Top 25 Preview Capsules

Line: Florida by 15.

Series Record: Florida leads 22-4-3.

Last meeting: 2008, Florida 56-6.

What's at Stake

For Florida, a place in history as it tries to go undefeated in the Southeastern Conference regular season for the first time since the Gators did it under Steve Spurrier in the 1996 national championship season. This, Spurrier's in the way of his alma mater's try at perfection as South Carolina's coach. The Gamecocks want to end a two-game losing streak and stop the latest late-season slide under Spurrier.

Key Matchup

Florida QB Tim Tebow vs. South Carolina's defense. The Gamecocks had a big hand in bringing Tebow the Heisman Trophy two years ago, allowing him to account for seven touchdowns (5 rushing, 2 throwing) and 424 yards in a 51-31 victory at Williams-Brice Stadium. Tebow had an even easier time of it last season, leaving the 56-6 rout early in the fourth quarter after accounting for his third TD of the game.

Players to Watch

Florida: DE Carlos Dunlap. The junior from North Charleston returns to his home state as one of the SEC's top sack men with six, third in the league and one behind leader Eric Norwood of South Carolina.

South Carolina: WR Alshon Jeffery. The freshman has been a revelation for Spurrier's struggling offense this season. He's caught six touchdowns and been the Gamecocks most reliable receiver the past six games.

Facts & Figures

South Carolina will wear camouflage uniforms with the words "Honor," "Duty," and "Courage" on the back as part of The Wounded Warrior Project's effort to honor those hurt during service to their country ... Florida has won 17 of the past 18 games against South Carolina since 1964. ... The Gamecocks' only victories in the series have come in 1913, 1936, 1939 and, in Spurrier's first South Carolina season, 2005. ... Florida's 19-game winning streak in the longest in school history and the longest in the Southeastern Conference since Auburn won 20 in a row during the 1993-94 seasons.

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No. 2 Texas (9-0) at Baylor (4-5), Saturday, Noon (FSN)

Line: Texas by 24.

Series record: Texas leads 72-22-4.

Last meeting: 2008, Texas, 45-21.

What's At Stake

Texas QB Colt McCoy can tie Georgia's David Greene for most career NCAA victories as a quarterback with 42. The Longhorns also could clinch Big 12 South with a victory and a Texas Tech win over Oklahoma State.

Key Matchup

Texas TB Cody Johnson vs. Baylor LB Joe Pawelek. Johnson is the fourth Longhorn to start at tailback this season and leads the team with nine rushing TDs. Saturday will be the 43rd career start for Pawelek, the heart and soul of the Bears' respectable defense. His 392 career tackles rank No. 1 among active players in the nation.

Players to watch

Texas: WR James Kirkendoll seems to be back in a groove with McCoy. After a hot start, Kirkendoll seemed to disappear from the passing game until catching a touchdown pass last week, his first in seven games.

Baylor: QB Nick Florence passed for a school record 427 yards last week to rally the Bears past Missouri. Florence is playing because Robert Griffin is out for the season with a knee injury.

Facts & Figures

Texas' 12-year streak of nine or more wins is the longest in the nation. Baylor hasn't won nine games since 1986 and has only five nine-win seasons dating to 1899. ... Over the last three games, McCoy is completing 79.8 percent of his passes, ahead of his 76.7 last season that set an NCAA record. ... Baylor last beat Texas in 1997, when Bears fans tore down the goal posts and dumped them in the Brazos River.

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No. 3 Alabama (9-0) at Mississippi State (4-5), 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Line: Alabama by 12.

Series Record: Alabama leads 72-18-3.

Last meeting: 2008, Alabama 32-7.

What's at Stake

Postseason positioning. The Crimson Tide has already clinched a spot in the SEC title game against Florida, but can't relax. And the Bulldogs need two wins in their last three games to make a bowl in Dan Mullen's first season.

Key Matchup

Mississippi State RB Anthony Dixon vs. Alabama MLB Rolando McClain. Two of the biggest, most athletic players at their position will face off over the line of scrimmage. McClain, the driving force of one of the nation's best defenses, must stop Dixon, who rushed for 252 yards last week, for the Tide to roll.

Players to Watch

Alabama: RB Mark Ingram. Mississippi State's defense has been stingy at times, but will face its biggest test of the season against Ingram, a definite Heisman Trophy contender.

Mississippi State: QB Tyson Lee. Lee must decode Alabama's man-on-man coverage if he's going to take the pressure off Dixon and add a much-needed dimension to the Bulldogs' offense.

Facts & Figures

Mississippi State has won two of the last three matchups. ... The Bulldogs lead the nation in interceptions returned for a touchdown (four) and have six non-offensive touchdowns. ... Mississippi State is winless in its last nine games against ranked opponents. ... The Alabama defense is fourth nationally, allowing 242.2 yards per game.

