NCAA Predictions for Week 8 2011 College Football Matchups

Maryland Terrapins @ Florida State Seminoles (-17)
The Terrapins have put together some nice games here and there, but they’ve put together some stinkers too. I expect this to be the latter. As I said in my newsletter, I’m taking the Florida State team on a good day to cover this spread.

Tennessee Volunteers (+29.5) @ Alabama Crimson Tide
The Volunteers can put up some points, they’ve done it against good defenses before, and I think they throw up a couple touchdowns against the studly Crimson Tide defense. I don’t think they have a chance to win, but the points should be covered if they can put together a couple scoring drives. If there’s any weakness to the Crimson Tide it’s that they don’t throw the ball amazingly and their defensive secondary isn’t as awesome as the rest of their group. I don’t think it will be close, but 34-13 wouldn’t surprise me.

USC Trojans @ Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-8.5)
The Trojans have been alright, but there’s a reason they are 8.5 point dogs at Notre Dame, they just aren’t an elite program right now and it shows. They don’t run the ball really well, and they don’t have the consistency offensively because of that. They have some talent on the outside but they are a little dinged up and might not be able to make those big plays for QB Matt Barkley. Notre Dame plays fast and they are getting consistent offensively. USC’s defense isn’t a good group, allowing lots of points to mediocre teams. I see the Irish taking full advantage of that.