ITB's Slate of Eight: Week Four

The Slate of Eight is backed to the beefed up state with a cast of games that features not only some of the nation's best teams but also a few of the best players and storylines in the country. Joining us this week we've got Ty Hildenbrandt half of the dynamic duo that makes up The Solid Verbal, one of the best college football podcasts out there. This is a special week because not only do we get another case of CROSS PODCAST POLLINATION but we also have a bonus wager going on as Ty's Notre Dame squad takes on my adopted west coast baby; The Stanford Cardinal.

That's right, after losing my "Duke will throw for close to 300 yards" bet to Adam Caparell I climb right back up on the gambling wagon to take on Ty for this week's battle. The terms are as follows: I'm giving Ty 7.5 points and taking Stanford. You, the listeners and readers of In The Bleachers as well as the listeners and readers of The Solid Verbal get to set the terms of our wager. Nothing crazy folks but send those suggestions for terms in.

Before we get into  the show summary let's take a look at this week's Slate of Eight:

BYU - Nevada
Penn State - Temple
LSU - West Virginia
Miami - Pitt
Boise State - Oregon State
Auburn - Sakerlina
Stanford - Notre Dame
Alabama - Arkansas

We've got a great mix of games lined up folks and we kick it off with this Nevada squad that hung 52 on the Cal Bears this past Friday. The world needs to see this kid Colin Kaepernick play, he's got a live arm, live legs and is one of the most fun players to watch in the country. Temple heading into Beaver Stadium gets a look as the Owls look to finally give Penn State a game with Al Golden heading in on his preliminary job interview.

The Bayou Bengals taking on the Mountaineers should be a tailgate fiasco but surely Death Valley at night will overwhelm Bill Stewart's boys while the Hurricanes look to put the ACC above the Big East again by beating down a struggling Pitt squad. For the Broncos Ty and I discuss just how good this team is and why it is so difficult to pick the Beavers ahead of the Broncos given the Orange and Black's struggles on the offensive side of the ball.

Entering the final three games things heat up as Ty and I both love what we've seen out of Sakerlina thus far this season. Marcus Lattimore is the real deal, the Gamecock wide receivers are major players and of course that defense is going to give Cam Newton fits. As for Stanford-Notre Dame you definitely need to listen to that segment as we get into the details of the bet, where Ty's 7.5 Point Theory came from and why I think Notre Dame will not only lose by more than 7.5 but they will be lucky to avoid an out and out drubbing.

We wrap up, as always, with our game of the week. Bama-Arkansas is taking center stage this weekend and after seeing the way Bama has played there isn't much more to say than Arkansas might be in for another long one. The Tide are functioning on all cylinders and while the Hogs got a nice win over a very talented Georgia squad this Nick Saban squad appears poised to pounce with the return of Mark Ingram, their heart and soul.

Folks be sure to tweet in your wager suggestions for the big Solid Verbal versus In The Bleachers bet. Also, while you're cruising the interwebs be sure to sign up for OR make your picks in the In The Bleachers Pick'em Pool and set your picks up to play against Pat Johnston and your's truly, Michael Felder.

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