The games of the week

No. 3 Texas (11-0) at Texas A&M (6-5)

Today, 5 p.m., ESPN

Texas is two victories from making the Bowl Championship Series national title game, but the opponents are among the Longhorns’ fiercest rivals: Texas A&M, then Nebraska in the Big 12 title game. Texas leads the all-time series against Texas A&M, 74-36-5, but has lost two of the last three. A Texas loss opens the national title door for Texas Christian.

The pick: Texas.

No. 2 Alabama (11-0) at Auburn (7-4)

Friday, 11:30 a.m., Channel 2

Alabama has already secured the Southeastern Conference West title and a date with Florida in next week’s conference championship game, but archrival Auburn can stir up the national title race if it can pull off the “Iron Bowl” upset and then Florida hands Alabama a second loss in Atlanta. Also in play is the Heisman Trophy campaign of Alabama tailback Mark Ingram.

The pick: Auburn.

Nevada (8-3) at No. 6 Boise State (11-0)

Friday, 7 p.m., ESPN2

Hard to believe, but Nevada actually leads the Western Athletic Conference race because it has played an extra game. The Wolf Pack has won eight straight since opening the season with three losses, and Coach Chris Ault’s “pistol” offense has scored 62, 52 and 63 points in Nevada’s last three wins. Boise State, which closes the WAC season against New Mexico State, is two wins from its fourth perfect regular season this decade.

The pick: Boise State.

-- Chris Dufresne