Two of college football’s top rivalries will have more at stake than just trophies and braggin’ rights: There’s a national championship hanging in the balance when No. 2 Ohio State hosts No. 12 Michigan, and Washington visits No. 3 Washington State.

The Buckeyes (12-0, 7-0 Big Ten) can wrap up a spot in the BCS national title game at the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 3 with a win over the Wolverines (9-2, 6-1), who have a habit of spoiling perfect seasons for Ohio State.

If the Buckeyes lose, they not only squander a chance for their first national title since 1968, but Iowa (11-1, 8-0) would win the conference and qualify for the Rose Bowl, and possibly the Fiesta.

Even though the season has come down to one game, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel said, “The whole season has felt like a playoff.”

The Cougars (9-1, 6-0 Pac-10) would clinch at least a share of the league title with an Apple Cup win over the Huskies (6-5, 3-4). WSU closes at UCLA on Dec. 7. To get to the national title game, though, Washington State still needs either Miami or Ohio State to lose so it could move up from third in the BCS standings.

Ohio State closes its regular season Saturday. Miami has three games left ” home to No. 17 Pittsburgh on Thursday night, then at Syracuse on Nov. 30 and home to No. 13 Virginia Tech on Dec. 7.

“We’re not playing for the BCS or national championship,” Washington State coach Mike Price said. “We’re playing for the Apple Cup and, trite as it might seem, we’re playing one game at a time.”

At Pullman, Wash., Cougars quarterback Jason Gesser has center stage for a Heisman Trophy audition. He has thrown for 2,696 yards and 24 TDs for a team averaging 34.3 points per game.

The Huskies are pretty strong in the scoring category, too. Cody Pickett, with 3,818 yards and 25 TDs, directs an offense averaging 31.4 points per game.

At Columbus, more than 100,000 fans will turn out to see if the Buckeyes can avoid having their title hopes dashed again by the Wolverines. In 1995 and ’96, Ohio State came into the game with a perfect record and left with a loss.

The picks:

No. 17 Pittsburgh (plus 20 1â2) at No. 1 Miami (today)

‘Canes rise to occasion … MIAMI, 35-17.

No. 12 Michigan (plus 4) at No. 2 Ohio State

Buckeyes comfy at home … OHIO STATE, 27-21.

Washington (plus 8) at No. 3 Washington State

Cougs QB Gesser makes Heisman pitch … WASHINGTON STATE, 34-31.

No. 24 Texas Tech (plus 13) at No. 4 Oklahoma

Winner advances to Big 12 title game … OKLAHOMA, 35-21.

No. 7 USC (minus 4) at No. 25 UCLA

Bruins take Victory Bell, end Trojans’ Pac-10 title chance … UCLA, 31-21.

Rutgers (plus 28 1â2) at No. 8 Notre Dame

Irish warm up for USC on Nov. 30 … NOTRE DAME, 42-10.

Auburn (plus 10 1â2 ) at No. 9 Alabama

No Iron Bowl surprise ” ‘Bama’s plain better … ALABAMA, 30-14.

No. 10 Kansas State (minus 15) at Missouri

Wildcats scoring 46.4 points per game … KANSAS STATE, 44-24.

No. 14 Florida State (minus 5 1â2) at North Carolina State

‘Noles out to avenge ’01 loss to ‘Pack … FLORIDA STATE, 34-27.

Michigan State (plus 21) at No. 15 Penn State

Lions’ RB Johnson needs 264 yards to hit 2,000 … PENN STATE, 35-17.

No. 18 Maryland (minus 9 1â2) at Virginia

Terps turning terrific after slow start … MARYLAND, 31-21.

New Mexico (plus 16) at No. 20 Colorado State

Rams looking for perfect Mountain West record … COLORADO STATE, 33-13.

Mississippi (plus 10) at No. 21 LSU

LSU not as bad as last week’s loss to ‘Bama … LSU, 27-21.

No. 22 TCU (minus 9) at East Carolina

Horned Frogs on course to win C-USA … TCU, 28-17.

No. 23 Boise State (minus 19) at Nevada

First stay in AP poll a pleasant one … BOISE STATE, 49-24.