THREE GAMES TO WATCH

No. 16 WAKE FOREST (10-2) vs. No. 23 GEORGIA TECH (9-3)

at Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla.

Kickoff: Saturday, 10 a.m. PST.

TV: Channel 7.

Line: Georgia Tech by 2 1/2 .

Wake Forest update: The Demon Deacons advanced to the Atlantic Coast Conference title game after being picked to finish last in their division in a preseason poll and then losing starting quarterback Ben Mauk to a shoulder injury and starting running back Micah Andrews to a knee injury. They made it on the strength of a defense that gives up an average of only 15.4 points and with a ball-control offense that averages 158 yards rushing and has only 15 turnovers -- seventh fewest in the nation -- this season.

Georgia Tech update: The Yellow Jackets rely on a defense that is No. 11 in the nation against the run, giving up an average of only 88.8 yards. On offense, NFL-ready Calvin Johnson has 899 receiving yards but quarterback Reggie Ball has passed for only 242 yards in the last three games. Tashard Choice has five consecutive 100-yard rushing games.

Story line: The winner gets an automatic bid to the Orange Bowl. It’s a golden opportunity for these teams in a down year for traditional conference powers Miami and Florida State. Wake Forest won its only conference title in 1970. Georgia Tech won in 1990 and took a share of the title in 1998.

The pick: Georgia Tech. Johnson and Ball should shred a defense that gives up an average of 214.4 yards passing.

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No. 8 ARKANSAS (10-2) vs. No. 4 FLORIDA (11-1)

at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta

Kickoff: Saturday, 3 p.m. PST.

TV: Channel 2.

Line: Florida by 2 1/2 .

Arkansas update: The Razorbacks dropped out of the national title hunt last week with a loss to Louisiana State, their first conference loss this season. Darren McFadden has emerged as a possible Heisman Trophy candidate with 1,485 yards rushing, a school single-season record. Arkansas hasn’t won a conference title since 1989, when it was a member of the old Southwestern Conference. The Razorbacks are 0-2 in SEC title trips.

Florida update: The Gators’ average margin of victory against their last four Division I-A opponents is 5.3. points, one reason they are barely on the fringe of the BCS championship game conversation. Leading rusher DeShawn Wynn will probably sit out the game because of a shoulder injury, but the Gators’ forte is defense. They hold opponents to averages of 69.7. yards rushing and 12.3. points a game. Defensive back Ryan Smith is tied for fourth in the nation with seven interceptions.

Story line: Florida will need a big victory over Arkansas -- something akin to USC’s 50-14 early-season win over the Razorbacks -- to have any chance of reaching the national title game. More likely, the winner here will go to the Sugar Bowl and the loser will probably be knocked out of a BCS bowl.

The pick: Florida. But it won’t be enough to get the Gators to Arizona, even if USC loses.

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No. 19 NEBRASKA (9-3) vs. No. 8 OKLAHOMA (10-2)

at Arrowhead Stadium, Kansas City, Mo.

Kickoff: Saturday, 5 p.m. PST.

TV: Channel 7.

Line: Oklahoma by 3 1/2 .

Nebraska update: The Cornhuskers are making their first Big 12 title game appearance since 1999. Quarterback Zac Taylor has passed for a school-record 2,789 yards and has 24 touchdowns with only four interceptions. The running game, led by Brandon Jackson’s 881 yards, averages 183.3. Put it all together and Nebraska is ninth in the nation in total offense -- 434 yards a game -- and scoring, 33.9.

Oklahoma update: The Sooners have won seven consecutive games and have reached the Big 12 title game for the fifth time in seven years despite a two-week span in which they lost to Texas and lost star running back Adrian Peterson to injury. Peterson, who has 936 yards rushing and 10 touchdowns, will not play. But Allen Patrick has proved an admirable replacement. He rushed for at least 115 yards in each of the four games he has started.

Story line: The winner is the Big 12 champion and goes to the Fiesta Bowl, which is part of the BCS. The loser will go to the Cotton Bowl, not a BCS game. This is the first time these long-time rivals have met for the Big 12 title.

The pick: Oklahoma. With a bruising runner such as Patrick, the Sooners can control the clock and keep Nebraska’s high-powered offense off the field.