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The Ohio State-Michigan game is built on a tradition of running teams and physical play, but this year's game (noon ET, ABC) will be somewhat of a departure from that. Both teams will definitely try to establish the running game, but with both defenses having been dominant against the run this season, it is the passing games that will be key on Saturday.

The question for Michigan is whether offensive coordinator Terry Malone will allow quarterback John Navarre to utilize what might be the best receiving corps in the nation -- Jason Avant, Steve Breaston, Braylon Edwards and others -- in order to soften up the Ohio State defense.

The big thing for the Buckeyes will be how much success they have throwing on first and 10. Quarterback Craig Krenzel has to hit some big plays to Michael Jenkins and Santonio Holmes early in offensive series to take some pressure off Lydell Ross and the running game. Ross has improved steadily over the last few weeks and has rushed for more than 100 yards in two of the last three games, but the Wolverines play with more emotion on defense at the Big House and it could be tough going for the OSU rushing attack.

This also marks the defining game of Navarre's career at Michigan, which sounds strange for a guy who holds nearly every school passing record, could top 9,000 yards for his career against Ohio State and is 30-10 as a starter. Fair or not, Navarre will be judged on these four hours and his ability to bring home a Big Ten title with a win over the Buckeyes.

One thing in Ohio State's favor is the fact that games in this rivalry are often determined by defense, turnovers, special teams and field position. It is crucial that the Buckeyes' defense continue its opportunistic play and their special teams give the offense a short field to work with.

Tune in to College GameDay on Saturday morning for my prediction.

No. 1 Oklahoma vs. Texas Tech (3:30 p.m., ABC)
Oklahoma's zone blitz scheme always seems to have the answer for Texas Tech's spread offense, which the Sooners saw every day in practice while Tech head coach Mike Leach was OU's offensive coordinator during the 1999 season. Oklahoma does not play a lot of man coverage against the pass -- a philosophy the Red Raiders like to exploit -- and it often seems as if OU co-defensive coordinator Mike Stoops is in Leach's head during play calls. The Sooners held Texas Tech to just 236 total yards last season.

Look for that trend to continue, and look for Oklahoma's offense to continue getting big plays from quarterback Jason White and his talented receiving corps. The Sooners score more than 40 points for the eighth time this season and take care of Tech.

UCLA vs. No. 2 USC (3:30 p.m., ABC)
USC is operating the most balanced and explosive offensive attack in the nation right now. Quarterback Matt Leinart has thrown for 28 touchdowns and better than 2,600 yards -- many of them to stud wideouts Keary Colbert and Mike Williams -- while freshman running backs Reggie Bush, Hershel Dennis and LenDale White all have at least 399 yards and a 5.0 yards-per-carry average. Offensive coordinator Norm Chow utilizes all his weapons in a way that makes the USC offense very difficult to stop.

The USC defense has also been impressive this year, with a strong front seven leading the way on a unit that is tops in the Pac-10 in rushing defense (66.4 ypg) and scoring defense (17.5 ppg). That's bad news for a UCLA team that ranks 106th nationally in total offense at just 306.9 yards per game.

The Bruins are healthier on defense than they have been in some time, though, and they can stay in the game if the defense plays well early. The biggest key will be giving that sputtering offense good field position.

With the emotions of a rivalry game flowing, it would not be a surprise if the Bruins stayed in the game for a half, but I like USC to come on in the second half and utilize all its weapons in a convincing win.

No. 3 LSU vs. No. 15 Ole Miss (3:30 p.m., CBS)
Mississippi has been off since beating Auburn two weeks ago, and the biggest key for the Rebels against LSU is how well they've used that time to prepare for the Tigers' blitz package. LSU has been devastating in third-and-long situations this season and Ole Miss will be in trouble if it has to make long gains on third down.

LSU likes to blitz one more than the offense can block and get to the passer before he can beat the Tigers' man coverage, but no quarterback in America is better at studying tape and recognizing where pressure is coming from than Mississippi's Eli Manning. His accuracy will also be important, because if Manning can hit a quick slant on a hot read the receiver will need to break only one tackle to get behind the defense.

Ole Miss will have to be successful early to win this game, especially with running back Tremaine Turner. LSU has allowed only 19 first-half points all season and the Rebels will be in trouble if they have to play catch-up against the pressure of the Tigers' physical defensive front.

This one is still too close to call, so check in with GameDay to get my prediction.

Missouri vs. No. 18 Kansas State (7:00 p.m., TBS)
Kansas State is peaking at just the right time after some mid-season struggles, finding an identity on offense by dominating on the ground and opening things up for big plays over the top to wide receiver James Terry. Quarterback Ell Roberson is healthy again, and his ability to make plays in the option game is a huge part of the Wildcats' success.

On defense, outside linebackers Josh Buhl and Bryan Hickman will be asked to contain Missouri quarterback Brad Smith, who is as much of a double-threat as Roberson. Look for K-State to have a spy on Smith the entire game, someone in charge of tracking his every move and keeping him in the pocket.

Will the Wildcats be able to hold Smith in check and counter the power running of Zack Abron? Yes, and a solid victory in this game will give Kansas State plenty of momentum heading into a matchup with Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship game.

Maryland vs. N.C. State (3:30 p.m., ABC)
N.C. State quarterback Philip Rivers and his receivers are hitting on all cylinders right now -- 801 yards and 11 touchdown passes in the last three games -- but the health of running back T.A. McLendon continues to be a concern. McLendon looked healthy at the outset of last week's game with Florida State but appeared to get nicked up again in the overtime loss, so look for Tramain Hall to get some carries this week.

Maryland comes in full of confidence after last week's win over Virginia. Quarterback Scott McBrien was efficient last week against the Cavaliers and threw for better than 300 yards versus North Carolina the previous game, and his play will key the Terrapins in this one.

The mindset of the two teams is the most important factor in this game, though. The Wolfpack is coming off an overtime loss in which it rallied to tie the game late, only to see FSU score the winning TD on the first play of the second overtime. N.C. State was hungry going into Tallahassee but one has to wonder how much the Pack has left mentally.

The Maryland defense has been playing well lately, holding two of the last three opponents under 300 total yards, and that unit will capitalize on N.C. State's emotional fragility to get a win for the Terps.

Kirk Herbstreit is an analyst for ESPN College GameDay and a regular contributor to ESPN.com during the college football season.