In a recent episode of the Until Saturday podcast, college football experts Ari Wasserman, David Ubben, and guest picker Ralph Russo of the Associated Press delved into the biggest games of Week 8. The trio offered insights and made predictions against the spread for highly anticipated matchups including Penn State at Ohio State, Tennessee at Alabama, and Utah at USC.

The Ohio State-Penn State showdown drew particular attention, with both teams displaying strong defensive units but struggling to find offensive rhythm. Questions arose about Penn State's lack of explosive plays and the absence of notable wide receivers on their roster, raising doubts about their ability to generate points against Ohio State's solid defense. While they acknowledged Ohio State's recent offensive struggles, Wasserman and Russo ultimately leaned towards the Buckeyes due to the presence of standout offensive players such as Marvin Harrison Jr. and Emeka Egbuka.

Shifting focus to the Tennessee vs. Alabama clash, the experts acknowledged Alabama's status as a perennial powerhouse in college football. Nick Saban's team is known for its talent and ability to adapt to uncertain circumstances. Despite this, Russo expressed belief in Tennessee's potential to cover the spread, emphasizing the strength of their defensive front and Alabama's struggles against pressure on the quarterback. While the consensus leaned towards an Alabama victory, the expectation was for a closely contested battle.

Another highlighted matchup was the Utah vs. USC game, which presented an interesting contrast between Utah's struggling offense and USC's vulnerabilities on defense. Utah's offensive woes were compared to Iowa's, leading to a discussion on the potential for USC to exploit these weaknesses. While Wasserman and Ubben expressed confidence in the Trojans' ability to secure a comfortable victory, Russo noted the tendency of Utah to employ a physical, run-oriented approach that could trouble USC. Ultimately, predictions leaned towards a USC win.

The discussion on the Until Saturday podcast also touched upon other games, including Iowa at Minnesota, Clemson at Miami, Duke at Florida State, South Carolina at Missouri, Oklahoma State at West Virginia, and Michigan at Michigan State. Various insights were shared regarding offensive performances, defensive strengths, and potential game outcomes.

Overall, Week 8 of the college football season promises exciting matchups and intriguing storylines. Fans can expect closely contested battles, defensive showcases, and the possibility of upsets as some of the nation's top teams take the field.