CFB: Week 8 Preview
Team Rankings:
1. Alabama (6-0, 99)
2. Clemson (6-0, 95)
3. LSU (6-0, 90)
4. Ohio State (6-0, 90)
5. Oklahoma (6-0, 87)
6. Notre Dame (5-1, 72)
7. Florida (6-1, 68)
8. Wisconsin (6-0, 60)
9. Penn State (6-0, 59)
10. Georgia (5-1, 49)
#1 Alabama defeated #24 Texas A&M, 47-28, behind another stellar performance from Tua Tagovailoa. #2 Clemson blew out Florida State for the second season in a row, while #3 LSU took down #7 Florida at home, 42-28, after falling down by seven points in the third quarter. #4 Ohio State had a bye week before heading to Northwestern, while #5 Oklahoma held off #11 Texas, 34-27, as they outscored the Longhorns by four points in the fourth quarter. #6 Notre Dame was tested by rival USC but the Fighting Irish were led by Tony Jones Jr.'s 176 yards on 25 carries. #8 Wisconsin continued to dominate on both sides of the ball as they beat Michigan State 38-0. #9 Penn State stayed unbeaten as they finished off #17 Iowa on the road. #10 Georgia lost their first game of the year, 20-17, to South Carolina in double overtime.
Week 8 Picks:
#2 Clemson @ Louisville
Michigan @ #9 Penn State
Baylor @ Oklahoma State
Arizona State @ Utah
#7 Florida @ South Carolina
Picks Records:
Caleb Henderson: 29-6
Charles Post: 29-6
Chinedum Wejinya: 30-5
Tyler Taylor: 25-10
The biggest game in the ACC seems to always involve the Clemson and this week is no different. Louisville hosts the defending champions and are hoping to pull off the major upset and improve to a 5-2 record. Michigan is 0-7 under Jim Harbaugh when they're underdogs and they will be versus Penn State on the road in the "white out." Both teams need the win to stay in contention for the Big Ten title. Baylor, who is undefeated still, travels to Oklahoma State. In the Pac-12, Herm Edwards and Arizona State go to face Utah with division title implications. The must-see game in the SEC has to be Florida going to South Carolina. The Gamecocks are coming off the upset over Georgia, while the Gators just lost their first game of the year. We're banking on Clemson, Penn State, Oklahoma State, Utah, and Florida.
Heisman Standings:
1. Jalen Hurts (Oklahoma, 97)
2. Tua Tagovailoa (Alabama, 97)
3. Joe Burrow (LSU, 71)
4. Jonathan Taylor (Wisconsin, 66)
5. Sam Ehlinger (Texas, 45)
Jalen Hurts stays at the top our Heisman standings after throwing for 235 yards and three touchdowns in Oklahoma's 34-27 over Texas at the Cotton Bowl. Alabama's signal caller Tua Tagovailoa is keeping pace with Hurts, though, as he had 293 yards and four touchdowns against the Aggies. He has thrown for at least four touchdowns in each of the last four games. Joe Burrow comes it at third place with 71 points, 26 behind Hurts and Tagovailoa. Burrow didn't have his best game against Florida but he has continued to create big plays with Ja'Marr Chase, who had 127 receiving yards and two touchdowns on seven receptions. Jonathan Taylor totaled 80 yards and two touchdowns against Michigan State, who was determined to stop just him. Sam Ehlinger rounds out our list after losing to Oklahoma.
Photo Credit: Sports Naut.
