It's tradition around these parts once the Ohio State football season starts. Every year (and every week of the season), we have a little friendly competition among our writers for world domination in picking the Big Ten football games and some of the bigger college football contests now that conference play is in full swing.
Preseason favorites Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon have already experienced one loss. You can't count out teams like Iowa and UCLA at this point, especially with what's going on in Westwood, where the Bruins are the only other team besides the Buckeyes that remain undefeated in the Big Ten. There's still a long way to go, and many teams still have an opportunity to prove themselves to be taken seriously, especially Michigan*.
So, just how will Week 8 look as we go? Our writers take turns picking all the games in the League straight up and against the spread for your wagering and reading consumption — do with it as you wish.
As a reminder, if there’s an asterisk next to the pick, that means the team will win, but not cover. If there is a tie, rather than have a cage match or old-fashioned duel, we’ll settle it with less violence and go with the tried-and-true coin flip, where George Washington has the say.
EXAMPLE: If Ohio State is favored -3.5 over Michigan:
If you think Ohio State will win outright and cover: OSU
If you think Ohio State will win, but NOT cover: OSU*
If you think Ohio State will lose: Michigan
Here are our expert picks for Week 8, focusing on the Big Ten games, but also throwing in the biggest non-Big Ten games across the country now that we are starting the conference season. Ohio State is off this week, so if you are a Buckeye fan, sit back and enjoy the games.
Big Ten and biggest national college football picks and predictions for Week 8
Results So Far
Follow Phil Harrison: 76-21 SU, 54-43 ATS
Follow MarkRussell: 72-25 SU, 49-48 ATS
Follow Sunny Verma: 71-26 SU, 48-49 ATS
Follow Alec Lasley: 72-25 SU, 48-49 ATS
CONSENSUS PICK: 72-25 SU, 44-53 ATS
Next ... Big Ten games
Indiana at Michigan
Saturday, Oct. 24
Noon ET | Fox (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Indiana -7
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Indiana
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Indiana
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Indiana
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Indiana
CONSENSUS PICK | Indiana
Rutgers at Northwestern
Saturday, Oct. 24
Noon ET | Peacock
Betting Line | Northwestern -16.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Northwestern*
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Northwestern
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Northwestern
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Northwestern*
CONSENSUS PICK: Northwestern
Oregon at Illinois
Saturday, Oct. 24
3:00 p.m. ET | Big Ten Network (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Oregon -9
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Oregon
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Oregon
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Oregon
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Oregon
CONSENSUS PICK | Oregon
Michigan State at UCLA
Saturday, Oct. 24
3:30 p.m. ET | CBS (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | UCLA -14.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | UCLA*
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | UCLA
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | UCLA
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | UCLA*
CONSENSUS PICK | UCLA
Iowa at Minnesota
Saturday, Oct. 24
3:30 p.m. ET | FS1 (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Iowa -6.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Iowa
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Iowa
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Iowa
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Iowa
CONSENSUS PICK | Iowa
USC at Wisconsin
Saturday, Oct. 24
7:30 p.m. ET | NBC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | USC -3
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | USC
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | USC
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | USC
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | USC
CONSENSUS PICK | USC
Next ... Biggest non-Big Ten games
Pittsburgh at Miami (FL)
Saturday, Oct. 24
Noon ET | ESPN (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Miami -20
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Miami*
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Miami*
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Miami
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Miami
CONSENSUS PICK | Miami
LSU at Auburn
Saturday, Oct. 24
Noon ET | ABC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | LSU -7.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | LSU*
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | LSU
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | LSU
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | LSU
CONSENSUS PICK | LSU
Texas A&M at Alabama
Saturday, Oct. 24
3:30 p.m. ET | ABC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Alabama -14
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Alabama*
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Alabama
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Alabama
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Alabama*
CONSENSUS PICK | Alabama
Ole Miss at Texas
Saturday, Oct. 24
7:30 p.m. ET | ABC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Texas -3.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Texas
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Texas
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Texas
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Ole Miss
CONSENSUS PICK | Texas
Houston at Utah
Saturday, Oct. 24
10:15 p.m. ET | ESPN (Stream fuboTV (watch here))
Betting Line | Utah -6.5
The Picks:
Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Utah
Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Utah*
Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Utah
Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Utah
CONSENSUS PICK | Utah
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This article originally appeared on Buckeyes Wire: Big Ten and other college football predictions and picks for Week 8