It’s hard to believe that we are already halfway through the 2014 college football season, but week eight is upon us. There are several matchups that will determine which teams are contenders and pretenders, and a few chances to upset a team’s chance at the first ever college football playoff.
No. 14 Kansas State @ No. 11 Oklahoma-Noon, ESPN
Both of these teams have only one loss on their records, but both losses are different in some respects. Kansas State’s only blemish came from a home loss to No. 6 Auburn in the fourth week of the season, whereas the Sooners lost to a then-25th ranked TCU team on the road.
Because of the losses, the matchup lost a little bit of its luster, but this game will have definite effects on the Big 12 title race. The damage from Oklahoma’s loss to TCU was lessened a little bit with the Horned Frogs’ slip up against Baylor last Saturday, but if Kansas State can give the Sooners their second loss in the conference, it could knock them out of Big 12 title and playoff bid contention.
No. 21 Texas A&M @ No. 7 Alabama-3:30pm, CBS
What looked to be one of the monster games inside the Southeastern Conference Western Division looks more ordinary as the Aggies limp in to Tuscaloosa, Ala., coming off of two consecutive losses. Their defense has been virtually nonexistent in the last two games, giving up a combined 83 points and 897 total yards.
The Crimson Tide aren’t as formidable as it once looked, needing two touchdowns in the fourth quarter to hold off Arkansas with a one-point victory last week on the road. In their last two games they’ve scored just 31 points, which sounds like a lot but before that they were averaging 42 points per game. Some fans have already expressed their negativity with the Crimson Tide only beating the Razorbacks by a point, which Nick Saban described as "frustrating" this week. Alabama gets a chance to put those critics to rest with a big win over the Aggies at home.
No. 10 Georgia @ Arkansas-4pm, SEC Network
A Todd Gurley-less — at least for now — Georgia team travels to Little Rock, Ark., to take on a scrappy Arkansas team that is inching closer and closer to an SEC upset victory.
Gurley, who was the Heisman front runner until a week ago, is currently under investigation by the NCAA, which is looking into whether or not Gurley accepted money for signing autographs. He was suspended indefinitely last Thursday. Gurley has practiced with the team this week, however, leading some to believe he may be cleared by the NCAA by the end of this week.
True freshman running back Nick Chubb had no problem taking over for Gurley in the Dawgs’ 34-0 blowout of Missouri last week. Chubb rushed for 143 yards and a touchdown.
Arkansas is getting closer and closer to knocking off someone they aren’t supposed to — and getting their first SEC win under Bret Bielema in the process.
In the Hogs’ last two games, Texas A&M needed overtime to beat them, and they only lost to Alabama 14-13 a week ago. If the ‘Dawgs go into the game overconfident, Arkansas could take them by surprise.
No. 5 Notre Dame @ No. 2 Florida State-8pm, ABC
Florida State’s biggest test comes this weekend as it welcomes an undefeated Notre Dame to Doak Campbell Stadium on Saturday night. Jameis Winston’s distractions continue this week, as the university is investigating autographed items from the same broker connected with Gurley. This week could be the one we see off the field distractions affect Florida State on the field.
Undefeated and the fifth-ranked team, Notre Dame had a scare last weekend at home against a bad North Carolina team and needed two touchdowns in the fourth to put them away. However, quarterback Everett Golson will be the best one the ‘Nole defense has faced all season. He has a 16-4 touchdown to interception ratio, and goes into the game with 11/2 odds to win the Heisman.
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Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight (9) celebrates a touchdown by teammate Samaje Perine during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Texas at the Cotton Bowl, Saturday, Oct. 11, 2014, in Dallas.
