Predictions For Week 8 (Bye Week Part 2)

Husker Mike: You know, I wish we had last week’s lineup of games this weekend for the bye.  Doesn’t matter to me personally, though...I’ve got family things booked solid this weekend, so I won’t be seeing much football, though.

James: You crazy Husker Mike. This week isn’t bad at all. No six-major-game window like last week, but that was after the Huskers played anyway. I see Mizzou / Florida, along with some lesser but interesting SEC / Big XII / B1G matchups. Then at 2:30, UCLA / Stan and Auburn / aTm, plus Iowa / Ohio State and Indiana / Michigan. Evening games include Washington / Arizona State in a good battle for 5th place PAC-12 team, Arkansas / Bama in the continuing #karma beatdown, LSU / Ole Miss, USC / Notre Dame, and the big Top 5 FSU / Clemson. I’m jazzed about the games this week.

Cobby: STILL RECOVERING FROM LAST SATURDAY. 11AM KICKOFFS ARE A STONE COLD BITCH. STARTED TAILGATING SOLO IN A TANNER’S PARKING LOT BECAUSE SOME GODDAMNED BAR OWNERS WON’T OPEN THOSE DOORS AT 7:30AM LIKE THEY SHOULD ON THOSE DAYS. YOUR PATRONS ARE PUSSIES BY THE WAY - YOU’D THINK THEY’D NEVER SEEN A GIANT EAR OF CORN VOMIT ON THE WALL AT 10:55AM. ANYWAY, I TOOK TO CC IN THE 3RD QUARTER & QUITE FRANKLY REMEMBER LITTLE ELSE OF PURDUE WEEKEND.

Andy: I never thought I’d say this but thank god for a top-notch ACC game. Florida/Misery is overrated. Utah took the luster of UCLA’s impending victory. Indiana/Michigan might be a good game if mid-tier Big 10 games pop your chub. Which leaves cheering for a Domer loss to slightly less mediocre Southern Cal as the #2 highlight. OK, maybe I’m just grumpy today. Screw it, it still beats yard work.

Salt Creek: I’m running a half-marathon on Sunday because I suffer from bouts of insanity. So like an AP voter, I’ll be going to bed before all of the games are played. Looking at the weekend’s slate, I agree that there’s a lot of potential for some great games, but the majority of the teams involved are ones that are always ready with a great letdown. Should still be fun though.

Ty: I’ll be coaching our conference tourney on Saturday, but I should catch the early and latest games.  I agree with most of the above, there should be some intriguing match-ups this week.  I like where the top of the ACC is, heck, even UNC put up a great game against Miami in the Thursday Night spotlight.

Brian: I have a burning urge to drive the hour south to my house to check out Baylor/Iowa State. It’s probably the cheapest a Floyd Casey game will be the rest of the year. BTW, one game here not mentioned but you should keep an eye on? Charleston Southern vs Colorado. One would think that the Buffs should win this game, but not only have the hosts lost three in a row, the Buccaneers are undefeated (7-0) and are the cream of the Big South so far.

David: I’m running late with this… ***Insert witty quote about it being a bye week and my friends feeling that’s high time to schedule their events whereby disallowing me to watch as much football as I should be entitled to on such occasions...grumble, grumble, grumble*** here.

Florida State (-2.5) at Clemson

Husker Mike: This has to be the weekend for Clemson to do Clemson type of things, right?  Right?  Especially with Jameis Winston leading the Florida State offense.  Free Shoes 45, Clempson 31

Jon J: Hate to say this about Clemson, but this appears to be one helluva game in the making. Winston vs Tajh Boyd. Florida State has played no one - the Maryland matchup was supposed to be a game, but turned into a 63-0 ass kicking. Clemson has at least played Georgia at full strength and won 38-35. What’s that all mean? I have no idea. Who makes the mistakes, the turnovers? The freshman sensation or the senior NFL draft prospect. Screw it, it’s Clempson. Florida State 38, Clempson 35

James: I can’t see FSU losing. But both of these teams are known for blowing big games in recent years. Who does it here? My guess is Clemson. But man, this game has everything, battle for a conference, national title implications, two hot QBs. Must see TV. Florida State by 10.

