It’s wall-to-wall quarterback plays for me this week.
I'm relying on an up-and-comer out of the Big Ten West to continue improving the air. I'm also looking to fade a statistical darling in a marquee matchup. And I wrap things up by banking on a passer tucking and running for at least one score.
Let’s crack open this three-pack.
Week 8 College Football PrizePicks
In the table below, you'll find each of Mike Calabrese's Week 8 college football PrizePicks plays from Saturday's slate of games. Click on any pick or team logo to navigate to a specific play discussed in this article.
| Time (ET) | Player Prop |
|---|---|
| 12 p.m. | |
| 3:30 p.m. | |
| 3:30 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAF Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | |
Penn State vs. Ohio State
Kyle McCord
More Than 0.5 Interceptions
Kyle McCord is up to sixth nationally in QBR (87.2), trailing the top three Heisman favorites (Michael Penix Jr., JJ McCarthy, Dillon Gabriel) by just a few points.
But, unlike Penix or Gabriel, McCord has yet to light it up against a marquee opponent.
In his lone opportunity against Notre Dame on the road, McCord was mediocre at best, completing just 58.6% of his passes for 240 yards and zero touchdowns.
McCord is coming off of an uneven performance against Purdue and is now up to seven turnover-worthy throws on the season.
You know which team feasts on mistakes? Penn State.
The Nittany Lions are the nation’s best defense by Success Rate and Havoc generated. They've picked off seven passes and have constantly harassed opposing passers. Penn State’s 4.5 sacks per game is far and away the best average in the country, a full sack-and-a-half better than the next-best team in the B1G Ten (Maryland, three).
McCord, protected by the nation’s 48th-rated pass-blocking offensive line, per Pro Football Focus, is sure to make a few dicey throws in this game.
I think he’ll get burned.
Pick: McCord More Than 0.5 Interceptions
Oklahoma State vs. West Virginia
Garrett Greene
More Than 0.5 Rush Touchdowns
Greene should have a Christmas stocking on Neal Brown’s mantle this December. The dual-threat junior quarterback is saving his head coach’s job.
West Virginia’s offense runs entirely through Greene. If you remove their blowout win against Duquesne and the Backyard Brawl in which he was hurt early in the first quarter, Greene has been a safe anytime touchdown bet.
In the other three games he’s started and finished, he’s averaged 13 carries for 66 yards with five total rushing touchdowns, scoring at least one in every game.
He’s a red zone rushing threat, with multiple read-option keeper touchdowns inside his opponent’s 10-yard line. He can also break long runs, as he did against TCU, scoring from 35 yards on a scramble.
You can’t ask for much more scoring versatility than that.
And now they’re set to face off against an Oklahoma State run defense that gives up explosive runs left and right.
The Pokes are 116th nationally in Explosive runs allowed. Two weeks ago, K-State’s quarterback Will Howard racked up 104 rushing yards and a score against OSU. That was the only dual threat of note they faced this year, and they failed to corral him.
I foresee similar numbers and at least one score for Greene in this game.
Pick: Greene More Than 0.5 Rush Touchdowns
Northwestern vs. Nebraska
Heinrich Haarberg
More Than 142.5 Pass Yards (Play to 150.5)
Don’t look now, but Nebraska actually has a chance to make some noise in the B1G Ten West after its 20-7 win over Illinois last week.
The Huskers close the season against Wisconsin and Iowa, the two teams ahead of them in the B1G Ten West pecking order.
They've been shot in the arm since Heinrich Haarberg took over under center. The Nebraska native is 3-1 as a starter, exceeding 142 passing yards in three of four starts.
Now, he gets a woeful Northwestern defense this weekend in Lincoln. Northwestern’s pass defense ranks 113th in Success Rate allowed and 124th in passes defended.
Despite Matt Rhule’s preference to control the clock with a heavy dose of the running game, Haarberg has attempted 24 passes in three of his four starts. Even with his modest yards per attempt average (6.6), he'll clear this total by about 10 yards if he hits 24 pass attempts again.
I would play this up to 150.5.
Pick: Haarberg More Than 142.5 Pass Yards (Play to 150.5)
