2024 NCAAF Week 8 Betting Picks for the Top Online College Football Bets

 

College football Week 8 offers a variety of betting markets to cater to different preferences and strategies.

Here are some of the most common ones:

• Moneyline:
  The simplest bet, wagering on which team will win the match outright.
• Spread:
  Betting on the margin of victory. A positive spread favors the underdog, while a negative spread favors the favorite.
• Over/Under:
  Betting on whether the total number of points scored will be over or under a specific number.
• Player Props:
  Betting on individual player performances, such as touchdowns scored, passing yards, or rushing yards.
• Team Props:
  Betting on team-related outcomes, like whether a team will score a certain number of points in a half or if the game will go into overtime.
• Parlays:
  Combining multiple bets for a higher payout, but also a higher risk of losing.
• Teasers:
  Adjusting point spreads or totals in your favor fo
• r a lower payout.
• Futures:
  Long-term bets on future events, like predicting the national champion or conference winner.
• Live Betting:
  Placing bets during a game as the odds fluctuate based on real-time action.

By understanding these different markets, you can tailor your betting strategy to your preferences and risk tolerance.

 

 

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While it’s great to have so many college football betting options over the course of the college football season, it can be easy to get sucked in and start placing wagers that are doomed to fail. You are, of course, welcome to play the season any way you wish, but for many bettors, it’s all about picking out a few games each week and focusing on those as opposed to playing as many games as possible and hoping for the best. Over the past couple of weeks, we have been jumping around and focusing on different weeks of the upcoming season to try and find the games to wager on. This time, we are looking at Week 8, but do keep in mind that these games may not end up being as important as we believe they are right now, so be prepared to change once the season begins.

Complete Betting Guide for NCAAF Week 8 | MyBookie College Football Betting Preview

2023 NCAA Division I Week 8 | October 17-21, 2023

Tennessee Volunteers at Alabama Crimson Tide

Saturday, October 21, 2023 at TBD
Bryant–Denny Stadium | Tuscaloosa, AL

Over the past couple of seasons, there as been a shift in the balance of power in the SEC. What was once the dominion of the Crimson Tide is now owned by Georgia, who have won the last 2 National Championships. If any team can challenge Georgia in the East Division, it has to be the Tennessee Volunteers, but like every team in the SEC, the road through the conference tends to be a tough one. The Vols will get the toughest test imaginable in Week 8, as they need to head to Alabama to face a Crimson Tide team looking to bounce back this season.

NCAAF Week 8 | Bet Tennessee at Alabama Today
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Michigan Wolverines at Michigan State Spartans

Saturday, October 21, 2023 at TBD
Spartan Stadium | East Lansing, MI

We all love a good rivalry game, and we certainly get plenty of those in the Big Ten. This is one that you would certainly expect the Wolverines to go out and win, but going on the road to face a major rival is never easy, and it is very often where we see upsets happen. The battle for the East Division is always a great one, and any kind of slip-up can end up having a major impact on who eventually wins the division and heads to the Conference Championship Game. That alone makes this game huge.

NCAAF Week 8 | Bet Michigan at Michigan State Today
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Penn State Nittany Lions at Ohio State Buckeyes

Saturday, October 21, 2023 at TBD
Ohio Stadium | Columbus, OH

As you can clearly see, Week 8 of the college football season is going to be a big one in determining who comes out of the Big Ten and potentially into the playoffs. Since this is the final season with a 4-team playoff, there is still very little margin for error, with the two conference games that we are looking at here potentially being elimination games of a sort. Sure, a team can still make the playoffs with a single loss, but the road becomes a little more difficult to navigate.

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TCU Horned Frogs at Kansas State Wildcats

Saturday, October 21, 2023 at TBD
Bill Snyder Family Stadium | Manhattan, KS

We can only hope that this game is as exciting as the last time these two teams met. That, of course, was the Big 12 Conference Championship, where the Wildcats took out the Horned Frogs in OT. We all know that TCU still went to the playoffs and made it all the way to the Natty, but Kansas State will feel as though they have a shot at matching that this season. If they are to do that, though, they are going to need to win what is a very tough matchup.

NCAAF Week 8 | Bet TCU at Kansas State Today
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We are now officially past the halfway point of the 2022 college football regular season and the usual suspects – Ohio State, Georgia and Alabama – remain atop the board to win the national championship. We bring you the week 8 preview for your NCAA Football bets.

College Football Updated Odds After Week 8

The top-ranked Dawgs, who are +190 title favorites) take on rival Florida this Saturday in the annual “Cocktail Party” in Jacksonville. Normally, that might be a danger spot for Georgia but it is a whopping 22.5-point favorite, believed to be the largest in the history of the rivalry. The previous biggest UGA was favored was at -14 last year. It won 34-7. The Bulldogs scored three times in 2:09 at the end of the first half. The last team to score three TDs in that little time at the end of a half was Utah State, which did it in a 52-26 win over Boise State in 2015.

Florida managed no points, 11 first downs and 214 yards through three quarters and looked like its decades-old, NCAA-record scoring streak might be in jeopardy down the stretch. But the Gators finally got on the scoreboard with 2:49 remaining. They have scored in every outing since getting shut out by Auburn in 1988.

This year, the Gators’ 6.4 yards per carry ranks first in the FBS. Georgia is allowing 3.3 YPC this season (19th in FBS). The Gators boast three of the top-four rushers in the SEC in yards per carry: RB Montrell Johnson Jr. (first – 7.2), QB Anthony Richardson (second – 7.1) and RB Trevor Etienne (fourth – 6.3). Richardson is one of nine Power Five quarterbacks with 1,300 passing yards and 350 rushing yards this season. Five FBS players have rushed for over 7.0 YPC, carried the ball 50-plus times and scored at least six rushing touchdowns this season. Johnson Jr. and Richardson are two of those players, with Richardson being the only QB.

Georgia has matched up with Florida 100 times since 1904 and the Bulldogs hold a 54-44-2 edge. The Bulldogs are 47-41-1 in Jacksonville. The annual Georgia-Florida matchup is under contract through

the 2023 season to be played in Jacksonville at TIAA Bank Field.

Other than the 2020 season that was shortened by the pandemic, the Bulldogs have had an off week prior to their SEC Eastern Division matchup with the Gators every year since 2013. Georgia is 9-6 all-time against Florida following a bye week while the Gators, who also were off last weekend, have a record of 18-10 against the Bulldogs after a week off.

Ohio State is a +195 second favorite to win it all but could be on upset alert at No. 13 Penn State on Saturday. We’ll have a preview of that later this week. Alabama is +375 and is off this week before visiting No. 18 LSU on Nov. 5.

Clemson (+1600) got a big win over unbeaten Syracuse in Week 8, 27-21, and is on track to return to the ACC title game. A smothering second half by the defense and a season-best 293 rushing yards led the Tigers back from an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit. Will Shipley’s 50-yard touchdown run with 11:26 to play gave Clemson the lead for good, capping a 27-carry, 172-yard day for the sophomore. Fellow running back Phil Mafah registered 18 carries for 94 yards and a score.

Clemson extended the nation’s longest active winning streak to 14 games. That winning streak now stands alone as the fourth-longest winning streak in Clemson history, trailing a 29-game winning streak from 2018-19, a 17-game winning streak from 2014-15 and a 15-game winning streak from 1947-49.

Clemson has now opened a season 8-0 for the ninth time in program history (1948, 1981, 2000, 2011, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019). Five of Clemson’s seven most recent teams to start 8-0 went on to play for the national championship (1981, 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2019).

Clemson also won its 38th consecutive home game to take sole possession of the longest home winning streak in ACC history. Clemson was previously tied with the 1992-2001 Florida State Seminoles (37). Note: Miami’s FBS-record 58-game home winning streak from 1985-94 predated the Hurricanes’ ACC membership.

Coach Dabo Swinney’s team overcame an 11-point fourth-quarter deficit for the first time since the 2012 Chick-fil-A Bowl against LSU (overcame an 11-point deficit in a 25-24 win). Clemson is now 13-27 under Swinney when trailing after three quarters.

The Tigers are off this week before they visit Notre Dame in non-conference action on Nov. 5.

Expert National Title Prediction: Georgia over Ohio State

We knew it was going to be an interesting 2022 NASCAR season as the Cup Series switched over to the Next Gen car, and that indeed was the case as 19 different drivers won a race this past year. Some people love the parity, while others think that the new setup favors being lucky rather than good. 

