Handicapped

MORNING No. 16 Texas A&M (6-2) at No. 17 Mississippi State (7-1) 9 a.m., ESPN Two former Big 12 schools joined the Southeastern Conference this season. One has gained instant respect and credibility; the other is Missouri. Texas A&M, in its first trip through America's Conference, has already scored 58 and 63 points in wins over Arkansas and Auburn - and played No. 5 Louisiana State nearly even in a five-point loss. Now comes the chance to knock some SEC West bark off Starkville before next week's SEC initiation at Alabama.

DETROIT VS. SAN FRANCISCO Game 1: Wednesday, 5 p.m. Detroit (RHP Justin Verlander 17-8, 2.64) at San Francisco (LHP Barry Zito 15-8, 4.15) Game 2: Thursday, 5 p.m. Detroit (RHP Doug Fister 10-10, 3.45) at San Francisco (Madison Bumgarner, 16-11, 3.37)w Game 3: Saturday, 5 p.m. San Francisco (RHP Ryan Vogelsong 14-9, 3.37) at Detroit (RHP Anibal Sanchez 4-6, 3.74) Game 4: Sunday, 5 p.m. San Francisco (RHP Matt Cain 16-5, 2.79) at Detroit (RHP Max Scherzer 16-7, 3.74)

There is one problem in trying to project Sunday's first release of the Bowl Championships Series standings: That problem is Saturday. The games could substantially alter all pre-standings prognostications. There would be no huge controversies if the first BCS show was Friday. The top 10 would pretty much mirror the top 10 in the polls. Alabama and Oregon would be cruising at first and second, followed by South Carolina and then some combination-plate of West Virginia, Florida, Kansas State, Notre Dame, Louisiana State, Georgia, Oregon State, Oklahoma and USC. What about 6-0 Ohio State?

Break out the chips and cold drinks, but let Chris Dufresne handle the remote. Each Friday, the Times' national college football writer handicaps what's worth watching, and skipping, on Saturday's menu of games. MORNING No. 15 Texas (4-1) vs. No. 13 Oklahoma (3-1) at Dallas 9 a.m., Channel 7 The Longhorns and Sooners go on a carnival elimination ride at their annual State Fair of Texas showdown at the Cotton Bowl. Texas lost at home last week to West Virginia; Oklahoma dropped an earlier home game to Kansas State.

The richest race of the Del Mar meeting is set for Sunday, when the Grade I, $1-million TVG Pacific Classic takes place at 1 1/4 miles, and the horse to beat is the Bob Baffert-trained Game On Dude. The winner of the 2011 Santa Anita Handicap and the 2012 Hollywood Gold Cup, Game On Dude has been California's top handicap horse. An injury to last year's Pacific Classic winner, Acclamation, leaves Game On Dude, with jockey Chantal Sutherland, as the controlling speed entry in the race.

There were tears in the winner's circle Saturday at Betfair Hollywood Park after 10-1 longshot Camp Victory won the Grade I $250,000 Triple Bend Handicap by 31/4 lengths over The Factor. Camp Victory's trainer, Mike Mitchell, underwent surgery Friday for a brain tumor. "He called me this morning," said one of Camp Victory's owners, Lynne Miller. "I didn't know if I was ever going to talk to him again. It was so good for Mike. He's cracking jokes. " Mitchell was watching the race from a computer in the intensive care unit of USC Medical Center.