NCAAF Week 8 ATS Hit List: Makin' It with Mismatches

There's nothing like hunting dogs.

No, not hunting dogs.

Hunting dogs.

As in tracking down a team -- usually at home -- that can fire up enough intangibles to either stay close or take down a more talented or better publicized club in the college football world.

 

There are better ways, pooch.

Side note: German for badger is dach; German for dog is hund. That little dude and his forebears were bred for hunting badgers, specifically burrowing badgers they could corner. Odds are more than one of his kind woulda preferred having a bitta extra firepower.

But enough about Wisconsin opponents.

 

Actually, for most of their schedule, it's teams like those that make it so tough to pick their opponent more weeks than not. The odds just aren't there. We may hit one every so often, but the percentages say otherwise.

So, here we are again, with a list of suggestions laden with matchups where the sportsbooks just wouldn't go the extra mile. Consider at your discretion, but remember to check the current lines before taking a plunge.

 

We stand by the ones we post; if they change, you're on your own.

Fri 18 Oct

Ohio State -27½ at Northwestern

So far this season, the Buckeyes are 5-0 SU and ATS. Dudes are averaging close to 50 points per while allowing less than 9 per. Ohio State's clearly on a CFP mission.

Northwestern is offensively challenged, anyhow. The Wildcats will get lucky to lose by only 35 points in this matchup.

Result: Ohio State 52 Northwestern 3 ... Buckeyes cover

 

Sat 19 Oct

West Virginia at Oklahoma -33

The Sooners are undefeated. However, they haven’t covered in their last couple of games. That should most definitely change this week.

In the eyes of the CFP committee, image counts whether they want to admit it or not. Oklahoma's gotta up their game, then. Getting the Mountaineers in Norman should help. Sooners roll.

Result: Oklahoma 52 West Virginia 13 ... Sooners cover

 

Wisconsin -28½ at Illinois

Anybody who watched Wisconsin paint the field Sparty green should jump all over this spread. No way they give up more than 6 points to the Illini while they should score close to 40-50.

After all, Illinois' mascot isn't a dachshund. Cash in on these Badgers.

Result: Illinois 24 Wisconsin 23 ... Fighting Illini cover

 

Auburn -18 at Arkansas

The Razorbacks fight hard. Dudes will fight hard when they're down 10 to Auburn. They’ll fight hard when they're down 20 to the Tigers. Hell, they’ll continue to fight hard once they get down 35.

Arkansas' only hope is Auburn will be looking past them to LSU next week. Maybe that'll happen. They'll only win by 21, then.

Result: Auburn 51 Arkansas 10 ... Tigers cover

 

Purdue at Iowa -17

The Boilermakers need to outrace every team they face because they can't stop anyone. The Hawkeyes held Penn State to 17 points.

Purdue isn't the Nittany Lions.

Result: Iowa 26 Purdue 20 ... Boilermakers cover

 

LSU -18½ at Mississippi State

The Bayou Bengals could have a letdown after the big 42-28 win over Florida. However, this is another team on a CFP mission.

Even with a letdown and playing in Starkville, LSU rolls over the Bulldogs by 3-4 touchdowns.

Result: LSU 36 Mississippi State 13 ... Tigers cover

Minnesota -28 at Rutgers

Everyone loves to see the Scarlet Knights coming. Dudes make every Big Ten opponent well. It doesn’t matter what ails them.

Right now, nothing's ailing the 6-0 Golden Gophers. They're not gonna take their foot off the gas in Piscataway, either.

Result: Minnesota 42 Rutgers 7 ... Golden Gophers cover

 

Michigan at Penn State -7½ 

It’s hard to believe in the Wolverine defense. Dudes yielded 25 points to Illinois in a Week 7 non-cover victory.

Penn State has one of the top offenses in college football and one of the top defenses. The Nittany Lions should win by close to 20.

Result: Penn State 28 Michigan 21 ... Wolverines cover

 

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Sportbet Columnist: Josh Bailey ... Today: 5-3

Aspiring to become the Mark Twain of sportswriting, Josh has been labelled as the up-&-coming sportswriter of the year by absolutely nobody and the new heavy hitter in sports handicapping by his mother.