Taking Bets | Apologies, But We Have To Pick | Week Eight

Every Friday evening, Taking Bets gets you ready for the weekend's football with some ideas on the bets to make. It's Mallory McCormack, host of The Staredown podcast, Blaine Duncan, editor-in-chief and host of the TV podcast Taking It Down, and TD Wood, host of Takin' On Sports.

2023 ATS Record
Blaine Duncan: 11-14-2 (Week Seven: 2-2)
TD Wood: 16-11 (Week Seven: 2-2)
Mallory McCormack: 17-8-2 (Week Seven: 3-1)

Blaine Duncan 
I loved a lot of lines this week, and that spells disaster, usually. For the record, I'm forgoing Penn State+4.5, Oklahoma State+3.5, Toledo-2, and Ole Miss+6.5. Let's see if I picked correctly.

Memphis (-6.5) at UAB -- It's just a matter of a better team, despite UAB getting the Tigers at home. That likely won't amount to much. To me, the signs are in Memphis being 4-2 and could've easily been better and UAB being 2-5.

Minnesota at Iowa (-3.5) -- A lot of the reason why I took Iowa is that the line looked good for a team like the Hawkeyes, who have a lot to play for with only one loss, getting the Gophers at home. And the other part of my reasoning was that I didn't feel right taking only teams on the road.

Clemson (-3) at Miami -- Miami losing last week sort of reflects a team that may not get over that Georgia Tech blunder. Combine that with: Clemson only has to win by a field goal, and Miami's home field advantage has been nonexistent for many years.

NFL Game of the Week:
Steelers at Rams (-3) -- Of all the pro games this week, this one had some appeal. The Rams have the better QB play and are at home. I've been taught to follow those two bits of information when betting the NFL. It's a low enough line that Stafford and the rest of L.A. should celebrate a touchdown victory this weekend.

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TD Wood
Really didn't see that Illinois upset over Maryland coming, but such is the glorious chaos of college football. A good reminder that this here venture is not so much about knowing what we're talking about as it is getting lucky with our game selection.

UCF at Oklahoma (17.5) -- The last time we saw the Sooners they were wearing the Golden Hat, celebrating their victory over rival Texas, and announcing to the country they were playoff contenders. They had a week off to come down from that high and prepare for the rest of the season, starting with Big 12 newcomers UCF. Dillon Gabriel should lead the Oklahoma offense to a big day against his former team.

Minnesota at Iowa (-3.5) -- Going with Blaine here, I think the Hawkeyes are just too good for Minnesota. Iowa's defense will be too much for the Golden Gophers offense. This looks like a classic 13-0 Iowa game.

Ole Miss (-6.5) at Auburn -- I don't see why the Rebels offense can't do the same thing the LSU offense did to Auburn. Their defense might give up a few more points, but the Tigers don't have enough firepower to keep up with Ole Miss.

NFL Game of the Week:
Dolphins at Eagles (Over 50.5) -- The Eagles offense hasn't played up to its potential this season, and i feel like this is the game they get going. Alabama fans will be losing their minds during this shootout.

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Mallory McCormack
My Rebels are back in action and I am headed to the Big Apple. That's right, NEW YORK, NEW YORK here I come!!! I'm going to my first ever Giants game on Sunday and I am pumped! Watching SEC football in the city that never sleeps sounds pretty fun if I do say so. Speaking of not sleeping, I guess I slept on Missouri and shouldn't have. My apologies Mizzou. Thankfully though, my other 3 picks were good. So without further ado let’s get to this week’s picks.

Wisconsin (-2.5) at Illinois — I do love Luke Altmyer. I’ll even produce receipts where I said I thought he was QB 1 at Ole Miss after Corral left. I was wrong then. I don’t think I’m wrong now. Sorry Luke.

Memphis (-6.5) at UAB — A battle of the I-22 corridor. I do love that UAB is putting themselves back on the map after all the bs they’ve been through the last decade. But Memphis brings too much depth in comparison.

South Carolina at Missouri (-7.5) -- I was incorrect picking Kentucky over Mizzou last week. I won’t make the same mistake again. Let’s just hope Beamer doesn’t kick something else with the other foot and break it.

NFL Game of the Week:
Browns (-3.0) at Colts -- I don't love any of the games for the second week in a row. I really wanted to pick the Commanders at the Giants but I’m actually going to that game (my first ever Giants game!!!!) so I decided to leave it alone. Richardson having season ending surgery takes whatever wind out of the Colts sails.

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Note: All games are Against the Spread. Odds are taken from the Caesar's Sportsbook.