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Bill Bender
An SEC doubleheader with three one-loss teams involved is the highlight of the Week 8 college football schedule.
No. 7 Alabama travels to No. 11 Tennessee at 3:30 p.m. on ABC. Both teams have struggled the last two weeks, and it is the first matchup in the rivalry for Crimson Tide coach Kalen DeBoer. The Vols won the last meeting at Neyland Stadium in a 52-49 thriller in 2022.
No. 5 Georgia travels to No. 1 Texas in another top-five showdown with huge SEC implications. The Bulldogs are trying to avoid a second loss, and the Longhorns have a chance to score yet another resume-building victory at home. Quinn Ewers and Carson Beck should put on a show.
That is a blockbuster Saturday that also features a Big Ten matchup between No. 24 Michigan and No. 22 Illinois. That follows a Friday night doubleheader with No. 2 Oregon at Purdue and Oklahoma State at No. 13 BYU. There are 17 games involving ranked FBS teams this week. A look at our track record this season:
MORE: College Football Playoff projections after Week 7
Here are our picks against the spread for Week 8:
Will the Ducks overcome the cross-country trend on a Friday night after an emotional victory against Ohio State? Oregon has failed to cover a pair of 20-point spreads in Big Ten play, but the Boilermakers rank last in the conference in rush defense (228.8 ypg.). Purdue is just 2-5 ATS as a home underdog under Ryan Walters. Oregon keeps it rolling.
Pick: Oregon wins 42-14 and COVERS the spread.
MORE: Dillon Gabriel delivers in upset of Ohio State
The Cowboys had a bye week to reset after a brutal three-week stretch in Big 12 play where they allowed an average of 312.6 rushing yards per game in three conference losses. The Cougars rank 12th in the Big 12 in rushing offense (140.2 ypg.) and feast off turnovers with a plus-7 margin. That is the stat to watch. Oklahoma State beat BYU 40-34 last season. This game has the potential to stay close if the Cowboys can get Ollie Gordon going once and for all.
Pick: BYU wins 28-24 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
Miami had a bye week after consecutive close calls against Virginia Tech and Cal, and this is yet another road test for Cam Ward – who has a 170.8 passer rating with eight TDs and three interceptions on the road. The Cardinals broke a two-game losing streak and are a tough out at home, and the Cardinals are 9-2 S/U at home under Jeff Brohm. Will the Hurricanes live dangerously again?
Pick: Miami wins 31-21 and COVERS the spread.
Virginia has improved, but a trip to Death Valley will test a hit-or-miss offense that averages 22 points per game against Power 4 opponents. The Cavaliers also have not committed a turnover in their last three games. The problem is Clemson is plus-10 in turnover margin since the season-opening loss against Georgia, and the offense is on a tear with Cade Klubnik and Phil Mafah. The Tigers are 4-1 ATS through their winning streak. Clemson has won the last three meetings by an average of 34 points per game.
Pick: Clemson wins 44-17 and COVERS the spread.
MORE: Sporting News Top 25 after Week 7
Auburn averages 16 points per game in SEC play, and the line has ticked up a half-point from its opening. Auburn did have a bye week, and Missouri’s two wins against Power 5 opponents are by a combined nine points. Missouri did get the offense rolling against UMass, but Auburn allows just 20.8 points per game. Auburn has won all three meetings since Missouri joined the SEC.
Pick: Missouri wins 28-21 and COVERS the spread.
This is the best game in the Big Ten this week. Will the Huskers be able to slow down a high-powered Indiana offense that averages 47.5 points and 515.8 yards per game? Nebraska ranks 13th in the FBS in total defense (272.5 ypg.) and the Huskers have a +6 turnover ratio. If Nebraska can generate enough in the running game behind freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola, an upset is possible. We’ll settle for a thriller in Bloomington.
Pick: Indiana wins 30-27 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
This is the first meeting between these schools in 20 years, and the Pirates are 8-0 S/U in the all-time series. East Carolina, however, allowed 311 rushing yards in a 55-24 loss at Charlotte in Week 7. Army hasn’t allowed more than 14 points in a game this season, and the Black Knights average a FBS-best 369.8 rushing yards per game. Bryson Daily continues his impressive season in the American Athletic Conference here.
Pick: Army wins 34-14 and COVERS the spread.
A pair of one-loss teams fighting to stay in the SEC race, and with that each team has a question mark. The Vols have struggled on offense the last two weeks and have thrown just one TD in three SEC games. The Crimson Tide have struggled on defense and had some head-scratching breakdowns. Jalen Milroe and Nico Iamaleava are on the spot here. Alabama has allowed a 75.5% completion percentage to quarterbacks the last two weeks. Will Heupel let Iamaleava take enough chances in the passing game? Or will the Crimson Tide get enough of a running game around Milroe to escape Neyland Stadium? This is the toughest game to pick this week, and that is why it feels like an instant classic.
