College Football Week 8: Predictions Against the Spread
Once again, a new week brings a new No.1. This week, the No. 1 team is different depending on which poll you prefer to look at.
Since this Pick ‘Em article has run off the AP poll leading up to this week, let’s keep that ball rolling.
A 12-8 record last week creates a little distance from that overall .500 mark.
Let’s see if this week’s pick are good enough to put together back-to-back successful weeks.
Last Week's Record: 12-8
Overall Record: 69-63-4
No. 1 Oregon (-26.5) vs. UCLA
1 of 20
Although Oregon ranks No. 1 in both the AP and Coaches poll, the Ducks were snub by the BCS computers, which could be bad news for UCLA.
Chip Kelly’s explosive offense (ranked 1st with 567.0 y/g) should run up the score against the Bruins’ disappointing defense (ranked 66th with 369.8 y/g) in hopes of impressing those BCS robots.
Pick: Oregon -26.5
No. 3 Oklahoma (-3) @ No. 18 Missouri
2 of 20
Oklahoma, crowned No. 1 in the BCS poll, has a difficult task to begin their reign.
Both teams enter this game undefeated and looked impressive leading to this battle.
The Sooners have won 19 of the last 20 against Missouri, 15 wins were by 10 points or more. Oklahoma should win by a touchdown.
Pick: Oklahoma -3
No. 4 TCU (-19) vs. Air Force
3 of 20
Air Force’s stay on the AP’s top 25 was short.
However, the Falcons still posses the best FBS running game (346.8 y/g) and will be like nothing TCU has seen before.
While TCU’s offense should dominate this game, Air Force may be able to keep it to a two touchdown spread.
Pick: Air Force +19
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No. 5 Auburn (-6) vs. No. 6 LSU
4 of 20
LSU has man-handled Auburn recently, winning four of the last five meetings, culminating in last season’s 21-point whipping.
While Cam Newton does brings a dynamic equation to this formula, Les Miles the Magician always seems to be hiding something up his sleeve.
LSU upsets Auburn in a crazy, close game.
Pick: LSU +6
No. 7 Alabama (-16.5) @ Tennessee
5 of 20
Tennessee’s mediocre offense should struggle against Alabama.
The Crimson Tide’s scoring defense ranks 31st in the FBS and outside of the South Carolina game, their offense has been quite successful on the road.
While Neyland Stadium should be rocking to start, Alabama will roll and healthily cover this spread.
Pick: Alabama -16.5
No. 8 Michigan State (-5) @ Northwestern
6 of 20
Two Top 25 scoring defenses clash in this Big Ten battle.
While Northwestern only has one loss, their competition hasn’t exactly been elite.
Michigan State’s top tier and tested offense will prevail in this road game, winning this game but at least a touchdown.
Pick: Michigan State -5
No. 9 Utah (-31) vs. Colorado State
7 of 20
Utah has been stomping on opponents as of late, winning the last five games by an average of 37.6 points.
However, Colorado State has covered four straight spreads, demolishing UNLV 43-10 last week.
Utah should keep their distance from the Rams, but Colorado State might make covering this lofty spread difficult.
Pick: Colorado State +31
No. 10 Wisconsin @ No. 13 Iowa (-5.5)
8 of 20
An upset hangover on the road is not completely out of the question for Wisconsin in this one.
Wisconsin runs into Iowa’s stout defense (13.2 p/g) and unassuming offense (34.3 p/g).
Despite Wisconsin’s miraculous win last week, Iowa is 24-15-1 at home against the Badgers and the Hawkeyes should prove to be more superior.
Pick: Iowa -5.5
No. 11 Ohio State (-23) vs. Purdue
9 of 20
For the second straight week, a No. 1 seed tumbles down the polls.
Just like Alabama the week before them, Ohio State will look to unleash their revenge on their next opponent.
Purdue will undoubtedly suffer the wrath of Ohio State’s frustrations and the Buckeyes should annihilate this spread.
