This article is part of our College Football Picks series.
Welcome to Finding The Edge, Week 8!
SIMULATED BETS
Week 7 Results: 23-21
Results through Week 7: 229-207-7
Win Pct: 52.8%
Although technically a better-than-break-even week, we still need a 70-percent winner to get ourselves closer to our 60% goal. Last season, my real-money total suffered - this season, the opposite is true up to this point.
MTSU -14.5, MEM -1.5, CSU -3, ARIZ +17.5, WF -3, ARK -48 , EMU -3, MASS +35.5, TTU -1, KU +38.5, CIN -28, MICH -23.5, PSU -23.5, NIU +5, VT -3.5, KENT -5.5, GST -10.5, PUR +3.5, UNM +20.5, UAB -23.5, PITT -3, TOL +2, BUFF -12, UCLA -1.5, CAL -8.5, MINN -5.5, OKST +7, LSU +9, BALL -4.5, WSU +4.5, LIB -23.5, VAN +20.5, BC +5.5, HOU -13.5, USA -13.5, FRES -3.5, WKU -14.5, AFA -3, UTSA -6, USF -2, BAMA -25.5, ND -7, UVA -6.5, NCST -3.5, UTAH -3, TCU -4.5, SCAR +19.5, OSU -21.5, NMSU +18
REAL-MONEY BETS
Week 7 Results: 4-2
Results through Week 7: 23-13
Win Pct: 63.8%
I made a bet on Syracuse +14 and the under for that game, so those counted toward my total but weren't useful by the time this article went live.
SOUTH CAROLINA -19.5 vs. Texas A&M
It's the Aggies' prerogative to hand the ball off to Isaiah Spiller and call it a day, as the Gamecocks are great defensively against the pass. I don't doubt that Texas A&M will win here, but the return of Zeb Noland under center gives the Gamecocks a little added magic that may help them move inside a two-touchdown deficit.
PITTSBURGH -3 vs. Clemson
This is the first time Vegas has made Clemson an underdog all season, and it's no surprise. Pitt is the most complete team they've seen since Georgia, and simply put, the Clemson offense won't be able to put up enough points to cover here. Clemson's defense is potent, but as we saw last week against Syracuse and earlier against N.C. State, they're vulnerable.
UCLA -1.5 vs. Oregon - ALSO UNDER 60.5
If you watched a majority of the Oregon-Cal game, you saw how effective the Bears were against this defense. The Bruins are arguably a better team all-around, and Chip Kelly's defense is an upgrade in this matchup. Oregon was tough against the run last week, but the one-two punch of Zach Charbonnet and Brittain Brown will shine compared to Travis Dye, who is overworked in the Oregon backfield.
TENNESSEE (+25) vs. Alabama
Breaking news reports that Hendon Hooker should be fine to suit up against the Crimson Tide, leading me to go with the Vols and the points.
