2008 College Football: Week 10 Preview

The Big Game

#1 Texas - at - #8 Texas Tech


After three straight games of the week, one would think the Longhorns deserve a break. They have established themselves as the clear-cut #1 team in the country after defeating Oklahoma, Missouri, and Oklahoma State in consecutive weeks. Now, they must travel to Lubbock to play a very dangerous Texas Tech team. If they can escape with a win, they should be able to coast to the finish line and reserve a spot in the BCS National Championship game.

Texas Tech, however, remains undefeated and has national title dreams of their own. Many, including me, were still skeptical of the Red Raiders going into last weekend. To that point, Nebraska (currently 5-3, 2-2 in Big XII play) was the toughest team they had played. The game was at home and the Huskers pushed them into overtime and had a real chance to win after Texas Tech missed an extra point. They had only played three road games, the two toughest of which were Kansas State and Texas A&M, both 1-3 in Big XII games. Overall, they had played the 113th ranked schedule in the country. The popular belief was that they would be exposed against Kansas when they traveled to Lawrence last week. In fact, the Jayhawks were actually favored to win that game. Texas Tech made an emphatic statement, however, posting a 63-21 win. Now, they get ready to host Texas in what is arguably the biggest game in the school's history.

While I truly believe Texas is the better team, the deck seems to be stacked against them this week. This will be the Longhorns first true road game in a month, and it follows one of the most grueling stretches in the school's history. The pressure to win is tremendous, and their opponent will be playing in their first big game of the year. The fatigue, expectations, hostile crowd, and Texas Tech's focus will be the undoing of one of the best college football seasons in recent memory.

Prediction: Texas (33), Texas Tech (34)

---

Games To Watch

#7 Georgia (7-1) vs #6 Florida (6-1) [Jacksonville, FL]
#34 Northwestern (6-2) at #16 Minnesota (7-1)
#24 Oregon (6-2) at #23 California (5-2)
#29 USF (6-2) at #30 Cincinnati (5-2)
#25 Pittsburgh (5-2) at #26 Notre Dame (5-2)

There is an important showdown in Jacksonville this weekend as Georgia and Florida meet in a game that is likely to decide the SEC East champion. After Florida's recent performances, I have to go with the Gators. Northwestern is a team that hasn't played particularly well on the road, so I'll take Minnesota in the biggest Big Ten match-up of the weekend. All of a sudden, the Oregon-Cal game is interesting again. I'll take the Ducks. USF has inexplicably lost two straight conference games. They'll end that streak against Cincinnati. As long as Dave Wannstedt is on the sidelines, Pitt will lose games they shouldn't. Count this weekend among them. I'm picking the Irish.

(Dis)Honorable Mention

#96 Michigan (2-6) at #93 Purdue (2-6)
#118 San Diego State (1-7) at #105 Wyoming (2-6)
#108 UAB (2-6) at #97 Southern Miss (2-6)
#120 North Texas (0-8) at #107 Western Kentucky (2-6)

Who would have ever thought that Michigan would make this list? A loss this weekend by the Wolverines would end the nation's longest active consecutive bowl streak at 33 years. SDSU and Wyoming pits two coaches who are likely on their way out. UAB will look to get its first ever win against Southern Miss (0-8 all-time). North Texas, one of only two remaining FBS teams without a win, will try to overcome the distraction of positive drug tests for 15 players to capture their first win of the season.

---

Bowl Watch

The following 16 teams should be in a bowl game:

