CFB Week 8 Game Guide: Can Texas cement their no.1 status in 'Dawg fight?
There is no let up in blockbuster games this year and Week 8 is no different. The headline matchup sees a one-loss Georgia take on an unbeaten Texas, riding high at no.1 in the AP Poll.
Elsewhere Indiana look to maintain their unbeaten status, while an SEC battle will leave at least one powerhouse with a bloodied nose. Without further ado, here’s our weekly guide to help you navigate the madness.
Early Kickoff Window
Big Screen Billing: Nebraska @ Indiana (12PM ET / 5PM GMT, FOX)
Fox’s Noon Kickoff takes us to Bloomington as the Indiana Hoosiers attempt to continue their unbeaten run against Nebraska. Curt Cignetti has inspired this group to their most successful season start since 1967, and for now, their playoff hopes are alive and well.
Quarterback Kurtis Rourke has led this team with aplomb. He has made the leap from MAC competition effortlessly, where he had previously marshalled the Ohio Bobcats for three years. Now in his sixth year, boasting a 73.8% completion rate and TD-to-INT ratio of 14:2, he could consider extending his career into the pros.
He faces a stiff test with a Cornhuskers defense, allowing under 12 points per game on average. A further boost that head coach Matt Rhule may receive is the return of standout cornerback Tommi Hill. He and Ceyair Wright have been an excellent duo and will look to limit Rourke’s favourite target, Elijah Sarrett.
Both teams come into this one off a bye week, and the Hoosiers are 6.5-point favourites. Nebraska QB Dylan Raiola had a faltering display last time against Rutgers, and considering the home advantage, I think Indiana can keep things rolling.
Upset Potential: Miami @ Louisville (12PM ET / 5PM GMT, ABC)
Cam Ward and the Miami Hurricanes are living by the seat of their pants. They travel to Louisville on Saturday on the back of two nail-biting finishes. The first, a controversial 38-34 win over Virginia Tech, involved a last-second TD for the Hokies being struck off. Last week, Ward orchestrated a stunning comeback, having been down 35-10 well into the third quarter.
Those rollercoaster results have been symbolic of Ward’s general play. As the competition has stepped up, Ward’s big-time throw % and turnover-worthy plays have nearly mirrored each other. As much as he can blow you to pieces, Ward will give opposing defenses a chance of a turnover. With Ashton Gillotte tearing in off the edge, could Ward be forced into errors that give the Cardinals a sniff in this one?
Quarterback Tyler Shough has been impressive for Louisville despite coming unstuck in the two games he has faced against ranked opponents. The quarterback has formed a great relationship with Ja’Corey Brooks. The former Alabama receiver appears to be finally realising his potential, leading the team with 572 receiving yards.
That’s why I have this one pegged as a potential upset with the Hurricanes, a five-point favourite. With Clemson resurgent, a Lousiville win here would blow the ACC back open.
Primetime Window
Big Screen Billing: Alabama @ Tennessee (3.30PM ET / 8.30PM GMT, ABC)
Nothing screams an October Saturday afternoon/evening more than an SEC clash with playoff implications. These two teams set off as expected, but both came unstuck as conference play ramped up. The Crimson Tide suffered a shock defeat to Vanderbilt and a stuttering win over South Carolina, while the Vols lost out to Arkansas before needing overtime to see off Florida in the Swamp. So what now for these two?
Both have further potential losses on their schedules. Tennessee will meet Georgia, and Alabama has LSU, so neither will want to add a second loss in this matchup and further reduce their margin for error. Not only that, but both teams need a statement of intent to clear away lingering doubts about their suitability for a playoff berth.
The key battle for me will be to see if the Vols’ defense can slow down Jalen Milroe and Ryan Williams. While some pundits have suggested Tennessee has lacked some of the fireworks this group had promised, they are still keeping teams to under 11 points per game on average. James Pearce Jr. is the standout, but he will be keen to up his sack number, having only recorded two in the first six games. If the Vols can contain the mobile Milroe, they could get their season back on track.
Upset Potential: Notre Dame vs Georgia Tech (3.30PM ET / 8.30PM GMT, ESPN)
I’m not going to go too heavy on the preview here, as our excellent Fighting Irish writer, Stiofán, will have us covered on that one, but this sets up to be an intriguing game in Atlanta. Notre Dame seems to have overcome the early-season jitters that led to a shock loss against Northern Illinois. QB Riley Leonard has settled into the offense, and the running game has multiple explosive elements.
Despite all of this, I can’t help but feel there could be another slip-up in the wings. With Navy, Army and USC still on the slate, Notre Dame can ill-afford a loss in this one. The Yellow Jackets have seen off Duke and North Carolina in recent weeks, so don’t expect this to be easy for the Irish.
After Dark Window
Big Screen Billing: Georgia @ Texas (7.30PM ET / 12.30AM GMT, ABC)
Let’s save the best until the last. There’s been plenty of games billed as the ‘Texas is Back’ game, but this one feels different. The Longhorns have been unerringly efficient, particularly in dispatching Oklahoma with ease last week. They sit at no.1 in the rankings, and nearly every other blue-blood team has already endured a slip-up. If Texas can down the ‘Dawgs in this one, they will remain the clear favourites for the National Championship.
It took some time for Quinn Ewers to click back into gear after a lay-off, but by the end of the Red River, things felt like business as usual. The emergence of Ryan Wingo, the freshman receiver, in recent weeks has been another string to the bow of this offense. They will go into this one without fearing a formidable Georgia defensive unit. If Mississippi State can score 31 against them, what can Ewers and co. do?
That said, never count out Kirby Smart. Even though the tempers looked frayed last week, you can expect him to have his team ready to go in this one. It’s a battle of offensive vs defensive masterminds on the coaching front. Both former Saban assistants, who will come out on top between Smart and Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian?
Keep an eye on: LSU @ Arkansas (7PM ET / 12.00AM GMT, ESPN)
LSU will be ruing its opening-day slip-up to USC, considering it has since gone unbeaten and now lies 8th in the national rankings. The leaky defense is still an ever-present dark cloud over this team, but the offensive talent is real. Garrett Nussmeier was inconsistent at quarterback vs. Ole Miss but also threw some absolute darts. His playmakers, Kyren Lacy and Aaron Anderson, will cause any defense headaches.
Arkansas will be more than happy to knock the LSU hype train back off its tracks in a similar way to which they derailed Tennessee. Head Coach Sam Pittman has answered critics with a solid start, and while hopes of the playoffs are slim, they will be more than happy to play SEC spoiler week in and week out. Their quarterback Taylen Green is a doubt, but if he is full go, the Hogs at home could be hard to bet against.
Rory-Joe Daniels
NFL & Cfb contributor
AS A LONG-SUFFERING CINCINNATI BENGALS FAN, RORY HAS FOLLOWED THE NFL FOR OVER 20 YEARS. HIS PASSION FOR THE DRAFT LED HIM TO GET ENTANGLED WITH COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND HE HAS BEEN WRITING ABOUT PROSPECTS AND THE CFB LANDSCAPE EVER SINCE.