WEEK 8... In the league where if you get paid, you are then sanctioned by the NCAA, unless of course you're Reggie Bush.
Mississippi St. @ #9 West Virginia (-24.5)
Dicey spot here. West Virgina has beaten every opponent they've played by at least 17 this year, except for their one loss to now #2 South Florida. The only thing the Mississippi St. Bulldogs can hang their hat on is their win at Auburn. They've also been smoked by LSU (45-0), South Carolina (38-21), and Tennessee (33-21). My gut told me to take the 24.5 points. But I had a roomate named Pat White, which also happens to be the name of the starting WVU QB. I can't bet against my old roomate in my first ever NCAA blog! (Moutaineers -24.5)
Penn State @ Indiana (+7)
The Hoosiers have not beaten anybody of consequence at got killed last week by Michigan State. Meanwhile, The Nittany Lions dismantled #19 Wisconsin. It's nice to see Indiana with 5 wins early in the season, but things might get ugly as they begin to play the big dogs of their division. Sorry Indiana, but you're not playing Indiana St. this week. (Nittany Lions -7)
#13 Kansas @ Colorado (+4)
Who here thinks Kansas can beat #14USC? What would be the spread if Kansas played USC on a neutral field? 14 points? Maybe Kansas deserves to be ranked 13th based on their record (6-0), but I find it very hard to believe that there are only 12 teams better than them. I think there are a lot of teams better than them. We might not find out because their Big-12 schedule somehow avoids all of the perennial big boys. Even so, they'll drop at least 2 more games, maybe more... This one included. (Buffalos +4)
#21 Tennessee @ Alabama (Pick)
Tennnessee, who started out slow, is now beginning to hit their stride with 3 straight wins over Miss St, #12 at the time Georgia, and rag-doll Arkansas St. On the other hand, Nick Saban's Alabama team who started out 3-0, are now 2-2 in their last 4 games, barely edging out the likes of Houston and Ole Miss for wins. I'll stick with the hot-hand here, even on the road. My player to watch here is WR DJ Hall from Alabama. I don't know how high he is on the expert's draft boards, but he was a man amongst boys 9/16 versus Arkansas. (Volunteers to win)
#5 Oklahoma @ Iowa St. (+29.5)
I watched a good portion of Texas against Iowa St. last week. It looked like the first half of the game between the Al Bundy led Cowboys playing the Little Giants. Iowa State had no chance. I was foolish to bet against Oklahoma early in the season against Utah St. (+46). Iowa State isn't quite that bad, but they should could easily be down by 4TD before the first half is over. This Sooners team has its heart set on a BCS title game. (Sooners -29.5)
#24 Texas Tech @ #16 Missouri (-3.5)
I love everything about Missouri, especially their uniforms. They looked great killing Nebraska (41-6) 2 weeks ago and those jerseys and helmets with that big "M" had a lot to do with it. Texas Tech is for real, and I don't know if any corner in the country can stop freshman WR Michael Crabtree, who is looking to break every single-season receiving stat in D-1A history. I like the Tigers to win in a shootout on a time expiring field goal. (Red Raiders +3.5)
#14 USC @ Notre Dame (+17.5)
Notre Dame got so outclassed by BC last week it was not even funny. Don't let the score fool you, this game was never really close. Notre Dame made BC's senior tailback Andre Callender look like Marshall Faulk. I checked his Scouts Inc. grade after the game and he was a 30. Notre Dame's defense was so inept that they convinced me that a scout graded 30/100 back was going to be the next great multipurpose back in NFL. OR maybe I just found the first sleeper in the 2008 Draft. Remember you heard that here first. (Trojans -17.5)
Miami @ Florida St. (-5.5)
Weird how this game is really not important. These teams have been so inconsistent this year I have no idea where to start. The only positive is that both schools have top 10 recruiting classes coming in next year, Miami's is #1. And don't ask me why but I love FSU QB Xavier Lee. We'll stick with history on this predicition. FSU loses on a field goal... WIDE RIGHT. (Hurricanes +5.5)
#10 Oregon @ Washington (+13)
The Huskies are on a 4 games losing streak and the task doesn't get much easier for Tyrone Willingham as Oregon's elite offense comes to town. The Huskies are OK at home, and I remember how much trouble they gave USC in Seattle. If Oregon can beat Michigan by 32 on the road, I guess they can beat a realing Huskies team by 2 TDs. (Ducks -13)
Michigan St @ #1 Ohio St. (-19)
In their 2 losses this season Michigan St. has lost by a combined 10 points. It's not like OSU has an elite offense right? (Spartans +19)
#15 Florida @ #7 Kentucky (+6.5)
Great win against #1LSU last week for Kentucky. I'm sure that game was both emotionally and physically draining, to say the least. It won't be much fun chasing Tim Tebow around for 4 quarters this week. This is a classic letdown game for any team, the Wildcats not excluded. Plus, Florida is really, really good. They lost a hearbreaker to #1 LSU and lost on a field goal in the LSU look-ahead game a week earlier to Auburn, who by the way has an excellent defense (as seen in their last game against Arkansas). Finally, I don't care about what the stats say or who the best pro prospect is on offense. Tim Tebow is the most impactful player I've seen all year. Think a bigger Eric Crouch with a great arm. (Gators -6.5)
#25 Michigan @ Illinois (Pick)
I love what Illinois has done this year. How can't you. But Michigan is rolling again. Player to watch: Illinois Freshman WR Arrelious Benn. This guy is a physical specimen and was a top 10 recruit last year. Since when does Illinois get top 10 football recruits. From Washington DC? (Wolverines to win)
#17 Auburn @ #4LSU (-10)
Think about this. If Auburn doesn't lose to Miss. St and Southern Florida (which obviously is a big if because USF is really good), they could be a top 5 team and probably #1 going into this game. Nevertheless, both LSU and Auburn are 3-1 in SEC play, making this game HUGE. LSU is simply great at home, especially in night games (9:00pm start). LSU might be tired after playing multiple overtimes in Kentucky last week, but they are still better than Auburn on both sides of the ball, especially offense. LSU has a stable of track star RBs, including a white tailback named Jacob Hester (physical back) that are a handful for any defense. (Tigers -10)
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