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No. 16 Utah (8-1) at No. 4 TCU (9-0), 7:30 p.m. (CBS College Sports)

Line: TCU by 19 1/2.

Series Record: Utah leads 5-1.

Last Meeting: 2008, Utah 13-10.

What's at Stake

Sole possession of first place in the Mountain West Conference, and oh so much more for TCU. The Horned Frogs have reached No. 4 in the Bowl Championship Series standings, the highest ever for a team from a conference without an automatic bid in the BCS. There is also the revenge factor for TCU, which lost 13-10 at Utah last year to miss out on the conference title. The Frogs have since won 11 consecutive games, third-longest behind Florida (19) and Texas (13).

Key Matchup

TCU defense vs. Utah QB Jordan Wynn and RB Eddie Wide. Jordan is a true freshman who has taken over the starting role and Wide has six consecutive 100-yard rushing games for the Utes, who average 411 total yards a game. DE Jerry Hughes, LB Daryl Washington and Co. have given up only two touchdowns the last four games, and outscored their opponents 178-25 in that span. The Frogs also have a league-high 27 sacks, and are sure to try to harass Wynn.

Players to watch

Utah: Wynn. The 19-year-old true freshman was 18-of-28 passing for 297 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start last week, a week after going 9-of-14 for 82 yards and a TD in the second half against Wyoming in his college debut. Only two other true freshmen have ever started at quarterback for the Utes, and Alex Smith wasn't one of them.

TCU: RB Joseph Turner. The Frogs' leading rusher for the third straight season (560 yards), Turner also has nine touchdowns to push his career total to 27, one short of Jim Swink for fourth on the career list and four short of Tony Jeffery for third. That is still only halfway to LaDainian Tomlinson's school record of 54.

Facts & Figures

TCU has a 12-game home winning streak. The Frogs' last home loss was 27-20 to Utah two years ago. ... TCU is 60-1 when allowing 17 points or less under coach Gary Patterson. The only loss was 13-10 to Utah last season. ... Wide, whose six consecutive 100-yard rushing games is a school record, had 122 of his 145 yards last week against New Mexico in the second half ... Frogs QB Andy Dalton has thrown 10 TDs and no interceptions after halftime. ... Utah is 7-0 in games when the Utes and their opponents are both ranked.

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Idaho (7-3) at No. 6 Boise State (9-0) 3:30 p.m. (ESPNU)

Line: Boise State by 31 1/2.

Series record: Boise State leads 20-17-1.

Last meeting: Boise State 45-10.

What's At Stake

Boise State's BCS bowl hopes. Recent close wins for the Broncos have put them behind TCU in the BCS rankings, and only the higher ranked non-BCS school has a chance to crash the megabucks series. This renewal of a recently lopsided in-state rivalry appears to be one of only two remaining threats to Boise State's perfect regular season. The other comes in two weeks as home against WAC co-leader Nevada. Idaho, already bowl eligible while off to its best start since 1994, would see its profile skyrocket with a huge upset.

Key Matchup

RB DeMaundray Woolridge and Idaho's offensive line vs. Boise State's defensive front. Left guard and Outland Trophy candidate Mark Iupati leads the strength of the Vandals. If those blockers can control the line of scrimmage and open holes for Woolridge against the WAC's best rushing defense, Idaho will limit how much hot Boise State quarterback Kellen Moore will get on the field and silence the raucous sea-of-blue BSU crowd.

Players to watch

Idaho: Whoever plays quarterback. Coach Robb Akey says he won't know until game time whether starter Nathan Enderle, second only to Moore in WAC passing efficiency and 10th nationally, can play. He missed last week's loss to Fresno State with a bruised rotator cuff. The backup is Brian Reader played well replacing Enderle last week.

Boise State: RB Jeremy Avery. The junior ran for 146 yards and the clinching touchdown last week at Louisiana Tech. He romped for a career-high 156 yards with an Broncos-record average of 14 yards per carry and two TDs last year when Boise State romped over Idaho yet again.

Facts & Figures

Boise State has won 10 consecutive games in the series and is averaging 59.4 points per home game against Idaho in five games this decade. The last three times the Broncos have played the Vandals in Boise, they've won 58-14, 70-35 and 65-7. ... Boise State has the nation's best home winning percentage this decade at .968 (60-2). ... Idaho's three losses this season: at Washington, when they outgained the Huskies; at WAC co-leading Nevada, and last week without Enderle. ... Idaho already has as many wins this season as in its three previous years combined. ... Vandals' offense has fewest three-and-outs in the country, just 10 in 10 games.