Oregon’s national title hopes rest on rivalry game

GAMES TO WATCH

No. 1 Oregon (11-0) at Oregon State (5-6)

Saturday, 12:30 p.m., Channel 7

Oregon football for years had lived in the shadow of USC, but now the Ducks’ moment has arrived. Oregon can earn a bid to the Bowl Championship Series title game with a win in a rivalry game called the Civil War. The last two years, Oregon has knocked Oregon State out of a Rose Bowl bid with a victory in this game. The pick: Oregon.

No. 2 Auburn (12-0) vs. No. 18 South Carolina (9-3)

Saturday, 1 p.m. PST, Channel 2

Will the magic continue? Auburn has come from behind all season to put itself in position to play for this season’s national title. Last week’s 28-27 comeback win against Alabama became an instant classic, but it won’t mean as much if Auburn stumbles in this game in Atlanta for the Southeastern Conference title. Auburn rallied (surprise) to defeat South Carolina, 35-27, on Sept. 25. Coach Steve Spurrier seeks his seventh SEC title and the first with South Carolina. The pick: Auburn.

No. 10 Oklahoma (10-2) vs. No. 13 Nebraska (10-2)

Saturday, 5 p.m. PST, Channel 7

These two meet for the 86th time — but the last time as Big 12 Conference members. Nebraska, heading to the Big Ten Conference next year, will try to get out of Arlington, Texas, with the automatic bid to this season’s Fiesta Bowl. Oklahoma is seeking a record eighth Big 12 title and Nebraska is trying to win it for the first time since 1999. The pick: Oklahoma.

—Chris Dufresne