Buell's Eye: Week Eight's College Football Picks

Love it or hate it, the BCS is upon us.

Love them or hate them, the Florida Gators remain ranked at the top.

Alabama may have jumped over the Gators in the Associated Press Poll, but come the middle of the season, the BCS Standings undeniably take precedence.

Last weekend featured the No. 4 and No. 7 team falling out of the Top 10 after upset losses while Kansas fell from the list of unbeaten schools by losing to a 1-4 Colorado Buffalo team.

Just like with this upcoming weekend, Week Seven provided many toss-up matchups, leading to my 12-6 record and 114-30, overall.

Seven unbeatens remain, one will fall on Saturday, and five upsets overall will take place as the BCS Standings arrive just in time to get completely reshuffled.

Week Eight's Bye Weeks

No. 14 Virginia Tech Hokies and No. 21 Wisconsin Badgers both head into their bye week with a 5-2 record and have the privilege of having extra time to think about their season-wrecking losses last weekend.

However, they are both still on the radar, in the rankings, and have scheduled conference games against North Carolina and Purdue.

No. 25 Kansas Jayhawks (5-1) vs. Oklahoma Sooners (3-3)

The sidelines have gotten the majority of the headlines in an Oklahoma season that "should have been."

From one letdown to the other, Kansas tries to regroup after losing its first game of the season in last week's upset loss at Colorado.

The Sooners win without Bradford, "upsetting" the Jayhawks 30-24.

No. 24 South Carolina Gamecocks (5-2) vs. Vanderbilt Commodores (2-5)

Hey, you've got to hand it to South Carolina; they showed up to play last week against Alabama.

The only problem is that Alabama and Florida appear to be headed to another SEC Championship showdown, showcasing the two best programs in the country as the winner will be the certain favorite in the BCS Championship.

Yet, South Carolina is good, and better than most people originally gave them credit for, including myself.

The Gamecocks improve their record to 6-2 after a 31-14 beating over Vandy on Saturday night.

No. 23 West Virginia Mountaineers (5-1) vs. Connecticut Huskies (4-2)

After such a tragic loss in the death of UConn's cornerback, Jasper Howard, I believe West Virginia will simply be playing the wrong team at the wrong time this weekend, just after hitting the rankings for the first time this season.

A team can have no higher inspiration than playing in the absence of a fallen teammate, just after he has fallen.

This weekend, the Huskies take the memory of Mr. Howard with them on the road to West Virginia, coming away with the upset victory over the Mountaineers 28-24.

No. 22 Arizona Wildcats (4-2) vs. UCLA Bruins (3-3)

Arizona is making noise out West and UCLA is streaky after winning their first three games only to follow it up with a three-game losing streak heading into Week Eight
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Arizona wins in a close one as UCLA continues to slide 27-20.

No. 20 Pittsburgh Panthers (6-1) vs. South Florida Bulls (5-1)

This is not the first time I have been forced to ask this question, but is the Big East Conference the most competitive in college football?

We constantly try and say they're finally having a down year as a conference but all they do is continue to produce Top-25 programs as they beat each other up, week in and week out.

One of this week's heavyweight bouts features Pitt in one corner, looking to continue creeping toward the top, and South Florida in the other, hoping to bounce back after suffering their first defeat of the season against Cincinnati last Thursday night.

In a fight that goes to the final bell, the Panthers keep rolling as they take down the Bulls 21-18.

No. 19 Ohio State Buckeyes (5-2) vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-3)

There really isn't much to say here.

But, seriously, what was that, Ohio State?

The Buckeyes have seemed to have their destiny in their owns hands every season this decade as they sit comfortably in their usual broken-in chair known as the Top 10.

Losing to Purdue last Saturday was all it took to get that chair pulled right out from under them.

Now, I just feel bad for Minnesota.

The Buckeyes look to bounce back in Week Eight against the Golden Gophers, and although I'm picking it close, this one has the ability to get out of hand in the second half.

Ohio State gets back to their winning ways over Minnesota 24-17.

No. 18 Utah Utes (5-1) vs. Air Force Falcons (4-3)

The Air Force Academy tried to steal a win against Texas Christian earlier this season and try to do the same against another ranked opponent in Week Eight, the Utah Utes.

Utah has other plans, however, as they clip the Falcons 30-20.

No. 17 Houston Cougars (5-1) vs. Southern Methodist Mustangs (3-3)

Houston remains on "prove it to me" watch as they welcome Southern Methodist to their home field this weekend.

The Cougars take another step on their uphill climb, taking down the Mustangs 38-24.

No. 15 Oklahoma State Cowboys (5-1) @ Baylor Bears (3-3)

I'm fairly certain that Oklahoma State is aware that they take on Texas in two weeks.

