Expert CFB Locks for Georgia vs. Ole Miss and Week 8's Biggest Games

College football is a strange, magnificent beast.

One minute, you're counting money heading in your direction, feeling delighted at the current state of football developments. The next minute, Auburn is fumbling, Arizona is imploding and a sure-fire winning week turns south in a matter of 90 grotesque minutes.

When you wager on this sport, you sign up for this. The good, the bad, and the implosions. That's part of the fine print.

Last week, we signed up for more than a .500 record, although a late string of collapses led to other plans. As an aside, we will not be betting on Oregon State for the rest of the season.

This week, we have a fascinating offering of matchups to choose from. The slate is deep with intrigue and betting options, which means it's time to get busy.

Here's what we have in store for Week 8.

Last Week's Record: 4-4

Year to Date: 36-32-1

Georgia (-7.5) vs. Ole Miss

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Neither team should be particularly thrilled about their performances from Saturday, although both came away with wins.

Georgia outlasted Auburn in an ugly game ripe with weirdness. Ole Miss barely beat Washington State despite closing as more than a 30-point favorite.

Of the two, the Rebels' performance was by far the most concerning. Now, they must hit the road for only the second time this season, and that should sound off some alarms. Earlier in the year, Ole Miss nearly lost playing at Kentucky.

Georgia hasn't exactly dazzled, even before last week. The Bulldogs lost to Alabama, played a so-so game against Kentucky and barely outlasted Tennessee. Granted, the competition has been solid, and Georgia has largely found a way to win. But this isn't the same dominant team we've seen previously.

And that's OK, at least for this week. Playing at home should serve the Bulldogs well, especially considering that just a week ago, Ole Miss was close to having a blemish on its record.

This week, that blemish appears. Georgia asserts itself as a true national title contender yet again with a double-digit win.

The Pick: Georgia (-7.5)

Duke (-1.5) vs. Georgia Tech

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Although Georgia Tech is unbeaten and ranked No. 12 in the AP Poll, the Yellow Jackets will be an underdog against a two-loss team on Saturday morning. If that seems somewhat strange, we agree.

Those who follow our weekly picks columns can recognize the history in play. The Blue Devils have not been kind to us this season, although it's not stopping us. And over the past three games, Duke has looked much better in all facets.

As for Georgia Tech, this is a tough team to figure out. There's no denying 6-0, although wins over Colorado and Clemson don't mean nearly as much as we thought they might. The last time this team played on the road, it needed a miraculous comeback against Wake Forest to survive.

If Duke doesn't turn the ball over—which might be a reckless assumption to make—the Blue Devils should be able to overpower Georgia Tech offensively. While betting against Haynes King doesn't feel particularly great, we're ready to be hurt again if necessary.

The Pick: Duke (-1.5)

South Carolina (+5.5) vs. Oklahoma

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It would be difficult to quantify South Carolina's season as anything but a disappointment.

At 3-3, the Gamecocks are 1-3 in the SEC, and they lost to Vanderbilt, Missouri and LSU by nine points or more. None of those games were necessary blowouts, and the competition has been robust. But a program with an abundance of momentum heading into the season has seemingly lost it.

Until now.

Although Oklahoma is still ranked in the top 15, all is not well in Norman. Quarterback John Mateer is back, although it's hard to know exactly what version of him we'll get after the Sooners struggled mightily against Texas. Oklahoma currently owns the nation's No. 66-ranked scoring offense.

South Carolina wishes it were ranked that high. QB LaNorris Sellers hasn't played up to his potential just yet, although that moment could be coming. South Carolina's defense, however, has been superb, and it could be the star of the show.

The Gamecocks cover and win an ugly football game.  

The Pick: South Carolina (+5.5)

Auburn (+1.5) vs. Missouri

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Oh, we're back.

We're not necessarily happy about it, but we're back.

Last week, Auburn let us down. The Tigers were in prime position to cover against Georgia and beat the Bulldogs outright, although they again found a way to lose. If it feels like it's becoming a theme, that's because it is.

We've also bet Auburn a lot. Results, needless to say, have been mixed. Despite the 3-3 record, however, the oddsmakers haven't given up. Neither have we.

On the other sideline, Missouri has a prime spot for an emotional letdown. The Tigers put up a tremendous fight against Alabama, although they came up short. Following up that buildup with a tricky trip to Auburn against a desperate team with an exceptional defense seems less than ideal.

Granted, Hugh Freeze knows how to lose football games. We've seen it this year, and it's a concern playing this side. But this point spread is likely to draw a ton of one-sided interest, and we'll be sure to be on the other side.

Auburn, take us home. Finally. Please?

The Pick: Auburn (+1.5)

Arkansas (+7.5) vs. Texas A&M

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Here's a point spread that will raise some eyebrows.

The nation's No. 4-ranked team is hovering around a touchdown favorite while playing against a team with a current record of only 2-4. Interesting? We would say so.

Arkansas' current standing demands some additional context, though. The loss against Notre Dame that ultimately led to Sam Pittman's firing was a dumpster fire. Outside of that, the Razorbacks played Ole Miss, Memphis and Tennessee extremely tough. In fact, they lost all three games against ranked teams by a combined 10 points.

The oddsmakers seem to believe that trend will continue against Texas A&M, which is unbeaten. It's worth noting, however, that the Aggies will play on the road for only the second time this season. The first away game was a 41-40 thrilling win over Notre Dame.

As strange as it might seem, we could be in for a similar game. Interim head coach Bobby Petrino is making a play for the Arkansas job in the year 2025, and don't be surprised if they push for an upset.

The Pick: Arkansas (+7.5)

Other Games on the Card

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Boise State (-11.5) vs. UNLV

An unbeaten team (UNLV) is a double-digit underdog, and the line is climbing. While we forgot about Boise State after some early struggles, the Broncos are poised for a massive win.

Rutgers (+17.5) vs. Oregon

How do you get over a tough road loss? Well, flying thousands of miles to New Jersey certainly isn't it. The Ducks will win, although look for Rutgers to keep this game close enough.

Purdue (+2.5) at Northwestern

Northwestern's victory over Penn State a week ago set off a massive chain reaction in college football, but don't overreact. Purdue has played a difficult schedule, and it's positioned for a small upset.

Florida (-9.5) vs. Mississippi State

Can Billy Napier keep his job at Florida for another week? This result, whether it's right or not, could well influence that discussion. Either way, we love the Gators playing at home.