Cobby: NOW DIS HERE GONE BE A FREE ROAD TRIP!! I’M TYPING THIS ON MY PHONE WAITING FOR A GREYHOUND TRANSFER IN PADUCAH AND THANKING THE MAKER FOR FREQUENT RIDER MILES & ROLLING WI-FI!! I LOVE ME THOSE CLIMPSON PEOPLE. ALL THE YEARS I’VE BEEN GOING THERE & I’VE YET TO UNDERSTAND A SINGLE WORD OUT OF THEIR MOUTHS. A DEBATE BETWEEN THEM & LSU FANS WOULD SOUND LIKE A BANJO SWORD FIGHT. FSU 37 CLEMSON 25

Andy: Pretty simple rule of college football thumb for me - until you don’t piss your Depends in crunch time, I’m not picking you. See Georgia vs. Florida anytime they’re undefeated. See Florida St. hook them against Miami until the early 90’s. Or see Clemson against anyone meaningful for the last 30 years. (Addendum: Week 1 is not crunch time) FSU 44 Clemson 31

Aaron: Clemson has looked terrible the past couple weeks. Florida State has looked like world beaters. However, until FSU proves that they won’t crap the bed once a year, I won’t pick them in a game like this. I like Clemson at home.

Salt Creek: This should be interesting. It’ll definitely indicate how far away from the rest of the conference Clemson really is. My guess is, they’re slightly better than the public would like to admit. I think Florida State takes a tumble here and people start taking Clemson seriously. Look for Winston to have a bad outing representative of a freshman QB.

Nathaniel: Boston College held a lead over Clemson for 3.5 quarters.  Florida State isn’t Boston College.  Seminoles 38 Tigers 28

Mister Mike: The battle between a definite 2014 high round draft pick in Tajh Boyd and potential high round draft pick and current superstar Jameis Winston should be fun to see.  Boyd has more weapons around him than Winston does, but hell...Jameis is gonna Winston...or something.  We’ll finally be able to see if FSU’s for real, but I’m going with Boyd and the Tigers here.  Too much experience.  Clemson 34 Noles 27.

Ty: At Clemson?  You kidding me?  That place will be NUTS!  Both teams look like they’re for real, but I have to take the home team, as they’ve been more tested.  Lower scoring, though.  21-17 Clemson.

Brian: Game of the week here. First top 5 AP meeting in the ACC in over, what, a decade? There’s nothing that anyone above hasn’t said that I can add. I just want a good game. I do think that playing Georgia has helped Clemson, and the fact that it’s a home game will be pretty good. Winston is going to struggle, but Tahj Boyd will also. I just think Clemson finally gets over that hump and wins.

David: Death Valley will be rocking, this would be an awesome place to be on Saturday.  I wish I could go to this one.  I look for the Tigers to ride that wave, get off to a fast start and hold on for dear life.  This will be Clemson’s break out game, I don’t know who they have after this week, but that could be a major let down game for them.  I think they get it done this week, but it’s Tigers beware next.  Clemson 38, FSU 34

Florida (-3) at Missouri

Husker Mike: Have to wonder what Mizzou fans are thinking about the SEC now.  This week, the undefeated Tigers take on Florida...and the game is on a handful of syndicated TV stations in the southeast and online.  My pal AJ likes to rag on BTN, but that would never happen in the B1G.  But with James Franklin out, the clock strikes 12 o’clock in the first quarter and Cinderella’s carriage becomes a pumpkin.  G8rs 24, Mizery 16

Jon: Missouri’s James Franklin is out, so they’ll go with redshirt freshman Maty Mauk. At least it’s in Columbia. I can see a Gator defense eating the new guy alive. Florida 21, Missouri 17

James: Missouri has a back-up QB against Florida’s defense. The line is factoring the injury, obviously, as I think Mizzou would be favored otherwise. Tough call, but I think the pick is Florida by a TD.

