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Spread Options: Dr. Saturday’s Week 8 picks against the spread

So the new picks sheriff didn't do so hot. It's time for redemption.

Last week I replaced Graham Watson after her dreadful 2-8 week. I promptly went 4-7. Maybe you really should fade these picks.

But it's time to get back to .500. We're at 35-36-1 this season, and that's unacceptable.

Purdue (+27.5) at Michigan State, Noon ET: Purdue is bad. We're not going to sugarcoat it. They are a bad football team. Outside of the home Saturday night loss to Notre Dame on national television, the 1-5 Boilermakers' losses have come by 31 points or more. But I simply don't trust Michigan State to score enough points to get a four touchdown win.

Texas Tech at West Virginia (OVER 57.5), Noon ET: The Red Raiders have scored more than 30 points in five of their six wins this season, and West Virginia has gotten 30 or more three times, albeit they scored 42 in a 31 point loss to Baylor. Dana Holgorsen's offensive creativity hasn't disappeared and the first team to 35 wins this game.

Uconn at Cincinnati (-14), Noon ET: Brendan Kay had his best game at quarterback on Friday against Temple, completing 31-37 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns. UConn has one of the worst offenses in the country and Cincinnati ranks sixth in the nation in yards given up per game. UConn gets stifled, and Cincinnati cruises.

Ball State (-19.5) at Western Michigan, 2:00 p.m. ET: In it's last five games, 0-7 Western Michigan's smallest margin of defeat has been 18 points, and that was against 2-5 Kent State. Ball State is 6-1, and beat Virginia by 21 on the road just two weeks ago. Yes, just last week, the Cardinals beat Kent State at home by three, but that's a letdown game. This week they're focused and roll the Broncos.

Oklahoma (-21.5) at Kansas, 3:30 p.m. ET: Here's a fun stat courtesy of Jake Trotter: Bob Stoops is 14-0 the week after the Red River Rivalry and the average margin of victory in those 14 wins is a staggering 27 points. Add in the fact that the Sooners lost last week to Texas and Kansas is Kansas and this has blowout written all over it despite Charlie Weis's offensive staff changes this week.

Auburn at Texas A&M (-13.5), 3:30 p.m. ET: This isn't the same Auburn team that took until the second quarter to get a first down against Texas A&M last year, but it's not a team that's going to keep it within two scores in College Station. Auburn is giving up over 250 passing yards per game and Johnny Manziel's passing statistics are better through six games this year than they were last year.

BYU at Houston (+9.5), 3:30 p.m. ET: Did you know that 5-0 Houston was tied for first in the American Athletic Conference? Yeah, this game doesn't count in the standings, but despite the thrashing of Texas, BYU lost on the road to a Virginia team that lost to Ball State like we mentioned above. Watch for BYU linebacker Kyle Van Noy, and a guaranteed Cougar victory, but Houston keeps this very close.

USC at Notre Dame (OVER 51.5), 7:30 p.m. ET: Call this one a hunch. The USC offense looked potent for the first time all season against Arizona while the defense struggled. That's good news for Tommy Rees, who needs a turnover free game to get his confidence back. Rees takes care of the ball and so does Cody Kessler. Notre Dame wins a close one, but the winner may break 30.

Florida State at Clemson (OVER 64), 8:00 p.m. ET: Don't look for me to take a side in this game with Florida State -3. I've convinced myself each way multiple times. Yes, Clemson sputtered last week against a Boston College team that's not nearly as good as FSU, but that can be excused as either "Clemsoning," looking ahead, or a combination of both. Expect a game that resembles Clemson's 38-35 win over Georgia. Last team to have the ball wins.

Oregon State (-10.5) at California, 10:30 p.m. ET: Cal is giving up over 300 yards passing per game and Oregon State's Sean Mannion is the nation's leading passer. That's not a recipe for success for the 1-5 Golden Bears, who have lost by double digits in every loss.