Category: Week 8

Wisconsin (0-0) vs Illinois (0-0) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Illinois Will Win

The Badgers are starting out with a whole new offensive backfield.

Jonathan Taylor is off being busy as an Indianapolis Colt, and with Jack Coan hurt, it’s the start of the Graham Mertz era at quarterback. The offensive line is still being settled, and a new No. 1 receiver has to emerge in place of Quintez Cephus.

The Illinois receiving corps has the potential to be dangerous for veteran QB Brandon Peters. Josh Imatorbhebhe is back after burning the Badgers in last year’s stunning Illini win, the offensive line comes back experienced, and the secondary should be an instant positive. However …

Why Wisconsin Will Win

Illinois still doesn’t have an offense worth worrying about, and now it has to deal with a loaded Badger defense.

There were a few good moments for the Illini – particular against the Badgers – but the O line was miserable in pass protection and the team was the third-worst in the nation in time of possession. The Badgers get back 18 of the 20 top tacklers, the defensive line is going to be a killer, and you know exactly what’s coming from the offensive side.

Grind, grind, and grind some more. With all of the new parts, Wisconsin isn’t going to get tricky, it’ll hold the ball for almost 40 minutes, and …

What’s Going To Happen

The Badgers will get their revenge.

It took about six things to go absolutely right down the stretch for the Illini to pull off the 24-23 win last season, but this year should be different right away for both sides.

This is an okay Illinois team, but the Badger defense is going to ramp it up right away, and Mertz is going to show off why he was such a massive recruit for the Badger program last year.

2020 Big Ten Preview
Big Ten Schedules, Win Totals | Big Ten Overview
Big Ten Keys Offense | Big Ten Keys Defense

Wisconsin vs Illinois Prediction, Line

Wisconsin 34, Illinois 13
Bet on Wisconsin vs Illinois with BetMGM
Wisconsin -19.5 o/u: 51
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3.5

Must See Rating: 2.5

5: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
1: Hubie Halloween

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Coastal Carolina vs Georgia Southern Prediction, Game Preview

Coastal Carolina Chanticleers vs Georgia Southern Eagles prediction and game preview.

Coastal Carolina vs Georgia Southern prediction and game preview.

Coastal Carolina vs Georgia Southern Broadcast

Date: Saturday, October 24
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Brooks Stadium, Conway, SC
Network: ESPNU

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Coastal Carolina (4-0) vs Georgia Southern (3-1) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Georgia Southern Will Win

That’s the Georgia Southern running game we all know and love.

It was great throughout last season on the way to a bowl appearance, but it failed to hit the 300-yard mark over the last five games and didn’t get there over the first two games this year. The virus had a lot to do with the team being inconsistent, but now it’s starting to roll.

340 yards against ULM, 309 against UMass, and … okay, so those might be the two worst teams playing college football’s but the Eagles are warmed up and rolling again.

Unlike last year, Georgia Southern is great on third downs and is amazing at controlling the clock, keeping the ball for a nation-leading 35:12 a game.

Why Coastal Carolina Will Win

The Chanticleer offensive balance is terrific, and Georgia Southern doesn’t quite have the defensive front line to handle it.

On the year the Coastal Carolina O has thrown for 930 yards and ran for 807, it has owned third downs – it’s third in the nation converting 60% of the time – and it’s connecting on the downfield throws. Grayson McCall is averaging close to 11 yards per throws with just one interception so far. He’s going to press the Eagle defense from the start.

What’s Going To Happen

The Coastal Carolina season has been fantastic so far, but it got hit by both Campbell and Louisiana for over 200 yards on the ground. Can it handle the option attack that’s coming? Sort of, but Georgia Southern can’t handle the offensive balance of the Chanticleers.

The Eagle secondary just isn’t good enough to hold up as the top 25 Coastal Carolina team keeps rolling along as the new star of the Sun Belt.

Coastal Carolina vs Georgia Southern Prediction, Line

Coastal Carolina 37, Georgia Southern 23
Bet on Coastal Carolina vs Georgia Southern with BetMGM
Coastal Carolina -5.5, o/u: 51.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 4

Must See Rating: 3

5: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
1: Hubie Halloween

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Georgia State vs Troy Prediction, Game Preview

Georgia State Panthers vs Troy Trojans prediction and game preview.

Georgia State vs Troy prediction and game preview.

Georgia State vs Troy Broadcast

Date: Saturday, October 24
Game Time: 4:00 ET
Venue: Veterans Memorial Stadium, Troy, AL
Network: ESPNU

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Georgia State (1-2) vs Troy (3-1) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Georgia State Will Win

The offense has been absolutely devastating.

You want balance? The Panthers have rushed for 739 yards and thrown for 748, and best of all, it has been consistent.

