All season this seemed inevitable. Texas Christian and Colorado State in a showdown for the Mountain West Conference championship.

Well, it's here and it's happening this Saturday. The only thing is, I thought this would be a battle of undefeated teams in conference action, and that isn't the case.

No. 20 TCU (8-1, 6-0) hosts CSU (5-3, 4-1) at Amon Carter Stadium in Fort Worth, Texas, at 6 p.m. Only Colorado State's loss to BYU two weeks ago prevents this from being a battle of undefeateds.

And that's a shame for the Rams, who bring a high-powered offense into this contest. Quarterback Justin Holland has thrown for 2,281 yards in eight games, along with 20 touchdown passes. He's just the second quarterback in CSU history to throw for 2,000 yards in just eight games. Just one more touchdown and he's tops in school history in that category for one season. He's efficient -- he completed his first 12 pass attempts against New Mexico, and went 20-for-26 for 312 yards. He's calm in the pocket and has the Rams playing solid football. David Anderson has emerged as Holland's favorite target, catching 56 passes for 821 yards and 8 touchdowns. And if you stop the pass, that's fine, but you're then going to have to worry about Kyle Bell. In eight games Bell has 858 yards rushing and six touchdowns.

And so you don't think the Rams are soft on defense, the Rams have scored 34 points off nine turnovers in the past two games. The Rams have forced 21 turnovers this season. Robert Herbert is a great player to watch on the other side of the ball, as he has 52 total tackles and two interceptions.

One thing the Horned Frogs are not is soft on defense. Against the pass the Horned Frogs are No. 1 in the MWC (105 ypg) and No. 14 in the nation. The secondary leads the nation with 19 interceptions, and the Horned Frogs haven't lost a game when they pick off a pass. Quincy Butler leads the Horned Frogs, and co-leads the MWC with five interceptions. They also lead the nation in turnover margin.

Offensively the Horned Frogs aren't shabby. Since taking over for the injured Tye Gunn, Jeff Ballard is 5-0 at quarterback. He's thrown for 1,087 yards and 9 touchdowns while completing 61.5 percent of his passes. Robert Merrill, the co-MWC offensive player of the week for last week, has 694 yards rushing and nine touchdowns this season, while Cory Rodgers has developed into a nice target for Ballard, catching 44 passes for 548 yards and 3 scores.

But the matchup in this game is whether TCU's pass defense can slow down CSU's pass offense. TCU's only loss this season was a dumb one to rival SMU. Otherwise, they've been sterling. I think, with the game at home, the Horned Frogs prevail. TCU 28, CSU 17.

Elsewhere, BYU (4-4, 3-2) travels to Las Vegas (2-6, 1-4) as the Cougars try to stay in the race for one of the MWC's three bowl berths. The Cougars will look to QB John Beck, who has 2,600 yards passing so far this season. UNLV has too many problems at quarterback to be ready. BYU 38, UNLV 17.

Wyoming (4-4, 2-3), with Jovon Bouknight leading the way, faces Utah (4-4, 3-2) in a key game for two teams also trying to claim that third bowl berth. Bouknight, a wide receiver, is third in the nation in receiving touchdowns with 11. He will be the Utes' primary focus defensively. And that might not work, because the Utes' pass defense is pretty middling. Wyoming 35, Utah 27.

Army (1-6) travels to Air Force (3-6, 2-5) for a non-conference showdown. The Falcons will end their two-game losing streak under coach Fisher DeBerry. Air Force 37, Army 20.

Record this season: 7-1.

Western Athletic Conference

Fresno State moved up to No. 21 in the Associated Press poll and should stay there for one more week before their meeting with Boise State. FSU also has a No. 30 Sagarin ranking.

Meanwhile Boise State and Fresno State each need just one more win to become bowl eligible. I know I said both were eligible last week, but because they each have 12-game schedules and have played Hawaii (which doesn't really explain anything), they each need one more win to guarantee a winning record. Louisiana Tech and Nevada both need two wins, but neither played Hawaii, so they can go 6-5 to qualify.

