College Football Picks Week 8

I've got to get off this slide sometime right? I've been a very pedestrian 5-5 in 3 out of the last 4 weeks, these upsets are killin me, I guess I gotta go out and start picking them.

#14 USC at Notre Dame- The Irish have shown some signs of life in the past few weeks. Evan Sharpley is getting the start; he has been much better in-game than Freshman Jimmy Clausen, although Charlie Weis claims that Clausen is always better than Sharpley in practice. I see this game being closer than people expect, the grass will be nice and long like it was in '05 but it wont be able to slow down the Trojans.
USC Wins: 30-20

Michigan State at #1 Ohio State- The Number 1 team has had a history of losing this year, but it will not be happening this Saturday. The Spartans can run the ball, they have two backs: Javon Ringer and Jehuu Caulcrick who have run for almost 1500 yards and 18 TDs this year, but the Ohio State defense is one of the best groups in the nation. OSU comes to show they are legit.
OSU Wins: 40-17

#12 California at UCLA- Cal is reeling from that heartbreaking loss against Oregon State last week. UCLA is trying to show that they aren’t complete frauds, with losses to ND and Utah; the Bruins are trying to fight for a PAC 10 title (they are 3-0 in conference). Cal gets back in the saddle again and officially puts Karl Dorrell in the hot seat.
Cal Wins: 31-17

#17 Auburn at #4 LSU- I think it is safe to say that LSU is still the best overall team in the nation and Auburn is not in the Tigers league, perhaps the Tigers will break out Ryan Perrilloux who was absent in their loss to Kentucky. Of course upon declaring that Auburn isn’t in LSU's league they will kill them.
LSU Wins: 38-20

#15 Florida at #7 Kentucky- Now is the time when Tim Tebow needs to carry his Gators, if he wants the Heisman then this is his game to make a case for it. Kentucky is riding real high off their win over LSU but something tells me they just wont be mentally there when the Gators get to Lexington.
Florida Wins: 24-17

#24 Texas Tech at #16 Missouri- The Red Raiders have been great offensively, specifically through the air, and the Missouri pass defense ranks 100th in the nation. To boot, the starting Missouri RB, Tony Temple, is out for this game. This all leads to a Tech victory...P.S. Don't burn me Tech like you did against Ok. St.!
Texas Tech Wins: 45-28

#21 Tennessee at Alabama- I was on the Saban Bandwagon earlier this year and was tossed off when it hit the bumps of Georgia and Florida St. Tennessee is a team that seems like an enigma, one week they get trounced by an overrated Florida team and the next they beat up on Georgia. I should be taking the Vols but I can't get enough of Saban so I'm going with the Tide in an upset.
Alabama Wins: 20-13

Miami(FL) at Florida State- When a team loses to UNC you know they have trouble, it looks like that was the real Miami compared to the one that kicked Texas A&M's ass. Florida State is bummin over their 2nd straight loss to Wake Forest and has the better athletes in general so I'm down with the Seminoles this weekend.
Florida State Wins: 27-20

#25(USA) Penn State at Indiana- This, like the rest of their games, is Penn State's most important game of the year. They need to come out and show that last week against Wisconsin was not a fluke, they need to stop Kellen Lewis and execute on offense with minimal mistakes. If those things happen then the Nittany Lions roll. I see a little sluggish start but an eventual win for the Lions, Kinlaw and Royster will control the tempo of this game.
Penn State Wins: 28-20

*****UPSET SPECIAL*****
#25 Michigan at Illinois- This is the 2nd week in a row I’m picking against the Wolverines and the 2nd week in a row that I'm picking Illinois to win. Last week I though that the Purdue spread offense would ruffle Michigan's feathers, I was wrong. But this offense that Illinois runs is much faster and more talented that Purdue's. This is a night game in Champaign and the crowd will be ready.
Illinois Wins: 34-24