As part of BCS Know How’s 2010 college football season preview, we will be breaking down each week’s most important games that could have BCS and postseason implications in the “Road to Glendale 2011″.

Let’s move on to Week 13 where the Iron Bowl, Backyard Brawl and Sunshine Showdown rivalries will headline Thanksgiving weekend.

West Virginia at Pittsburgh: Friday Nov. 26, TBA

The Backyard Brawl rivalry is a huge game no matter the records of the Panthers and Mountaineers. However, in 2010, this could be an essential piece in the puzzle for either teams’ hopes of a Big East conference title and BCS bowl bid.

In the wide-open Big East, West Virginia and Pittsburgh are the favorites to capture the conference crown and when Thanksgiving weekend rolls around, this game could decide the Big East’s 2010 champion.

Both teams will rely on their top-level talent at running back — West Virginia trotting out Noel Devine and Pittsburgh keying Heisman hopeful Dion Lewis.

Running backs aside, both teams are well balanced and experienced around the field, but the key to the game might be the offensive lines. With strong running backs and quarterbacks that are not well-tested, the protection and movement at the point of attack will be of the utmost importance.

Pittsburgh lost three interior lineman from last season’s team, and may struggle to adapt to the new line early, but will hope to have things worked out by the time this game comes along. If the Panther line can get itself together, Lewis could easily be a late season Heisman favorite.

West Virginia is lucky to return a group of young but experienced group on the offensive line and will hope that they stay injury-free to protect Devine and pocket-passing quarterback (yes a pocket passer at West Virginia) Geno Smith.

Auburn at Alabama: Friday Nov. 26, TBA

As a part of the Crimson Tide’s run to the National Championship Game last season, they had to squeak by the Tigers in the annual Iron Bowl rivalry game. The five-point victory was a surprise to some, seeing as though the Tide had crushed Auburn in the previous year, 36-0.

Now that Auburn looks to making its way back to the form that allowed for six straight victories in the rivalry from 2002-2007, this game could turn out to be a classic in the making.

Add to that the preseason hype the Tigers are getting and that many predict the Tigers could be undefeated when the 2010 edition of the Iron Bowl rolls around, and this could be the defining game of the SEC schedule in 2010.

On the line in Tuscaloosa could be the SEC Western Division crown and positioning in the BCS standings.

The faces on Alabama should be pretty familiar to those on the visiting Auburn squad. However, Auburn must replace a large portion of their starting rotation including filling holes at running back and quarterback along with inserting new talent on the defensive line.

No matter whether the Tigers can gel by the time the game comes up or not, don’t expect a repeat of the 2008 shellacking by either side — this game could prove one of the most entertaining of the month.

Florida at Florida State: Saturday Nov. 27, TBA

A non-conference rivalry matchup in the midst of conference positioning throughout the country might seem like a unnecessary showcase for the time of year, but this year’s version of the rivalry could hold feature something we haven’t seen since 2003 — a Seminole victory.

True the Gators will likely be favored in the matchup despite the Tallahassee setting of this year’s rivalry game, but for the first time since 2005, a tight, hard-fought game is expected and both teams have a great chance of coming into the matchup with a BCS bowl bid in their near future.

Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder is capable of picking apart any defense, and Florida’s is no exception.

And for the first since before the Tim Tebow era, the Seminoles can say that their quarterback is just as big of a weapon as the Gators’ man behind center.

That is not to say, however, that by Week 13 Florida’s new quarterback, John Brantley, will not have complete control over the Gator offense and be orchestrating yet another trip to the BCS National Championship Game for the Gators and coach Urban Meyer.

Boise State at Nevada: Saturday Nov. 27, TBA

Despite the Broncos having another game in Week 14, this game may be the make or break game of their year.

Victories against Virginia Tech and Oregon State early in the season would easily put Boise on their way to a BCS bowl bid and an undefeated record, but this trip to Nevada to play an always tough Wolfpack could prove the last step towards an undefeated 2010 season.

