College football games of note: Week 8

Well college football, you did it – now everybody is officially mad. Cue Drake’s “I’m Upset,” and put it on repeat until next weekend because the word upset is now a college football vibe — for some fans it’s a noun, but for the rest it’s a dirty little verb.

I sat on my couch Saturday, pumped to be able to watch all the games and survive on something other than press box coffee and cookies. But my relaxing Saturday quickly turned into anything but — as the Georgia game started going south for the Bulldogs, I switched over to the Oregon-Washington bout, but before long that became too stressful. I fervently flipped to Michigan State-Penn State only to be met with more chaos. I had a Regina George during Spring Fling Court announcement moment as I watched the carefully constructed top 10 implode during the time it took my Postmates to arrive.

Sure, some teams like Alabama, Ohio State and Notre Dame were able to escape the weekend unscathed. But the casualties, not just of the top-25 variety, were far more entertaining. UCLA got its first win in the Chip Kelly-era over a faltering Cal squad, Nebraska fell to Northwestern in overtime, dropping to an 0-6 start under Scott Frost, and USC stifled Colorado’s offense, handing the Buffs their first loss of the season. How all these teams bounce back during the first weekend of the second half of the season will be telling, so here are some games to keep your eye on.

Stanford at Arizona State

This is a Thursday night Pac-12 clash in the desert, with both teams coming off restful weekends, having avoided all the drama that was Week 7 college football. I have been dying to see this coaching matchup of Herm Edwards vs. David Shaw. The bye week means two things for Stanford: Bryce Love got an extra week of rest after missing the dreadful game against Utah, and the Cardinal are 6-2 when coming off a bye. The matchup between Stanford’s passing defense and the killer combo of ASU quarterback Manny Wilkins and wide receiver N’Keal Harry is exciting. Stanford’s defense has allowed 36.3 points per game over the past three games; meanwhile Wilkins has thrown for 1,446 yards and 11 touchdowns with only one interception, and running back Eno Benjamin has rushed for 536 yards and six touchdowns over the last three games. Stanford is favored by 2.5, but I see ASU winning this one at home. This is one of the games I will be covering this weekend and I am currently 1-0 at ASU, so that bodes well for the Sun Devils.

No. 6 Michigan at No. 24 Michigan State

You have undoubtedly seen the commercials touting one of college football’s oldest and most premier rivalries — one that debuted in 1898 and has been dominated by Michigan (69-36-5) over the years, except last year of course when the Spartans came into the Big House and defeated the Wolverines, 14-10. Michigan State comes into this game on an upset high after beating Penn State last weekend. But Michigan had a solid if slightly less exhilarating win of its own over Wisconsin. So who will hoist the Governor of Michigan Trophy on Saturday? 

Michigan State is the underdog, with injuries that will limit it. But Brian Lewerke is mobile, which buys time for his receivers and aids in a less-than-exciting ground game. Michigan quarterback Shea Patterson is equally dynamic, able to run and pass, but it will come down to his ball security and whether he can avoid costly sacks. Michigan players have been vocal about wanting to put a kibosh on the commentary that the Wolverines can’t hang in this rivalry as of late. But I think Michigan State rides out the Nittany Lion high with another W.

No. 12 Oregon at No. 25 Washington State

In case you haven’t heard, College GameDay is officially going to Pullman. This is a HUGE deal for Washington State and for Ol’ Crimson. For those of you who are not familiar with the giant, red Wazzu flag that has been present at every GameDay since 2003, it was started by a man named Tom Pounds, who flew the flag out of love for his school. He never dreamed it would become the platform that finally brought GameDay to Pullman — he was just a man with a flag and a proud Cougar heart. 

The Ducks have a lot of that to contend with this weekend, as Washington State looks to cause more chaos in the Pac-12 North with a win over Oregon. Oregon is coming off a huge victory over Washington; Washington State is coming off a bye. Under head coach Mike Leach, the Cougars are just 1-5 coming out of their bye week. But that one win is over Oregon. Also Justin Herbert is the best quarterback the Cougars will have faced so far, a true test for Wazzu’s secondary. The slugfest against Washington will be felt this weekend, as Oregon looks to shake off the bruises against an extremely rested and super pumped Washington State squad. I think the Cougs win it for Ol’ Crimson.

Auburn at Ole Miss

This is a must-win game for the Auburn Tigers. Last week was just painful. The week before, also painful. Gus Malzhan needs a win. Auburn has been inconsistent, which includes quarterback Jarrett Stidham’s play. He’s thrown for almost 1,500 yards with seven touchdowns, but he has also tossed four interceptions, including two costly picks in the loss to Tennessee last week. On the other side, Ole Miss is coming off back-to-back wins over UL Munroe and Arkansas — hardly marquee, but momentum is momentum. Plus, quarterback Jordan Ta'amu has thrown for 2,298 yards and 15 passing touchdowns, as well as four rushing TDs. The Rebels score a lot of points; the Tigers don’t. Desperation beats out momentum, so look for the Tigers to bounce back despite being on the road.

No. 20 Cincinnati at Temple

The Owls have their work cut out for them this week. The Bearcats boast one of the best defenses in the country and are arguably the most impressive team in the AAC this season. But the Owls have won the last three meetings between the two teams, and they are favored by three points heading into this weekend. Cincinnati is one of the nine unbeaten, riding a 6-0 start and attempting to protect its college football virtue. The Bearcats are allowing just 13.7 points per game, third in the nation. They lead the nation in pass efficiency and rank in the top 10 in five other defensive categories. But none of Cincy’s opponents thus far has a winning record, prompting whispers of a soft schedule and the underdog moniker in this game. Conversely, the Owls held a tricky Navy team to just 24 offensive yards in the fourth quarter of their 24-17 win over the Midshipmen. The Bearcats will look to force turnovers from Owls quarterback Anthony Russo, who has thrown seven picks in his five starts. But I believe in the power of the undefeated, so I’m rolling with Cincy.

Hall over the place

Over the course of the 2018 season, Emily Hall Van Buskirk will be traveling across the country, attending as many college football games as humanly possible. In this sacred section, she will share with you the details of her travels as she embarks on this adventure. Follow along as she makes her way across the country, bringing back tales of glory and memoirs of misfortune.

My travels were supposed to take me to Texas last week, but family stuff required me to stay home. So I watched the Horned Frogs face off against the Red Raiders from the comfort of my couch. And the game did delight — movement from quarterback Jett Duffey was impressive, a stout defensive effort from Tech surprised and a frustrated Gary Patterson is always entertaining. After Tech defeated TCU by a surprisingly low score of 17-14, I was able to speak with one of Texas Tech’s coaches, who talked about Duffey’s play and what the win means to the program.