COBBY: WAIT. HAS FLORIDA EVER BEEN THIS FAR OUT OF SEC TERRITORY? TRAVELING TO MISSOURI IS LIKE THE WORM IN MY TEQUILA MAKING ITS WAY OUT OF THE BOTTLE AND INTO MY GIN. THE TRAVEL WILL KILL THE GATORS AND MISSOURA WILL BE THINKING ABOUT ATLANTA IN DECEMBER.

Salt Creek: No Franklin, no win for the Tigers. Take the Gators here, by two TDs - both from their defense. Missouri starts their three week tumble back into obscurity while Franklin sits in rehab.

Andy: Florida’s not very good & Misery’s not exactly a big picture program that moves on to the next challenge instead of howling incessantly about the big one they just won. Florida’s not as good, but they are mostly healthy. Driskel being injured counts as healthy for the Gators. And no James Franklin vs. the Florida D will be ugly.If the two fanbases stood tall and decided to murder each other, college football would be the big winner. Flo-Ri-DA 24 Misery 3

Aaron: All Missouri needs to do is score 20 points. Why not? Missouri 21, Florida 13

Nathaniel: Florida has a good defense but no offense.  I think Missouri keeps it close but I gotta feeling Florida gets some keep points on defense and pulls this one out.  Gators 21 Tigers 20

Mister Mike: This game would’ve been far more intriguing if Franklin was playing QB for Mizzou.  But he’s not.  So...yeah.  Florida too much for the Tigers to overcome with a back-up calling the shots.  Take Florida and give the points.

Ty:  I want to pick against Florida, it’s an old bias, but I’ll take the Gators to beat the Tigers, even if this is the farthest north they’ve had to travel since…  I actually don’t know, but it’s been a long time…  UF 38, Mizzou 21

Brian: So much for thinking that Mizzou would crap their pants last week, as that was a solid win. But no Franklin will matter tremendously. The Gators win and knock Mizzou from the unbeatens, saving all our sanity, for the week anyways.

David: How good is Mizzou?  They beat up a banged up Georgia team last week and now get the SEC’s version of Michigan State.  It’s going to be wierd to see Florida playing at Mizzou.  I just don’t think the Tigers, in the end, will be able to figure things out with the loss of Franklin this quickly.  Gators 17, Tigers 10

UCLA (+5) at Stanford

Husker Mike: Me thinks Stanford is going to be pissed after getting upset last week. But I suspect UCLA is for real. Of course, that’s probably wishful thinking on my part.  Still, UCLA 38, Stanford 35

Jon: UCLA seems to be that team that’s almost there and they seem poised on the edge of greatness. Win this game and head into Eugene, Oregon undefeated and possibly ranked in the top five. Lose and you’re looking at two losses in a row against top competition. I’ll take UCLA on the road - they want to jump that chasm to greatness. UCLA 38 Stanford 35

James: Stanford rebounds BIG time and shoves UCLA all over the field. The Bruins make enough explosive plays to stay in it, but Stanford covers, winning by a touchdown.

Salt Creek: Give me the Tree here - UCLA doesn’t have the discipline on the line to take Stanford on the road.

Cobby: I ALWAYS WANTED TO THROW DOWN WITH THAT PISSANT TREE MASCOT. SEEMED LIKE EVERY TIME I TURNED ON BLOOPERS 15 YEARS AGO, HE WAS GETTING HIS ASS HANDED TO HIM BY THE CAL BEAR. I FIGURED IF HE CAN BE A TREE, COBBY CAN BE PAUL BUNYAN BY GOD. GOT NEAR HIM ONCE WHEN HE WAS ON THE ROAD IN TEMPE, BUT NO - OF COURSE, STADIUM SECURITY SAW ME JOGGING UP WITH THE HATCHET. ANOTHER FUCKING STADIUM EJECTION FOR ME AND NO BLOOD-COVERED FIREWOOD FOR THE STOVE THAT NIGHT. TREE/CARDINALS 30 JUICY-LA 27

Andy: I know the smart money says Stanford rebounds & UCLA isn’t quite all that, but I’m saying that Stanford’s defense has holes. Big ones. Bruins 42 Bird 27

Aaron: Stanford goes on lockdown mode this week. Cardinal 24, UCLA 21

Nathaniel: Very very very intriguing Pac 12 matchup.  Both defenses haven’t been convincing this season so I think it will come down to which offense shows up.  UCLA 31 Stanford 27

Mister Mike: This is the kind of game that can give odds-makers fits, but that just means it’ll be fun to watch.  The Tree already faced a similar offense in Washington, run by a better QB, better RB, and of course Austin Seafarin Jenkins and won that game.  Take Tree and give the points.

