Welcome to Week 8, the start of the season's second half and the point when résumé remarks and the College Football Playoff discussion begin carrying considerably more weight. We're two weeks away from the first CFP rankings, with only six unbeatens left in the sport thanks to a spike in parity within the AP Top 25. For teams already nursing one loss or more, there's urgency attached to every possession, and this weekend represents one of those low-key schedules likely to spike interest.
Our predictions for Saturday sort through the matchups that could strengthen postseason credentials, expose lingering concerns or leave a few fan bases checking everyone else's schedules by Sunday afternoon. After BYU's win over Notre Dame last weekend, the Big 12 looks like a two-bid league, a negative development for at-large hopefuls in the SEC and Big Ten. Time will tell if the Big 12 can continue its hot start.
Season results: Brad Crawford (44-18 straight up, 33-28-1 ATS); Chris Hummer (46-16 straight up, 33–28-1 ATS) At midseason, we're tied! This has been an impressive comeback against the spread from my colleague the last couple of weeks, especially last round during the wildest weekend we've seen across college football, maybe ever. There's been so much fluctuation in polls and playoff projections, and that has spilled over here.
Hummer (Cincinnati +10.5): What version of Cincinnati are we going to get? That's what this game ultimately comes down to. On paper, the Bearcats are a top 10 offense led by one of the sport's best offensive lines.
But there are times when that unit can disappear for a quarter or two. The defense, for its part, started off strong but has been diced apart in Big 12 play, particularly in the secondary. Now, can a struggling Texas Tech passing attack take advantage?
Texas Tech's defensive front seven mitigates Cincinnati's biggest strength -- its run game and pass protection. But I just haven't seen enough from the Red Raiders' passing attack to call for a cover. … Texas Tech 34, Cincinnati 24. Crawford (Texas Tech -10.5): The Bearcats are foundering since a 4-0 start after giving up 79 points over their last two Big 12 games.
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