Boomer's Urban Renewal: Bouncing back in Week 8

Week 8 provides a number of teams, the chance to get
their seasons back on track.

The best thing about college football, is things chance quickly from week to week. West Virginia with Heisman candidate QB Geno Smith suffered their 1st loss of the season a wee ago, at Texas Tech, now have the chance to bounce back in a big way with a home game tomorrow night, vs. #4 Kansas State (7:00, FOX). If the Mountaineers are able to pull off the upset, things will be back in order for Geno & Co., in the very competitive Big 12 conference. As for the Game Cocks of South Carolina, after dropping a 23-21 decision in "Death Valley" vs. the LSU Tigers, now have to go on the road again, this time down in "The Swamp" to face SEC East rival #2 Florida Gators. This would mark the third game in-a-row, that QB Connor Shaw and the Game Cocks will have to face a Top 10 team, just the normal grind of the SEC schedule, haha. As for the Spartans of Michigan State, sitting at 4-3 on the season, go on the road this weekend against arch rival Michigan. Preseason favorites to represent the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl, Sparty finds itself in a "must-win" scenario vs. the Wolverines, who have dropped four-straight in the series. Will these three teams get back on track this weekend or will they see their seasons  get derailed? Looks like it will be another entertaining week of CFB, and make sure you check out College Game Day, LIVE from Gainesville, FL site of #7 South Carolina vs. #2 Florida Gators SEC clash. College GameDay Kickoff: Week 8 preview

Games to keep an eye on in Week 8: (Complete Week 8 Schedule) *Rankings via BCS Standings*

Purdue at Ohio State (NOON, ABC)

• The Buckeyes look to run their record to 8-0, when they host the Boilermakers, Ohio State has won seven-straight home meetings vs. Purdue. 

#6 LSU at #18 Texas A&M (NOON, ESPN)

• An early kick (11am, local time) could make this one very interesting, as A&M looks to pull the upset off in this SEC matchup. LSU won the last meeting between the two teams, 41-24 in the 2011 Cotton Bowl.

#7 South Carolina at #2 Florida (3:30, CBS) *College Game Day* Live from Gainesville, FL

• SEC East rivals, the Gators look to snap a two-year drought vs. the Game Cocks, while South Carolina tries to win its third straight in the series for the 1st time, and take control of the SEC East division. 

Michigan State at Michigan (3:30, BTN)

• A "must-win" for both teams, as Michigan State (4-3) tries to save its season, while Michigan tries to win this game for the 1st time since 2007.

#4 Kansas State at #13 West Virginia (7:00, FOX)

• A matchup featuring two of the top candidates thus far for the Heisman trophy, QB's Collin Klein (KSU) and Geno Smith (WVU), look to light up the scoreboard and continue building their Heisman resumes.

#14 Florida State at Miami (FL) (8:00, ABC)

• Remember when this game had National Title implications? No, me either. While FSU continues to try and work its way "back" into being a national contender, the Hurricanes have been out of the picture for the good part of the last decade. The U have dropped the last two games in the series, and 5 out of 7 against Florida State.

Buckeyes Game Preview vs. Purdue

Once viewed as a team that could represent the Leaders division in the Big 10 Championship game, the Boilermakers (3-3, 0-2 Big Ten) opened up their Big Ten schedule with back-to-back home defeats vs. Michigan & Wisconsin (outscored 82-27). If the Buckeyes want to make it eight-straight home W's vs. Purdue, they have to try and continue to fix one glaring thing. DEFENSE! The Buckeyes might just get that chance against a Purdue offense that ranks 79th nationally in total offense (386.5 ypg). I know Braxton & Co. will have another quality game and throw up 40+ points vs. the Boilermaker defense, that have got shredded the past two weeks, but I would like to see the "Silver Bullet" defense finally come along. It's great seeing the Buckeyes put up 50+ points the past two games, but it also doesn't leave a very good taste in your mouth, when you watch this defense at times (most of the time). The Buckeyes beat the Boilmakers 49-0, the last time these two teams played in Columbus, 2010.

Weekend Game Picks (Last Week 5-1, Overall 31-11) Bonus Pick: 5-2

Ohio State hammers Purdue

LSU escapes Texas A&M

Florida over South Carolina

Michigan State continues the streak over Michigan

WVU wins a shootout over K State

Florida State drops Miami (FL)

*Bonus Pick*

Monday Night Football (8:30, ESPN): Jay Culter, Bears claw past the Lions, in this old school divisional rivalry on MNF.

• The Bears move to 5-1, and take control of the NFC North division with a home win vs. the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football.