Pick: Alabama wins 28-26 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
Notre Dame and Georgia Tech will play at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The Yellow Jackets will test the Irish with a running game that averages 204.4 yards per game, and quarterback Haynes King leads the ACC with a 71.2 completion percentage. Still, this Notre Dame defense limits teams to 3.4 yards per carry and opposing QBs to a 47.9 completion percentage. Riley Leonard has settled in as the starter, too. Georgia Tech is 14-6 ATS as an underdog under Brent Key, a trend we can’t ignore with that spread.
Pick: Notre Dame wins 31-24 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
Michigan has been tough to pick all season. The Wolverines are 1-5 ATS and come out of the bye week needing to answer the quarterback question once and for all. Luke Altmyer leads the Big Ten with 14 TDs and one interception. This would be an easy Illini pick if we didn’t watch them give up 46 points and 239 rushing yards in the second half against Purdue. It’s a toss-up as a result.
Pick: Michigan wins 24-21 and COVERS the spread.
Charlotte will have trouble stopping the Navy rushing attack, but the 49ers scored 55 points in Week 7 behind a breakout performance from Hashaun Wilson, who had 164 yards and three TDs. Navy had a bye week to prepare, and they cannot afford to look ahead to the showdown with Notre Dame in Week 9. The Midshipmen beat the 49ers 14-0 last season.
Pick: Navy wins 30-16 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
The Bulldogs have given up 30 or more points in five straight losses, but they have managed to cover huge spreads against Texas and Georgia. Freshman quarterback Michael Van Buren Jr. is inconsistent, but the home setting will help against a Texas A&M team coming off a bye week. The Aggies are 2-4 S/U in Starkville since joining the SEC.
Pick: Texas A&M wins 31-17 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
LSU is coming off an emotional victory against Ole Miss, and the line has ticked up half-point for the road matchup against Arkansas. The Razorbacks had a bye week to prepare for the Tigers’ high-flying passing attack. Garrett Nussmeier leads the SEC with 18 TD passes, and LSU has the momentum. The last four meetings between these teams have been decided by three points, and Arkansas averages 199 rushing yards per game.
Pick: LSU wins 24-17 and COVERS the spread.
The Bulldogs have been an underdog just twice under Kirby Smart, and that is a dangerous game. The Longhorns have been the more complete team this season. Texas ranks in the top 10 in scoring offense and scoring defense. Georgia has forced just five turnovers this season, and the Bulldogs have not had a consistent running game. Texas averages 5.1 yards per rushing attempt, and if they can get four yards or more the Bulldogs will be trouble. The underdog has covered in both top-five showdowns this season. We still like the Longhorns by a TD.
Pick: Texas wins 30-24 and COVERS the spread
BENDER: Blowout of Oklahoma sets up SEC blockbuster for Texas
The Wildcats beat Colorado in a road test. West Virginia has a prime-time home game for the second straight week, and the Mountaineers are a solid run defense (130.0 ypg.) that allows just 3.6 yards per carry, but they allowed 200-plus rushing yards to Penn State and Kansas. The Wildcats have three players who average at least 6.0 yards per carry in DJ Giddens, Dylan Edwards and Avery Johnson. If Johnson protects the football, then the Wildcats should be fine.
Pick: Kansas State wins 28-24 and COVERS the spread.
The Cyclones have covered in five straight games and catch a UCF team that has struggled to score the last three weeks. The Knights turned to Jacurri Brown at quarterback last week, and teamed with RJ Harvey that could give Iowa State’s defense a challenge in the running game. Rocco Becht will stay comfortable, however, against a UCF defense that allows a 68.9% completion percentage to opposing quarterbacks.
Pick: Iowa State wins 24-17 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
SMU had a bye week to prepare for this showdown between ACC newcomers. Kevin Jennings has been hot at quarterback for the Mustangs. He has a 74% completion percentage since taking over as the starter. The Cardinal have failed to cover as an underdog the last three weeks, and they might have trouble keeping up with an offense that averages 40.8 points per game after taking three long road trips in the last four weeks to Syracuse, Clemson and Notre Dame.
Pick: SMU wins 38-16 and COVERS the spread.
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Bill Bender graduated from Ohio University in 2002 and started at The Sporting News as a fantasy football writer in 2007. He has covered the College Football Playoff, NBA Finals and World Series for SN. Bender enjoys story-telling, awesomely-bad 80s movies and coaching youth sports.
