by Ralph Russo
AP Sports Writer
(AP) The Southeastern Conference will have two tight division races and one rousing reunion Saturday in three must-see games.
At the top of the bill is No. 5 LSU at No. 4 Alabama in a matchup with SEC West and national title implications. No. 9 Georgia can move a step closer to winning the East against No. 15 Auburn, while the Tigers try to stay in the West race. And in Columbia, S.C., Steve Spurrier faces the team he turned into a national champion when No. 12 Florida comes to town.
The unbeaten Crimson Tide moved into third place in the Bowl Championship Series standings this week behind USC and Texas. But Alabama has first place to itself in the SEC West.
LSU can steal control of the West with a win at Tuscaloosa, Ala. Beat the Tide, Mississippi and Arkansas over the next three weeks, and the Tigers will play in the conference title game in Atlanta on Dec. 3.
“It’s obvious that this is why you come to a school like LSU, Alabama, Florida, or Tennessee, to play in really big football games like this,” LSU defensive tackle Kyle Williams said. “There are not many schools in the country that can say they had a matchup where the No. 4 and No. 5 teams in the country played and had their division lead at stake in the game.”
In Athens, Ga., the ninth-ranked Bulldogs welcome back quarterback D.J. Shockley in time to face Auburn.
Georgia lost to Florida two weeks ago without Shockley, who was recovering from a knee injury. The Bulldogs are two wins away from an SEC East title, and their last conference game is at home against Kentucky.
No. 12 Florida will be rooting hard for Auburn. The Gators can still catch the Bulldogs and earn a trip to the Georgia Dome by beating South Carolina on Saturday and having Georgia lose a game.
“I’m obviously wishing them the best of luck on Saturday,” Florida center Mike Degory said of the Auburn Tigers.
The Gators have won 13 in a row against the Gamecocks since South Carolina joined the SEC, but most of those came with Steve Spurrier wearing blue and orange. Now, he’s in garnet and black and already has the Gamecocks bowl eligible.
The picks:
Thursday
Boise State (plus 7) at No. 20 Fresno State
The Broncos have won four straight over Bulldogs … FRESNO STATE 33-28.
Friday
Rutgers (plus 21 1/2) at No. 23 Louisville
Cardinals have scored at least 42 points in six of eight games … LOUISVILLE 54-24.
Saturday No. 1 Southern California (minus 19) at California
USC’s last lost – more than two years ago – came at Cal … USC 40-24.
Kansas (plus 34 1/2) at No. 2 Texas
Jayhawks rank fifth in country in total defense … TEXAS 40-3.
No. 3 Miami (minus 16 1/2) at Wake Forest
‘Canes have held last five opponents under 200 total yards … MIAMI 28-10.
No. 5 LSU (minus 3) at No. 4 Alabama
LSU has won four of five against ‘Bama … LSU 17-16.
Navy (plus 24) at No. 7 Notre Dame
Irish winning streak over Navy at 41 … NOTRE DAME 41-17.
No. 17 Auburn (plus 3) at No. 9 Georgia
Tigers have won two straight over Bulldogs … AUBURN 16-14.
No. 25 Northwestern (plus 15 1/2) at No. 10 Ohio State
Wildcats broke 24-game losing streak to Buckeyes last season … OHIO STATE 44-24.
No. 11 Oregon (minus 4 1/2) at Washington State
Cougars have lost five straight against ranked opponents … OREGON 38-28.
No. 12 Florida (minus 4 1/2) at South Carolina
Spurrier can knock Gators our of contention in SEC … FLORIDA 21-17.
No. 13 Texas Tech (minus 24) at Oklahoma State
Tech has won eight of 10 in series … TEXAS TECH 42-17.
Arizona State (plus 4) at No. 14 UCLA
ASU’s Rudy Carpenter has 782 yards passing in first two starts … UCLA 49-46.
No. 17 Florida State (minus 2) at Clemson
Seminoles lost last trip to Clemson, but are 12-1 against Tigers in ACC … FLORIDA STATE 24-17.
UNLV (plus 29) at No. 18 TCU
Horned Frogs already have MWC title locked up … TCU 50-10.
Iowa (plus 3) at No. 19 Wisconsin
Coach Barry Alvarez’s last home game with Badgers … WISCONSIN 27-21.
Indiana (plus 24) at No. 21 Michigan
Wolverines can still share Big Ten crown … MICHIGAN 40-14.
No. 22 Colorado (minus 2 1/2) at Iowa State
Buffs can earn fourth Big 12 North title in five seasons with win … COLORADO 38-23.
No. 24 Georgia Tech (plus 4 1/2) at Virginia
Cavaliers have won three of last four meetings … VIRGINIA 23-20.
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Last week 14-5 (straight); 8-9-1 (vs. points).
Season 143-40 (straight); 95-74-2 (vs.points).