Week 8 College Football Predictions: Penn State and Teams That Will Explode

It’s already Week 8 of the 2011 college football season, and if we don’t start savoring our fall football, it will be gone before we know it.

With the season getting down to the nitty-gritty, there are teams on the edge of serious bowl consideration looking to prove that they deserve respect from both the voters and the BCS computers.

Whether it’s the easy matchup or the potential for a marquee matchup, the following teams are ready to explode back into the American lexicon as top teams.

Penn State

The Penn State Nittany Lions are a stellar 6-1 this season, with a 3-0 record in the Big Ten and their only loss coming to the SEC juggernaut, Alabama's Crimson Tide.

While the questions at quarterback have clouded the future of the team, it’s the outstanding play of the defense that has kept them in every game this season.

With a matchup against a terrible Northwestern team, Penn State has a chance to show the dominance they can manifest, and they will send a message to the rest of their schedule with a big win.

Notre Dame

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have one of the biggest games of the season Saturday, and a victory will show the college football world that they are for real.

USC may be on probation from playing in any bowls, but they are still a tough team that will be a great measuring stick for the Fighting Irish.

If Notre Dame hands the Trojans a lopsided victory, they will be heavily considered one of the best two-loss teams in the nation.

Stanford

The Stanford Cardinals have one of the greatest weapons in college football history with Andrew Luck, and a meeting against a Washington team that can't stop a nosebleed will get ugly.

Luck is heavily campaigning for a Heisman trophy selection, but not with his mouth—instead, with his electric arm.

If the Cardinals' dangerous defense can stop the Washington offense—which has no problem putting points on the board—Luck will have no problem picking apart their porous defense and securing a victory.

Check back for more on the NCAA Football as it comes, and check out Bleacher Report’s College Football Page to get your fill of College Football.

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