Oct 17, 20166 min read

CFB: Week 8 Predictions

Week 7 had a ton of games that came down to the wire, but for the sake of America's sanity, the top tier teams were able to come out on top as; No. 2 Ohio State came back to beat No. 8 Wisconsin in overtime 30-23, No. 3 Clemson stumbled to a 24-17 overtime win over NC State, No. 10 Nebraska slipped past Indiana 27-22, and No. 13 Houston stopped Tulsa at the goal line as the clock expired to win 38-31.

Week 8 holds three AP Top 25 matchups (No. 6 Texas A&M at No. 1 Alabama, No. 17 Arkansas at No. 21 Auburn, and No. 23 Ole Miss at No. 25 LSU), but those are just the tip of the iceberg of what to watch for in the fourth Saturday of October. I teamed up with Blake Stoll to form a Top 25, followed by our top questions about the state of college football, and then my own Week 8 game predictions and Heisman candidates.

Composite Rankings:

1. Alabama (7-0)

2. Ohio State (6-0)

3. Clemson (7-0)

4. Michigan (6-0)

5. Washington (6-0)

6. Texas A&M (6-0)

7. Louisville (5-1)

8. Nebraska (6-0)

9. Baylor (6-0)

10. Wisconsin (4-2)

11. Florida State (5-2)

12. Houston (6-1)

13. West Virginia (5-0)

14. Florida (5-1)

15. Boise State (6-0)

16. Tennessee (5-2)

17. Oklahoma (4-2)

18. Arkansas (5-2)

19. Utah (6-1)

20. North Carolina (5-2)

21. Western Michigan (7-0)

22. Auburn (4-2)

23. Colorado (5-2)

24. Virginia Tech (4-2)

25. LSU (4-2)

Just Missed the Cut:

26. Ole Miss (3-3)

27. Miami (FL) (4-2)

28. TCU (4-2)

29. Washington State (4-2)

30. Iowa (5-2)

Can Wisconsin avoid their third straight loss, on the road against Iowa?

Post: No. 10 Wisconsin is one of the best 2-loss teams in the country, both losses coming against top-5 foes (No. 4 Michigan and No. 2 Ohio State), while Iowa has started to play well after starting slow, with losses to North Dakota State and Northwestern. Wisconsin's defense (allows 15.2 points, 311.3 yards per game) is one of the top-10 defenses in the country, but Iowa's offense (30.9 points and 364.1 yards per game) will find some space to score at home. C.J. Beathard (1,227 yards, 11 touchdowns) will outperform Alex Hornibrook, and the Hawkeyes will shut down Corey Clement (483 yards, 5 touchdowns). Iowa will win again, improving to 6-2.

Stoll: No. 10 Wisconsin is coming off of two consecutive losses to top five opponents; Michigan and Ohio State. The Badgers fought for four quarters in both games but fell just short, which kept them in the top-10. This week Wisconsin matches up against Iowa who hasn’t had a true test but suffering two losses. Wisconsin will win the game behind freshman QB Alex Hornibrook and inch their way back up the polls.

Which unbeaten survives; Texas A&M or Alabama?

Post: No. 6 Texas A&M has been a pleasant surprise during the first half of the season, but let's be honest; there is no way No. 1 Alabama is going to lose at home to Trevor Knight and company (again). The days of Nick Saban losing to lesser teams with dual threat quarterbacks is over. If a team is going to take down the Crimson Tide it will be a team that is equal in terms of depth, execution, and talent. Texas A&M (scores 40.2 points and allows 19.2 points per game) is going to a New Year's Six bowl, but this game isn't going to be a win. Alabama (scores 45.4 points and allows 15.0 points per game) scores more and allows less, which is a perfect formula to win, just like it was against No. 9 Tennessee (49-10 win). Jalen Hurts (1,385 yards, 3-1 turnover ratio) is slowly climbing up the Heisman rankings, as Trevor Knight (1,500 yards, 1.8-1 turnover ratio) won't be able to do enough to combat Hurts and the Tide.

Stoll: In this top-10 matchup, No. 6 Texas A&M travels to Tuscaloosa to take on No. 1 Alabama. Although both teams have extremely potent offenses, this game will be a defensive battle. Alabama only gives up 274.0 yards per game while A&M gives up 437.5. The Aggies have what it takes to find the endzone behind senior transfer QB Trevor Knight, but it will come down to their defense stopping freshman QB Jalen Hurts or the Crimson Tide defense losing their way. Texas A&M upsets the number one team in the country on the road.

