Channel 7.

Line: UCLA by 6 1/2 .

Oklahoma update: The Sooners might want to munch on a few Balance bars before taking the field at the Rose Bowl. Of their 494 yards of offense, 324 have come on the ground.

UCLA update: The Bruins have put together two complete games and are riding higher than they have at this point in a season since they opened with wins against Colorado State and Oklahoma State in 2002.

Story line: Can Oklahoma quarterback Rhett Bomar, who completed five passes last week, mount any semblance of a passing attack against a Bruin defense stacked to stop the run?

The pick: UCLA. The Bruins get their first statement victory of the Karl Dorrell era to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 2001.

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No. 23 FRESNO STATE (1-0) at OREGON (2-0)

Kickoff: 4 p.m.

TV: TBS.

Line: Oregon by 2 1/2 .

Fresno State update: The Bulldogs’ 55-17 victory over Weber State last week was their seventh consecutive win. Fresno State scored two touchdowns on punt returns to supplement running back Wendell Mathis’ three-touchdown game.

Oregon update: The Ducks have posted easy victories over Houston and Montana, but it’s never a good sign when you have to kick six field goals against Montana. Terrence Whitehead, a 1,000-yard rusher in 2004, has only 67 yards in two games.

Story line: USC should TiVo this one. Both teams are potential stumbling blocks on the Trojans’ quest for a third consecutive national title.

The pick: Fresno State. The Bulldogs notch their 11th victory over a team from a BCS conference since 2001.

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No. 5 TENNESSEE (1-0) at No. 6 FLORIDA (2-0)

Kickoff: 5 p.m.

TV: Channel 2.

Line: Florida by 6.

Tennessee update: Rick Clausen, whose brother Casey starred for the Volunteers from 2000 to 2003, is expected to make his first start of the season after replacing Erik Ainge during Tennessee’s opener against Alabama Birmingham. Senior Gerald Riggs Jr. rushed for 110 yards in 23 carries in that game.

Florida update: Chris Leak, whose brother C.J. played for Tennessee from 2002 to 2004, has completed 69% of his passes for 539 yards and five touchdowns in victories over Wyoming and Louisiana Tech. The Gators have been beset by slippery hands, fumbling six times, though they’ve only lost one.

Story line: Which younger brother makes the better quarterback?

The pick: Florida. The Gators, losers of three of the last four in the series, reverse the trend.

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MICHIGAN STATE (2-0) at No. 10 NOTRE DAME (2-0)

Kickoff: 12:30 p.m.

TV: Channel 4.

Line: Notre Dame by 6 1/2 .

Michigan State update: The Spartans feature a prolific offense that averaged 592 yards of offense in routs of Kent State and Hawaii. Junior quarterback Drew Stanton has completed 78% of his passes.

Notre Dame update: Sophomore running back Darius Walker has rushed for more than 100 yards in each of the Fighting Irish’s victories. Linebacker Brandon Hoyte has been the cornerstone of the defense, making 21 tackles, breaking up a pass and forcing a fumble.

Story line: Notre Dame’s resurgence is put to the test by a team that has won six of the last eight games in the series.

The pick: Notre Dame. Charlie Weis accomplishes something Knute Rockne and Lou Holtz couldn’t by winning his first home game as Irish coach.

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No. 8 FLORIDA STATE (2-0) at No. 17 BOSTON COLLEGE (2-0)

Kickoff: 4:45 p.m.

TV: ESPN.

Line: Florida State by 1.

Florida State update: The Seminoles have 11 sacks in two games, including nine in their season-opening victory over Miami. Florida State’s defense did not allow a touchdown last week against The Citadel. Freshman quarterback Drew Weatherford appears to be an upgrade over predecessor Chris Rix.

Boston College update: The Eagles attained their highest national ranking of the Tom O’Brien era with victories over Brigham Young and Army. Quinton Ross has completed 76% of his passes. Brian Toal rushed for two touchdowns and made three tackles against Army.

Story line: Boston College has not defeated a top-25 team at home since 1994.

The pick: Florida State. The Eagles wonder why they endured so much turmoil to join the ACC.

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ARKANSAS (1-1) at No. 1 USC (1-0)

Kickoff: 7:15 p.m.

TV: FSN West.

Line: USC by 32.

Arkansas update: What good is averaging 338.5 yards rushing when you can’t beat Vanderbilt? New defensive coordinator Reggie Herring, who last season oversaw North Carolina State’s top-ranked defense, now works with a unit yielding 22.5 points a game.

USC update: The Trojans want to clean up the silly penalties and personal fouls that marred a rout of Hawaii in their opener. USC’s reformulated defensive line is also eager to show that life goes on without Mike Patterson and Shaun Cody.

Story line: Pete Carroll, a graduate assistant under Lou Holtz at Arkansas in 1977, has this opportunity to consider how far he’s progressed.

The pick: USC. Hawaii couldn’t run and couldn’t shoot, and neither can the Razorbacks.

-- Ben Bolch