NCAA football betting picks, odds and promos: Preview for Week 8

Week 8 of the college football season is here, and we have numerous top teams playing this week, headlined by the Penn State and Ohio State matchup.

Below are our three best bets for this week’s slate. 

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⚡ Quick NCAA football picks for Week 8

• Penn State vs. Ohio - Penn State 4.5 +17.5 (-110) at DraftKings
• Tennessee vs. Alabama - Tennessee +9 (-112) at BetRivers
• North Carolina vs. Virginia - North Carolina -23.5 (-110) at BetMGM

NCAA football betting tips

Read our expert predictions and picks for Week 8 of the NCAA football season.

🏆 Penn State vs. Ohio State - Penn State +4.5 (-110) at DraftKings

With Olu Fashanu protecting his blindside, Allar will need all the help he can get along this offensive line with the Buckeyes pass rush coming after him. This season, the Buckeyes have generated just 95 pressures and 11 sacks. Both teams hardly allow any points, with Ohio State allowing 10.2 and Penn State just 8.2. Looking at the quarterback play, Nittany Lions signal caller Drew Allar is completing 65.2% of his passes for 1,251 yards, 12 touchdowns, and zero interceptions. He also has just one turnover-worthy play. Buckeyes quarterback Kyle McCord is completing 62.6% of his passes for 1,651 yards, 11 touchdowns, and one interception. He has seven turnover-worthy plays. 

Looking at the rushing attacks, Penn State is superior. They have 1,243 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns. Ohio State has 872 yards and 12 touchdowns. 

These teams are so close in defense, and Penn State outscores Ohio State per game 40.6 - 36.2.

Look for the Nittany Lions to cover the spread on the road or win the game outright. 

• How to watch: FOX
• Date and time: Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 12:00 PM ET
• Location: Ohio Stadium

🏆 Tennessee vs. Alabama - Tennessee +9 (-112) at BetRivers

The Alabama Crimson Tide have faced SEC teams in back-to-back weeks and didn’t win either game by more than six points. Hosting the Volunteers here, Tennessee has a roster that can generate pressures (141) and sacks (26). This pressure will be needed to keep Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe from utilizing his rushing ability. He has 295 yards on the ground and five scores. His top receiver, Jermaine Burton, will be matched against a rock-solid Vols cornerback in Kamal Hadden. He’s allowing just 12 receptions on 33 targets this season for 96 yards zero touchdowns, and has three interceptions and seven pass breakups. 

The Volunteers offense will be massively helped by their rushing attack. They have 1,448 yards and 13 touchdowns. Quarterback Joe Milton III has 1,260 passing yards on 112 completions, ten touchdowns, and four interceptions. 

Look for Tennessee to keep this one close enough to cover the spread that’s closing in on double digits. 

• How to watch: CBS
• Date and time: Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 3:30 PM ET
• Location: Bryant-Denny Stadium

🏈 Bet on Tennessee +9at -112 with BetRivers 🏈

🏆 North Carolina vs. Virginia - North Carolina -23.5 (-110) at BetMGM

North Carolina is the most likely contender to battle for the ACC Championship, and here, they’re taking on perhaps the least likely in Virginia. 

Virginia averages just 21.4 points per game, and their defense surrenders 35.6. Facing North Carolina, this team has been surging lately since Tez Walker was reinstated. In Week 7, they beat Miami 41-31, and quarterback Drake Maye threw for four scores. Walker caught three of those and had 132 yards and six receptions. 

They’re going to dismantle Virginia here. Virginia’s quarterback, Anthony Colandrea, is completing 61.2% of his passes for 924 yards, five touchdowns, six interceptions, and ten turnover-worthy plays.

• How to watch: CW
• Date and time: Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 6:30 PM ET
• Location: Kenan Memorial Stadium

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