The 2022 NASCAR postseason was interesting, with the first four races being won by non-playoff drivers. Eventually, the cream did rise to the top, with Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, and 2021 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson winning races down the stretch. 

Even with all the parity during the regular season, few people could argue that Joey Logano was an undeserving 2022 Cup Series champion. Logano had three wins during the regular NASCAR season and two in the playoffs, but now the question becomes, can he repeat in 2023? Let’s take a look at this analysis for your NASCAR bets.

What to expect in the upcoming 2023 NASCAR season?

2023 Team Changes 

There has always been some swapping of teams in the offseason in NASCAR, but it’s almost getting to be like an MLB trade deadline the way drivers are realigned for the 2023 season.

The biggest move is Kyle Gibbs going from Joe Gibbs Racing, where he’s been since 2008, and heading to Richard Childress Racing. This is the equivalent of Tom Brady leaving the Patriots. 

Other big team changes for 2023 include Tyler Reddick leaving RCR for 23XI. This isn’t a shock because Busch was coming over, and Reddick had announced his departure in 2024, but Kurt Busch’s retirement from a full-time driver pushed up the timeline. 

It’s not just ‘trades’ that are going to make 2023 interesting, but also full-time debuts. The two biggest names moving to the Cup Series full-time are Ty Gibbs, who replaces Busch at his grandfather’s JGR club, and Noah Gragson, coming off one of the more successful Xfinity regular seasons in recent memory to drive full-time for Petty GMS. A.J. Allmendinger is also returning to the Cup Series full-time for the first time since 2018.

Who Will Win the 2023 Cup Series?  

It will be interesting to see if the parity of 19 different drivers winning last season calms down in year two of the Next Gen car or if that’s just how NASCAR is going to be moving forward. Logano (+650) showed a mastery of the new racing format, so he’s obviously a favorite to become the first back-to-back winner since Jimmie Johnson in 2009/2010. 

The co-favorites to win the 2023 Cup Series are Chase Elliott and his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson at +600. Elliott made the final four this season, and he and Larson won the Cup Series in 2020 and 2021, respectively. 

Other contenders for some 2023 NASCAR Cup Series future bets are Christopher Bell (+800), who was a championship four finalist after getting hot with two wins in the playoffs. Ryan Blaney (+850) will be a hot pick as well, even though he failed to pick up a win last season. 

Maybe 2023 is the year that some old dogs return to top form, too, as Denny Hamlin (+1000) had two wins in 2022 but another ten top-five finishes. Maybe a change of scenery gets Busch (+2000) back on track. 

Buckle up; the Daytona 500 is right around the corner.

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After a crazy Week 7, things may settle down in Week 8. We don’t have as many big matchups this week, but we still have a lot of important games that could have playoff implications. In looking over this week’s schedule, we have found a game or two that have caught our betting interest.

We’re going to analyze each of those games, and then we’ll give you our “sure losers” for each of those games along with NCAAF Odds. Here goes!

Who Will Be the Big Losers In Week 8 of the 2022 College Football Season?

Minnesota Golden Gophers (+6.5) @ Penn State Nittany Lions

Last week, the Nittany Lions failed a big test against the Michigan Wolverines. Michigan thoroughly dominated the Lions and walked away with a huge victory. This weekend, Penn State will be looking to get back on the winning track, and right now, there’s no better team to host than the Minnesota Golden Gophers.

Minnesota is coming off of a loss to a resurgent Illinois team. The promising start to the Minnesota season has come crashing to a halt over the past couple of weeks. Riding a two-game losing streak into Happy Valley is never a good thing.

Minnesota could only muster 180 total yards of offense last week against Illinois. Starting quarterback Tanner Morgan left Saturday’s game with a head injury, and we’re unsure of his status for Saturday’s game. 

Penn State didn’t have much to brag about after Saturday’s loss at Michigan, but the Wolverines are one of the best teams in the country. Penn State’s rushing game will rebound well against a Gophers team that gave up a ton of rushing yards to Illinois last week. Being at home will also be a huge advantage for the Nittany Lions.

Unfortunately for PJ Fleck and his squad, we’re making them one of our sure losers of the week. We just can’t see them hanging around with Penn State, especially when they’re at home.

With the uncertainty at the quarterback position and the Gophers reeling, we see Penn State winning by two touchdowns. Fleck and his boys will be rowing the boat down the river of defeat after this one.

Mississippi State Bulldogs @ Alabama Crimson Tide (-21.5)

The one thing you never want to do is face Alabama after a loss. Unfortunately for Mike Leach and his Mississippi State Bulldogs, they have been given that envious task. And on top of that, they get to travel to Bryant-Denny Stadium.

We all saw how Alabama lost on Saturday. A key missed field goal by Alabama gave Tennessee a shot to win, and they hit a game-winning field goal to upset the Tide. Alabama’s defense was gashed by Tennessee all day, and they’ll have to figure out a way to slow down the passing attack of Will Rogers.

While we know 21.5 points is a lot of points; we still have Mississippi State as one of our sure losers of the week. They’re facing a team that is going to come off of a tough week of practice.

Alabama’s offense will be ready to roll, and we should see a big rushing game for a plethora of Alabama backs. Bryce Young’s shoulder will have another few days to heal, and he’ll be ready as well.

We have the Tide winning by 24, thus giving Leach and his boys their third loss in a row. Sorry, Mississippi State, you’re one of our sure losers this week.

We knew it was going to be an interesting 2022 NASCAR season as the Cup Series switched over to the Next Gen car, and that indeed was the case as 19 different drivers won a race this past year. Some people love the parity, while others think that the new setup favors being lucky rather than good. 

The 2022 NASCAR postseason was interesting, with the first four races being won by non-playoff drivers. Eventually, the cream did rise to the top, with Chase Elliott, Christopher Bell, Joey Logano, and 2021 Cup Series champion Kyle Larson winning races down the stretch. 

Even with all the parity during the regular season, few people could argue that Joey Logano was an undeserving 2022 Cup Series champion. Logano had three wins during the regular NASCAR season and two in the playoffs, but now the question becomes, can he repeat in 2023? Let’s take a look at this analysis for your NASCAR bets.

What to expect in the upcoming 2023 NASCAR season?

2023 Team Changes 

There has always been some swapping of teams in the offseason in NASCAR, but it’s almost getting to be like an MLB trade deadline the way drivers are realigned for the 2023 season.

The biggest move is Kyle Gibbs going from Joe Gibbs Racing, where he’s been since 2008, and heading to Richard Childress Racing. This is the equivalent of Tom Brady leaving the Patriots. 

Other big team changes for 2023 include Tyler Reddick leaving RCR for 23XI. This isn’t a shock because Busch was coming over, and Reddick had announced his departure in 2024, but Kurt Busch’s retirement from a full-time driver pushed up the timeline. 

It’s not just ‘trades’ that are going to make 2023 interesting, but also full-time debuts. The two biggest names moving to the Cup Series full-time are Ty Gibbs, who replaces Busch at his grandfather’s JGR club, and Noah Gragson, coming off one of the more successful Xfinity regular seasons in recent memory to drive full-time for Petty GMS. A.J. Allmendinger is also returning to the Cup Series full-time for the first time since 2018.

Who Will Win the 2023 Cup Series?  

It will be interesting to see if the parity of 19 different drivers winning last season calms down in year two of the Next Gen car or if that’s just how NASCAR is going to be moving forward. Logano (+650) showed a mastery of the new racing format, so he’s obviously a favorite to become the first back-to-back winner since Jimmie Johnson in 2009/2010. 

The co-favorites to win the 2023 Cup Series are Chase Elliott and his Hendrick Motorsports teammate Kyle Larson at +600. Elliott made the final four this season, and he and Larson won the Cup Series in 2020 and 2021, respectively. 

Other contenders for some 2023 NASCAR Cup Series future bets are Christopher Bell (+800), who was a championship four finalist after getting hot with two wins in the playoffs. Ryan Blaney (+850) will be a hot pick as well, even though he failed to pick up a win last season. 

Maybe 2023 is the year that some old dogs return to top form, too, as Denny Hamlin (+1000) had two wins in 2022 but another ten top-five finishes. Maybe a change of scenery gets Busch (+2000) back on track. 

Buckle up; the Daytona 500 is right around the corner.

