The Six Pack: Clemson-Pitt, Notre Dame-USC, LSU-Ole Whisk away out amongst exclusively Week 8 college soccer bets

This might increasingly maybe presumably be my least favourite week of the season to this level. It has nothing to set out with an absence of marquee games; somewhat, there’s no longer grand payment to be found out from a playing perspective. Is that the worst that you just would mediate of manner to promote you on the picks that might practice? Likely, but I’m no longer right here to promote you something. I’m right here to enable you to rep cash and comprise some fun along the manner.

Now, don’t set what I’m announcing right here the tainted manner. None of this is to negate there’s no longer payment to be found out or that I don’t dispute within the following picks. I’m simply announcing there’s no longer as grand payment as there became in earlier weeks. Logically, that methodology we’ll comprise our exclusively week of the season. Obviously. So, 6-0 right here we reach!

All odds are through Caesars Sportsbook

Video games of the Week

No. 8 Oklahoma State at Iowa State: I’ve received quite lots of questions on why Oklahoma State is a touchdown underdog against unranked Iowa State and the reply is easy. No matter its sage, there’s a correct argument to be made the Cyclones are in reality greater total than the Cowboys. They’re indubitably extra nicely-balanced. Peaceable, I don’t mediate they’re a rotund touchdown greater.

Iowa State’s total defensive numbers are solid, but it indubitably hasn’t performed as nicely on that facet of the ball lately. Plus, its offense has by no methodology been explosive. And whereas I have been well-known of Oklahoma State’s offense — it is a immense motive I comprise never been all that high on this crew despite its unblemished sage — it has performed greater on that facet of the ball lately and the protection is soundless solid. All of that makes it laborious to trust the Clones as favorites. Iowa State 24, Oklahoma State 21 | Oklahoma State +7

LSU at No. 12 Ole Whisk away out: That is no longer a easy sport to handicap. We wouldn’t comprise any thought how LSU will reply after the college reached a “separation agreement” with coach Ed Orgeron earlier this week. To be beautiful, although, it’s no longer treasure we were ever sure what to stay unsleeping for from the LSU sooner than that came about. The Tigers in the end had success leaning on their bustle sport in a 49-42 rep over Florida and I query they’ll carry that identical near right here. The Rebels protection has struggled against the bustle, rating 113th nationally in defensive expected aspects added (EPA) against the bustle and 123rd in success rate. Running the ball will moreover support the Ole Whisk away out offense off the arena a bit longer, which can maybe presumably be recommended. 

The assorted ingredient we comprise got to support in mind is that Rebels QB Matt Corral carried the ball 30 instances against Tennessee and he’s no longer exactly a wide. After the game, Lane Kiffin stated Corral became banged up and hinted that he might maybe presumably pass over the LSU sport. If he’s out or no longer up to 100%, that hurts Ole Whisk away out’ offensive ceiling, which exclusively makes the underneath even extra appealing right here. Ole Whisk away out 38, LSU 31 | Beneath 76

Lock of the Week

Clemson at No. 23 Pitt: The total world seems to dispute Clemson stinks now and Pitt has in the end entered the polls. That methodology it’s time to rep within the support of the Tigers and fade the Panthers. Certain, Pitt is 5-1 and has an explosive offense. QB Kenny Pickett has been so correct that he became named to our Midseason All-The usa crew — I voted for Matt Corral — but the reveal is that Pitt’s offense is moreover one-dimensional. While the Panthers rank third nationally with a passing effectivity of 183.9, they rank 41st nationally in rushing success rate. Additionally, it’s very no longer seemingly to ignore the disparity between Pitt’s efficiency in nonconference play when put next with ACC play. Total, the Panthers offense ranks ninth nationally with a success rate of 48.1%. In four games delivery air the ACC, that quantity rises to 51.7%. In two ACC games against Georgia Tech and Virginia Tech, it drops to 41.2%.

