College Football: Week 8

Well, I don't know if Week 8 can top the action of Week 7 but look at the slate of games and it definitely has the potential to do so. Lot of good Top 25 matchups, including two in the the Big 12. Also, after this week, there will be more Top 25 movement.

And the best part about Week 8 is that after this week's games, we get our first look at the wonderful BCS standings. The same standings that saw 8 teams in the #1 or #2 slot in the 8 weeks of the standings. So after this week, there will plenty to talk about.

As far as my picks, I went 8-7, which isn't bad considering the upsets that occurred. Honestly, the way this season has gone so far, I'm just happy to be over .500. On to the picks for Week 8!

WEEK 8 PICKS (Last Week: 8-7, Season Total: 66-39)

GAME OF THE WEEK
1. #11 Missouri @ #1 Texas - Despite Mizzou's loss last week, this is still the game of the week. Mizzou's offense played well against Oklahoma State. It was the crucial interceptions by OK State that did in the Tigers, including the INT that should not have been at the end. Meanwhile, Texas faced a prolific offense of their own last week and if not for the offense they have, they would have lost. I see this game unfolding just like the Red River Rivalry. Lot of offense and the team with the least turnovers wins. Because of the pressure on Texas to win this game, I'm gonna pick MIZZOU. I don't like Mack Brown in the clutch.

REST OF THE BEST

2. #16 Kansas @ #4 Oklahoma - We'll stay in the Big 12 for another game that should be good. Not a lot of people are giving KU credit as seen by their #16 ranking. Seems like people forget this is a team that went 12-1 last season. is led by a great QB in Todd Reesing, and whose only loss is to a South Florida team and even then, that game was a shootout. Their wins haven't been all that impressive but they are wins. Meanwhile, OU fell from #1 but not very far so national title chances are still very high. If they keep the turnovers down, they'll be fine against the Jayhawks but that's a big if. Gimme OKLAHOMA in a good game.

3. #22 Vanderbilt @ #10 Georgia - Something tells me that when UGA made this their homecoming game, they thought it would be an easy 21 point victory for all the fans. Well, not it's a top 25 matchup that could see the Dawgs taken out of the national title race. Interesting huh? Well, Vandy is no longer among the unbeatens so that monkey is off their back. Meanwhile, UGA is trying to prove they are better than #10 (and they are) and with this game being the last home game until November 29th, they're gonna wanna put on a show for the home crowd. GEORGIA wins big...and I'll be on the field! Bulldogs 31-13

4. #12 Ohio State @ #20 Michigan State - Well, OSU wasn't that impressive on offense last week but for die hard OSU fans, it was an impressive overall performance. The defense and special teams dominated the action and the offense did enough. This week, the key to victory is the same thing. Only way OSU wins is if they stop Javon Ringer and the MSU offense. MSU's passing game is pretty anemic. Just 6 TD from Brian Hoyer in 7 games. And with OSU's linebackers, I don't think Ringer will be able to carry this offense. It'll be a good road test for the Bucks but one I think they overcome. OHIO STATE is my pick. Buckeyes 24-17

5. Michigan @ #3 Penn State - The Nittany Lions have lost 9 straight to the Wolverines. But these aren't the usual Wolverines. This is a Michigan team that has lost to the likes of Toledo this season. But keep this in mind. This Wolverine team is a sleeper. They have talent...just not talent for Rich Rodriguez's system. But if they put it together for just one game, they could beat Penn State. OK, those last three sentences were a joke. If Penn State loses this game, it's an absolute travesty. Only way they lose if they are looking ahead to Ohio State but as seen by their wins this season, I don't think Penn State looks past any opponent. No doubt PENN STATE wins this one.

