Tide to face final hurdle before SEC title game 11/26/2009 11:52 PM Associated Press
No. 2 Alabama (11-0) vs. Auburn (7-4), 2:30 p.m. (CBS)
Line: Alabama by 101âÑ2.
Series Record: Alabama leads 39-33-1.
Last meeting: 2008, Alabama 36-0.
What's at Stake
Besides bragging rights, Alabama controls its own destiny in the national championship race. Beat Auburn and Florida, and the Crimson Tide are Pasadena-bound. Auburn could secure a better bowl destination with a win, and give a huge highlight for first-year coach Gene Chizik.
Players to Watch
Alabama: RB Mark Ingram. The Heisman Trophy candidate has been punishing defenses all season, breaking tackles and uncorking big runs against weary defenders in the fourth quarter. Auburn's shorthanded defense has been missing tackles and giving up big runs in the fourth.
Auburn: Ben Tate. He's the SEC's No. 3 rusher with 1,209 yards and eight touchdowns during a breakout season. He has said he believes he's the state's best running back, and this would be a pretty good showcase to try to back that up.
Illinois (3-7) vs. No. 5 Cincinnati (10-0), 12 p.m. (ABC)
Line: Cincinnati by 171âÑ2.
Series Record: First meeting.
What's at Stake
The Bearcats are No. 5 in the BCS standings and need a win to keep themselves in the discussion of national title candidates. They're also looking for QB Tony Pike to get back into the flow after missing most of the last month with an injury to his non-throwing arm. Illinois has won two of its last three.
Players to Watch
Illinois: QB Juice Williams. The senior hurt his left ankle at Minnesota and hasn't played since. He's expected back against the Bearcats, and is 22 yards shy of 10,000 total yards for his career. He would become only the sixth player in Big Ten history to reach the mark.
Cincinnati: Pike. The Bearcats will be watching to see how he handles getting hit. Before he hurt the left arm during at win at South Florida on Oct. 15, he had thrown for 1,649 yards and 17 touchdowns with only three interceptions.
Nevada (8-3) at No. 6 Boise State (11-0), 10:08 p.m. (ESPN2)
Line: Boise State by 131âÑ2.
Series record: Boise State leads 23-12.
Last meeting: Boise State 41-34.
What's At Stake
The WAC championship, Boise State's perfect season and BCS bowl hopes - though fellow outsider TCU has the inside track to crash that party. It's Boise's biggest test on its cozy blue turf. The "pistol" offense of the rampaging Wolf Pack leads the nation by rushing for 373 yards per game, and is averaging 52 points while winning eight straight. Broncos coach Chris Petersen calls it "the biggest challenge, for sure, that we've had in a long, long time."
Players to Watch
Nevada: QB Colin Kaepernick. Sure, he's one reason Nevada is the first team in NCAA history to have three 1,000-yard rushers in one season. But Boise's going to crowd everyone short of the Idaho's governor around the line to stop the run. Kaepernick's likely going to have to throw it more than his average of 21 times per game to give the Wolf Pack a chance.
Boise State: WR Austin Pettis. The acrobatic junior caught everything Moore threw near him while scoring four TDs against Idaho two weeks ago. His school-record of 10 consecutive games with a scoring catch ended last week at Utah State. Expect the nephew of former major league outfielder Gary Pettis to try and extend his school season record of 14 TD catches.
No. 8 Pittsburgh (9-1, 5-0 Big East) at West Virginia (7-3, 3-2), 7 p.m. (ESPN2)
Line: Pittsburgh by 2.
Series record: Pittsburgh leads 61-37-3.
Last meeting: Pittsburgh, 19-15.
What's At Stake
It's the 102nd Backyard Brawl between schools separated by 75 miles of interstate highway. A win over West Virginia would be mostly for pride because Pittsburgh needs to beat No. 5 Cincinnati at home on Dec. 5 to earn the Big East's automatic BCS berth. West Virginia still has faint hopes of its fourth 10-win season in the last five years, but must win against Pitt, at Rutgers on Dec. 5 and in a bowl game.
Players to Watch
Pittsburgh: QB Bill Stull. The senior leads the Big East with 211.5 yards passing per game. Against West Virginia last year, Stull went 12 of 23 for 156 yards with two interceptions, a fumble and two drives inside the West Virginia 10 that didn't produce points.
West Virginia: RB Noel Devine. The junior has gone a month without a 100-yard rushing effort after recording five in his first seven contests. He's been slowed by a sore left ankle the past two games.
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