Games of the week

No. 21 Nebraska (3-1)

at No. 24 Missouri (4-0)

Tonight, 6 PDT, ESPN

It’s about time the race got started for the Big 12 North title as two of the favorites finally open conference play . . . against each other. Nebraska’s only loss was a 16-15 heartbreaker at Virginia Tech, while Missouri’s toughest nonconference game, strangely, turned out to be a seven-point win against Bowling Green.

The pick: Missouri

No. 3 Alabama (4-0) at No. 20 Mississippi (3-1)

Saturday, 12:30 p.m., PDT, Ch. 2

One of the few remaining road blocks for Alabama on its march toward the SEC West title, although the Iron Bowl on Nov. 27 suddenly looks a lot tougher than it did when Auburn hired Gene Chizik as coach. Mississippi had hoped to be undefeated and highly ranked when Alabama came to Oxford, but a loss at South Carolina spoiled that chance.

The pick: Alabama

No. 1 Florida (4-0) at

No. 4 Louisiana St. (5-0)

Saturday, 5 p.m., PDT, Ch. 2

This epic-looking showdown in Baton Rouge is only slightly misleading. Sure, it’s big, but it will lose some luster if Florida quarterback Tim Tebow sits out as he recovers from a concussion. Also, it appears either team could sustain a loss and still get to the national title game as the 12-1 champion of the Southeastern Conference

The pick: Florida

-- Chris Dufresne