Week 8 College Football Picks

Josh Adams and the Irish will try to run past Sam Darnold and the Trojans Saturday night
Photo via NBC Sports

I thought the week before last was a wild one in college football, and then last weekend happened. There were no games between ranked teams, yet ranked teams were falling everywhere. Clemson lost, Washington State lost, Washington lost, Auburn lost, San Diego State lost, Texas Tech lost, and Navy lost. Miami, Michigan, Oklahoma, USC, and Michigan State almost lost. Everything I thought I knew about the 2017 college football season was proven wrong (except the fact that Alabama is very good). So who knows what will happen this week, which actually features ranked matchups.

Play of Week 7: "Living by the Langham"

Miami was in danger of suffering its first loss of the season to Georgia Tech last Saturday. Down two with half a minute remaining in the game, the Canes faced 4th and 10. Quarterback Malik Rosier tossed a pass up for receiver Darrell Langham, who somehow came down with the ball in double coverage. Miami would go on to win on a last-second field goal.

Performance of Week 7: AJ Dillon, RB, Boston College

Photo via 247Sports

39 carries, 272 yards rushing, 4 TD

Dillon was a big reason the Eagles were able to upset Louisville, 45-42. The freshman from Connecticut had 39 carries, three more than Louisville's entire team. He also scored four of BC's six touchdowns.

Picks

Record

Last Week: 15-5   vs. Spread: 13-6-1   O/U: 8-12

Season: 106-25   vs. Spread: 56-52-1   O/U: 50-59

Maryland 7, #5 Wisconsin 37 (Noon, FOX)

Line: WIS -24.5   O/U: 50.5

Maryland is coming off a 37-21 loss to Northwestern, and now the banged up Terps offense has to face a suffocating defense in Wisconsin. The Badgers rank sixth in the country in total defense (and 26th in total offense). Wisky will give the Terps fits in Madison.

#10 Oklahoma State 28, Texas 31 (Noon, ABC)

Line: OSU -7   O/U: 65

This could be a fun one. After losing to TCU three weeks ago, Mason Rudolph and the Cowboys barely beat Texas Tech and easily disposed of Baylor. Texas almost beat Baker Mayfield and Oklahoma last week. I think Tom Herman's team will get it done this week.

Tennessee 12, #1 Alabama 52 (3:30 PM, CBS)

Line: ALA -36   O/U: 50.5

The Tide keep on rolling, heading into this one at 7-0 after thrashing Arkansas last week. After getting shutout three weeks ago by Georgia, Tennessee came back from a bye week and lost to South Carolina. The Volunteers stand no chance in Tuscaloosa.

Syracuse 17, #8 Miami 38 (3:30 PM, ESPN)

Line: MIA -17   O/U: 59

Syracuse, behind quarterback Eric Dungey, pulled off the biggest upset of the year last Friday night, taking down the defending national champions. They'll try to make it two in a row against Miami, but I don't think the U will have issues with the Orange.

North Carolina 13, #14 Virginia Tech 45 (3:30 PM, ESPN2)

Line: VT -21   O/U: 51.5

North Carolina hasn't won since September 16, and that was its only win. A win will be hard to come by for the Tar Heels against Virginia Tech, which has the 25th best offense in the nation and the 23rd best defense in the nation.

Indiana 21, #18 Michigan State 24 (3:30 PM, ABC)

Line: MSU -6.5   O/U: 46

The Hoosiers almost knocked off Michigan last week, falling in overtime. They could give Michigan State a tough game as well, but I think the host Spartans, who have played well since getting routed by Notre Dame, will hang on.

#20 UCF 42, Navy 38 (3:30 PM, CBSSN)

Line: UCF -7.5   O/U: 65

I don't know a whole lot about this Central Florida football team, but I do know that the Knights, behind their 5th-ranked offense, have destroyed everyone they've played. Navy may cause fits with its triple option offense, but UCF has too much firepower.

#9 Oklahoma 35, Kansas State 24 (4:00 PM, FOX)

Line: OKLA -14   O/U: 54

While Baker Mayfield (17 touchdowns, just one interception) still looks great, the Sooners have been shaky the past three weeks. That shakiness could give Kansas State a chance at the upset, but Baker and company will ultimately be too much for the Wildcats.

#16 South Florida 63, Tulane 32 (7:00 PM, ESPN2)

Line: USF -11.5   O/U: 54

While Florida's offense is nonexistent, Central and South's offenses are quite the opposite. USF ranks 13th in the nation in total offense, and that high-powered offense will have no problem with Tulsa's defense, which ranks 129th in the nation.

#24 LSU 30, Ole Miss 14 (7:15 PM, ESPN)

Line: LSU -7   O/U: 59.5

So maybe LSU isn't as bad as we thought. Or maybe Auburn is worse than we thought. Or maybe Troy... anyway, the Tigers are riding high right now (they've beaten two ranked teams in a row), and I expect them to continue riding high against the 3-3 Rebels.

#19 Michigan 17, #2 Penn State 28 (7:30 PM, ABC)

Line: PSU -9.5   O/U: 43

Michigan has basically been a slightly better version of Florida so far this season. Great defense, but worrisome offense. After needing overtime to beat pesky Indiana last week, the Wolverines will be hard-pressed to get a win in Happy Valley Saturday night.

#11 USC 34, #13 Notre Dame 38 (7:30 PM, NBC)

Line: ND -3   O/U: 65.5

Saturday night's marquee matchup will be an elimination game of sorts, pitting two one-loss teams against each other. USC has looked shaky, but I think Sam Darnold plays his best game of the season Saturday. That being said, I think the host Irish escape with the win.

#21 Auburn 34, Arkansas 3 (7:30 PM, SECN)

Line: AUB -15.5   O/U: 52.5

After an upset loss to LSU, Auburn (along with it's nearly dead Playoff hopes) will look to get back on the wagon against Arkansas, which has given up over 40 points in each of its last four games. The Tigers should bounce back Saturday against the Razorbacks.

Kansas 7, #4 TCU 48 (8:00 PM, FOX)

Line: TCU -39   O/U: 59.5

Kansas is bad. The Jayhawks did beat Southeast Missouri State, but they haven't come close to any of the other teams they've played (closest loss = 12 points). TCU, the last remaining unbeaten in the Big 12, will blow by Kansas.

#23 West Virginia 38, Baylor 21 (8:00 PM, FS1)

Line: WVU -9   O/U: 67

Baylor is bad. The Bears did almost beat Oklahoma (and Liberty, and UTSA), but they didn't. Will Grier and the Mountaineers, coming off a one-week hiatus from the Top 25 (they lost to #8 TCU, then beat #24 Texas Tech), will outshoot the bumbling Bears.

Colorado 23, #15 Washington State 42 (10:45 PM, ESPN)

Line: WSU -10   O/U: 52

Washington State will be looking to right the ship after an ugly loss to Cal last Friday night when it faces Colorado Saturday night. The Buffaloes aren't horrible (plus, #PAC12AfterDark), but I expect a bounce-back game from Luke Falk and friends.

Stats and Information via ESPN.com
Lines and Over/Unders via SportsLine.com
Lines and Over/Unders are as of Friday Afternoon


To stay up to date on the newest Head in the Game articles (and general sports commentary), follow @headingameblog on Twitter (you can also find me on Twitter @G_Tingley)