The Wolfpack are favored to be the only team able to unseat the Broncos from atop the Western Athletic Conference, making this matchup a de facto conference title game as well, only adding to the pressure Boise State will likely feel coming into the meeting.

Last season’s edition of this WAC rivalry was a close affair, as the Wolfpack showed their best against the Broncos, including quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who passed for three touchdowns and kept the game close until the fourth quarter.

In the end, the performance of Kaepernick will  be measured against that of Bronco quarterback Kellen Moore, and whichever leader is able to triumph what is sure to be a statistical explosion might translate into a victory for his team.

Other Games of Note: LSU at Arkansas, Georgia Tech at Georgia, Michigan at Ohio State, Oklahoma at Oklahoma State, Houston at Texas Tech, BYU at Utah.

Big 10

Conference Leader: Ohio State (10-2, 7-1) have clinched the Big 10 regular season title and will head to the Rose Bowl.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Iowa Hawkeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, Ohio State Buckeyes. Wisconsin Badgers, Northwestern Wildcats, Michigan State Spartans, Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Big 12

Conference Leaders: Nebraska (North Division; 9-3, 6-2)  and Texas (South Division; 12-0, 8-0) have clinched their respective divisions and will face each other in the Big 12 Title Game for a chance at a BCS bowl bid.

Game of Last Week: Oklahoma 27 vs. Oklahoma State 0. Oklahoama State was looking to make it to a possible BCS bowl this season, but a down Sooner team looking at the possibility of a .500 season instead took it to the Cowboys and ended their hopes of a BCS bowl.

Game of Next Week: Nebraska vs. Texas. For the Big 12′s automatic bowl bid.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Texas Longhorns, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Iowa State Cyclones, Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, Texas A&M Aggies.

Big East

Conference Leader: Cincinnati (11-0, 6-0)

Lurking: Pittsburgh (9-2, 5-1)

Game of Last Week: West Virginia 19 vs. Pittsburgh 16. The Mountaineers shocked the Panthers in the Backyard Brawl, payback for a couple years ago when the Panthers did just the same to a top-ranked WVU team. A field goal as time expired from Tyler Bitancurt sent the Mountaineers to victory.

Game of Next Week: Pittsburgh vs. Cincinnati. Although the Panthers lost last week, a victory over the Bearcats would still get them the Big East crown in this de facto Big East Championship Game.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Cincinnati Bearcats, West Virginia Mountaineers, Pittsburgh Panthers, South Florida Bulls, Rutgers Scarlet Knights, Connecticut Huskies.

Ah rivalry week.

Such possibility, such excitement.

But if the past few weeks have been any indication, this might just be the most boring rivalry week in the history of college football.

The season has been just bereft of upsets, and there’s no good reason to think that this weekend will be different, but we can still hold out the smallest bit of hope.

This year’s Thanksgiving Day game, Texas-Texas A&M could either be a great sign or a sign of the same old same old for this year.

In beating the Aggies by 10, the Longhorns clinched an undefeated regular season, but had a bunch of trouble doing it.

Maybe this means that other favorite will have more trouble and falter down the stretch, namely this weekend.

On the other hand, the Longhorns won.

And so, maybe this rivalry weekend will just be another in a long line of upset-free weekends, but three are certainly chances scattered around the college football scene this weekend.

No. 2 Alabama travels to Auburn for the Iron Bowl, which is always a good chance for one team to make their season with just one victory, this year that would be the result of a Tiger victory over the Tide.

No. 1 Florida welcomes Florida State in a toned-down version of this instate rivalry, seeing as the recent misfortunes of the Seminoles have the teams going in very different directions this season.

BCS hopefuls No. 7 Georgia Tech and No. 12 Oklahoma State face off against instate rivals as well, Georgia and Oklahoma respectively, and could falter here late in the season.

The Big East – suddenly the best conference race in the country other than the Pac-10 – all three of its top teams in action on Friday, including West Virginia and Pittsburgh in the Backyard Brawl.

Overall this rivalry week’s got some potential, and by this point in the season, we’d take just about anything to get some excitement with this season already.

