Penn State (6-3) @ No. 17 Wisconsin (8-1)
Where -- Madison, Wis.
When -- Noon
TV -- Ch. 2
Line -- Wisconsin by 7
Outlook -- The winner would seem to have the inside track to a nice trip to Orlando for the Capital One Bowl. With a first-year coach, the Badgers have been a surprise team with their 8-1 record, but the excitement fades when a team's best win is a rout over Indiana. Wisconsin represents Penn State's last chance for a solid win.The Nittany Lions' victories feature five Division I-A victims with a combined record of 18-29.
No. 13 LSU (6-2) @ No. 8 Tennessee (7-1)
Where -- Knoxville, Tenn.
When -- 3:30 p.m.
TV -- Ch. 13
Line -- LSU by 2 1/2
Outlook -- Relative to the lofty rankings, there are few direct ramifications in this game. To win the SEC West, LSU needs two losses from the two teams ahead of it - No. 12 Arkansas and No. 6 Auburn. Similarly, the Volunteers are in a win-and-wait situation, all because of a one-point loss to No. 7 Florida on Sept. 16. To add insult to injury, Tennessee is behind fellow one-loss team No. 10 California in the BCS standings, a team the Vols beat, 35-18, in the season opener.
No. 16 Boston College (7-1) @ No. 22 Wake Forest (7-1)
Where -- Winston-Salem, N.C.
When -- 7 p.m.
TV -- ESPN2
Line -- Boston College by 6
Outlook -- The Demon Deacons - expected to founder after a 5-0 start against marshmallow-soft opponents -still harbor ambitions of ACC supremacy. Separated from an undefeated record by one awful half of football against Clemson, Wake joins Boston College and Maryland atop the Atlantic Division with a 3-1 league record but BC has an edge on the Deacons in special teams and turnover margin.
No. 18 Oklahoma (6-2) @ No. 21 Texas A&M; (8-1)
Where -- College Station, Texas
When -- 8 p.m.
TV -- Ch. 2
Line -- Oklahoma by 3
Outlook -- This hasn't been a dream season for the Sooners. Their starting quarterback was dismissed from school, questionable calls aided their loss to Oregon, Texas still owns them, and their perpetual Heisman candidate is sidelined with a broken collarbone. The program at Brian Bosworth U. might need a hug if not for its penchant for sharing its misery with pretenders eager to get to the top of the Big 12. Last week, Oklahoma went on the road to easily work over would-be contender Missouri, and hopes to do the same to the Aggies, who face Nebraska and No. 4 Texas in the coming weeks.
Christian Ewell
William & Mary (2-6) @ Towson (6-2)
Site -- Johnny Unitas Stadium
Time -- 1 p.m.
Radio -- 89.7 FM
Last year's result -- William and Mary won, 44-13
Series record -- William and Mary leads 3-0
Outlook -- Towson continues its quest for a Division I-AA playoff bid. The Tribe has fallen on hard times since its last win in the series, losing nine straight Atlantic 10 games, including five this fall. It has the second poorest overall defense in the league and is last in the league in pass defense efficiency - not a good sign when facing Tigers QB Sean Schaefer, who has thrown for an average of 316.1 yards per game.
Morgan State (4-5) @ Norfolk State (3-5)
Site -- Dick Price Stadium, Norfolk, Va.
Time -- 1 p.m.
Radio -- 88.9 FM
Last year's result -- Norfolk State won, 24-21
Series record -- Tied 10-10
Outlook -- The Bears must win their final two games to salvage a winning season after losing two in a row, including a controversial one-point defeat at Florida A&M; last week. Two of Norfolk's losses have been by three or fewer points, but Morgan is No. 2 in the MEAC against the run (113.7 yards per game) and No. 4 against scoring (20.1 ppg).
Virginia State (2-7) @ Bowie State (4-5)
Site -- Bulldog Stadium
Time -- 1 p.m.
Last year's result -- Bowie State won, 27-17
Series record -- Virginia State leads 13-6
Outlook -- A victory in the season finale would equal coach Michael Lynn's .500 record from his first season at Bowie. The Bulldogs will depend heavily on the CIAA's leading rusher, Nathaniel Queen, who set a school record with 213 yards last week.
Hampden-Sydney (3-5) @ Johns Hopkins (3-5)
Site -- Homewood Field
Time -- 1 p.m.
Last year's result -- Hampden-Sydney won 49-20
Series record -- Hampden-Sydney leads, 13-5-1
Outlook -- This has been a tough season for the Blue Jays, who must capture their last two to finish with a .500 record.
Muhlenberg (4-4) @ McDaniel (3-5)
Site -- Scott Bair Stadium, Westminster
Time -- 1 p.m.
Radio -- 1470 AM
Last year's result -- McDaniel won, 13-6
Series record -- McDaniel leads 20-13-3
Outlook -- Muhlenberg hasn't won in Westminster since 1988, but is coming off a 54-14 thrashing of Gettysburg. McDaniel's Drew Abbamonte is tied for the Centennial Conference lead with 93 tackles.
Salisbury (3-5) at Widener (6-2)
Site -- Leslie C. Quick, Jr. Stadium, Chester, Pa.
Time -- 1 p.m.
Radio -- 1320 AM
Last year's result -- Widener won, 31-28
Series record -- Widener leads 2-1
Outlook -- The Sea Gulls need to finish with two wins for a .500 season, but run into red-hot Widener, which has won six straight. This is the return game from last year's Widener victory, achieved on a last-second field goal.
Frostburg State (2-5) @ Waynesburg, (Pa.) (4-4)
Site -- John F. Wiley Stadium, Waynesburg, Pa.
Time -- 1:30 p.m.
Last year's result -- Frostburg won, 17-10 in overtime
Series record -- Waynesburg leads 25-12-1
Outlook -- Frostburg has won its only previous road game and its defense continues to improve, but must compensate for an attack that is averaging only 7.4 points a game. Waynesburg had a four-game winning streak before last's weeks 30-3 loss to Washington & Jefferson.
Kent Baker