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This is the first of four straight home games for Virginia (2-1). With a sweep, the Cavaliers would become bowl eligible for the first time since 2007. Southern Miss (2-1) will not be an easy opponent. The Golden Eagles have 16 straight winning seasons and beat Virginia 37-34 in Hattiesburg, Miss., in 2009. Virginia outgained North Carolina 468-401 last week but committed three turnovers and squandered opportunities, losing 28-17.

No. 13 Virginia Tech at Marshall

When » Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

Where » Edwards Stadium, Huntington, W.Va.

TV » CBS Sports Network

Radio » 106.7 FM

This is the final warmup game for Virginia Tech (3-0) before it finally faces a conference foe — Clemson on Oct. 1. Marshall (1-2) should put up little resistance after falling to Ohio 44-7 in a game in which it yielded 288 yards passing and 271 rushing. Virginia Tech looks for another step forward from sophomore QB Logan Thomas, who was 21-for-33 with 292 yards and two touchdowns in a 26-7 win over Arkansas State.

Morgan State at Howard

When » Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

Where » MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, N.J.

TV » ESPNU (on delay 10:30 p.m.)

In the second New York Urban League Classic, Howard (1-2) tries to halt its Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference losing streak, which reached 28 games with a 23-9 loss to Norfolk State. Morgan State (1-2) won last year’s inaugural NYUL Classic 20-3. Morgan State has won the last six meetings and leads 40-33-1 in a series that dates back to 1889.

James Madison at William & Mary

When » Saturday, 7 p.m.

Where » Zable Stadium, Williamsburg, Va.

Both teams have bounced back after lopsided opening-game losses to ACC foes. James Madison (2-1) broke the nine-game home winning streak of Liberty last week as Dae’Quan Scott rushed for three touchdowns and Cameron Starke kicked a 40-yard field goal at the gun for a 27-24 victory. William & Mary (2-1) also won last week on a late field goal over New Haven 13-10. The Dukes won last year 30-24.

– Kevin Dunleavy

Top Five Games to watch

5.

Vanderbilt at No. 12 South Carolina » The Gamecocks have trailed in the second half of all three of their unconvincing wins. Are they due for a fall or destined to repeat the success of Auburn, last year’s national championship escape artist? Vanderbilt (3-0), under first-year coach James Franklin, has beaten Connecticut and Mississippi with defense and a stellar rushing attack. (Saturday, 7?p.m., ESPN2)

4.

No. 11 Florida State at No. 21 Clemson » North Carolina at Georgia Tech matches undefeated teams from the ACC Coastal. But the winner of this game between the two most talented teams in the ACC Atlantic is more likely to settle a division. Clemson QB Tajh Boyd has been a revelation, throwing for 911 yards and 10 touchdowns this season and leading the Tigers to a 38-24 win over defending national champion Auburn. (Saturday, 3:30 p.m., ESPN)

3.

No. 14 Arkansas at No. 3 Alabama » After leading an offense that has rolled up 47 points a game against three overmatched opponents, Arkansas QB Tyler Wilson has much to prove as a replacement for Ryan Mallett. Wilson has been good so far, throwing for 822 yards. But how will he fare against Alabama’s defense in by far his toughest test? (Saturday, 3:30 p.m., CBS)

2.

No. 7 Oklahoma State at No.?8 Texas A&M » The Big 12 may be disintegrating, but a league that has spawned some of the nation’s most entertaining offenses still has a year or two left. An example is this game featuring the Cowboys’ explosive combination of Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon vs. the Aggies’ potent duo of Ryan Tannehill and Ryan Swope. (Saturday, 3:30 p.m., ABC)

1.

No. 2 LSU at No. 16 West Virginia » This is the third time this month LSU has faced a ranked team. But none of those games has prepared the Tigers for the atmosphere they will encounter in Morgantown, W.Va. It’s the speed of the LSU defense against the speed of West Virginia’s “Air Raid” offense. QB Geno Smith might have had his finest game (36-for-49, 388 yards) last Saturday in a 37-31 win at Maryland. (Saturday, 8 p.m., ABC).

– Kevin Dunleavy

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