TV or not TV:

As the college football season segues from the nonconference schedule into league play, this Saturday’s television lineup offers some interesting matchups, with the West Coast Feed’s 1. RUN, 2, PASS or 3. PUNT rating system in place. Start the tailgating early and consult local listings for game times:

Michigan State at Indiana, ESPN. The Spartans open Big Ten play on the road with a three-game winning streak that includes a victory last Saturday at home against Notre Dame knee-knockers. The Sparties’ only loss came in their opener against California, and judging by the way the other powers of the conference (Ohio State and Michigan) have looked so far, should to be in the hunt for a Rose Bowl berth, at least until they play Wisconsin or Penn State. First game of the day deserves at least a PASS.

Fresno State at UCLA, ABC: The first game of the Disney channel’s day-night doubleheader finds the traveling Bulldogs playing the Underdogs in the Rose Bowl. Fresno State, a 6½-point  favorite, opened the season at Rutgers, flew back home to play Wisconsin, got back on a plane to play Toledo last weekend, and is now visiting Pasadena.  The 2-1 Bulldogs travel well as do their fans, 25,000 or so, who should be streaming down the Central Valley on Interstate 5 and arrive in time for kickoff. RUN.

Alabama at Georgia, ESPN.  Georgia showed the skeptics last week that it could win big outside the gates of the SEC, at Tempe against Arizona St., so this conference showdown at home against Alabama has Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide on the griddle ready to be roasted. RUN.

Illinois at Penn State, ABC. The network’s nightcap is another Big Ten scrap with the Fighting Illini, who played in the Rose Bowl earlier this year, encountering its biggest game since losing to USC in Pasadena. The No. 11 Nittany Lions have knocked off Temple, Oregon State and Syracuse so far. The Blue and White should keep the fans smiling in Happy Valley for another week. PASS.

Stanford at Washington, Fox Cable. There’s always one dog on the schedule but what at first looks like a prime-time snoozer may be worth at least a look for a half because the 2-2 Cardinal is an up-and-comer in the Pacific 10. It’s losses to TCU and Arizona State weren’t that close but Jim Harbaugh is ready to harvest a winning season on the Farm. PUNT.