College football Week 8 picks: Top teams try to avoid letdowns, upsets

Through Week 7 games

Straight up (overall and last week)

56-16 (9-1): Bill Bender, Sporting News

54-18 (8-2): Mike Griffith, MLive.com

53-19 (7-3): Chipper Jones, retired MLB player

51-21 (7-3): Ken Bradley, Sporting News

51-21 (8-2): John Isner, professional tennis player

49-23 (6-4): Corey Brewer, Houston Rockets

49-23 (7-3): Matt Hayes, Sporting News

LINEMAKERS: Week 8 opening line report

Against the spread (overall and last week)

43-29 (5-5): Mike Griffith, MLive.com

40-32 (6-4): Corey Brewer, Houston Rockets

37-35 (7-3): John Isner, professonal tennis player

34-38 (8-2): Chipper Jones, retired MLB player

33-39 (6-4): Ken Bradley, Sporting News

31-41 (8-2): Bill Bender, Sporting News

30-42 (4-6): Matt Hayes, Sporting News

LINEMAKERS: Odds to win the national championship

When: Saturday, noon

TV: Fox Sports 1

The line: Texas (-3.5)

Bender: Texas 24-20

Bradley: Texas 30-24

Brewer: Texas 28-17

Griffith: Texas 24-21

Hayes: Texas 23-21

Isner: Kansas State 34-20

Jones: Texas 34-24

What we're saying

Griffith: Bill Snyder wrote a letter to Kansas State students apologizing for the Wildcats’ 55-0 loss to Oklahoma on Saturday, the worst home shutout loss in history. He said he would do a better job of preparing for them in the future. OK.

MORE: ESPN fueled hate train aimed at UM kicker

When: Saturday, noon

TV: SEC Network

The line: Arkansas (-5.5)

Bender: Auburn 33-30

Bradley: Auburn 38-35

Brewer: Arkansas 35-28

Griffith: Arkansas 30-27

Hayes: Arkansas 31-23

Isner: Auburn 20-17

Jones: Auburn 37-31

What we're saying

Bradley: Have the Tigers turned a corner? They've showed signs of life on both sides of the ball. If this is the game they put it together, it would be a huge win and build some second half momentum.

MORE: Four in, four out

When: Saturday, noon

TV: ABC

The line: Clemson (-7)

Bender: Clemson 31-20

Bradley: Clemson 40-21

Brewer: Miami 42-38

Griffith: Clemson 32-26

Hayes: Clemson 27-23

Isner: Clemson 27-21

Jones: Clemson 34-24

What we're saying

Bender: The road team has won all four meetings since Miami joined the ACC in 2004, and the Tigers will keep that streak going after a tight first half. Wayne Gallman feasts on a Miami run defense that allows 167.3 rushing yards per game. 

MORE: This week's Coaches Top 25

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

TV: CBS

The line: Alabama (-15.5)

Bender: Alabama 31-27

Bradley: Alabama 24-17

Brewer: Alabama 42-21

Griffith: Alabama 34-27

Hayes: Alabama 34-21

Isner: Alabama 30-17

Jones: Alabama 30-17

What we're saying

Hayes: The most impressive part about Alabama’s response from the Ole Miss loss is the Tide is playing every week knowing it’s one loss from irrelevance for 2015.

Isner: Tennessee is coming off a huge momentum building win over my Dawgs. This should help them keep it close in T-town but definitely not enough to pull off the outright upset.

MORE: Week 8 AP Top 25

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

TV: ABC/ESPN2

The line: Oklahoma (-15)

Bender: Oklahoma 45-34

Bradley: Oklahoma 52-47

Brewer: Oklahoma 49-38

Griffith: Oklahoma 45-38

Hayes: Oklahoma 47-27

Isner: Oklahoma 41-28

Jones: Oklahoma 41-31

What we're saying

Griffith: The Sooners return home after a 55-0 win at Kansas State, and they’ll be tested by a Texas Tech offense that’s second in the nation in offense (623.7 yards per game) and passing (427.6 yards per game). Stoops and the Sooners will win, but they’ll be out of their comfort zone by halftime.