They were able to throw all over the place in last week’s loss to Arkansas State, and they ran for over 220 yards in each of the three games. Now they get to crank it all up against a Troy defense that was destroyed by BYU and last week couldn’t handle Eastern Kentucky.

The Panther defense hasn’t been a rock, but it’s among the best in the nation on third downs coming from an active line that’s outstanding at getting into the backfield, but …

Why Troy Will Win

The Troy offense has been explosive, too.

It couldn’t get going against BYU, but the passing game has been great over the last two weeks and not it gets to take target practice on the Georgia State D.

Yeah, the Panthers do a whole lot of things right defensively, but its secondary can’t seem to slow anyone down. The numbers are skewed thanks to last week’s firefight with Arkansas State, but allowing 355 yards a game through the air isn’t an aberration.

Troy might not be consistent, but when it’s on, it can bomb away with anyone in the Sun Belt.

What’s Going To Happen

Can Troy do anything against a good team? It’s 3-1, but Middle Tennessee, Texas State and Eastern Kentucky doesn’t mean this is anything to get too fired up over.

Georgia State hasn’t had a whole lot of luck, but the offense is too dangerous and too good. It’ll be a fun and wild offensive show – Georgia State doesn’t know how to do anything different – with the Panthers better equipped to keep things moving no matter how it needs to.

Georgia State vs Troy Prediction, Line

Georgia State 38, Troy 31
Bet on Georgia State vs Troy with BetMGM
Troy -2.5, o/u: 68.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3.5

Must See Rating: 3

5: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
1: Hubie Halloween

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ULM vs South Alabama Prediction, Game Preview

ULM Warhawks vs South Alabama Jaguars prediction and game preview.

ULM vs South Alabama prediction and game preview.

ULM vs South Alabama Broadcast

Date: Saturday, October 24
Game Time: 7:00 ET
Venue: Hancock Whitney Stadium, Mobile, AL
Network: ESPN+

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ULM (0-5) vs South Alabama (2-2) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why ULM Will Win

The Warhawks have had two weeks off to rest up after a miserable performance against Liberty, and now it has a real, live shot to turn this around.

What’s going right in this 0-5 season? The pass defense hasn’t been all that bad – at least numbers-wise, helped by playing Army and Georgia Southern, but we’re going for positives here – and the offense has the parts to get the passing game rolling. Now it has to be consistent.

South Alabama has problems taking the ball away and is losing the turnover battle – ULM can take the ball away and desperately needs the help.

Why South Alabama Will Win

ULM can’t run the ball even a little bit.

Part of the problem is the style of the season so far. The team gets down so much that it has to press to get back, but it’s still only averaging a pathetic 56 yards per game on the ground.

The South Alabama defensive front is always moving. It doesn’t get into the backfield enough, but it’s allowing just 144 rushing yards per game. It’ll stuff the ULM running backs from the word go.

What’s Going To Happen

South Alabama will come up with a relatively easy, methodical win. ULM just doesn’t do anything on the ground, the offensive line isn’t strong enough to generate a push, and the Jaguars will be able to take over early and then start to take the ball away enough to make this a wipeout in the second half.

ULM vs South Alabama Prediction, Line

South Alabama 34, ULM 17
Bet on ULM vs South Alabama with BetMGM
South Alabama -14.5, o/u: 56.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 1.5

5: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
1: Hubie Halloween

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BYU vs Texas State Prediction, Game Preview

BYU Cougars vs Texas State Bobcats prediction and game preview.

BYU vs Texas State prediction and game preview.

BYU vs Texas State Broadcast

Date: Saturday, October 24
Game Time: 10:15 ET
Venue: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo UT
Network: ESPN

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BYU (5-0) vs Texas State (1-5) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Texas State Will Win

The passing game is good enough to keep up.

It’s not going to bomb away like Houston did last week, but it’ll be able to push past 250 yards and around 300 against a Cougar secondary that gets hit hard by teams trying to keep up.

For all of the good things BYU does, it has allowed more yards in each successive game, stopping Navy with 149 yards and moving up from there to last week’s 438 total yard day against Houston. Texas State has the firepower to potentially keep that going, but …

Why BYU Will Win

An argument can be made that Zach Wilson is the best quarterback in college football so far not named Trevor Lawrence.

Wilson is hitting 79% of his passes for 1,641 yards with 12 touchdowns and a pick, and he ran for six touchdowns. Texas State doesn’t have the defense that can hold up against what Wilson and the BYU are bringing.

Yes, the Texas State offense is going to be dangerous, but the offensive line is having way too many problems against defenses that can get into the backfield, and BYU is great at that.

What’s Going To Happen

Texas State is going to bring the offense, but the D is going to get torched. It’s an active team that gets around the ball and held up well in close losses to SMU and Boston College, but this is the program’s fifth road game in a row. It’ll show.

