Everything UK fans should know about CFB's Week 8

Another week, another slate of college football games to keep Kentucky fans occupied.

There will be lots of focus on Kentucky’s home game against Texas here at Cats Illustrated but this is our opportunity to take a bigger picture look at the whole slate of games across the country.

As always, special emphasis is placed on things relevant to Kentucky.

Ole Miss-Georgia, Tennessee-Bama headlines the slate

Ole Miss is a 7.5-point underdog in Athens against Georgia this weekend but if the Rebels could pull a shocking upset they would look like one of the most likely playoff teams given the remaining schedule and results thus far. If Georgia beats Ole Miss it would give the Bulldogs an elite win that would bolster its own playoff case. But if Ole Miss ends this weekend with wins against LSU and UGA to go along with an unbeaten record they would probably become the story of the year in college football because the Rebels didn’t have as much hype this offseason as in some previous years.

The other big game of the day is also in the SEC and between Tennessee and Alabama. The traditional Third Saturday in October game pits No. 11 Tennessee against No. 7 Alabama. The Crimson Tide has fully recovered from a shocking Week 1 loss to Florida State and has reestablished itself as a prime national championship contender with quarterback Ty Simpson carving up the middle of the field like few college signal callers do. Alabama is a 7.5-point favorite and if the Tide keeps winning it will be very impressive because they have stacked several top-25 wins.

Vanderbilt is a home favorite against LSU

No. 17 Vanderbilt is a 2.5-point home favorite against No. 10 LSU. That’s the college football world we’re living in right now. Diego Pavia has proven time and again that what the Commodores are doing is no fluke. Things got away from the ‘Dores against Alabama but Vandy has had some time for a reset and returning to a comfortable home stadium after Tuscaloosa may be just what they need. LSU already has one loss to Ole Miss. If the Tigers were to lose again it would put a big dent in their playoff hopes so a lot is riding on this game for Brian Kelly. LSU was a leading national contender coming into the season and the results have been okay but not great. If Vanderbilt wins this game the Dores remain playoff contenders. Lose and they’re probably trending towards being out.

USC-Notre Dame rivalry game

Southern Cal leans more heavily on the run this year than you typically expect the Trojans to, at least based on recent years. They’re No. 20 in the nation and 5-1 going into South Bend as 9.5-point underdogs against the two-loss Irish. USC has a chance to give Notre Dame its third loss of the season. But the Irish are still ranked No. 13.

Louisville has a huge road opportunity at Miami

The Cardinals are no longer unblemished following a home loss to Virginia but the Cardinals have a chance to make up for that loss this weekend. Louisville goes on the road to Miami as a 12.5-point underdog. The Hurricanes have looked as good as any team in college football this year. A second consecutive loss would really hurt any UofL push for the ACC Championship Game. Chris Bell for Louisville already has 500 receiving yards but Carson Beck and that Miami offense have been on another level. The Canes look like a complete team.

Can Georgia Tech remain unbeaten?

Brent Key has done a tremendous job with the Yellow Jackets and building that program up. Tech is now 6-0 and ranked No. 12 in the nation going on the road against Duke, which may also be one of the better teams in the Atlantic Coast Conference. Darian Mensah has put up great numbers at quaterback for Duke and the Blue Devils are 1.5-point favorites. These teams are a combined 6-0 in ACC play. The winner emerges from this game 4-0 in the league and so will be a favorite to reach the ACC title game.

Nebraska building momentum

The Cornhuskers are 5-1 and ranked in the top-25 going on the road to Minnesota, which is 4-2 but winless through two in Big Ten play. Everyone is talking about Matt Rhule as a candidate for the Penn State opening but the Huskers have a lot to play for.

Washington tests Michigan in Ann Arbor

Jedd Fisch is doing a good job with Washington but the Huskies are one touchdown underdogs going into the Big House. They have a chance to really cause some problems for the current Michigan regime, which is banking on improvement if not greatness this year. Both teams are 2-1 in Big Ten play and Washington’s only blemish on the season was a loss to Ohio State.

Sumrall and Tulane keep rolling along

Former Kentucky player and assistant Jon Sumrall has Tulane at 5-1 and 9.5-point favorites at home against Army with a chance to move to 3-0 in conference play. Tulane has been heavy on defense, not so much on offense this year. As long as they defend the run game well they should be okay and 6-1 will look good. Sumrall has done nothing to jeopardize his hot stock with all the carousel talk starting up.

Can Dan Mullen remain unbeaten?

The former Mississippi State and Florida coach now has UNLV at 6-0 but the Rebels are 12.5-point underdogs at Boise State. The Broncos have lost two games. Could Mullen eventually emerge as a candidate to go back to the SEC? Running back Jaiden Thomas is having a great season for him.

Can Missouri put a fork in Hugh Freeze?

Missouri is a 1.5-point road favorite at Auburn, which is 0-3 in the SEC and reeling once again under the watch of Hugh Freeze. Auburn fans are very mad at officials and Hugh Freeze is, too. But at some point they just have to go out and win some football games. Missouri came up just short against a very good Alabama team in Columbia but Beau Pribula has to be better for this team to reach the level of contending.