2012 College Football Week 8!

Commentary:
-Half the season is over and some teams may have mailed it in already.  Quite a few probably should but others not so much.  UGA is one of those.  The dawgs' fate isn't in their own hands at the moment but it could be tonight if Florida beats South Carolina.
-The ACC is a virtual dumpster fire yet again.  Out of the national championship picture already, unless FSU can keep it rolling and not get upset again, and even then that's going to require some other teams ahead to lose a couple of times.
-The Big East has three undefeated teams in it, but hasn't made much noise yet.  It will matter more later in the season.
-The Big Ten is certainly taking a hit in the Leaders division with Ohio State and Penn State at the top.  Both teams are unable to go to the postseason this year thanks to being in trouble with the NCAA.
-Kansas State sits atop the Big 12, but for how long?  That conference has a lot of depth this year.
-Notre Dame survives Stanford on a goal line stand that some will talk about for some time.  At this point a win is a win.
-Most pundits expected Oregon and USC to be at the top of the PAC12 divisions, but few expected Oregon State.  The second half of the season out west will be fun to watch.
-Mississippi State may be undefeated in the SEC, which is nothing to laugh at, but the schedule has been kind so far.  The dogs couldn't have expected Auburn and Tennessee to suck out loud but the non-conference slate was weak.  It will get harder the rest of the way.


Cheering For:
-Ohio!  Still undefeated in the MAC and very well may run the table.

Laughing at:
-west Virginia: Why?  well that was embarrasing for the Mountaineers.  They looked completely lost against Texas Tech last week.
-Colorado: If you though the first half of the season was bad, wait for the second half.

Feeling sorry for:
-Tulane won against SMU last week so we're down to three winless teams: UMass, Southern Miss and Eastern Michigan.

Top 25
1 Notre Dame
2 Florida
3 Oregon State
4 Alabama
5 Oregon
6 Ohio State
7 Kansas State
8 Cincinnati
9 Rutgers
10 Mississippi State
11 Ohio
12 Louisville
13 LSU
13 Texas A&M
15 Western Kentucky
16 Oklahoma
17 Louisiana Tech
17 South Carolina
19 Texas Tech
20 Georgia
21 West Virginia
22 Clemson
23 USC
24 Florida
25 TCU
25 Northwestern
25 Tulsa
25 Northern Illinois


The picks:
-Virginia Tech at Clemson: Last year Clemson surprised me twice beating the Hokies in Blacksburg and Charlotte.  Virginia Tech hasn't looked good all year, the Hokies were down 20 to Duke in the first quarter last week before turning it on and throttling the Blue Devils after the first quarter ended.  Clemson hasn't had an off week yet on the field, is it time?  I see a big win here for the Tigers.  clemson by 10.
-LSU at Texas A&M: LSU showed last week that they aren't out of the picture yet.  Coming back and beating a good South Carolina team in Death Valley showed that the loss to Florida may just be that Florida is a damn fine team.  Texas A&M is no pushover and while the game is at Kyle Field, I don't think LSU will have too many issues here.  LSU by 7.
-Stanford at Cal: This is the earliest in the season that these two schools have faced each other, and the loser won't have much left to play for.  Cal is slipping and slipping badly.  Stanford will come out firing after last week's lost to Notre Dame.  Stanford wins by 10.
-South Carolina at Florida: It has been announced that Marcus Lattimore will not start for the Gamecocks, but will play throughout the game.  South Carolina has not looked good on the road at all this year, Florida has been incredibly tough at home.  If the game were in Columbia this would be a win for the Gamecocks.  It isn't and it won't be.  Florida by 7.
-Nebraska at Northwestern: The last time Nebraska visited Northwestern the Great Depression was on.  While the economy isn't exactly doing well these days I think its a bit better.  Northwestern won that game in 1931.  Northwestern won last year too in Lincoln.  I don't think that holds true today though.  Nebraska by 3.
-BYU at Notre Dame: Notre Dame comes in after a tough win against Stanford last week that came down to a goal line stand in overtime.  The Irish may be drained a bit but I don't think it will matter.  BYU isn't good on the road.  Notre Dame by 10.
-Michigan State at Michigan: Both teams have had disappointing seasons so far.  Both got shutdown by Notre Dame, Michigan got beat bad by Alabama, Michigan State had two close losses to Ohio State and Iowa.  Both need a big rebound.  Michigan is still undefeated in Big Ten play but I think that ends now.  Michigan State has won four in a row and it continues until proven otherwise.  Michigan State by 3.
-North Carolina at Duke: Both teams come into this game with a winning record, which I think is a first in a very long time.  North Carolina is coming off a big win on the road against Miami, Duke is coming off a loss to Virginia Tech.  North Carolina has owned the series as of late and I don't pick against streaks.  UNC by 14.
-Kansas State at West Virginia: West Virginia was absolutely shut down last week against Texas Tech and is hoping for a big rebound.  The team didn't forget how to pass but Texas Tech figured out how to stop them.  Overall Kansas State has a stout defense but the numbers don't show a good pass defense.  It will be put to the test today.  Kansas State finds ways to win games like this though.  K-State by 10.
-Alabama at Tennessee: Alabama has been unstoppable.  Tennessee can't stop anybody.  On paper this looks like an easy win.  Games aren't played on paper, they're played on a field.  Tennessee will surprise some with some passing offense, something Alabama hasn't seen much of yet.  It won't be enough though.  Alabama will score with ease and win by 14.
-Baylor at Texas: Between 1998 and 2009 Texas won twelve in a row in this series.  Baylor has won the past two though!  Texas comes in after an embarrasing loss to Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl last week.  A hangover will mean two in a row for the Longhorns as Baylor will light them up.  Will that happen?  I believe so.  Baylor by 10.
-Florida State at Miami: some say this rivalry has lost some luster.  Okay it isn't as big nationally as it used to be, but don't tell the players that.  Jimbo Fisher's FSU teams haven't lost to Miami yet, and I don't see that changing.  FSU comes in after shelling Boston College, Miami comes in with two straight losses to Notre Dame and North Carolina.  FSU wins this one by 4.