Pick: Ohio State -23
No. 12 Stanford (-35) vs. Washington State
10 of 20
Washington State has only won one game this season. However, they have covered five of their last six spreads.
Stanford does have the fire power to make this a blowout, but the Cougars seem to know what the line is and strive to stay just a shade underneath it.
Pick: Washington State +35
No. 14 Nebraska (-5.5) @ No. 17 Oklahoma State
11 of 20
Nebraska has a 15-3-1 record in Stillwater, but after last week’s debacle, it is hard to tell which brand of Cornhuskers football will emerge.
Oklahoma State boasts the second best offense in the FBS (535.3 y/g) and after seeing the “Black Shirts” get dismantled by Garrett Gilbert, taking Nebraska seems like a risky bet.
Pick: Oklahoma State +5.5
No. 15 Arizona (-7) vs. Washington
12 of 20
Jake Locker finally displayed that highly touted talent last week. With Locker gelling, Washington should make this game a barn burner.
Also, the Arizona desert has not been a problem for Washington in the past, posting a 7-4-1 record in Tucson.
This game reeks of an upset.
Pick: Washington +7
No. 19 South Carolina (-12) @ Vanderbilt
13 of 20
It is no secret that South Carolina has been horrid on the road, losing seven straight on enemy turf.
While the Gamecocks should hopefully rebound from last week’s predictable stumble, Vanderbilt might be able to use home field advantage to keep this one closer than Steve Spurrier would prefer.
Pick: Vanderbilt +12
No. 20 West Virginia (-14) vs. Syracuse
14 of 20
West Virginia has covered four straight spreads since their scare against Marshall in week three. On top of that, the Mountaineers have an eight game winning streak against Syracuse.
The Orange is in over their head in this game and should get abused by West Virginia.
Pick: West Virginia -14
No. 21 Arkansas (-9.5) vs. Mississippi
15 of 20
Mississippi has the 95th ranked scoring defense in the FBS (31.2 p/g), which doesn’t bode well for the Rebels with Ryan Mallett starring down their defenders.
Although Mallet is listed as probable, expect him to start and throw darts all day on this feeble defense.
Pick: Arkansas -9.5
No. 22 Texas (-21.5) vs. Iowa State
16 of 20
Although Texas is undefeated against Iowa State (7-0), the Cyclones have covered the last two spreads in Austin.
Both teams bring a rather subdued offense to this pillow fight. Texas should continue their winning streak, but a three touchdown spread seems unlikely.
Pick: Iowa State +21.5
No. 23 Virginia Tech (-26.5) vs. Duke
17 of 20
Four straight losses for Duke can only be illuminated by the fact that they have covered two straight spreads.
This fact quickly losses it’s light when seeing that Virginia Tech has covered five straight lines with the past two spreads 21 points or over.
The Hokies dismantles Duke in this one.
Pick: Virginia Tech -26.5
No. 24 Mississippi State (-20) vs. UAB
18 of 20
Mississippi State snuck into the AP’s Top 25 with a huge upset of Florida and a 20-point win over the impotent Blazers should not be a problem for this budding squad.
Against non-BCS teams this season, the Bulldogs have won by an average of 32.6 points. Expect more of the same against UAB.
Pick: Mississippi State -20
No. 25 Miami (-6.5) vs. North Carolina
19 of 20
North Carolina is riding a four-game winning streak and the Hurricanes Top 25 stay could be all but over by the end of this one.
In the month of October, North Carolina’s offense has soared (21st with 35.7 p/g) while Miami’s has slightly struggled (70th with 25.0 p/g).
Tar Heels take Miami by surprise.
Pick: North Carolina +6.5
Kansas State @ Baylor (-6)
20 of 20
Kansas State received some serious “computer love” this week, ranking 22nd in the opening BCS poll.
This love was not mutual amongst the AP, the Coaches Poll, or even Vegas.
Robert Griffin III’s dual threat ability will pick apart Kansas State’s unbalanced defense, removing the Wildcats from the BCS and possibly replacing them in the process.
Pick: Baylor -6
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