RATING THE TV GAMES

**** Whoa, Nellie

*** Order some pizza

** Channel-surf ... or get out of the house

* A fine time for chores

**** No. 12 Michigan (9-2) at No. 2 Ohio State (12-0), 9 a.m., Channel 7; KLAC (570): Biggest game of the year so far: Win, and Ohio State is in the national championship game. Lose, and the free-for-all begins. LINE: Ohio State by 4.

** Minnesota (7-4) at Wisconsin (6-6), 9 a.m., ESPN: Paul Bunyan’s Ax goes to the winner -- and if it’s Wisconsin, Badgers qualify for a bowl. LINE: Wisconsin by 7.

* San Diego State (3-8) at Air Force (8-3), 9 a.m., ESPN2: Glamour of the Notre Dame showdown seems a long time ago, but Air Force still is headed for a bowl. LINE: Air Force by 16 1/2.

* Toledo (7-3) at Northern Illinois (8-3), 9 a.m., Fox Sports Net 2: Yes, Northern Illinois can clinch a trip to the MAC title game. Keep that TV tuned to Ohio State. LINE: Northern Illinois by 1.

** Rutgers (1-10) at No. 8 Notre Dame (9-1), 10 a.m., Channel 4; KSPN (1110): Can Rutgers -- which led Miami in the fourth quarter -- make the Irish sweat as much as Navy did? LINE: Notre Dame by 28.

** Montana State (6-5) at Montana (10-1), Fox Sports Net, 11 a.m.: The charm of a Division I-AA rivalry: Absolutely no BCS here. Playoffs begin next week. LINE: Not available.

** Auburn (7-4) at No. 9 Alabama (9-2), 12:30 p.m., Channel 2: Bama, barred by NCAA probation from playing in SEC title game or a bowl, can knock hated Auburn out of contention in SEC West. LINE: Alabama by 10 1/2.

**** No. 7 USC (8-2) at No. 25 UCLA (7-3), 12:30 p.m., Channel 7, KXTA (1150), KMPC (1540), XPRS (1090, Spanish), KPLS (830): A whole lot more than a Victory Bell is at stake -- especially for a Trojan team with its highest ranking since 1988. LINE: USC by 5 1/2.

* Indiana (3-8) at Purdue (5-6), 12:30 p.m., ESPN: Old Oaken Bucket more like an old broken bucket: Both teams come in with losing records. LINE: Purdue by 22.

** No. 18 Maryland (9-2) at Virginia (7-4), 2:30 p.m., ESPN2: Terrapins’ fate rests largely on Florida State, which can clinch ACC title with a victory over North Carolina State. LINE: Maryland by 9 1/2.

**** Washington (6-5) at No. 3 Washington State (9-1), 3:30 p.m., Fox Sports Net: This is the Rose Bowl clincher for Washington State, which might go on to greater things if Ohio State or Miami loses. LINE: Washington State by 8 1/2.

*** No. 24 Texas Tech (8-4) at No. 4 Oklahoma (9-1), 4 p.m., TBS: Plenty at stake: Winner goes to the Big 12 title game against Colorado, and winner there earns a BCS bid. LINE: Oklahoma by 13.

** South Carolina (5-6) at Clemson (6-5), 4:45 p.m., ESPN: Lou Holtz has to beat Gamecocks’ hated rival just to have a chance to play in a bowl game. LINE: Clemson by 4.

** Mississippi (5-5) at No. 21 Louisiana State (7-3), 6 p.m., ESPN2: Despite last Saturday’s 31-0 loss to Alabama, LSU can win the SEC West with two more victories. LINE: LSU by 9 1/2.

** Cincinnati (5-5) at Hawaii (8-2), 8 p.m., Fox Sports Net 2: Game awarded an extra star after Hawaii breaks into the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll at No. 25. LINE: Hawaii by 3 1/2.

-- Robyn Norwood