12up's College Football Predictions for Week 8
By Thomas Carannante
We have some wild, under-the-radar intriguing games for College Football's Week 8 edition. Penn State and Michigan will do battle in a Big Ten matchup between ranked teams. Arizona State will travel to Utah for a ranked Pac-12 meeting as well.
Did we mention SMU is ranked?! Let's get to it.
No. 4 Ohio State at Northwestern
Mark Powell
Classic trap game for the Buckeyes, as they host Wisconsin in their toughest matchup to date next week in FOX's big noon contest. Some teams would risk laying an egg on the road against an unranked opponent, but Justin Fields and Co. don't know any better. Northwestern scores just 14 points-per-game and gives up over 140 yards rushing. JK Dobbins and Fields will run wild in Evanston. Buckeyes by two scores or more.
Adam Weinrib
The most impressive team in college football so far (yeah, I'm here, come and get me!) takes down the most plodding offense in the Big Ten on the road. 45-3, and Justin Fields continues to cement himself as the best QB the world isn't talking ad nauseam about.
Thomas Carannante
All you gotta do is look at the film from Northwestern's Week 1 loss to Stanford. This team couldn't move the ball against a top high school defense. Ohio State is one of the most balanced teams in the nation that needs a dominant victory to keep them in the CFP picture. Buckeyes by at least three TDs.
No. 9 Florida at South Carolina
Mark Powell
Classic upset hangover for Will Muschamp and Co. A tough loss on the road at LSU revealed a surprising amount about the competence of Kyle Trask behind center for UF. Ryan Hilinski should play on Saturday which ought to help keep things close, but the -5 spread is perfectly placed here. Look for Trask to target Kyle Pitts early and often, including a vital score late. Gators by a touchdown.
Adam Weinrib
QB Ryan Hilinski, who sent a thumbs up to his mom after getting carted off with an injury at UGA last week, should be a full go for this home showdown (and potential letdown game for the Gators, following their road battle with LSU). However, I'm willing to bet taking down Georgia took all they had; expect a bigger letdown from a hobbled Hilinski, as Florida takes this one.
Thomas Carannante
Do the Gamecocks have the stones to secure two victories over top-10 teams in two weeks? With Florida dealing with some injuries on the defensive side of the ball, it's certainly possible, but it's more likely this is a close win for the Gators. Dan Mullen's team simply cannot afford to drop this one, and with the way they played at LSU, it's hard to believe they're going to follow that up with a loss to an unranked division opponent.
No. 12 Oregon at No. 25 Washington
Mark Powell
Jacob Eason and the Huskies kept me on the bandwagon last week, but the Ducks are one Bo Nix drive away from being undefeated and the Pac-12's lone CFP hope. Oregon is rolling, and despite this being Washington's last chance to keep their Pac-12 title game and Rose Bowl aspirations alive, Justin Herbert continues his stellar play. Ducks beat the 3-point spread, but just barely.
Adam Weinrib
Predictably, Justin Herbert's been a little too fluffed up after a home shellacking of Colorado last week. Let's see what Washington's homecoming game tastes like; the Huskies are still 15th in the nation in turnover margin, despite a less vaunted secondary than in years past. 28-21, U Dub.
Thomas Carannante
What's funnier? The fact Oregon is ranked as high as No. 12, or the fact that Washington is ranked at all? The Pac-12 continues to prove it has nothing to offer, and considering this is the Ducks' second worthy opponent this season, we're going to assume Mario Cristobal is totally not prepared heading into a road game against the Huskies. Chris Petersen will squeeze out a one-score win for UW.
No. 23 Baylor at Oklahoma State
Mark Powell
Matt Rhule and Baylor are a great story, but this is arguably their toughest test to date. Mike Gundy's group may be 1-2 in the Big 12, but those losses came by 10 points or less against Texas Tech (which took the Bears to 2OT last week) and Texas in primetime. Both contests were on the road. In Stillwater, the Cowboys and their stellar offense score just enough to pull off an upset.
