Week 8: Calm before the storm

Standings
 1) Schweinfurth   23-5   (3-4 upset)
 2) Hoying            19-9    (2-5 upset)
 3) Draper             18-10  (2-5 upset--missed 2 pts conv!!)
 4) Auer                15-9    (0-6 upset)

Louisiana State Tigers @ Texas A&M Aggies
Draper: The Aggies have been electric on offense but terrible on defense.  LSU has been the exact opposite.  Were this game in Death Valley, I'd call for a blowout, but the 12th Man evens the playing field a bit.  Manziel has put up stupid good numbers but hasn't faced a defense like this.  Mingo and Montgomery pull LSU solidly back into the national title hunt. LSU:20--TAMU: 10
Auer: A huge game in College Station, a place where LSU has never won. The Tigers missed out on a lot of scoring opportunities last week and still came away with a win over South Carolina. LSU is the real deal and will win a close one. LSU: 34--TAMU: 28
Hoying: Give credit to Texas A&M for a win over a ranked team, but is anyone feeling good about their chances after a WAC opponent took them to the brink of disaster?  LSU's defense won't be giving up 59 points, even to Johnny Football, everyone's newest blip on the Heisman radar.  LSU has a little trouble scoring, but that rarely seems to be a problem for them (anyone remember watching the 2003 Buckeyes?)  The Aggies continue their nasty "Welcome to the SEC tour" as another quality opponent kicks them to the curb.  LSU: 22--TAMU: 16
Schweinfurth: So far this season, Texas A&M have held their own in their first SEC season.  This will be LSU's first trip into Kyle Field, but I think it will matter not.  LSU is the all around better, and oversigned (sorry I couldn't help myself) team. Tigers win close, but that is their identity this year.  LSU: 17--TAMU: 13


South Carolina Gamecocks @ Florida Gators
Draper: The schedulers certainly did South Carolina no favors with back to back road games at Death Valley and the Swamp.  Sometimes, a loss can tell just as much as a win.  LSU is almost unbeatable at home at night, and the Cocks brought it to an onside kick.  Driskell has been very good at QB but no one is blown away by the Gator offense.  Lattimore and Shaw were able to score some on the Tigers but couldn't push it over the edge.  Florida has an excellent defense, but while some predict the Tigers softened the Gamecocks, I think it strengthened their resolve.  Also, I can't pick Florida (they are 4 of my losses I believe). Go Cocks! USC: 20--UF: 13
Auer: USC may be without Lattimore and the Gators are at home... this may get ugly. Factor in a revenge factor of Florida, and this will certainly be another big statement game from the Gainesville Gators. USC: 17--UF: 35
Hoying: South Carolina fans were feeling Cocky after their a big win over Georgia but got a sobering dose of reality at the hands of the punishing LSU defense.  SC QB Connor Shaw is probably better than Florida QB Jeff Driskell, but the Gator D might be even better than LSU's.  Going to the Swamp is no fun for anybody, and the ol' ball coach is going to get another reminder of why he never should have left. USC: 13--UF: 21
Schweinfurth: This game could have been epic if South Carolina could have held on last week.  Both of these teams sport efficient offenses and stout defenses.  I expect the same offensive formula that has worked for the most part from the Gamecocks: Lattimore, Lattimore, and and then Shaw over the top.  Unfortunately I'm not sure if that will be enough.  The Gators get a roughed up USC in Gainsville, which is huge for this game.  The Head Ball Coach throws his visor at the end of this one. USC: 21--UF: 24


Kansas State Wildcats @ West Virginia Mountaineers

Draper: No one is giving Kansas State any credit.  Collin Klein (in my opinion) is the clear frontrunner for the Heisman.  West Virginia is the flash and Wildcars are the grind it out hardworking 'Mericans.  Geno and company will put up points, but the defense can't stop anything.  AARP Bill Snyder's team makes a few stops to win a close one in Morgantown.  KSU: 30--WVU: 28
Auer: I haven't watched KSU play, but WVU was exposed in a big way this past weekend and it makes it very hard to be confident in their ability to win against a real opponent. Then again, I kind of question the legitimacy of the Wildcats. What the hell, I'll call for the home team upset. KSU: 38--WVU: 41
Hoying: West Virginia was exposed in a BIG way last week, both by their dismantling at the hands of Texas Tech and the discrediting of their previous vanquished opponent, Texas.  The Mountaineers seem to have a problem with teams that can play defense.  What's that thing that Kansas State does really well?  It may be old man football, but KSU will pull out a big road win as they finally prove they can handle the spotlight. KSU: 27--WVU: 23
Schweinfurth: Texas Tech showed the world how to beat WVU last week: score and don't let Geno Smith beat you.  While I haven't watched enough (or any) of KSU this year, Bill Snyder is a smart man and has been around the block a few times.  Geno will get at least 2 TDs but Collin Klein busts out and takes the lead in the Heisman race after this one.  KSU: 42--WVU: 21


Purdue Boilermakers @ THE Ohio State University Buckeyes
Draper: Let's be real: we play like last week, we lose.  Thankfully, we're at home and I think last week was a giant notice for the defense (coaches and players).  Purdue can play (sort of), but the Shoe makes the difference here.  The crowd's electricity will prevent apathy from seeping back in.  Purdue has beaten OSU 2 of the past 3 years, but the year we beat them, was an absolute beatdown at home.  I expect a repeat of 2010.  Braxton and Hyde will tear apart the Boilers and the defense, while still not worthy of being called Bullets, will do enough.  Bucks get back on track at home.  PU: 20--OSU: 48
Auer: Another closer than expected game. The defense is still bad, meh. PU: 31--OSU: 44
Hoying: Let's take a step back from the horrendous defense we saw last week.  Before the last 4 minutes of the game, there wasn't an actual fear the Buckeyes were going to lose.  And after the fear set in, Braxton never touched the ball until he ran out the clock.  A consistent pattern has emerged of this Buckeye offense making plays when it has to, and I reiterate that as long as Braxton isn't busted, Ohio State will not lose another game.  (Qualification: he has to be on the field.  Multiple onside kicks void my prediction.)  What about our worthy opponent?  Ehhh, it's Purdue.  We've lost to them once at home in the last 44 years.  Plus they've been exposed in the last two weeks as the mediocre team they are.  Bucks win big.  Probably.  PU: 27--OSU: 44
Schweinfurth: Another week, another spread offense for the Silver Pop Gun.  While Purdue is bad defensively, this is the type of offense that has confounded Luke Fickle and Everett Withers.  The focus this week was on minimizing the big play and it may show up in softer secondary coverages.  Purdue WILL move the ball, and the Boilers WILL score...just not enough.  The Buckeye offense is putting up just sick rushing numbers.  Braxton Miller can become the first Ohio State QB to rush for 1000 yards, and this is only game 8!  Carlos "El Guapo" Hyde has been a beast since Hall went down and I expect nothing less than 150 yards out of him.  Bucks win and put up 50+ for the third week in a row (and I puke over the points given up again, bleh) PU: 38--OSU: 54


Upset Special
Draper: Cal over Stanford
Auer: Virginia Tech over Clemson
Hoying: Baylor over Texas
Schweinfurth: Tennessee over Bama (!!!)