4 College Football Week 8 Opening Lines and Picks

Here are four opening lines not to miss out on looking ahead to Week 8 of the college football season.

We are just past the halfway point of the college football regular season. We have gone over the opening lines, now let's determine if it's sharp money driving the changes in numbers or another factor.

Here's a look at my top four picks centered around early NCAAF odds. Let's break it all down (Odds via Circa).

Colorado State vs. Utah State Opening Line and Pick

Date/Time: Friday, October 22, 9:30 p.m. ETTV: CBS Sports NetworkLocation: Maverik Stadium, Logan, UT

Opening Line: Colorado State -3.5

Colorado State sits atop the Mountain West Conference's Mountain Division at 2-0, which is surprising after the Rams started the year with home losses to South Dakota State and Vanderbilt. Since then, the Rams are 3-1 SU and 4-0 ATS, playing stifling defense and running the ball effectively.

Utah State started 3-0 and has crumbled since at 1-2 SU and 0-3 ATS. The Aggies are plagued by miscues on offense and their supposed stop troops rank 108th in total defense. There's little wonder why Utah State has slid from +1.5 home underdogs to +3.5.

Expect Colorado State's ninth-ranked defense to force turnovers and its offense to ram the ball at the Aggies to win and cover the number on Friday night.

PICK: Colorado State -3.5 (-110)

NC State vs. Miami (FL) Opening Line and Pick

Date/Time: Saturday, October 23, 7:30 p.m. ETTV: ESPN2Location: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, FL

Opening Line: NC State -3.5

This ACC encounter will feature one team that is well coached and knows how to win versus an opponent that is poorly coached and finds ways to lose.

No. 18 NC State is 5-1 (4-2 ATS) and trying to keep pace with Wake Forest in the Atlantic Division. On the defensive side of the ball, the Wolfpack rank 12th overall and sixth in scoring defense. On offense, quarterback Devin Leary runs an efficient attack that scores 32.3 points a game.

Miami has dropped its past two contests by five total points thanks to a missed game-winning field goal against Virginia and turnover issues versus North Carolina. Coach Manny Diaz might be looking for work after this season.

The Wolfpack jumped from -2 to -3.5 at Miami and while I'm not crazy about giving out another half-point hook on the road for betting purposes, NC State just has to let the Hurricanes beat themselves.

PICK: NC State -3.5 (-110)

Oregon vs. UCLA Opening Line and Pick

Anthony Brown #13 of the Oregon Ducks. Photo by Ezra Shaw / Getty Images via AFP.

Date/Time: Saturday, October 23, 3:30 p.m. ETTV: ABCLocation: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA

Opening Line: UCLA -2.5

No. 10 Oregon travels to Pasadena to take on UCLA for an afternoon matinee Saturday. The Ducks might be 5-1, but other than their eye-opening victory at Ohio State, they are 2-4 ATS and largely unimpressive.

UCLA is 5-2 SU and ATS and the strength of Chip Kelly's club is in the trenches where they are 17th in rushing nationally and ninth against the run. It could explain why the Bruins were moved from a Pick to -2.5 favorites.

Normally, we favor a team that can win at the line of scrimmage. However, Oregon does often rise to the occasion under coach Mario Cristobal. Trust the Ducks to exploit the Bruins' 122nd-ranked pass defense for the minor upset.

PICK: Oregon +2.5 (-110)

Oklahoma State vs. Iowa State Opening Line and Pick

Date/Time: Saturday, October 23, 3:30 p.m. ETTV: FOXLocation: Jack Trice Stadium, Ames, IA

Opening Line: Iowa State -7

This is the last chance for Iowa State (4-2 SU and 3-3 ATS) to remain in contention for a Big 12 title-game berth, hosting unbeaten No. 8 Oklahoma State on Saturday. Another conference loss would mean a minor-bowl bid for this upperclassmen-heavy Cyclones club.

The Cowboys look as good as Mike Gundy's hair at 6-0 (4-2 ATS) and it's the defense (19th overall), not the offense, carrying the load. This team remains under the radar and Okie State was pushed from +5.5 to +7 for this encounter.

Maybe Iowa State puts it all together and handles the Cowboys, but with Oklahoma State 14-5 ATS on the road after four or more consecutive wins, I'm grabbing the digits.

PICK: Oklahoma State +7 (-110)