FOUR GAMES TO WATCH

TEXAS A&M; (8-3) at No. 11 TEXAS (9-2)

* Kickoff: Friday, 9 a.m. PST.

* TV: Channel 7.

* Line: Texas by 13.

* Texas A&M; update: The Aggies are coming off consecutive one-point losses to Oklahoma and Nebraska that dropped them from the Big 12 Conference title race. Texas A&M; averages 207.5 yards rushing, with Javorskie Lane and Mike Goodson combining for 1,329 yards and quarterback Stephen McGee adding 540 yards, giving the Aggies the No. 8 rushing offense in the nation. Texas A&M; is 3-0 on the road this season but is 0-5 in November over the last two seasons.

* Texas update: A pinched nerve knocked quarterback Colt McCoy out of the Longhorns’ Nov. 11 loss to Kansas State. But after sitting out of practice during the Longhorns’ week off, he will start. McCoy has passed for 2,102 yards with 27 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Texas is fourth in the nation in scoring at 39.5 points a game and has the nation’s top rushing defense, giving up only 42 yards a game.

* Story line: The loss to Kansas State kept Texas from clinching the Big 12 South Division. Now, if Texas loses again and Oklahoma defeats Oklahoma State, the Sooners will advance to the conference title game. If Texas wins or if both teams lose, the Longhorns will go.

* The pick: Texas. The Longhorns have won the last six in this series and Texas A&M; hasn’t won in Austin since 1994.

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No. 9 LOUISIANA STATE (9-2) at No. 5 ARKANSAS (10-1)

* Kickoff: Friday, 11:30 a.m. PST.

* TV: Channel 2.

* Line: Pick.

* Louisiana State update: The Tigers have won five in a row after a 23-10 loss to Florida on Oct. 7, rekindling hopes of qualifying for a Bowl Championship Series game. However, they are also coming off their worst performance of the season, needing overtime to beat last-place Mississippi last week. They are No. 1 in the nation in total defense, giving up 227.7 yards a game, and are No. 3 in scoring defense at 11.3 points. The Tigers have given up only three 100-yard rushing games and four rushing touchdowns.

* Arkansas update: The Razorbacks clinched the Southeastern Conference Western Division last week and have their sights set on the BCS title game. Darren McFadden will have to carry them there. He has 1,303 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing, including 613 yards and five touchdowns the last four games. Arkansas has given up an average of only 12 points since its 50-14 opening-week loss to USC.

* Story line: With an impressive win against LSU and a victory over Florida in the conference championship game, the Razorbacks have an outside shot of gathering enough poll support to earn a matchup with Ohio State in the national title game.

* The pick: Louisiana State. The Tigers have the defense to shut down McFadden and also have playmaking quarterback JaMarcus Russell.

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No. 4 FLORIDA (10-1) at FLORIDA STATE (6-5)

* Kickoff: Saturday, 9 a.m. PST.

* TV: Channel 7.

* Line: Florida by 9 1/2 .

* Florida update: The Gators are in need of style points because they haven’t racked up many since a 23-10 victory over Louisiana State on Oct. 7. They are headed to the Southeastern Conference title game thanks in large part to a defense that ranks No. 11 in the nation, giving up 268.0 yards a game, and is fifth in points given up at 12.1 a game. That unit should be bolstered by the return of linebackers Brandon Siler and Earl Everett, who sat out last week because of injuries.

* Florida State update: Drew Weatherford will start at quarterback, but Xavier Lee will also take some snaps. Weatherford has completed only 11 of 31 passes for 127 yards over the last three games. Lee has thrown for 676 yards and five touchdowns over the last four games. The Seminoles are 12th in the nation in total defense but 70th in total offense. A loss would drop the Seminoles to .500 and mark the first time Florida State has ended the regular season without a winning record since Bobby Bowden became coach in 1976.

* Story line: Florida is in the national title race and Florida State would like nothing better than to kick its intrastate rival to the side of the road. Over the next two weeks, the Gators need to make a strong case for inclusion in the national title game.

* The pick: Florida. The Gators’ defense will cause all kinds of problems for a struggling Seminoles offense.

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No. 20 WAKE FOREST (9-2) at MARYLAND (8-3)

* Kickoff: Saturday, 4:45 p.m. PST.

* TV: ESPN.

* Line: Maryland by 1 1/2 .

* Wake Forest update: The Demon Deacons, picked to finish last in a preseason poll, can get to the Atlantic Coast Conference title game with a victory. They’ll need a stout performance from a defense that gives up 310 yards a game but only 14.6 points. Their offense has struggled, however. Only twice has a Wake Forest running back rushed for 100 yards and quarterback Riley Skinner has only two 200-yard passing games.

* Maryland update: The Terrapins lost to Boston College last week but before that had won five in a row (by an average of only 1.8 points). Lance Ball and Keon Lattimore have combined to rush for 1,192 yards and nine touchdowns. Sam Hollenbach has passed for 1,966 yards with 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Maryland has given up 239 points and scored 236.

* Story line: The loser is out of the ACC title game. If Wake Forest wins, it will play Georgia Tech for the conference title. If Maryland wins, the Terrapins advance only if Boston College loses to Miami tonight. Boston College would advance with a win and a Wake Forest loss. Maryland is seeking its eighth consecutive victory over the Demon Deacons.

* The pick: Maryland. Both teams have been winning with smoke and mirrors, but Maryland is the better magician.