“Picks With Nick” CFB selections ATS Week 8
Selections (for entertainment purposes only) for Iowa-Northwestern, Kentucky-Miss. State and USC-Notre Dame included ATS
By: Nick Camino
Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
CLEVELAND – As we approach the end of October we are already entering into Week 8 of the college football season and Week 7 of the NFL. College football kicks off Week 8 with an important AAC battle between Memphis and Houston, while the NFL slate features a divisional clash between the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders. “Picks With Nick” is continuing making selections against the spread (for entertainment purposes only, of course) in both college and NFL football.
Following our first season, in which we nailed 54% of the games we selected against the spread (ATS), we are back at it again enjoying another winning season so far. In fact, here’s our numbers through seven weeks of college football and six weeks of the NFL against the number for full transparency:
CFB: 19-15-2 (56%)
NFL: 17-8 (68%)
Total: 36-23-2 (61%)
Our picks are made against Las Vegas oddsmakers merely helping create football interactions on Facebook and Twitter, as well as online and on-air content for Newsradio WTAM 1100 and WTAM.com.
Similar to last football season, our goal is to win 53% of our picks against the spread. Las Vegas sports books, give us 11/10 odds or -110, so in order to break even in picking games against the spread (ATS) we must win 52.4% of the games we select. Winning 58% of picks ATS would place you among the most elite sports handicappers in the world. We’ll shoot for somewhere between 53% - 58% again this season.
We are again keeping our college and NFL selections separate, but we will update the results weekly with full transparency seeing how we stack up against the Las Vegas oddsmakers. We are coming off a winning first season in which we hit 54% ATS in college football and NFL combined in 2016.
“Picks With Nick” will also feature a radio segment weekly on Newsradio WTAM 1100 discussing our selections.
Below is our full slate of college football picks featuring five selections ATS for Week 8:
Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images
Game: Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Northwestern Wildcats
Where: Evanston, Illinois – Ryan Field
Kickoff: 12:00 pm ET
TV: ESPN
Spread: Iowa -1.5
Nick’s Pick: These two Big Ten West Division rivals are about as evenly matched as you can get, however Iowa being a road favorite tells us Las Vegas oddsmakers believe they are the better team. While Northwestern is coming off a hard-fought win over Maryland a week ago, the Hawkeyes were resting and prepping for this showdown in Evanston. Kirk Ferentz’s squad will be slowing the tempo in this game, forcing the Wildcats to play their type of football game. Nick’s Pick is Iowa -1.5.
Game: Oklahoma State Cowboys vs. Texas Longhorns
Where: Austin, Texas – Royal Texas Memorial Stadium
Kickoff: 12:00 pm ET
TV: ABC
Spread: Oklahoma State -7
Nick’s Pick: The Longhorns are coming off a tough 29-24 loss to Oklahoma in the Red River Shootout rivalry clash, while Mike Gundy’s team has ripped off back-to-back wins following their lone loss to TCU earlier in the season. Oklahoma State is better on both sides of the football and while it appears Texas is improving with each passing week under Tom Herman, the Cowboys will be too tough to slow down offensively in this match up. Nick’s Pick is Oklahoma State -7.
Game: Kentucky Wildcats vs. Mississippi State Bulldogs
Where: Starkville, Mississippi – Davis Wade Stadium
Kickoff: 4:00 pm ET
TV: SEC Network
Spread: Mississippi State -11.5
Nick’s Pick: It feels like college football experts and even Las Vegas oddsmakers continue to sleep on Kentucky; not only their growth as a program but what looks to be an outside chance to clinch the SEC East if they run the table the rest of the way before a huge showdown with No. 3 Georgia Nov. 18. Going into Starkville is never easy and the Mississippi State defense can fly to the football, but we’ll take Kentucky being spotted 11.5-points and believe they can win this game straight up. Nick’s Pick is Kentucky +11.5.
Game: USC Trojans vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Where: South Bend, Indiana – Notre Dame Stadium
Kickoff: 7:30 pm ET
TV: NBC
Spread: Notre Dame -3.5
Nick’s Pick: The Fighting Irish have one loss in 2017, a 1-point gut-wrenching home defeat to No. 3 Georgia. With his job seemingly on the line, Brian Kelly has done a terrific job getting Notre Dame back on track and with a 5-1 record and winnable games the rest of the way, the Fighting Irish could find their way in the College Football Playoff discussion if they keep on winning. USC may be the better overall team, but a tough victory last week against a physical Utah team could take a toll on the Trojans over this two-week stretch. Nick’s Pick will ride Notre Dame -3.5.
Game: Kansas Jayhawks vs. TCU Horned Frogs
Where: Fort Worth, Texas – Amon G. Carter Stadium
Kickoff: 8:00 pm ET
TV: FOX
Spread: TCU -39
Nick’s Pick: First off, why is this game the FOX National Game of the Week? Secondly, we will probably come to regret this, but while TCU should easily win this Big 12 Conference match up, somehow the 1-5 Jayhawks cover this large number late in the game on primetime TV. Yes, we’re relying on a back-door situation late in the game when the Horned Frogs are busy celebrating an impressive 7-0 start to their 2017 season. Nick’s Pick is Kansas +39.
- Nick Camino
Record in college football ATS to date: 19-15-2 (56%)
Record in NFL ATS to date: 17-8 (68%)
Total record ATS to date: 36-23-2 (61%)
Note from Nick: All betting lines used will come from The Wynn Race & Sports Book in Las Vegas. The lines can change at any time, but we will only use lines 72 hours in advance and closer. Picks will be made based on the lines when we post.
DISCLAIMER: Newsradio WTAM 1100 and Nick Camino do not accept or place bets. This is not a gambling website. WTAM 1100 and Nick Camino do not condone illegal sports wagering. Any information shared on this page is strictly for entertainment purposes, as well as on-air and online content.