College Football's 10 Games That Are Great in Week Eight

If Boise State wants a chance to play for a national championship, then the Broncos could not have been pleased with UTEP's upset of Tulsa Wednesday night.

Then again, maybe UTEP isn't that bad. It is the only team this season to defeat Houston. Texas Tech, Mississippi State, and Oklahoma State couldn't beat the Cougars, but UTEP did. Go figure.

In the meantime, Boise should have no problem when it travels way west to play at Hawaii Saturday night. Earlier Saturday, the Idaho Vandals travel to Nevada as they try to keep their impressive season going and stay unbeaten in the WAC.

Boise State and Idaho meet Nov. 14 in a game that could have more hype than ever before.

But back to this week.

The only matchup of ranked teams is between a pair of Mountain West Conference rivals. That doesn't mean other ranked teams won't be tested.

That list includes No. 3 Texas, which heads north to face Missouri, and No. 11 Oregon, which is also on the road in Seattle to take on the Washington Huskies.

Boston College-Notre Dame is also this weekend, and the loser may never return to the BCS Top 25 rankings.

Here are my top 10 games of Week Eight of the college football season (All times Eastern).

10. Connecticut at No. 23 West Virginia, Saturday, noon

It's probably good for the UConn Huskies to not be at home this weekend. The murder of Jasper Howard (pictured) undoubtedly makes the campus a hard place to navigate on a daily basis for the players. A trip to Morgantown may be just the distraction they need to help with the healing process.

Losing Howard is a big blow to the UConn defense, which will be tested against West Virginia playmakers Noel Devine, Jock Sanders, and Jarrett Brown.

UConn will either play inspired football to honor Howard's memory, or they'll be distracted by his death, and get blown out on the road. I'm hoping for the former. UConn has never beaten West Virginia in five meetings.

9. South Florida at No. 20 Pittsburgh, Saturday, noon

The Panthers are 6-1 and a perfect 3-0 atop the Big East standings. Pitt hasn't been 7-1 in almost 30 years, and will receive a stiff test from USF's stellar defense, led by All-American defensive end George Selvie (pictured).

The Panthers are where they are because of the play of a senior and a freshman. Veteran quarterback Bill Stull has mananged the game well, and made plays when he needed to. Handing off to super frosh Dion Lewis is never a bad idea. Lewis has 918 rushing yards, and is on pace to break Tony Dorsett's freshman school record.

8. Tennessee at No. 2 Alabama, Saturday, 3:30

Lane Kiffin vs. Nick Saban. That is enough to make you want to watch right there. Unfortunately for the Vols, it's not coach versus coach, mano y mano. It's the players for the Volunteers against the Crimson Tide.

Many people think Alabama is the best team in the country, yours truly included. Tennessee bottled up Mark Ingram last year, holding the then freshman to just one yard on four carries. Ingram (pictured) can write his own invitation to New York if he continues his spectacular season, and leads the Crimson Tide to a dominant victory.

Trying to stop him will be Tennessee's own Heisman darkhorse, cornerback Eric Barry, who is second on the team in tackles with an interception and fumble recovery.

Alabama has playmakers all over its defense. The Tide's second-ranked defense is fourth in scoring and leads the SEC with 21 sacks and 10 interceptions. Those numbers could mean a long day for Tennessee quarterback Jonathan Crompton.

7. No. 12 Georgia Tech at Virginia, Saturday, noon

The Yellow Jackets go for the Virginia sweep in consecutive weeks. Last week, Georgia Tech upset then No. 4 Virginia Tech. This week, it will use its dominant ground game to try to keep that momentum going against the up-and-down Cavaliers.

Virginia opened the season with a 12-point loss to William & Mary, a lopsided defeat to TCU and a three-point shootout setback to Southern Miss. Since then, the Cavaliers have won three straight over two ACC opponents and a blowout of Indiana to even their record.

A win over Georgia Tech would put Virginia in the catbird seat in the ACC's Coastal Division...for now. Games against Miami, Boston College, Clemson, and Virginia Tech still remain.

6. No. 13 Penn State at Michigan, Saturday, 3:30

The Nittany Lions go on the road for just the second time in eight games when they travel to the Big House Saturday. Penn State won at hapless Illinois three weeks ago, and seem to be on a roll since their upset loss to Iowa.