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We saw a lot of chaos in Week 7. We’re going to see some movement in the polls, and with some undefeated teams going down last week, teams know that this is their time to make a statement. While we don’t have as many big matchups in Week 8, we still have some that will have playoff implications. In looking at the slate of games to bet on, we’ve found a couple of games where we think we have a good handle on who is going to win, thus making two teams our “sure winners” of the week. Let’s take a look at those games, and we’ll give you our winners so you can place your bets against the NCAA Football Lines.

Sure Betting Winners For Week 8 of the 2022 Season | College Football Lines

UCLA Bruins (+5) @ Oregon Ducks

This is a huge matchup in the Pac-12. After Utah beat previously unbeaten USC, the conference title is up for grabs. After getting annihilated by Ohio State in Week 1, the Oregon Ducks have gone undefeated. Having this game in Eugene at Autzen Stadium will be a huge advantage for Oregon, and we’ll see how much the raucous home crowd helps the Ducks.

Both teams are coming off of a bye week, so they will both be very well prepared for this one. Let’s first take a look at the UCLA Bruins. Chip Kelly has finally put the pieces together and has the UCLA program back near the top of the college football rankings. Dorian Thompson-Robinson is one of the best quarterbacks in the country. He can run, pass, and is one of the most athletic signal-callers around. With the running attack led by Zach Charbonnet flanking DTR, Kelly’s offense can be nearly unstoppable at times.

As for the Oregon Ducks, Bo Nix is doing a great job of leading the Ducks attack. They can beat you on the ground or through the air. Oregon has a number of good running backs that can gain good yardage on the ground. The Oregon offense ranks 15th in the nation in total yards, and ninth in points scored. However, UCLA’s strong pass rush could give the Oregon offensive line fits. 

We could see a shootout in this one, but that would make it all the better. We just have a hunch that this is Chip Kelly’s year. We see everything coming down to the USC-UCLA battle later this season. We have the Bruins as one of our sure winners of Week 8. We see them winning this one straight up, and staying undefeated in the Pac-12. 

BYU Cougars (-4.5) @ Liberty Flames

After beating Baylor earlier in the season, many felt that BYU could be a strong team. Well, things haven’t gone so well after that Baylor win. The Cougars have lost two in a row, including a beatdown from the Arkansas Razorbacks last weekend, where the Cougars gave up 52 points and over 600 yards of offense.

Speaking of offense, when you think of Liberty, that’s what you think of. Hugh Freeze has always been known as an offensive coach. Liberty is riding a four-game win streak, and only have one loss on the season. 

In looking at some betting numbers, BYU is 0-5 against the spread in their last five games. Well, we’re going to make it 0-6, as we have the Liberty Flames winning the game outright and being one of our sure winners of the week. 

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This has been one of the strangest college football seasons in recent memory and it’s beginning to look as though unbeaten teams are going to be scarce once the regular season comes to a close. Iowa were the latest top 4 team to fall, going down to Purdue in Week 7, which opened the door for a 1-loss Alabama team to get back into the playoff picture, while Ohio State, who also have a loss to their name this season are sitting just outside the playoff group waiting patiently for another slip up. They are all looking up at undefeated Georgia right now, and will continue to do so for another week, as the Bulldogs have a bye this coming weekend. We had out first poor week of the season with our Week 7 picks, so let’s see if we can bounce back in Week 8, starting with our ATS picks. Let’s jump right into action so you can get ready to continue betting against the NCAAF odds.

Week 8 ATS Picks for the 2021 Season | NCAA Football Betting

Cincinnati Bearcats (-27 ½) at Navy Midshipmen

I generally steer clear of the larger point spreads, as they so often tend to blow up in my face. This, though, is a little different when talking about the Cincinnati Bearcats. As it stands right now, they are sitting in a playoff spot, which is a lofty position for a team outside the Power 5. If they win out, they might just stay there, but the Playoff Committee may have other ideas. The reality is that the Bearcats should win out without any real problem, but if they want to impress the committee members, they are going to need to deliver some blowout performances along the way. They have been doing that and have covered the spread in 6 of their last 7. They should be able to blow the doors off the Navy Midshipmen this weekend.

BYU Cougars (-2 ½) at Washington State Cougars

These are a pair of teams with some problems at the moment, albeit for very different reasons. After surging out to a 5-0 start, the BYU offense has suddenly gone cold, and the Cougars have now dropped back-to-back games. That’s not quite as dramatic as what is happening with the Washington State Cougars, though, as they have just let go their head coach after he refused to be vaccinated. He will be joined by a handful of assistant coaches, which makes you wonder how things are going to look on the field this weekend. Washington State has win 3 in a row and have been solid against the spread, but the coaching upheaval is an issue, which is why I am on BYU.

Maryland Terrapins at Minnesota Golden Gophers (-5)

The Big Ten is absolutely wide open this season and became even more so with Iowa losing last weekend. Maryland is probably already out of it, though, as they are in the East Division, where a trio of teams are unbeaten in conference play. Over in the West, though, it’s an absolute battle, with Minnesota now very much in the hunt with a 2-1 conference record. They need this one in the worst possible way and will be facing a Maryland team that is 0-5 ATS in their last 5 games versus conference foes. Minnesota is 6-2-1 ATS in their last 9 games, as well as going 5-0-1 ATS in their last 6 versus Big Ten opposition.

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Can No. 13 North Carolina take care of business against in-state rival NC State? Can now, unranked Oklahoma record consecutive victories for the first time this season when they hit the road to take on TCU? Last, but not least, will unbeaten third-ranked Notre Dame avoid the big upset on the road against Pittsburgh? With the 2020 NCAA college football season heating up and more team getting their campaigns started this coming weekend, it’s time to take a look at a trio of Week 8 matchups that all look like they’re offering some great college football betting value against their NCAAF odds.

NCAAF Week 8 Odds, Overview & Picks to Bet On

No. 22 NC State (4-1) at No. 13 North Carolina (3-1)

When: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 at 12:00 PM ET
Where: Kenan Memorial Stadium

No. 22 NC State won their third straight game by man-handling Duke in their 31-20 Week 7 win on Saturday as quarterback Devin Leary passed for 194 yards with one touchdown and one interception. More importantly, the Wolfpack defense harassed Blue Devils signal-caller Chase Brice into a horrific three-interception performance. Now, NC State is looking for an even bigger win against their longtime rivals.

“I know how big this game is to NC State, former players, boosters, alums, all those things,” Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said. “So I take a lot of pride in being able to deliver that to our fan base.”

Then, No. 5 North Carolina came up small in their crushing 31-28 road loss against Florida State on Saturday. Quarterback Sam Howell passed for a stellar 374 yards with three TD passes and one pick while running back Javonte Williams added 119 rushing yards and one score. Still, it wasn’t enough as the Tar Heels allowed two 100-yard rushing performances while allowing Howell to get sacked four times. The Heels will look to take care of business against their dangerous, nationally-ranked rivals.

“I think we’ve been overrated,” North Carolina coach Mack Brown said. “I think they’ve been underrated.”

Prediction

I have no idea why North Carolina is such a huge favorite seeing as how NC State puts up a healthy 33.6 points per game as compared to the Tar Heels’ 35.3 points per game. North Carolina has the slight edge defensively in allowing 26.0 points per contest to NC State’s 31.4 points per game allowed, but this game has the look and feel of a street brawl kind of affair that will come down to the final possession or two.

College Football Odds: North Carolina -16.5
Total: 61

While North Carolina has gone 4-0 ATS in their last four games as a favorite and 5-1 ATS in their last six home games, NC State has gone 4-1 ATS in their last five games. With the underdog going a consistent 12-5 ATS in the last 17 meetings and the road team in this rivalry going 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings, I like the Wolfpack to easily cover the insanely high spread as double-digit road dogs.

Pick: North Carolina 31 NC State 28

Oklahoma (2-2) at TCU (1-2)

When:  Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 at 12:00 PM ET
Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium

Oklahoma bounced back from its humbling Week 6 upset loss at Iowa State to beat Texas 53-45 in overtime in their annual Red River rivalry showdown on Saturday. Quarterback Spencer Rattler passed for 209 yards with three touchdowns and one interception while running back T.J. Pledger rushed for 131 yards and two scores. TCU failed to build on their 33-31 Week 5 win over Texas by falling at home against Kansas State 21-14 in Week 6. Quarterback Max Duggan struggled in completing just 19 of 31 passes for 154 yards with no TD passes while getting sacked three times. TCU won almost every statistical matchup – except the final score.

