Week 8 College Football Picks Against the Spread

College football has been profitable so far this season at 26-14-2, hitting at a 65% clip. Let’s keep it rolling…

• Michigan -7 vs Michigan State – Michigan is just in a class above Michigan State. I know in recent history MSU has dominated this match up, but that should only make Michigan even more motivated to put a whooping on little brother. Harbaugh needs style points, and he knows everyone will be paying extra close attention to this rivalry game. Michigan’s defense ranks #1 in college football in efficiency and Shea Patterson has given the offense a new dimension. We should expect continued growth in the offense as Patterson continues to learn the system and work with his receivers. Michigan’s arrow is pointed squarely up, meanwhile MSU has six starters injured on offense. – WIN
• Army -7.5 vs Miami of Ohio – Army just killed Buffalo, the best team in the MAC, by a score of 42-13 and now they’re laying just 7.5 to Miami of Ohio? The last time Miami faced the triple option was the last time they faced Army, which was in 2011. MU Ohio just finished beating up on Akron and Kent State, it’ll be a completely different game against Army and I don’t think Miami can keep up. – LOSS
• Oregon +3 at Washington State – Oregon continues to be doubted by Vegas, and I will continue to bet on them. Oregon just got the outright win vs Washington, a better team than Wash State, and they had the game vs Stanford in the bag before the epic, completely unexpected meltdown. Washington State is undefeated but who have they played? People are making a big deal about ESPN Gameday coming to WSU for the first time ever, but I don’t think the Oregon Ducks are going to be intimidated by something as silly as that. I will again take the points with the future #1 pick in the NFL Draft, Oregon QB Justin Herbert. – LOSS
• North Carolina State +17.5 at Clemson – This line is just too high. NC State has been competitive in this game in recent history and I don’t see that changing this year. Clemson’s secondary is their Achilles heel and NC State has a veteran QB in Ryan Finley who is completing 70% of his passes and has thrown 10 TD’s to just 3 picks so far this year. – LOSS
• Mississippi State +7 at LSU – Football Outsiders grades these two teams out as even in their S&P+ ratings. I’ll gladly take the points with Mississippi State here, a team that just a year ago beat LSU by a score of 37-7. – LOSS
• Illinois +25 at Wisconsin – Is this the preseason line? This Wisconsin team is nothing close to what people expected going into the season when some predicted they had a decent shot to make the College Football Playoff. The weather will also be a factor with sustained winds of 20-25 mph and gusts up to 40 to go along with a 40 degree temp. This should put points at a premium, so give me the 25. – LOSS