Week 8 Recap and Week 9 Preview

Finally, after weeks of the Top-10 cruising and non-stop realignment crap, we have shakeup in the Top 10! We had fights, streakers, fake referees, and blowout wins. And that was just Thursday night! What an entertaining weekend!

And for those keeping track at home, I was 3-1 in big games: 24-8 overall.   

Now here’s the Autumn Wind’s week 8 Top-10 recap:

1. You knew it was going to be a strange weekend as they Thursday night game was happening. UofSuck beat the snot out of UCLA (and while a UofA win is strange in itself), but this game featured a bench clearing brawl happening after a student and fake referee-turned-streaker grabbed the ball from the field judge after a play. Had this happened anywhere other than Tucson I would’ve thought it was a little weird…but after all, it was in Tucson. If you didn’t see it, look it up on YouTube.

2. So we all know Texas Tech went into Norman and beat the Sooners. Only two other teams have done that in the Stoops era. What you don’t know is that Oklahoma is at a crossroads this weekend. They could easily fight themselves back in the National Championship picture, or fade away into (as Charles Barkley says) Bolivia. How? Look at their schedule: @ undefeated Kansas State, v. ranked Texas A&M, @ tricky Baylor, and of course the finally at everyone’s (except me) #3 Oklahoma State.

3. Once again, the leader of the SEC blows out an opponent, plays incredibly stingy defense, and produces way more than enough points to win. LSU or Alabama? Yes.

4. Houston continues to roll through C-USA and now lead the nation in passing yards/game and points/game. An undefeated season is looking more and more likely.

5. Arkansas was down 17 on the road, but rallied for a win. Sure, it was against SEC-winless team Ole Miss, but still, winning on the road in the SEC is a lot different than barely winning at home in a MWC game (did you see what I did there, Boise State?)

6. Look who’s nearly back in the Top-10? Va. Tech. I tell you what – don’t count out Va. Tech and Texas A&M from making some late season moves…we’ve seen crazier things happen, and I know there’s gonna be at least 4 or 5 current Top-10 teams that are going to lose.

7. If you haven’t seen Stanford play yet, please do what you need to do to catch a game. Everyone assumes that it’s Luck putting up these incredible numbers, as they’ve blown everyone out. But, they are a true pro-style offense. Case in point? In the blowout over Washington this weekend, they rushed for over 400 yards, while Luck was an incredibly efficient 16-21 with 169 yards and 2 TDs. I wouldn’t be surprised to see three tight ends out of Stanford playing on Sunday next year.

8. Isn’t it sad what has become the USC/Notre Dame rivalry? Yes, they played this weekend. That is all.

9. Even though I have admittedly been drifting my support away from Boise State, hats off to Kellen Moore who tied Colt McCoy for the most wins as a starting quarterback, at 45. Of course, the next Boise Game will give Kellen the record; I’m too lazy to look up when, who, and where; but I think it’s UNLV in a couple weeks.

10. It’s official. Dantonio sold his soul to the devil. First the delay of game “winning” fake field game against Notre Dame last year, and the “what the hell happened” hail mary this year against Wisconsin. Michigan State appears to be king of the “better be lucky than good” crowd.

Now on to the Top-10 in the standings:

Top-10:

#1 Alabama (8-0) – Why do I have you above LSU? You’re at home on November 5^th, and you have Saban.

#2 LSU (8-0) – Why do I have you below Alabama? You’re on the road on November 5^th, and you don’t have Saban.

#3 Stanford (7-0) – The schedule favors Stanford to creep into the top 2.

#4 Oklahoma State (7-0) – I’ve said it all year, you’re special this year. But, after seeing OU go down at home to Texas Tech, I’m starting to get scared, as Okie State usually ends up losing a game in similar fashion. Uh oh, Baylor comes to town this weekend?

#5 Boise State (7-0) – Meh. I’m over it.

#6 Clemson (8-0) – Still not buying it; but keep on winning and you’ll have a convert. Only if you beat Va. Tech in the ACC Championship, though.

#7 Oregon (6-1) – The Ducks are cruising…

#8 Arkansas (6-1) – Possibly the best one loss team; too bad you’re in the SEC and are gonna wind up with a few more. We won’t know how good you really are until you hammer some non-SEC team in a bowl game.

#9 Oklahoma (6-1) – I’m afraid for Kansas State this weekend.

#10 Michigan State (6-1) – You control your own destiny in the Big 10.

Rising Fast:

Clemson – Raise your hand if you saw this coming. Anyone? Bueller?

Falling Faster:

Georgia Tech – It all started out so great, but back-to-back loses in the ACC put you, like the vast majority of the ACC, back where you belong; unranked.

Heisman Watch:

Andrew Luck, Stanford – 15 straight, and counting, for the Cardinal. As long as they keep winning, Luck’s chances for the Heisman keep going up.

BCS Title Game Prediction:

Alabama v. Stanford – Don’t laugh. Stanford is a very solid, all around team; and their schedule plays out very nicely. With just enough tough games (@ USC, v. Oregon, & PAC-12 Championship), to gain some standings in the computers, but not dangerous enough like the SEC and Big-12 challengers have to face. I would be happy with this match-up.

Week 9 Big Games:

Michigan State @ Nebraska – Once again, Sparty finds itself in control in the Big-10. Wouldn’t it be sweet to have both Nebraska and Notre Dame knock off Michigan State in the same year? Sadly, it won’t happen. Michigan State 31 Nebraska 17

Baylor @ Oklahoma State – sniff, sniff – what’s that I smell? That’s right – TRAP GAME! Baylor has a week off to get healthy, and Okie State is looking ahead to their next to against Kansas State and Texas A&M. I’m not willing to call the upset – but this one will be a lot closer than the experts think. Oklahoma State 57 Baylor 51

Oklahoma @ Kansas State – Kansas State is overrated and Oklahoma is pissed. How’s that for a game preview Herbstreit? Oklahoma 41 K. State 31

Stanford @ USC – Remember, USC may not be post-season eligible, but they are 6-1. And remember how the Stanford turn around got started? That’s right, Harbaugh guiding his team to an upset victory in the Coliseum as 42 point underdogs. Bad blood between these teams. But Stanford gets it done again. Though, I don’t think they’ll cover this time. Stanford 38 USC 34

Week 9 Games of the Week:

Alabama and LSU with a bye – Seriously, considering the soon-to-be epicness of the November 5^th matchup between Alabama and LSU, this is most significant “game” in week 9; these two teams with a week a off. A chance to get healthy, a chance to game plan, a chance to get sick of hitting their own team mates during practice, a chance to listen and read why one team can’t beat the other and vice versa, an extra week to build up to the most anticipated college football game since Notre Dame v. Florida State in 1993! Hell, this week off for both teams almost makes this upcoming matchup feel like a fall Super Bowl!!!!

Until next time…