Prediction

The Sooners have won the last six meetings between these longtime Big 12 rivals, but three of those meetings were decided by one possession including last year’s 28-24 home win by the Sooners. This time around though, I like TCU to take care of business because of Oklahoma’s pitiful defense.

College Football Odds: Oklahoma -6.5
Total: 59.5

The Sooners have been outscored 45-10 in the fourth quarter of their last three games while blowing leads in each contest. Oklahoma has allowed 37 points or more in each of their last three. While the Sooners are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 conference games and 1-6 ATS in their last seven road games, TCU has gone 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as a home underdog. I like TCU to win outright to cover the spread.

Pick: TCU 28 Oklahoma 27

No. 3 Notre Dame (4-0) at Pittsburgh (3-3)

When: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 at 3:30 PM ET
Where: Heinz Field

No. 3 Notre Dame got past Louisville 12-7 in a low-scoring affair on Saturday despite never coming close to covering the chalk as a 15-point home favorite. Quarterback Ian Book passed for a modest 106 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions while adding 47 rushing yards on 12 carries and scoring the only touchdown the Fighting Irish could muster up.

“We’re going to be a better football team as we continue to grow and develop,” Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said. “Yeah, this team is nowhere near where it can be and where I think it will be. We’ve got to make some plays to be more efficient scoring touchdowns in the red zone. That’s playmakers making plays. Then, defensively, we need to get off the field on third down. Those two areas will be areas of great focus moving forward.”

Pittsburgh dropped their third straight game by falling to Miami 31-19 while coming up just short of covering the spread as an 11.5-point road dog. Quarterback Joey Yellen passed for 277 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions as he replaced injured starter Kenny Pickett, but the Panthers were held to just 22 rushing yards on 26 total carries.

Prediction

College Football Odds: Notre Dame -10.5
Total: 43.5

Notre Dame has gone 4-1 ATS in their last five road games and 6-2 ATS in their last eight games following an SU win. With Pittsburgh going 0-4-1 ATS in their last five games and 1-3-1 ATS in their last five home games, I like Notre Dame to win and cover the chalk as a double-digit favorite.

Pick: Notre Dame 35 Pittsburgh 21

 

 

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The big loser in Week 7 of this college football season was Georgia as the then-No. 3 Dawgs were stunned at South Carolina. That dropped them to No. 10 in the AP Top 25. LSU moved to No. 2 behind Alabama, giving the SEC the top two teams in the poll. One conference has held the top two spots 75 times since the AP poll started in 1936, none more than the SEC. Here’s a look at two intriguing matchups in College Football Week 8 with Mybookie odds.

No. 4 Ohio State at Northwestern

When: Friday, 8:30 PM ET
TV: Fox Sports 1
College Football Week 8 Odds: Northwestern +27.5

OSU has been off since a 34-10 win over Michigan State on Oct. 5. J.K. Dobbins rushed for 172 yards on 24 carries and a touchdown. Dobbins is 174 yards away from becoming the first running back in program history with 1,000-yard seasons as a freshman, sophomore and junior.

Justin Fields threw for a pair of scores and rushed for another from the quarterback position. Fields finished 17-25 through the air for 206 yards and covered 61 yards on the ground on 11 carries.

WR K.J. Hill caught seven passes and moved into No. 2 at Ohio State in career receptions, passing Michael Jenkins (1999-2003) and Cris Carter (1984-86). Hill has 171 career receptions and has caught at least one pass in 40 consecutive games. The Buckeyes are 3-0 this season in the Big Ten and 61-5 in conference games since the start of the 2012 season.

The Buckeyes have scored 24 touchdowns in 30 red zone opportunities this season. Their 80 percent success rate on TDs is 12th best in the country. Ohio State has a differential of 300.5 yards per game between total offense and total defense, which is the most of any team in the country.

What about Northwestern?

Northwestern is off to a 1-4 start and out of 130 Football Bowl Subdivision teams, the Wildcats currently rank 128th in points scored per game (14.4), 125th in yards gained per game (292.8) and dead last in yards gained per play (3.95). Collectively, Northwestern’s quarterbacks have averaged just 4.3 yards per passing attempt, the worst mark among all Football Bowl Subdivision teams.

Last Season Matchup

Rematch of last season’s Big Ten title game, which Ohio State won easily 45-24. Dwayne Haskins, now a rookie in the NFL, threw for 499 yards and five touchdowns to lead the Buckeyes. After the Wildcats tied it 7-7 midway through the first, Ohio State closed out the half with a flurry. J.K. Dobbins scored on a 2-yard run, Blake Haubeil made a 42-yard field goal and Terry McLaurin caught a 42-yard TD pass from Haskins to give the Buckeyes a 24-7 halftime lead.

No. 3 Clemson at Louisville

When: Saturday, noon ET
TV: ABC
College Football Week 8 Odds: Louisville +23

Clemson is off a 45-14 win over Florida State on Saturday. With the win, Clemson became just the 15th FBS program to reach 750 all-time wins, and the first Atlantic Coast Conference team to reach the mark. Florida State was held to 253 yards of total offense.

Trevor Lawrence threw for a touchdown in a 16th consecutive game, completing 17-25 passes for 170 yards and three touchdowns. Lawrence also rushed for his fifth touchdown of the season in the first quarter to put the Tigers up 14-0. Justyn Ross added two touchdown receptions in the second quarter, finishing with 61 receiving yards on five catches. Clemson possessed the ball for 39:37, surpassing its 38:56 possession time against North Carolina on Dec. 5, 2015 for the longest in the Dabo Swinney era.

Clemson won its 21st consecutive game, dating to the start of the 2018 season, to extend the longest winning streak in school history and second-longest winning streak in ACC history. Clemson won a 15th consecutive ACC regular season game for the second time in school history (20 from 1981-84). Including postseason play, Clemson has now won 17 consecutive games against ACC competition.

Swinney said backup kicker Steven Sawicki would start Saturday against Louisville after starter B.T. Potter missed a 24-yard field goal try right before halftime against Florida State. It was Potter’s second straight miss after a 40-yard attempt at North Carolina didn’t go through.

What about the Cards?

Louisville beat Wake Forest 62-59 on Saturday. That was the second-highest scoring game in ACC history. The combined 121 points was second only to the 137 scored in Pittsburgh’s 76-61 victory over Syracuse in 2016. The teams combined for 1,188 total yards in this one. The Cards earned their first victory over a Top 25 opponent since their Lamar Jackson-led 63-20 rout of then-No. 2 Florida State in 2006, and their first against a ranked team on the road since Charlie Strong and Teddy Bridgewater won at No. 24 West Virginia in 2011.

Last Season Matchup

Last year, Clemson crushed Louisville 77-16. Travis Etienne ran for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Tavien Feaster added 101 yards rushing for the Tigers and Lyn-J Dixon ran for 116 yards. Rare these days to have three guys with 100 yards rushing.

Clemson had 492 on the ground. Etienne and Feaster put Clemson up 14-0 less than three minutes into the game and the Tigers never let up on Louisville. The Tigers collected six sacks and backup quarterback Chase Brice threw three touchdowns on just seven pass attempts. It was Clemson’s highest scoring game since defeating Wake Forest 82-24 in its national championship season of 1981.

Expert College Football Week 8 Betting Picks

Neither home team wins but they both cover.

 

 

Previous Betting News

It appears that top-ranked Alabama will have Heisman Trophy favorite Tua Tagovailoa for this Saturday’s game at rival Tennessee, although the Crimson Tide likely would spank rebuilding UT even without Tua. He participated fully in practice on Monday after aggravating his sprained right knee during a win over Missouri this past weekend. The Tide are nearly 30-point favorites on the NCAAF odds. Here’s a look at two other interesting matchups in Week 8.

NCAA Football Week 8 Odds Overview & Top Picks

No. 6 Michigan at No. 24 Michigan State (+7)

When: Saturday, noon ET (Fox)

The University of Michigan lost its season opener to Notre Dame, which seemed to put a major dent in UM’s College Football Playoff chances. Yet, the Wolverines have largely been pounding people since and are up to No. 6 in the AP Top 25. Now we see if Jim Harbaugh can finally beat Michigan State on Saturday in East Lansing. Here’s a crazy stat: the Spartans have not only won eight of the past 10 in the series but have covered 10 in a row against Michigan. Harbaugh is 1-5 against Michigan State and Ohio State in his three-plus seasons as head coach at Michigan. He needs this win.

