Week 8 College Football Odds: Bama is the biggest favorite in Third Saturday history (and they’ll cover)

First off, after the weekend of chaos, Alabama has narrowed its odds of winning the 2018 CFB Playoff — they’re more than a scratch favorite as of this week per Bovada. And, outside of Ohio State and Clemson, not a single team comes closer to 10:1. This is truly a season where few teams have impressed the deep wallets:

Odds to Win the 2018 CFP National Championship:

10/9/17 Current Odds (10/16/17)

Alabama 5/4 10/11

Ohio State 15/2 5/1

Clemson 15/4 9/1

Georgia 18/1 10/1

Penn State 10/1 10/1

Wisconsin 20/1 20/1

Oklahoma 25/1 25/1

Oklahoma State 25/1 25/1

Miami Florida 33/1 28/1

TCU 40/1 28/1

USC 16/1 28/1

Michigan 33/1 33/1

NC State 75/1 33/1

Notre Dame 50/1 33/1

Washington 18/1 40/1

Auburn 33/1 75/1

Central Florida 150/1 100/1

Michigan State Off the Board 100/1

South Florida 150/1 100/1

LSU 200/1 200/1

Virginia Tech 200/1 200/1

Stanford 300/1 300/1

Washington State 50/1 300/1

Texas 200/1 1000/1

San Diego State 150/1 Off the Board

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On to Week 8. There are a lot of huge games this weekend, and a few traditional rivalries.

As large as it is, I think Alabama covers five touchdowns against the Vols. I just don’t see how Tennessee can score or stop the Tide’s ground game. UAB is good value at less than a touchdown against UNC-C, even though it is a road game. Michigan as a ‘dog is enticing too. PSU struggled when Northwestern sold out to stop the run, making for a really slopping first three quarters. Michigan won’t have to sell out to contain Barkley. Expect a low scoring one here. Oklahoma State at less than a touchdown in Austin is appealing: The ‘Horns probably still have an emotional hangover from last week. And, they weren’t able to contain Sermon, but OSU’s running game goes much deeper than OU’s. Wake as a two-score ‘dog against the Yellow Jackets is probably too much. The Demon Deacons are coming off a bye and this team plays good defense. GT will likely win, but you can easily see a Yellow Jackets special: a one-touchdown game either way.

Finally, there’s no amount of money that could entice me to take the Memphis-Houston action, a true toss-up with the home Cougars at -2. Memphis has the redhot offense, buyt the Cougs play better defense. Add to that the myriad arrests and injuries on the Tigers’ defense, and the home team could win big here. Nor would I take the ND-USC or Ole Miss-LSU games. I have a reasoned opinion as to how both of those games should play out, but when you’re dealing with Orgeron, an interim HC, Brian Kelly, and a Trojan offensive coordinator that hates his excellent running back, reason flies out the window.

Here are the spreads per Bookmaker.eu

College Football Week 8 Opening Odds

Top 25

Tennessee at Alabama (-33)

Michigan at Penn State (-12.5)

Kansas at TCU (-38)

Maryland at Wisconsin (-24)

Syracuse at Miami (-14.5)

Oklahoma at Kansas State (+12.5)

Oklahoma State at Texas (+6)

USC at Notre Dame (-3.5)

North Carolina at Virginia Tech (-21)

Colorado at Washington State (-10)

South Florida at Tulane (+11)

Indiana at Michigan State (-7)

UCF at Navy (+6.5)

Auburn at Arkansas (OFF)

West Virginia at Baylor (+9.5)

LSU at Ole Miss (+7)

Memphis at Houston (-2)

Full Schedule

Memphis at Houston (-2)

UL Lafayette at Arkansas State (-13)

Western Kentucky at Old Dominion (+10)

Marshall at Middle Tennessee State (+2.5)

Air Force at Nevada (+5.5)

Colorado State at New Mexico (+6.5)

Iowa at Northwestern (+1)

Tulsa at Connecticut (+7)

Troy at Georgia State (+10)

SMU at Cincinnati (OFF)

North Texas at Florida Atlantic (-6.5)

Buffalo at Miami Ohio (OFF)

Akron at Toledo (OFF)

Kent at Ohio (-21)

Northern Illinois at Bowling Green (+14)

Western Michigan at Eastern Michigan (OFF)

Indiana at Michigan State (-7)

UAB at Charlotte (+4.5)

Temple at Army (-6.5)

BYU at East Carolina (+7.5)

Purdue at Rutgers (+8)

Pittsburgh at Duke (-8)

Syracuse at Miami (-14.5)

Central Michigan at Ball State (+2.5)

Wake Forest at Georgia Tech (-8.5)

Coastal Carolina at Appalachian State (OFF)

Michigan at Penn State (-12.5)

Maryland at Wisconsin (-24)

North Carolina at Virginia Tech (-21)

Boston College at Virginia (-7)

Wyoming at Boise State (-14)

Kansas at TCU (-38)

Rice at UTSA (-18.5)

Georgia Southern at UMass (-7)

UCF at Navy (+6.5)

Idaho at Missouri (-14)

Kentucky at Mississippi State (-10)

South Florida at Tulane (+11)

Utah State at UNLV (-2.5)

Southern Miss at Louisiana Tech (-3.5)

Oregon at UCLA (-6.5)

Arizona at Cal (-1.5)

Illinois at Minnesota (-14.5)

Tennessee at Alabama (-33)

Oklahoma State at Texas (+6)

West Virginia at Baylor (+9.5)

Auburn at Arkansas (OFF)

Louisville at Florida State (-7)

UL Monroe at South Alabama (-5)

USC at Notre Dame (-3.5)

Oklahoma at Kansas State (+12.5)

LSU at Ole Miss (+7)

Iowa State at Texas Tech (-5)

Arizona State at Utah (OFF)

Colorado at Washington State (-10)

Fresno State at San Diego State (-11.5)

Early Sharp Action:

- Michigan +12.5 to +10- Northwestern +1 to -1.5

- North Texas +6.5 to +3- UAB -4 to -7

- East Carolina +7.5 to +5.5- UTSA -18.5 to -21.5

- Arizona +1.5 to -1

Notes:

- Penn State (-12.5) is favored over Michigan for the first time since 2009

- Tennessee is the largest underdog (+33) its been since before the 1985 season. The Vols have lost 10 straight to Alabama, and the Tide has been favored by at least two touchdowns in nine straight [Ed. Note: as of this writing, the big money has already moved in, bolstering Alabama to -25 to -35.5 depending on the book.]

- Purdue (-8) is favored is favored in a road game for the first time since 11/17/12 (at Illinois)