Adam Weinrib
Another slaughter at the hands of House Rhule. Oklahoma State can score and they can certainly run the football (Chubba Hubbard leads the nation in rushing yards), but Baylor's run defense is allowing only 2.49 yards per rush in road/neutral site games this season. Baylor's chugging along too well to be slowed down this week in a trap game.
Thomas Carannante
How 'bout DEM COWBOYS!! They were doing so well before blowing it at Texas Tech last week! My logic here? Baylor's run just has to end, and Stillwater is a good place for that to happen. Oklahoma State is very good at home and Baylor's defense will have trouble defending Chuba Hubbard and the Cowboys' passing attack.
No. 17 Arizona State at No. 13 Utah
Mark Powell
Jayden Daniels is legit and what Herm Edwards is doing at ASU deserves more national attention. Yet, Utah's defense against a young QB at home feels like a cheat code. The Sun Devils won't be able to rely on the run, either, as the Utes give up just 52.8 (!!!) yards rushing per game. This could get ugly.
Adam Weinrib
We have absolutely no idea how Herm Edwards is doing this. He's been 1,000x more successful in his return to coaching at ASU than we'd ever imagined, presumably thanks to a George Costanza-like streak of always doing the opposite of what he'd usually do? So, I guess, this weekend against Utah, "Hello? You play. To lose. The game!" 31-17, Utes at home.
Thomas Carannante
Arizona State: confirmed weird team. Herm Edwards is getting the job done though. Despite a 19-7 winning effort over Sacramento State and getting upset by Colorado by a field goal at home, the Sun Devils have been impressive. But the Utes at home are a different story and this team is going to overpower Arizona State in all facets of the game. Utah is out for blood after that silly loss to USC blemished their resume.
No. 16 Michigan at No. 7 Penn State
Mark Powell
Someone's gotta do it. Jim Harbaugh's back is against the wall, at least as it pertains to his perception as an elite coach nationally. With another tough game against Notre Dame looming, this has a chance to be Michigan's signature win of the Harbaugh era. Josh Gattis FINALLY let Shea Patterson loose last week against Illinois, and dare I say we saw some flashes. The Nittany Lions have had a flare for the dramatic this season, defeating their two toughest opponents in Pitt and Iowa by a TD or less. They'll keep Michigan in the game, perhaps too long this time. Wolverines by a field goal.
Adam Weinrib
I'm going to mark every week as the "beginning of the end for Jim Harbaugh" because that is the kind of guy I am. Can we acknowledge, at some point, that the only reason we're still dealing with him is because of the initial impact of the hire and the cache of his name? Penn State is preparing a monstrous whiteout for this contest, and they're favored by nine points. Though this will surely be a trendy upset because of what Michigan did to Iowa, Iowa's fetid offense is not Penn State's. PSU wins and covers.
Thomas Carannante
Michigan is bad. You know this. I know this. Everybody except Jim Harbaugh and his immediate family knows this. They got their little "impressive" win over their mirror-image in Iowa after a disgusting 10-3 final score. Penn State rolls deep on both offense and defense, and there's no reason to believe they won't be able to continue that trend in front of their home crowd. Winning on the road at Iowa by five is a lot more impressive than doing it at home by seven. Nittany Lions by 10 or more.
Temple at No. 19 SMU
Mark Powell
The Owls get no respect! SMU's offense is sizzling, as they average nearly 45 points-per-game and have scored at least 37 in every game this season. As gritty as Temple's defense is, it's tough to see them slowing down the Mustangs enough to notch what would be a monumental win in the AAC race. SMU by 10 at home.
Adam Weinrib
SMU is overwhelmingly favored here, but they're coming off a 3-OT home victory over Tulsa, hardly a precursor for future success against a 5-1 visiting rival that knows they can beat 'em. This one will come down to execution at the end, and I expect Temple to barely squeak by in a close game.
