Week 8 Recap

It’s hard to believe we’re almost 2/3rds of the way through this chaotic season already with so many questions and unknowns still on the table. Alabama may be out of the playoff, while Indiana and Pitt may actually have a chance to enter in their place. BYU and Iowa State are still in the lead of the Big 12 but both looked vulnerable this week, and Texas learned that nothing comes easy in the SEC. While Week 9 lacks the marquee matchup mystique of Week 8, we all know that nothing ever happens exactly as we expect in this sport, which is exactly the way we like it.

Top 25 Matchups

Rankings are from AP Poll (CFP Poll after release)

Thursday 10/24:

• Syracuse @ #19 Pitt, ESPN

Friday 10/25:

• # 17 Boise State @ UNLV, CBSSN

Saturday 10/26:

12:00-3:00PM

• Nebraska @ #4 Ohio State, FOX
• #12 Notre Dame @ #24 Navy, ABC
• Washington @ #13 Indiana, BTN
• Oklahoma @ #18 Ole Miss, ESPN

3:30PM-6:30PM

• #20 Illinois @ #1 Oregon, CBS
• #11 BYU @ UCF, ESPN
• #21 Missouri @ #15 Alabama, ABC
• #5 Texas @ #25 Vanderbilt, SECN

7:00-11:00PM

• Florida @ #6 Miami, ESPN
• #3 Penn State @ Wisconsin, NBC
• #8 LSU @ #14 Texas A&M, ABC
• Kansas @ #16 Kansas State, ESPN
• #22 SMU @ Duke, ACCN

Most Interesting Matchups

Notre Dame @ Navy: The Midshipmen are undefeated and would like nothing more than to send the Irish back to South Bend with a loss. Notre Dame has looked better since the NIU stunner but it may not be enough against a strong and motivated Navy team.

Illinois @ Oregon: The Ducks are (for now) back on top of the college football mountain and will look to avoid any trap games on their path towards Indianapolis. Illinois is coming off a big win against the defending national champions and could still control their own destiny by playing spoiler this weekend.

Missouri @ Alabama: Bama is in uncharted waters, with two pre-November losses for the first time since 2007, Nick Saban’s first year in Tuscaloosa. Missouri was uncomfortably close to getting upset by Auburn last week and will be going up against a Tide team with nothing to lose.

LSU @ Texas A&M: These two are suddenly the only two SEC teams that are undefeated in conference play. The winner this week stays in the drivers seat for a spot in Atlanta, while the loser will be thrown back into the scrum of 1-loss teams.

FCS Game of the Week

South Dakota @ South Dakota State, 10/26, 9PM, ESPN+

It’s Coyotes vs Jackrabbits in the Battle for South Dakota. This Top 10 FCS showdown will have major implications for both playoff seeding and the Missouri Valley Conference championship.

Selected Picks ATS

Last Week: 1-3 Overall: 15-18 (Wow I am not doing well with these recently)

• Notre Dame @ Navy(+12.5)
• Illinois (+25) @ Oregon
• Missouri @ Alabama (-13.5)
• LSU @ Texas A&M (-2.5)