Rambling's Week 8 CFB Recap

Friday, October 21st, 2011:

#15 West Virginia at Syracuse, 7:00 pm ESPN, I should have known better as WVU's wins have been over: Marshall, Norfolk State, Maryland, Bowling Green and Connecticut. Syracuse on the other hand hasn't looked good but is actually getting some crowd support in the Carrier Dome. Syracuse was the better team for the entire game on Friday. Winner: 0-1 ATS: 0-1

Saturday, October 2nd, 2011:

#4 Oklahoma State at Missouri, 11:00 am FX, This game was closer than the score indicates as Missouri made several pushes in the second half to keep this game within striking distance but they came up just short and ultimately were sunk by their inability to stop the running attack. Winner: 1-1 ATS: 1-1

North Carolina at #7 Clemson, 11:00 am ESPN, Alright I'll take my lumps on this one I thought that North Carolina would be more competitive and I think this match-up is much closer than the score indicated but with Clemson scoring multiple defensive touchdowns, the Tar Heels didn't stand much of a chance today. Winner: North Carolina 1-2 ATS: North Carolina 1-2

#11 Kansas State at Kansas, 11:00 am, Kansas is the worst AQ team in the country and Kansas State proved that once again. Winner: 2-2 ATS: 2-2

#23 Illinois at Purdue, 11:00 am ESPN2, Purdue tried to give this game back in the four quarter as Illinois scored two touchdowns to make this a one score final, however it just wasn't meant to be for the Fightin' Zookers who drop two in a row against division foes. Winner: 3-2 ATS: 3-2

Cincinnati at South Florida, 11:00 am, Well South Florida managed to throw this game away after taking a lead late in the fourth quarter and reminding us that USF is indeed who we thought they were. USF falls to 0-3 in the conference, while Cincinnati goes to 2-0 and puts USF in a giant holee in a conference with only 7 conference games. Winner: 3-3 ATS: 3-3

#9 Arkansas at Ole Miss, 11:21 am SEC Network, Arkansas played down to it's competition this week as it squeaked out a win at Ole Miss. Winner: 4-3 ATS: 3-4

Boston College at #12 Virginia Tech, 2:00 pm, Virginia Tech, like Arkansas, played down to its opponent this week. Winner: 5-3 ATS: 3-5

#20 Auburn at #1 LSU, 2:30 pm CBS, The intrigue in this match-up was lost by halftime as it was evident that LSU is way too good in the two deep to be beaten by this Auburn team. Winner: 6-3 ATS: 3-6

Air Force at #5 Boise State, 2:30 pm Versus, Boise hasn't been challenged this year and the triple option can be a bit tricky, but I don't think they have nearly the firepower to keep up. Winner: 7-3 ATS: 3-7

#10 Oregon at Colorado, 2:30 pm, In the ummmm... yeah game of the week pt. 2, Oregon runs roughshod all over the Buffs. Winner: 8-3 ATS: 4-7

#13 Nebraska at Minnesota, 2:30 pm ABC/ESPN2, Nebraska visits the Golden Gophers which was just the remedy the Cornhusker need to reinvigorate a season that has been lackluster if not downright disappointing. Winner: 9-3 ATS: 5-7

#17 Texas A&M at Iowa State, 2:30 pm ABC/ESPN2,. Iowa State's season continues to be a let down of the early season promise but that's the issue for a low level team in the deepest conference in the country. Winner: 10-3 ATS: 5-8

#22 Georgia Tech at Miami (FL), 2:30 pm ESPN, Al Golden has his team playing its best ball of the season as we pass the midway point. Georgia Tech continues it's slide as we get deeper into conference play. Winner: 11-3 ATS: 6-8 

Marshall at #19 Houston, 3:30 pm, Houston's defense did a better job than I thought it would and came away with a very impressive conference win on the road. Stat of note Case Keenum became the FBS all-time total offense leader. Winner: 12-3 ATS: 6-9

#21 Penn State at Northwestern, 6:00 pm BTN, Penn State continues to win games by double digits and will more than likely continue to get no credit. The Nitanny Lions actually put up points Saturday and to be honest I don't care who the defense was. The Wildcats continue to struggle on defense and against a top 20 defense they struggled to score which is a nasty combination. Winner: 13-3 ATS: 6-10

Tennessee at #2 Alabama, 6:15 pm ESPN2, The first half was just weird, but Alabama's depth in the two deep showed up in the second half and won the game for the Tide. Winner: 14-3 ATS: 7-10

USC at Notre Dame, 6:30 pm NBC, Notre Dame's turnover woes showed up again this week against USC. The Trojans played well for four quarters in the best game of the Kiffin era. Winner: 15-3 ATS: 8-10

Texas Tech at #3 Oklahoma, 7:00 pm ABC, Texas Tech pulls the upset of the year so far with a win in Norman. The Sooners gave it their best shot but two botched field goal attempts and an offense that never really caught it stride and a defense that had troubles slowing down the Red Raiders. Winner: 15-4 ATS: 9-10

#6 Wisconsin at #16 Michigan State, 7:00 pm ESPN, Incredible game, with both teams coming back from 14 pt deficits, MSU in the first half and Wis in the second. Michigan State won the game on a twice tipped hail mary caught at the half yard line that replay determined broke the plane of the goal line. Winner: 15-5 ATS: 10-10

#25 Washington at #8 Stanford, 7:00 pm ABC, Luck and the Cardinals played a great game with the Huskies in town and showed us more than they have all season. I didn't think they would win by this much or put it away this early.  Winner: 16-5 ATS: 10-11

SMU at Southern Miss, 7:00 pm, Southern Miss shut down SMU at home allowing 3 points to a June Jones team that hasn't been held down often. This game could very well be a preview of the conference championship game but we'll have to wait until SMU plays Houston Nov. 19 to find out. Winner: 17-5 ATS: 10-12


Well a good slate of late games highlighted by Wisconsin at MSU and Texas Tech at Oklahoma brought the fans what they wanted, excitement. I went 17-5 to bring my record on winners to 140-31 on the season and 10-12 against the spread bringing my season total to 75-69-3. Please let me know what you think in the comments below and I will have a Poll recap out tomorrow night after the BCS rankings.