A win would do wonders for both parties — but a loss wouldn’t necessarily eliminate Michigan from the Big Ten title picture. It would just remind everyone about Harbaugh’s inability to win marquee games on the road against ranked opponents (Michigan’s current 17-game road losing streak to AP Top-25 teams dates back to 2006).

UM trashed a good Wisconsin team 38-13 on Saturday. Running back Karan Higdon and quarterback Shea Patterson combined to rush for 195 of Michigan’s 320 yards. Patterson did the bulk of his damage in the first half, collecting 81 yards on a run down the left sideline to set up the Wolverine’s first touchdown. He finished 14-of-21 passing for 124 yards and had 90 rushing yards on nine carries. Higdon shouldered the rushing load in the second half, gaining 94 of his 105 yards over the final 30 minutes. The Wolverines held Wisconsin to season lows of 283 total yards, 100 passing yards, and 183 rushing yards.

The Spartans stunned No. 8 Penn State 21-17 in Happy Valley. Brian Lewerke threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Felton Davis with 19 seconds left. The banged-up Spartans, still without running back LJ Scott and wideout Cody White, were able to control time of possession and keep Penn State’s offense well below its scoring average.

The Spartans have consistently produced wins against highly ranked teams under Mark Dantonio. MSU is 10-5 in its last 15 games against teams ranked in The Associated Press Top 10, including a 9-5 record since 2013. Michigan State’s nine wins over AP Top 10 teams since 2013 ranks third most in the FBS (Alabama with 14, Ohio State with 11).

No. 12 Oregon at No. 25 Washington State (-1.5)

When: Saturday, 7:30 PM ET (Fox)

This is the game of the day in the Pac-12, with the loser probably losing any shot at winning the North Division. Oregon, Stanford, Washington State, and Washington all have one conference loss. The Pac-12 doesn’t have a team without at least one overall defeat and is going to miss the playoff again. ESPN College GameDay will be in attendance.

Oregon upset No. 7 Washington this past Saturday, 30-27, as CJ Verdell ran for a TD in overtime. Verdell capped a 29-carry, 111-yard day with his second touchdown after the Huskies had to settle for a field goal to open overtime. n overtime, a holding call put Oregon in a third-and-11 hole, but Herbert moved the chains with a 17-yard completion to Dillon Mitchell, who continued his hot play of late with eight receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown.

Verdell was named Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Week. He’s the first Duck to run for 100 yards in each of the first three Pac-12 games of the season since Byron Marshall in 2013. Verdell is the first Duck freshman ever to rush for 100 yards in the first three Pac-12 games of the season.

Washington State beat Oregon State 56-37. Gardner Minshew threw for 430 yards and five scores. Tay Martin had 119 yards receiving and two touchdowns and James Williams added 134 yards from scrimmage and a receiving touchdown. WSU scored a TD off a blocked punt for the first time since 2003 at Oregon (Jason Hill blocked, Jeremy Bohannon returned 4 yards for TD). WSU rushed for 2 TDs, upping season total to 12 after rushing for 8 TDs last season.

Oregon has failed to cover the past eight in the series.

Expert NCAA Football Week 8 Predictions

Michigan takes care of business in East Lansing, and Washington State dumps Oregon.

 

 

Previous Betting News

The majority of the Week 8 games in college football will be played on Saturday, October 20, a mere 10 days before the Playoff Committee will release their first rankings of the season. The pressure will be on the teams at the top of the AP Poll at this stage of the season, as they will know that a loss now could be potentially damaging. With that in mind, let’s take a look at what some of the best Power 5 teams will be up to in the 2018 NCAA Football Week 8.

2018 NCAA Football Week 8 Betting Picks

ACC

NC State Wolfpack at Clemson Tigers – The Wolfpack became the unofficial kings of scalp-taking last season after delivering a pair of big wins against ranked opponents on their way to a 9-win season. This is a very good team that does not always get a lot of love, but Clemson will certainly be taking them seriously.

When these two met last season, it was Clemson who came away with the win, but they really needed to scrap to get the 38-31 victory. This should be another good game with a similar outcome.

Big 12

Oklahoma Sooners at TCU Horned Frogs – We have featured TCU quite a bit in our weekly round-ups for the coming college football season, but that is because they are a very good team with a real shot at winning the conference.

The Sooners should also be good, but their biggest question mark lies at the QB position, where they are going to need to find a way to fill the very big shoes left behind by Baker Mayfield, a young man who looked great in his NFL debut with the Cleveland Browns. This should be a fun match-up, but I am on TCU to win.

Big Ten

Michigan Wolverines at Michigan State Spartans – This is a match-up that never fails to deliver the goods, which is not surprising given that we are talking about a big in-state rivalry. The Big Ten looks to be somewhat wide-open this season, so these conference games are all going to be absolutely huge.

This is a tough one to call, and while I generally default to the home team in potentially tight games, I am going to go out on a limb and take the Wolverines here.

PAC 12

Stanford Cardinal at Arizona State Sun Devils – Another Thursday night treat in college football, with the Stanford Cardinal heading to the desert to face the Arizona Sun Devils under the light.

Expectations are high for the Cardinal this year, while the Sun Devils will be looking to bounce back under new head coach Herm Edwards. It was Stanford who won this one at home last season, taking that game by a score of 34-24. I would not be surprised to see a similar result in Week 8.

SEC

Auburn Tigers at Ole Miss Rebels – The Rebels are coming off a .500 season in 2017 and will be looking to take a step forward this year. For the Tigers, it’s all about going one better than they did last season, which would mean that they would then likely be in the final four.

It was Auburn who took this meeting 44-24 in 2017, but things might be a little tighter this time around, as that last match-up came at home for Auburn. That said, I still expect the Tigers to win.

 

 

Previous Betting News

How wild was Week 7 of the college football season? Four teams who were ranked in the Top 10 all lost to unranked foes, shaking up the new Associated Press Top 25. Penn State, which was idle, took advantage. The Nittany Lions moved up a spot to No. 2, 15 points ahead of No. 3 Georgia. Penn State has its best ranking since Oct. 31, 1999, when the Nittany Lions were No. 2. This week’s NCAAF odds are looking really good and we just had to pick out those top games to bet on. Here are two must-bet games for  College Football Week 8: No. 10 Oklahoma State-Texas and Tennessee-No. 1 Alabama.

Top College Football Week 8 Betting Matchups

Oklahoma State at Texas College Football Week 8 Odds & Game Info

When: Saturday, noon ET
Where: Royal Texas Memorial Stadium
TV: ABC
Radio: Cowboys Sports Network (Oklahoma State) / KTXX 104.9 FM (Texas)
Opening College Football Week 8 Lines: OSU -7

Why Bet On Oklahoma State?

The Pokes (5-1) are off a 59-16 blowout of Baylor to rise to No. 10 in the AP poll. Heisman Trophy candidate and QB Mason Rudolph passed for 459 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another score. Oklahoma State’s James Washington caught six passes for 235 yards and a touchdown, and he ran for a 2-yard score. It was the second-best yardage total of his career. Marcell Ateman caught four passes for 119 yards and a touchdown, and Justice Hill ran for 117 yards and a score for the Cowboys. They had a school-record 747 yards.

Rudolph’s passing total marked his seventh career 400-yard passing game, which ties the school record set by Brandon Weeden. Rudolph now has 18 career games with at least 300 yards passing, improving a school record he already owned. Washington’s total marked his 17th career game with at least 100 receiving yards. He has hit 100 yards in four straight games and in six of his last seven. He entered the game ranked second nationally this year with 129.4 receiving yards per game.

Washington entered the game leading the nation with eight 30-plus yard catches on the year. He added four such catches. It marked the fourth time in OSU history that OSU has had a 400-yard passer, two 100-yard receivers and a 100-yard rusher. OSU’s 747 yards of total offense surpassed its previous best single-game tally of 742 set against Louisiana in 2012.

Why Bet On Texas?

The Horns (3-3) lost to Oklahoma 29-24 in the Red River Rivalry. Texas did battle battled back from a 20-point deficit to take a lead in the fourth quarter, but fell short. True freshman quarterback Sam Ehlinger completed 19-of-39 passes for 278 yards and one touchdown, while also rushing for a team-leading 102 with a touchdown. Texas went 4-for-4 in the red zone, scoring 24 points, and converted on 8-of-17 third down chances.