Thomas Carannante
SMU is coming off a bye after their wild 3OT victory over Tulsa, which included a 21-point fourth-quarter comeback. Although the Owls are no slouches, the Mustangs will continue their undefeated march through the AAC. Temple is not a great road team, as evidenced by their loss at Buffalo, and SMU's offense is perhaps the most dynamic they'll face all year. SMU has scored at least 37 points in every game this year
Duke at Virginia
Mark Powell
The ACC Coastal is a crapshoot, but Virginia's slide will continue. Duke is quietly on a roll of late despite a close loss to MY Pitt Panthers at home. The Blue Devils can do me another favor by defeating the Cavaliers, who own the tiebreaker over Pitt thanks to a season-opening win at Heinz Field. In all seriousness, Duke's offense is impressive, scoring 40 points in four of their last five games including wins at Virginia Tech and vs Georgia Tech. UVA's defense poses a tougher challenge, but Quinten Harris is emerging as a stud in his senior season. Duke in a close one.
Adam Weinrib
Dual-threat QB Bryce Perkins and head coach Bronco Mendenhall (who'd received a lot of praise for turning this program all the way around after 4-0) desperately need a win to maintain their favored status in the ACC Coastal. It's tempting to pick a Duke "upset" this week, especially following a road no-show against the 'Canes. I'm going to be the sucker who picks Virginia weekly until I'm proven right, though. 'Hoos get the win, mostly because it's stunning to watch Duke play a tough road game, since they refuse to do so in basketball.
Thomas Carannante
Virginia sadly pooped their pants last week, dropping a close one to Miami after coming off the bye week. Come on Cavaliers, this was your year to almost do something! Now Duke's coming to town and the Blue Devils, and barring a miracle comeback by the Pitt Panthers two weeks ago, this team could've been 5-1 and gunning for some recognition in the ACC. A win this week should get the folks talking once again, as Virginia has seemingly been figured out, scoring just 29 points in their last two games.
Tulane at Memphis
Mark Powell
Tulane could be playing at Bama and I'd still take them. This isn't a matter of the head, but the heart. I fell in love with the Green Wave after their trick play-dominated win over Houston on a Thursday night in Week 4, and they've been winning ever since. Willie Fritz is a genius until you prove me otherwise. Justin McMillan for Heisman. The heart wants what it wants.
Adam Weinrib
The Green Wave are a year away from being a year away from being your favorite random college football team. Slick uniforms, domination in a small conference...you're going to be doing a lot of Tulane watching on Thursday nights for the next four or five years. For now, though, we'll give Memphis this much-needed home win after slipping out of the top 25.
Thomas Carannante
New Orleans might be my favorite place in America, so you won't find me betting against any team from there. But this is seriously an awesome matchup. Two 5-1 teams that absolutely move the ball. The Tigers are coming off their first loss of the year at Temple, so it'll be tough for the Green Wave to come out on top on the road, but then again, Memphis' defense isn't equipped to defend against fast-paced offenses. Look for another fake-kneel to seal this one for Tulane.
Iowa State at Texas Tech
Mark Powell
Matt Campbell's steady rise among the Big 12 coaching ranks seems destined to continue. Texas Tech's defense gives up over 150 rush yards per contest, meaning the Cyclones' running back by committee of Breece Hall and Johnnie Lang, to go along with the dual-threat ability of QB Brock Purdy, will be enough to buoy a steady defense, even on the road.
Adam Weinrib
The Cyclones are absolutely on fire, averaging 43.5 points against TCU and West Virginia while allowing just 19.0. They're running into another high-scoring Big 12 opponent on the road this week after a harsh L in overtime at Baylor last weekend. If the defense can regroup the way it had in previous weeks, they'll outlast this nation's hottest sports university (Mahomes, the Final Four, weird times).
Thomas Carannante
Here's the blueprint for the Red Raiders: win at home, lose on the road. There's something about Texas Tech playing on their own turf, but Iowa State won't be rolling over after their last two dominant wins over TCU and WVU. Expect a shootout with Texas Tech narrowly coming out on top because that's just the way things work in Lubbock.