🏈 PJ's Picks, Week 8

[psychojoe]

After the last two weeks your peerless prognosticator is trading in his crystal ball for some tea leaves to read. Call it parity if you will, but most seasons most of the games you can look at and say that team A is better than Team B. Not so this year, as we are seeing every Saturday. The selection committee for the playoffs is going to have a really tough job. Five unbeaten teams remain among the power five conferences, and it is very possible that by year's end the FSU/Notre Dame winner will be the only team emerging at the end of the regular season undefeated.

Notre Dame at FSU

FSU just isn't the team that they were a year ago, yet if they survive this test they will have a relatively easy run to the ACC championship, unless off the field events overtake them. Notre Dame has proved that they have some toughness in their win over Stanford, and they found a way to win against North Carolina. One interesting note on this game is that the two starting quarterbacks, Golson and Winston, have both been tarnished by off the field happenings. Another is that this twosome, as starters, has only one loss. When I want to feel good about Alabama football I go back and look at Golson's loss.

FSU is very hard to beat at home, and so far has managed to play through all the drama involving their QB. It will not be a cakewalk, but it doesn't feel like an epic clash either.

PJ's Pick: FSU 31 Notre Dame 20

 

[psychojoe]

Baylor at West Virginia

Baylor had a furious fourth quarter comeback to nudge TCU and stay undefeated. This week they travel to play a team we are familiar with, another team that plays very good offense, the Mountaineers of West Virginia. There won't be much relief for the Bears beleaguered defense, and the home of the couch burners is a pretty tough home field. Still, the Bears will not be jaded, knowing that if the stumble their game with Oklahoma will not be anywhere as important as otherwise. This will be another game that keeps the scoreboard operator busy, but the Bears will stay undefeated.

PJ's Pick: Baylor 51 West Virginia 45

 

[psychojoe]

Kansas State at Oklahoma

All the attention in the Big 12 race has been on Oklahoma and Baylor, and most recently TCU. Kansas State is the Rodney Dangerfield of the league, getting little to no respect. Kansas State showed in their narrow loss to Auburn, that they could play with anyone, although they also showed an inability to make plays in the red zone. The Wildcats are still undefeated in league play, so they control their own fate. Still, ultimately, they do not have the offensive explosiveness of TCU, and this game is played in Sooner land. Bill Snyder has spoiled a couple of seasons for the Sooners before, but this time the Sooners will be prepared.

PJ's Pick: Oklahoma 34 Kansas State 21

 

[psychojoe]

Furman at South Carolina

A week off, then a game against an FCS opponent. Is this the recipe for the head ball coach to get South Carolina playing more in line with the lofty pre season expectations? They certainly should have an easier time than Vanderbilt had with Charleston Southern. The Gamecocks will be on cruise control this week.

PJ's Pick: South Carolina 44 Furman 13

 

[psychojoe]

Kentucky at LSU

The upstart Wildcats head for the bayou country this week, fresh from their first back to back conference wins in football since the time the earth was cooling. Well, not quite that long, but you get the idea. LSU, meanwhile, is fresh off a road SEC win days after an article appeared stating that they might lose all their SEC games. Their are reasons to think that Kentucky might pull the upset. Enthusiasm runs high on this young team, and they have several speedy and athletic players on offense. Defensively they still make mistakes related to inexperience, but they do fly to the football. Still, there are reasons to doubt. LSU's defense has been vulnerable to inside running, but Kentucky's running game, other than the second half against South Carolina (when UK was using the Wildcat) has been perimeter oriented. The Cats won, but did not look very good doing it, in their last road outing versus Vanderbilt. This young team has never seen a crowd anything remotely resembling what they will see Saturday night in Baton Rouge. LSU will play it close to the vest, relying on their running game. It will be a hard fought gae, but in the end a Tiger is a much larger kitty than a Wildcat.

