Vanderbilt at No. 1 Florida (-35, 44.5)
The Commodores lost dual threat QB Larry Smith for the season with an injury suffered in last week’s loss to Georgia Tech, so in steps senior Mackenzi Adams for his 10th career start – Vandy is 2-7 in the previous nine.
Star LB Brandon Spikes was suspended for just a half in this one by Urban Meyer for Spikes’ eye gouge against Georgia, but Spikes then suspended himself for the entire game Wednesday night. Not like UF needs him: It has won 18 in a row in this series.
Central Florida at No. 2 Texas (-36.5, 46.5)
The Golden Knights did only lose by three points to the Horns two seasons ago in Orlando. They can’t afford to fall behind big here, and UCF has led at the half only once this year.
It’s a very rare non-conference November game for UT (originally was supposed to be Texas Tech), which might be due a letdown after three straight conference opponents. Hard to see UCF scoring much since Texas has held each Big 12 opponent to 14 or fewer points.
No. 7 LSU at No. 3 Alabama (-7.5, 40)
The Tigers have won four straight games over Alabama in Tuscaloosa. And their defense is playing well, having allowed only 36 points in its last four games.
The Tide clinch a spot in the SEC title game with a win and enter off a bye week. They have led at the half of the past seven games and are 25-1 when leading at halftime under Nick Saban.
No. 4 TCU at San Diego State (+24.5, 48)
TCU could get caught looking ahead to Utah next week. But the Frogs are 4-0 against SDSU all-time and have outscored their opponents 123-13 in the past three games.
SDSU nearly beat TCU in the Frogs’ last two visits and the Aztecs have just one loss at home (by 10 to BYU). Unfortunately, star WR Vincent Brown, a semifinalist for the Biletnikoff Award is out this week and likely the season.
No. 5 Boise State at Louisiana Tech (+21.5, 50; Friday)
Boise State loves national TV, having lost just once in the past two seasons (3-0 this season, 2-1 ATS). BSU has won seven in a row in this series, scoring at least 30 in all of them with an average margin of victory by about 26 points.
The Bulldogs have won 10 of their past 11 at home. But probably their two best offensive players, running back Daniel Porter and wide receiver Phillip Livas, are both game-time decisions with injuries.
Northwestern at No. 6 Iowa (-16.5, 44.5)
Northwestern has won the last two games in Kinnick Stadium and three of the last six. That includes a 22-17 win last season. But the Wildcats have dropped their past 35 against Top 5 teams (which Iowa is in the BCS).
The Hawkeyes seem to have their close calls at home and have covered only one of the past three games there. That one was last week against Indiana when Iowa was down 10 points entering the fourth before rallying big.
Connecticut at No. 7 Cincinnati (-16.5, 52)
The Huskies' four losses are by a combined 13 points, but they also lost starting QB Cody Endres for the season when he was hurt in last week’s loss to Rutgers.
The Bearcats lead the series 4-1 all-time but were pummeled 40-16 at UConn last year. Cincy, which may get QB Tony Pike back, has turned the ball over just four times, fewest in the nation. It is the only team in the country yet to lose a fumble.
No. 8 Oregon at Stanford (+6.5, 56)
Is Oregon due a letdown after a program-altering win against Southern Cal? Sometimes all that good publicity isn’t good for a team. The Ducks do have a seven-game winning streak against the Cardinal, their longest current streak against a Pac-10 opponent.
Stanford enters off a bye and played its best game of the season before the week off, a 33-14 home win over Arizona State. In fact, the Cardinal really haven’t been challenged at home this year.
No. 12 Ohio State at No. 10 Penn State (-3.5, 40)
Jim Tressel is 5-3 against Penn State but his Buckeyes lost 13-6 last year in Columbus. So while the home team has won 12 of 16 in this series since PSU joined the Big Ten, the visitor has won the past two.
PSU’s Daryll Clark looks like a Heisman candidate of late – during the Nittany Lions’ five-game winning streak, Clark has nine touchdown passes and has run for five scores with just one interception.
Wake Forest at No. 11 Georgia Tech (-16, 61.5)
The Deacons have lost their past three overall and are 0-3 on the road this year. And senior QB Riley Skinner, easily the team’s best player, is questionable for this one with a concussion. Skinner hasn’t missed a start since early in the 2007 season.
The Jackets have won six in a row and have covered in all of them. Over the last five games, Tech has averaged 487.0 yards of total offense (337.8 yards rushing) and 41.8 points.
No. 13 Southern Cal at Arizona State (+10, 45.5)
USC has won nine in a row in this series and is 27-0 in November under Pete Carroll. But how is the team’s psyche after suffering the worst loss in the Carroll era last week to Oregon?
ASU gets to see probably the worst defense it has seen USC have under Carroll, as that unit has surrendered an average of nearly 490 total yards and 37 points in each of the past three games. ASU is 3-27 this decade against ranked teams.
