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College Football Betting Preview: Week 8 picks

Trevor Ruszkowski / USA TODAY Sports

Each week during the college football season, theScore's Dane Belbeck will handicap the board and offer up a pack of picks.

Season record

Gold/Silver/Bronze: 13-6-2
Other: 13-8
Twitter picks: 5-3
Overall: 31-17-2

USC at Notre Dame (-3.5)

Notre Dame is playing at home, coming off a bye week and owns the nation's fifth-ranked rushing attack. USC is coming off a very physical win against Utah, making the long trip to South Bend, and has the nation's 61st-ranked rushing defense. Sam Darnold will have to be at his absolute best to keep this one close on Saturday night. The projected No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft should have some success against the Notre Dame secondary, but the Fighting Irish will run wild over the Trojans and get the huge rivalry win. Notre Dame 38, USC 27

Syracuse (+15) at Miami

With Syracuse due for a letdown after a monster win against Clemson last Friday this one would usually be a game to avoid. However, with Miami among the most banged-up teams in the country, the Orange are a strong play to keep this one within 15 points on Saturday. Eric Dungey is one of the more dangerous quarterbacks in the ACC, and should experience some success against the Hurricanes. Miami's offense should put up enough points to get the win at home, but Syracuse will keep this one close enough to cover. Miami 38, Syracuse 28

Oklahoma State at Texas (+7.5)

Betting Tom Herman as an underdog is a rule that should always be followed in college football, and this week is no different for Texas when hosting Oklahoma State. With the Longhorns' narrow loss to Oklahoma last week, Herman improved his record to 7-0 against the spread when his team is listed as an underdog. That holds true this week when Texas gets 7.5 points at home against the high-powered Cowboys. Oklahoma State can score with the best in the country, but Texas has enough firepower to keep this one close and move Herman's record to a remarkable 8-0 against the number as an underdog. Oklahoma State 34, Texas 31

Other games of note

Iowa State (+5.5) at Texas Tech

(Photo courtesy: Action Images)

Iowa State has scored at least 38 points in five of six games this season. Texas Tech has hit the 35-point mark in four of six contests this season. There will be points in Lubbock on Saturday afternoon. First rule of betting a shootout is take the points, and that's exactly what to do in this Big 12 affair. Texas Tech will get the win, but there's too much offense on the field to lay six points. Texas Tech 48, Iowa State 45

South Florida (-12) at Tulane

Charlie Strong's first season with South Florida is off to a torrid start as the Bulls are 6-0 with a whopping plus-154 point differential. The Bulls' entire team philosophy focuses on the run, as the team boasts the 11th-best rushing attack in the country while also holding the nation's third-best run defense. That's bad news for a Tulane team that is 103rd at stopping the run. Look for Quinton Flowers to have a big day for South Florida as Strong runs his program's record to 7-0. South Florida 31, Tulane 14

Indiana at Michigan State (-7)

Indiana relies heavily on the passing attack to move its offense, and that is not a good sign as it heads into Michigan State. The Spartans' pass defense is ranked 12th in the country, allowing only 170 yards per game, which will force the Hoosiers to run the ball. With a rushing attack ranked 78th in the country, that isn't a recipe for success in East Lansing. Michigan State 28, Indiana 17

Picks summary
Notre Dame -3.5 (Gold)
Syracuse +15 (Silver)
Texas +7.5 (Bronze)
Iowa State +5.5
South Florida -12
Michigan State -7

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