With Week 7 now in the rearview mirror and Week 8 on the horizon, let’s tackle a number of quick-hit topics from the college football landscape.

As anticipated by this space, Arkansas and South Carolina gave fits to Florida and Alabama, respectively, this past weekend. Both the Gators and Crimson Tide fell into classic letdown spots following huge road wins (at LSU and at Ole Miss) the previous week.

The Razorbacks almost got greedy. They easily cashed tickets as 24 ½-point underdogs and appeared on the cusp of pulling a stunning upset over top-ranked UF. However, Bobby Petrino’s team missed a potential go-ahead field goal late in the fourth quarter.

Next, Urban Meyer’s team was the benefactor of a pair of sketchy calls that went against the Hogs. Both were pivotal in setting up Caleb Sturgis to bury the game-winning field goal from 27 yards out with nine seconds remaining to give UF a 23-20 victory.

Steve Spurrier’s team also covered the number in its 20-6 loss at Bryant-Denny Stadium. The Gamecocks, who are now 4-0 against the spread as underdogs this season and 11-4-1 ATS as road ‘dogs during Spurrier’s tenure, took the money as 18-point puppies.

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Nick Saban’s team got a monster performance from running back Mark Ingram, who had a career-high 246 rushing yards on 24 carries. Ingram’s four-yard touchdown run with 4:54 left put the game on ice for the Tide.

Alabama will now host Tennessee this Saturday before taking its open date. Las Vegas Sports Consultants opened the Tide as a 17-point home ‘chalk,’ but the number was 16 at most spots Monday night.

Florida will go on the road and try to get its first win at Mississippi St. since 1985. Now that stat is a tad misleading in that UF has only been to Starkville four times over the last 24 years. But without a doubt, all Gators know that Scott Field has been a House of Horrors for the defending national champs.

In 1992, Shane Matthews saw his Heisman hopes dashed in a 30-6 loss at MSU in a Thursday night ESPN game. Matthews threw five interceptions on that night and Florida hasn’t played on a Thursday since then.

In 2000, Mississippi St. RBs Dicenzo Miller and Dontae Walker combined for more than 300 rushing yards in a 47-35 victory. Then in 2004, Jerious Norwood wrote Ron Zook’s pink slip in a 31-28 come-from-behind victory for the Bulldogs as 24 ½-point home underdogs.

As of Monday night, most books had Florida listed as a 22-point road favorite. We should note that after starting Meyer’s tenure with an 0-8 spread record as a road favorite, UF has now covered the spread in eight consecutive road ‘chalk’ spots.

VI's Chris David told you last week that LVSC would've made Florida a five-point favorite on a neutral field against Alabama. That was last week. According to LVSC's Kenny White, the Gators would now be three-point favorites against the Tide.

I still don’t think Texas has played great football yet, but Mack Brown’s bunch is still undefeated after beating Oklahoma 16-13 Saturday in another edition of the Red River Rivalry. Colt McCoy is a non-factor in the Heisman race right now, but the senior signal caller sure knows how to win football games, including three of ‘em for his resume over the Sooners.

The Longhorns get Missouri this week on the road as 13 ½-point favorites (as of Monday). LVSC had Texas at 16 ½ on the send-out.

USC quietly remains a major factor in the national-title race, although it sure would’ve liked to have seen OU knock off Texas. Nevertheless, the Trojans held off Notre Dame for a 34-27 victory in South Bend. They play host to Oregon St. this week as expensive 21-point favorites.

Remember, the Beavers stunned USC last year in Corvallis. Jacquizz Rodgers enjoyed his coming-out party in that Thursday affair on national television, rushing for 186 yards and a pair of TDs in a 27-21 win. Mr. Rodgers and Co. had an open date to prepare for the Men of Troy.

Cincinnati continued to punish Big East competition in a 34-17 win at South Florida this past Thursday. The Bearcats easily took the cash as two-point road favorites even though they lost QB Tony Pike in the third quarter to a forearm injury (non-throwing arm). Pike’s status for this week’s home game against Louisville is in question.

Miami and Iowa also remained in the BCS picture with road victories. The Hawkeyes are still undefeated after dropping Wisconsin 20-10 as 2 ½-point road underdogs at Camp Randall. They are on the road again this week as a short favorite at Michigan St. The Spartans will be gunning for their fourth straight win.

The ‘Canes handled UCF by a 27-7 count as 13-point favorites in Orlando. Jacory Harris threw for 293 yards for UM, which will host Clemson as a six-point favorite this weekend.

If you’re looking for another sleeper candidate to possibly get to Pasadena, Ga. Tech is now a part of that conversation. The Yellow Jackets beat Va. Tech 28-23 on the Flats as 3 ½-point home underdogs Saturday. They hooked up money-line backers with a plus-145 return (risk $100 to win $145).

Paul Johnson’s squad did lose 33-17 at Miami in September, but it leads the ACC Coastal division with a 4-1 ledger in ACC action.

Boise State and Va. Tech saw its Pasadena dreams most likely go up in flames in Week 7. The Broncos didn’t earn any style points in a non-covering 28-21 win at Tulsa, while the Hokies fell for a second time this year in Atlanta.

**B.E.’s Bonus Nuggets**

--Idaho remained the only unbeaten team for our purposes with a 35-23 home win over Hawaii as an eight-point ‘chalk.’ The Vandals are now 6-1 straight up and 7-0 versus the number. They were favored for the first time all year in the win over the Warriors. Robb Akey’s team goes back to the ‘dog role for this week’s trip to Reno. Most spots had Nevada favored by 13 as of Monday night.

--At Virginia and Colorado, Al Groh and Dan Hawkins are acting like they want to save their jobs. This is nothing new for Groh, whose tenure at UVA has mirrored Tommy Bowden’s at Clemson. That’s to say that he often seems to be on the hot seat, but then gets his team to start playing great football. Case in point: The Cavs start 0-3 this year only to win their last three against North Carolina (16-3), Indiana (44-0) and Maryland (20-9). UVA can really make a statement when it hosts Ga. Tech this week as a short home ‘dog.

--As for Hawkins, his 2-4 Buffaloes are off a 34-30 win over Kansas as eight-point home ‘dogs. CU gave Texas fits in Austin the prior week in an easy spread cover. Hawkins and Co. will play at Kansas St. this Saturday.

--LVSC opened LSU as a 10 ½-point favorite against Auburn, but the number was in the 8-9 range Monday night.

--Kudos to Kentucky head coach Rich Brooks, who led the Wildcats to a shocking 21-14 win at Auburn as 13-point underdogs. What makes this even more surprising is the fact that UK was once again without its best defensive player, Trevard Lindley, who might be the best cover corner in the nation. He’s more likely to return from an ankle injury Saturday vs. ULM. The ‘Cats have won a school-record three straight bowl games and Brooks has made this program competitive and relevant during his seven-year tenure. In short, the dude can coach and with the win on the Plains, UK now looks likely to go bowling again. The ‘Cats hadn’t beaten Auburn since 1966.

--Check out my recent Top 30 on my blog page if you wish.

Brian Edwards can be reached at briane@vegasinsider.com.

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