College Football Week 8 Early Value Analysis: Trojans Will Rebound in Epic Pac-12 Clash

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NCAAF Pick: USC -6 (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)

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USC -6 (-110)
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The online betting sites post early NCAAF odds for a reason and we like to see where the lines go so that we can take advantage of underdogs getting too many points or favorites laying too few.  

Last week we cashed with San Diego State and Navy so now let’s scope out the lines at the best offshore sportsbooks and make some more money this week in college football! 


Utah Utes vs. USC Trojans 

Saturday, October 21, 2023 – 08:00 PM EDT at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 


Key Facts 

  • Utah is 1-5 SU in their last 6 games when playing at USC. 
  • USC is 11-0 SU in their last 11 games at home. 
  • USC is 6-1 SU in their last 7 games. 

Last year’s Pac-12 champs, the Utah Utes, experienced a power outage two weeks ago when they fell to Oregon State, 21-7, and failed to cash as 4-point road dogs. However, they rebounded last week with their best offensive performance of the season, a 34-14 victory over California inside the friendly confines of Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake.  

On the other hand, USC felt the agony of defeat for the first time last week when they dropped a 48-20 decision to an opportunistic Notre Dame squad in South Bend. USC’s Caleb Williams looked dazed and confused in throwing three interceptions and allowing the Irish to sprint to a 24-3 lead. He would end with an uncharacteristic stat line: 23-of-37, 199 yards, 1 touchdown, and three interceptions.  

This line opened at USC -7 but it has already fallen a full point less than 24 hours later. It’s easy to see why the early money is on Utah but we must understand a few things. USC limited Notre Dame to 126 yards passing and 125 yards rushing. The Irish’s field position was ideal due to Williams’ erratic passing, and let’s not forget Notre Dame’s defense also returned a 99-yard fumble for a touchdown late in the game. 

The Pick 

The Trojans will rebound with a sterling effort on Saturday and the Utes will be unable to keep pace with this explosive USC offense. 

NCAAF Pick: USC -6 (-110) at BetOnline 


Michigan Wolverines vs. Michigan State Spartans 

Saturday, October 21, 2023 – 07:30 PM EDT at Spartan Stadium 


Key Facts 

  • Michigan is 1-6 ATS in their last 7 games when playing at Michigan State. 
  • Michigan is 2-12-1 ATS in their last 15 games against Michigan State. 
  • Michigan State is 12-5 SU in their last 17 games at home. 

The scheduling gods have been kind to Michigan, to say the least, as they have been matched up against cupcakes thus far. Michigan’s lowest spread this season was -17½ on the road in Nebraska in which they ripped the Cornhuskers, 47-7, and easily covered the number.  

Therefore, it’s safe to assume the betting public will be all over the Wolverines like white on rice as we have already seen this number move from -17 to -19 where it now sits. And while the Wolverines will likely add to their body count after this one is through; we should respect the rivalry between these intrastate conference foes.  

Remember, it was only a few seasons ago that the Spartans marched into Ann Arbor as 21-point road underdogs and stunned the Wolverines, 27-24. Michigan State has covered in 6 of the last 7 meetings with Michigan in games at East Lansing and the 19 points are simply too many to resist.

The Pick

Following the NCAAF predictions, back to the home hound here. 

NCAAF Pick: Michigan State +19 (-110) at Bovada (visit our Bovada Review)

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Michigan State +19 (-110)
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Penn State Nittany Lions vs. Ohio State Buckeyes 

Saturday, October 21, 2023 – 12:00 PM EDT at Ohio Stadium 


Key Facts 

  • Penn State is 6-1 ATS in their last 7 games against Ohio State. 
  • Penn State is 7-0 SU in their last 7 games against an opponent in the Big Ten conference. 
  • Penn State is 10-0 SU in their last 10 games. 

This line opened as low as Ohio State -7½ in some offshore shops but that number has drifted north to as high as OSU -10 which means the public is pouring big money into the Buckeyes. This scenario reeks of the sharps laying in wait for this number to continue to climb before they pounce. And of course, once they do, this line will plummet.  

The Nittany Lions are ranked No. 6 in the nation and have covered in their last 13 consecutive games! Yes, if you’ve been blindly betting on Penn State, they have been a veritable ATM for your wallet and now we see they are getting 10 points despite coming off a 63-0 thrashing of U Mass last week.  

The Pick

That’s all the information I need to back this road dog here. 

NCAAF Pick: Penn State +10 (-110) at BetOnline 

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*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.