Associated Press
Central Florida (5-3, 3-2 Conference USA) at No. 2 Texas (8-0, 5-0 Big 12)
When: 11 a.m. (FSN, Ch. 25)
Line: Texas by 36.
Series Record: Texas leads 1-0.
Last meeting: 2007, Texas 35-32.
What's at Stake: It's all about the BCS and poll position, and the Longhorns don't want to look sloppy after two dominant road wins. This game was supposed to be played in mid-September and Central Florida was supposed to be a tuneup for Big 12 play. The game got moved so Texas could play Texas Tech on national TV.
Key Matchup: Texas S Earl Thomas vs. Central Florida QB Brett Hodges. Thomas is on a tear with a team-high six interceptions, including two returned for touchdowns. Hodges has thrown seven picks to go with his 10 touchdowns and is completing less than 60 percent of his passes.
Players to Watch: Texas -- QB Colt McCoy. Seems obvious, but McCoy has done well since his rough outing against Oklahoma. He's got one month to keep it going to remain a Heisman favorite and will be up against a Central Florida defense that sacked Miami's Jacory Harris six times. Central Florida -- RB Brynn Harvey. UCF's leading rusher ran for 212 yards against Memphis but will butt heads Saturday with the nation's top-ranked rush defense. The Longhorns have allowed just two rushing TDs all season.
Facts & Figures: Texas has scored nine non-offensive touchdowns this season with six on kick returns or blocks and three interception returns. ... McCoy is 40-7 as a starter, with a 21-3 mark at home. ... Central Florida practices with jet noise to simulate the sound of playing in front of large crowds.
Kansas (5-3, 1-3) at Kansas State (5-4, 3-2)
When: 11:30 a.m. (VERSUS, Ch. 59)
Line: Kansas by 21/2.
Series Record: Kansas leads 65-36-5.
Last Meeting: 2008, Kansas 52-21.
What's at Stake: One of the longest-running rivalries in college football (107th meeting) has more meaning than usual. Kansas State, even after last week's loss to Oklahoma, still has control of the Big 12 North, a half-game ahead of Nebraska. The Jayhawks are trying to avoid their first four-game losing streak since 2006 and need a victory for any hope of winning the division.
Key Matchup: Kansas State KR Brandon Banks vs. Kansas special teams. Banks returned a kickoff for a 98-yard touchdown against Oklahoma last week, his Big 12-record fourth of the season. The Jayhawks are eighth in the Big 12 in kickoff coverage and could be in trouble if Kansas State's 5-foot-6 burner gets a head of steam.
Players to Watch: Kansas -- QB Todd Reesing. The big question in Lawrence all week was how will the senior bounce back from his first benching. Expect Reesing, who normally plays with a chip on his shoulder anyway, to come out firing against the Wildcats. Kansas State -- RB Daniel Thomas. The junior college transfer has punished opponents for Big 12 bests of 902 yards and 181 carries, with 10 TDs.
Baylor (3-5, 0-4) at Missouri (5-3, 1-3)
When: 1 p.m.
Line: Missouri by 14.
Series Record: Missouri leads 10-2.
Last Meeting: 2008, Missouri won 31-28.
What's at Stake: Missouri trying to climb back into contention in Big 12 North after first 0-3 conference start since 2002, coming off easy 36-17 victory at Colorado. Defense forced four turnovers and had eight sacks, three by redshirt freshman DE Aldon Smith. Baylor has scuffled since losing QB Robert Griffin (knee) for season in late September, and has lost four in a row. Bears averaging only 8.5 points in conference play and hasn't scored a TD in first half last three games.
Key Matchup: Missouri QB Blaine Gabbert vs. Baylor defense. Sophomore Gabbert was hobbled by high right ankle sprain in all three losses, two of them at home, but appeared much more nimble last week and was rarely hit by Colorado defense.
Players to Watch: Baylor -- WR Kendall Wright has 20-game reception streak, with at least four catches in six straight games. LB Joe Pawelek will start 42nd straight game and has 388 career tackles, most among active players. Missouri -- LB Sean Weatherspoon is 59 tackles away from school career record of 434 set by James Kinney from 2001-04.
No. 18 Oklahoma St. (6-2, 3-1) at Iowa St. (5-4, 2-3)
When: 2:30 p.m. (KRHD, Ch. 9)
Line: Oklahoma State by 71/2
Series Record: Oklahoma State leads 24-17-3
Last Meeting: Oklahoma State 59-17 (2008).
What's at Stake: Oklahoma State needs to bounce back from a 41-14 loss to No. 2 Texas with a solid effort against a revived Iowa State team. A win over the Cowboys would make the Cyclones bowl-eligible for the first time since 2005 and give first-year coach Paul Rhoads a signature win.
Key Matchup: Oklahoma State's passing game vs. Iowa State's secondary. Cowboys QB Zac Robinson is the Big 12's highest-rated passer and the Cyclones rank 94th nationally in pass defense.
Players to Watch: Oklahoma State -- RB Kendall Hunter. Oklahoma State's star running back has been hobbled all season, but coach Mike Gundy said the Cowboys are hoping to get him some playing time. Hunter rushed for 1,555 yards and 16 TDs last season. Iowa State -- QB Austen Arnaud. After missing two weeks with a bruised throwing hand, Arnaud is back. His return couldn't come soon enough for the Cyclones, who averaged just 9.5 points a game in his absence.
Facts and Figures: Oklahoma State is 16-6 in its last 22 games, and five of those losses came against teams ranked in the top 15. ... Iowa State is averaging over 200 yards rushing a game through nine games for the first time since 1999.
No. 20 Oklahoma (5-3, 3-1) at Nebraska (5-3, 2-2)
When: 7 p.m. (KRHD, Ch. 9)
Line: Oklahoma by 6.
Series Record: Oklahoma leads 44-37-3.
Last meeting: 2008, Oklahoma 62-28.
What's at Stake: Surprisingly little considering the history of this series. With the Big 12 South title almost out of reach, Oklahoma is playing for the best possible bowl, likely the Cotton. Nebraska is in the thick of the North race but the margin for error is closing.
Key Matchup: Oklahoma's defensive front seven vs. Nebraska running game. If the Huskers can't run, they probably can't win. With Roy Helu Jr. banged up, Nebraska has not had a consistent threat in Big 12 play. Look for freshman QB Cody Green to call his own number a lot.
Players to Watch: Oklahoma -- DE Jeremy Beal and DT Gerald McCoy will merit special attention from Nebraska's offensive line. Beal has 8.5 sacks and 13.5 tackles for loss, and McCoy has 12 stops behind the line. The duo could make it a long night for the Huskers. Nebraska -- Freshman QB Cody Green is making his second start, and he'll be doing it in a game that could swing the season. Offensive coordinator Shawn Watson kept things simple for Green last week against Baylor. Now Green faces one of the most athletic defenses in the country.
Facts & Figures: Oklahoma has won four straight in the series. ... OU's Ryan Broyles leads the nation with 10 touchdown catches. ... OU's Landry Jones completed his last 14 passes against Kansas State last week and finished with 294 yards and four TDs. ... Nebraska's offense has three touchdowns in the last three games. ... Huskers DT Jared Crick is coming off a 13-tackle, five-sack outing against Baylor.
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The blame game
