“Between Bets” is an article series revealing our staff’s best wagers across the NFL, College Football, NASCAR and PGA Tour. This edition’s bets feature our favorite 2024 Week 8 College Football picks for ATS and totals.
(Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook)
2024 College Football Week 8 Picks (ATS & Totals)
Oklahoma State @ #13 BYU | Friday, 10:30 p.m. ET
We have a Friday Big 12 matchup under lights of Provo, Utah, where the 13th-ranked BYU Cougars host the struggling Oklahoma State Cowboys. BYU has been dominant at home this season, outscoring opponents like Arizona and Kansas State by a combined 79-28 at Lavell Edwards Stadium. QB Jake Retzlaff has been the heart and soul of this 6-0 ATS team, leading the Cougars in both passing and rushing, and their defense currently ranks 24th in the country.
On the flip side, Oklahoma State has lost three straight games to West Virginia, Kansas State,and Utah. The Cowboys have lost their identity offensively, with running back Ollie Gordon’s impact all but erased from their game plan.
BYU is favored by 7.5 points, which seems like a solid play, but these Friday-night games have a history of being unpredictable. Last year, Oklahoma State won this game in double overtime, and both teams are averaging over 30 points per game this season. So, rather than worrying about the spread, we’re looking at the total here.
We could see more points than expected, and it’s worth waiting until Friday to place your bet, as sportsbooks like DraftKings may offer a boost on this game.
Pick: Over 55.0 (-112)
#7 Alabama @ #11 Tennessee | Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET
Saturday offers one of the most storied rivalries in College Football: Alabama vs. Tennessee. The seventh-ranked Crimson Tide come in as 2.5-point favorites, but they’ve had their fair share of struggles lately. After a big win over Georgia in Week 5, Alabama was upset as 25.5-point favorites against Vanderbilt and failed to cover against South Carolina the following week. QB Jalen Milroe has thrown three interceptions over those two games, and the Tide’s run game is only ranked 51st nationally.
Tennessee has had its own issues, barely scraping by Florida last week as 10-point favorites, winning 23-17. Running back Dylan Sampson has been a bright spot, rushing for 252 yards and five touchdowns over the last two games, but there are growing concerns about QB Nico Iamaleava, who has surpassed 200 passing yards just once this season.
While Alabama has dominated this rivalry, winning nine of the last 10 meetings, we all remember Tennessee’s wild 52-49 victory in 2022. Still, we’re siding with Alabama here, as this Tennessee team just isn’t as explosive as year’s past.
Pick: Alabama -3.0 (-110)
#5 Georgia @ #1 Texas | Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET
And now, the game of the week: #5 Georgia vs. #1 Texas in Austin, Texas. The Longhorns are a 4.0-point favorite following their dominant 34-3 victory over Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown. Quinn Ewers was back under center, but the Longhorns’ top-ranked defense stole the show, completely stifling the Sooners’ offense.
While Texas has now notched two wins against ranked opponents, Georgia’s road to this top-five clash hasn’t been as smooth. The Bulldogs are just 2-4 ATS this season and have underwhelmed in several games, only looking truly impressive against Clemson in their opener. They also rank outside the top 25 in total offense and defense, raising concerns heading into a hostile environment like Austin.
This line opened at 1.5 and has now ballooned to 4.0, but we’re still backing the Longhorns here. Georgia hasn’t looked like the title-contending team we’ve come to expect, and Texas’ defense will be too much for them to handle.
Pick: Texas -4 (-110)
Thanks for reading our 2024 College Football Week 8 picks! Check out more of our College Football betting articles and other written content here at In-Between Media, or head over to our YouTube channel to get your fix via video.
*Photo Credit: Scott Wachter – USA TODAY Sports*
