Shawn Hardie's College Football Betting Recap, Week 8

Best Bets

Wisconsin team total under 6.5 points (+132) vs. No. 1 Ohio State
Result: Ohio State 34, Wisconsin 0✅

Fading Ohio State's opponent on the team total is an automatic bet for the rest of the season. You've been warned. 

No. 7 Texas Tech -7.5 (+100) at Arizona State
Result: Arizona State 26, Texas Tech 22❌

Just when you think you have the Big 12 figured out, the conference reminds you that you don't. Eight teams have a realistic shot to appear in the Big 12 title game in Arlington, Texas in December... and no, Utah, you are not one of them.

No. 11 Tennessee at No. 8 Alabama over 58.5
Result: Alabama 37, Tennessee 20❌

Well, the Tennessee defense held up its end of the bargain. Meanwhile, in this week's edition of "Nobody Wants Three Points Anymore," Volunteers head coach Josh Heupel, down 17 with 3:09 left in the game (read: needing three points at some point), elected to go for it on fourth-and-11 at the Alabama 16-yard line rather than kicking the field goal. Too bad Tennessee isn't coached by Jonathan Smith, or we would have been home free.

Kentucky +13.5 vs. No. 21 Texas
Result: Texas 16, Kentucky 13 (OT)✅

On Friday, I said Arch Manning has done nothing to deserve being favored by two touchdowns against anyone. Thanks to Kentucky for proving me right.

On the other hand, in a bonus edition of "Nobody Wants Three Points Anymore," Kentucky head coach Mark Stoops elected to go for it on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line instead of kicking a field goal in overtime. You know by now what happened.

Deep Dives

FBS Sides and Totals

No. 10 LSU ML (+120) at No. 17 Vanderbilt
Result: Vanderbilt 31, LSU 24❌

We have already known this, but this result should make it crystal clear: the days of picking a team because of the logo on the helmet instead of who's wearing the helmet are over. This result also gifted us the leader in the clubhouse for Best Crash Out of the 2025 college football season.