THURSDAY
No. 3 Texas at Texas A&M
8 p.m. ET, ABC

The Aggies have played well in College Station, where five of their six victories have been staged. Texas A&M's only loss at Kyle Field was a 36-31 struggle with Oklahoma State.

The fact that the Aggies beat the Longhorns, 38-30, the last time they came to town in 2007 gives Texas A&M some needed confidence, but the memory of that game also provides Texas with some additional focus, which will come in handy as it's hard not to be distracted by next week's Big 12 Championship Game against Nebraska and all the buzz regarding an assumed trip to the BCS title game.

As is the case with most mismatches, coming up with turnovers can be a huge equalizer for the underdog, but Texas A&M doesn't fit that profile.

No one in the country has lost more fumbles (15) than the Aggies, who rank eighth in the Big 12 in turnover margin. Led by ultra-experienced QB Colt McCoy, who has thrown only one interception in the past four games, the Longhorns lead the conference in turnover margin.

Opening point spread: Texas by 22 1/2

Pick: Texas 34-17

FRIDAY
Illinois at No. 5 Cincinnati
Noon ET, ABC

Both Juice Williams (ankle) and Tony Pike (arm) will be back in the starting lineup after being sidelined with injuries, but the Bearcats quarterback is the only one with the luxury of going against one of the Big Ten's worst defenses.

Pike should have his way with an Illinois defensive unit that's ranked 90th in the nation versus the pass.

And with the emergence of sophomore RB Isaiah Pead, who rushed for 175 yards in a 24-21 victory over West Virginia in Cincinnati's last game Nov. 13, there is absolutely no way Illinois, which averages only 20.2 points per game, can keep pace with the undefeated Bearcats.

Opening point spread: Cincinnati by 17 1/2

Pick: Cincinnati 41-16

No. 2 Alabama at Auburn
2:30 p.m. ET, CBS