BYU vs Texas State Prediction, Line

BYU 41, Texas State 20
Bet on BYU vs Texas State with BetMGM
BYU -28.5, o/u: 60
ATS Confidence out of 5: 1.5

Must See Rating: 2

5: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
1: Hubie Halloween

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American Athletic Predictions, Schedule, Game Previews, Lines, TV: Week 8

American Athletic Conference college football predictions, schedule, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 8 of the season.

American Athletic Conference college football predictions, schedule, game previews, lines and TV listings for Week 8 of the season.

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Results So Far
SU: 18-8, ATS: 15-8, Point Total: 12-12

Click on each game for game preview & prediction

Friday, October 23

Tulsa at USF

7:30 ESPN
Line: Tulsa -11 o/u: 50.5
– Bet on this at BetMGM

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Saturday, October 24

Temple at Memphis

12:00 ESPN
Line: Memphis -13.5, o/u: 70
– Bet on this at BetMGM

Tulane at UCF

2:00 ESPN2
Line: UCF -19.5 o/u: 72
– Bet on this at BetMGM

[lawrence-related id=521248]

Houston at Navy

3:30 CBS Sports Network
Line: Houston -14.5, o/u: 55.5
– Bet on this at BetMGM

Cincinnati at SMU

9:00 ESPN2
Line: SMU -2.5, o/u: 55.5
– Bet on this at BetMGM

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Memphis vs Temple Prediction, Game Preview

Memphis Tigers vs Temple Owls prediction and game preview.

Memphis vs Temple prediction and game preview.

Memphis vs Temple Broadcast

Date: Saturday, October 24
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Venue: Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium, Memphis, TN
Network: ESPN+

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Memphis (2-1) vs Temple (1-1) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Temple Will Win

Temple has struggled to get going – losing a heartbreaker against Navy before holding on in a thriller against USF – but the offense has been phenomenal on third downs and the defense has been outstanding.

Okay, to playing two running teams skew the stats, but the secondary really is that good. On offense, the passing game has been able to work thanks to an offensive front that’s great at keeping teams out of the backfield.

The Owls have yet to allow a sack and gave up just three tackles for loss.

The passing game that blew past 500 yards over the last two games should be able to bomb away on the mediocre Tiger secondary, but …

Why Memphis Will Win

The Memphis offense has been unstoppable, going past the 500-yard mark in each of the first two games before rolling by UCF for 703 yards.

Brady White is averaging well over 300 yards per game with 13 touchdowns as he leads one of the nation’s most efficient passing games. The defense might be a problem, but the offense has the ability to hold on to the ball as well as score in bunches.

This might be a high-powered attack, but it leads the American Athletic Conference in time of possession with the ball for close to 33 minutes per game.

What’s Going To Happen

Temple will roll on offense with QB Anthony Russo bombing away at will, and it won’t matter.

Memphis will keep the scoring and the production going, and Temple will blink just enough to get behind. It’ll be another fun Memphis shootout with the two teams combining for over 700 passing yards.

CFN 1-127 Rankings | Bowl Projections
College Football Playoff Chase, Who’s Alive?

Memphis vs Temple Prediction, Line

Memphis 41 Temple 30
Bet on Memphis vs Temple with BetMGM
Memphis -13.5, o/u: 70
ATS Confidence out of 5: 2

Must See Rating: 3

5: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
1: Hubie Halloween

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UCF vs Tulane Prediction, Game Preview

UCF Knights vs Tulane Green Wave prediction and game preview.

UCF vs Tulane prediction and game preview.

UCF vs Tulane Broadcast

Date: Saturday, October 24
Game Time: 2:00 ET
Venue: Bounce House, Orlando, FL
Network: ESPN2

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UCF (2-2) vs Tulane (2-3) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Tulane Will Win

The Green Wave have the offense to keep up the pace. It hasn’t been amazing over the last few games, but they’ve been able to put points on the board helped by a defense that forces a whole slew of mistakes.

The D generated five takeaways against Houston and two against Southern Miss – it has to screw up UCF’s offense by stalling drives with forced errors.

Win the turnover margin, get the best running game in the American Athletic Conference going early, and keep scoring, keep scoring, and keep scoring. The UCF run defense has been a disaster so far – allowing more than 200 yards in three of its four games – and Tulane should be able to hit the mark.

However …

Why UCF Will Win

The UCF passing game has been ridiculous.

The defense has gone bye-bye, but the Knights are coming off a 601-yard passing performance against Memphis and hit the 400-yard mark in two of the other three games.

Tulane’s pass defense is in trouble.

The Green Wave might have a fantastic pass rush, but it didn’t do a whole lot of good after allowing well over 1,100 total yards in the last three games and 299 or more in four of the five outings.

