At least Auburn and West Virginia will be at home when they play their toughest games of the season this weekend.
Both undefeated teams face their toughest tests Saturday. Sixth-ranked Auburn plays No. 11 Alabama in the Southeastern Conference and No. 9 West Virginia meets No. 4 Miami in the Big East.Although Auburn (10-0) and West Virginia (9-0) are playing on home fields, the Tigers are only a 1-point favorite and the Mountaineers are a 51/2-point underdog. That's understandable considering that Alabama is the defending national champion and Miami has won four titles in the last 10 years.
Alabama is going to the SEC championship game on Dec. 4, but Auburn is barred from postseason play because of NCAA probation. So the always intense game will mean even more to the Tigers, who are playing Alabama at home for only the second time since the series started in 1892.
Alabama (8-1-1) has struggled since quarterback Jay Barker hurt his shoulder against Mississippi on Oct. 23. Barker, who is 23-0-1 as a starter, will play against Auburn but the Tide will still struggle . . . AUBURN 21-17.
West Virginia is off to it best start since 1988, when it lost to Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl. But the Mountaineers haven't played anyone like Miami (8-1), which must win to keep alive its slim hopes of another national title . . . MIAMI 28-21.
No. 17 Boston College (plus 141/2) at No. 1 Notre Dame
Irish beat Eagles 54-7 last year . . . NOTRE DAME 44-24.
North Carolina St. (plus 311/2) at No. 2 Florida St.
Seminoles have won 15 straight ACC games . . . FLORIDA ST. 45-10
No. 5 Ohio St. (plus 1) at Michigan
Buckeyes haven't beaten Wolverines since 1987 . . . MICHIGAN 21-17.
No. 7 Tennessee (minus 16) at Kentucky
Vols haven't lost SEC game in November since 1984 . . . TENNESSEE 28-21.
Vanderbilt (plus 23) at No. 8 Florida
Gators clinch trip to SEC title game . . . FLORIDA 42-10.
No. 10 Texas A&M (minus 25) at Texas Christian
Aggies have won 20 straight over TCU . . . TEXAS A&M 44-17.
No. 12 Wisconsin (minus 11/2) at Illinois
Badgers lead Big Ten in total offense . . . WISCONSIN 24-21.
No. 14 Penn St. (minus 171/2) at Northwestern
First meeting between the schools . . . PENN ST. 38-14.
No. 16 UCLA (no line) at No. 22 Southern Cal
Winner goes to Rose Bowl . . . SOUTHERN CAL 24-21.
No. 18 Colorado (minus 16) at Iowa St.
Buffaloes have won nine straight over Cyclones . . . COLORADO 34-17.
No. 20 Kansas St. (minus 61/2) at Oklahoma St.
Wildcats heading for second bowl in school history . . . KANSAS ST. 27-14.
Purdue (plus 13) at No. 21 Indiana
Hoosiers win Old Oaken Bucket . . . INDIANA 24-10.
No. 25 Virginia Tech (plus 51/2) at No. 23 Virginia
Cavs have won five of last six against Hokies . . . VIRGINIA 45-38.
No. 24 Clemson (minus 1) at South Carolina
Gamecocks haven't beaten Tigers in Columbia since 1987 . . . CLEMSON 17-14.
Last week: 13-7 (straight); 9-8 (spread).
Season: 157-39 (straight); 89-81 (spread).