Section 400’s Week 8 College Football Roundtable

Happy Saturday to all that celebrate! As they do every Saturday, the guys from Section 400 will go through the top storylines heading into the monstrous slate on each College Football Saturday.

Find out below what Section 400 writers Brian Hauch and Zach Meyers are most intrigued about in week seven.

Crunch Time

Gentlemen, we have have plenty of fun games to look forward to this Saturday. Which one(s) will you be watching?

BH: If the Miami Hurricanes are going to lose before the ACC Championship, the likely last chance of that happening comes this week on the road against Louisville. The Cardinals season has hit quite the speed bump after a hot start, but a win over the No. 6 ranked team in the country could help re-energize the Gateway to the South. I’ll also be watching our guy Zach’s “[W]Indiana” Hoosiers take on Nebraska at noon. No. 16 ranked Indiana has run the ball into the end zone at the third highest rate in the country this season, while Nebraska is the only program yet to allow a touchdown rush. As the saying goes; Something’s gotta give.

ZM: Indiana vs. Nebraska, Texas vs. Georgia, and Temple vs. Tulsa because I will be in attendance.

MK: I’m all over the SEC matchups this week. Tennessee vs. Alabama and Georgia vs Texas should be great games!

Horns Up?

We’ll have our third “top five” matchup of the season this year when No. 5 ranked Georgia travels to Austin to take of No. 1 ranked Texas. Do either of these teams take home a conference championship or are you looking at someone else in a loaded SEC?

BH: If you’ve watched any of our podcasts or read any of my blogs you know how much I love statistics and here’s another one for you. The lower-ranked team has won outright in both of the top five contests we’ve seen so far in 2024. My mom told me at a young age that “things happen in threes”, so I have no reason to believe the trend doesn’t continue this weekend. With that being said, I’m still going to hold out hope the Tennessee Volunteers figure out their offense and take home an SEC crown. I’m so due to get one of my “future bets” right. Right?

ZM: The winner of the SEC will be the LSU tigers. I don’t see them losing another game.

MK: Right now I have Texas but could change depending on the outcome today.

Rocky (on) Top?

After an incredible start to the campaign Tennessee has struggled mightily the last few weeks. Another rough showing against a very good Alabama team could bring out the “Panic Button” in the ‘Volunteer State‘. Do the ‘Vols’ make the Playoff by the time the dust settles? If so, what seed does head coach Josh Heupel’s team claim?

BH: We all remember the absolute cinema this game provided the last time these teams matched up in Knoxville in 2022. Unfortunately Jalin Hyatt is not struggling to garner snaps for my Giants, while Hendon Hooker is warming the bench in Detroit. This Tennessee offense is not nearly as explosive as it was two years, or even one year, ago, but I still think it is good enough to lead the Volunteers to the Playoff. I’ll predict a seven or eight seed finish for the ‘Vols’.

ZM: They will be in the top 15, but won’t make the Playoff. Tennessee loses today, and in Athens against Georgia later in the season.

MK: I think they finish right about where they are now in the AP Poll (No. 11). I don’t think Tennessee makes any noise in the playoff.

Let’s have a Saturday

Favorite bet(s) today?

BH: We may see the live over/under rise over 100 points in the Colorado vs. Arizona game. The Wildcats struggle with turnovers (quarterback Noah Fifita has the second most intercepts in FBS with 9) but the home-field advantage should help temper that. Give me the OVER 57 points in Tucson. I’ll also give out Kentucky (-2.5) in ‘The Swamp’ against a terrible Florida team.

ZM: I’ll go with Illinois (+153) at home against Michigan and Stanford (+17.5) at home against SMU.

MK: I have four for you. Missouri (-170) vs. Auburn , Kansas state (-140) on the road against West Virginia, Iowa (-225) in East Lansing taking on Michigan State , Washington State (-18.5) at home against Hawaii.

 

Underdog

Which underdog shocks the world today?

BH: Screw it, give me Auburn (+152) against Missouri. This team is due for a win.

ZM: Stanford to shock the world.

MK: Arizona state and Arkansas.