College Football Week 8 Odds, Picks, and Predictions: All Aboard the Offense Train

Well. It appears that it will take another week for me to knock the rust off with my college football picks and predictions as my return to the Triple Option was, um, less than cordial. (It turns out I was Yusei Kikuchi). 

But with another week of getting acclimatized to the college football climate under my belt, I’m ready to jump back on that horse. And that horse is hopefully pulling the Boomer Sooner wagon. That's because it’s the Dillon Gabriel revenge game as Oklahoma hosts UCF and I expect the Sooners QB to put up some big numbers vs. his former team.

Then I look at the Michigan-Michigan State rivalry, which at this point appears to be a rivalry in name only. And is there any chance we can trust Miami against visiting Clemson following back-to-back ugly losses? Spoiler alert. I can’t.

I break down the college football odds for Week 8 and bring you my best college football picks in the Triple Option.

College football Week 8 picks

• Oklahoma TT Over 42.5 (-102)
• Michigan TT Over 34.5 (-110)
• Clemson -3 (-110)

Picks made on October 19. Click each pick to read full analysis.

College football Week 8 odds, picks, and predictions

UCF vs Oklahoma prediction

It’s the Dillon Gabriel revenge game! Gabriel will face the team he threw over 7,000 yards and 70 touchdowns for when he and the Oklahoma Sooners host new Big 12 members the UCF Knights on Saturday afternoon.

But this will not be the reunion UCF will be hoping for.

Gabriel has firmly entered the Heisman conversation after leading the Sooners to a huge win over Texas in the Red River Showdown two weeks ago. The Sooners’ senior gunslinger has thrown for 1,878 yards with 18 touchdowns compared to just two interceptions while leading Oklahoma to a perfect 6-0 start.

And now, coming off the bye, I’m betting Gabriel cooks his former team. 

UCF has not enjoyed its transition to the Big 12 thus far. After starting the season 3-0, the Knights are still winless through three conference games. And it’s not just that they’ve lost. It’s how they’ve lost. 

In games against Kansas State, Baylor, and Kansas, the Knights' defense has surrendered an average of 43.7 points and 6.6 yards per play. Those marks are the worst and second worst in the Big 12 respectively at this point.

Also, it has to be noted that this isn’t just a reunion for Gabriel. Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby also held the same position at UCF when Gabriel was there and many around the program thought he would be the next head coach. But he didn’t get the job. Wouldn’t he love nothing more than to run up the score against the team that passed him over?

The wagon will be rolling for Oklahoma in this one. Don’t be shocked if Boomer Sooner puts up a 50-burger in this one. Take them to go Over their team total.

PICK: Oklahoma team total Over 42.5 (-102 at FanDuel)

Michigan vs Michigan State prediction

It kind of felt like the Michigan Wolverines were playing with their food in the early part of the season. 

Sure, the No. 2 ranked team in the country went 4-0 in their first four games of the season. But they were 0-3-1 ATS in those games, scoring just 31.8 points per game over a stretch where they favored on average by 35 points a contest.

But it looks like the Wolverines flipped a switch and now the offense is humming over the last three games. Michigan has put up at least 45 points in each of its last three games, covering the spread in each.

Obviously, the Wolverines run the ball well with Blake Corum and Donovan Edwards behind an elite offensive line. But it’s quarterback J.J. McCarthy who can take this team to the next level. McCarthy has thrown for 1,512 yards with 14 touchdowns compared to three picks. He’s also been deadly accurate completing nearly 80 percent of his passes.

Now, Michigan has scored in bunches against some bad teams. And the Michigan State Spartans fall into that category as well.

In fact, dumpster fire might be a better description of Sparty’s program at the moment. Mel Tucker is out. They have lost four in a row. The offense is a hot mess. Hell. The Spartans’ team total for this game is sitting at 10.5. And the defense isn’t in much better shape these days.

MSU is surrendering 31.3 points per game during this losing streak. That includes allowing Iowa of all teams to score 26. Yes, the same Iowa team that seems to be the only one in the nation that’s allergic to scoring. And the last time they played a really good offense, was Washington back on and the Huskies put up 41 points in that one.

I don’t care that this is a rivalry game. This matchup is about as far away from the word rivalry as it has been in years. Michigan’s team total is sitting at 34.5 for this one and I think the Wolverines take advantage of a stumbling Sparty team and eclipse that number.

PICK: Michigan team total Over 34.5 (-110 at FanDuel)

Clemson vs Miami prediction

Just when you think the Miami Hurricanes are taking a step in the right direction as a program, they pull off that mask like a Scooby Doo meme and reveal the same old Canes.

Miami is coming off two just awful weeks in a row. It started two weeks ago against Georgia Tech with Mario Cristobal’s staff choosing to run the ball at the end of the game instead of just taking a knee and you know, winning the game. 

As you all know by now, the Hurricanes fumbled, and the Yellow Jackets promptly took the ball down the field and scored to win the game.

Miami followed that up by getting off to an excellent start against Drake Maye and North Carolina, taking a 17-14 at the half. Then after the break Maye and the Tar Heels took the Canes behind the woodshed and beat them like they stole something, scoring 21 unanswered points and never looked back.

On top of that, Tyler Van Dyke looks like he is battling through a leg injury and has thrown five picks in his last two games. And this Clemson defense will be the toughest he has faced to date. The Tigers rank 10th in the nation in opponent yards per play 

Yes. Clemson’s offense has not been as explosive as they had hoped this season, but they enter this game winners of two in a row. They are well rested. The defense is still elite. And the biggest edge they have is in coaching. Dab Swinney will coach circles around Cristobal in this one.

And frankly, how can you trust Miami and Cristobal in this spot? I can’t. Clemson wins this one by more than three points as the Canes are still left wanting for that first conference win at home in the Cristobal era.

PICK: Clemson -3 (-110 at FanDuel)

Week 8 odds and upcoming games

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