All that leads us into this week's games. Boise State is at home this weekend in WAC action, and that's as close as death and taxes as you can get to a guarantee. The Broncos have won 29 straight games at Bronco Stadium, the longest home winning streak in the nation. They're also tied for the 21st longest winning streak in NCAA Division I-A history. The Broncos have also won their last 30 straight WAC games, the longest current conference winning streak in the nation. They've outscored conference opponents 1,445-574 during the streak.

The Broncos (6-2, 4-0) host New Mexico State (0-8, 0-4), not that the opponent really matters to Boise State. Boise State 54, New Mexico State 10.

Louisiana Tech (4-3, 3-1) travels to Utah State (2-5, 1-3). This is a game Tech ought to win. Louisiana Tech's Tramon Williams and Nevada's Kevin Stanley are tied for fourth in passes defended with 1.57 per game. Utah State defensive end John Chick is fourth in sacks with 1.08 per game. Watch La. Tech quarterback Matt Kubik. He'll be the difference in this game. Louisiana Tech 33, Utah State 12.

Hawai'i (3-5, 3-3) comes to the mainland to face Nevada (4-3, 3-1), in a game both teams need to win. The Warriors, as usual, are one of the best passing games around, with Colt Brennan leading the way. He has three of the top five passing games in the WAC, including that 515-yard monster game against New Mexico State. The Wolf Pack will use running back B.J. Mitchell to keep the ball to themselves. Mitchell has three 100-yard rushing games this year, all against WAC opponents. Nevada 38, Hawaii 33.

And San Jose State (1-7, 0-5) travels to Fresno to face the Bulldogs (6-1, 4-0). The Spartans should prove little resistance to the Bulldogs becoming bowl eligible. Fresno State 37, San Jose State 17.

Record this season: 8-1.

Mid-American Conference

Now this will be a fun race to watch the next few weeks. Eight teams are within one game of division leads heading into this weekend's games.

On Friday night, Toledo (6-2, 4-1 MAC West) and Ohio U. (4-4, 3-2 East) get the ESPN2 treatment. Toledo is coming off a loss that erased it's one game division lead over Western Michigan. Toledo has good karma in Athens, Ohio, where they've won the last four meetings. They also have a nine-game winning streak over Ohio. But Ohio, under first-year coach Frank Solich, is 3-0 at home. Toledo still leads the league in scoring offense (36.6 ppg) and scoring defense (18.9 ppg). And both teams average over 200 yards per game, two of three MAC teams to do so. Kalvin McRae of Ohio has 488 rushing yards in the past two games. Toledo 27, Ohio 20.

On Saturday, Northern Illinois (4-4, 3-2 West) travels to Central Michigan (5-3, 4-1 West) as the Chippewas try and stay on course for the West title. They have the tiebreaker over Toledo after last week's win over the Rockets. CMU hasn't allowed a second-half touchdown in its last five games, but the Huskies have won the past seven meetings. CMU is in the midst of a dream season, though. They've never been 4-1 in MAC play before and their four-game winning streak is the longest in 11 years. NIU averages 213 rushing yards per game, but was held to 66 last week in a loss to Ball State. NIU may also be without top rusher Garrett Wolfe. Central Michigan 23, NIU 19.

Western Michigan (5-3, 3-2 West) is holding out hope Toledo and CMU both lose this weekend, and that it can beat Eastern Michigan (3-5, 2-3 West). This game is at Ford Field in Detroit, hosts of Super Bowl XL in February. This game is EMU's second at Ford Field in two years, with EMU beating Central Michigan 61-58 in four overtimes last year. WMU freshman quarterback Tim Hiller has completed 65 percent of his passes for 840 yards 12 touchdowns and three interceptions. EMU is playing for a little pride, as it already beat CMU this year and can win the mythical Michigan MAC championship with a win over WMU. Western Michigan 38, Eastern Michigan 31.

Bowling Green (4-4, 3-2 East) travels to Kent State (1-7, 0-5) and the Falcons should end their two-game losing streak in conference play, something that's needed if they're to contend for the East title, where there's a four-way tie. Bowling Green 38, Kent State 15.

Miami (5-3, 3-2 East) hosts hapless Buffalo (0-8, 0-5) in a game the Redhawks should have no problem claiming. Miami 42, Buffalo 7.

