What a remarkable college football season 2014 is shaping up to be, huh? The Magnolia state is at the top of the college football world right now. The SEC West as a whole continues to amaze. The PAC-12 is deeper than it has ever been, and there is no telling which teams will survive the octagon cage matches that are the 2014 PAC-12 North and South division championship races. The B1G is suddenly resurgent, with both Michigan State and Ohio State playing well enough to challenge for a Final Four spot. Notre Dame is relevant once again, and the reigning national champion Seminoles are in turmoil, yet they continue to win, week in, and week out. So far, anyway.
| Last Week: | 7-3 | (.700) |
| Season: | 46- 24 | (.657) |
2014 Week 8 CFB Game Picks
Baylor @ West Virginia (Saturday, October 18th, 12:00 p.m., FOXS1)
Baylor travels to the always-difficult-to-play in Mountaineer Field of the West Virginia Mountaineers. Hopefully, every member of the band will be in fine form to support the home team this weekend. The Eers promise to challenge the Bears defense, which got lit up last week, despite doing (just) enough to win in Waco. Still, Petty and the Bears will survive, keeping their CFP dreams alive.
Pick: Baylor 45, West Virginia 35
Kansas State @ Oklahoma (Saturday, October 18th, 12:00 p.m., ESPN)
This game has looked like a hard-fought Sooners win since well before the season started. The smart money still likes the Sooners at home, according to the wise guys. I’m not as smart as they are—I like Bill Snyder’s Wildcats to pull the road upset.
Pick: Kansas State 28, Oklahoma 24
Virginia @ Duke (Saturday, October 18th, 12:30 p.m., ESPN3)
Surprisingly, this is a huge game in the ACC Coastal Division race. Duke helped its cause tremendously with last week’s road win at Georgia Tech. UVa is unbeaten in ACC play, and has been stout defensively all year. Expect the Blue Devils to pull this one out at home, setting up an interesting Coastal Division race for the rest of the season.
Pick: Duke 24, Virginia 20
Stanford @ Arizona State (Saturday, October 18th, 10:30 p.m., ESPN)
Does anyone believe that either of these teams can go unbeaten in conference play from Week 9 until the end of the regular season? I don’t, which makes this game a conference division elimination game for each squad. Home field hasn’t meant squat in the PAC-12 this season, with the road teams having a 14-4 advantage in conference games through Week 7. That doesn’t make sense, but picking the team with the best scoring (8.8 ppg) and yards-per-play defense in the nation does.
Pick: Stanford 28, Arizona State 20
Texas A&M @ Alabama (Saturday, October 18th, 3:30 p.m. CBS)
This week’s SECW battle royale happens in Tuscaloosa, with the reeling Aggies visiting the Crimson Tide, and its aggrieved head coach. This will not be easy for the home team, but they have enough to get it done this week to stay in the division race.
Pick: Alabama 31, Texas A&M 17
Oklahoma State @ TCU (Saturday, October 18th, 4:00 p.m., FOXS1)
Tough beat last week for the Horned Frogs in Waco. How will they respond to such a bitter disappointment? Gary Patterson should have his guys ready to play back at Amon Carter Stadium, with the knowledge that the Big-12 race isn’t over just yet.
Pick: TCU 38, Oklahoma State 31
Tennessee @ Mississippi (Saturday, October 18th, 7:00 p.m., ESPN)
Ole Miss is in a potential double-letdown situation this weekend. Still, they get to play at home at Vaught-Hemingway, and that defense is still nasty and has a lot of pride. Expect Tennessee to play with tenacity, as Butch Jones’ teams always do, but expect the Rebels superior talent to prevail.
Pick: Mississippi 24, Tennessee 13
Nebraska @ Northwestern (Saturday, October 18th, 7:30 p.m. BTN)
This is a tricky game for Nebraska, against one of the more puzzling teams in the nation in Northwestern. Home field hasn’t mattered as much with the Wildcats as one would expect, but the Cornhuskers haven’t looked good on the road either. Expect the superior talent to control the lines of scrimmage in this one, and for Nebraska to scratch out a much-needed conference win.
Pick: Nebraska 28, Northwestern 21
Notre Dame @ Florida State (Saturday, October 18th, 10:30 p.m., ABC)
National game of the week will be in the Florida panhandle, and it brings lots of questions with it. Will FSU finally succumb to the distractions following the team’s star QB around? Can Notre Dame win its first true road game of the season (side note: how is that even possible, in Week 8? Can we have someone look into this?)? Will Everett Golson be able to eliminate the turnovers that have crept into his game? The last question is the most crucial one. I like the Seminoles at home, assuming that Winston plays.
Pick: Florida State 31, Notre Dame 21
Washington @ Oregon (Saturday, October 18th, 8:00 p.m., FOXS1)
The Quack Attack righted the ship last week, with a total dismantling of UCLA in Pasadena. UDub will come to Eugene with Shaq Thompson and a stout defense, and will believe it can win in Autzen Stadium, as Arizona did a couple of weeks ago. Belief won’t be enough on Saturday, as Oregon’s improved offensive line play will give Marcus Mariota the time he needs to excel once again.
Pick: Oregon 38, Washington 21
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