LSU has the stage to itself this weekend as the only national championship contender with a game.

While No. 1 Oklahoma and No. 2 Southern California rest up for their final games before the bowls, the Tigers hope a win over Arkansas will help make up part of a 2.15-point deficit to the Trojans in the BCS standings.

“This is a really good team that will take one of our best efforts of the year probably to have the kind of success that we would like to have in the game,” LSU coach Nick Saban said.

His team will make up some ground in the strength of schedule and computer components of the BCS standings but will need some help with wins from earlier opponents to catch up to USC.

The top two teams in the BCS standings will play for the national championship in the Sugar Bowl.

There are five games this weekend that will have a direct impact on USC and LSU: Alabama at Hawaii, Florida State at Florida, Georgia at Georgia Tech, Rice at Louisiana Tech, and Arizona at Arizona State.

Wins by Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana Tech and Arizona will boost the Tigers. But first, they must win their game.

The matchup between LSU and Arkansas features one of the nation’s top running teams against one of the stingiest defenses.

Arkansas leads the SEC with 31 rushing touchdowns and 240 yards rushing per game. LSU has allowed only two scores on the ground this year — neither against its first-team defense — and only 58 yards per game.

“They don’t stay blocked very long,” Arkansas coach Houston Nutt said.

“They’ve been excellent in the red zone against teams that put up good numbers before. We have our work cut out for us.”

LSU hasn’t allowed 20 or more points all year, while Arkansas leads the SEC with 35 points per game behind dual-threat quarterback Matt Jones.

In the past four games, Jones is 46-for-65 for 734 yards and nine touchdowns.

Arkansas (plus 9 1/2) at No. 3 LSU (Friday)

Tigers are 6-1-1 in Baton Rouge against Razorbacks … LSU 31-23.

No. 5 Georgia (minus 8) at Georgia Tech

Bulldogs need win to stay in race for SEC East … GEORGIA 34-21.

No. 6 Texas (minus 20) at Texas A&M (Friday)

UT hopes to wrap up BCS bid with win … TEXAS 41-14.

No. 7 Tennessee (minus 10) at Kentucky

Vols win forces three-way tie in SEC East … TENNESSEE 31-20.

No. 9 Florida State (minus 1) at No. 11 Florida

Neither team has say in national title race … FLORIDA 24-21.

No. 10 Miami (minus 3 1/2) at No. 20 Pittsburgh

Panthers hoping to keep Big East title away from ACC defector … PITT 27-24.

No. 15 Miami of Ohio (minus 24 1/2) at Central Florida (Friday)

RedHawks are the best of the non-BCS bunch … MIAMI 41-10.

No. 17 Mississippi (minus 19) at Mississippi State (Today)

This is the only bowl game in Jackie Sherrill’s final season at MSU: The Egg Bowl … MISSISSIPPI 34-20.

Nevada (plus 22) at No. 18 Boise State

Broncos have third best record this decade … BOISE STATE 48-17.

No. 19 TCU (minus 24) at SMU

Horned Frogs try to bounce back from first loss … TCU 31-14.

No. 21 Virginia Tech (minus 1) at Virginia

Next year this will be a big ACC rivalry … VIRGINIA 27-24.

Temple (plus 21) at No. 24 West Virginia

Mountaineers can clinch share of Big East title with win … WEST VIRGINIA 34-10.

No. 25 Nebraska (minus 3) at Colorado (Friday)

NU coach Frank Solich trying to save his job … NU 23-21.