#1 Texas, 8-0 (4-0), Big XII, SOS: 12
#2 Alabama, 8-0 (5-0), SEC, SOS: 74
#3 Boise State, 7-0 (3-0), WAC, SOS: 87
#4 Penn State, 9-0 (5-0), Big Ten, SOS: 85
#7 Georgia, 7-1 (4-1), SEC, SOS: 26
#8 Texas Tech, 8-0 (4-0), Big XII, SOS: 109
#9 Oklahoma, 7-1 (3-1), Big XII, SOS: 45
#10 Utah, 8-0 (4-0), Mountain West, SOS: 112
#11 Ball State, 8-0 (4-0), MAC, SOS: 117
#12 Oklahoma State, 7-1 (3-1), Big XII, SOS: 53
#13 Tulsa, 8-0 (5-0), C-USA, SOS: 120
#14 Ohio State, 7-2 (4-1), Big Ten, SOS: 9
#15 TCU, 8-1 (5-0), Mountain West, SOS: 100
#16 Minnesota, 7-1 (3-1), Big Ten, SOS: 78
#17 Michigan State, 7-2 (4-1), Big Ten, SOS: 40
#21 BYU, 7-1 (3-1), Mountain West, SOS: 115

The following 12 teams are eligible for a bowl game:

#5 USC, 6-1 (4-1), Pac-10, SOS: 28
#6 Florida, 6-1 (4-1), SEC, SOS: 35
#18 Missouri, 6-2 (2-2), Big XII, SOS: 16
#19 North Carolina, 6-2 (2-2), ACC, SOS: 19
#22 Connecticut, 6-2 (2-1), Big East, SOS: 52
#24 Oregon, 6-2 (4-1), Pac-10, SOS: 97
#29 USF, 6-2 (1-2), Big East, SOS: 107
#32 Air Force, 6-2 (4-1), Mountain West, SOS: 102
#33 Western Michigan, 6-2 (4-1), MAC, SOS: 98
#34 Northwestern, 6-2 (2-2), Big Ten, SOS: 106
#35 Central Michigan, 6-2 (5-0), MAC, SOS: 90
#41 Maryland, 6-2 (3-1), ACC, SOS: 104

The following 25 teams are one win away from being eligible:

#20 Florida State, 6-1 (3-1), ACC, SOS: 89
#23 California, 5-2 (3-1), Pac-10, SOS: 68
#25 Pittsburgh, 5-2 (2-1), Big East, SOS: 70
#26 Notre Dame, 5-2, Independent, SOS: 93
#27 LSU, 5-2 (3-2), SEC, SOS: 64
#28 Nebraska, 5-3 (2-2), Big XII, SOS: 34
#31 Troy, 5-2 (4-0), Sun Belt, SOS: 84
#36 Boston College, 5-2 (2-2), ACC, SOS: 95
#37 Louisville, 5-2 (1-1), Big East, SOS: 76
#38 Vanderbilt, 5-3 (3-2), SEC, SOS: 48
#39 Georgia Tech, 6-2 (3-2), ACC, SOS: 83
#40 Virginia, 5-3 (3-1), ACC, SOS: 3
#42 Virginia Tech, 5-3 (2-2), ACC, SOS: 24
#43 Fresno State, 5-2 (2-1), WAC, SOS: 113
#45 Miami, 5-3 (2-2), ACC, SOS: 27
#47 West Virginia, 5-2 (2-0), Big East, SOS: 111
#48 Arizona, 5-3 (3-2), Pac-10, SOS: 82
#49 Iowa, 5-3 (2-2), Big Ten, SOS: 65
#50 Rice, 5-3 (4-1), C-USA, SOS: 71
#51 Kentucky, 5-3 (1-3), SEC, SOS: 38
#52 Kansas, 5-3 (2-2), Big XII, SOS: 57
#53 South Carolina, 5-3 (2-3), SEC, SOS: 60
#54 Navy, 5-3, Independent, SOS: 43
#58 Northern Illinois, 5-3 (4-1), MAC, SOS: 108
#60 San Jose State, 5-3 (3-1), WAC, SOS: 86

14 schools need to win out to be in a bowl game, 9 others are already out of bowl consideration. Of the other 44 schools, 19 currently project to be eligible for a bowl game. That would put the total number of eligible schools at 72, 4 more than needed to fill the 34-game bowl schedule.

Current bowl projections have Texas, Alabama, Texas Tech, Utah, Florida, Connecticut, North Carolina, Boise State, Penn State, and USC in the BCS. Illinois, Duke, Northern Illinois, and Akron are projected to miss bowl games despite being eligible.

---

All rankings are based on the latest Rogers Poll.