PJ's Pick: LSU 24 Kentucky 20

 

[psychojoe]

Georgia at Arkansas
After derailing Missouri last week, the Dawgs travel to the Hawgs this week. Georgia showed that their running game is not Gurley dependent, as their offensive line opened gaping holes in Missouri's front. This week, as Bama fans can attest, Georgia will face a much more physical defensive front. The Georgia defense shut down Mauk and company and their finesse and speed offense. This week they will face the ultimate old school offense in Arkansas. The strength of Georgia's defense is in its front seven, and this matches up well with the Arkansas power running attack. Georgia's passing attack is not good enough to keep the Hogs from crowding the box and forcing Mason to beat them through the air. This game will be another slugfest, much like the Razorback's last game. The Hogs will get an SEC win this year, but it will not be this week. In a bruiser,

PJs Pick: Georgia 24 Arkansas 21

 

[psychojoe]

Missouri at Florida

It is difficult to imagine Florida being a six point favorite over anyone. Their offense, on any given week, might not put six on the board. On the other hand, anyone who witnessed Missouri's home clunker of a game against Florida might have trouble believing the spread is only six. The Gators managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory last week, and their are two strong thoughts among the Gator faithful now: 1) that Treion Harris should get the start this week, and 2) that Will Muschamp should be fired. It is a hard game to get a handle on, with so much negativity involving each team. My thoughts are that Florida's still very good defense and their talented special teams will give the Gators some short fields, and that Muschamp's job will be safe for another week.

PJ's Pick: Florida 21 Missouri 17

 

[psychojoe]

Tennessee at Ole Miss

The Rebel/Bears have made believers out of me, and I have discontinued calling them Ole Myth. They showed that they are a mature enough team to keep the next week's game in focus, as they were impressive in routing Texas A&M on the road. The young Volunteers are catching a team at the top of its game, ranked higher than it has been in many years. Are they up to it? My gut says no. The Reb defense will stifle Worley and company, and barring a meltdown game from Bo Wallace, Ole Miss wins fairly easily.

PJ's Pick: Ole Miss 24 Tennessee 10

 

[psychojoe]

Texas A & M at Alabama

The Aggies have an unusual task: after being smashed on back to back weekends by the two powerhouse Mississippi teams, they now come to Tuscaloosa hoping to get back on track. The Tide, meanwhile, comes off an emotional loss and a hard won victory on a road swing, hoping to find its offensive mojo again. The Aggie offense is what it is, and our secondary will be tested like it hasn't been since the West Virginia game. They are getting better, and the front seven is doing much better in getting pressure on the opposing quarterback. Meanwhile, the Aggie defense, though not quite as leaky as a year ago, still can't stop the run and is no great shakes against the pass.

I expect our defense to contain their offense, but not totally shut it down. Even with our problems along the OL we should score enough to win. If the offensive line comes together it could be a rout.

PJ's Pick: Alabama 31 Texas A&M 20

 

[Bamabww]

Kentucky at LSU

The upstart Wildcats head for the bayou country this week, fresh from their first back to back conference wins in football since the time the earth was cooling.

This made me laugh out. Good job.

 

[252BAMA]

Missouri at Florida

It is difficult to imagine Florida being a six point favorite over anyone. Their offense, on any given week, might not put six on the board. On the other hand, anyone who witnessed Missouri's home clunker of a game against Florida might have trouble believing the spread is only six. The Gators managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory last week, and their are two strong thoughts among the Gator faithful now: 1) that Treion Harris should get the start this week, and 2) that Will Muschamp should be fired. It is a hard game to get a handle on, with so much negativity involving each team. My thoughts are that Florida's still very good defense and their talented special teams will give the Gators some short fields, and that Muschamp's job will be safe for another week.

PJ's Pick: Florida 21 Missouri 17

Did you mean '"Missouri's home clunker of a game against Georgia"...? Anyway, Bama really needs UF to man up and win this game in case of a three way tie for first place in the West.

 

[TerryP]

6-2 this week...nice job, Howard!