Four games to watch

NO. 17 BOISE STATE (10-1) AT NO. 14 HAWAII (10-0)

* Kickoff: Friday, 6 p.m. PST.

* TV: ESPN2.

* Line: Hawaii by 3.

* Boise State update: The Broncos have won nine consecutive games, 18 consecutive Western Athletic Conference games and the last five WAC titles. They feature a balanced offense, with quarterback Taylor Tharp and running back Ian Johnson leading the way. Tharp has 2,839 yards passing and 28 touchdowns. He has had eight passes intercepted. Johnson has 944 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns. The Broncos are No. 3 in the nation in scoring at 44.2 points a game and have scored more than 50 in their last two.

* Hawaii update: The Warriors are one of only two undefeated major college football teams and have won 11 consecutive games dating to last season. They lead the nation in scoring at 48 points a game with quarterback Colt Brennan leading a pass-oriented offense. Brennan has 3,237 yards passing and 28 touchdowns for a unit that is second in the nation in passing offense and third in total offense.

* Story line: Hawaii is No. 15 in the Bowl Championship Series standings and Boise State is No. 19, so a spot in a BCS bowl could be at stake. The WAC title is definitely on the line and it is the first time since 1994 that two WAC teams ranked this high will play each other.

* The pick: Boise State. Offense may get the attention in this game, but the Broncos are No. 10 in the nation in total defense and No. 14 against the pass.

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NO. 8 VIRGINIA TECH (9-2) AT NO. 16 VIRGINIA (9-2)

* Kickoff: Saturday, 9 a.m.

* TV: ESPN2.

* Line: Virginia Tech by 3 1/2 .

* Virginia Tech update: The Hokies have won three consecutive games and eight of nine thanks to a defense that gives up only 14.9 points a game to rank No. 4 in the nation. Linebacker Xavier Adibi averages 8.5 tackles -- a major reason the Hokies have given up more than two touchdowns only three times and are fifth in the nation in total defense, holding opponents to 289.36 yards a game. Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor are expected to split time at quarterback for an offense that ranks No. 103 in the nation with 326.5 yards a game.

* Virginia update: The Cavaliers have been cutting games close, setting an NCAA record by winning five games by two points or fewer. Chris Long is fifth in the nation with 12 sacks and anchors a defense that is 10th in the nation at 17.5 points given up a game. Running back Mikell Simpson, a converted wide receiver, has 319 yards rushing in four games since taking over for injured starter Cedric Peerman, but the Cavaliers are 99th in the nation in total offense.

* Story line: The winner of this Commonwealth Cup rivalry game will win the Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division and go to the ACC championship game.

* The pick: Virginia Tech. In what figures to be a defensive struggle, special teams could be a factor and the Hokies excel in that area.

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NO. 20 CONNECTICUT (9-2) AT NO. 4 WEST VIRGINIA (9-1)

* Kickoff: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

* TV: ESPN.

* Line: West Virginia by 17 1/2 .

* Connecticut update: The surprising Huskies have won four of their last five, including victories over Rutgers, South Florida and Louisville. They were 4-8 last season and were picked to finish seventh in the Big East Conference in only their sixth year playing major college football. Credit a strong defense that is No. 3 in the nation, giving up 14.3 points a game, and an offense that has only 11 turnovers -- tied for second fewest in the nation. Andre Dixon and Donald Brown have combined to average 144 yards rushing.

* West Virginia update: The Mountaineers have won five consecutive games since a loss to South Florida, outscoring opponents, 190-84. Quarterback Pat White and running back Steve Slaton lead an offense that is No. 3 in the nation with 289.4 yards rushing a game. Slaton averages 98.8 yards and White averages 95.8. The Mountaineers are No. 4 in the nation in total defense at 288.6 yards a game and give up only 17.3 points a game.

* Story line: The Big East title is on the line, but the stakes are much bigger for West Virginia because the Mountaineers are No. 3 in the BCS standings and very much in the national championship hunt.

* The pick: West Virginia. The Mountaineers stellar defense will be too much for a pedestrian Huskies offense that ranks No. 86 in the nation and the game is at Morgantown.

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NO. 3 MISSOURI (10-1) VS. NO. 2 KANSAS (11-0)

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

* TV: Channel 7.

* Line: Kansas by 2.

* Missouri update: The Tigers are on a five-game win streak since a 41-31 loss at Oklahoma and are seeking their first conference title since 1969. They have scored 40 or more in all five games during the streak and are averaging 42.5 points for the season. Quarterback Chase Daniel is fourth in the nation with 3,590 yards passing and tied for third with 30 touchdown passes. The Tigers are fourth in the nation in total offense with 506.3 yards a game.

* Kansas update: The Jayhawks are one of only two undefeated major college football teams and have already set a team record for victories while seeking their first conference title since 1968. They are second in the nation in scoring at 45.82 points a game and are second in scoring defense at 14.2 points a game, though their opponents are a combined 47-75 and only three have winning records.

* Story line: It is the 116th football game in this rivalry and easily the most significant of the series. The winner goes to the Big 12 Conference title game and keeps alive hopes of playing in the Bowl Championship Series title game. The loser is eliminated from both.

* The pick: Missouri. It’s hard to say which will be more difficult for the Jayhawks to overcome, the Missouri offense or the curse of No. 2.

-- Peter Yoon