College football predictions, picks, odds: Florida State-Duke, Auburn-Ole Miss among best Week 8 value plays

Week 8 of the 2023 college football season is not missing in marquee video games. There are 4 contests that includes two warring parties ranked in the most recent AP Top 25, together with a top-10 showdown between No. 3 Ohio State and No. 7 Penn State that carries primary College Football Playoff implications. Even with a top-heavy Saturday slate, there may be various making a bet value to be discovered down the cardboard as neatly. 

Rutgers hits the street to tackle Indiana in a sport that suggests so much to the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers has an opportunity to win its 6th common season sport and change into bowl eligible for the primary time since 2013. Pittsburgh battles Wake Forest because it appears to stay momentum rolling from final week’s disenchanted towards Louisville. 

Saturday boasts a couple of video games with convention identify implications as neatly. No. 16 Duke travels to No. 4 Florida State in a sport that sees the winner take keep an eye on of the ACC race. No. 13 Ole Miss may stay its SEC hopes alive with a win towards Auburn. 

Last week’s value plays column were given us again not off course. We went 3-2, our first sure report general since Week 3. Looking to recover from .500 for the yr, listed here are the value plays that bettors will have to control right through Week 8 of the varsity football season. 

Indiana vs. Rutgers 

When: Saturday, midday ET | Where: Indiana University Memorial Stadium — Bloomington, Indiana 

Casual Big Ten audience may glance again at Indiana’s sport agianst Ohio State and assume the Hoosiers box an ideal protection. They may additionally assume it is been a very long time since Rutgers has been ready to reliably rating issues. Well, the Scarlet Knights are 5th within the Big Ten with 27.7 issues in keeping with sport and Indiana has the convention’s second-worst scoring protection, permitting 29 issues in keeping with sport. Indiana’s final 3 warring parties scored no less than 27, which is already over part of this sport’s general. Indiana’s run protection is inclined, permitting over 150 yards in keeping with sport, whilst Rutgers fields a dashing offense that averages virtually 165 yards at the floor. Not to say Rutgers’ protection, which will have to stay the Hoosiers beautiful quiet. Prediction: Rutgers -5 (-110) 

Wake Forest vs. Pittsburgh 

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET | Where: Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium — Winston-Salem, North Carolina

Don’t be expecting a large number of issues on this one. Neither offense has truly lit up scoreboards this season. Pittsburgh regarded much better final week with Christian Veilleux at quarterback, however he will must maintain good fortune earlier than any individual anoints him. The large distinction on this sport can be alongside the road of scrimmage, the place the Panthers will have to dominate. They lead the ACC and rank 8th nationally with 3.33 sacks in keeping with sport. Wake Forest’s offense has allowed 29 sacks all season, which is greater than another group within the convention. Pitt additionally has a knack for forcing turnovers and already has two defensive touchdowns. Pittsburgh hasn’t ever misplaced to Wake Forest. Expect that pattern to proceed this weekend.  Prediction: Pittsburgh ML (-104)

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET | Where: Autzen Stadium — Eugene, Oregon 

You most probably are not looking for me to let you know, however Oregon’s offense is truly just right this yr. The Ducks are scoring a large number of issues because of a loaded unit guided through megastar quarterback Bo Nix. While that workforce grabs the entire headlines, Oregon additionally fields one of the crucial best defenses within the country. Last week’s loss towards Washington was once the primary time since Sept. 9 that Oregon allowed greater than 30 issues. In the three-game span between, the Ducks allowed a complete of twenty-two issues. 

Even so, with Oregon’s explosive offense the over is tempting. Sprinkle in a Washington State group that scored no less than 30 issues in each and every of its first 4 video games and it would appear to be a ensure. But a string of latest accidents has thrown the Cougars’ offense out of rhythm. Wazzu scored simply six issues in a blowout loss to Arizona — a group that gave up 72 mixed issues within the two weeks prior. Expect the Ducks to keep an eye on this sport early, take their foot off the gasoline in the second one part and cruise to a win that falls wanting the full. Prediction: Under 62 (-110)

Auburn vs. No. 13 Ole Miss 

When: Saturday, 7 p.m. ET | Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium — Auburn, Alabama 

Ole Miss hasn’t been nice at developing separation this yr. The Rebels’ final two wins got here through a unmarried landing. Last week it took a fourth quarter comeback to dispatch a subpar Arkansas group. So it is comprehensible why Saturday’s unfold is so skinny — particularly since Auburn has the homefield merit in a primetime slot. That being mentioned, this will have to be a sport that Ole Miss places away slightly simply. The Tigers’ offense is abysmal. They’ve failed to succeed in 100 passing yards in simply 3 out of six video games. Their dashing assault is decent, however it is not just right sufficient to pick out up that a lot slack. 

Even Auburn’s protection is in a little bit of a stoop, relatively. The Tigers have the SEC’s third-worst rush protection and also have to take care of an Ole Miss group that has preseason All-American Quinshon Judkins popping out of the backfield. Not to say the Rebels’ passing assault, which posts 306 yards in keeping with sport. All this creates a scenario during which Ole Miss will have to win through no less than a landing.   Prediction: Ole Miss -6.5 (-110)

No. 4 Florida State vs. No. 16 Duke

When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET | Where: Doak S. Campbell Stadium — Tallahassee, Florida

There’s an opportunity Duke quarterback Riley Leonard makes his go back this weekend after lacking final week’s sport towards NC State. If he is ready to move, the Blue Devils overlaying a 14.5-point unfold turns into an absolute lock. Even with Leonard absent, the Blue Devils ruled a truly just right NC State group for a 24-3 win. Henry Belin IV, Leonard’s alternative, had simply 4 completions however they lined 107 yards and produced two touchdowns. More importantly, he averaged 5.6 yards in keeping with elevate. 

Florida State has been prone to dual-threat quarterbacks this yr. Boston College virtually disenchanted the ‘Noles at the back of Thomas Castellanos’ 121 dashing yards. Either a wholesome Leonard or Belin can do harm with their legs, so Duke is just right in that space regardless. Not to say Duke’s protection, which has allowed greater than 14 issues simply as soon as and has held 4 of its warring parties to single-digit scoring figures. That protection by myself is sufficient to stay this sport respectably shut.  Prediction: Duke +14.5 (-110)