Big Ten in spotlight: Buckeyes vs. Spartans

A couple of Pac-12 teams that have already combined for six losses can still have an impact on the College Football Playoff race.

No. 22 Southern California (7-3) is at No. 23 Oregon (7-3) Saturday and both teams can still win their respective Pac12 divisions. The conference already has dim playoff hopes after Stanford and Utah each lost league games for the second time last week. If the Trojans and Ducks were to find their way to Santa Clara, Calif., for the Pac-12 title game those chances go from slim to none.

But the beauty of the playoff is the trickle-down effect. No. 5 Notre Dame (9-1) beat USC in October. The Irish could use the Trojans to finish strongly and bolster their playoff case. No. 9 Michigan State (9-1) knocked off Oregon back in September and a continued resurgence by the Ducks would make the win look even better for the Spartans.

Of course, the Spartans and Irish have their own business to take care of over the next few weeks.

Michigan State plays its biggest game of the season at No. 2 Ohio State on Saturday. Notre Dame goes to Fenway Park to play Boston College.

Some Pac-12 scoreboard watching might be in order, too. The picks: Trying to stay unbeaten * Wake Forest (plus 39) at No. 1 Clemson: A victory for Clemson would give the Tigers 700 in program history … Clemson 38-7.

* Purdue (plus 21) at No. 6 Iowa: Hawkeyes CB Desmond King is tied for the national lead with eight interceptions … Iowa 38-14. Playoff implications * No. 9 Michigan State (plus 13 1/2) at No. 2 Ohio State: Buckeyes TB Ezekiel Elliott has a chance to jump into the heart of the Heisman Trophy race … Ohio State 34-24.

* No. 5 Notre Dame (minus 16 1/2) at Boston College: BC is last in the nation in total offense and first in total defense … Notre Dame 28-10. Big 12 eliminator * No. 10 Baylor (pick’em) at No. 4 Oklahoma State: Cowboys have trailed at half four times this season and had four games decide by seven or less … Baylor 42-38.

* No. 11 TCU (off) at No. 7 Oklahoma: Status of Horned Frogs stars Trevone Boykin (ankle) and Josh Doctson (wrist) is uncertain … Oklahoma 45-24. Saying good-bye * No. 12 North Carolina (mi-

nus 6 1/2) at Virginia Tech: Tar Heels have scored 125 points in the last two games; Hokies need one win in last two games to get bowl eligible for retiring coach Frank Beamer … North Carolina 31-26. Conference calls * No. 13 Houston (off) at UConn: Status of Cougars QB Greg Ward Jr. (ankle) is uncertain; won’t matter …Houston 38-17.

* No. 14 Michigan (minus 3 1/2) at Penn State: Nittany Lions have yet to beat a ranked team under coach James Franklin … Upset special, Penn State 24-20.

* California (plus 10 1/2) at No. 15 Stanford: Cardinal have won five straight in the Big Game by an average of 40-15 … Best bet, Stanford 38-24.

* No. 17 LSU (plus 4) at No. 25 Mississippi: Tigers have not lost three straight since 1998 … LSU 28-24.

* UCLA (plus 2) at No. 18 Utah: Last three meetings have been decided by 16 points, with Bruins winning two … UCLA 28-23.

* No. 19 Navy (minus 11 1/2) at Tulsa: Midshipmen have scored 100 points in last two games … Navy 38-28.

* No. 20 Northwestern (plus 11) at No. 21 Wisconsin: Playing for second in the Big Ten West … Wisconsin 24-16.

* No. 22 Southern California (plus 4) at No. 23 Oregon: Top offenses in the Pac-12 in yards per play … Oregon 41-35.

* Colorado (plus 14 1/2) at No. 24 Washington State: Cougars can reach eight wins for first time since 2003, when they won 10 … Washington State 40-21. Twitter requests * Mississippi State (plus 3 1/2) at Arkansas — lakehog— stephen: Razorbacks finishing strongly again. Now about those starts? … Arkansas 2821.

* Arizona (off) at Arizona State — OxChargerSports: Wildcats QB Anu Solomon might sit out Territorial Cup because of a concussion … Arizona State 34-24.

* Duke (plus 2 ½) at Virginia — MBeutell25: Blue Devils’ defense has fallen apart the last four games … Duke 28-24.

Last week’s record: 16-9 straight; 12-13 vs. spread.

Overall: 174-60; 115-112-3. Upset specials: 4-8. Best bets: 3-7.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/Michael Woods A-PLUS: Arkansas guard Jimmy Whitt, right, drives against Akron’s Reggie McAdams in Wednesday night’s game at Walton Arena in Fayetteville. Akron led 37-29 at halftime and by double digits in the second half before holding on for an 88-80 victory, dropping Arkansas to 1-1. Kwan Cheatham Jr. made a three-pointer after Arkansas pulled within 75-71 and sank another basket down the stretch. Arkansas pulled to 83-78 on Manuale Watkins’ eight-foot jumper with 36.7 seconds. Five Akron Zips scored in double figures, Antino Jackson leading with 23 points and Reggie McAdams adding 18. Isaiah Johnson scored 15 , Cheatham finishing with 12 and Jake Kretzer scoring 11 for the Mid-Atlantic Conference visitors (3-0). Arkansas got 23 points from Anthon Bell, 17 by Moses Kingsley, 16 by Dusty Hannahs and 10 by Watkins but shot only 38.1 percent from the field, six of 20 from three-point range. Akron shot 50.9 percent, Jackson going 8 for 18 and McAdams 5 of 10 and Johnson 6 of 9.