This week in college football, we don’t have any titanic showdowns between ranked opponents. However, we do have four ranked teams who come in as underdogs against unranked foes, including the #8 Oklahoma State Cowboys and the #10 Oregon Ducks. Tennessee faces #1 Alabama after a crazy loss to Ole Miss — and #23 Pitt is actually favored to beat Clemson, the first time Clemson has been an underdog since 2016.
Let’s take a look at some college football betting advice that you can use for this week.
NCAA News: Expert Predictions for College Football, Week 8
Thursday, October 21
Tulane (+14.5) at #21 SMU (7:30 pm ET, ESPN)
Yes, SMU is 6-0. However, quarterback Tanner Mordecai is good for at least an interception or two per game (as well as multiple touchdown passes). Both schools come in off the bye, but SMU doesn’t do well with prosperity. When favored by 10 or more this season, they are just 2-2, and they have had a really hard time stopping Tulane’s offense in recent years. Four of the last five showdowns have finished with margins of no more than four points. Take Tulane to cover.
Illinois (+23.5) at #6 Penn State (12:00 pm ET, ABC)
We still don’t know if Sean Clifford can return at quarterback for Penn State, so I wouldn’t lock in anything on this game until the injury report comes out. Also, Illinois is only scoring 17.7 points per contest, dead last in the Big Ten. However, Illinois has gone 3-1 against the spread as an underdog, and if Clifford is out, Penn State will struggle to move the ball. So right now, I’d say Illinois to cover, but wait for that injury report.
#8 Oklahoma State (+6.5) at Iowa State (3:30 pm ET, FOX)
Hmmm. Oklahoma State has won eight of their last 10 matchups against Iowa State. They just went down to Texas and delivered a comeback win over the Longhorns. Yes, Iowa State has rebounded from a difficult start to 2021, but Oklahoma State looks stout. Oklahoma State to cover.
#10 Oregon (+1.5) at UCLA (3:30 pm ET, ABC)
Oregon has been the favorite in its last four games…and has failed to cover each time. UCLA delivered an interesting win over Washington last week, as Chip Kelly’s system seems to be warming up. Oregon also lost its last road game, an overtime setback at Stanford, three weeks ago. They got the bye week to prepare for Cal…and only won by seven. UCLA to win and cover.
Wisconsin (-2.5) at #25 Purdue (3:30 pm ET, Big Ten Network)
Purdue just went to Iowa City and thumped the Hawkeyes, and they climbed into the AP Top 25 as a result. They face another iffy offense when they host Wisconsin this week. The Badgers are tough against the run, and Purdue could be set up for a hangover loss. Wisconsin has won the last 14 matchups against the Boilermakers, though, and Purdue is a lot more promising here. Purdue to cover.
#24 UT-San Antonio (-6.5) at Louisiana Tech (7:00 pm ET)
UTSA is unbeaten straight up and 6-1 against the spread. Louisiana Tech is a difficult win at home, though; they held SMU and N.C. State, two other ranked teams, close and lost by just a score. Louisiana Tech to cover.
Tennessee (+27.5) at #4 Alabama (7:00 pm ET, ESPN)
This line is likely to clear 28 points soon, so you might want to lock this in sooner or later. Tennessee is 1-3 against the spread as an underdog this season, and after losing to Texas A&M, expect Alabama to keep the hammer down for four quarters the rest of the way. Alabama to win and cover.
College Football Betting Odds
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