NCAAF Pick: Navy +11½ (-108) at Heritage Sports (visit our Heritage Sports Review)
A clash of service academies begins our trek on the Week 8 college football betting journey and we’re tossing in a couple of free picks for conference rival showdowns for good measure.
Air Force Falcons vs. Navy Midshipmen
Saturday, October 21, 2023 – 12:00 PM EDT at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium
Off we go into the wild blue yonder might be the lyrics, but the Air Force football team does most of its traveling on the ground as the Falcons bring the nation’s top rushing attack to Annapolis for a showdown with the Navy.
Underdog Covers 5 of Last 6
That ground game translates into a spread of 11-11½ favoring the Air Force. The first of three matchups between the primary service academies is carrying 37 for the total.
The Fly Boys have the all-time bragging rights with a 33-22 advantage in the rivalry and also own current bragging rights by winning the last three meetings. A 23-3 win in Annapolis two years ago halted a 4-game win streak by the Midshipmen on their home field, and four of the last five matchups failed to reach the totals at the top sportsbooks.
Injuries to Both Starting Quarterbacks
Air Force was a little out of synch coming off its bye week this past Saturday, needing a late score to escape against Wyoming as 12½-point chalk. Even so, the Falcons managed to accrue 356 yards rushing, about 20 above their season clip.
Navy’s ground attack is nothing to sneeze out, though the Midshipmen’s 235 YPG average is still 100 yards fewer than the Falcons.
The Pick
Starting QBs on both sides are questionable with Air Force’s Zac Larrier nursing a knee injury and Navy’s Tai Lavatai nursing sore ribs. Even with such a low total, the ‘under’ is tempting but we’ll take the points and the Midshipmen at home instead.
NCAAF Pick: Navy +11½ (-108) at Heritage Sports
Texas Longhorns vs. Houston Cougars
Saturday, October 21, 2023 – 04:00 PM EDT at TDECU Stadium
After taking last week off following a disappointing loss in the Red River Rivalry, the Texas Longhorns look to get back to business with a short trip over to Houston to face a Cougars squad that is coming off a thrilling win in Week 7.
First Meeting as Conference Foes Since 1995
The Longhorns and Cougars are getting together for the first time in 21 years, and it’s their first collision as conference opponents in 28 years. Unfortunately, it’s a short-lived conference rivalry with Texas moving out of the Big 12 after this season.
Texas has won the last seven clashes, that streak dating back to 1992. When the Longhorns and Cougars met in 2000-02, Texas won all three by a combined score of 142-37.
‘Horns Continue Lopsided Winning Trend
We’ll definitely see more passing in this matchup than the Air Force-Navy game. Texas ranks third in the Big 12 throwing for 300 yards a game while Houston is fifth at 276 YPG. The difference is on defense where the Longhorns top the conference surrendering 323 YPG while the Cougars are last allowing over 100 yards more.
The Pick
It’s a big number on the NCAAF odds where Texas is favored by more than three touchdowns. The Longhorns cover with a touchdown to spare.
NCAAF Pick: Texas -22½ (-108) at Heritage Sports
Clemson Tigers vs. Miami Hurricanes
Saturday, October 21, 2023 – 8:00 PM EDT at Hard Rock Stadium
Neither school is ranked, and the loser is doomed to a third ACC defeat a little more than midway through the campaign, but there’s still every reason to expect Clemson and Miami to go at each other as if it was for the National Championship.
Tigers Seeking 5th-Straight Over ‘Canes
Last year’s contest up in South Carolina was a runaway 40-10 win for Dabo Swinney and the Tigers. The victory was Clemson’s fourth in a row over Miami, and gave the Tigers a 6-2 advantage between the two as ACC rivals.
It has been eight years since the schools met in the Sunshine State, with that 2015 matchup an even bigger 58-0 rout for Clemson. The Tigers have covered as the favorite in all four wins during the current streak, and totals have split 2-2 O/U in the stretch.
Tigers Coming Out of Bye Week
Clemson took last week off after a rather ugly 17-21 win over Wake Forest, a game the Tigers were favored by three touchdowns. The defense saved the day for Dabo Swinney and the Tigers in that one, and the unit ranks fifth in the country allowing only 261 YPG.
Miami is coming off a pair of disappointing losses, the first a horrible upset to Georgia Tech’s 19-point chalk followed by a setback last week at North Carolina where turnovers killed the Hurricanes again.
The Pick
Clemson’s defense will show up again this week, and Miami will likely shoot itself in the foot with more turnovers. The Tigers minus a few points close out our free picks for Week 8.
NCAAF Pick: Clemson -2½ (-110) at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.
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