NCAAF betting: What we learned from CFB Week 7, and a peek at Week 8

To those in the majority...

Last week, we discussed that the Ducks were a more popular bet than the 3.5-point favorites the Buckeyes. 

Oregon went on to cover and win the Big Ten battle, which was easily one of the most exciting games of the season. The victory kept Oregon undefeated and moved them up to No. 2 in the AP college football poll, while Ohio State fell to No. 4 behind Penn State. (More on the Nittany Lions in a moment.) 

This isn't to say that Ryan Day's team didn't play a heck of a game, especially against their first real challenge of the season. Plus, Ohio State still has shorter odds than Oregon at DraftKings to win the CFB title. Nonetheless, the Buckeyes enter their bye week in the loss column and 3-3-0 ATS.

Meanwhile, Dillon Gabriel -- whose Heisman odds have improved to +400 at DK -- and the Ducks prep for a Big Ten battle against a Purdue team that has dropped five straight. Oregon is a 27.5-point favorite ahead of that matchup.

Speaking of Heisman hopefuls...

Quinn Ewers (+2500 in the Heisman hunt) looked rusty at the start of Saturday's big game against Oklahoma and ended the day with 199 passing yards and an interception to go with his touchdown pass. Then again, it didn't matter much as the Longhorns dominated the Red River Rivalry 34-3.

Texas remains No. 1 in the AP poll after its victory against the Sooners, and they are 5-1-0 ATS in addition to being a perfect 6-0 on the season. Now, the Longhorns' face a massive in-conference test when they host the former poll-toppers, No. 5 Georgia.

The Longhorns are 3.5-point favorites at DK to cover their shortest spread of the season. So, it's probably a good thing Ewers had a chance to iron out the kinks in Week 7. 

The biggest upset of Week 7?

There were a few upsets in Week 7, but there is one in particular that has cranked up the "coaching change" chatter.

That game took place down in Southern California, where USC coughed up a first -half lead to Penn State and stumbled bad enough late in the game to lose 33-30 in overtime. The Trojans still managed to cover the 4-point spread, but are 1-3 in Big Ten play. And now, Athlon Sports says Lincoln Riley should be on notice as the late-season coaching carrousel approaches.

Bleacher Report doesn't think Riley's job is in trouble just yet. But he probably can't afford for his team to not cover the 7-point spread in Week 8 at Maryland, regardless of the cross-country flight

Right now, it looks like Riley is on a shorter leash at USC than Lane Kiffin does at Ole Miss — and Kiffin inadvertently fed into rumors he wants Bill Napier's job ahead of Ole Miss being upset by LSU.  

What to look for in Week 8

An intriguing Big 12 battle

BYU is 6-0 in 2024 and slowly making its way up the AP poll. The undefeated Cougars have also covered the spread in every game and are 10.5-point favorites at DK to win on Friday against and Oklahoma State side that is winless in conference play. 

BYU is listed at +1200 to stay undefeated this season, but are listed at +500 to be big 12 champs behind Iowa State (+16) and Kansas State (+350). This is a team that you should, at very least, consider backing in Week 8 -- and you should ponder betting on them to best the Cyclones as Big 12 winners as well.