BCS championship hopes on the line this week.

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

This is the weekend that will make or break some teams. While every team that has a shot at the BCS national championship needs to win in order to stay in it, but Texas and USC both face huge hurdles this week.

Texas has perhaps the toughest draw on the schedule this week in college football.
Here's the scenario: The Longhorns are ranked third in the BCS rankings with a 7-0 record. They take on Oklahoma State on the road at Pickens Stadium, where the fans provide one of the best home-field advantages in the nation. The Cowboys rank 14th in the BCS, which has them teetering on the edge of at-large eligibility. They need this game if they want to have a legitimate shot at the Big XII title game.
What happens if Texas wins: If the Cowboys lose, Texas is the only undefeated team in the conference with beatable Kansas, Baylor and Texas A&M remaining on their Big XII slate, making them the clear favorites to win, regardless of who comes out of the North. With a Big XII championship, the Longhorns has to have a ticket waiting for them.
What happens if Oklahoma State wins: If the Cowboys win, they hold the tiebreaker over Texas and an easy slate until the final game against Oklahoma, who also has one loss. They need to win both to have a real shot at a BCS game. Even if they beat Texas and move up in the BCS rankings, a loss to the Sooners would surely knock them out of the race for the Big XII title and could knock them far enough down to prevent any shot as an at-large team.
The matchup: This game pits two of the top offensive teams in the country. Texas is the top scoring team in college football with 41.9 points per game and Oklahoma State sits at sixth with 37 points per game. OSU has been without top receiver Dez Bryant and will be without him for the remainder of the season, but they have kept putting up points and kept winning. The question is which team's defense will make more mistakes. Texas is allowing less than two touchdowns per game on defense and Oklahoma State is also a top-40 defense in terms of scoring, allowing just 20 points per game. The difference, besides a touchdown, is that Oklahoma State's defense gives up a ton more yards and is more susceptible to the big play.
Prediction: Texas 35, Oklahoma State 24

Also facing a tough task is USC.
The scenario: USC ranks fourth in the BCS and the only thing that kept them from being undefeated at this point was a loss to Washington in which the Trojans were without their starting quarterback and top defender. That loss, however, has left the door open for Oregon, who hosts the Trojans this weekend. Oregon, ranked 10th in the BCS, is the only undefeated team in the league and in fact has not lost since the opening day game against Boise State.
What happens if USC wins: USC will hold a tiebreaker over Oregon, but still has hurdles, though none as hot as the Ducks are coming into this matchup. Arizona the final week is a final test, but if Oregon can knock them off, the Trojans will win the Pac 10 and are assured a spot in the BCS somewhere.
What happens if Oregon wins: If the Ducks win, they will be in the driver's seat in the Pac-10. With two losses, USC can kiss a shot at the BCS championship goodbye. Even if they finish 11-1, the Ducks probably don't have enough clout to make it to the national championship game, but a spot somewhere in the BCS is assured. Stanford and Arizona are tough road games, so it's hardly a lock, but Oregon will be in control of its own fate.
The Matchup: USC had boasted one of the most daunting defenses in the nation, but that was before giving up a combined 63 points on 849 total yards against Notre Dame and Oregon State. That said, the team is still ranked 15th in scorng defense. This weekend they face another top offense as Oregon ranks 16th in scoring offense. LaMichael James has done a great job in his freshman season filling in for LaGarrett Blount in a run-heavy offense, averaging almost seven yards per carry. But stopping the run is something the Trojans make their living on with an extremely talented and athletic front seven. Oregon is also stingy on defense, allowing less than 300 yards and 17 points per game. Oregon also has a distinct home field advantage and the Trojans have not won there since 2005.
Prediction: USC 20, Oregon 12

With backs against the wall, Yankees desperate for a spark

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Cliff Lee was just outstanding last night, so tip your cap and move on.

The Yankees better turn the page real quick or this World Series will be over in a blink of an eye.

Yes, Game 2 tonight against the defending champion Phillies is a must-win game for New York.

While Lee scattered six hits in a complete-game performance with 10 strikeouts, it's hard to imagine that Pedro Martinez can do the same tonight.

It's been well documented that Pedro knows the Yankees, but remember the Yankees know him, too. And this isn't vintage Pedro of old, this is a guy nearing the end of his career that happened to pitch well against the Dodgers in the NLCS so everyone from Red Sox Nation to Philly thinks he's a staff ace again.

But I'm not buying how Pedro will dominate the Yanks tonight.

But I'm also not banking on New York starter A.J. Burnett dominating, either. Burnett is so hit or miss. He's got great stuff, but lack of control always hurts this guy. He walks too many and then gives up a hit that drives in runs. Burnett needs to stay in the zone, use his fastball inside and outside and get that breaking ball over on a consistent basis.

I think the offenses deliver tonight and then it's up to the bullpens to do the job.

The Yankees stunk with their bullpen in Game 1, but someone needs to step up to bridge the gap to future Hall of Fame closer Mariano Rivera. Watch, manager Joe Girardi will try to use Mo for three innings (joking)!

We all know it's must-win time for the Yankees. If they lose tonight, there's not way -- yes, I said no way -- that they can win this series.

But they've also got to swing the bats. Mark Teixeira where are you? Time to hit in the clutch and drive in some runs, no more excuses. Is he the new postseason A-Rod dud?

Everyone that takes a bat to the plate is being called out.

The Yankees have a lot of heart and pride. They won't go down quietly, they just need a spark from someone.

Who will it be?

In a perfect world (only Yankee fans allowed), Burnett provides that lift and the offense rallies around the right-hander.

Or will Pedro steal the spotlight?