NCAA picks: Gall, Air Force make appearance in TV's predictions

Oct. 20—The biggest game of the week is No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 7 Penn State, and there's no doubt about that.

But Week 8 should have fans in this area more interested in one other game happening in Annapolis, Maryland. That game is between 22nd-ranked Air Force and Navy.

Former Carthage running back and Missouri's Class 5 Offensive Player of the Year in 2022 and 2021, Luke Gall is attending the U.S. Air Force Academy. He was also first-team all-state and a Class 5 academic all-state selection. Gall committed to play for Air Force in the summer of 2022.

Now, Gall is not currently playing or even on the active roster for the Falcons, but he has been playing for the football team at the U.S. Air Force Academy Preparatory School.

The prep school is used to prepare students and student-athletes academically for what's to come at the main academy. For athletes, this can work in place of a redshirt as long as grades are good enough to move up to the academy after the 10-month prep. The good thing is athletes do not lose a year of eligibility after one season playing junior college-level opponents.

This year went well for Gall at the prep school and his grades are good, so he hopes to be with the Falcons next year and playing as a freshman.

"I'm going to try and get bigger and faster for next season and hopefully start as a freshman," Gall said. "I have to be able to take hits from those big linebackers and I have to be able to outrun them as well."

Gall added that his plans to be a pilot are still in order. He got some good news from former Falcon quarterback and current quarterbacks coach at the prep school, Haaziq Daniels, who said that around 50% of graduates from the Air Force Academy do go on to be pilots. Daniels is a second lieutenant.

The young running back is ready to make the move to the academy.

"I'm just ready to get up there and start playing on TV as soon as I can," Gall said.

He added that it feels like he's "a freshman in high school all over again" as he watches Air Force players compete. He says the side and speed adjustment have been the biggest changes from high school to college.

The Falcons are off to their best start to a season since 2002. They started 6-0 that year and finished 8-5 after losing their bowl game to Virginia Tech. In 2021, the team finished 10-3 and won a bowl game over Louisville. Last year saw Air Force go 10-3 and beat Baylor in a bowl game.

That success has Air Force reeling in an average attendance of 30,000 fans.

"That's obviously more than I've ever played in front of," Gall said. "I have a lot to look forward to. It's green pastures in front of me."

He added that the coaching staff has done a lot to make sure those at the preparatory school are prepared for next season through weight room workouts and on-the-field work.

Now it's time to pick the winner of this Air Force-Navy game and the rest of Week 8's games:

11 A.M. GAMES

No. 22 Air Force (6-0) vs. Navy (3-3): This is a rivalry game. It won't be easy to go on the road and get a win. But Air Force is the better team and should handle business. Like Gall said on Tuesday: "Sink Navy."

No. 6 Oklahoma (6-0) vs. Central Florida (3-3): This game has no business being close at the final whistle. OU is rolling after a win over Texas, and coming out of a bye week they should be ready to go. UCF has lost three straight and one of those was via blowing a 35-7 lead. Sooners 17.5 point favorites. I would take them by 18 here.

AFTERNOON GAMES (2:30 or 3 p.m. start)

No. 9 Oregon (5-1) vs. Washington State (4-2): The Cougars have lost two straight games. Might as well consider it three. They won't beat Oregon on the road.

No. 17 Tennessee (5-1) vs. No. 11 Alabama (6-1): Peyton Manning joked on the Pat McAfee show about Tennessee's one-game winning streak. I hope he and the Volunteers have enjoyed it because this one will go to the Crimson Tide. Especially at home.

No. 23 Tulane (5-1) vs. North Texas (3-3): The Tulane Green Wave continues its winning ways here. The real question is if they'll get another shot at a Power 5 program in a bowl game this year.

No. 24 Iowa (6-1) vs. Minnesota (3-3): The Hawkeyes' defense will improve to 7-1 on Saturday. Iowa doesn't score a lot, but it doesn't have to with the defense that it brings to the field every week.

No. 8 Texas (5-1) vs. Houston (3-3): The Longhorns lost a tough one two weeks ago in the Red River Rivalry. Look for them to take it out on the Cougars here. Texas shouldn't have any trouble.

EVENING GAMES (5:30-7 p.m. start times)

No. 10 North Carolina (6-0) vs. Virginia (1-5): UNC won't have to play its starters in the fourth quarter of this game. You can consider them 7-0.

No. 13 Ole Miss (5-1) vs. Auburn (3-3): Auburn took it on the chin in a 30-point loss to LSU last week. At home it will look to be more competitive. Ole Miss still wins.

No. 2 Michigan (7-0) vs. Michigan State (2-4): Jim Harbaugh and the Wolverines are under investigation for sign stealing. But like Paul Finebaum said Friday on ESPN, it will be hard to make a case to prove them guilty. The Spartans will be trying to keep them out of the end zone on Saturday. Michigan wins.

No. 16 Duke (5-1) vs. No. 4 Florida State (6-0): This will be a really fun ACC clash. Duke is good. But after losing to Notre Dame earlier this year I don't think it will be good enough to knock off FSU at Doak Campbell Stadium.

No. 19 LSU (5-2) vs. Army (2-4): The Tigers' two losses are to top 15 teams. They'll be making a case for themselves to enter the top 15 with a blowout here.

No. 14 Utah (5-1) vs. No. 18 USC (6-1): The Trojans can't stop a nose bleed. The Utes play good defense. In fact, Utah's only loss is in the one game it allowed more than 14 points. USC has allowed all but two opponents to score 28 or more. Utah wins on the road.

No. 25 UCLA (4-2) vs. Stanford (2-4): UCLA has a statement win over Washington State. The Cardinals are riding the highs from a double-overtime victory against Colorado last week. I'll take the Bruins to pull away in the second half.

My picks

No. 7 Penn State (6-0) vs. No. 3 Ohio State (6-0): The Buckeyes haven't jumped out at me as a dominant team yet this year. I think Penn State has more convincing victories. Nittany Lions get a big time road win here. BIG GAME.

No. 20 Missouri (6-1) vs. South Carolina (2-4): The Gamecocks score the ball pretty well behind quarterback Spencer Rattler. But they lost a shootout last week with Florida. Missouri's lone loss came in a shootout against LSU. Expect a high-scoring game here. I'll take South Carolina with an upset. UPSET.

No. 5 Washington (6-0) vs. Arizona State (1-5): The Huskies have one of the best rosters in the country with an AP midseason all-American at quarterback and wide receiver. The Sun Devils haven't won a game since Week 1 against Southern Utah. Washington rolls. LOCK PICK.

RECORDS

Overall: 111-26; My picks: 10-11; Big game: 3-4; Upset: 1-6; Lock pick: 6-1