With over half of the college football season complete, games just keep getting tighter. NIU remains in search of win No. 2 , while some teams look to ruin their opponent’s perfect record.
A series is a series, so once again, the Northern Star Sports Staff came together to predict the winner of the five must-watch games from Week 8.
No. 10 LSU @ No. 17 Vanderbilt
11:00 a.m. CT | Saturday, Oct. 18 | ABC
Kalin Schaefer, Sports Editor (20-15): Vanderbilt — I don’t know why everyone is picking LSU when the Commodores are the favorites going into this one, which is good enough for me!
Skyler Kisellus, Senior Sports Reporter (25-10): LSU — The boys from the Bayou may not be SEC contenders, but they’re still a force to be reckoned with. Vandy will undoubtedly make this one competitive, but the Commodores’ hype train only has so much steam.
Joseph Segreti, Sports Reporter (25-10): LSU — Vanderbilt has been a great story so far this year, but LSU is just simply the better program. LSU’s experience against higher ranked SEC opponents in recent years will be enough to secure them a win.
Claire Valenti, Sports Reporter (17-18): LSU — Both teams are 5-1, but 10 is higher than 17. Quick math!
Eric Avila, Sports Reporter (23-12): LSU — I picked LSU because one of my friends that used to come to NIU now goes to LSU for grad school, so let’s geaux Tigers!
Logan Whittington, Sports Reporter (23-12): LSU — Livvy Dunne and Paul Skenes are better than Dansby Swanson, so this is an obvious pick.
Abel Naranjo, Sports Reporter (17-13): LSU — The Tigers have owned Vandy for the past 10 games, I think this ownership continues. Vandy has dominated all non-ranked opponents so far but when playing No. 6 Alabama last week, lost pretty comfortably 30-14, give me LSU.
Army @ Tulane
11:00 a.m. CT | Saturday, Oct. 18 | ESPNU
Schaefer: Tulane — Tulane is 5-1, with the one loss against Ole Miss, and Army is 3-3. This should be an easy win for the Green Wave.
Kisellus: Tulane — Treasonous as it may be, I can’t justify an Army pick here. Tulane has home-field advantage, and its only loss so far is to a then 13th-ranked Ole Miss team. Maybe consider bringing an M1 Abrams to NOLA?
Segreti: Tulane — Tulane is the home team this week and they play a fairly weak Army squad. Tulane’s only loss coming to Ole Miss this year only strengthens their chances, they should take care of Army no problem.
Valenti: Tulane — Tulane’s faced better teams this season. Tulane also has the better record. The Army will drown in the Green Wave.
Avila: Army — I’m picking Army because my cousin Choche is in the Army, and my cousin Nestor was in the Army but got kicked out. So, let’s go Black Knights.
Whittington: Army — I’m a pretty patriotic kind of guy so I always got to support the troops. Give me the Army.
Naranjo: Tulane — Tulane’s only loss so far is with No. 5 Ole Miss while the Black Knights have not faced anyone of the same caliber. Army is heavily reliant on the run game, averaging 282.7 rushing yards per game, so if the Green Wave can handle that, it should be an easy win.
UNLV @ Boise State
2:30 p.m. CT | Saturday, Oct. 18 | FS1
Schaefer: Boise State — Yes, yes, I know, UNLV is undefeated. The Broncos have had a tougher schedule and still hold a 4-2 record, so this should be Boise State’s game to lose.
Kisellus: Boise State — Picking against the undefeated team here will surely come back to bite me, but Boise State is still a good football team — even without an Ashton Jeanty in the backfield. Plus, UNLV’s winning streak has to end at some point, right?
Segreti: UNLV — UNLV has been outstanding so far this season and Boise State has not lived up to its preseason hype. Despite not having home field advantage, I think UNLV continues to stay unbeaten and earns a good looking road victory.
Valenti: UNLV — Living in Boise is an L on its own, but the Broncos will be taking another L against the undefeated Rebels.
Avila: UNLV — Las Vegas has way more casinos than Boise, so for that reason, let’s go Rebels!
Whittington: UNLV — The Rebels are currently undefeated this season and have defeated the last 13 non-ranked teams they’ve faced.
Naranjo: Boise State — Although the Rebels are undefeated this season, the Broncos have faced ranked teams like No. 13 Notre Dame and No. 19 South Florida making this the toughest team UNLV has faced this season. Boise State’s run game also matches up well against UNLV so they’ll be looking to exploit that weakness.
Old Dominion @ James Madison
2:30 p.m. CT | Saturday, Oct. 18 | ESPNU
Schaefer: Old Dominion — This is a tough one, so I’m falling back on a tried and true method for these picks. The Monarchs are a way better mascot then the Dukes, so I’m taking Old Dominion.
Kisellus: James Madison — Believe it or not, this isn’t a head-to-head race between two horses named Old Dominion and James Madison. Still, James Madison looks like the better team on paper. Did you know Curt Cignetti used to coach there?
Segreti: James Madison — Playing at home gives JMU a huge advantage in this game, as the team rides a four-game winning streak. Despite seeing strong offensive production this season, Old Dominion will fall to the Dukes on the road.
Valenti: Old Dominion — The Monarchs have popped off on offense so far this season, and I think they’ll be the ones to snap the Dukes’ four-game winning streak.
Avila: Both — Honestly, I don’t know anything about these teams, so I hope this gets by my boss and counts as a pick. Let’s go both of you guys!
Whittington: James Madison — The Dukes have won four straight, and while they haven’t looked great, they have looked better in comparison to the Monarchs, who had struggled in their last matchup.
Naranjo: James Madison — JMU’s defense has looked solid all year, allowing fewer than 20 points except for their loss against Louisville. They have also had the Monarchs’ number as of late, winning three straight. However, Old Dominion did hold up against No. 3 Indiana earlier in the year but I don’t think this experience will be enough. JMU’s defense should be able to take care of business.
NIU @ Ohio
2:30 p.m. CT | Saturday, Oct. 18 | ESPN+
Schaefer: Ohio — Parker Navarro and the Bobcats are the reigning MAC champs and NIU’s only win is against Holy Cross. This is going to be a bloodbath.
Kisellus: Ohio — No.
Segreti: Ohio — Ohio is going to win this game by a billion. NIU is not a good team.
Valenti: Ohio — I’m breaking up with NIU football. This relationship is too toxic.
Avila: Ohio — I don’t even need a reason at this point, let’s go Rizzler Navarro.
Whittington: Ohio — NIU is just simply not a good team. What happened to the team I once loved?
Naranjo: Ohio — The only time I’ve been right on a NIU game is when I picked them to lose so here’s my free pick, thanks NIU.
