Top 5 NCAAF mammoth spread busters for Week 8

Last week we had two picks win their matchup straight up! Both Bowling Green and South Carolina pulled off major upsets and hit some huge moneylines. Here's to another week of underdogs hitting hard with Week 8 spread busters.

Ohio State at Northwestern (+27.5), Friday, 8:30 p.m. ET, FS1

Ohio State has gone on a tear the past few weeks. Northwestern is 1-4 and struggles to score double digits each game. How could I possibly like Northwestern? Trends! Since 2017 Ohio State is 1-3 ATS after a bye and 1-6 ATS after five or more consecutive straight up wins. Also since 2017 Northwestern is 11-4 ATS as an underdog, 16-6 ATS in Big Ten games and 11-3 ATS when playing a team with a winning record. The Wildcats are the only team to keep a game within 20 points against Wisconsin this season. I expect this game to be much closer than many will expect.

Wisconsin at Illinois (+31), Saturday, noon ET, Big Ten Network

The Illini may have the best offense Wisconsin has seen this season. The total for this game is 50 points, which is a sweet spot for Illinois. Since 2017 the Badgers are 4-10 ATS when the total is between 49.5 and 56 points, while the Illini are 7-4 ATS. The Badgers also are a week away from a major game in Columbus against the Ohio State. The Illini are going to have a tough time trying to stop Jonathan Taylor, as they allow 201.8 rushing yards per game, but the Badgers will have a down game looking forward to next week.

Kentucky (+25) at Georgia, Saturday, 6 p.m. ET, ESPN

Homer pick alert! Yes, I am a huge Kentucky fan, but sometimes that can give me some inside information. Georgia is coming off a shocking loss at home to South Carolina, and the Bulldogs will not lose this game, but we do not need Kentucky to win. The quarterback play at Kentucky has been shaky at best since the Wildcats lost Terry Wilson, but the best player on the field for Kentucky is Lynn Bowden, so allowing him to play quarterback and have the ball in his hands every snap pays off. Last week he had 196 yards and two touchdowns rushing, to go along with 78 yards passing and a score. Bowden will keep this game interesting until the fourth quarter.

Kansas (+21) at Texas, Saturday, 7 p.m. ET, Longhorn Network

This pick is all about the history between the two teams. Kansas only has two wins in 17 games against Texas, but the games are usually much closer than expected. In the past three meetings, Texas has two wins (by seven points and 15 points), and Kansas has a three-point victory. The Longhorns have struggled to stop the pass and are allowing 310 passing yards per game. Kansas quarterback Carter Stanley is coming off a good game against Oklahoma, where he put up 230 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Stanley will need to have a good game again to cover, and I believe he will.

Tennessee (+34) at Alabama, Saturday, 9 p.m. ET, ESPN

Tennessee benched quarterback Jarrett Guarantano against Florida, but the Volunteers brought him back in last week's surprising win over Mississippi State. The benching may have given Guarantano a little more fire and drive. The Crimson Tide may be a little flat after their toughest game of the season so far at Texas A&M. This spread is just too large, and the Vols will keep it under 30 points.