Syracuse at No. 14 Pittsburgh (-21.5, 49.5)
The best thing the Orange had going for them was star WR Mike Williams, but he quit the team Monday. He had 49 catches for 746 yards and six touchdowns. Syracuse is -7 in turnover margin in only three Big East games.
The Panthers have won six of the past seven meetings, including 34-24 at the Carrier Dome last year. RB Dion Lewis is fourth in the nation in rushing, but SU’s strength is run defense – sixth in the country.
No. 15 Houston at Tulsa (-1, 67.5)
Houston leads the series 3-1 since the two schools have been C-USA members. The past two years have been blowouts for the home team, including 70-30 Cougars in 2008.
The Golden Hurricane are 0-2 vs. ranked teams this year but nearly upset Boise State. In Tulsa's four wins this year, the Hurricane have scored 41.0 points per game and averaged 450.5 yards of total offense.
New Mexico at No. 16 Utah (-27, 46)
The Lobos could be the worst program in the country, having lost 12 straight games. The program is 2-19 all-time in road games against ranked teams. But UNM nearly upset the Utes last year and has won two of its past three trips to Utah.
It appears the Utes will turn to freshman Jordan Wynn as the starting QB after he rallied Utah past Wyoming last week. He replaced a struggling Terrance Cain during last week’s game. The official decision will likely be a game-time call.
Virginia at No. 17 Miami (-13.5, 45)
The Cavs’ offense is last in the ACC in scoring and yards per game, and the defense was gouged the past two games by Georgia Tech (on the ground) and Duke (through the air).
Miami leads the all-time series 4-2 and won 24-17 last year. UM’s struggling defense will again be without three key players: linebacker Sean Spence, defensive end Eric Moncour and safety Ray Ray Armstrong.
No. 18 Oklahoma State at Iowa State (+7.5, 51)
OSU, in its first game in Ames in four years, can take some positives from last week’s rout by Texas: The Cowboys outgained the Horns and didn’t allow a sack. OSU crushed ISU last year and has won five in a row against North Division teams.
Iowa State leads the Big 12 in rushing with an average of 200.33 yards per game and still has a shot at the North title. Starting QB Austen Arnaud is expected to return after missing the past two games with an injury.
Washington State at No. 19 Arizona (-33.5, 60)
Washington State has lost eight straight and 17 of 18 to Top 25 opponents. But the Cougars have covered their past three games this season and five of the past six.
The Wildcats have won three in a row against Wazzu. But they are unlikely to have starting RB Nic Grigsby (shoulder strain), who is averaging 7.5 yards on 71 carries. Arizona leads the Pac-10 in total offense.
No. 20 Oklahoma at Nebraska (+5, 41.5)
The Huskers’ defense has held four straight Big 12 opponents under 300 total yards of offense. That unit might have the best front four in the country. While Ndamukong Suh got all the double teams last week against Baylor, DT Jared Crick had 13 tackles and five sacks.
OU has won four in a row in this series, including a 62-28 blowout last year. Expect the Sooners to take an early lead, as they have not allowed a point in the first quarter in their last 10 games. Oklahoma has outscored its opponents 79-0 in the quarter in that span.
Navy at No. 21 Notre Dame (-11, 55.5)
QB Ricky Dobbs, who has barely played the past two weeks because of injury, will start Saturday. He’s a 50 percent passer but is second on the team in rushing yards and far and away the Navy leader in TDs with 19 (16 rush, three pass).
The Irish offense is whole again, as WR Michael Floyd, who was averaging 27.5 yards per catch with five touchdowns in just 10 quarters this season before getting hurt, returns from a broken collarbone.
No. 22 Wisconsin at Indiana (+10.5, 54.5)
Badger RB John Clay, who is 13th in the nation in rushing TDs and 20th in yards per game, should have a big day against a defense that allows more than 145 yards rushing per game and has given up 15 TDs on the ground. UW has won four in a row in this series.
The Hoosiers have been outscored 47-3 in the second half the last two weeks but have held leads in the fourth quarter of four of their last five Big Ten games. Indiana has forced at least three turnovers in three straight games.
Oregon State at No. 23 California (-7.5, 61.5)
The Beavers have won their past four trips to Berkeley and eight of 10 in the series overall. QB Sean Canfield has the third-best completion percentage in the country and hasn’t thrown a pick in 117 attempts.
Bears star Jahvid Best missed practice this week with a mild concussion but believes he will play. But starting tight end Anthony Miller, who caught a game-winning TD last week, is out.
No. 25 BYU at Wyoming (+13, 48)
BYU has won eight of the past nine in the series and hasn’t lost since 2003. The Cougars, who are unbeaten away from Provo this year, get top WR McKay Jacobson back this week. He has missed the last four games with a hamstring injury.
The Cowboys are 0-2 against ranked teams this year (Texas, Utah) but covered against both. Wyoming is plus-10 in turnover margin in its four home games so far.