6. #13 LSU @ South Carolina - Don't look now but the Gamecocks are 4-2 and winners of their last three. And now, they get to play SEC spoiler starting this week when they host LSU. The 'Cocks are starting Stephen Garcia at QB for the first time and for the fans, it's what they wanted to see all season. He better not disappoint. Meanwhile, LSU is licking their wounds after that 30 point thrashing by the Gators. I said they were overrated last week and even at #13, I stand by that statement. SOUTH CAROLINA wins their 4th in a row and LSU falls further. Gamecocks 23-20

7. Clemson @ Georgia Tech - This may be a matchup of two unranked teams but there is a lot of intrigue in this game. Clemson is coming off the Bowden resignation while GT is trying to crack the Top 25 despite losing two quarterbacks this season. This is a big game for Clemson considering the drastic move they made to push Bowden to the ledge. They lose this game and the Clemson fans stay unhappy. But big game for GT too because they are in the thick of the ACC race and a game away from bowl eligibility. I'm picking GEORGIA TECH because their 1st string QB Josh Nesbitt should be healthy for this one.

8. #9 BYU @ TCU (THU) - In the USA Today poll, this is a Top 25 matchup. In the AP, TCU is #27. No matter what their ranking though, this is a huge game for BYU. They are already in the top 10 of the polls but when those BCS rankings come out, they need to be in that same top 10 area. The polls and BCS standings do not go hand in hand all the time so every win AND how they win is big. TCU is no pushover, as seen by their record and national standing. But BYU has been too good for me to pick against them now. My pick is BYU on the road.

9. #17 Virginia Tech @ Boston College - Big game when it comes to the ACC. VT is perfect in the conference right now and have already beaten UNC and GT. A loss to BC would be huge because it puts VT in the driver's seat to run the table. Meanwhile, BC can't afford another ACC loss. They've already lost to GT and they still have Wake Forest to play. Having the Hokies at home is a great chance for them to stay in the race. And since I can't find a better game, in my APPY pick of the week, I'm taking BOSTON COLLEGE in Chestnut Hill.

10. Ole Miss @ #2 Alabama - After seeing Ole Miss lose to South Carolina last week, I'm not really sure if this will be a good game or not. But because of how Ole Miss handled Florida at the Swamp and the way Bama struggled with UK two weeks ago, who knows? I don't think Bama is the #2 in the nation. I just think they had Georgia's number one night and it just happened to be seen nationally. We may never know just how good Bama is though. They only have one ranked opponent left on their schedule in LSU, who I think is overrated. But that's beyond the point. I am hoping for an upset to expose Bama but I think ALABAMA wins.

11. Florida State @ NC State (THU) - This may be the second best Thursday night game behind the BYU-TCU game. Heck, the third best game is you count Game 5 of the Rays-Red Sox. But I said I would always use the Thursday night game from ESPN in this list. I regret that statement with this game. I honestly don't care who wins this game but I am gonna pick FLORIDA STATE because NC State doesn't impress me at all.

12. #21 Wake Forest @ Maryland - It wasn't too long ago when Maryland upset a then-ranked Clemson team at home. This could be deja vu all over again. Wake was not impressive against Clemson last Thursday. In fact, they looked dreadful but they won. If Wake wants to prove they are for real, they need to come out swinging against the Terps because at home, they're good. With a little hesitation, I'm choose WAKE FOREST.

13. Western Michigan @ Central Michigan - Doesn't get much better than this in the MAC. Two good teams, both undefeated in conference, facing on each other in the middle of the season. Both of these teams still have to deal with Ball State in late November so there's no telling they'll stay undefeated in the conference but winning this one is huge. WMU is fresh off an OT win over a good Buffalo team while CMU has played a tough schedule to prepare itself for a game like this. This is a toss-up for me. Going with CENTRAL MICHIGAN.

14. #23 Pittsburgh @ Navy - Somehow, Pittsburgh beat South Florida and is back in the Top 25. Really not sure how because they still haven't impressed me. All their wins have been ugly but yet, here they are. Well, this trip to Navy looks like a typical Pitt letdown. I'm still picking PITTSBURGH but wouldn't be surprised to see the Naval Academy win this one.

15. #25 California @ Arizona - Neither are gonna beat USC in my mind but a win in this game may help both team's confidence before that game. Cal has a marquee win over MSU already and with wins over Arizona this week and UCLA and Oregon in the weeks after should have the Bears in good shape. For the Wildcats, a win over the Bears would not only be good for confidence but a good precursor for their home game against USC. The Wildcats are coming off a tough loss to Stanford so they will be fired up. Gimme ARIZONA in a slight upset.

My beloved Ohio Bobcats play on Tuesday night so I will have that pick in my recap Saturday night. Let's play some football!