Paste BN Sports college football staff picks

November. Rivalries. Huge showdowns with national title implications. This is why we love college football.

No. 1 Alabama must be on upset alert when No. 12 LSU comes to town. Even though the Tigers have two losses, history suggests this will be a close game. The teams' last three regular season meetings have been decided by four points or less.

That's the highlight of the Saturday schedule. Thursday, however, is the showcase night of the weekend with four of the top eight teams in the Paste BN Sports Coaches Poll facing off.

No. 2 Oregon travels to sixth-ranked Stanford with revenge on its mind after the Cardinal knocked the Ducks out of the BCS title game last year. Oregon's offense has rolled through its first eight opponents, but now must contend with one of the nation's top defenses.

Also on tap Thursday, No. 5 Baylor hosts eighth-ranked Oklahoma. The Bears, like Oregon, have rolled through the first part of their schedule. To stay unbeaten and keep their title hopes alive, they'll have to solve the Sooners, who have won 21 of 22 games in the series.