College football Week 8 best bets
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Every Friday during the college football season, theScore's sports betting writers release their best bets for the week. Each member has been given a fictitious $1,000 bankroll to manage throughout the season. If you decide to follow any of the picks, please gamble responsibly.
All lines are courtesy of theScore Bet as of Friday morning.
Alex Kolodziej ($945)
Season record: 8-8-1, -$55
TCU at Kansas State
Total: 44
Remember last weekend when Texas Tech was up 6-3 at the half against Baylor and the game went over to ruin my bet? Just making sure everyone remembers. I don't know why I keep playing unders, but I'm rolling on the first-half total between TCU and Kansas State on Saturday. Both defenses are extremely stout and the Horned Frogs have gone under the first-half total in each of their last eight games as a road favorite. Find me in a ditch when it's 7-7 early in the first quarter.
Pick: First half under 21.5 ($40)
Tennessee at Alabama
Total: 62
Ah, yes, why not continue to make my life miserable with another under? Alabama has been soaring over game totals lately, mainly because its defense can't stop anyone and the first-string offense has been playing deep into games. Against a Tennessee offense that's had a tough time putting points on the board, expect the Tide to get in and get out. I don't think Nick Saban will run it up on Vols head coach Jeremy Pruitt, who's a former assistant. Alabama gets an early lead and sits on it.
Pick: Under 62 ($40)
Western Michigan at Eastern Michigan
Total: 61.5
This will probably be the last time we get a Western Michigan total as low as this one. Not much has changed for the Broncos. They're still playing at a fast pace and having success with both their rushing and passing offenses. Meanwhile, Eastern Michigan is becoming a pass-first offense that can't run the ball (3.1 yards per rush this season). I think the Broncos can do whatever they want, and the Eagles will have to air it out.
Pick: Over 61.5 ($40)
Alex Moretto ($816)
Season record: 7-8-1, -$184
Temple at SMU (-7.5)
After a miserable 0-5-1 start to the season, things have turned for the better as I've gone 7-3 over the last four weeks. Baby steps. If I could learn to just flat bet everything, I'd be much closer to the black.
I don't like a ton on this week's card, but I'm big on SMU in this spot. Temple hasn't fared well in limited road action this season, as the team has been unimpressive against ECU and demolished by Buffalo. The Owls are coming off an emotional, down-to-the-wire victory at home to a ranked Memphis team and now must travel to take on a rested SMU club fresh off its bye. Temple's lackluster offense won't be able to keep pace with Shane Buechele and an SMU unit littered with talent at the skill positions. Gerald J. Ford Stadium will be rocking for the undefeated Mustangs' biggest home game in years.
Pick: SMU -7.5 ($50)
C Jackson Cowart ($641)
Season record: 3-14-1, -$359
Oregon Ducks at Washington Huskies
Total: 49.5
The line of Oregon -3 looks just about right for this game - the Ducks are better, but it's hard to win in Seattle. Instead, I'm riding the under between two defensive-minded teams in a must-win for both sides.
Since heralded defensive coach Jimmy Lake assumed co-coordinator duties with Pete Kwiatkowski entering the 2018 season, Washington has held 21 straight opponents to 30 points or less, with a 14-7 record to the under in that time. Oregon's held five straight opponents to single-digit points and is 5-1 to the under this year.
The under is 4-1-1 in these teams' last six meetings, with four straight unders when they play at Husky Stadium. Expecting 50 points in this game feels ambitious.
Pick: Under 49.5 ($100)
Thomas Casale ($604)
Season record: 4-10-1, -$396
Michigan at Penn State (-9)
People are down on Jim Harbaugh and Michigan, and rightfully so as the Wolverines have struggled against tougher competition lately, including getting smashed by Wisconsin earlier this year. Still, Penn State looks to be overvalued in this spot.
The young Nittany Lions have been good on both sides of the ball, ranking second in scoring defense and seventh in scoring offense. However, their offensive numbers may be the result of playing a weak early-season schedule. Penn State has been outgained in three of its five games against FBS opponents this year. Both Iowa and Pitt held Penn State to 17 points and now the Nittany Lions face a Wolverines defense allowing only 17.5 per game. Michigan's defense has also had success against Penn State in recent years, holding the Nittany Lions to 17 points or fewer in four of the last five meetings.
This looks like a low-scoring, defensive slugfest, so I'll take the nine points in what should be a tight game throughout.
Pick: Michigan +9 ($100)
Clemson Tigers at Louisville Cardinals
Total: 61
Clemson's offense started the season a little sluggish but got going against Florida State last week following a bye, scoring 45 points. Look for a repeat performance Saturday, since Louisville can't stop anyone. The Cardinals have allowed 35, 39, and 59 points in their last three games, respectively. Trevor Lawrence and the Clemson offense can name their score this week.
Pick: Clemson team total over 42.5 ($50)