This is it, the last slate of games before the bowl season kicks off. The big games to watch will be the Big XII and SEC Championship games, with Auburn and Oklahoma both looking to get in the Orange Bowl to face USC. OU couldn’t slip by Kansas State last year’s game, but again is a heavy favorite to win. Auburn needs a win and an upset to sneak up to the No. 2 BCS spot. A loss by any of the top four teams will dramatically shake up the national title picture. It should be an interesting weekend. Let’s do it one more time, shall we?
Last Week: 4-2 straight up, 3-3 vs. spread. Season: 53-23 straight up, 28-48 vs. spread.
 
No. 3 Auburn (-13.5) vs. No. 15 Tennessee (Atlanta), 5 p.m., CBS —
The Tigers have dominated nearly every SEC opponent they’ve played, including UT once already this year. This game will be no different. The Volunteers’ defense has been atrocious against Kentucky and Vanderbilt the last two weeks, and it will be no match for Auburn’s balanced attack. UT quarterback Rick Clausen will give up more points to Auburn via the interception than the Tigers will score on offense and this game will be over before halftime.
 
Prediction: Auburn 38, Tennessee 3
 
No. 2 Oklahoma (-21.5) vs. Colorado (Kansas City), 7 p.m., ABC —
The Sooners still remember how they were embarrassed by Kansas State in this game last year. However, the Big XII North Division is about as weak as they come and Colorado should not pose much of a threat. The Buffaloes are happy just to be in the game after all the off-field controversy they went through. With the gap between Auburn for the No. 2 slot in the BCS so close, OU can’t afford a slip up, and quarterback Jason White and the gang won’t let it happen two years in a row.
 
Oklahoma 31, Colorado 9
 
No. 1 USC (-22) at UCLA, 3:30 p.m., ABC —
All USC has to do is come out on top and it’s playing for the national title. It could win this game by a point and still go to the Orange Bowl. A loss, however, would knock them out of the title game and create more of a BCS mess. Quarterback Matt Leinart put up sick numbers against Notre Dame last week, and the Irish are much better than the Bruins. Look for more long passes and big numbers, but the Trojans will rest their top soldiers in the second half.
 
USC 30, UCLA 13
 
No. 4 California (-24) at Southern Miss, 6:45 p.m., ESPN —
The Texas Longhorns will be glued to the TV for this one and pulling for Southern Miss. With UT and Cal so close to the coveted No. 4 spot in the BCS that guarantees an automatic bid, the Bears will need to win convincingly to make sure they retain that spot. A win by less than five points actually could propel Texas to that spot. Hurricane Ivan made sure there was some drama late in the football season, but the Bears are playing even better now than they were in September.
 
Cal 28, Southern Miss 13
 
No. 11 Virginia Tech (+7) at No. 9 Miami, Noon, ABC —
While the ACC won’t have an official “title game” until next year when Boston College comes aboard and the conference splits into two divisions, this game is serving as the title game for 2004. The winner most likely will go to the Orange Bowl and finish in the Top 10, and the loser may end up in the Peach Bowl. Miami is looking to cap off a strong season that was ruined by losses to mediocre teams. No one expected Virginia Tech to be much after the opening loss to USC, but its only other loss was by one point to N.C. State. Both teams have a lot to play for, but the Hokies have been more consistent as of late. Look for quarterback Bryan Randall to give the Hurricanes’ defense fits and lead a shocker down in Miami.
 
Virginia Tech 20, Miami 10