Welcome to Week Eight of college football! Join us on The Alabama Take each Friday afternoon as four writers make the best (and worst) predictions on college and NFL games. They’ll lose a lot, cry some, and make plenty of friends along the way. On Mondays and Tuesdays, be sure to check out Takin’ On Sports, a weekly sports show with a focus on Alabama and the rest of the SEC.
2026 Results
Blaine Duncan: 10-17 (Week Seven: 2-2)
TD Wood: 14-12-1 (Week Seven: 2-1-1)
Mallory McCormack: 10-15-2 (Week Seven: 1-2-1)
Greg Bosworth: 16-10-1 (Week Seven: 3-1)
Blaine Duncan
The lines have been weird this year, but I’ve also picked horribly. As for this week, it seems to offer big games with some questionable spreads, which means that Vegas knows a lot more than I.
(Friday Night) Army at Tulsa (-1.5) – Despite a lackluster year of making picks thus far, Tulsa has been my diamond in the rough. I’ve had a theory that once you find a team that hits, it’s not a bad idea to continue with them until they show inconsistency against the spread. Plus, I still think the Golden Hurricanes are a bit better than their 4-3 record may indicate.
Tennessee (+2.5) at South Carolina – Last I checked, the Gamecocks were all set to fire their head coach. Now that Beamer got a massive win against Florida, they’re good? Not so fast. Even if Alabama’s offense fell to pieces against them, the Vols’ defense is real. Tennessee should have no issues with LaNorris Sellers and company. Yet I wonder what the oddsmakers know.
USC (-3) at Wisconsin – Maybe it’s having to go East two games in a row that have the Trojans with such a small line. Still, they took care of Penn State and got a bye in between. This seems like this should be a seven-point spread, but that could spell disaster for me. I like USC to win this one by a touchdown.
NFL Game of the Week
49ers (-2.5) at Falcons – Atlanta could get the win, but it would be against a San Francisco team that’s doing well enough to be undefeated at this point in the season. I’ll take the road favorites.
TD Wood
This season sure has some 2007 vibes going on, doesn’t it? There’s a few pretty good teams, but no real elite team(s), and weird shit keeps happening every week. Be it in the form of an upset or an injury or whatever, something big happens that changes the trajectory of the season each Saturday. It’s awesome.
Rutgers at Northwestern (-16.5) – Chip Kelly is going to put the Rutger’s defense in a blender.
Old Dominion at Louisiana Tech (-13.5) – The Bulldogs aren’t exactly setting the world on fire, but they’re first place in the Sun Belt’s East Division, and the Monarchs are just plain awful on offense.
Houston (+6.5) at Utah – This one should be fun. These two are pretty even statistically, but the Cougars are just a little more battle-tested, which is why I like taking the points here.
NFL Game of the Week
Packers at Lions (Over 53.5) – No idea who’s winning this one, but there should be some fireworks from these offenses.
Mallory McCormack
Just when I think this season can’t get any weirder, we continue to fall deeper into the upside down. It’s pure chaos, and I love it! And if you love money then don’t use my picks. Maybe give that money to your team’s NIL; it will be a much safer bet.
Tennessee (+2.5) at South Carolina – It’s definitely been a year where coming off a big win hasn’t played out well the next weekend. And I’m not sure I buy into Beamer having the Gamecocks turned fully around and buying in. I think Tennessee by at least a field goal.
Vandy at Kentucky (-10.5) – One of the loudest and most underrated stadiums I’ve ever been to was Kroger Field. Kentucky was one of the few teams who didn’t have a let down after a big win this season and went to Oklahoma (also a great and hostile environment for opposing teams) and won. Kentucky by more than 2 TDs, a TD and 2 FGs…you get the point.
Virginia Tech at Clemson (-3) – Death Valley Lite at night I think gives Clemson a slight edge.
NFL Game of the Week
Steelers (-3.5) at Saints – NFL insanity has reigned supreme, especially in the QB world. Yet somehow the weirdest and oldest QB ever Aaron Rodgers just keeps on going. (Maybe those temazcal ceremonies have worked?!) I think the Steelers get it done.
Greg Bosworth
After a few straight 3-1 weeks, there is nothing I’d rather do than hit the seemingly elusive 4-0 football weekend. Fingers crossed.
Cal (+18.5) at SMU – Surprisingly SMU has had problems scoring points all season and despite Cak struggling mightily coming into Week Eight, the Ponies winning by 19 seems very unlikely.
Ole Miss (+3.5 ) at Texas – This seems like the Captain Obvious game of the week, which worries me a little, but the struggles in Austin outweigh my concerns. Arch Manning is terrible, Colin Simmons is out, and Trinidsd Chambliss should have a field day. Who would have ever thought the Longhorns would be eliminated from playoff contention before the end of October?
Texas Tech at Cincinnati (+11.5) – I’m still not sold on Texas Tech and their winning by 12 points seems like a lot on the road. Don’t be surprised if tomorrow is everything last year’s game in Lubbock wasn’t.
NFL Game of the Week
Bucs at Panthers (-3) – Baker Mayfield should be back, but I’m not sure that helps at all. Bryce Young is playing great, and this is the perfect time for Carolina to flex their muscle in the South.
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