I can't believe that it is already week 8 in the college football season. We are more than halfway through the year and the national title picture has really cleared up. More than likely it will be Alabama or Florida taking on Texas for the title.

On another note, there was no Picking on the Pollsters this week because well after looking through all of the ballots Monday and the only ballot that was bad was Scott Wolf (LA Daily News). Go have a look at it for a good laugh.

I went 4-1 last week to help bring my overall season record to 22-18, slowly climbing up from mediocrity. Not a lot of huge games this weekend but still a pretty solid slate so lets get to it.

Thursdays game is between Florida St. and North Carolina so no need to waste space. Tarheels 24 'Noles 21

Saturday 3:30pm NBC - Boston College at Notre Dame [76% of FanIQ is picking Notre Dame]

The early morning games are all duds, so we kick off the picks with the "Holy War". Fun fact about this game, these two schools are the only Catholic schools that play division 1-A football. Boston College has won 7 out of the last 8 meetings and 6 in a row between the two schools. Boston College is coming off a big 52-20 win over NC State while Notre Dame is looking to rebound after a tough loss to as great as they usually are USC. This game has all the makings of being a high scoring close games....as have all of Notre Dames defense because they don't have the playmakers on defense that you need to be an elite team. Like it seems in every Notre Dame game this year, it will come down to the wire and I think that Notre Dame's advantage at QB gives them the edge. Irish 35 Eagles 31

Saturday 3:30pm ABC - #13 Penn St. at Michigan [70% of FanIQ is picking Penn St.]

Penn St. finally leaves home to take on a Michigan squad that they haven't beaten in Ann Arbor since 1996. Michigan was riding high until back to back losses to Michigan St. and Iowa brought them back to earth while Penn St. has failed their only challenge this season against Iowa, so this is a huge game for both squads in the grand scheme of the Big 10. Penn St. has one of the more balanced offensive attacks in the Big 10 behind Daryll Clark and Evan Royster, but it is the defense that is the strong unit of this team. Penn St. has allowed only 5 touchdowns all season and not one in the first half. Michigan on the other hand is lead by the young arm and legs of QB Tate Forcier. Forcier has been very successful this season in Rich Rod's system, but have yet to face a defense the caliber of Penn St. I actually think this will be one of the better games this weekend and I am giving the edge to Michigan just slightly, though this could go either way. Wolverines 27 Nittany Lions 21

Saturday 8:00pm ABC/ESPN - Oregon St. at #4 USC [89% of FanIQ is picking USC]

The Trojans are looking to for revenge against the Beavers. The Beavers busted the Trojans title hopes last season in Corvallis and they would love nothing more than to break the Trojans title hopes this season. USC is coming off of a squeaker of a victory over a not so great Notre Dame team last week while Oregon St. is coming off a good win over Stanford. Oregon St. has been USC kryptonite in recent years...but only in Corvallis. This game is in LA where the Trojans are 39-3-3 when hosting Oregon State, including 21 in a row with their last home loss to Oregon St. coming in 1960. USC should roll in this one but as we have seen this year, they can struggle with teams from time to time so don't be shocked if the Beavers are keeping this close for most of the game. Trojans 31 Beavers 17

Saturday 3:30pm ABC - #25 Oklahoma at #24 Kansas [63% of FanIQ is picking Oklahoma]

In one of only two games between ranked teams this weekend, my Sooners looks to get back on track against Kansas. Oklahoma might be the best 3-3 team of all time and is anchored by quite possibly the best defense Stoops has had since the early part of the decade....it is too bad that this is the offense matched up with them. Oklahoma's defense has played strong enough to keep the Sooners unbeaten but the offense has struggled most of the season, especially the offensive line. Last week against Texas, the Sooners defense shut down the high powered Texas offense but, including sacks, the Sooners offense was held to a staggering -16 yards rushing. Kansas on the other hand is flying on offense while their defense has struggled recently, including last week in a trap game loss to Colorado. The Jayhawks average over 500 yards per game while scoring 39 points per game. The Jayhawks defense however has made the offenses of Colorado, Iowa St., and Southern Miss look like world beaters. This game will come down to if the Kansas defense can get stops on the Oklahoma offense, and I just don't see them being able to get enough stops. Sooners 31 Jayhawks 14

Saturday 8:00pm ABC/ESPN - #3 Texas at Missouri [90% of FanIQ is picking Texas]

Texas is looking to avoid a letdown while Missouri is needing a victory here in a bad way. Texas is currently in control of their own BCS title destiny after last weeks hard fought win over Oklahoma last week. Though Texas didn't look good on offense, the Oklahoma defense having a big part in that, the Texas defense looked amazing. Missouri on the other hand has dropped two in a row and is searching for answers. The Tigers stud QB Blaine Gabbert has struggled since spraining his ankle against Nebraska and the Tigers will need him to be 100% if they want to have any chance. I honestly don't see any way the Tigers can win this game as Colt McCoy will finally get it going this week. Longhorns 42 Tigers 14

Saturday 7:30pm Versus - #10 TCU at #16 BYU [57% of FanIQ is picking BYU]

The biggest game of the weekend and DirecTV subscribers will miss out on it. TCU and BYU play what basically is a BCS elimination game on Saturday. TCU is in a prime position for its first BCS berth if they can run the table and win the Mountain West while BYU is looking to get back into the BCS race after their early season loss to Florida St. TCU's strength is defense, defense, and more defense. The Horned Frogs are ranked 8th nationally against the run (81 yards per game) and 9th nationally against the pass (157 yards per game). TCU also has a punishing ground attack that keeps their defense rested. TCU ranks 11th nationally running the football to the tune of 225 yards per game on the ground. BYU on the other hand loves to air it out. The Cougars rank 13th nationally through the air at 312 yards per game. Outside of games against Oklahoma (who lost Bradford) and Tulane (who is awful), the Cougars have struggled on the defensive side of the ball. If BYU wants any shot at the home upset (TCU is favored by 3), they must find ways to get penetration and disrupt the TCU ground attack. I think TCU's defensive strength will be the difference in this game. Horned Frogs 27 Cougars 14

Now for the "Locks of the Week"

South Carolina (-13.5) over Vanderbilt
Oklahoma St. (-9.5) over Baylor
Boston College (+8) over Notre Dame
Boston College/Notre Dame OVER 55
Texas (-13.5) over Missouri
Southern Miss (-21) over Tulane
TCU/BYU UNDER 50
Auburn (+7.5) over LSU

So there you have it, the picks for week 8 of the College Football season. Share your picks below or tell me why my picks are terrible.