1) No. 6 Texas A&M at No. 1 Alabama
Writing about Alabama (7-0, 4-0 SEC) is a lot like writing a Superman movie. Superman is the most well-known superhero, but it can be difficult to craft a compelling story about him because he’s invincible. Same deal with Alabama. Freshman QB Jalen Hurts has propelled himself into the Heisman discussion as the leader of an offense scoring 45 points a game. But he might not be the top pro prospect; that honor belongs to one of many on the defense that’s allowing only 15 points per game. Texas A&M (6-0, 4-0) is the best team the Tide has played, one with an offense that can score in bunches and a defense allowing just 19.2 points a game. But keep this in mind: Bama has played four games vs. ranked teams and has outscored them 198-89. 3:30 p.m., WTKR
2) Memphis at No. 24 Navy
After losing star QB Keenan Reynolds to graduation, and then his replacement to injury, Navy (4-1 overall, 3-0 AAC) still is position to have a magical season. But first things first: Memphis (5-1, 2-0) is a 2 1/2-point favorite, with its only loss coming to Mississippi. The winner will be in first in the AAC’s West Division and will have a chance at a top bowl. 3:30 p.m., CBS Sports Network and 102.1 FM
3) Eastern Michigan at No. 20 Western Michigan
Like the previous game and the TCU-West Virginia game below, this is an intriguing matchup involving an unranked team. Like many MAC games, this will be an entertaining shootout. Both teams score a lot (44.3 ppg for Western Michigan) and play a lot of matador defense. A win by EMU (5-2, 2-1 MAC) would throw open the MAC West Division race. 3:30 p.m., WTVZ
4) No. 23 Mississippi at No. 25 LSU
Around this time every season, there are a series of matchups of SEC teams that are ranked in the low 20s of the AP poll – and there’s another one of them today with Arkansas-Auburn. Neither team is going to win the conference, or even finish second in a division. But it will be entertaining matchup of a team that scores at will but can’t stop anyone (Mississippi) and one with an excellent defense and a high-school offense (LSU). 9 p.m., ESPN
5) TCU at NO. 12 West Virginia
With very little fanfare, West Virginia (5-0 overall, 2-0 Big 12) has an excellent season in the works and has a chance to get in the conversation for the playoff. The Mountaineers’ schedule starts to get harder Saturday, though, with a visit from TCU (4-2, 2-1), a team that turns the ball over too much but still manages to score 40 a game. West Virginia is playing the best defense in a defensively-challenged conference, as evidenced by the excellent job it did against Texas Tech’s scoring machine last week. The Mountaineers rushed for more than 300 yards in that win. 3:30 p.m., WVEC
Also on the air
N.C. State at No. 7 Louisville, noon, WVEC
Texas at Kansas State, noon, ESPN2
No. 10 Wisconsin at Iowa, noon, ESPN
Indiana at Northwestern, noon, BTN
North Texas at Army, noon, CBSSN
UCF at UConn, noon, ESPNEWS
Rutgers at Minnesota, noon, ESPNU
Oklahoma State at Kansas, noon, FS1
UMass at South Carolina, noon, SEC
Kennesaw State at Gardner-Webb, noon, MASN
Lehigh at Holy Cross, noon, WTVZ
Syracuse at Boston College, 12:30 p.m., WGNT
Bethune-Cookman at Norfolk State, 2 p.m., 1310 AM, 91.1FM; 10:30 p.m., ESPNU (tape delay)
VMI at Chattanooga, 2 p.m., 1650AM
No. 22 North Carolina at Virginia, 3 p.m., CSN, 850AM
Purdue at No. 8 Nebraska, 3:30 p.m., ESPN2
TCU at West Virginia, 3:30 p.m., WVEC
Illinois at No. 3 Michigan, 3:30 p.m., BTN
Texas A&M at Alabama, 3:30 p.m., WTKR
Memphis at Navy, 3:30 p.m., CBSSN, 102.1 FM
Monmouth at Liberty, 3:30 p.m., MASN
Tulane at Tulsa, 3:45 p.m., ESPNU
No. 19 Utah at UCLA, 4 p.m., WVBT
Middle Tennessee at Missouri, 4 p.m., SEC
No. 17 Arkansas at No. 21 Auburn, 6 p.m., ESPN
ODU at Western Kentucky, 7 p.m., WTVZ, 94.1FM
East Carolina at Cincinnati, 7 p.m., CBSSN
No. 11 Houston at SMU, 7 p.m., ESPN2
Western Carolina at Samford, 7 p.m., MASN
Michigan State at Maryland, 7:30 p.m., BTN
Tennessee State at Vanderbilt, 7:30 p.m., ESPNU
Mississippi State at Kentucky, 7:30 p.m., SEC
No. 2 Ohio St. at Penn State, 8 p.m., WVEC, 1310 AM
No. 16 Oklahoma at Texas Tech, 8 p.m., WVBT
Fresno State at Utah State, 10:30 p.m., CBSSN
Wyoming at Nevada, 10:30 p.m., ESPN2
Also in the top 25
No. 5 Washington vs. Oregon State, 6:30 p.m.
– Compiled by Brian Root, The Pilot
?Brian Root, 757-446-2368, brian.root@pilotonline.com
