The Front Seven tackles the weekend's top games

• Defense dominates discussion of SEC showdown between Alabama and LSU
• Can penalty-plagued USC slow Oregon's offensive express?
• Oklahoma State is the latest to test the mettle of third-ranked Kansas State

The Front Seven is ready for the season on the hardwood.

1. "D" up: When two teams play twice in a season and take nearly eight quarters to produce a single touchdown, one can expect No. 1 Alabama and No. 5 LSU to play strong defense once again when they renew acquaintances in Baton Rouge (8 p.m. ET, CBS). With these dominant defenses in the house, it is the Crimson Tide's more complete offense with QB AJ McCarron at the controls that has most forecasters giving them the edge. The one area that has been an occasional problem for the Tide has been pass protection, which LSU DEs Barkevious Mingo and Sam Montgomery will look to exploit. But Alabama's power game, with C Barrett Jones and friends paving the way for TBs Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon, can seal the deal if the Tide grab the lead. LSU QB Zach Mettenberger is going to have to find a way to stretch the field and get his best speed threat, WR Odell Beckham, involved. If they can hook up, it will be difficult for the Tigers' talented RB rotation to make any headway against DT Jesse Williams and the Tide front wall. As the kicking game could come into play, it is worth noting that Alabama senior PK Jeremy Shelley has made all nine of his FG tries as well as 40-for-40 on PATs, but the Tigers' Drew Alleman has also delivered in the clutch.

2. Fast break: No. 2 Oregon takes its high-speed show on the road for its much-anticipated date with No. 17 Southern California (7 p.m. ET, Fox). USC is out of the national championship hunt but gets its first chance to play spoiler in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. But it might be bad news for the Trojans that Arizona's version of the spread had so much success last week. The Ducks do a lot of the same things — only faster. QB Marcus Mariota's most frequent alternatives, when he doesn't take off himself, are to hand to TB Kenjon Barner or deliver to De'Anthony Thomas on the move from the slot position. When Mariota airs it out, WR Bralon Addison is yet another home-run threat. The Trojans will count on DE Morgan Breslin to lead the charge to disrupt matters in the Oregon backfield. The good news for USC is QB Matt Barkely and WR Marqise Lee are now locked in, which could also mean more chances for WR Robert Woods with attention on the opposite side. But Oregon also features speed on the defensive side, and LB Michael Clay and DE Dion Jordan could make Barkley's job difficult. Penalty flags, more than 10 a game, have also been troublesome for the Trojans.

3. Floor general: No. 3 Kansas State and dual-threat QB Collin Klein get another chance to impress pollsters and Heisman Trophy voters with a prime-time showdown with No. 24 Oklahoma State (8 p.m. ET, ABC) The Cowboys got themselves back into the Big 12 picture with a convincing victory against TCU and continue a tough final stretch in this visit to Manhattan. The Wildcats, who have only one home game after this week, will want to make the most of this opportunity against a ranked visitor. Klein has accounted for 28 TDs on his own, including 12 by air, and TB John Hubert has added 10 on the ground. The unenviable task of bottling them up belongs to OSU LB Alex Elkins. The Cowboys are equally capable of putting up big points, as long as freshman QB Wes Lunt can hold up. He's been getting help from TB Joseph Randle, though he'll have to contend with K-State LB Arthur Brown.

4. Hot hand: No. 16 Texas A&M and freshman sensation QB Johnny Manziel hope to follow up their devastatingly efficient performance at Auburn with another road triumph. But this trip to No. 18 Mississippi State (noon ET, ESPN) figures to be more of a challenge. The Bulldogs are glad to be home after last week's rough night in Tuscaloosa. It will take a team effort from their defense to contain Manziel, who leads the SEC in passing and rushing yards. CB Johnthan Banks might be able to neutralize WR Mike Evans, so it will be up to LB Cameron Lawrence and the front group to keep Manziel at home. Oh, and they also have to watch Aggies RBs Ben Malena and Christine Michael. While the Alabama defense had a lot to do with the Bulldogs' turnover issues last week, they must nevertheless take better care of the ball as they did during their 7-0 start. That will mean A&M DE Damontre Moore must be accounted for to let QB Tyler Russell and TB Ladarius Perkins operate.

5. Sub? No. 22 Texas heads to Lubbock to take on No. 20 Texas Tech (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC) in what could prove to be a pivotal game for both teams' major bowl prospects. The biggest story line of the week was the announcement that David Ash will keep the starting QB job for the Longhorns, though Case McCoy led the team on the final drive last week in a narrow escape at lowly Kansas. Ash will need to be accurate immediately to regain confidence for himself and WR Mike Davis. They'll have to stay clear of another Davis, Texas Tech S Cody Davis, who has three INTs this season, bringing one back the distance. Red Raiders QB Seth Doege had a rough second half against Kansas State and could also use a quick start. It will be Longhorns DE Alex Okafor looking to make his job difficult as he looks for top WR Eric Ward.

6: Full-court press: No. 6 Georgia's grind-it-out victory against archrival Florida gave the Bulldogs control of the SEC East. To keep it, they'll have to avoid the dreaded letdown as surging Mississippi comes to Athens (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS). Ole Miss is a win away from bowl eligibility, no small feat under first-year coach Hugh Freeze, though Georgia has won the last nine series encounters. Bulldogs QB Aaron Murray survived a slew of turnovers against the Gators thanks to his defense and TB Todd Gurley. The ground game will be the first priority for Rebels LB Denzel Nkemdiche. Ole Miss QB Bo Wallace must be secure with the ball and get help from RB Jeff Scott, though the latter might be hard to accomplish if LB Jarvis Jones and the Georgia defense bring their A-game.

7. Rebound: No. 13 Oregon State had its first loss of the season last week at Washington. But the Beavers are still in the Pac-12 North hunt with "Civil War" rival Oregon scheduled to come to Corvallis. But they must first earn a bounce-back win at home against Arizona State (10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2).The Sun Devils are also on the rebound after falling to UCLA on a last-second FG a week ago. Another shootout is likely for ASU, even with Cody Vaz resuming the reins at QB for Oregon State. Vaz has plenty of weapons, including WRs Brandin Cooks and Markus Wheaton. Sun Devils QB Taylor Kelly continues to lead the Pac-12 in pass efficiency, and TE Chris Coyle and RB D.J. Foster could help control the clock.