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LSU, Miami on alert

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LSU, Miami on alert

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We have reached the unofficial halfway point of the season and college football is entering Week 8. There are still seven weeks left, and after this Saturday there will be seven more.

There have been plenty of surprises so far: Florida State, Michigan and Oklahoma State among teams have had disappointing starts, and Indiana, Iowa State and Pittsburgh led a group of schools that exceeded expectations.

There were also a number of surprises for most of the first two months. And that trend is sure to continue this week. But when will they happen?

That's why the USA TODAY Sports college football staff is here. Scooby Axson, Jordan Mendoza, Paul Myerberg, Erick Smith, Eddie Timanus and Dan Wolken give their bold predictions for Week 8 of the college football season:

Indiana beats Nebraska on the way to 9-0

The Hoosiers are one of the biggest surprises in the country, especially after being picked to finish 17th out of 18 teams in the preseason Big Ten media poll. They do this through solid quarterback play (Kurtis Rourke is the conference's top-rated passer), an offense that averages a league-best 47.5 points and 515.7 yards per game, and a defense that only Allows 255.7 yards per game.

On Saturday, the Hoosiers host Nebraska, which is doing surprising things of its own under the leadership of freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola. Indiana is off to a 9-0 start before facing Michigan and Ohio State in consecutive weeks in November. However, it is entirely possible that Curt Cignetti's team will continue their winning streak with a narrow win over the Cornhuskers by then. – Scooby Axson

GAMES TO WATCH: SEC showdowns lead to biggest game of Week 8

WEEKEND FORECAST: Expert picks for every Top 25 game in Week 8

Indiana continues to move toward College Football Playoff contendership

What Curt Cignetti has built in Bloomington is something special. Who would have thought that Indiana would be one of two FBS teams – the other Army – still trailing by a game in Week 8? It wasn't the toughest schedule, but the Hoosiers looked dominant in the first half of the season and face their toughest game yet when they visit Nebraska. The Cornhuskers should give Indiana a real challenge – especially since the defense is one of the Big Ten's best – but the Hoosier offense still comes through, getting off to a 7-0 start for the first time since 1967.

After this week, Indiana can no longer be dismissed as a legitimate contender for the College Football Playoff. Michigan and Ohio State are still there in November, but you have to like the chances of the Hoosiers taking on the Wolverines and perhaps pulling off an upset in Columbus. If Indiana can take care of business and finish the season 10-2, maybe 11-1, it will be difficult to keep the Hoosiers out of the playoffs. – Jordan Mendoza

Oklahoma's dismal season is made worse by the loss at South Carolina

Oklahoma's already dismal season takes a sharper turn toward disaster with a home loss to South Carolina. That would drop the Sooners to 4-3 and increase the possibility that a team ranked No. 16 in the preseason coaches' poll misses the postseason entirely. And would that even be that big of a surprise (or any surprise at all)? While the Gamecocks were 3-3 and just 1-3 in the SEC, they could have easily beaten LSU (36-33) and Alabama (27-25). – Paul Myerberg

LSU crashes at Arkansas

The biggest psychological challenge for any college football player is dealing with the emotional toll of a dramatic win and going up against a capable opponent on the road you're supposed to beat. This is the situation for LSU. They staged an improbable comeback against MIssissippi last week and advanced into the projected College Football Playoff field. But now comes the hard part: a trip to Arkansas. The Razorbacks already showed against Tennessee how difficult it is to play in Fayetteville and will have quarterback Taylen Green at full health. Look for the Hogs to have a night by knocking out the Tigers and picking up a narrow win that shakes up the SEC and playoff race. – Erick Smith

Kansas State will be tested at West Virginia

No. 17 Kansas State's long road trip to West Virginia could be considered a possible surprise to some hog prognosticators. However, he believes that it will not happen

For one thing, the Wildcats took a big step toward resolving the whole road thing last week in Colorado. Sure, they let a sizable lead slip, but they made the big breakthrough when they needed it to get out of Boulder with the win. On the other hand, the Mountaineers haven't beaten an FBS team with a winning record, and their best finish at Oklahoma State was more indicative of the Cowboys' implosion than anything WVU does well.

It won't be easy. K-State has already brought in its share of wobbles. But the Wildcats will find a way to make it happen in Morgantown. –Eddie Timanus

Miami finally falls after living dangerously

Teams like Miami, who are 6-0 but live dangerously, usually run out of emotional energy at some point and lose a game they shouldn't be losing. That game is this weekend at Louisville, a team that isn't great but has enough talent to beat Miami and is very well coached. Miami is coming off a bye week, which works in its favor. But the narrow survival against Virginia Tech and the need to overcome a 25-point deficit to beat Cal are data that screams defeat is upon them. — Dan Clouds

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