The bowl hopes of many teams are riding on just a few games to be played today, the final day of the regular season.

Start in Pasadena, where No. 7 Washington State plays UCLA today. A win by the Cougars and they’re Pac-10 champions, headed for the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1. A loss, and No. 5 USC (10-2) ends up with the league crown and automatic Rose Bowl bid.

Top-ranked Miami (11-0) hosts No. 18 Virginia Tech needing a win to advance to the Bowl Championship Series national title game against No. 2 Ohio State (13-0) in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 3. A loss? Don’t ask, but the Buckeyes’ opponent could still be the Hurricanes or another one-loss team such as No. 3 Iowa (11-1) or No. 4 Georgia (11-1).

The Hawkeyes have already finished their season and await their BCS assignment: Orange, Rose or possibly Fiesta.

Then there’s the Southeastern Conference title game, Georgia vs. Arkansas, in Atlanta. A win by the Bulldogs, coupled by a Miami loss, could send Georgia to the Fiesta Bowl. Otherwise, the SEC champion goes to the Sugar Bowl as the host team.

Officials from more than a dozen other bowls are waiting on today’s final scores before signing off on matchups.

The outcome of Washington State-UCLA hinges on the health of Cougars quarterback Jason Gesser. Still nursing a sprained right ankle and bruised knee from a hit two weeks ago, Gesser probably won’t know until gametime whether he’ll play. Matt Kegel is the backup.

Gesser has thrown for 2,922 yards and 25 touchdowns, but he went down in the fourth quarter of the Cougars’ 29-26 triple-overtime loss to Washington on Nov. 23. A win would have clinched the Pac-10 title.

“Is Kegel better than a half of Gesser? Oh, yes; no question. So, for Gesser to play, he’s got to be able to move a little bit,” coach Mike Price said. “I don’t believe we’re in desperate straits with Matt Kegel at all. I believe we can win with him.”

Miami, led by its Heisman hopeful duo of quarterback Ken Dorsey and running back Willis McGahee, is looking for its 34th straight win and second consecutive perfect regular season. The ‘Canes aren’t about to take the Hokies (9-3) lightly.

The picks:

No. 18 Virginia Tech (plus 18) at No. 1 Miami

Orange Bowl rocks as ‘Canes roll into Fiesta Bowl … MIAMI, 41-17.

No. 4 Georgia (minus 8) vs. No. 22 Arkansas (at Atlanta)

‘Dawgs settle for Sugar Bowl behind QB Greene … GEORGIA, 27-21.

No. 8 Oklahoma (minus 7) vs. No. 12 Colorado (at Houston)

Buffs run to second straight Big 12 title … COLORADO, 28-21.

No. 7 Washington State (no line) at UCLA

Bruins end season by sending rival USC to Rose Bowl … UCLA, 31-28.

Army (plus 3 1/2) vs. Navy (at East Rutherford, N.J.)

Throw out 1-10 records. Go Army! … ARMY, 24-20.

Toledo (plus 4 1/2) at Marshall

For MAC title, but both already ticketed for bowls … MARSHALL, 38-31.