American (+120) Fractional (6/5) Decimal (2.20)
Eastern Time Central Time Mountain Time Pacific Time
Help Center
NCAAF 2020 Week 8 Top Games Expert Analysis

NCAAF 2020 Week 8 Top Games Expert Analysis

Written by on October 21, 2020

NCAA Football Betting News

Can No. 13 North Carolina take care of business against in-state rival NC State? Can now, unranked Oklahoma record consecutive victories for the first time this season when they hit the road to take on TCU? Last, but not least, will unbeaten third-ranked Notre Dame avoid the big upset on the road against Pittsburgh? With the 2020 NCAA college football season heating up and more team getting their campaigns started this coming weekend, it’s time to take a look at a trio of Week 8 matchups that all look like they’re offering some great college football betting value against their NCAAF odds.

NCAAF Week 8 Odds, Overview & Picks to Bet On

No. 22 NC State (4-1) at No. 13 North Carolina (3-1)

  • When: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 at 12:00 PM ET
  • Where: Kenan Memorial Stadium

No. 22 NC State won their third straight game by man-handling Duke in their 31-20 Week 7 win on Saturday as quarterback Devin Leary passed for 194 yards with one touchdown and one interception. More importantly, the Wolfpack defense harassed Blue Devils signal-caller Chase Brice into a horrific three-interception performance. Now, NC State is looking for an even bigger win against their longtime rivals.

“I know how big this game is to NC State, former players, boosters, alums, all those things,” Wolfpack coach Dave Doeren said. “So I take a lot of pride in being able to deliver that to our fan base.”

Then, No. 5 North Carolina came up small in their crushing 31-28 road loss against Florida State on Saturday. Quarterback Sam Howell passed for a stellar 374 yards with three TD passes and one pick while running back Javonte Williams added 119 rushing yards and one score. Still, it wasn’t enough as the Tar Heels allowed two 100-yard rushing performances while allowing Howell to get sacked four times. The Heels will look to take care of business against their dangerous, nationally-ranked rivals.

“I think we’ve been overrated,” North Carolina coach Mack Brown said. “I think they’ve been underrated.”

Prediction

I have no idea why North Carolina is such a huge favorite seeing as how NC State puts up a healthy 33.6 points per game as compared to the Tar Heels’ 35.3 points per game. North Carolina has the slight edge defensively in allowing 26.0 points per contest to NC State’s 31.4 points per game allowed, but this game has the look and feel of a street brawl kind of affair that will come down to the final possession or two.

While North Carolina has gone 4-0 ATS in their last four games as a favorite and 5-1 ATS in their last six home games, NC State has gone 4-1 ATS in their last five games. With the underdog going a consistent 12-5 ATS in the last 17 meetings and the road team in this rivalry going 6-1 ATS in the last seven meetings, I like the Wolfpack to easily cover the insanely high spread as double-digit road dogs.

Pick: North Carolina 31 NC State 28

Oklahoma (2-2) at TCU (1-2)

  • When:  Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 at 12:00 PM ET
  • Where: Amon G. Carter Stadium

Oklahoma bounced back from its humbling Week 6 upset loss at Iowa State to beat Texas 53-45 in overtime in their annual Red River rivalry showdown on Saturday. Quarterback Spencer Rattler passed for 209 yards with three touchdowns and one interception while running back T.J. Pledger rushed for 131 yards and two scores. TCU failed to build on their 33-31 Week 5 win over Texas by falling at home against Kansas State 21-14 in Week 6. Quarterback Max Duggan struggled in completing just 19 of 31 passes for 154 yards with no TD passes while getting sacked three times. TCU won almost every statistical matchup – except the final score.

Prediction

The Sooners have won the last six meetings between these longtime Big 12 rivals, but three of those meetings were decided by one possession including last year’s 28-24 home win by the Sooners. This time around though, I like TCU to take care of business because of Oklahoma’s pitiful defense.

The Sooners have been outscored 45-10 in the fourth quarter of their last three games while blowing leads in each contest. Oklahoma has allowed 37 points or more in each of their last three. While the Sooners are 2-7 ATS in their last 9 conference games and 1-6 ATS in their last seven road games, TCU has gone 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games as a home underdog. I like TCU to win outright to cover the spread.

Pick: TCU 28 Oklahoma 27

No. 3 Notre Dame (4-0) at Pittsburgh (3-3)

  • When: Saturday, Oct. 24, 2020 at 3:30 PM ET
  • Where: Heinz Field

No. 3 Notre Dame got past Louisville 12-7 in a low-scoring affair on Saturday despite never coming close to covering the chalk as a 15-point home favorite. Quarterback Ian Book passed for a modest 106 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions while adding 47 rushing yards on 12 carries and scoring the only touchdown the Fighting Irish could muster up.

“We’re going to be a better football team as we continue to grow and develop,” Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said. “Yeah, this team is nowhere near where it can be and where I think it will be. We’ve got to make some plays to be more efficient scoring touchdowns in the red zone. That’s playmakers making plays. Then, defensively, we need to get off the field on third down. Those two areas will be areas of great focus moving forward.”

Pittsburgh dropped their third straight game by falling to Miami 31-19 while coming up just short of covering the spread as an 11.5-point road dog. Quarterback Joey Yellen passed for 277 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions as he replaced injured starter Kenny Pickett, but the Panthers were held to just 22 rushing yards on 26 total carries.

Prediction

Notre Dame has gone 4-1 ATS in their last five road games and 6-2 ATS in their last eight games following an SU win. With Pittsburgh going 0-4-1 ATS in their last five games and 1-3-1 ATS in their last five home games, I like Notre Dame to win and cover the chalk as a double-digit favorite.

Pick: Notre Dame 35 Pittsburgh 21

College Football Betting News

Odds and Lines: College Football Betting | Live Betting | Heisman Trophy | Regular Season Wins | Playoffs | National Championship

Help Center