Week 8 college football

Week 8 of the college football season is the first week of the BCS and AP polls and this week also has BCS #1 Oklahoma on the road in a big game as the Big 12 conference takes the stage with the best games of the weekend. I like delaying the BCS standings release date until the middle of the season so much that they should take the next step and not release them until December. The only problem I see with this is that ESPN would get concerned that Mark May would run out of things to talk about after repeating his incorrect "this is why the college game is so great, every week is a playoff" mantra (tell that to Boise and TCU), but this would really be a benefit since it would give ESPN more time to show Dr. Lou's speeches. Dr. Lou is not comfortable in the studio giving his game analysis and sometimes it even makes you question how much football this wildly successful coach knows until you hear his Dr. Lou speeches. They are really great, I bet some coaches actually repeat his speeches to their players and his life lesson speeches are even better. I caught one he was giving to NASCAR drivers Jeff Gordon and Jimmie Johnson and the way he turned everything into teamwork and family was quite impressive, I can see Dr. Lou mentoring troubled athletes soon like Tony Dungy. Brett Favre might even actually have something to say at a press conference after a sit down with Dr. Lou. Watching Gameday/Scoreboard just for the Dr. Lou speeches reminds me of the way I am watching the Real World/Road Rules challenge "Cutthroat" this season, I could care less about the challenges and elimination "gulag" so far this season, making the drama in the house the must see and even that has been sub-par so far this season. Way too many competitors and we need to start eliminating people 2 at a time, spending 10 minutes of air time on Big Easy's feelings is as big of a waste of time as A-Rod stepping out of the box for ten minutes between each pitch to pose for the cameras. It is great to hear host TJ Lavin is improving from his injuries after his horrific crash I just hope the same can be said about the rest of the season of his show. As for the weekly plays: Wiscy @ Iowa (-5.5): Wiscy was more than impressive last week in the "Johnny Banana's" like beat down of former #1 OSU. The offensive line and RB John Clay dominated the Buckeyes on the ground and their defense was opportunistic when given the early lead. This week is a matchup of strength vs. strength as Wiscy takes their #12th rank run game into Iowa City vs. the #7 ranked run defense in the country. A barometer of the game will be a matchup of two first round picks in next year's NFL draft, Wiscy LT Gabe Carimi vs. Iowa DE Adrian Clayborn in what is sure to be a physical game. This game screams classic let down for Wiscy and Iowa has been on a mission since their special teams meltdown loss @ Arizona. I think Iowa will slow Clay and force QB Scott Tolzien to throw more than Wiscy coach Brett Bielma would like as he tries to beat his alma mater making Iowa -5.5 the play. Mich. St (-5.5) @ Northwestern: Two interesting stats in this game; Mich. St. is (7-0) with all of their wins coming in the state of Michigan and Northwestern (5-1) has been a favorite in every game they played so far this season. NW QB Dan Persa has been successful running the spread, but the Mich St. defense led by LB Greg Jones is a lot more athletic and physical than Purdue or Minny. The Spartan defense roughed up Mich QB Denard Robinson and they will do the same to Persa. NW's special teams and penalty issues will cost them against a team that is playing well in all three phases and I expect Spartan fans to turn Evanston into a neutral site game making MSU -5.5 the play. LSU @ Auburn (-6): The winner of this game will be the only remaining unbeaten team in the SEC and put themselves in the driver's seat on the road to Atlanta. Auburn QB Cam Newton has been unstoppable this season, but the LSU defense will be the most athletic he has seen this year. Weaknesses collide when LSU has the ball as they will take a pass game that hasn't thrown for over 100 yards in 4 games this season against an Auburn secondary that has regularly given up 400 yards through the air. Look for LSU QB Jarrett Lee to get the majority of the snaps late as he was decent in their win @ Florida two weeks ago. Both teams seem to relish close games late, but as we talked about last week Auburn looks to be a team that is catching all the breaks and last week vs. Arkansas further proved this point with the Mallett injury and defensive scores in the fourth quarter. There isn't a more shaky undefeated team than Les Miles' Tigers. Cam Newton, home field, and what looks like fate make Auburn (-6) the play. Oklahoma (-3) @ Missouri: The Gameday crew heads to Columbia for the second biggest game of the day (behind Auburn/LSU) as Oklahoma takes their #1 BCS ranking on the road. Mizzou QB Blaine Gabbert and OK QB Landry Jones have both been good this year, but the team that can establish the run will have a big advantage in a game featuring the two defenses that lead the Big 12 in sacks this season. Oklahoma has been living on the edge all season on the road and as all "Lone Star" fans can tell you, it doesn't matter where you start the season or in this case the BCS. I like Mizzou to establish the run and Oregon to be the BCS #1 next week making Mizzou + 3 the play. Nebraska (-5.5) @ Oklahoma State: Another game featuring a great matchup as Ok ST WR Justin Blackmon matches up against Nebraska CB Prince Amukamara. Texas unveiled the defensive game plan necessary to stop Nebraska and QB Taylor Martinez and though Ok St. doesn't have the athletes Texas does I think they can hold Nebraska in the 20's. Ok. St. RB Kendall Hunter will need to be a factor and the Cowboy WR's other than Blackmon will need to be productive at home. 5.5 seems like too much for a team at home that is improving every week making Ok St. the play. GTech @ Clemson (-6): Tech as an underdog in conference play under coach Paul Johnson is a strong trend that is worth riding. Houston @ SMU (-7.5): SMU is improved, healthy, and hungry for a win in this rivalry game.