College Football Week 8 Preview: Betting Odds & Picks Including UCLA at Oregon and Texas at Oklahoma State
No. 14 Syracuse at No. 5 Clemson Odds and Picks
Saturday 22nd October – 12:00 pm EST
Game Lines:
Moneyline: Clemson -550 | Syracuse +400
Spread: Clemson -13.5
Points Total: 49.5 | Over -110 | Under -110
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Clemson
Spread: Syracuse to cover
Over/Under: Under 49.5
It’s pretty rare to find a spread this large between two undefeated teams at this stage of the season. Syracuse is 6-0 and on a thirteen-game winning streak dating back to last year, yet are 13.5-point underdogs. DJ Uiagaleilei is becoming the player we thought he could be prior to his freshman year at Clemson and the Tigers will have enough to see the game through, though I’m not sure it’ll be by a margin of two touchdowns.
Matt’s Pick of the game:
Clemson is on a very impressive stretch which includes road wins against NC State, Wake Forest and Florida State. While DJ Uiagaleilei and the offense were much derided last year, they have been an extremely potent outfit this season, leading their team to a perfect 7-0. Syracuse is also undefeated, and passed their first true challenge of the year in NC State last week with flying colours. I like how both offenses operate, and think we could be in for a really exciting game, so I’m going with the over.
Points Total: Over 49.5 Points
No. 20 Texas at No. 11 Oklahoma State Odds and PicksOdds and Picks
Saturday 22nd October – 3:30 pm EST
Game Lines:
Moneyline: Texas -250 | Oklahoma State +190
Spread: Texas -6.5
Points Total: 60.5 | Over -110 | Under -110
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Oklahoma State
Spread: Oklahoma State to cover
Over/Under: Under 60.5
It was an incredibly disappointing fourth quarter last week against TCU which ultimately cost them their undefeated streak in OT, but Oklahoma State is still a very good football team. Quinn Ewers and Bijan Robinson have been impressive, but this Texas roster is still developing and there are still holes on both sides of the ball. This game will go someway in determining if either team is a genuine BIG12 contender, and whilst it is still plausible Texas can squeak away with a win, being favoured by almost a touchdown is surprising.
Matt’s Pick of the game:
The Oklahoma State Cowboys will be devastated that they aren’t still undefeated. Despite being up 14 points in the fourth quarter, they managed to lose to TCU in double overtime. It was a disappointing loss, but I don’t think it was bad enough to warrant being 6.5-point underdogs against a Texas team that only just snuck past Iowa State last week. I’ve got the Cowboys bouncing back this week and keeping it close at best, potentially winning outright.
Points Spread: Oklahoma State +6.5
No. 9 UCLA at No. 10 Oregon Odds and Picks
Saturday 22nd October – 3:30 pm EST
Game Lines
Moneyline: Oregon -225 | UCLA +180
Spread: Oregon -6.5
Points Total: 70.5 | Over -110 | Under -110
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: UCLA
Spread: UCLA to cover
Over/Under: Under 70.5
This is perhaps the biggest toss-up of the day and one that really could go either way. The Pac-12 and a potential playoff appearance is in UCLA’s hands if they remain undefeated, but a win on Saturday will see Oregon right back in the mix too. Bo Nix has performed well since the Week 1 drubbing against Georgia, with the offence averaging 49 points per game, but this will be the Ducks’ staunchest test yet. UCLA has scored at least 35 points in each game this season, but it’s classic Pac-12 for two red-hot offences to come into a game and instead it becomes a lower-scoring slugfest. I’m going with UCLA to leave Eugune with the win and head into their game towards the end of the season against USC undefeated.
Matt’s Pick of the game:
This is a massive game in the Pac-12. UCLA are the only undefeated team left in the division after USC’s narrow defeat to Utah last week, up against an Oregon side that since getting pasted by Georgia in week one has been immense. This matchup features two of the best offenses in the country, and while I have enjoyed watching Bo Nix and Oregon, I feel like the bookmakers are just giving the Ducks too many points. I can see this one being a close one.