However, I don't see them looking ahead as they travel to Baylor this weekend.
The Cowboys win easily against the Bears 37-20.

No. 13 Penn State Nittany Lions (6-1) @ Michigan Wolverines (5-2)

This one tends to be a close one.

And a good one.

"The Big House" has gotten some swagger back this season, and it welcomes in the No. 13 Nittany Lions as its guests Saturday afternoon.

In what will prove to be a very entertaining game, Michigan earns the upset win at home over Penn State 31-27.

No. 12 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (6-1) @ Virginia Cavaliers (3-3)

A giant win over a Top-5 program in Week Seven has Georgia Tech thinking big things again in Week Eight.

They may be on the outside looking in when it comes to a Top-10 ranking for the moment, but the Yellow Jackets are in prime location to still have their say in National Title talk this season.

Tech looks to add to the conversation with a win over Virginia this Saturday as they take this one 36-24.

No. 11 Oregon Ducks (5-1) @ Washington Huskies (3-4)

Oregon has not let up or looked back after their opening week blunder versus Boise State.

A tough task lies in Week Eight, however, as the Ducks swim upstream to an improved Washington team.

Washington hangs around for a while but Oregon pulls away 42-24.

No. 10 Miami Hurricanes (5-1) vs. Clemson Tigers (3-3)

In one of my favorite matchups of the weekend, two explosive and electric offenses take the field in this ACC showdown.

However, the defenses actually make an appearance as Miami outlasts Clemson 20-13.

No. 9 LSU Tigers (5-1) vs. Auburn Tigers (5-2)

Yes, Auburn was looking ahead in their home loss to the Kentucky Wildcats. Kentucky is a decent opponent, and LSU is very good.

Yet, in the end, Auburn walks away victorious this weekend, upsetting the LSU Tigers 28-23.

No. 8 Texas Christian Horned Frogs (6-0) @ No. 16 Brigham Young Cougars (6-1)

And then there were six.

TCU has been working all season long to climb their way to the top of the college football rankings.

Traveling to Brigham Young on Saturday will prove to be the end of their climb as the Cougars step on the Horned Frogs, handing them their first loss of the 2009 season by the final score of 33-30.

No. 7 USC Trojans (5-1) vs. Oregon State Beavers (4-2)

Fortunately, USC has already had their usual midseason loss to an unranked opponent this season, so they have nothing to worry about with Oregon State this time around, right?

Right.

The Trojans get their revenge over the Beavers 31-21.

No. 6 Iowa Hawkeyes (7-0) @ Michigan State Spartans (4-3)

Well, I keep picking against the Iowa Hawkeyes and they just keep winning.

And, although I am still suspicious, there is no denying that as the Hawkeyes sit at the No. 6 ranking heading into Week Eight, they are right in the thick of the national title picture.

East Lansing can prove to be a dangerous place to play, especially for ranked opponents taking a scenic trip there for the weekend.

Iowa wins again, however, over the Spartans 21-10.

No. 5 Cincinnati Bearcats (6-0) vs. Louisville Cardinals

Cincinnati may be without their starting quarterback, Tony Pike, this weekend against Louisville, and either way, I'm expecting a game.

The Cardinals may only be sporting a lackluster 2-4 record heading into this one, but here comes that competitive Big East Conference again.

Cincinnati hangs on in a tight one over Louisville 27-24.

No. 4 Boise State Broncos (6-0) @ Hawaii Warriors (2-4)

Don't look now, but after Virginia Tech fell out of the Top 5 in their upset loss last weekend, Boise State moves up yet again to No. 4.

The Broncos look to keep moving as they travel across the water to Hawaii Saturday night.

Boise State wins comfortably over Hawaii 45-28.

No. 3 Texas Longhorns (6-0) @ Missouri Tigers (4-2)

Statement game.

The two SEC teams ahead of Texas seem to be lightyears ahead right now.

A big time win on the road against a top-tier opponent would do wonders for the Longhorns and the health of Colt McCoy's wrist will be key.

Texas earns that win Saturday night over Missouri 38-27.

No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide (7-0) vs. Tennessee Volunteers (3-3)

Alabama has been up to the challenge each week so far in this 2009 season.

Welcome in the next one, because Tennessee will be showing up in Week Eight.

The home field advantage will play major role in the outcome of this matchup as Alabama, as they have all season, keeps rolling with a 20-14 victory over the Volunteers.

No. 1 Florida Gators (6-0) @ Mississippi State Bulldogs (3-4)

Though they may not be ranked or even hold winning records currently, the opponents that both No. 1 Florida and No. 2 Alabama are facing this weekend are not to be taken lightly.

After all, we are dealing with the best conference in College Football yet again this season.

However, Florida also wins again in Week Eight, 34-13 as they continue to extend the nation's longest winning streak.