Gridiron Picks — Week 8

Jeremiah Davis, Sports Editor (34-15)

Jake Calhoun, Asst. Sports Editor (31-18)

Dan Tracy, senior sports reporter (35-14)

Jake Lovett, editor-in-chief (37-12)

Alexander Robinson, former ISU running back – Guest Pick (11-10)

No. 17 Texas A&M vs. Iowa State

Jeremiah Davis: Texas A&M — A&M has a prolific offense, and the Cyclones have had big-time defensive issues the last few weeks. Bad recipe.

Jake Calhoun: Texas A&M — With Texas A&M leaving for the SEC next year, this will be the last time the Aggies get to bulldoze Iowa State.

Dan Tracy: Texas A&M — Cyclones have never had a four-game losing streak under Paul Rhoads. We’ll see how the team responds after dropping their fourth straight on Saturday.

Jake Lovett: Texas A&M — Texas A&M whooped Baylor. Baylor whooped Iowa State. The transitive property tells me this might get ugly.

Alexander Robinson: Iowa State — It’s Homecoming. It’s Ames. Jack Trice Stadium. Defense gets back on track. Running game and ball security propel ISU. We’re due to get a Texas team anyways.

No. 13 West Virginia vs. Syracuse

Davis: West Virginia — Could be a long night for the Orange. If only they were in Morgantown, W.Va. and could drink beer at the game.

Calhoun: West Virginia — West Virginia’s pass offense is ranked fourth in the nation. Syracuse’s pass defense? 112th in the nation. This won’t even be close.

Tracy: West Virginia — Geno Smith has thrown for 350+ yards four times this season. Make it five. Mountaineers roll.

Lovett: West Virginia — “Gosh, I just love Syracuse football.” – No one.

Robinson: West Virginia — “Syra-Who?”

No. 19 Auburn vs. No. 1 LSU

Davis: LSU — The Chiz doesn’t have a paid-for quarterback to help him this time. One Tiger team runs into another Tiger buzzsaw.

Calhoun: LSU — The Tigers are facing the Tigers. How is this not animal cruelty?

Tracy: LSU — I don’t care if Auburn had 11 Cam Newtons on offense (hint: they don’t even have one this year) LSU’s defense might be in the best in the land.

Lovett: LSU — Bet the Tigers win.

Robinson: LSU — Home Game vs Defending National Champs? Death Valley Will Be Rocking. Literally

No. 4 Wisconsin vs. No. 15 Michigan State

Davis: Michigan State — The Spartans shut down Denard Robinson, and now on to Russell Wilson. My upset pick of the week.

Calhoun: Wisconsin — Russell Wilson against the No. 2 defense in the nation? I’ll take Wilson, but this pick really makes me uneasy.

Tracy: Wisconsin — This will be the closest game the Badgers have played all season but I think RussellMania runs wild and the Badgers avenge their only regular season loss from last season.

Lovett: Wisconsin — I don’t hesitate with this at all. Bucky is easily top dog in the Big Ten.

Robinson: Wisconsin — No secret what they do. Stop the run. Run the ball then let Wilson carve teams apart. They are scary good this year.

No. 22 Washington vs. No. 7 Stanford

Davis: Stanford — One of these picks is not like the other. By that I mean, one of us is a homer.

Calhoun: Washington — I’m picking my Huskies in an upset, but I am STILL upset that Jake Locker didn’t go to the Seattle Seahawks.

Tracy: Stanford — Don’t count out the Huskies. They have a solid running game and an emerging QB in sophomore Keith Price, but Stanford is more than just Andrew Luck too.

Lovett: Stanford — Andrew Luck: Three years, one loss at home. He’ll be OK in this one.

Robinson: Stanford — Washington as a program has improved over the years but Stanford has made leaps and bounds.

No. 6 Oklahoma State vs. Missouri

Davis: Oklahoma State — Mizzou may have looked really good against Iowa State, but the Cowboys’ offense is in much better shape than the Cyclones’.

Calhoun: Oklahoma State — As if Mizzou needed any more reason to jump from mediocrity in the Big 12 to mediocrity in the SEC.

Tracy: Oklahoma State — If Mizzou can run the ball (Okie State has the 80th ranked run defense in the nation) they can hang with the Pokes but in the end the Cowboys offense is just too lethal.

Lovett: Oklahoma State — The Tigers haven’t beaten Oklahoma State since 2005. Brandon Weeden was just 21. Wait, that’s not that young. He’s really old.

Robinson: Oklahoma State — Their offense is too explosive and they score too much too quickly for Mizzou.

USC vs. Notre Dame

Davis: Notre Dame — This game used to be a big deal. Now it’s just one loud-mouth coach against another.

Calhoun: Notre Dame — The Super Bowl of private schools. At stake? Bragging rights among the cliques of sweater vests at the yacht club.

Tracy: Notre Dame — First night game at Notre Dame Stadium in 21 years. No Reggie Bush to push Matt Leinart across the goal line in this one. Irish win their fifth straight.

Lovett: Notre Dame — The 70s called. It wants its rivalry back.

Robinson: Notre Dame — Mike Floyd is from Minnesota. Enough said. Lol