College football predictions: Week 8 Big 12, other top 25 game picks

This week, let’s predict all the Big 12 games and one of the top matchups from the other Power Five conferences (Notre Dame’s half-ACC, right?).

Big 12 games

(4)Baylor 44, West Virginia 21

I can’t believe the Bears are getting some of the same crap as last year. It’s as if losing two games justified them being incredibly overrated. Now they played just one good team this year and their defense is terrible? I don’t get it. Either way, if they win out, there will be nothing that keeps them out of the College Football Playoff. Bryce Petty and the gang will get the job done in Morgantown and stay in the race.

(14)Kansas State 29, (11)Oklahoma 26

The Sooners are still a great team despite losing to a surprisingly good TCU offense and giving up a lot of points against Texas — Tyrone Swoopes had a pretty good imitation of Vince Young in the Red River Rivalry. However, the Wildcats are well rested coming off of a BYE week and if the Sooners continue to have problems with mobile quarterbacks that can throw, then Jake Waters won’t be the antidote.

Texas Tech 38, Kansas 24

Take a look at the new-look Jayhawks giving Oklahoma State all they could handle a week ago. I don’t expect that trend to continue though. The Cowboys are a weird team this year and the KU defense won’t be shutting down the Red Raiders’ air raid attack. But it’ll be interesting to see if Kansas’ offense can keep improving under the new leadership of Michael Cummings under center.

(12)TCU 45, (15)Oklahoma State 23

I think this is the game where the Cowboys finally get exposed. I’ve been lukewarm on Mike Gundy’s squad all season, and I assume their high ranking is just based on their recent success. The offense has been inconsistent and they’ve been doing it against the weaker Big 12 opponents. On the flipside, TCU can score easily and let’s not forget that their defense is still good — it’s just ran into some of the best Big 12 offenses.

Iowa State at Texas — Check out the preview for our prediction.

Select Top 25 games

Oct 11, 2014; Syracuse, NY, USA; Florida State Seminoles quarterback

Jameis Winston

(5) drops back to pass against the Syracuse Orange during the third quarter at the Carrier Dome. Florida State defeated Syracuse 38-20. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

(13)Ohio State 30, Rutgers 21

Rutgers is 5-1? Their fast start is probably going to go away real quick with back-to-back road trips to Ohio State and Nebraska. Then, Wisconsin comes into town. I wish I could add reasons to why the Buckeyes will win but it feels like they haven’t played in three weeks. How about the fact that Ohio State’s pass defense ranks in the top 15 nationally, and that’s Rutgers’ strength.

(7)Alabama 34, (21)Texas A&M 21

Remember when media pundits actually had the Aggies as a team to make the College Football Playoff because they beat an extremely overrated South Carolina team? Good times.

(2)Florida State 48, (5)Notre Dame 45

Part of me says the game won’t be this high scoring, but that ND game against North Carolina really threw me off. And if North Carolina State can put a billion points on FSU, why can’t a team with a decent offense? If Jameis Winston doesn’t drop out of college by kickoff, they pull this one out in a barnburner. Besides, ABC owes us for a high-flying shootout after the atrociously boring Clemson-FSU game earlier this year.

(9)Oregon 37, Washington 31

The Ducks look like they bounced back after a huge win over UCLA. The Pac-12 is just predictable. Kind of like how Pete Carroll always dropped a weird game in the Pac-12 with USC, Oregon likes to drop a game against a dork opponent and Stanford. And they always seem to beat UCLA. Against the Huskies? They’ve won the last 10 games. The Oregon throwbacks pull out a squeaker.

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