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Spread Options: Dr. Saturday's Week 8 picks against the spread

Nick Bromberg
·College football and motorsports writer
Will Boise State and RB Jeremy McNichols beat BYU by seven points or more? We'd bet on it. (Getty)
Will Boise State and RB Jeremy McNichols beat BYU by seven points or more? We’d bet on it. (Getty)

Well we didn’t go under .500 last week. We were 5-5 in Week 7, bringing the season total to 26-40-4. Keep fading.

Miami (+6.5) at Virginia Tech, 7 p.m. ET THURSDAY: Both teams enter after surprising losses. The Hurricanes lost to North Carolina while Virginia Tech fell at Syracuse. The Hurricanes are No. 57 in total offense while Virginia Tech is No. 59, though those ranks are a bit misleading. Miami’s offense has been much more efficient, averaging over 7 yards per play. Virginia Tech is at 5.47.

BYU at Boise State (-6.5), 10:15 p.m. ET THURSDAY: BYU is the master of close games; six of its seven games this season have been decided by a possession. Boise State got a big lead against Colorado State and let up in the second half last week, making the game seem closer than it was in the third quarter. No let up this week for the Broncos, who win by 10.

Rutgers at Minnesota (UNDER 44.5), Noon ET: You know by now that the Rutgers offense isn’t good at all without Janarion Grant and Minnesota is very good at efficient, low-scoring football. The Gophers are 4-2, though both losses came in Big Ten play. And Minnesota’s last two Big Ten games have each totaled less than 44.5 points against better competition. This has the feel of a 27-7 game.

Wisconsin at Iowa (UNDER 42.5), Noon ET: Yep, we’re going with another low-scoring Big Ten game. Iowa’s offense has been a bit unpredictable so far this season; the Hawkeyes have broken 40 points three times, but have also won two 14-7 games (including one at Rutgers). Given the strength of Wisconsin’s defense, we’re going with much closer to 14 than 40.

Texas A&M (+18) at Alabama, 3:30 p.m. ET: There has to be a point where Alabama doesn’t cover a massive point spread, right? If the Tide beats Texas A&M and covers the 18, every game for the rest of the season could have a line of 20 points or more. This game is too tempting, however. It’s not often you get the chance to take the No. 6 team in the country and 18 points.

Purdue (+24) at Nebraska, 3:30 p.m. ET: The Boilermakers aren’t going to spring an upset on the undefeated Cornhuskers, but we’re betting on the interim coach effect keeping this game within three touchdowns. Nebraska’s biggest margin of victory in three conference games has been 15 points. That was to an Illinois team who lost to Purdue.

Utah (+7) at UCLA, 4 p.m. ET: We’re going with this line under the assumption UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen won’t start on Saturday. Rosen hurt his shoulder against Arizona State and didn’t play vs. Washington State. He’s a game-time decision for Saturday, and lingering doubts on his status make us wonder just how effective he’ll be if he does play.

Middle Tennessee State at Missouri (UNDER 71): This is one of the highest over/unders for the weekend and it’s because of Middle Tennessee State’s potent offense. The Blue Raiders average over 81 plays per game and have scored 29 offensive touchdowns in six games. But MTSU scored just 24 against Vanderbilt in Week 2. Missouri’s defense is as good as Vanderbilt’s. And the offense has been putrid the last two weeks. A 35-27 game is still a comfortable under.

Arkansas (+9.5) at Auburn, 6 p.m. ET: These teams have the best losses in the country. Each has lost to No. 6 Texas A&M while Arkansas has lost to No. 1 Alabama and Auburn fell to No. 4 Clemson to open the season. The Tigers have played much better over the past two games, but Arkansas rebounded nicely from its Alabama drubbing against Ole Miss. The Razorbacks may not win, but certainly cover.

Oklahoma at Texas Tech (UNDER 84.5), 8 p.m. ET: Tech is again involved in the highest over/under of the weekend and we’re again taking the under. We’re anxious to see how the Oklahoma offense looks without Samaje Perine and how Dede Westbrook torches the Texas Tech secondary. Meanwhile, the Red Raiders shouldn’t have too much trouble vs. an Oklahoma defense that has been susceptible to the big play. This game will take four hours, but it may not have 85 or more points.

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Nick Bromberg is the assistant editor of Dr. Saturday on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at nickbromberg@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!