No disrespect to both Tech, but their defenses need to not as correct as Clemson’s. Certain, the Tigers comprise struggled offensively, but defensively they rank 16th nationally in success rate and 2nd nationally in aspects allowed per pressure. The Tigers protection has moreover been correct at limiting explosive performs within the passing sport, which is the attach this Pitt offense makes its living. Clemson 27, Pitt 24 | Clemson +3

Beneath of the Week

Syracuse at Virginia Tech: Appropriate because I stated Clemson’s protection is most sensible most likely than Virginia Tech’s doesn’t suggest Virginia Tech’s protection is disagreeable. It is barely correct, and it is a matchup of two teams that are extra legit on protection than offense. The Hokies rank 43rd nationally in aspects allowed per pressure (1.68), whereas the Orange are 52nd (1.75). Offensively, the Orange rank 60th nationally in aspects per pressure (2.28), whereas the Hokies are manner down in 111th (1.63). Peaceable, Syracuse has a red zone effectivity of 57.7% and a goal-to-drag effectivity of 69.2%. These numbers rank 82nd and 91st, respectively, meaning Cuse has reveal ending drives. Virginia Tech is no greater, rating 63rd and 94th in both categories itself.

Two teams that desire to bustle the ball a lot and comprise distress ending drives? That doesn’t sound treasure a excessive-scoring affair to me. Virginia Tech 21, Syracuse 17 | Beneath 45.5

USC at No. 13 Notre Dame: I carry out no longer trust this Notre Dame offense. Coach Brian Kelly doesn’t know who his quarterback is. Jack Coan, Drew Pyne and Tyler Buchner comprise all seen playing time in most contemporary weeks, but none comprise grabbed ahold of the job. I’m sure they’d all treasure being ready to lean on the bustle sport to support out, but it indubitably’s non-existent. The Irish rank 125th nationally with an realistic of 2.73 yards per carry and 125th nationally in rushing success rate. That must support a USC protection that might stop yards, but limits explosive performs, most frequently letting teams pressure the arena sooner than playing red zone roulette.

Notre Dame’s energy lies on the defensive facet of the ball. I treasure how it matches up against a USC offense that ranks 47th nationally in aspects per pressure and eighth in success rate, but has no longer been enormous at ending drives (87th in red-zone effectivity). I don’t mediate this might be a rock fight within the truest sense, but I don’t survey both crew reaching 30 aspects, both, and that makes the underneath a shapely possibility. Notre Dame 27, USC 20 | Beneath 57.5

Mesoamericans of the Week

No. 22 San Diego State at Air Pressure: I do not know the plan grand consideration you pay to the Mountain West, but it is a immense sport. Air Pressure has appeared treasure the exclusively crew within the Mountain Division, whereas San Diego State is tied with Nevada atop the West Division. Both of these teams are a connected in that they lean heavily on the bustle ; exclusively Navy runs the ball extra most frequently than Air Pressure and SDSU’s dart rate of 64.2% ranks seventh nationally. Both teams are moreover terrific at stopping the bustle. SDSU is 2nd nationally in success rate against the bustle whereas Air Pressure is fifth. 

So both teams bustle the ball a lot, and both teams pause the bustle. That tells me it can maybe presumably be a low-scoring sport! Peaceable, whereas I don’t query to survey quite lots of aspects right here, I don’t survey grand payment on the total. In its attach, I survey payment on the underdog because I doubt the game shall be made up our minds by extra than a arena goal in both route. So I am going to set these aspects, thank you very grand. San Diego State 23, Air Pressure 21 | San Diego State +3.5

SportsLine Purchase of the Week

No. 10 Oregon at UCLA: Whoops! I ran out of room in The Six Pack, and there’s one other wager this weekend I love. When you might well wish to understand what it is, you would in discovering it on my SportsLine web page.

Which college soccer picks can you kind with self assurance in Week 8, and which high-10 crew will drag down laborious? Whisk to SportsLine to survey which teams will rep and conceal the unfold — all from a proven computer model that has returned nearly $3,700 in profit all around the final 5-plus seasons — and in discovering out.