Outkick's Vegas Top Ten For Week 8 2019

By Todd Fuhrman

We had our first major upset of the college football season when the #3 team in the country Georgia fell as 21-point favorites to the feisty Gamecocks of South Carolina!  UGA fell to #6 but it was their conference mate LSU continuing their ascent in the rankings.  Penn State also jumped into the Top 10 this week after a gritty win at Kinnick Stadium under the lights Saturday night.  This week our overrated team was featured as our best bet last week, our underrated team covered impressively on the road last week, and our best bet heads west for a Pac12 showdown.

Bet the Board Top 10 Week 8:

1.) Alabama

2.) Ohio State

3.) LSU

4.) Clemson

5.) Oklahoma

6.) Georgia

7.) Wisconsin

8.) Florida

9.) Penn State

10.) Auburn

Overrated:  Temple Owls

We featured Temple in our Best Bet section last week and sure enough the line crumbled on game day and the Owls got there outright against Memphis.  Temple has now cracked the Top 25 in the USA Today Coaches Poll but that’s a hike from where we currently have them power rated.  Michigan State, Iowa State, Texas A&M, and UCF are all unranked yet we’d have each listed as a significant favorite over Temple.  The defense is solid in North Philly yet the offense leaves a ton to be desired.  QB Anthony Russo is averaging just 6.9 yards per pass attempt with a 2.16 TD to Interception ratio and the Owls barely crack the Top 100 in offensive efficiency despite facing a SOS outside of the Top 80.  Temple has been a fantastic team to back in certain spots this year (mainly as a dog) however the current perception exceeds the play on the field.  They have a tough challenge this week on the road at SMU where they’re installed 8-point underdogs.

Underrated: Iowa State Cyclones

We’ve been outspoken about our love for Cyclones HC Matt Campbell on the Bet the Board podcast and this team is starting to hit its stride at the right time this year.  Iowa State has faced a Top 30 SOS that includes Iowa, Baylor, and TCU.  They rank in the Top 40 in both offensive and defensive efficiency and are a net +2.5 yards per play this season; holding opponents to just 4.6 yards per play on offense.  Brock Purdy is starting to heat up producing a 3.66 TD to Interception ratio on 9.0 yards per pass attempt.  We’ve seen the market react strongly to Iowa State this week, moving them out to 7-point favorites after opening -5.5 on the road at Texas Tech.  Obviously the polls are based on the Win/Loss column when in reality Iowa State is a Top 15-20 program.

Best Bet: Washington Huskies +3:

Oregon-Washington at 3:30pm eastern is probably the game of the day and we think the home underdog has value here.  This line opened Oregon -2, was touched up to 3, and now we’ve seen it settle at a full field goal.  Oregon has looked good in spurts after their Week 1 loss to Auburn with the metrics suggesting this is an ultra talented defense.  That said the Ducks had a devastating injury at the TE position, as their #1 leading receiver Jake Breeland is out for the season with an injury.

On the defensive end, LB Dye and S Holland left the Colorado game early, and are probable for Saturday, but they’re worth monitoring.  Washington C Nick Harris should be healthy for this Oregon game which is big get back.  After their dominating win last week at home against Colorado on Friday night (45-3), Oregon has peaked in the market, and now offers a good time to sell.  There is also a little revenge angle for the Huskies from last years 30-27 OT loss in Eugene.  Take the Huskies, and make sure you get the +3!