And Akron (4-4, 3-2 East) faces Ball State (2-6, 2-3) in a cross-division game. The Zips need this to stay in the four-way tie for first place. Ball State is coming off a big upset, but I don't think they make it two in a row. Akron 29, Ball State 26.

Also, Temple faces Virginia in non-conference action. Temple won't be a full-fledged MAC member until 2007. Virginia 29, Temple 3.

Record this season: 9-4.

Conference USA

This Saturday, Tulane (2-5, 1-4) is back on the road this week, but then again they always are. The Green Wave is at Annapolis to face Navy (4-3), a former C-USA member. This is their eighth straight meeting and Tulane has won three of the last four, including a 42-10 win last year. Tulane QB Lester Ricard went 18-of-19 for 323 yards last week, throwing four touchdowns. He won't be nearly that perfect this weekend, and Navy's rushing offense is No. 4 in the nation. Navy 29, Tulane 22.

Rice (0-7, 0-4) needs to find a way to break its national-worst 13-game winning streak, and SMU would be a good candidate. The Mustangs (2-6, 1-4) have won five of their last six homecoming games, and homecoming just happens to be this weekend. The Owls have won the last three meetings, and 13 of the last 16. And these games, for whatever reason, always seem to be blowouts. Rice 29, SMU 13.

Now here's a big game. Houston (4-3, 2-2 West) travels to Orlando to face Central Florida (5-3, 4-1 East). The Golden Knights are now the most improved team in the nation, plus-5 in victories over last season and tied for the East lead with Southern Mississippi. UCF freshman Kevin Smith is fourth in the league in rushing with 651 yards this season. And quarterback Steven Moffett is completing nearly 60 percent of his passes and has thrown 14 touchdowns to four interceptions. Houston has Ryan Gilbert, who is third in conference rushing with 85 yards per game, while quarterback Kevin Kolb is third in passing with 274 yards per game. Neither defense is particularly good, so there could be a lot of points to be had. UCF 37, Houston 33.

But the big game this week is in El Paso, where Tulsa (5-3, 4-1 West) faces Texas-El Paso (6-1, 4-1 West) for the division lead. UTEP has the top scoring offense in the league (33 points per game) and in scoring defense (21 points per game). Tulsa's offense is middling, but it's defense is No. 2 in the conference, allowing only 23.2 points per game. UTEP quarterback Jordan Palmer is having a great season for coach Mike Price, averaging nearly 300 yards passing per game. He is a big prone to interceptions, with nine, tied for most in the conference with Kolb. I just don't think the Golden Hurricanes have enough offense to compete. UTEP 33, Tulsa 17.

Record this year: 7-3

Sun Belt Conference

Welcome back Louisiana-Monroe. After two weeks of rest and relaxation, the Sun Belt-leading Indians (3-4, 3-0) get ready for the stretch run as they host Florida International (1-5, 0-3), which just signed a two-year deal to be the whipping boys for the University of Miami in 2006 and 2007. International was supposed to play last week against Middle Tennessee, but it was postponed due to damage from Hurricane Wilma. The Indians might have some rust, but they'll shake it off quickly. Louisiana-Monroe 33, Florida International 16.

The one team that could derail La.-Monroe at this point is North Texas (2-5, 2-1), which isn't playing up to its usual standards, but the Mean Green is just one game back of the Indians and have a meeting with them in two weeks. Louisiana-Lafayette (3-5, 2-2) is second in scoring in the conference, but they're not going to throw the ball a lot. They rush for a league-best 227 yards per game, with Tyrell Fenroy leading the way. He's second in rushing in the league. UNT is near the bottom of every major team category in the league, and unless Patrick Cobbs gets on track this weekend, the Mean Green's meeting with La.-Monroe won't mean much. Louisiana-Lafayette 23, North Texas 21.

Troy (3-5, 2-2) will host Florida Atlantic (1-7, 1-3). Troy should have enough firepower to take care of the Owls. Troy 23, FAU 13.

Arkansas State (4-3, 3-1), having already lost to Louisiana-Monore, needs to keep winning to have any chance of claiming the league title. They should beat Middle Tennessee (2-4, 1-2). Arkansas State 16, Middle Tennessee 13.

Record this season: 4-1.