Ty: I’d hate to roll into Palo Alto after they lost to an inferior (or are they?) Utah team.  UCLA showed, against us, that there are ways to score.  I think Stanford finished the job.  Stanford 35, UCLA 17

Brian: Definitely didn’t see Stanford’s egg last week coming, but I think a lot of folks didn’t. It’s hard to pick a road team against the Cardinal, but UCLA is pretty hot after smoking Cal last week. I don’t like to pick against the home team here, so I won’t. Stanford bounces back and wins against the Bruins.

David: Man, another intriguing game. This game’s at Stanford, and despite their disappointing effort recently, I like them at home.  UCLA puts up a fight, but Stanford does what the Huskers couldn’t and gets it done late.  Cardinal 31, UCLA 27

Southern Cal (+3) at Notre Dame

Husker Mike: I suspect this wasn’t the game that NBC was hoping for. I suspect that Ed Orgeron will have the Trojans better prepared than the Fahting Amish.  Trojans 38, Amish 29

Jon: Also rans. Ed Orgeron seems to have energized this team and they have all the athletes they need. USC 31, Notre Dame 21

James: I like Notre Dame here. At home, big game, on the road for USC. It won’t be as loose and fun for them, and Notre Dame will be looking to make a statement after an interesting few weeks. Notre Dame wins by 4.

Salt Creek: Ed Orgeron solidifes his candidacy for the Trojan job (or a head coach job elsewhere) with a ten point win over Southern Cal. Brian Kelly does his usual sideline explosions and ESPN/NBC/National Media continue to ignore it.

Cobby: BIG ED IS RIGHT THERE WITH LES MILES WHEN IT COMES TO BEING A CRAZY SONOFABITCH. HE’S HAD TO "DISASSOCIATE" HIMSELF FROM ME SINCE OLE MISS MADE HIM HEAD MAN BECAUSE A HEAD MAN HAS TO "BE AWARE OF HIS REPUTATION". BUT BACK IN THE DAY, HE USED TO MAKE A HELL OF A SUMO PARTNER AT BIG EARL’S DRAFT HOUSE. AND, BOYS & GIRLS, THIS WAS NOT BAR SUMO WRASSLING IN THE FAT SUITS. IT WAS CLOTHES OFF EXCEPT FOR THEM JAPANESE NUT COVER TOWELS THE TOKYO FAT BOYS WEAR. AND AT BIG EARL’S, YOU GET BILLY CLUBS. MR. ORGERON SAVED COBBY’S ASS ON MORE THAN  ONE OCCASION, LET ME TELL YOU.

USC 24 NOTRE DAME 23

Andy: Just the absence of Lane Kiffin makes for 10 point swing in any line. I don’t think I’ll ever see anything like Kiffin somehow managing to kill about 5 minutes of clock AND fail to score inside the 5 while trailing. I tried drinking 8 shots of Sailor Jerry and recreating this on Playstation with Akron vs. Alabama while my dog decided her nose belonged stuffed in my armpit and I couldn’t do it. You can’t put a price on that kind of stupidity. Ed Orgeron may not be a Rhodes Scholar, but Pat haden is & he let that nonsense go on for years before bloodying Kiffin on the tarmac. Oh & Notre Dame still sucks. USC 28 Domers 17

Aaron: USC 35, Notre Dame 17. Not sure why Vegas has Notre Dame as the favorite.

Nathaniel: Notre Dame is Notre Dame.  Need I say more?  Trojans 31 Irish 21

Mister Mike: Notre Dame doesn’t appear to be even half the team they were last year, and USC is better without Kiffin, even if it is Ol’ Ed is coaching them.  USC by a TD.

