College GameDay podcast picks Georgia at Texas, other top college football games

One of the biggest weekends of the college football season is here. The ESPN College GameDay podcast recently previewed this week’s slate of games, which is led by Georgia at Texas on Saturday night.

College GameDay host Rece Davis, ESPN insider Pete Thamel and gambling expert Stanford Steve made picks for the biggest games of Week 8 against the spread. Here’s who they are taking:

Nebraska at Indiana (-6.5)

Stanford Steve: Nebraska +6.5
Rece Davis: Nebraska +6.5
Pete Thamel: Nebraska +6.5 (and outright)

Indiana isn’t used to hosting big-time college football games, especially as a favorite. But the Hoosiers are doing just that this weekend. All three members of the College GameDay podcast expect Nebraska to cover the 6.5 points, but only Pete Thamel has the Cornhuskers coming out on top.

“I think Nebraska wins this game by 14,” Thamel said. “I just really feel like there’s a different class [of talent]. … I just feel like Nebraska’s defense is unlike anything that Indiana has seen, and the quarterback is drastically different than anything Indiana has seen.”

Georgia at Texas (-4.5)

Stanford Steve: Georgia +5
Rece Davis: Georgia +5 (and outright)
Pete Thamel: Texas -5

This is the biggest game of the college football weekend and one of the biggest games of the season. Georgia has won two of the past three national championships, while Texas is the favorite to win this year’s title. The group is split about who will win and cover Saturday’s game.

Pete Thamel expects Texas to win and cover the spread because he isn’t sold on Georgia’s defense. Stanford Steve thinks Georgia’s offense will challenge Texas but has the Longhorns winning by a field goal. Davis feels like Kirby Smart will have Georgia at its best and has the Bulldogs winning.

“Poor ole Georgia. Everybody’s loving Texas. … I’m taking the Dawgs,” Davis said.

Alabama (-2.5) at Tennessee

Stanford Steve: Tennessee +2.5
Rece Davis: Tennessee +2.5
Pete Thamel: Tennessee +2.5

These teams have been struggling a bit as of late, but the winner of this game will be in a pretty good spot to make the College Football Playoff. Stanford Steve doesn’t have a great feeling about the game but said that he is leaning towards taking Tennessee and the points.

Thamel isn’t sold on Alabama, particularly the Crimson Tide secondary, and is taking Tennessee to cover and win. Davis believes that the biggest question mark for Alabama is if it’s offensive line can slow down Tennessee’s defensive front. “I’m not sure that I believe that they can,” Davis said. “I’m going to go Tennessee at home, winning in an extraordinarily close game.”

Miami (-4.5) at Louisville

Stanford Steve: Louisville +4.5 (and outright)
Rece Davis: Miami -4.5
Pete Thamel: Louisville +4.5 (and outright)

Miami has escaped a couple of close calls already this season and now has a tough game at Louisville. The Hurricanes are only favored by 4.5 points as they look to stay in a good spot to reach the College Football Playoff.

Rece Davis has Miami winning and covering the spread, but Thamel and Stanford Steve both have Louisville pulling off the upset. Both Thamel and Steve trust Jeff Brohm to find a way to get the win.

Michigan (-3.5) at Illinois

Stanford Steve: Illinois +3.5 (and outright)
Rece Davis: Illinois +3.5 (and outright)
Pete Thamel: Illinois +3.5 (and outright)

Illinois has been one of the biggest surprises of the college football season. The Illini are 5-1 on the year and have an opportunity for another big win on Saturday.

All three members of the College GameDay podcast are aligned on this game as the trio has Illinois covering and pulling off the slight upset. “I’ll take Illinois at home to win the game,” Stanford Steve said. “Michigan hasn’t done well as a favorite this year. … I’ll take Illinois to win the game.”

Oregon (-27.5) at Purdue

Purdue has been as good as just about anybody in college football throughout the years when it comes to pulling off upsets. However, no one on the College GameDay podcast has the Boilermakers upsetting Oregon or even getting close on Friday.

All three members of the pod have the Ducks winning and covering the four-touchdown spread. “Oregon’s been really good as a big favorite, “Steve said. “Purdue, good luck to you, but I’ll lay the points with Oregon.”