Ehlinger made his fourth start of the season and became the third true freshman quarterback to start for Texas all-time in the Red River Showdown. He joined Shane Buechele (2016) and Bobby Layne (1944) as the only true freshman to start at the position at quarterback vs. Oklahoma. It was Ehlinger’s second straight 100-yard rushing game, after passing for 380 and rushing for 107 two weeks ago vs. Kansas State. He became the 17th quarterback in school history to pass for at least 100 and rush for at least 100 in the same game.

Texas lost to OSU 49-31 last year. Rudolph passed for 392 yards and three touchdowns. Hill rushed for 135 yards and a touchdown and Jalen McCleskey added 109 yards and two touchdowns receiving for the Cowboys, who had lost their previous eight home games against the Longhorns. Oklahoma State blocked three extra points in the first half, matching a school record for blocked kicks in a game.

Tennessee at Alabama College Football Week 8 Odds & Game Info

When: Saturday, 3:30 PM ET
Where: Bryant-Denny Stadium
TV: CBS
Stream: CBSSports.com
Radio: 107.7 FM (Tennessee) / 102.7 The Tide (Alabama)
Opening College Football Week 8 Lines: Alabama -34

Why Bet On Tennessee?

The Vols (3-3) are huge disappointments at 0-3 in the SEC and it’s assumed Coach Butch Jones will be fired after the season.  Tennessee hasn’t scored a touchdown since Sept. 23, and that was in a game in which they squeaked by winless UMass.

UT comes off a 15-9 home loss to South Carolina. Three trips to the red zone in the first half netted just nine points, and the offense went into the tank as the defense couldn’t get off the field in the second as the Gamecocks rallied and survived some last-second drama. Redshirt freshman Jarrett Guarantano, making his first start at quarterback, guided the Vols 73 yards in the final one minute, 13 seconds without a timeout.  He and his teammates came up just short of a comeback, as UT was unable to connect on three pass attempts from the two-yard line. Guarantano finished the game 11-of-18 for 133 yards with no interceptions.

Prior to Saturday’s game, running back John Kelly had led the Vols in both rushing and receiving yards in each of Tennessee’s games this season. On Saturday, he rushed for 58 yards and ranked third in receiving yards, catching two passes for 21 yards.

Tennessee hasn’t beaten Alabama since 2006 in Knoxville (16-13), and its last win in Tuscaloosa came in 2003 when Casey Clausen quarterbacked a 5-overtime victory, 51-43. The Vols played Alabama as their annual opponent from the SEC West Division each year, and then another SEC West opponent that rotates.

Why Bet On Alabama?

The 34-point spread is the largest in the history of this series. The top-ranked Crimson Tide bring the nation’s No. 7 rushing offense (302.6 yards per game) to face Tennessee’s No. 123 rushing defense (allowing 242.3 yards per game). The Vols rank behind the Tide in practically every major statistical measure. Among the exceptions: passing offense. Tennessee ranks 99th while Alabama is 102nd. Tennessee also has strong numbers defending the pass. It ranks second in the country allowing 129.2 passing yard per game.

The Tide (7-0) are off a 41-9 win over Arkansas. Alabama had 308 yards and four scores on the ground while holding the Hogs to 27 yards rushing.

On the offensive side of the ball, junior running back Damien Harris earned his seventh career 100-yard game and his third of the season, after rushing for a game-high 125 yards and two scores on just nine attempts.  Sophomore quarterback Jalen Hurts and freshman running back Najee Harris also had rushing touchdowns in the win. Hurts went 12-of-19 for 155 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

It was the 100^th SEC regular-season win for Nick Saban. He has a 100-24 (.806) on-the-field record at LSU and Alabama in conference regular-season games (total does not include SEC Championship Games). Saban joins Paul “Bear” Bryant, Steve Spurrier, Johnny Vaught and Vince Dooley as the only SEC coaches to win 100 league games. Saban’s career winning percentage in regular season Southeastern Conference games stands at .8065, which ranks No. 1 in SEC history among coaches with at least five seasons in the league.

Alabama has defeated 71 consecutive unranked teams under Saban. The last loss to an unranked team came against Auburn to close out the 2007 season. The current streak began with a win over Colorado on Dec. 30, 2007, in the Independence Bowl. Under Saban, Alabama holds a 75-3 (.962) (71-3, .959 after vacations) mark against unranked opponents, including a perfect mark in unranked matchups since 2008.

Expert Predictions for College Football Week 8

No question that Alabama wins here, but I’m taking all those points. I’d think UT could stay within 28.

 

 

Previous Betting News

The 10th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers – and two ‘barking’ Week 8 underdogs highlight my expert college football predictions for Week 8. With that said, let’s find out which teams are offering a ton of value in their respective Week 8 matchups.

A Closer Look At The College Football Highlight For Week 8 Expert Predictions!

No. 10 Wisconsin at Iowa

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 12:00 PM ET
Where: Kinnick Stadium
NCAAF Odds: Wisconsin -3

Analysis: I love the 10th-ranked Wisconsin Badgers this weekend seeing as how they’ve suffered two straight heartbreaking losses against nationally-ranked conference rivals the last two weeks. Iowa (5-2 SU, 3-4 ATS) got past Purdue 49-35 in a high-scoring affair last weekend but for me, seeing the Hawkeyes give up a whopping 35 points against a mediocre Perdue team leads me to believe they’re in trouble against a much better Badgers ballclub.

I’m expecting Badgers running back Corey Clement to build on his impressive outing this past weekend while redshirt freshman quarterback Alex Hornibrook continues what I believe is a nice progression in his maturation. Wisconsin is 7-1 ATS in its last eight games while Iowa is just 3-5-1 ATS in its last nine games.  Making matters worse, Wisconsin is 4-1 ATS in its last five road games while Iowa has gone 1-7-1 ATS in its last nine home games. The Badgers win and cover the spread with room to spare.

My Pick: Wisconsin -3 Points

Ohio State at Penn State

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 8:00 PM ET
Where: Beaver Stadium
TV: ABC
NCAAF Odds: Penn State Nittany Lions +19.5

Analysis: Penn State may not be a legitimate College Football Playoff contender, but the Nittany Lions have looked rock-solid the last couple of weeks and I believe they’ll cover the college football betting line against Ohio State as a nearly three-touchdown home underdog on Saturday.

Ohio State was extremely lucky to escape Wisconsin in overtime this past weekend and I believe they’re in for a tough affair on the road at Happy Valley. After watching Badgers running back Corey Clement torch the Buckeyes this past weekend, I think Ohio State is I for another dose of stopping an elite runner in Penn State’s Saquon Barkley.

My Pick: Penn State +19.5 Points

North Carolina State at No. 7 Louisville

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 12:00 PM ET
Where: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium
NCAAF Odds: Louisville -18

Analysis: I love Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson (who doesn’t?) and I believe the Cardinals are still in line to at least challenge for a shot at a berth in the four-team CFB Playoff, but it is the North Carolina State Wolfpack (4-2 SU, 5-1 ATS) that are my pick to over the college football betting line in this Week 8 matchup against the seventh-ranked Cardinals.

Louisville (5-1 SU, 4-2 ATS) got past Duke in a hard-fought matchup this past weekend, but NC State is limiting the opposition to just 18.6 points per game this season to rank 17th nationally in points allowed and I believe the Tar Heels will find a way to keep the final score much closer than the nearly three-touchdown point spread. While Louisville has gone 6-2 ATS in its last eight games, North Carolina State has gone 5-1 ATS in its last six games and a bankroll-boosting 9-4 ATS in their last 13 road games. The Cardinals get the SU win but the ATS cover goes to North Carolina State.

My Pick: NC State +18 Points

Oklahoma Sooners at Texas Tech Red Raiders

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 8:00 PM ET
Where: Jones AT&T Stadium
TV: FOX
NCAAF Odds: Oklahoma -14

Analysis: The Oklahoma Sooners (4-2 SU, 2-4 ATS) have won three consecutive games while the Texas Tech Red Raiders (3-3 SU, 4-2 ATS) have dropped two straight. Still, for me, Texas Tech is the pick to cover the high point spread against a Sooners team that hasn’t been able to stop running water this season.

I love underrated Texas Tech signal-caller Patrick Mahomes and I fully believe the Red Raiders’ high-scoring offense will find way to not only keep the final score well inside the two-touchdown spread, but actually push the Sooners for the outright win!

