By Steve Yanda
Saturday, November 29, 2008

Virginia at Virginia Tech, noon, ESPN; No. 19 Oregon at No. 17 Oregon State, 7 p.m., Versus; No. 3 Oklahoma at No. 11 Oklahoma State, 8 p.m., WJLA (Channel 7), WMAR (Channel 2).

Oklahoma State has gotten somewhat lost in the Big 12 South shuffle, but don't forget that the Cowboys have been a major pain in the figurative sides of many of their better-known conference opponents this season. They upset Missouri on the road to begin the Tigers' tumble from national title contention. They hung tough with Texas two weeks later. Sure, they got clobbered by Texas Tech, but at that point, the Red Raiders were on a roll. And now, Oklahoma State has an opportunity to alter the conference and national title pictures once again when it hosts Oklahoma. Wideout Dez Bryant -- third in the nation with 1,222 receiving yards -- must have a big night for the Cowboys to prevail.

Oregon State just hopes to have its best players on the field when it hosts Oregon and tries to qualify for its first Rose Bowl berth since 1965. The Beavers played without starting quarterback Lyle Moevao (shoulder) and lost tailback Jacquizz Rodgers, the Pacific-10's leading rusher, to a shoulder injury during last week's win at Arizona. Both are expected to be ready to play today.

Much will be on the line when Virginia and Virginia Tech square off in the Commonwealth Cup. With a win, the Hokies would win the ACC Coastal Division and advance to the conference title game. The Cavaliers, on the other hand, would become bowl eligible with a victory.