Enjoy.

Big 10

Conference Leader: Ohio State (10-2, 7-1) have clinched the Big 10 regular season title and will head to the Rose Bowl.

Game of Last Week: Northwestern 33 vs. Wisconsin 31. An upset of the Badgers likely allows the Wildcats a chance at a New Year’s Day or Eve bowl.

Game of Next Week: The Big 10 regular season is completed.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Iowa Hawkeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, Ohio State Buckeyes. Wisconsin Badgers, Northwestern Wildcats, Michigan State Spartans, Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Big 12

Conference Leaders: Nebraska (North Division; 8-3, 5-2) and Texas (South Division; 11-0, 7-0) have both clinched their respective division titles and will meet for the Big 12 Championship Game on December 5th.

Game of Last Week: Nebraska 17 vs. Kansas State 3. Jockeying for the Big 12 North title all season, these two teams met to finally decide the victor. In convincing fashion, the stingy Cornhusker defense kept the Wildcats at bay and clinched a trip to the Big 12 Title Game.

Game of Next Week: Oklahoma State vs. Oklahoma. Oklahoma would love to end its season with a big upset after a disappointing ’09 campaign. The Cowboys are looking to get a BCS at-large bid.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Texas Longhorns, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Nebraska Cornhuskers, Iowa State Cyclones, Missouri Tigers, Oklahoma Sooners, Texas A&M Aggies.

Big East

Conference Leader: Cincinnati (10-0, 6-0)

Lurking: Pittsburgh (9-1, 5-0)

Game of Last Week: Connecticut 33 vs. Notre Dame. With limited conference action, this overtime thriller was by far the best of the weekend for the Big East, and put the Huskies closer to being bowl eligible.

Game of Next Week: Pittsburgh vs. West Virginia. The Backyard Brawl is always a good one, and a victory here for Pitt would give the Big East, which has no conference championship game, a virtual conference championship game the following week as Cincinnati and Pittsburgh would go at it for the Big East crown.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Cincinnati Bearcats, West Virginia Mountaineers, Pittsburgh Panthers, South Florida Bulls, Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Big 10

Conference Leader: Iowa (9-1, 5-1)

Lurking: Ohio State (8-2, 5-1)

Game of Last Week: Northwestern 17 vs. Iowa 10. Week after week, Iowa looked on the edge of a loss, and this week they finally were unable to make a late comeback, losing to the Wildcats.

Game of Next Week: Iowa vs. Ohio State. This one will likely be for the Big 10 title, and for the chance to play in the Rose Bowl

Bowl Eligible Teams: Iowa Hawkeyes, Penn State Nittany Lions, Ohio State Buckeyes. Wisconsin Badgers, Northwestern Wildcats.

Big 12

Conference Leaders: Kansas State (North Division; 6-4, 4-2), Texas (South Division; 9-0, 5-0)

Lurking: Nebraska (North Division; 6-3, 3-2)

Game of Last Week: Colorado 35 vs. Texas A&M 34. With just 2:04 left, the Buffaloes scored the winning touchdown in a back and forth game between the Big 12 foes.

Game of Next Week: Oklahoma State vs. Texas Tech. Two teams with bowl aspirations and winning records face off in an important Big 12 matchup.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Texas Longhorns, Oklahoma State Cowboys, Texas Tech Red Raiders, Nebraska Corn Huskers.

Big East

Conference Leader: Cincinnati (9-0, 5-0)

Lurking: Pittsburgh (8-1, 5-0)

Game of Last Week: Cincinnati 47 vs. Connecticut 45. With the help of their replacement QB Zach Collaros, the Bearcats scored nine points in 21 seconds, and the Bearcats stayed undefeated.

Game of Next Week: Cincinnati vs. West Virginia. With a win, West Virginia would reinsert itself into Big East title contention, with Pittsburgh up next in the Backyard Brawl.

Bowl Eligible Teams: Cincinnati Bearcats, West Virginia Mountaineers, Pittsburgh Panthers.