The Six Pack: Ohio State vs. Penn State, Alabama vs. Tennessee among top Week 8 college football picks

I have no idea if it is parity or irony, however The Six Pack continues to fight with Games of the Week. These are the groups I watch and speak about essentially the most, however for no matter reason why I’m not able to seek out an edge. Perhaps the oddsmakers know essentially the most about those groups, too, and it makes them harder to crack. Yeah, that is most likely it.

Whatever the case, I went 0-1-1 within the Games of the Week ultimate week to fall to 6-9-1 at the season. The column is 19-11 in each and every non-Game of the Week pick out, so you’ve gotten two alternatives to imagine right here: You can forget about the Games of the Week and watch the cash come rolling in, or you’ll financial institution on regression and best wager the Games of the Week.

I have no idea which one is right kind, however I’ll stay on making a bet each and every this kind of video games and hope for the most efficient. 

Odds by way of SportsLine consensus

Games of the Week

No. 7 Penn State at No. 3 Ohio State: I’ve watched just about each and every snap those undefeated, top-10 groups have performed this season, however I do not really feel like I do know both of them smartly. I do know each defenses are exceptional however the offenses stay a thriller. Ohio State is coping with a brand new harm each and every week and has devolved to Marvin Harrison-or-bust offensively. Penn State is dinking and dunking its manner down the sphere. Neither crew has run the ball successfully.

The different variable here’s that Penn State’s protection is exceptional, however the most efficient offense it has confronted is both West Virginia or Illinois. Neither is enforcing and even able to doing what Ohio State’s can … but when it is nonetheless lacking top operating backs and Emeka Egbuka? I’m going to depend on each defenses being reputable, and Penn State’s loss of explosive performs on offense makes it tricky to imagine it’s going to post a host of issues at the street. I have no idea who wins, nevertheless it should not be high-scoring. The Pick: Under 45.5 (-110)

No. 17 Tennessee at No. 11 Alabama: This recreation is not going to appear to be ultimate 12 months’s 52-49 shootout. There’s a reason why the whole for this 12 months’s assembly is soaring round 49. While I be expecting it to be low-scoring, I do not see a lot wiggle room at the general. Both offenses are constructed round quarterbacks who like to take deep photographs however another way fight. They’re additionally higher defensively than offensively with reputable defensive fronts that get rid of run video games and power opposing quarterbacks. 

The distinction is Jalen Milroe is much better than Joe Milton. Despite the entire hemming and hawing about Alabama’s quarterback state of affairs previous this season, the Tide have catered the offense round Milroe’s strengths and it is labored wonders. I believe him to make the large performs on this spot greater than I do with Milton. Plus, I will’t forget about the truth this recreation is at the street. The Vols have performed one street recreation this season: They have been 5-point favorites at Florida and misplaced through two touchdowns. Give me the Tide. The Pick: Alabama -8 (-110)

Lock of the Week

Washington State at No. 9 Oregon: There’s belief, after which there is truth. Sometimes they align, once in a while they do not. The belief of Oregon is that of a high-flying, explosive crew that ratings a large number of issues and offers up lots. That’s a stereotype dogging quite a lot of Pac-12 groups, however (wrongly) solidified when maximum enthusiasts best track into the large video games like ultimate week’s 33-30 loss to Washington. That used to be Oregon’s first recreation to complete above the indexed general since an 81-7 win over Portland State in Week 1.

The underneath is 4-1 when Oregon has been appreciated this season. This week, the Ducks face a Washington State crew that is scored 23 issues in its ultimate two video games (six towards Arizona ultimate week). It’s now not that the Cougars forgot easy methods to ranking issues; accidents on offense have had a significant affect over the previous few weeks. The Ducks must get better from ultimate week’s loss and smother on this spot. The Pick: Under 62.5 (-110)

Principle Play of the Week

No. 22 Air Force at Navy: I’m worried. Those who’ve adopted my picks for years know the tale right here. Since 2005, the underneath is 43-10-1 in video games between carrier academies. They run choice offenses, so the clock infrequently stops and it limits the selection of possessions. The fewer possessions a crew has, the less alternatives it has to attain issues.

But I’m worried this 12 months. The academies are all “modernizing” their offenses a bit of extra, and this concept upon which we have now constructed civilizations might be at risk. However, the Falcons may not have Zac Larrier this week, and he may well be the most efficient Air Force quarterback of my lifetime. His absence will likely be felt, even towards a nasty Navy crew. This exceptional run of carrier academy unders will finish in the future, however I do not be expecting it’s going to be this Saturday. The Pick: Under 35 (-108)

Aren’t You Supposed to be Ranked Game of the Week

Clemson at Miami: Something tells me when the ACC time table used to be put in combination that Florida State-Duke wasn’t intended to be the most important convention recreation of the week, however right here we’re. This stays a large recreation, on the other hand, despite the fact that neither crew has a kind of beautiful little numbers subsequent to to it. It’s a must-win for each groups in the event that they wish to faux to have a shot to win the ACC.

It’s Clemson that’ll stay the ones hopes alive. First, Miami is 0-5 in ACC domestic video games underneath Mario Cristobal. There isn’t any home-field benefit. Second, Clemson overwhelmed the ‘Canes 40-10 ultimate 12 months. Miami did not have Tyler Van Dyke in that recreation, however Miami’s offense has been overly reliant on explosive performs this season. When it hits them, adore it did towards Texas A&M, glance out. When it does not, it is unusual. This week, the ‘Canes face a Clemson protection that does not surrender a large number of explosive performs and will get after the quarterback. I really like Van Dyke, however he is thrown 5 interceptions within the ultimate two weeks. I may not be shocked if he throws two extra on this recreation. The Pick: Clemson -3 (-105)

Schooner of the Week

UCF at No. 6 Oklahoma: This is not difficult. Oklahoma is killing groups at domestic. Not best is it 3-0 towards the unfold at domestic, it is lined through a mean of 16.2 issues in step with recreation — and that’s the reason after being appreciated through a mean of 23.8 issues in the ones video games. Usually, I’d be somewhat anxious a few letdown after the win over Texas, however the Sooners had ultimate week off; the bye most probably reduces that risk. This is a crew with a reputable shot at a playoff run, so it may not take anyone frivolously.

Meanwhile, the Knights are 0-3 ATS at the street and misplaced to Kansas State and Kansas through a mean of 21 issues. John Rhys Plumlee must play this week, however he obviously is not 100%. The Sooners will cruise right here if he is the rest lower than that this week or simply simple rusty. The Pick: Oklahoma -18.5 (-110)

Which (*8*) picks are you able to make with self belief in Week 8, and which underdogs will win outright? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread — all from a confirmed pc style that has returned greater than $2,000 in benefit during the last seven-plus seasons — and in finding out.