Pun's College Pigskin Report Week 8

I can see that the Fire It Up crew is still in mourning over the Red Sox......so I guess its up to me to keep the site going with the Week 8 college football report.

And at the risk of overtaking this blog as i have really no right to as up until two weeks ago I added NOTHING to the Fire It Up show.......guys, keep posting stuff!!! You gotta get more than one post in a week on here!

Week 8 of the College Football season brings us the first BCS standings each year. Not surprisingly, Texas is a far and away number 1 followed by Alabama, and Penn State.

After that, it gets a little messy.

The Human Polls like Florida (#5 AP, #7 Coaches, #6 Harris)......... the computers do not (#12 Average). The Gators sit at #10 in the BCS standings with a long road to climb before the title game. A win over BCS #7 Georgia in two weeks will go a long way however.

USC apparently doesn't do it for the computers either sitting 5th in the Harris, 4th in the coaches, but just 10th with the computers. USC has a horrible schedule, so chances aren't very good that their computer standings will go up this season. They will need to rely on style points with voters.

The computers are also unimpressed with Penn State who sit with an average ranking of 7, but they love Oklahoma State (3), and Ohio State (5).

I could go all day here talking about computer/human poll differences, but i've already put everyone to sleep by now, so moving on.....

Like last weekend, we have four matchups between ranked teams this weekend:

#8 Texas Tech @ #23 Kansas
#6 Oklahoma State @ #1 Texas
#7 Georgia @ #13 LSU
#3 Penn State @ #9 Ohio State

Matchup that looked great preseason that is now meaningless: Illinois @ Wisconsin

The Illini/Badger matchup was thought preseason to be the game to decide who would finish second in the Big 10 behind tOSU, but the Badgers are winless in conference are the Illini are just 2-2. Northwestern and Minnesota both ranked? Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan all unranked? What a country..... As for a pick, I played as Illinois against Wisconsin in my NCAA 09 Online Dynasty and won I think 14-7....so i'll go with that.

Battle for the "Kids Who Read Good and Stuff" trophy: Duke @ Vanderbilt

I HATE Duke basketball, but coach David Cutcliffe is an Alabama grad.........but also a longtime Tennessee assistant. Which will win out...my allegiance to school, or hatred for Tennessee? No idea, but both schools are much improved from recent years. A win for Duke makes it possible for the Blue Devils to bowl eligability if they can beat NC State AND pull just one upset against either UNC, Virginia Tech or Clemson. Vandy needs just one more win to make it, but last season South Carolina had 6 wins and did not make it to a bowl, so Vandy needs this win and a win over Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee, or Wake Forest to secure a bowl. I guess i'll take Vanderbilt because the SEC>ACC 17-14. Besides, coming into this season Duke only won 10 games TOTAL SINCE THE NEW MILLENIUM!!!!!!!!!

And speaking of the Alabama/Tennessee rivalry:

The Tide travels to Knoxville to face Fat Phil and the Fighting Pumpkins this Saturday. The Tide have won 2 of the last 3, but those were both at home. Alabama has not beaten Tennessee in Neyland Stadium since 2002 but are 6.5 point favorites heading in. Alabama goes up to pumpkin country and TROUNCES the Vols 256-3..........or I suppose a real number might be something along the lines of 34-9. That Vol secondary is nasty however with Eric Berry back there. Thankfully the Tide shouldn't need to throw much with their rushing attack.

Game of the Week: Penn State vs. Ohio State

Winner will likely win the Big 10 and if it is Penn State, the Nittany Lions should go undefeated until the last game of the season against Michigan State were a win there would likely put the Lions into the BCS Title game. But Terelle Pryor is getting better, and Beanie Wells is healthy. I like tOSU by a touchdown 27-20.

SEC Game of the Week: Georgia @ LSU

Both teams control their destiny in their respective divisions. A Georgia loss won't hurt that fact, but an LSU loss would. LSU would need Alabama to lose to either Tennessee, Mississippi State or Auburn AND beat them head to head in order to go to the SEC title game. Bottom line: LSU needs it more, and they get it 31-21.

Five game "for entertainment purposes only" parlay: (Last Week 3-2, Season 6-4)

Ole Miss -5 @ Arkansas
UCLA +17 @ California
USC -16 @ Arizona
Rice +1.5 @ Tulane
Oklahoma -19.5 @ Kansas St.

Ole Miss nearly beats Alabama - Alabama CRUSHED Arkansas -- Ole Miss crushes Arkansas. UCLA has to be good enough to stay within 17 of a pretty sub-par Cal team. USC covered a 42 point spread last week, 16 shouldn't be an issue. Rice has an explosive offense and Tulane's best defense is against the run, I like Rice big here. And for Oklahoma, style points count to stay as one of those best one loss teams. Of course they are likely to not even win their own division much less conference, so it likely doesn't matter unless Texas loses twice.

My weekly Top Five:

1. Texas
2. Penn State
3. Alabama
4. USC
5. Florida