Ty: Are there even real rivalries?  Okay, silly question, I know, but is this as big as ESPN and others would have us believe?  I’m taking Notre Dame, I think USC’s still to out of sorts.  Domers 24, Trojans 21

Brian: Ed Orgeron was quoted this week talking about the game: "WEHELL WEERRE GONNNA BEE GON ON DAT TROAD PLAING THEM CATOLIC BOYES AND HOO WEE THEY GOT WHITE A CASTLE THERERR THOSE ONONS ARE TASTEEE"... and now you know why 1) Ole Miss fans just hid their ears, and 2) I’m picking Notre Dame.

David: Yeah, I’m not gonna watch this game. Well, maybe I’ll switch over if it’s close late in the 4th, but even then, I probably still won’t.  USC 24, ND 20

Indiana (+10.5) at Michigan

Husker Mike: If Michigan can’t run the ball on Indiana, the Weasels might as well fire Brady Hoke now.  Some people want to make the claim that Indiana > Penn State > Michigan, but the transitive property doesn’t apply to football.  Not this week, anyway.  Weasels 38, HoosierDaddy 24

Jon: Michigan has played horrible to start games, and has had to come back. If Indiana’s offense can get on track early, they can make this a miserable game for the Wolverines. The Hoosiers haven’t won at Ann Arbor since 1967. Can you imagine the melt down from Michigan fans if they lose? I’m picking the Hoosiers just out of hope to see that. Indiana 42, Michigan 31

James: Michigan bounces back here and plays mean. Indiana’s defense isn’t nearly what Penn State’s is (even with the sanctions), and Michigan has no trouble moving the ball this week. They slow down Indiana enough and take this by 14.

Salt Creek: I’m expecting a comedy of errors in this game, at least early. But Michigan has been good enough at home, even if they’re a wreck everywhere else. Give me the Wolverines by a TD but Indiana makes it clear that the Big Ten East may be more uncomfortable for Michigan and Ohio State than they had originally expected.

Cobby: MICHIGAN FANS SPEND THEIR WHOLE LIVES BEHAVING LIKE 19-YEAR-OLDS ANYWHERE ALCOHOL IS MADE AVAILABLE. OF COURSE, SAME FOR OHIO ST, EXCEPT SUBSTITUTE "BLUE COLLAR FELONS" FOR "19 YEAR OLDS"  HOOSIERS 31 WOLVEN THINGS 27

Andy: The thing I like best about Michigan fans, other than nothing, is that if you start presenting sound statistical arguments about why 1997 Nebraska would have clobbered 1997 Michigan, they react about the same way as the 7-Minute Abs guy from "Something About Mary" did when Ben Stiller suggested 6-Minute Abs. "WHAT? (twitch, twitch, twitch) NOOOO!!! Brian Griese, man, that’s the ticket!! Step into my stadium. Cuz yer fuckin’ fired!!" Yes, neither one of us has had much to talk about since 1997. And Indiana is still Indiana. Michy 34 Indy 21

Aaron: Indiana is up and down this year. This is their week to be up. Hoosiers 44, Michigan 24

Nathaniel: Well one thing for sure is Indiana can score but can Michigan keep up?  I think the woes continue.  Indiana 37 Michigan 33

Mister Mike: Meechigan all the way.  Hoosiers just don’t have enough defensively to stop them, even if Gardner turns the ball over a couple times.  Wolverines 38 Hoosiers 21.

Ty: Indiana might put a scare into Michigan for a second, but this team is still figuring themselves out.  I’ll take Michigan by two touchdowns.

Brian: Michigan at home is a different beast than Michigan on the road, and Indiana is a good team that almost has an identity. It’d be a different beast in Bloomington, but it’s Ann Arbor. Wolverines win, everyone gets Fat Boy’s for dinner, and there ya go.

David: Indiana’s got the firepower to deal the Wolverines a serious blow in their quest for that conference title they covet so much.  However, their lack of ability to slow down the Wolverines does them in in the end.  The Wolverines hold serve 41-35.