The only game the Tulane defense got a break against the pass came against Navy, and it’s not exactly the Kansas City Chiefs throwing it around.

UCF will fire at will.

What’s Going To Happen

UCF hasn’t lost three games in a row since the end of the 2016 season. There’s grumbling after losing two straight this year in games that could’ve gone the other way, but there won’t be concerns this time around.

Both teams will hit home runs, and both will make this a riot if you love big offensive numbers.

UCF isn’t dropping two home dates in a row – the Memphis game was on the road in between Tulsa and this – since the end of the 0-12 2015 season. It’s not losing a third.

CFN 1-127 Rankings | Bowl Projections
College Football Playoff Chase, Who’s Alive?

UCF vs Tulane Prediction, Line

UCF 52, Tulane 31
Bet on UCF vs Tulane with BetMGM
UCF -19.5, o/u: 72
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

Must See Rating: 2.5

5: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
1: Hubie Halloween

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Houston vs Navy Prediction, Game Preview

Houston Cougars vs Navy Midshipmen prediction and game preview.

Houston vs Navy prediction and game preview.

Houston vs Navy Broadcast

Date: Saturday, October 24
Game Time: 3:30 ET
Venue: Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, MD
Network: CBS Sports Network

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Houston (1-1) vs Navy (3-2) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Houston Will Win

The Houston offense is working.

The team might have had issues against a BYU team that’s on a roll, and there were way too many turnover problems in the opener against Tulane, but QB Clayton Tune has been terrific, and the receiving corps has rolled from the start.

As explosive as the Cougars might be, they’re controlling the clock, too. They’ve held on to the ball for close to 33 minutes a game so far – Navy is cooked if it doesn’t dominate the clock and the tempo.

Navy is starting to play better, but the defense is getting rolled by everyone’s ground game – the Cougars can move on the ground, too. But …

Why Navy Will Win

Navy’s ground attack is starting to work now.

The bad performance against BYU to kick things off is a distant memory, and the loss to Air Force was ugly. However, the running game worked against everyone else.

In three of the last four games, the Midshipmen have hit the 200-yard rushing mark. That’s good, but not special for this offense. It has been good enough, the downfield passing game leads the nation in yards per completion and should be able to take advantage of its opportunities to hit the Cougar secondary that cheats up to deal with the ground game.

What’s Going To Happen

Will home field matter for Navy? Yeah, just a little bit.

However, Houston is too explosive, the passing game is too good, and the defensive front that held up well against BYU in last week’s loss won’t get ripped up by the Midshipmen. Navy will get behind, and while it was able to come back against Tulane early in the year, it won’t have the ability to come up with the big drives late.

CFN 1-127 Rankings | Bowl Projections
College Football Playoff Chase, Who’s Alive?

Houston vs Navy Prediction, Line

Houston 36, Navy 27
Bet on Houston vs Navy with BetMGM
Houston -14.5, o/u: 55.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3.5

Must See Rating: 2.5

5: Borat Subsequent Moviefilm
1: Hubie Halloween

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Tulsa vs USF Prediction, Game Preview

Tulsa Golden Hurricane vs USF Bulls prediction and game preview.

Tulsa vs USF prediction and game preview.

Tulsa vs USF Broadcast

Date: Friday, October 23
Game Time: 7:30 ET
Venue: Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, FL
Network: ESPN

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Tulsa (1-1) vs USF (1-4) Game Preview

For latest lines and to bet on college football, go to BetMGM

Why Tulsa Will Win

The Golden Hurricane played great in their first two games. Shockingly, it’s happening because of the defensive side.

The offense was able to throw well enough to get by UCF, but it was the defense that held firm thanks to a front that lived behind the line. The pass rush was great, and the group came up with stop after stop with 12 tackles for loss in the first two games.

USF is just getting going, and it’s struggling. The running game stalled after a big day in the opener against The Citadel, it had a problem scoring against the great defenses on the slate and keeping up against the weaker ones in the four-game losing streak.

The Bull offensive line isn’t doing enough to keep defenses out of the backfield, and that’s where the Tulsa front line takes over. However …

Why USF Will Win

The USF offense hasn’t been bad and might be close to turning a corner. There’s more of a passing game after having a problem getting it going early in the season, and the ground attack has the upside to be better if the line can just be a bit more consistent.

The Bulls gave up five picks in the loss to Cincinnati and turned it over ten times in the last three games. However, they were careful with the ball early on in the season and can’t afford any big mistakes this week. Tulsa should be good for a few turnovers – USF has to be at least a +2 in turnover margin.

What’s Going To Happen

South Florida will play well enough at home to hang around with a Tulsa team that’s active, but hasn’t shown enough firepower quite yet.

Both teams will turn the ball over at least twice, but the Bulls will give it away at least three times and Tulsa will capitalize on all of them.