My Pick: Texas Tech +14 Points 

 

 

Previous Betting News

It doesn’t matter whether you’re betting on the favorite or the underdog. This expert look at the biggest betting mismatches on the Week 8 college football schedule will both inform and entertain collegiate gridiron gaming enthusiasts looking to increase the annual online betting bankroll. Now, let’s get started.

A Closer Look At The College Football Biggest Betting Mismatches For Week 8

Illinois at No. 3 Michigan

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 3:30 PM ET
Where: Michigan Stadium
TV: BTN
NCAAF Odds: Michigan Wolverines -35

Analysis: All I can say is that Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh has no conscience whatsoever and if he can run the score up on the overmatched Fighting Illini, then that’s what you should expect – or maybe you missed the Wolverine’s 78-0 shutout over Rutgers two weeks ago.

Oklahoma State at Kansas

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 12:00 PM ET
Where: Memorial Stadium
NCAAF Odds: Oklahoma State -24.5

Analysis: The Cowboys average almost 19 points per game more than Kansas while giving up seven fewer points per game defensively.  Maybe it’s me, but I’m thinking Kansas should just stick to what they do best – basketball.

Purdue at No. 8 Nebraska

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 3:30 PM ET
Where: Memorial Stadium
TV: ABC, ESPN2
NCAAF Odds: Nebraska Cornhuskers -24

Analysis: The first thing you need to know about this Big Ten matchups is that Purdue is allowing a whopping 34.3 points per game and just fired their head coach following last weekend’s latest loss. Oh…and if you didn’t know, Nebraska has an elite defense that limits the opposition to less than 19 points per game.

UMass at South Carolina

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 12:00 PM ET
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium
NCAAF Odds: South Carolina -20.5

Analysis: I know no one outside the state of South Carolina will be watching this contest featuring a super-stingy Gamecocks defense looking to shut down a mostly incompetent and completely overmatched UMass squad, but this matchup looks like a virtual lock if you ask me.

Ohio State at Penn State

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 8:00 PM ET
Where: Beaver Stadium
TV: ABC
NCAAF Odds: Penn State Nittany Lions +19.5

Analysis: Penn State has heated up nicely the last few weeks and now I believe they’ll cover high spread against an Ohio State team that was lucky to escape Wisconsin in overtime this past weekend.

North Carolina State at No. 7 Louisville

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 12:00 PM ET
Where: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium
NCAAF Odds: Louisville -18

Analysis: I know Louisville’s Lamar Jackson is the Heisman trophy frontrunner right now, but NC State nearly beat Clemson last weekend and it’s clear they could do the same to a Cardinals squad that is eerily similar to the Tigers.

Oklahoma Sooners (4-2) at Texas Tech Red Raiders (3-3)

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 8:00 PM ET
Where: Jones AT&T Stadium
TV: FOX
NCAAF Odds: Oklahoma -14

Analysis: Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield is touted as a Heisman Trophy contender, but I say Texas Tech’s unheralded Pat Mahomes II is as good as any quarterback in the country…well at least those not named Deshaun Watson and Lamar Jackson.

 

 

Previous Betting News

While I haven’t been able to correctly predict the lottery in my lifetime, the handful of Week 8 college football predictions that you’re about to get will have a much higher chance of turning out just as I expect.

Whether you’re planning on laying some chalk on any of these Week 8 matchups or not, you’re going to find my Week 8 college football predictions simply salivating. Now, let’s get started.

Analyzing The Expert College Football Predictions For Week 8

Illinois at No. 3 Michigan

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 3:30 PM ET
Where: Michigan Stadium
TV: BTN
NCAAF Odds: Michigan Wolverines -35

Analysis: I’m predicting Michigan’s Jabrill Peppers scores at least four times against the Fighting Illini in this Week 8 mismatch.

Purdue at No. 8 Nebraska

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 3:30 PM ET
Where: Memorial Stadium
TV: ABC, ESPN2
NCAAF Odds: Nebraska Cornhuskers -24

Analysis: I’m going to predict that Nebraska’s Tommie Armstrong Jr. throws four TD passes against the reeling Boilermakers who will be led by an interim coach for the remainder of the season.

UMass at South Carolina

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 12:00 PM ET
Where: Williams-Brice Stadium
NCAAF Odds: South Carolina -20.5

Analysis: I’m predicting that no one outside the state of South Carolina will watch this Week 8 ‘thriller’.

Ohio State at Penn State

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 8:00 PM ET
Where: Beaver Stadium
TV: ABC
NCAAF Odds: Penn State Nittany Lions +19.5

Analysis: Simply put, I’m predicting Penn State to cover the spread…while gifted running back Saquon Barkley torches the Buckeyes for at least 140 rushing yards.

North Carolina State at No. 7 Louisville

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 12:00 PM ET
Where: Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium
NCAAF Odds: Louisville -18

Analysis: I’m predicting a knock-down, drag-out battle that Lamar Jackson and the Cardinals narrowly win – and I do mean narrowly.

Oklahoma Sooners (4-2) at Texas Tech Red Raiders (3-3)

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 8:00 PM ET
Where: Jones AT&T Stadium
TV: FOX
NCAAF Odds: Oklahoma -14

Analysis: I’m predicting that Texas Tech’s unheralded Pat Mahomes II matches Oklahoma’s Baker Mayfield touchdown pass for touchdown pass – in a thrilling, but heartbreaking loss.

No. 22 North Carolina at Virginia

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 3:00 PM ET
Where: Scott Stadium
NCAAF Odds: North Carolina -7.5

Analysis: I’m predicting that Carolina signal-caller Mitch Trubisky tosses two touchdown passes while running back T.J. Logan adds an additional two rushing scores to help the Heels cover!

No. 10 Wisconsin at Iowa

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 12:00 PM ET
Where: Kinnick Stadium
NCAAF Odds: Wisconsin -3

Analysis: I’m predicting that Wisconsin lays a huge smackdown on Iowa while running back Corey Clement rushes for somewhere around 150 yards and two scores.

Kansas State at Texas

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 12:00 PM ET
Where: Snyder Family Stadium
TV: ESPN2
NCAAF Odds: Kansas State Wildcats -3

Analysis: I’m predicting that ‘desperate’ Texas gets the home win behind three TD passes from blossoming quarterback Shane Buechele.

 

 

Previous Betting News

What could be better than cashing in with one winning college football wager? Why, cashing in on multiple NCAAF matchups as part of a bankroll-boosting parlay wager of course!

Thanks to the trio of expert Week 8 parlay picks that you’re about to get, you’re going to have a great chance to strike pay dirt three times. Okay, with that said, let’s get started. Now, let’s find out why.

In Depth Analysis On The Top College Football Trio Of Week 8 Expert Parlay Picks!

Illinois Fighting Illini (2-4) at No. 3 Michigan Wolverines (6-0)

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 3:30 PM ET
Where: Michigan Stadium
TV: BTN
NCAAF Odds: Michigan Wolverines -35

Analysis:
Not only are the Michigan Wolverines (6-0 SU, 4-2 ATS) the far better team in this matchup, but they’re well-rested after getting a bye in Week 7. Illinois (2-4 SU, 3-3 ATS) enters this Big Ten battle coming off a convincing 24-7 win over Rutgers on Saturday as 4.5-point favorites, but the Fighting Illini are overmatched in all three phases of the game against Jim Harbaugh’s title-contending team.

Not only that, but the Fighting Illini have not beaten a ranked team since their 2011 and could be without starting quarterback Wes Lunt for the second straight game. Michigan has scored 45 points or more in every game this season including their emphatic 78-0 win over Rutgers two weeks ago and they are my pick to get it done in this contest after beating Central Florid by 37 points and Penn State by 39 points.

I fully expect Michigan’s No. 1 ranked scoring defense (10.3 ppg) to pressure Illinois backup Chayce Crouch – or Lunt if he plays – into at least two and possibly three costly turnovers en route to the emphatic Week 8 win. The Wolverines have won 12 straight games against unranked teams and simply has too much talent to lose this game or fail to cover the spread.

The Fighting Illini are 3-6 ATS in its last nine games and 1-5 ATS in their last six games against a team with a winning record. Conversely, Michigan has won nine of their last 11 meetings against Illinois while going 4-0 ATS in their last four games against a team with a losing record. I don’t like the high point spread, but Jim Harbaugh has no compassion whatsoever and will likely try to run up the score on another overmatched opponent.

