Taking Bets: Week 8

This is as good of a spot as any to remind you, dear reader, that TD and Greg’s Takin’ On Sports is worth your time each Monday morning. But now it’s time for The Alabama Take to give you an awful collection of football betting predictions. It’s all here so that you can go the opposite direction!

2022 ATS Record
Blaine Duncan: 12-15 (Week Seven: 3-1)
TD Wood: 15-12 (Week Seven: 2-2)

Blaine Duncan 
Seems as though I won’t ever overcome a 3-1 hump. I’ll take it, though. For now.

West Virginia at Texas Tech (-6) — I like that the line moved a little this week in Texas Tech’s favor. I also like that West Virginia may be over hyped after a big (and draining?) win against Baylor. Give me the Red Raiders.

Minnesota at Penn State (-3.5) — Maybe I’m wrong about the Gophers, but I assumed this line would be more: I don’t think Minnesota’s very good this year. I suppose with P.J. Fleck as head coach, you can totally discount them. But the Nittany Lions are at home and it’s a night game. They seem to excel in that environment, unlike the noon kickoff against the Wolverines last week.

Texas A&M at South Carolina (+3) — Oh boy. Home dogs! The Gamecocks are coming off a huge win for them against Kentucky and the Aggies have had some rest after Bama whipped them. For South Carolina, that win last week will either motivate them to do big things at home or wear them out. But I think that tricky things can happen in Columbia. Plus, who wouldn’t like to rub some more dirt in Jimbo’s face?

NFL Game of the Week: Chiefs (-2) at 49ers — Bye weeks are a plenty at this point in the season, so it’s hard for me to narrow down an NFL game I liked. My working theory this year and last year is that when in doubt, go with the Chiefs for my bud Jefe. 

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TD Wood
2-2 weeks seem to be my groove this season. This is that tricky part of the year where picking games seems easier because we have a better idea of who teams are, but at the same time familiar conference matchups breed upsets that wreak havoc on bettors and bookmakers alike.

Houston at Navy (+3) — This isn’t as strong of a Navy team as we’ve been accustomed to in the past, but Houston isn’t a shining beacon of consistency themselves. The triple-option always throws a wrench into things, so I expect this to be a close, sloppy affair.

Cincy (-3.5) at SMU — The Bearcats have won five in a row since their opening game loss to Arkansas, while the Mustangs can’t seem to stop anybody on defense. SMU squeezed out a win over Navy last weekend to end their three game skid, but I don’t think that helps them much here.

UNLV (+26.5) at Notre Dame — I just don’t see this Fighting Irish team as being that many points better than anybody. In fact, they’ve only scored more than 26 points twice this season, and one of those was just 28 points. They should win, but by four scores? Nah.

NFL Game of the Week: Texans at Raiders (-7) — The Raiders have to play up to their talent level at some point, right? If ever there were a game for them to get going, this is it. A loss all but kills their playoff chances.

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