Last week, we went a respectable 3-2 and was one really bad beat away from being 4-1. Temple driving the entire length of the field in about 30 seconds with no timeouts and scoring a game-winning touchdown with one second remaining is as improbable as it comes. This week, we have a diverse group of games as our top college football picks. There are two games each in the SEC and MAC conferences. We also look at one AAC game. Additionally, here are a couple more games that missed the cut this week to keep an eye on. TCU as nearly a touchdown underdog against West Virginia has upset potential. Washington as a 36.5 point favorite over Oregon State seems a little high. Texas as a three point underdog against Kansas State is also worth a look. All lines listed are courtesy of OddsShark and are subject to change. Picks are listed in order from least to greatest level of confidence. Click the arrow on the right side of the above image to see Heavy's top college football picks and bets for Week 8. (Getty)
No. 5 Arkansas +9.5 Over Auburn
Spread: Auburn by 9.5
Last Week: Arkansas won 34-30 over Ole Miss, Auburn won 38-14 over Mississippi State
Take the Points: Arkansas has two losses this season and the two defeats came from the top two teams in the SEC (Alabama and Texas A&M). The Razorbacks are coming off an impressive win against Ole Miss. Arkansas finally got their running game going with 200 yards on the ground against Ole Miss. I still do not trust the quarterback situation in Auburn. Look for this one to be close with the Razorbacks having a chance to pull off the upset at the end. (Getty)
No. 4 Toledo -10.5 Over Central Michigan
Spread: Toledo by 10.5
Last Week: Toledo won 42-35 over Bowling Green, Central Michigan won 34-28 over Northern Illinois
Why Toledo Covers: Toledo might be the best team in the country that few people have heard about. They are 5-1 with their lone defeat coming against BYU by two points. They are ranked 35th in the S&P+ rankings while Central Michigan is all the way down at 84th. The OddsShark computer also likes Toledo and projects a 33.5-20.6 victory over Central Michigan. Look for Toledo to win comfortably at home against Central Michigan. (Getty)
No. 3 USF -6.5 Over Temple
Spread: USF by 6.5
Last Week: USF won 42-27 over Connecticut, Temple won 26-25 over UCF
Why USF Covers: Both USF and Temple have had good seasons against the spread. Temple looked vulnerable against UCF and needed a last-second touchdown to pull out the improbable victory. USF is one of the best teams in the AAC. In their three conference games, the Bulls have won by 16 or more points. USF is ranked just outside the top 25 in the S&P + rankings at 26th compared to 46th for the Owls. The OddsShark computer projections also favor USF. The computer projects a USF 33.1-16.4 victory over Temple. (Getty)
No. 2 Ohio -3.5 Over Kent State
Spread: Ohio by 3.5
Last Week: Ohio lost 27-20 to Eastern Michigan, Kent State lost 18-14 to Miami (Ohio)
Why Ohio Covers: Both teams are coming off losses, but Kent State is just 2-5 this season. Their only wins have come against Monmouth and Buffalo. Ohio's wins include beating Kansas and Bowling Green. The Bobcats also hung with Tennessee earlier this season. The OddsShark computer has picked up on the mismatch in this contest. It projects a 20.2-9.6 Ohio victory. Go with Ohio in this one. (Getty)
No. 1 Texas A&M +18.5 Over Alabama
Spread: Alabama by 18.5
Last Week: Texas A&M had a bye, Alabama won 49-10 over Tennessee
Take the Points: The Alabama line of 18.5 points seems like an overreaction to their thrashing over Tennessee. The Vols were due for a regression after early season good fortune in the second half of games. The Aggies are good and as balanced as it comes in terms of overall makeup. They have two NFL-caliber defensive ends in Myles Garrett and Daeshon Hall. The offense is humming under transfer quarterback Trevor Knight. The Aggies may not top Bama, but this will be the Crimson Tide's biggest test to date this season. Expect this SEC showdown to come down to the fourth quarter. (Getty)
College Football Picks & Odds: Top 5 Best Bets Against the Spread Week 8