COLLEGE FOOTBALL PICKS (WEEK 8)
Ourlads’ Football Network host Greg DePalma and Athlon managing editor Mitch Light get together each Thursday to analyze top matchups on the week’s college football schedule and make predictions. Catch OFN College Weekly for their full exchange.
* denotes featured play
No.2 OHIO ST. (7-0) at PURDUE (3-3)
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. Site: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Ind.
TV: ABC. Line: Ohio State by 12 ½.
Greg: *Purdue. Mitch: *Purdue.
Greg says: “I’m giving Purdue a great chance to win this football game. I think Ohio State is going to have to play better than they’ve played the last two weeks or they’re to lose this game. … Ohio State has not been looking good lately, and the (Nick Bosa departure) has to be a little bit of a distraction.”
No.16 N.C. STATE (5-0) at No.3 CLEMSON (6-0)
Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. Site: Memorial Stadium, Clemson, S.C.
TV: ESPN. Line: Clemson by 17 ½.
Greg: *N.C. State. Mitch: Clemson.
Greg says: “You’ve got a senior quarterback in (Ryan) Finley against a freshman quarterback (Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence). You’ve got a program in N.C. State that’s played Clemson really big-time the last couple of years. Clemson – are they going to go undefeated? You know what, I’m not so sure.”
No.6 MICHIGAN (6-1) at No.24 MICHIGAN ST. (4-2)
Kickoff: Noon. Site: Spartan Stadium, East Lansing, Mich.
TV: FOX. Line: Michigan by 7.
Greg: *Michigan St. Mitch: Michigan.
Mitch says: “The time is now for Michigan. They are the better team. They’re better at pretty much every position. … Michigan’s defense has been so good. This is a game Jim Harbaugh needs. It would really help the program immensely if they won this game comfortably. I like the Wolverines to win and cover.”
No.9 OKLAHOMA (5-1) at TCU (3-3)
Kickoff: Noon. Site: Amon Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas
TV: ABC. Line: Oklahoma by 8.
Greg: Oklahoma. Mitch: *Oklahoma.
Mitch says: “(TCU’s) offense has struggled since that Ohio State game. There’s nothing wrong with Oklahoma’s offense. They put up mega yards against a good Texas defense, comparable to the TCU defense. I think they’ll have no problem scoring, and I think TCU does have some problems scoring.”
GREG’S BEST BETS
RECORD: 17-11-0
5-star: Washington St. (-3) over Oregon
4-star: N.C. State (+18) over Clemson
3-star: Michigan St. (+7) over Michigan
Upset special: Purdue (+12) over Ohio St. (moneyline +390)
MITCH’S BEST BETS
RECORD: 12-15-1
5-star: Oklahoma (-8) over TCU
4-star: Temple (-3) over Cincinnati
3-star: Purdue (+12) over Ohio St.
Upset special: Navy (+12) over Houston (moneyline +370)