Michigan is in danger of falling to 1-3 in the Big Ten with a loss, and it has history on its side. Penn State has not won at Michigan since 1996. Then again, maybe that just means Penn State is due.

Two of the Big Ten's best quarterbacks, in Michigan freshman Tate Forcier and Penn State senior Daryll Clark, square off in a game that could be decided by Penn State tailback Evan Royster (pictured).

5. Clemson at No. 10 Miami, Saturday, 3:30

The Tigers and Hurricanes meet up for the first time in four years in south Florida Saturday. Clemson needs a win to right its season entering the second half.

The Tigers pose the last real test for the Hurricanes, whose season began with four straight ranked teams, but ends with none in the last six games. Miami has lost just once this season, and a win over Clemson could mean a spot in the ACC title game. Jacory Harris (pictured) will have to continue his superb play in the second half and hope for another Virginia Tech conference loss for Miami to play for a conference crown.

4. Oklahoma at No. 25 Kansas, Saturday, 3:30

Who knew that when the season began, Kansas would be in the BCS top 25, but Oklahoma would be unranked?

The Sooners are 3-3, with all three losses coming by a combined five points, and to teams currently ranked in the top 16. Kansas dropped its first game last week at Colorado, but returns to Lawrence with hopes of knocking off one of the perennial powers in the Big XII.

Todd Reesing (pictured) is on pace for over 4,000 yards, and will be the best quarterback in this game as OU QB Sam Bradford is facing possible season-ending shoulder surgery. Landry Jones has filled in nicely for Bradford, but will have to be at his best if the Sooners want to avoid their first loss to Kansas since 1997.

3. Air Force at No. 18 Utah, Saturday, 4

Utah has won three straight since its 31-24 loss at Oregon. Air Force rebounded from consecutive three-point losses to Navy and TCU to shut out Wyoming last week.

The upset-minded Falcons are always a tough out with their dominant running game.

Jared Tew, Asher Clark, and Savier Stephens give the Falcons good balance in the backfield, and quarterback Tim Jefferson can make plays with his arms and legs.

Utah is at home, and is more talented, and should win, assuming Terrance Cain (pictured) takes care of the ball. Utah has won five of the last six meetings in the series.

2. No. 6 Iowa at Michigan State, Saturday, 7

It's hard to believe Iowa is 7-0. What is even more difficult to grasp is how Iowa is a two-point road underdog against the 4-3 Spartans. Iowa owns road wins over Wisconsin and Penn State, so East Lansing should be a breeze compared to Happy Valley and Camp Randall.

Still, since Michigan State's slow start, it's won three straight over Michigan, Illinois, and Northwestern. The Spartans are 3-1 in Big Ten play with the only loss coming in Madison.

After showing a proclivity for throwing interceptions early in the year, Iowa quarterback Ricky Stanzi (pictured) has been at his best the last two weeks in wins over Michigan and Wisconsin. Stanzi's favorite target has been tight end Tony Moeaki, who has 20 catches for 247 yards and four scores.

Iowa has never been 8-0 and has lost four straight in East Lansing. Maybe that's why Michigan State is favored.

1. No. 8 TCU at No. 16 BYU, Saturday, 7:30

Strength versus strength as the nation's No. 4 defense goes against BYU's sixth-ranked offense led by quarterback Max Hall. The Cougars are scoring a lot of points, and Hall has 16 touchdown passes and more than 2,000 yards through the air. He's also thrown 10 interceptions, and, against a ball-hawking defense like TCU's, mistakes like that could spell doom for the Cougars.

TCU has won four of its six games by double digits, with the only close wins coming on the road over Clemson (14-10) and Air Force (20-17). BYU's only loss this season was at home in embarrassing fashion to Florida State.

Since then, BYU has won four in a row and is 3-0 in the Mountain West. TCU owns two conference wins and has Utah in three weeks.

A win in Provo Saturday will turn that Nov. 14 game against the Utes into a defacto conference championship, as the Horned Frogs want to keep their BCS hopes alive.

TCU handed BYU its first loss last season, and then beat undefeated Boise State in the Poinsettia Bowl. BYU's loss dropped it from the ranks of potential BCS busters last year. The Cougars would love to do the same to TCU this season.