TEXAS A M (8-3) at No. 11 TEXAS (9-2) Texas A M update: The Aggies are coming off consecutive one-point losses to Oklahoma and Nebraska that dropped them from the Big 12 Conference title race. Texas A M averages 207.
5 yards rushing, with Javorskie Lane and Mike Goodson combining for 1,329 yards and quarterback Stephen McGee adding 540 yards, giving the Aggies the No. 8 rushing offense in the nation. Texas A M is 3-0 on the road this season but is 0-5 in November over the last two seasons.
Texas update: A pinched nerve knocked quarterback Colt McCoy out of the Longhorns' Nov. 11 loss to Kansas State. But after sitting out of practice during the Longhorns' week off, he will start.
McCoy has passed for 2,102 yards with 27 touchdowns and only four interceptions. Texas is fourth in the nation in scoring at 39.5 points a game and has the nation's top rushing defense, giving up only 42 yards a game.
Story line: The loss to Kansas State kept Texas from clinching the Big 12 South Division. Now, if Texas loses again and Oklahoma defeats Oklahoma State, the Sooners will advance to the conference title game. If Texas wins or if both teams lose, the Longhorns will go.
The pick: Texas. The Longhorns have won the last six in this series and Texas A M hasn't won in Austin since 1994. No.
9 LOUISIANA STATE (9-2) at No. 5 ARKANSAS (10-1) Louisiana State update: The Tigers have won five in a row after a 23-10 loss to Florida on Oct. 7, rekindling hopes of qualifying for a Bowl Championship Series game.
However, they are also coming off their worst performance of the season, needing overtime to beat last-place Mississippi last week. They are No. 1 in the nation in total defense, giving up 227.
7 yards a game, and are No. 3 in scoring defense at 11.3 points.
The Tigers have given up only three 100-yard rushing games and four rushing touchdowns. Arkansas update: The Razorbacks clinched the Southeastern Conference Western Division last week and have their sights set on the BCS title game. Darren McFadden will have to carry them there.
He has 1,303 yards and 12 touchdowns rushing, including 613 yards and five touchdowns the last four games. Arkansas has given up an average of only 12 points since its 50-14 opening-week loss to USC. Story line: With an impressive win against LSU and a victory over Florida in the conference championship game, the Razorbacks have an outside shot of gathering enough poll support to earn a matchup with Ohio State in the national title game.
The pick: Louisiana State. The Tigers have the defense to shut down McFadden and also have playmaking quarterback JaMarcus Russell. No.
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