It might be hard to top last week, but this is college football.
Week 8 features five matchups between ranked teams. That starts with a battle of ACC unbeaten teams in No. 14 Syracuse and No. 5 Clemson at 12 p.m.
The Big 12 has a pair of interesting matchups. No. 20 Texas travels to No. 11 Oklahoma State at 3:30 p.m., and No. 8 TCU hosts No. 17 Kansas State at 8 p.m. In the SEC, No. 6 Alabama will try to bounce back against No. 24 Mississippi State at 7 p.m.
BENDER: 7 biggest games in season's second half
The best game of the week? A top-10 showdown between No. 9 UCLA and No. 10 Oregon in a battle of Chip Kelly's former and current teams. That is sure to create more changes within the College Football Playoff pecking order. There are some tough games to pick against the spread. A look at our track record this season:
- Straight up: 106-27, .797 (8-5 last week)
- ATS: 72-59-2, .549 (7-6 last week)
Updated odds on Caesars sportsbook
Here are our Week 8 predictions against the spread:
MORE: Week 7 showed why CFP games need to be on campus
Week 8 picks against the spread
- Iowa at No. 2 Ohio State (-29) (12 p.m., FOX)
This line ticked up a half point, and it might go up more before kickoff. Both teams had a bye week, and it's an intriguing matchup from the standpoint that Ohio State leads the FBS with 48.8 points per game and Iowa ranks third in scoring defense at 9.8 points per game. These teams have not met since Iowa hammered Ohio State 55-24 in 2017. It's delayed payback at The Shoe.
Pick: Ohio State wins 42-10 and COVERS the spread.
- No. 14 Syracuse at No. 5 Clemson (-12.5) (12 p.m., ABC)
This line has dropped a half-point from its open, a measure of faith in the Orange – the surprise unbeaten in the ACC. Syracuse has a balanced attack around Garrett Shrader and Sean Tucker, and the Orange have the top scoring defense in the ACC, too. Will that translate at Death Valley, where the Tigers have won 37 in a row? Clemson won 17-14 last year. The Tigers have three straight covers, but Syracuse is 5-1 ATS.
Pick: Clemson wins 31-21 and FAILS TO COVER the spread.
- No. 21 Cincinnati (-3) at SMU (12 p.m., TBD)
This is a short line, but the Bearcats had a bye week after two relatively close calls against Tulsa and South Florida. SMU will test Cincinnati with a passing attack that averages an AAC-best 351.8 yards per game. The Mustangs have one-score losses to TCU and Maryland, but they are just 1-5 ATS. Cincinnati keeps rolling.
Pick: Cincinnati wins 33-28 and COVERS the spread.
- No. 20 Texas (-4.5) at No. 11 Oklahoma State (3:30 p.m., ABC)
This is the toughest game to pick. The last five meetings have been decided by one score, and the road team has won the last two matchups. The Longhorns are a different team with Quinn Ewers at quarterback, but the Cowboys are 5-0 ATS with three S/U wins as an underdog since last season. Oklahoma State saves their season in a thriller.
Pick: Oklahoma State wins 38-34 in an UPSET.
- No. 7 Ole Miss (Pick 'em) at LSU (3:30 p.m., CBS)
The Tigers opened as a 1.5-point favorite before this was moved to a pick 'em, and with good reason. The Rebels have a rushing attack that averages 271.4 yards per game. LSU is 2-1 S/U as an underdog this season, but they were shredded at home by Tennessee. This one will be closer, but the Rebels stay unbeaten.
Pick: Ole Miss wins 32-29 and COVERS the spread.
- Memphis at No. 25 Tulane (-7) (3:30 p.m., ESPN2)
The Green Wave are ranked and could be a New Year's Day Six buster if this continues. This line has ticked up 1.5 points from its open. Memphis has lost in heart-breaking fashion the last two weeks, but six of their seven games have hit the over. This is going to be another thriller. We'll see how Tulane handles success. The home team has won the last five meetings.
Pick: Tulane wins 41-35 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
- No. 9 UCLA at No. 10 Oregon (-6) (3:30 p.m., FOX)
Another spotlight game for the Pac-12 that should influence the conference championship picture. Both teams average more than 40 points per game, and the last two meetings have been decided by three points. This is Chip Kelly's best chance to beat his former team. Still, we like the Ducks at home. The Pac-12 runs out of unbeaten teams.
Pick: Oregon wins 38-35 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
- Boston College at No. 13 Wake Forest (-20.5) (3:30 p.m., ACC Network)
The Eagles failed to cover double-digit spreads against Florida State and Clemson, and it's been an uphill struggle. The Demon Deacons are 5-1 ATS this year, and have a decent chance of making a New Year's Day Six bowl. Wake Forest won 41-10 last season. How much has changed?
Pick: Wake Forest wins 45-24 and COVERS the spread.
- No. 24 Mississippi State at No. 6 Alabama (-21) (7 p.m., ESPN)
The Crimson Tide have won the last two meetings with Mississippi State by a combined score of 90-9. That included a 49-9 blowout in 2021 that came the week after Alabama lost to Texas A&M in 2021. The Bulldogs have been inconsistent from week to week, but it's still a ranked team with a passing attack led by Will Rogers, who has 23 TD passes. The Crimson Tide shakes off the Tennessee hangover and pulls away in the second half, but that's a lot of points. This one could be right on the line, but we'll side with the home team.
Pick: Alabama wins 45-21 and COVERS the spread
- Minnesota at No. 16 Penn State (-4) (7:30 p.m., ABC)
This line dropped a half-point from its open, and it's all about how the Nittany Lions get up after a humbling 41-17 loss at Michigan. Minnesota also is coming off a 26-14 loss to Illinois, and the Gophers have averaged just 12 points per game the last two weeks. Minnesota beat Penn State 31-26 in 2019 – and Tanner Morgan and Sean Clifford were the quarterbacks in that game, too. Penn State gets back on track in a second-half slugfest.
Pick: Penn State wins 28-22 and COVERS the spread.
BENDER: Michigan runs over Penn State
- No. 17 Kansas State at No. 8 TCU (-5) (8 p.m., FOX)
The Horned Frogs have knocked off three straight ranked teams, but they have failed to cover the last two weeks. The Wildcats will test TCU with a rushing attack that averages a Big 12-best 244.5 rushing yards per game, but the Horned Frogs also can run the ball (229.2). Kansas State has won the last three in the series, and the Wildcats are 6-5 ATS as a road underdog with Chris Klieman with four outright wins.
Pick: TCU wins 31-28 but FAILS TO COVER the spread