Points Spread: UCLA +6.5
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No. 7 Ole Miss at LSU Odds and Picks
Saturday 22nd October – 3:30 pm EST
Game Lines:
Moneyline: LSU -130 | Ole Miss +105
Spread: LSU -2
Points Total: 67.5 | Over -110 | Under -110
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: LSU
Spread: LSU -2
Over/Under: Under 67.5
The LSU offence was electric and really came into their own for the first time last Saturday in the Swamp, with the scoreline flattering Florida by the end. That said, it’s still surprising to see my Tigers favourites against an undefeated Ole Miss team. Prior to last year, the Tigers had won five in a row against the Rebels, scoring at least 38 in each. Lane Kiffin and this Ole Miss offense are rolling, but this stretch of the season beginning on Saturday will really tell us how good they are – Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi State come after their trip to Death Valley. This game will come down to two factors – can the LSU run defense step up and limit the potent Ole Miss rushing game, and if not, can Jayden Daniels replicate last week’s offense and keep up with the Rebels’ scoring. This is another game that could go either way, but as an LSU fan I can’t not back my boys.
Matt’s Pick of the game:
LSU’s win over Florida last week was its best performance of the season. Jayden Daniels was absolutely incredible, making plays with his legs and through the air. It’s fair to say it’s been a rollercoaster year for Tigers fans in year one of Brian Kelly’s reign, but games like these are where LSU thrive. It will be loud and rowdy at Death Valley against an impressive Rebels team that has an SEC Championship game set in its sights. History is certainly in favor of the Tigers in this one too, with LSU winning its last six over Ole Miss at Tiger Stadium. The spread isn’t big enough to warrant risking, so I’m saying LSU Moneyline is the bet here.
LSU Moneyline
No. 24 Mississippi State at No.6 Alabama Odds and PicksOdds and Picks
Saturday 22nd October – 7:00 pm EST
Game Lines:
Moneyline: Alabama -2000 | Miss State +1000
Spread: Alabama -21
Points Total: 61 | Over -110 | Under -110
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Alabama
Spread: Alabama to cover
Over/Under: Under 61
Is there anything more terrifying than a Nick Saban coached team coming off a close loss? You just know Coach Saban and the Alabama roster will be determined to set things right and release a lot of anger this Saturday, and I do not envy Mississippi State. Alabama by a million.
Matt’s Pick of the game:
Oh God, I wouldn’t want to be the Bulldogs this week. ‘Bama’s last-gasp field goal loss last week will have been very tough to take, but the Tide know how to bounce back. Last year when Alabama lost a game to a game-winning field goal, they played Mississippi State the next week and absolutely destroyed them in Starkville. I can see something similar happening in Tuscaloosa this weekend with Nick Saban out for blood.
Points Spread Alabama -21
No. 17 Kansas State at No. 8 TCU Odds and Picks
Saturday 22nd October – 8:00 pm EST
Game Lines
Moneyline: TCU -175 | Kansas State +145
Spread: TCU -3.5
Points Total: 54.5 | Over -110 | Under -110
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: TCU
Spread: TCU to cover
Over/Under: Under 54.5
High powered offense meets stingy defense in this BIG12 showdown. TCU are flying, with a massive fourth quarter effort to knock off the undefeated Oklahoma State in OT last week and averaging 45 points per game. Max Duggan and Kendre Miller are both weapons on the ground, and a Kansas State defence that has allowed an average of under 17 points per game this season will have their hands full containing them. I can see this being close, but Duggan and Miller will provide enough offensive firepower to get the job done for the Horned Frogs.
Matt’s Pick of the game:
What an incredible job Sonny Dykes is doing at TCU in just his first year. The Horned Frogs are 6-0 and are coming off an epic comeback against Oklahoma State last week. KSU is coming off a bye week and will be feeling fresh, and this could be a real battle. I like the Under in this game, as I think both defenses have a lot of talent and this game will be a bit of a slugfest.
Points Total: Under 54.5 Points