My Pick: Michigan 49 Illinois 10

Purdue at No. 8 Nebraska

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 3:30 PM ET
Where: Memorial Stadium
TV: ABC, ESPN2
NCAAF Odds: Nebraska Cornhuskers -24

Analysis:
The Purdue Boilermakers have alternated SU wins and losses all season long but were on the wrong end of a humbling 49-35 loss against Iowa on Saturday while failing to cover the spread as a 12-point underdog. The Nebraska Cornhuskers remained unbeaten by beating Indiana 27-22 in Week 7 while narrowly covering the spread as a 3-point favorite.

For me, I like Nebraska to bounce back with a better performance to pound a Purdue team that just fired head coach Darrell Hazell after their most recent loss. The Boilermakers have a pitiful run defense and inconsistent offense and will enter this contest with former wide receivers coach Gerald Parker taking over as a first-time head coach.

Defensively, Purdue is allowing a whopping 34.3 points per game, meaning Nebraska signal-caller Tommie Armstrong Jr. should be able to build on his impressive start. The Cornhuskers have a slew of athletically-gifted players at the skill positions and are playing at home. Not only do the Cornhuskers have the big edge offensively, but they’re also limiting the opposition to just 18.3 points per game and should have a field day against the reeling Boilermakers.

My Pick: Nebraska 42 Purdue 17

No. 22 North Carolina at Virginia

When: Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 3:00 PM ET
Where: Scott Stadium
NCAAF Odds: North Carolina -7.5

Analysis:
The North Carolina Tar Heels (5-2 SU, 4-3 ATS) bounced back from their humbling Week 6 loss against Virginia Tech to get past No. 16 Miami 20-13 on Saturday as a 6-point underdog no less. The Virginia Cavaliers (2-4 SU, 4-2 ATS) had their two-game winning streak snapped in their uninspiring 45-31 Week 7 loss to Pittsburgh while never coming close to covering the spread as a 6-point underdog.

For me, North Carolina is the pick to win and cover the college football betting line seeing as how the Cavs average four points per game more than the Cavaliers and give up four fewer points per contest. More importantly, the Tar Heels have a gifted signal-caller in Mitch Trubisky and a pair of skill position players in running back T.J. Logan and wide receiver Bug Howard that Virginia won’t be able to stop in this affair.

North Carolina has won six straight meetings against their longtime ACC rivals, including last season’s 26-13 home win and I expect this year’s meeting to be nearly identical. The Tar Heels have won seven of their last nine road games and have gone 4-1 ATS in their last five road dates while Virginia has gone 1-5 ATS in their last half-dozen games against Carolina. The Tar Heels win and narrowly cash in!

My Pick:
North Carolina 35 Virginia 24

 

 

Previous Betting News

Now that Danny White has secured the athletic director position at the University of Central Florida, St. Louis Rams QB coach Chris Weinke has expressed interest in the head coaching job there, according to the Orlando Sentinel. The Knights lost coach George O’Leary to retirement after the team got off to an 0-8 start. O’Leary had been the coach since 2004 and had taken the team to a BCS bowl victory in the Fiesta Bowl during their terrific 12-1 season as NCAAF odds fans might remember. Weinke was the football director at IMG in Bradenton, Florida.

The Maine Black Bears plan to extend head coach Jack Cosgrove, even though they are off to a 3-7 record so far this season. Cosgrove has rolled up 129 wins in his 23 seasons at the helm. In 2013, Maine won ten games, but they only won five last year and can only get to five this year.

There are rumblings that USC should promote interim coach Clay Helton to the full-time job, notes the L.A. times’ Bill Plaschke. In the wake of the Steve Sarkisian situation, Helton has done a great job getting the team focused on football and producing some surprising victories down the stretch. Both Alabama and Auburn have come calling, and he has remained loyal to USC. If the Trojans pick a different head coach, expect quite a few teams to come inquiring about Helton’s services.

At LSU, there are a lot of rumors swirling around the possibility that Les Miles could be coaching for his job as the team takes on Ole Miss and Texas A&M. Scott Rabalais, writing for The Advocate, notes that buying out Miles’ contract would cost $15 million before January 1. There would be $2 million more to buy out the assistants’ contracts. This is asking the athletic department to pony up almost $20 million before they have even spent a dime on the new staff. However, even though $17 million is a lot, Rabalais reports that LSU might do it anyway. There are a lot of boosters who believe that the connection between AD Joe Aleva and Miles. Alleva would not give John Chavis the contractual support that he had asked for, and Chavis ended up going out the door.

It hasn’t been that long (2011) since Miles had his team going 13-0 in the regular season and contending for the national championship. Since 2011, the team has won 10, 8, 8 and (so far) 7 games respectively. Is that enough to send a head coach packing in the Murderers’ Row known as the SEC West?

It remains to be seen whether Alleva has the pull at LSU to fire the most successful head coach that the program has ever seen. Just three weeks ago, LSU was #2 in the country. So change is likely going to come to LSU. Whether that means a new AD, a new head coach or just some new assistants remains to be seen, but it will be interesting to see how this influences the team play in the last two games.

 

 

Previous Betting News

We already are into Week 8 of the college football season, meaning some teams will be two-thirds of the way through their regular-season slate. Yet not much has changed at the top as defending national champion Alabama remains No. 1 in the country, just like it was in the beginning of the season. The big move in this week’s new Associated Press college football poll was Michigan rising to No. 3, right behind No. 2 Ohio State, to give the Big Ten rivals their best combined ranking since the 2006 season, when they played the only 1-vs.- 2 game in the series. Ohio State and Michigan are marching toward a regular-season finale on Nov. 26 that could rank among the biggest games in the history of the storied rivalry. But that’s for later. Here are three games I like this week in the college football odds.

Here’ s a Look at the College Football Week 8 Sharp Betting Picks

BYU at No. 14 Boise State (-7.5)

The unbeaten Broncos still have a shot at becoming the first Group of 5 school to crash the College Football Playoff and this looks to be their toughest remaining game on the regular-season schedule. Boise State (6-0) nearly got caught looking ahead to this on in beating Colorado State 28-23 in Week 7, but only after CSU recovered two onside kicks and scored 20 points — three touchdowns — in 85 seconds to throw a scare into BSU’s undefeated season. Boise State has one of the nation’s best running backs in junior Jeremy McNichols. The Doak Walker Award candidate rushed a school-record 40 times and picked up a career-high 217 yards against Colorado State. Williams is second in the nation in rushing yards, 942, fourth in rushing yards per game (134.6) and tied for fourth in rushing touchdowns with 10. Last year, BYU got a Hail Mary touchdown pass from Boise native Tanner Mangum to Mitchell Juergens, and Kai Nacua’s game-sealing interception return for a touchdown to subdue the visitors 35-24 for its second win over BSU in three games. But I like the Broncos here.

No. 10 Wisconsin at Iowa (+3)

Important game in the Big Ten West Division, of which Iowa is the defending champion. The Badgers are 1-2 in the Big Ten, trailing 3-0 Nebraska, 3-1 Iowa and 2-1 Northwestern. But they beat LSU and Michigan State. They lost 14-7 at Michigan, and 30-23 in overtime to Ohio State in Madison on Saturday night. All four of those foes were in the Top 10 at the time Wisconsin played them. The Badgers haven’t played a Big Ten West game yet. Now the whole West is in front of them: at Iowa, Nebraska at home, at Northwestern, Illinois at home, at Purdue, Minnesota at home. Iowa is 5-2 overall with losses to North Dakota State and Northwestern and tight wins over Rutgers and Minnesota. The Hawkeyes, in their eighth game of the season, are playing their first heavyweight. Last year, Iowa won at Wisconsin 10-6. Take the Badgers here.

TCU at No. 12 West Virginia (-4.5)

Not many people are talking about the Mountaineers, who are one of two Big 12 unbeatens. Quarterback Skyler Howard ranks in the top 20 nationally in yards per pass, completion percentage, and yards per game. TCU, Oklahoma, and finally Baylor all have to come to Mountaineer Field. There is a possibility that both Baylor and West Virginia could come into that final week matchup undefeated. Since joining the Big 12 conference in 2012, the Mountaineers have lost three out of their four matchups against TCU. TCU dominated West Virginia 40-10 last season but their last three matchups before last season’s were each decided by three points or less with two of the games going into overtime. Take WVU on college football odds here.