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NCAAF opening line report: Week 8 highlighted by high-profile rivalry games

Rick Osentoski / USA TODAY Sports

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Week 8 of the college football season includes one of the game’s most storied rivalries. Covers checks in on the opening lines and early action for a quartet of contests, with insights from Dave Mason, brand manager for offshore sportsbook BetOnline.ag.

No. 10 Southern California Trojans at No. 16 Notre Dame Fighting Irish (-4)

Southern Cal is 6-1 SU and the exact opposite 1-6 ATS, failing to cover the number in five consecutive games. In Week 7, the Trojans barely held off Utah 28-27 as a 13.5-point home favorite, winning when the Utes failed on a 2-point conversion late, instead of playing for overtime.

Notre Dame (5-1 SU and ATS) has won its last four games, all by at least 20 points. The Fighting Irish had a bye in Week 7, after topping North Carolina 33-10 as a 12-point road chalk.

“With a 1-6 ATS record, USC has been dismal to its loyal bettors this season,” Mason said. “Notre Dame has been on the opposite end of the spectrum, having covered five out of its last six games. Not only is this game taking on more early bets than any other on the college betting board, but 65 percent of the bettors are counting on another Irish cover and Trojan noncover.”

No. 15 Michigan Wolverines at No. 2 Penn State Nittany Lions (-10)

Penn State hopes to continue its trek toward a Big Ten title and perhaps a College Football Playoff berth. The Nittany Lions (6-0 SU, 4-1-1 ATS) had a Week 7 bye, after dumping Northwestern 31-7 as a 14-point road fave in Week 6.

Michigan (5-1 SU, 2-3-1 ATS) rebounded from its home loss to Michigan State, but didn’t look that good in doing so. The Wolverines needed overtime to beat Indiana 27-20 giving 7 points on the road.

Mason said Penn State was one of the biggest winners for the public in Weeks 5 and 6.

“Despite this, 58 percent of early bettors are counting on Michigan to cover its fourth straight game versus the Nittany Lions,” Mason said, alluding to the Wolverines winning and cashing in the last three meetings with Penn State.

No. 11 Oklahoma State at Texas Longhorns (+7)

Texas just saw one team from Oklahoma and will immediately see another, hoping for a better result this time. The Longhorns (3-3 SU, 4-1-1 ATS) stormed back from a 20-0 deficit against Oklahoma to take a 24-23 lead, but fell short 29-24 catching 9 points on a neutral field at the Cotton Bowl.

Oklahoma State (5-1 SU, 4-2 ATS) looks like it has returned to form on the offensive side of the ball. The Cowboys nearly hung a 60-burger on hapless Baylor, winning 59-16 as a hefty 26-point home chalk.

“Even though the public cashed on yet another Texas Red River Rivalry cover last Saturday, Oklahoma State is getting all of the early love here,” Mason said. “Only 20 percent of the tickets are on the Longhorns so far.”

No. 20 Central Florida Knights at Navy Midshipmen (+7)

Central Florida has quietly thrown a perfect game, SU and ATS, at 5-0 on both counts. The Knights boatraced a hapless East Carolina unit in Week 7, 63-21 giving 35 points.

Navy (5-1 SU, 3-2-1 ATS) won its first five games to crack the national rankings and came close to staying perfect in Week 7. The Midshipmen fell at Memphis 30-27, pushing as a 3-point pup.

“Central Florida has been a money-making machine this season. Not only are they 5-0 ATS, but they won by double digits in each of the five games, with an average margin of victory of 33.8 pts,” Mason said. “No wonder Central Florida has more bets so far than any other team, and this game is our biggest sweat so far, with just 8 percent of bettors on Navy and the points.”

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