Can West Virginia go 12-0?

Post: Eh, maybe? I don't know. No. 12 West Virginia (534.2 yards, allows 410.6 yards per game) has been really good this season, like surprisingly good, but an undefeated season is kind of a stretch. Skyler Howard (1,590 yards, 8 touchdowns) has looked like a legitimate Big 12 quarterback, leading his team to 5-0 for the first time since 2012. The Mountaineers host TCU this weekend, before having home games against Kansas, No. 16 Oklahoma, No. 9 Baylor, and road games against Oklahoma State, Texas, and Iowa State. I expect West Virginia to beat TCU, Kansas, and Iowa State, en route to a 8-4 season.

Stoll: Could they? Yes. Will they? No. West Virginia only has two ranked match ups standing in their way of an undefeated season; vs. No. 16 Oklahoma and vs. No. 9 Baylor. Fortunately for the No. 12 Mountaineers and their fair defense, the rest of the Big 12 has average to poor defenses as well. The conference is built up of teams averaging 500+ yards, but giving up 400+ per game. Although they have two ranked games remaining, they will go 1-1 in those but stumble to an unranked conference foe along the way.

Will Auburn continue hot streak, against Arkansas at home?

Post: Gus Malzahn's team is all of a sudden playing well. The Tigers struggled mightily last season, finishing 7-6, and at first, it seemed like 2016-17 was going to play out similarly. Three consecutive wins later and No. 21 Auburn (scores 32.2 points, allows 16.0 points per game) is looking like a eight or nine win team. Arkansas' offense (34.9 points per game) is potent with Austin Allen (1,861 yards, 18 touchdowns) running the show, but the defense (allows 27.9 points, 398.9 yards per game) is a disaster. Kerryon Johnson (538 yards, 6 touchdowns) win run wild against the 'Backs, and earn a fourth straight win for Auburn.

Stoll: I truly believe that No. 21 Auburn will continue to win and go into the Iron Bowl with their only losses coming to top-10 opponents. No. 17 Arkansas is also hot at the moment but the Tigers have a way of putting out fires and pulling out wins.

How does the Magnolia Bowl, Ole Miss at LSU, play out?

Post: The Magnolia Bowl is always a treat, and it will once again be this season. LSU has looked like a different team since their 18-13 loss at Auburn, which included a head coaching switch from Les Miles to Ed Orgeron. No. 25 LSU (+14.5 point differential, allows 312.0 yards per game) will pull off a slight upset against No. 23 Ole Miss (+9.4 point differential, allows 446.0 yards per game). The Rebels defense has been horrible, and the offense hasn't been able to keep up with opponents as much as I thought they would, which will result in a fourth loss before November. Chad Kelly (1,849 yards, 14 touchdowns) will have a good game, as usual, but it won't be enough. In part due to Derrius Guice. I am going to use the rest of this section as a platform for Guice (564 yards, 62 carries, 6 touchdowns) to get more coverage. He is averaging 9.09(!) yards per carry. Since taking over for the injured Leonard Fournette, Guice has looked like a Heisman candidate. If Fournette can return healthy, LSU will have a dynamic duo in the backfield.

Stoll: This year's edition of the Magnolia Bowl features a top-25 matchup while No. 23 Ole Miss visits No. 25 LSU in Death Valley. In the recent departure of Les Miles, the Tigers’ offense found its way and it will be a shootout. This game will be decided late in the fourth quarter, but LSU will find a spark and upset the Rebels.

Week 8 Predictions:

Miami (FL) 21, No. 24 Virginia Tech 24.

NC State 17, No. 7 Louisville 31.

No. 10 Wisconsin 14, Iowa 21.

No. 6 Texas A&M 20, No. 1 Alabama 37.

TCU 38, No. 13 West Virginia 45.

Purdue 13, No. 8 Nebraska 35.

No. 18 Arkansas 24, No. 22 Auburn 30.

No. 17 Oklahoma 42, Texas Tech 24.

No. 2 Ohio State 30, Penn State 17.

Ole Miss 23, No. 25 LSU 27.

Week 7 Record: 9-1.