The Volunteers did it! Tennessee scored a thrilling upset win over Alabama, handing the Crimson Tide their first loss in their yearly contest since 2007. College football never fails to disappoint, and bettors looking to have action on the next great upset should check out the betting odds as the markets open early in the week. Tailing the below early Week 8 college football betting picks and predictions should help bettors net a positive return this week.
Sharp bettors bet early. Identifying games where future movement seems likely allows bettors to secure closing-line value, or CLV, relative to the game’s final spread. Taking a team to cover a 2.5-point spread has a much better chance of hitting than taking that same team to cover even a 3.5-point spread. Getting CLV also allows bettors to middle before the game even starts. The Week 7 college football column secured closing-line value in two spots, one of which hit. The column is now 15-6 in finding CLV and 11-10 for hits.
Week 8 College Football Betting Picks & Predictions
Northern Illinois vs. Ohio: Lombardi Back for the Huskies
Injured redshirt senior quarterback Rocky Lombardi returned for the Huskies after a multi-game absence. He picked up right where he left off — Lombardi completed 73.3% of his passes for 115 yards as Northern Illinois pummeled Eastern Michigan into submission on the ground.
After weeks of struggling to get the ground game established, the beginning of conference plays allowed NIU to return to its strength. Lombardi’s return forced the opposing defense to respect the pass without risking turnovers. Lombardi’s backup, redshirt freshman Ethan Hampton, had thrown six interceptions since taking over the offense. Lombardi has thrown just one.
Ohio is the perfect team to back NIU against because their defense can’t stop the run. Ohio ranks 103rd in yards allowed per rush attempt (4.7) and 86th in rushing yards allowed per game (165.5). If Lombardi can continue to pass efficiently and minimize turnovers, the Huskies should demonstrate why they are the defending MAC Champions.
Northern Illinois vs. Ohio: Northern Illinois -2 (-110) at Caesars
Syracuse vs. Clemson: Can Lightning Strike Twice in Death Valley?
The Clemson Tigers haven’t lost a home game since Oct. 13, 2017, when the Syracuse Orange earned a thrilling three-point upset win. That Syracuse team was pretty unremarkable, but this one looks good. Syracuse enters the week ranked an impressive 14th, the program’s highest ranking since 2018. Syracuse hadn’t been a top-15 team any earlier than November since 1998.
Earning an upset win in Death Valley seems unlikely, but the Orange could easily cover the 13-point spread. Syracuse’s quarterback, Garrett Shrader, ranks 11th in passing efficiency. That’s well above Clemson’s D.J. Uiagalelei, who ranks only 41st. Both programs average 5.7 yards per play, which ranks tied for 51st, while Clemson ranks 14th in yards allowed per play (4.7), slightly above 18th-ranked Syracuse (4.8).
Syracuse has dealt with a plethora of injuries this season, but the program likely avoided any significant ones last week. Star defensive back Garrett Williams went down with an injury and didn’t return, but he had been moving around on the sidelines before getting ruled out for the game. Favorable injury news could benefit Syracuse as the week progresses. Even if bad news breaks, this spread probably won’t move over the key number.
Syracuse vs. Clemson: Syracuse +13 (-105) at DraftKings
UCLA vs. Oregon: Back Chip Kelly in Revenge Spot
What else does UCLA have left to prove? The undefeated Bruins topped a then-scary Washington team and the No. 15 Utah Utes. Yet the Bruins enter Week 8 ranked ninth, just one spot ahead of the Oregon Ducks. They are near-touchdown underdogs to the Ducks as well.
Thus far, UCLA’s offense has shown a ton of life. Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson ranks fifth in passing efficiency and is another big win away from entering the Heisman conversation. He sits well above Oregon’s quarterback, Bo Nix, who ranks 30th in the metric. UCLA’s offense ranks an impressive sixth in yards per play (7.1), slotting them in one spot ahead of seventh-ranked Oregon (7). The Bruins even have an advantage at defense — they rank 19th in yards allowed per play (4.8), while the Ducks rank a lowly 95th (5.9).
Unfortunately for the Bruins, they’ll have to play this one in Eugene. Oregon’s new head coach, Dan Lanning, is undefeated against the spread at home. That said, UCLA is an impressive 12-7-1 against the spread on the road under Chip Kelly, and the Bruins have covered in their lone road game this year. This is probably the best price bettors will get on UCLA all week, so those looking to back the Bruins should get their action down quickly.
UCLA vs. Oregon: UCLA +6.5 (-110) at BetMGM
