From the Coliseum to Athens, the national championship race will take shape and Heisman Trophy contenders will emerge Saturday.

Six games will match ranked teams, with the biggest of the big games being played in California, Texas and Georgia.

No. 1 Southern California faces No. 7 California at the Los Angeles Coliseum; No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 5 Texas meet at the state fairgrounds in Dallas in the Red River Shootout; and No. 3 Georgia plays host to No. 17 Tennessee between the hedges at Sanford Stadium in Athens.

“I’m asked if OU is a big game for us, and every game is a must game for us,” Texas coach Mack Brown said.

The difference is, the Oklahoma game is defining Brown’s otherwise stellar career.

His Longhorns have lost four straight to coach Bob Stoops’ Sooners in both embarrassing and excruciating fashion. Last season, the Sooners won 65-13 in the most lopsided contest in the 98-game history of the border rivalry.

“There’s no number that we might have on Texas in the series,” Stoops said. “It’s a year-to-year thing.”

Heisman Trophy winner Jason White is off to another strong start for Oklahoma, ranking sixth in the nation in passing efficiency with 859 yards and nine touchdowns.

Texas tailback Cedric Benson leads the nation in rushing. He has said that given a choice between one or the other, he’d rather win the Heisman than beat the Sooners. The fact is, he’ll probably have to lead the Longhorns past the Sooners to have a chance to win the Heisman.

Georgia also has a four-game winning streak in its series against Tennessee, including the last three under coach Mark Richt, who has turned the Bulldogs into the team to beat in the Southeastern Conference East.

The Volunteers are coming off a 34-10 loss to Auburn, but with a win over Florida already on their record, beating Georgia would put them in control of the SEC East race.

Bulldogs quarterback David Greene looked like Heisman material last week, when he threw five touchdown passes against LSU.

USC-Cal doesn’t have the history of Oklahoma-Texas and Georgia-Tennessee, but it is every bit as significant. The Trojans have won 13 straight since losing 34-31 at Cal last season. The loss cost USC an outright national title.

If the Golden Bears can make it two in a row over the Trojans, they’ll validate themselves as national title contenders.

“There is a really fun buildup to this game,” USC coach Pete Carroll said. “With what happened last year, it adds to it all. It brings more excitement.”

The picks:

Today

Clemson (plus 161/2) at No. 10 Virginia

Cavs haven’t played close game yet — and won’t start now … VIRGINIA 38-14.

Saturday

No. 7 California (plus 71/2) at No. 1 Southern Cal

Golden Bears lead nation in scoring at 48.7 ppg … USC 40-24.

No. 2 Oklahoma (minus 7) vs. No. 5 Texas

Longhorns finally break through … TEXAS 28-24.

No. 17 Tennessee (plus 13) at No. 3 Georgia

Vols had won nine straight before Bulldogs took last four … GEORGIA 31-20.

Louisiana Tech (plus 251/2) at No. 6 Auburn

Tech’s Ryan Moats (185 ypg) outgaining Tigers duo of Williams and Brown (179 combined) … AUBURN 40-13.

No. 8 Florida State (minus 191/2) at Syracuse

Seminoles rush defense ranks fifth in nation … FLORIDA STATE 38-13.

No. 9 Purdue (minus 111/2) at Penn State

Boilermakers QB Kyle Orton has 17 TDs and no INTs … PURDUE 34-17.

No. 24 LSU (plus 31/2) at No. 12 Florida

Tigers coach Nick Saban is 1-3 against Gators … LSU 28-24.

No. 13 Minnesota (plus 31/2) at No. 14 Michigan

Wolverines have won 15 straight over Gophers … MINNESOTA 23-20.

No. 15 Wisconsin (plus 3) at No. 18 Ohio State

Badgers have allowed only two TDs … WISCONSIN 12-10.

No. 22 Oklahoma State (minus 61/2) at Colorado

Cowboys’ Vernand Morency is third in nation in rushing … OKLAHOMA STATE 30-21.

Georgia Tech (plus 12) at No. 23 Maryland

Yellow Jackets have won five of last seven meetings … MARYLAND 27-20.

Mississippi (plus 17) at No. 25 South Carolina

Gamecocks have SEC’s top rushing defense … SOUTH CAROLINA 24-10.