I'm sure you'll all be tuning in to watch the Bethune-Cookman/Norfolk State game tonight.  Who cares about the World Series?  I'm headed to CTA State Council in "Err-Ray" for the weekend.  I'll have my laptop with me, but little time to watch CFB.  So all y'all tune in for me, OK?  Here's what I think I think for Week #8:

Union (3-4)--Idle.  Next week:  home vs. RPI.  Oh, I will have LOTS to say about THIS game...next week.

Air Force (3-3) at #5 Boise State (6-0).  The Thursday line is 39 points.  Any questions?  PICK:  Boise State.


Army (2-4) at Vanderbilt (3-3).  Two genuinely weak teams, Vandy was in the running for Worst Team in the Country.  Commodores haven't been any good since Jay Cutler played there, and Army hasn't been any good since Glenn Davis and Doc Blanchard.  Truth hurts, don't it?  Army can't throw the ball, so it has to run.  Vandy turns the ball over too many times, but it plays better-than-average run defense.  I'm thinkin' that the Commies win this battle by stopping Black Knights' one-dimensional offense and learn their lesson about turnovers by protecting the football and wearing out WooPoo defense.  PICK:  Vandy at home.

Navy (2-4) at home vs. East Carolina (2-4).  When Paul Johnson was still in Annapolis and Skip Holtz in Greenville, this would have been a terrific game.  Times have changed.  Navy has lost four straight, and ECU stopped a 2-game losing streak by beating up on a terrible Memphis team last week.  This will come down to whose defense is able to stay off the field the longest.  Navy runs the ball better, which means they're likely to spend more time on the field.  Home field advantage also will mean something.  PICK:  Navy (but I may regret this).

BYU (5-2) home vs. Idaho State (2-5).  Are you kidding?  The Bengals?  You call that an opponent?  They're only one step ahead of Northern Colorado in the Big Sky Conference!  They're no Wofford, that's for sure (wait 'til I have time to write revisionist history about where this blog eminated...).  Soft schedule won't hurt Cougars this week, as their opponent managed to score a total of only fifteen points in losses against Northern Arizona, Montana, and Weber State.  Meanwhile, BYU averaged over 31 points per game during the same stretch.  PICK:  BYU at home.

San Jose State (3-4)--Idle.  Next week:  at Louisiana Tech (where they'll bring back Terry Bradshaw to complete his sophomore year).


South Portland (5-2) at Portland (2-5).  Bulldogs are VERY young, but they've given the likes of Chevrus and Windham all they could handle.  I'm worried that our Riots are not taking Portland seriously.  Hey, what the hell ever happened to the Battle of the Bridge?  October??  This is the last game on the schedule.  School budget cuts must be keeping football seasons short.  PICK:  I'm goin' with Portland at T-H-E Stadium, mostly because of the front-page pic of their girls' field hockey team in this morning's Press Herald.

Rogers (4-3) at Graham-Kapowsin (3-4).  Teams' records vs. common opponents are almost identical, the one difference being GK's win over Curtis (as opposed to the Rams' loss).  Both teams give up A LOT of points, but Rogers averages 30 PPG to GK's 21.  Home field advantage is usually worth 3 points, and the Rams have the only chance to make the playoffs as a #4 seed.  PICK:  Rogers.