Four games to watch

NO. 6 VIRGINIA TECH (10-2)

VS. NO. 12 BOSTON COLLEGE (10-2)

* Kickoff: Saturday, 10 a.m.,

at Jacksonville, Fla.

* TV: Ch. 7

* Line: Virginia Tech by 4 1/2 .

* Virginia Tech update: The Hokies have won four in a row since a 14-10 loss to Boston College. Using a quarterback platoon of Sean Glennon and Tyrod Taylor, they have scored an average of 36 points during the streak. But defense is the forte of this team, which is second in the nation at 15.42 points allowed per game and ranks fourth in total defense at 285.3 yards per game.

* Boston College update: The Eagles finished the regular season with consecutive victories after losing their previous two games. Quarterback Matt Ryan, a Heisman candidate, is third in the nation with 3,953 yards passing and is ninth with 28 touchdowns. Linebacker Mark Herzlich leads a defense that is No. 2 in the nation against the run, giving up only 65.6 yards a game. The Eagles are 106th in the nation against the pass, however, giving up almost 270 yards a game in the air.

* Story line: The Atlantic Coast Conference title is at stake, but it could have been much more for Virginia Tech if not for two Boston College touchdowns in the final three minutes of an Eagles victory on Oct. 25. The Hokies will be looking for revenge.

* The pick: Virginia Tech. The Hokies offense was still in flux when these teams last met, but it’s rolling now.

--

NO. 14 TENNESSEE (9-3)

VS. NO. 5 LOUISIANA STATE (10-2)

* Kickoff: Saturday, 1 p.m., at Atlanta.

* TV: Ch. 2.

* Line: Louisiana State by 7 1/2 .

* Tennessee update: The Volunteers have won five consecutive games, perhaps saving the job of Coach Phil Fulmer. Tennessee has averaged 39.4 points a game during the current win streak. Quarterback Erik Ainge, with 2,908 yards passing and 28 touchdowns, has been the catalyst. Running back Arian Foster has gone over 100 yards rushing in three of the last four games and the Tennessee offensive line has given up only four sacks, the fewest in the nation.

* Louisiana State update: The Tigers could be reeling after losing the No. 1 ranking for the second time this season and getting knocked out of the national championship picture. They started the season 6-0 and gave up only 9.3 points a game in those games, but have given up 30.8 a game in their last six. Still, they are No. 3 in the nation in total defense at 278.9 yards per game and have scored 47 points a game over their last four games.

* Story line: This is for the Southeastern Conference title and an automatic berth in a BCS bowl -- most likely the Sugar Bowl. It’s a rematch of the 2001 SEC title game when No. 21 LSU defeated No. 2 Tennessee and kept the Volunteers out of the national championship game.

* The pick: Louisiana State. The danger of a letdown certainly exists, but a senior-laden lineup won’t let that happen.

--

NO. 9 OKLAHOMA (10-2)

VS. NO. 1 MISSOURI (11-1)

* Kickoff: Saturday, 5 p.m.,

at San Antonio.

* TV: Ch. 7.

* Line: Oklahoma by 3.

* Oklahoma update: The defending Big 12 champion Sooners are in the conference game for the sixth time in eight seasons and are looking for their fifth title. Freshman quarterback Sam Bradford leads an offense that is third in the nation with 43.8 points per game. He has 2,670 yards passing and set a national freshman record last week by increasing his touchdown passes for the season to 32. The Sooners are 10th in the nation in scoring defense, giving up 18.3 points a game.

* Missouri update: The Tigers are No. 1 in the AP poll for the first time since 1960 and are No. 1 in the BCS standings for the first time. They have won six in a row since losing to Oklahoma on Oct. 13. Quarterback Chase Daniel is in the Heisman running with 3,951 yards passing and 33 touchdowns -- both No. 4 in the nation. Freshman Jeremy Maclin is second in the nation with 209.1 all purpose yards per game and the Tigers are fifth in the nation in total offense with 507.3 yards a game.

* Story line: The Big 12 title would be a fringe benefit for Missouri, which is playing for a shot at the national title. Oklahoma has a six-game winning streak over Missouri.

* The pick: Missouri. Tigers leading rusher Tony Temple sat out the last game against Oklahoma, but he’s ready to play now.

--

WASHINGTON (4-8)

AT NO. 11 HAWAII (11-0)

* Kickoff: Saturday, 8:30 p.m.

* TV: ESPN 2

* Line: Hawaii by 14

* Washington update: It has been a disappointing season for the Huskies, who began the season with consecutive victories, including one over then-No. 22 Boise State. Since then, the Huskies have lost all four games against ranked opponents. Running back Louis Rankin has averaged 152.8 yards rushing over the last four games; and for the season dual-threat quarterback Jake Locker has 1,920 yards and 14 touchdowns passing and 1,051 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing.

* Hawaii update: The Warriors are the lone undefeated team in the Football Bowl Subdivision and have won their first outright WAC title. Quarterback Colt Brennan, a Heisman hopeful, leads the spread offense with 3,732 yards passing and 33 touchdowns. Hawaii leads the nation with 47.2 points a game and is third in total offense with 528.5 yards a game. Their defense is seventh in the nation with 38 sacks and fourth with 8.6 tackles for loss a game.

* Story line: The Warriors need to win to stay in the top 12 in the BCS standings and earn a spot in a major bowl.

* The pick: Hawaii. Brennan, who set a major-division record with 126 career touchdown passes, should shred a Huskies pass defense that’s 85th in the nation.

--

-- Peter Yoon