Week 8 features some intriguing conference match ups and one of the best rivalry games in all of college football.
Here are my picks.
Thursday, October 19
No. 25 Memphis at Houston (+3): You know, screw it! I’m taking Houston in this one at home to pull off the upset. I like them a lot at +3.
Saturday, October 21
No. 10 Oklahoma State at Texas (+7): Texas has played all of the big boys on their schedule tough and this game should be no different. I think Oklahoma State wins but it will be a close game. They win by six. I am putting my money on the Horns as a home dog.
Maryland at No. 5 Wisconsin (-24): I have been iffy on the Badgers as a big home favorite the past two weeks against Northwestern and Purdue. I have no problem taking them this week. Badgers cover easily.
Tennessee at No. 1 Alabama (-35): Poor Butch Jones. The misery continues. Tide rolls in this one and cover no problem as a home favorite.
Indiana at No. 18 Michigan State (-6.5): Mark “The Magic Man” Dantonio has the Spartans back on track. Indiana is improved but I cannot see them winning in East Lancing. I am taking Sparty with confidence.
Syracuse at No. 8 Miami (-16.5): Syracuse has to have a let down after last week’s win over Clemson right? Maybe but I do think they will play the Canes tough. I know Miami is rolling right now but being a +16.5 point favorite in this one is senseless to me. Take the Orange as a road dog.
North Carolina at No. 14 Virginia Tech (-21): North Carolina is injury riddled and plays no defense. I like the Hokies at home to cover this three touchdown spread. Virginia Tech is a good football team that is flying under the radar.
No. 20 UCF (-7.5) at Navy: Vegas must love Navy’s offense and they must not think a Scott Frost led Central Florida team can stop the option. Look, its simple. Central Florida will turn this into a shootout and for that reason, I like the Knights as a road dog in this one.
No. 9 Oklahoma at Kansas State (+14): For whatever reason, I still think playing in Manhattan is tough even though the Wildcats have lost twice at home this season. I think Boomer Sooner wins this game but not by two touchdowns. Put your money on Bill Synder’s bunch as home dogs.
No. 16 USF at Tulane (+11.5): Tulane is better than you think. They don’t have the athletes to beat South Florida but they can certainly hang with them. South Florida will win this game but only by one score.
No. 24 LSU (-6.5) at Ole Miss: Remember when Ole Miss was good defensively? The vaunted “Land Shark” defense. Yeah…they are not that good anymore defensively. LSU has won two in a row and order has been restored in Baton Rouge. For now. I am taking the road Tigers to win by two scores.
No. 21 Auburn at Arkansas (+15.5): I picked the Hogs as a road dog last week at Alabama and they got blasted 41-9. Guess what? I don’t care! I am picking them again. Auburn has struggled of late offensively and I think they will struggle in this one. I think the Tigers will win but it’ll be a battle. Take the Hogs as a home dog.
No. 11 USC at No. 13 Notre Dame (-3.5): USC should have lost to Texas at home and lost at Washington State. Hmm…. Who do I put my money on? How about the Irish at home. I was wrong at the beginning of the season about USC. They are not as good as I thought. I am putting my hard earned money on the Irish in this one. When the dust settles, they will be in the conversation for the college football playoff.
No. 19 Michigan at No. 2 Penn State (+9.5): Penn State is the best team in the Big Ten and it isn’t even close. I think they beat Michigan by two touchdowns. The Wolverines don’t have a quarterback (sorry John O’Can of Korn) and no play makers on offense. Oh and I know the vaunted Michigan defense is good but it is not going to matter in this one. Saquon Barkley will go off.
Kansas at No. 4 TCU (-39) 8 p.m. ET: TCU will win big.
No. 23 West Virginia (-9.5) at Baylor: West Virginia should roll the rebuilding Bears in Waco. Matt Rhule and his staff have done a great job of keeping Baylor competitive but they just don’t have enough firepower to keep up with a West Virginia team that can make big plays consistently.
Colorado at No. 15 Washington State (-10.5): Washington State should bounce back at home after an embarrassing loss to Cal last week. If they don’t, Mike Leach might literally meltdown on national television.