College Football Week 8 - Important Matchups

6 Iowa @ Michigan State
Favorite: Even
If you look only at their records, this would appear to be an easy win for Iowa. Iowa is looking for its first 8-0 start in team history, and all they have to do is beat 4-3 Michigan State. What makes this game tilt slightly in Iowa's favor is the turnover battle. Michigan State may have the best passing offense in the Big Ten, but Iowa already has 15 INTs. With MSU typically losing the turnover battle, and at -4 for the season, Iowa should come away with their 12th straight victory.
Pick: Iowa 24 - Michigan State 17

8 TCU @ 16 BYU
Favorite: TCU, -2.5
This is the only ranked-vs-ranked matchup of the weekend, and one that should have a great deal of attention payed to it(even though it isn't on national tv). This will also be TCU's first big game of the season, against a team they beat last season. But this is a different year. TCU may have one of the best Ds in the nation, but they'll be playing one of the best offenses, and a team that already beat then-No 3 Oklahoma in Week 1. BYU just looks like the better team here.
Pick: BYU 38 - TCU 27

13 Penn State @ Michigan
Favorite: Penn State, -4.5
The numbers you need to know for this game, and I'm sure they'll be brought up a lot before and during this game, are 1996 and 107-20. The first is the last time Penn State won at Michigan. The second is the combined scores of Penn States last three wins since losing to Iowa, including last weeks shutout of Minnesota. But Michigan isn't going down without a fight. They're coming their own 63-6 win over Delaware State, and have outscored opponents 213-97 in their five wins. The problem comes in big games; Michigan hasn't really shown up in them. In their two games against ranked teams, they barely beat Notre Dame and lost to Iowa. Against in-state, in-conference rival Michigan State, they lost in OT, 26-20. Except for their second straight loss to Iowa, Penn State has yet to really be tested this year. Michigan may put up a fight, but Penn state still comes away with the win.
Pick: Penn State 38 - Michigan 35

USF @ 20 Pitt
Favorite: Pitt, -6.5
After starting the season 5-0 and being ranked for consecutive weeks, USF lost to undefeated Cincinnati last week and was dropped. Pitt lost to a bad NC State team in Week 4 and hasn't beaten anyone of note this season and is ranked 20th. You better belive USF wants their ranking back, and they have the defense to do it. A win here would also make them bowl eligible for the fifth straight year. Looking at these teams overall, I see an overrated Pitt and an underrated USF, and a USF win would prove me right.
Pick: USF 31 - Pitt 17