By RALPH D. RUSSO
AP Sports Writer
(AP) Because there will be no BCS buster rising out of the mid-major conferences this season the way Utah did in 2004, the power leagues have a chance to fill the two at-large bids to the four big-money bowls.
The champions from the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-10 and Southeastern Conference receive automatic bids to the Bowl Championship Series. The Rose Bowl will host the top two teams in the final BCS standings in the national title game on Jan. 4.
The Sugar, Fiesta and Orange bowls get to fill the other spots with the remaining conference champions and two other teams that won at least nine games and finished in the top 12 of the BCS standings.
No. 16 Texas Tech (7-1) was 15th in the latest BCS standings, but the Red Raiders are still the Big 12’s best bet to land a second BCS bid, assuming Texas doesn’t trip up on its way to a conference title. Tech hosts Texas A&M on Saturday and needs to win out to have a shot at its first BCS bid.
The SEC has sent both the winner and loser of its championship game to the BCS in the past, and could be in a position to do it again with Alabama, LSU and Georgia all in the BCS top 12.
The unbeaten Crimson Tide, which still has designs on a national championship, travels to Mississippi State on Saturday.
The ACC’s best bet to put two teams in the BCS would be a title game between an unbeaten Virginia Tech and a one-loss Florida State in Jacksonville, Fla., on Dec. 3.
The Hokies look to make a case for a spot in the Rose Bowl on Saturday in Blacksburg against fifth-ranked Miami.
With both Southern California and UCLA unbeaten in the Pac-10, if they can stay that way, the loser of the crosstown rivalry game Dec. 3 would have a great shot at landing a BCS bid.
It will be tough for the Big Ten to get two teams in the BCS this season because only the winner of Saturday’s Wisconsin-Penn State game can finish the season with fewer than two losses.
The Big East is in the same situation.
And of course, Notre Dame is still in the mix.
The Fighting Irish (5-2), who host struggling Tennessee, need to win out and move up at least two more spots in the BCS standings to be eligible for selection.
The picks:
Thursday
Pittsburgh (plus 20) at No. 24 Louisville
Cards’ Brian Brohm leads nation in passing efficiency … LOUISVILLE 44-20.
Saturday
Stanford (plus 33) at No. 1 Southern California
Stanford is last team to beat USC at home … USC 48-14.
No. 2 Texas (minus 28 1/2) at Baylor
Longhorns have won seven straight against Bears and 12 straight road games … TEXAS 47-13.
No. 5 Miami (plus 6 1/2) at No. 3 Virginia Tech
Hokies need convincing win … VIRGINIA TECH 22-13.
No. 4 Alabama (minus 17) at Mississippi State
Tide has won four straight vs. Bulldogs … ALABAMA 28-13.
Appalachian State (no line) at No. 6 LSU
Another blowout on tap for Tiger Stadium … LSU 55-10.
No. 7 UCLA (minus 9) at Arizona
Bruins have won last four trips to Tucson … UCLA 38-24.
Tennessee (plus 9) at No. 8 Notre Dame
It’s Phillip Fulmer’s offense now … NOTRE DAME 28-21.
North Carolina State (plus 13 1/2) at No. 9 Florida State
Teams have split last four meetings … FLORIDA STATE 30-20.
No. 14 Wisconsin (plus 10 1/2) at No. 10 Penn State
Badgers have won two straight in Happy Valley … PENN STATE 34-21.
Illinois (plus 34) at No. 12 Ohio State
Buckeyes keep the big plays coming against hapless Illini … OHIO STATE 50-13.
Vanderbilt (plus 19) at No. 13 Florida
Grind-it-out Gators still have SEC title hopes … FLORIDA 30-10.
No. 23 California (plus 1 1/2) at No. 15 Oregon
Cal snapped seven-game losing streak to Ducks last season … OREGON 36-30.
Texas A&M (plus 16) at No. 16 Texas Tech
Banged-up Aggies trying to turnaround disappointing season … TEXAS TECH 44-24.
No. 17 Auburn (minus 22 1/2) at Kentucky
Tigers have won 14 straight against Wildcats … AUBURN 38-14.
No. 19 Boston College (minus 4 1/2) at North Carolina
Eagles beat Heels in Continental Tire Bowl last year … BOSTON COLLEGE 24-14.
Colorado State (plus 7) at No. 20 TCU
Horned Frogs can clinch Mountain West … COLORADO STATE 32-28.
San Jose State (plus 34) at No. 21 Fresno State
Bulldogs tune up for WAC showdown against Boise State … FRESNO STATE 55-17.
Missouri (plus 11 1/2) at No. 25 Colorado
Buffs could end North Division race … COLORADO 34-24.
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Last week 15-3 (straight); 8-10 (vs. points).
Season 129-35 (straight); 87-66-4 (vs. points).