Florida State and Duke help kick off the Week 8 NCAA football betting card, and it all ends with a huge collision out in the Pac-12 between USC and Utah.
Picks Summary
- Duke +14 (-110) at Bet365
- Army-LSU Over 58 (-110) at BetRivers
- Utah-USC Under 56 (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook
Duke Blue Devils vs. Florida State Seminoles
Saturday, October 21, 2023 – 07:30 PM EDT at Doak Campbell Stadium
According to official records, Florida State is 19-0 when facing Duke, but we all know the Seminoles are really 21-0 against the Blue Devils counting the two wins vacated for being naughty, and Florida State is a big favorite to keep the unbeaten streak alive on Saturday night.
First Clash Since the Pandemic Season
Florida State hasn’t just beaten Duke every meeting, the Seminoles have pounded on the Blue Devils. Including the 2006-07 vacated triumphs, Florida State has won all but one by at least 19 points, except the 17-10 final in 2017.
This will be just the third meeting in the last 10 seasons, with the most recent being a 56-35 Seminoles win at home in 2020. Totals have run 1-4-1 O/U/P in the last half-dozen matchups.
‘Noles & Blue Devils Both 4-2 ATS
Duke used its bye week well and put the tough loss to Notre Dame out of mind with a dominating win over NC State. Henry Belin IV threw 2 TD passes filling in for Riley Leonard, and the Blue Devils covered as 4-point chalk at the top online sportsbooks with a 24-3 victory.
Florida State covered a much larger line in a crushing 41-3 pasting of Syracuse last week, the victory leaving the Seminoles firmly entrenched as the No. 4 team in both polls.
These are the top two scoring defenses in the ACC, which could drive the 49-point total down and make ‘Over’ enticing. Expect Duke to stay within the 2-TD spread, according to OddsTrader’s computers.
NCAAF Pick: Duke +14 (-110) at Bet365 (check our Bet365 Review)
Army Black Knights vs. LSU Tigers
Saturday, October 21, 2023 – 07:30 PM EDT at Tiger Stadium
Being an independent, Army plays a non-conference schedule all the time, but it’s a strange quirk in the slate for LSU with an October matchup against a non-SEC foe.
Just 2nd Meeting Between Programs
It’s also a huge spread to deal with, the largest on the Week 8 NCAAF odds board. Louisiana State is giving up 30 with 58 for the scoreboard target.
The Tigers have been looking for revenge in this rivalry for a long, long time. Well okay, it’s not much of a rivalry given the lone meeting took place 92 years ago when Army skunked the Bayou Bengals 20-0 way back in 1931.
Cadets Crank Enough Offense for ‘Over’ Winner
Army picked a tough venue to try and snap a 3-game skid, but perhaps LSU’s leaky defense will crack enough for the Black Knights to stay inside this massive spread.
Then again, as resilient as the Army’s defense has been, will the stop unit be able to do just that against a Tigers offense that ranks second in the country averaging 550 yards per game?
‘Over’ bettors have cashed in LSU’s last 11 games and 13 of the last 14, and there’s no reason to go a different direction with a free college football pick in this one.
NCAAF Pick: Over 58 (-110) at BetRivers (check our BetRivers Review)
Utah Utes vs. USC Trojans
Saturday, October 21, 2023 – 08:00 PM EDT at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Embarrassed last week in South Bend, USC needs a quick bounce-back performance to maintain the top spot in the Pac-12 race, and the Trojans face an uphill battle to do so against a Utah side that has one of the top defenses in the country.
Teams Split Covers Last 6 Meetings
This has been a level of rivalry since the Utes joined the Pac-12. Southern Cal won the first three, Utah has won the last three, and the Trojans hold the slimmest of edges in conference clashes with a 7-6 record.
Utah won twice a year ago, eking out a 43-42 victory at home in the regular season then hanging a 47-24 number on USC in the Pac-12 Championship. Both games went past totals in the 66-67 range, leaving ‘over’ bettors 7-2 in the last nine.
Williams Set to Face Another Stout Defense
Utah’s ground game helped the team bounce back from a loss at Oregon State with a 34-14 win and cover over Cal this past Saturday. Cam Rising remains out as he recovers from a knee injury last season, and his absence continues to leave the Utes’ aerial attack floundering.
Caleb Williams was sacked six times in addition to the three picks he threw in the 48-20 loss at Notre Dame. The Trojans also committed nine penalties costing them 75 yards.
This is the highest total for a Utah game in 2023, and even though USC has been a strong ‘Over’ play, this one stays ‘Under’ 56 at Caesars Sportsbook.
NCAAF Pick: Under 56 (-110) at Caesars Sportsbook (check our Caesars Sportsbook Review)
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