In week eight of the college football season, the race for conference titles is getting tight in the Big Ten and also the SEC. Slated for a showdown this Saturday in Columbus, two top-ten squads square off with Penn State traveling to Ohio State for a huge brawl with the Buckeyes. With both squads sporting undefeated records at 6-0, this has the makings of a classic conference battle. Meanwhile, in the SEC, Tennessee takes aim at Alabama, the latter of which has a perfect conference mark at 4-0. The Vols on the other hand are coming off back-to-back SEC wins at home over the likes of Texas A&M and South Carolina following an early conference loss to Florida.
In this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from each of these squads, a predicted winner in each game, and also more notes about college football betting.
| NCAA Football Week Eight Games | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penn State at Ohio State | Ohio State ML | -108 | -108 | -108 |
| Tennessee vs. Alabama | Alabama ML | -110 | -110 | -110 |
Team Spotlight: Penn State Nittany Lions
A squad with a balanced offense and a ferocious defense, the Nittany Lions have steamrolled teams in Big Ten conference play. While they have not played the upper crust of the conference in Michigan and Ohio State until this weekend, Penn State did score an emphatic 31-0 win over 6-1 Iowa in late September. A balanced attack (the Nittany Lions average over 200 yards passing and rushing each game), they also do not frequently make mistakes. Quarterback Drew Allar has no interceptions on the season, but does have an impressive 12 passing scores. Moreover, Penn State allows less than 72.5 rushing yards per contest so running could be an issue for the Buckeyes.
Team Spotlight: Ohio State Buckeyes
Coming off a shellacking of Purdue on the road, 41-7, the Buckeyes are set for their biggest game since their thrilling win over Notre Dame a couple of weeks ago on the road. A team with a bit more explosive offense than Penn State (the Buckeyes average almost 18 more yards a game), they will certainly need all their weapons against the vaunted Nittany Lion defense. Of course, the main player Penn State must account for is Buckeye wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. One of the most talented players of his generation, Harrison (19.5 yards per catch and five receiving touchdowns) has been dealing with an injury this season but should be ready to showcase his skills in front of a charged up home crowd.
Prediction: Another excellent conference game, select Ohio State to win here given their dominance at the “Shoe.”
Team Spotlight: Tennessee Volunteers
With a conference mark of 2-1 and an overall record of 5-2, the No.17-ranked Vols are another team that excels at punishing teams on the ground (233 rushing yards per contest). Quarterback Joe Milton III is a great dual-threat player (14 combined touchdowns this season) and has been very skillful at leading the Tennessee offense. Meanwhile, running back Jaylen Wright has excelled this year with 571 rushing yards along with one touchdown score. That said, the Tide have only been allowing 105.3 yards per game this year, but this could be the toughest attack they have seen thus far.
Team Spotlight: Alabama Crimson Tide
On the other side of the field is Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe who has been strong this season for Alabama, but has been marred by some inconsistency. With 11 passing scores on the year along with nearly 1,400 passing yards, he is the focal point of the Alabama offense but will need to be extra dynamic in this home battle with a tough Vols front. That said, the key to many Alabama teams is their defense and this year’s version is a solid one, allowing just under 300 yards a game (292.4). Indeed it would appear that is another SEC marquee matchup that fans will love on Saturday.
Prediction: In what should be a blistering game, take Alabama here given their solid resume against SEC teams this season and consistency on a weekly basis.
After you are all dialed in regarding the latest gaming news coming from the world of college football, make sure to also check out the wide variety of resources for you at SBS. Of course, an excellent page to bookmark this season and beyond is the best college football betting guide where you can find all the latest betting markets on the sport. Moreover, for those looking to bolster their wagers, our best bonus betting sites breakdown is a must-read page. Here you can peruse a catalog of the latest welcome bonus offers offered and see how you can use them to your advantage. Finally, a fantastic page for those on the go, the best betting apps rundown is an excellent resource to learn more about mobile betting.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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