Call them measuring-stick games or temperature-takers. They're games that can give a glimpse at the direction and health of a program and there are several on tap this weekend.

The Cornhuskers have the most notable. Top-ranked Southern California comes to the Heartland on Saturday.

Big Red has been taking baby steps toward returning to elite status in three seasons under coach Bill Callahan. There's been progress, Nebraska won the Big 12 North last season, but the Huskers have yet to prove they're capable of slugging it out with the best in the nation.

Last year in Los Angeles, Nebraska hung around but never actually threatened USC in a 28-10 loss. Hanging around at home isn't what HuskerNation is looking for this year.

Kentucky and Maryland face traditional rivals who have dominated them in recent years. The Wildcats host Louisville and the Terrapins get West Virginia on Thursday night, with the underdog home teams looking to swing those series back in their favor.

Arkansas visits Alabama for Nick Saban's first Southeastern Conference home game and the first chance to see how the Crimson Tide is coming along under their $4 million-a-year coach.

Tennessee has been in a rut for the past couple of seasons. Beating the defending champions would be a great way to get out of it.

The picks:

Thursday

No. 4 West Virginia (minus 16›) at Maryland

Mountaineers have won three straight meetings ... WEST VIRGINIA 34-20.

Saturday

No. 1 Southern California (minus 10) at No. 14 Nebraska

Trojans have won seven straight nonconference road games ... USC 33-13.

Middle Tennessee (plus 40 1/2) at No. 2 LSU

Blue Raiders are 3-25 against SEC — all three wins against Vanderbilt ... LSU 55-13.

Utah State (plus 45 1/2) at No. 3 Oklahoma

Sooners lead series 3-0 and average 58 ppg against Aggies ... OKLAHOMA 58-3

No. 22 Tennessee (plus 8) at No. 5 Florida

Home team has won only two of last seven meetings ... FLORIDA 27-24.

No. 6 Texas (minus 19) at UCF

Knights are 6-1 in home openers ... TEXAS 40-14.

The Citadel (no line) at No. 7 Wisconsin

First Big Ten opponent for The Citadel ... WISCONSIN 55-3.

Louisiana Tech (plus 33 1/2) at No. 8 California

Bears lost to Bulldogs in only meeting, 41-34 in '97 ... CAL 58-14.

No. 9 Louisville (minus 6 1/2) at Kentucky

Cardinals are 7-1 with four straight wins in series ... LOUISVILLE 49-44.

No. 10 Ohio State (minus 4) at Washington

Buckeyes are 7-3 against Huskies ... OHIO STATE 24-17.

No. 11 UCLA (minus 13 1/2) at Utah

Bruins are 8-0 vs. Utah, including last year's 31-10 victory ... UCLA 32-14.

Buffalo (plus 34) at No. 12 Penn State

Bulls beat Nittany Lions in only meeting — in 1900 ... PENN STATE 48-10.

Norfolk State (no line) at No. 13 Rutgers

Scarlet Knights have lost to two former I-AA teams since '02 ... RUTGERS 50-3.

No. 21 Boston College (plus 7) at No. 15 Georgia Tech

First meeting as ACC rivals; Tech is 4-1 vs. BC ... GEORGIA TECH 24-21.

No. 16 Arkansas (plus 3) at Alabama

Tide has lost two double-OT games to Razorbacks in last four years ... ALABAMA 25-20.

South Carolina State (no line) at No. 17 South Carolina

Bulldogs coach Buddy Pough is former Gamecocks assistant ... SOUTH CAROLINA 51-7.

Ohio (plus 20 1/2) at No. 18 Virginia Tech

Hokies rank second-to-last in offense in ACC ... VIRGINIA TECH 34-10.

Fresno State (plus 16 1/2) at No. 19 Oregon

Ducks won 31-24 at Fresno State last year ... OREGON 39-27.

Furman (no line) at No. 20 Clemson

Tigers have won 28 straight against Furman ... CLEMSON 43-14.

Western Carolina at No. 23 Georgia

Catamounts second game of season vs. SEC team ... GEORGIA 49-7.

Louisiana-Monroe (plus 23 1/2) at No. 25 Texas A&M

Warhawks are 0-9 vs. current Big 12 teams ... TEXAS A&M 44-14.

Last week's record: 21-0 (straight); 10-7 (vs. points).