Heisman Watch 2011: Predicting Which Elite Players Will Falter in Week 8

After a Week 7 full of upsets, Week 8 looks to be a little more par for the course. But as far as how individual players do, that’s another story.

Some of the nation’s best will be tested like never before by their opponents this week.

Here are some of those players that may not live up to the expectations they’ve built for themselves.

Russell Wilson

While at N.C. State, Russell Wilson never played his best against the best defenses. In two games against Virginia Tech, Wilson went 36-of-75 with four interceptions.

Maybe it was because of his team, but he won’t have that excuse against Michigan State, whose defense has been considerably more impressive than any he’s seen in the ACC. He’ll have Montee Ball and James White to share the load, but if he’s required to do too much, don’t be surprised if he doesn’t hold up to the Heisman Trophy talk.

Brandon Weeden

Oklahoma State takes on Missouri this weekend, and even though the Tigers are 3-3, they are still a pretty good football team. They held Arizona State and Oklahoma to 37 and 38 points, respectively, and the Cowboys' defense is not as good as those teams’ defenses.

This game is also being played at Missouri, and they gave up 33 and 29 points in both road games this year. This game will likely be a lot closer than people think.

Matt Barkley

Notre Dame’s defense has been absolutely outstanding this season, considering how many turnovers they were committing early in the season.

USC has only played teams ranked in the bottom half of the country in passing yards allowed per game, and against the two best defenses they faced, Matt Barkley only went 40-of-68 for 422 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. Compared to his 68% completion rate, 16 touchdowns, four touchdowns and 297 yards per game average on the season, that is not very good.

Expect one of those kinds of games against the Irish.