We have a total of nine strategic picks ready to unleash on Saturday for our college football PRO preview. Situational trends emerging across the college football Week 8 landscape are too enticing to pass up.
This week, our focus will be on four distinct PRO Systems, which flagged picks for prime match-ups like No. 1 Texas going head-to-head with No. 5 Georgia.
Also, four data-driven upset picks are included.
To top it off, we’ll take a close look at the “Hangover Bowl” when South Carolina faces off against Oklahoma, featuring two teams in emotional letdown spots. Two trends favor the same side in a big way.
College Football Week 8 Betting Preview: Spread Picks and Upset Predictions
All four Action PRO Systems below boast a long history of profitability. Without further ado, let’s dive into the matchups and see where the value lies, starting with one of the games of the year.
No. 1 Texas vs. No. 5 Georgia is a direct hit for a 58% PRO System – and it’s backed by an additional 15-4 ATS angle.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns are favored by five points against Kirby Smart and Georgia.
When teams within the AP Top 25 clash and the spread is set at -3 or greater, our “Ranked Matchups” model gives the upper hand to the home team.
With the Longhorns against the spread in range, this system suggests Texas is the bet to make, taking full advantage of their home-field prowess against a formidable Georgia squad.
Also, our college football expert, B.J. Cunningham, noted when “Ranked Matchups” features an SEC night game, home teams are 15-4 ATS the last 19.
Ranked Matchups Picks:
- Texas to Cover (vs. Georgia)
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Let’s switch over to four moneyline predictions.
When unranked road teams are +0-4 against the spread, and the over/under is 46 or above, underdogs have managed to clinch wins 51% of the time since we started tracking.
These are golden opportunities for those looking to capitalize on plus-money bets. Our picks for underdog victories are Tulsa, Wake Forest, Colorado, and Central Michigan. Each of these teams fits the bill to a tee.
Check out our NCAAF odds page for updated moneyline prices on the underdogs (bolded) if you choose to tail.
Small Visiting Dogs Picks:
- Tulsa (at. Temple)
- Wake Forest (at UConn)
- Central Michigan (at Eastern Michigan)
- Colorado (at Arizona)
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A common misconception in college football is that road teams face fatigue when playing consecutive games away from home.
However, our Road Streak PRO System indicates certain major-conference road teams, between their second and fifth road game, cover the spread 57% of the time when the total is 54 or less.
I didn’t include teams entering Week 8 off a bye, making the following selections particularly intriguing: South Carolina +3 at Oklahoma and Wisconsin -7 at Northwestern. These teams might need to be re-evaluated if considered fading solely due to travel schedules.
Road Streak Picks:
- South Carolina to Cover (at Oklahoma)
- Wisconsin to Cover (at Northwestern)
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Lastly, our Scoring Streak Fade system advises caution for bettors considering home favorites coming off weak offensive performances.
When a home favorite scored between 0-9 points in their last game, our system advises betting the underdog.
With an impressive 59% win rate, this system suggests the following plays: Kent State vs. Bowling Green, who only scored seven points at home last week; more support for South Carolina — a match for Road Streak — after the Sooners put up just three points vs. Texas; and UCLA at +4.5 against Rutgers, which was held to single digits.
For what it’s worth, I excluded USF because the Bulls played last week without their regular starting quarterback, which perhaps creates a bit of noise.
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Scoring Streak Fade Picks:
- South Carolina to Cover (at Oklahoma)
- UCLA to Cover (at Rutgers)
- Kent State (vs. Bowling Green)
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Our PRO signals flag far more great picks than our staff could author each day — that’s where Action AI comes in. Using generative AI, signals that hit a high-grade threshold are written up into articles that are then vetted and edited by a human to help us get you all the sharp action. Read more about how it works here.