John Tamanaha

Kansas St. at Nebraska
7:45 p.m. ET, ESPN

The winner earns the Big 12 North crown and a shot at Texas in the conference title game. Amazingly, it’s all or nothing for Kansas State, as a loss would leave the Wildcats one victory shy of bowl eligibility. (In the future, they might want to think twice about scheduling two FCS teams.)

In last week’s 31-17 victory at Kansas, Nebraska TB Roy Helu Jr. rushed for 156 yards and three scores as the Huskers put together their most complete offensive performance since early in the season.

The Wildcats don’t have the luxury of that kind of momentum, having lost last Saturday at home to Missouri, 38-12.

Kansas State junior RB Daniel Thomas is the Big 12’s leading rusher, but he struggled for 79 yards on 23 carries against the Tigers and figures to have more difficulty against a Nebraska defense that ranks third nationally in points allowed and 11th against the run.

Opening point spread: Nebraska by 14.5

Pick: Nebraska 27-10

Kansas at No. 3 Texas
8 p.m. ET, ABC

The Jayhawks, who opened the season with five consecutive victories, are currently on an ugly five-game slide and mired in turmoil.

The Longhorns are the Longhorns.

Any questions?

Opening point spread: Texas by 26.5

Pick: Texas 41-10

No. 11 Oregon at Arizona
8 p.m. ET, ABC

The Wildcats are the only Pac-10 team to never make it to the Rose Bowl and the Ducks are dead set on making sure it stays that way.

Despite its 24-16 loss at California last Saturday, Arizona controls its own destiny in the wild race to replace USC as Pac-10 champion.

Oregon also holds the key to its own BCS aspirations, but its path to Pasadena is slightly smoother than Arizona’s, having to win only two more league games, one less than the Wildcats.

Unless Arizona’s proud defense fixes what went wrong last week in Berkeley, Oregon RB LaMichael James - and maybe LeGarrette Blount - will chew up yards and make it that much easier for QB Jeremiah Masoli to break off big plays with either his legs or arm.

Playing this game in Tucson, where then-No. 2 Oregon lost, 34-24, in its last visit in 2007, means that the Ducks won’t take full flight. But the Wildcats aren’t likely to be able to seal the deal in crunch time with inexperienced QB Nick Foles at the controls and RB Nic Grigsby still banged up.

Opening point spread: Oregon by 5

Pick: Oregon 31-28

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