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7 betting trends to trust in Week 8

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Eastern Michigan covering a spread off a straight-up loss? Check.

Ranked teams failing to cover after getting blown out? Yep!

Those were just a few angles we dug into last week. Again, trends tell us more about what's already happened than what will come next. Still, they could also line up with an edge you already have.

With that in mind, here are some angles to consider with Week 8 on deck:

Ranked Power 5 teams coming off a loss by at least 14 points are 67-106-2 ATS the following week

Situation: Wisconsin -25 vs. Illinois

This situation took two more victims last week, as Virginia Tech failed to cover as 5.5-point chalk over North Carolina while Auburn lost outright to Tennessee as a 15.5-point favorite.

This weekend, it's Wisconsin that wears the hangover suit. The Badgers, coming off a blowout loss to Michigan, are tasked with covering 25 points in an early afternoon game against lowly Illinois.

Penn State is 2-12-2 against the spread following a loss under head coach James Franklin

Situation: Penn State -14 at Indiana

A bye week apparently didn't help Penn State recuperate following a home loss to Ohio State. The Nittany Lions recorded another defeat last weekend to Michigan State at home as 13.5-point favorites, kissing their College Football Playoff hopes goodbye.

Motivation will become an even bigger factor for the Nittany Lions in Week 8. Penn State will go on the road and lay double digits to Indiana with merely a better bowl game spot to play for.

South Florida is 1-7 against the spread as a double-digit favorite under Charlie Strong

Situation: South Florida -32.5 vs. UConn

The Bulls have already had some close calls this season as heavy chalk, beating Illinois by six as a 14-point favorite, East Carolina by seven as a 20-point favorite, and Tulsa by one as a 10-point favorite.

Saturday's game against historically-bad UConn might not be all that close, but you still have 30-plus points to work with.

UAB is 9-0-1 against the spread in its last 10 home games

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Situation: North Texas -1 at UAB

The Blazers have been stellar at home over this span, covering the spread by an average of 10 points per game. That stretch includes a pair of outright wins as 'dogs of 6.5 and 10.5 from a year ago. North Texas' No. 9 passing attack in the country will match up with UAB's No. 3 pass defense.

San Diego State is 2-8 against the spread in its last 10 games as a home favorite

Situation: San Jose State +28 at San Diego State

It's been tough for San Diego State when it's giving points.

The Aztecs are 0-3 this season as a home favorite with two close calls - a four-point win over Air Force as 11-point favorites just last week, and an overtime win as 10-point chalk against Eastern Michigan in Week 4.

Eastern Michigan is on a 15-2 run against the spread when playing on the road

Situation: Eastern Michigan -2.5 at Ball State

Another reason to love gambling: Eastern Michigan popping up everywhere in terms of situational handicapping. This isn't the first time the Eagles have made our trends list.

They've been a great road underdog, just as they've been a terrific bounce-back team. They've been consistently undervalued in certain spots, which includes playing away from home, where they've covered 15 of the last 17 under head coach Chris Creighton.

Tulsa's opponents are on a 6-0 run to the team total under when the Golden Hurricane are on the road

Situation: Tulsa +6 at Arkansas; O/U 55.5

I alluded to this Friday when Tulsa was on its way to yet another game played to the under: What happened to all the overs?

The Golden Hurricane have been one of the hottest under teams, ripping off five straight and six consecutive away from home, which has seen all six of their opponents sail under the team total. The line and total suggest somewhere around the 30-30.5 range for Arkansas, which lost starting running back Devwah Whaley to an injury last weekend versus Ole Miss.

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