Week 8 CFB Picks

Last Saturday, the popular ESPN show College Gameday was in Madison, Wisconsin, for the game between the Badgers and Ohio State. Per usual, fans came with many funny signs. Wisconsin basketball player Nigel Hayes also came with a sign. The sign said "Broke College Athlete Anything Helps" and had a Venmo account at the bottom. He was, of course, making a statement about the NCAA's rules involving student-athletes, opening up further discussion on whether college athletes should be payed (while Hayes receiving money would be soliciting, he said it is his friends account, and all money will be donated).

There are people on both sides of the paying student athletes debate. NCAA president Mark Emmert continually stresses that they are student-athletes, not professionals. Those who support paying college athletes argue that they are more athletes than students, and they make Emmert and the NCAA, as well as athletic departments and coaches, a whole lot of money. Those who oppose it argue that college athletes get plenty of financial aid in the form of scholarships and other things.

I don't know how I feel about paying college athletes, but I definitely lean towards Nigel Hayes' side. Yes, many college athletes get full scholarships and financial aid, but not all of them do. And you know who else can get full scholarships and financial aid? College students who don't play sports. College students who don't play sports can also have jobs during the school year so they can make some extra money. Many college athletes, especially at the highest level, hardly have time for classes, much less jobs. Another thing a college student who doesn't play sports can do is profit off of his/her own image or memorabilia. For instance, if a college student is in a popular band, he/she can get sponsorships and sign autographs for money. College athletes cannot do that, as it is against NCAA rules. But the NCAA does profit off of those college athletes. It just doesn't make sense.

To conclude, while I don't know if paying student-athletes is necessarily the answer (do starters get more than bench players? Does it vary by sport and position?), the NCAA can (and should) at least allow college athletes to profit off of themselves, which includes selling memorabilia and getting sponsorships. Because there are many college athletes, like Nigel Hayes, who need money, and they are severely limited by how they can (legally) make that money.

Last Week: 13-4 (8-9 vs. Spread)
Overall: 90-32 (65-65 vs. Spread)

(Home Team Listed Last)

Thursday
BYU 34, #14 Boise State 28 (10:15 PM, ESPN)
Boise State is unbeaten, but the Broncos' toughest opponents have probably been Washington State and Oregon State. BYU is 4-3, but the Cougars have wins over Arizona, Michigan State, and Mississippi State. They also upset Boise State just last season, and could do it again.

Saturday
NC State 21, #7 Louisville 35 (Noon, ABC)
Louisville surely won't take the Wolfpack lightly after they almost knocked off Clemson (the team responsible for Louisville's only loss) last Saturday. The Cardinals didn't perform all that well in a win over Duke last week, so it might not be a blowout, but they'll get the win.
#10 Wisconsin 32, Iowa 24 (Noon, ESPN)
The 4-2 Badgers have shown in close losses to Michigan and Ohio State that they are a very good team. Meanwhile, the 5-2 Hawkeyes haven't shown much, other than that they are probably not on the same level as Wisconsin, having lost to North Dakota State and Northwestern.
#22 North Carolina 37, Virginia 23 (3:00 PM, ACCN)
The last three weeks, North Carolina has had a complete flop (a 34-3 loss to Virginia Tech) sandwiched by two impressive victories (over Florida State and Miami). I feel like the Tar Heels are closer to the team that beat two ranked foes than the team that got blown out by VT.
Eastern Michigan 24, #20 Western Michigan 38 (3:30 PM, ESPN3)
P.J. Fleck's squad continues to roll at 7-0, and could crash the New Years 6 party if they don't trip up in the MAC. This week they play their rivals from the Eastern part of Michigan, whom they should not overlook, but also shouldn't (and won't, in my opinion) lose to.
#6 Texas A&M 32, #1 Alabama 30 (3:30 PM, CBS)
I'M DOING IT! I AM DOING IT! Alabama hasn't had trouble with anyone so far (besides Ole Miss), but A&M, which has a talented quarterback (Trevor Knight), a very good rushing offense (12th in the nation), and arguably the best defender in the nation (Myles Garrett), is the best team Bama's faced.
Illinois 13, #3 Michigan 58 (3:30 PM, BTN)
Nothing to see here. This should be another cakewalk for the Wolverines. The Fighting Illini enter the Big House at 2-4, sporting losses to North Carolina, Western Michigan, Nebraska (hey, at least those are good teams), and Purdue (never mind).
Purdue 14, #8 Nebraska 48 (3:30 PM, ABC/ESPN2)
Speaking of the Boilermakers, they fired head coach Darrell Hazell this week after a 3-3 start to what looks to be another season in the bottom part of the Big Ten. On the other side, Nebraska is 6-0 after escaping upset-minded Indiana last week.
Memphis 28, #24 Navy 38 (3:30 PM, CBSSN)
Memphis is actually favored at Navy on Saturday. The Tigers are 5-1, there one loss coming to Ole Miss. The Midshipmen are 4-1, their one loss coming to Air Force. However, they boast a win over Houston, and they are probably the better team.
TCU 31, #12 West Virginia 38 (3:30 PM, ABC/ESPN2)
West Virginia comes in unbeaten on the season, having dispatched of Texas Tech last weekend. The Mountaineers face what may be their toughest test in TCU, but the Horned Frogs, like WVU, haven't beaten anyone of major significance.
#19 Utah 32, UCLA 30 (4:00 PM, FOX)
3-4 UCLA is the favorite at home against a 6-1 Utah team that has had some close calls. This might be another close call, but the Runnin' Utes, unlike UCLA, have been able to emerge victorious in most of those close calls.
#17 Arkansas 34, #21 Auburn 24 (6:00 PM, ESPN)
Arkansas is coming off a victory against Ole Miss, and although the host Tigers are favored, Razorback quarterback Austin Allen and company have performed well and have the talent to come out of Jordan-Hare Stadium with a win.
Oregon State 13, #5 Washington 52 (6:30 PM, PAC12N)
Washington has been mighty impressive, and it continued last week with a 70-21 trouncing of Oregon. It should be the same old song and dance this week against a the other team from the state of Oregon. The Beavers are 2-4 on the season.
#11 Houston 45, SMU 17 (7:00 PM, ESPN2)
Houston was cruising right along through the first five weeks of the season, but then they seemed to hit a road block, losing to Navy and almost losing to Tulsa. I don't expect as much difficulty against SMU, which is 2-4 and had lost three in a row.
#2 Ohio State 32, Penn State 24 (8:00 PM, ABC)
The Buckeyes escaped Madison last Saturday night with a comeback victory, and will have to go to another hostile environment this Saturday night. They shouldn't have as much trouble with Penn State, but it might be another dog fight.
#16 Oklahoma 47, Texas Tech 38 (8:00 PM, FOX)
The Sooners should be weary of the pass-happy Red Raiders, especially in Lubbock, but the same thing was said about Texas Tech last week, and West Virginia silenced that. It'll be a barn-burner, but Oklahoma definitely has the upper hand.
#23 Ole Miss 33, #25 LSU 31 (9:00 PM, ESPN)
We end the night with a battle between two talented but somewhat disappointing SEC teams. The Tigers fired head coach Les Miles and haven't beaten anyone nearly as talented as the Rebels, who are 3-3 but have played close with multiple good teams.