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When: Saturday, 7 p.m.

TV: ESPN2

The line: FSU (-5.5) 

Bender: FSU 35-28

Bradley: Georgia Tech 30-27

Brewer: FSU 31-28

Griffith: FSU 30-24

Hayes: FSU 38-20

Isner: FSU 31-14

Jones: FSU 37-24

What we're saying

Brewer: I like FSU on the road because of their big-game experience. Georgia Tech has been a bit of a disappointment this season, but I like them to play well in front of the home crowd. This game will be close, but I think their excellent kicker Roberto Aguayo wins this one with a go-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter for the Seminoles.

Isner: I've backed Georgia Tech way too many times this year. They seem to be completely in the tank now and I don't see ‎them giving FSU a run for their money. Its getting ugly in Atlanta.

Jones: Tech always plays FSU tough, but unfortunately for Tech, it has been one of the biggest disappointments in the country this year for me. I really liked their team and love their coaching staff, and I (like the voters) thought they would perform better after their lofty preseason ranking. I don’t think things get any better this week as FSU cruises — and covers.

MORE: Watch out for the AAC ...

When: Saturday, 7 p.m.

TV: ESPN

The line: Ole Miss (-5.5)

Bender: Texas A&M 34-31

Bradley: Ole Miss 40-37

Brewer: Ole Miss 31-24

Griffith: Texas A&M 30-27

Hayes: Ole Miss 31-27

Isner: Ole Miss 34-24

Jones: Ole Miss 31-24

What we're saying

Hayes: I refuse to believe the same Ole Miss team that went to Tuscaloosa and played with so much poise and passion is the same team that lost to Memphis. A bounce-back game for the Rebels. 

DIRTY DOZEN: 12 players you wish were on your team

When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m.

TV: Fox

The line: USC (-3) 

Bender: USC 28-27

Bradley: Utah 30-24

Brewer: Utah 31-21

Griffith: USC 30-27

Hayes: Utah 30-23

Isner: Utah 31-17

Jones: Utah 34-31

What we're saying

Hayes: Utes QB Travis Wilson was sharp in a big win last week in the pouring rain. He must prove he can do it weekly if Utah is going to reach the College Football Playoff.  

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

TV: ABC/ESPN2

The line: Michigan State (-16)

Bender: Michigan State 38-24

Bradley: Michigan State 40-21

Brewer: Michigan State 32-20

Griffith: Michigan State 37-20

Hayes: Michigan State 24-23

Isner: Michigan State 45-17

Jones: Michigan State 40-17

What we're saying

Bender: The Spartans are 6-0 against the Hoosiers under Mark Dantonio, and they'll run that streak to seven games against an Indiana defense that still ranks last in the Big Ten in points allowed (35.1 ppg.). The Spartans will get their run game going here. 

Griffith: Michigan State returns to Spartan Stadium with the a 27-23 win over Michigan in the rearview mirror. Next up, the hurry-up Hoosiers from Indiana. MSU will pound the ball on offense and wear down Indiana, pulling away for the cover in this one.

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When: Thursday, 9 p.m.

TV: ESPN

The line: UCLA (-3) | Linemakers line and pick

Bender: UCLA 38-34

Bradley: Cal 40-35 

Brewer: UCLA 35-27

Griffith: UCLA 31-27

Hayes: Cal 36-34

Isner: UCLA 31-20

Jones: UCLA 31-27

What we're saying

Bender: This is a battle of two future first-round NFL quarterbacks. The Bruins' up-and-down season turns back upward as Josh Rosen outduels Jared Goff in an up-and-down shootout at the Rose Bowl here.

UPDATE: UCLA cruised to a 40-24 win. 

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