College Football Predictions 2018: Picks for the biggest games of Week 8

Colorado at Washington (3:30 p.m. ET, FOX)

Spread: Washington -15.5

Washington’s loss to Oregon last week likely eliminated the Pac-12 from playoff contention, but Washington still has a great opportunity to end up in the New Year’s Six. They’re also just an Oregon loss away from seizing back control of the Pac-12 North.

Colorado’s offense was sluggish in last week’s loss to USC, and now they get to try and correct their errors against the best defense in the conference. The Buffaloes desperately need another playmaker to step up outside of sophomore receiver Laviska Shenault Jr., who has accounted for 32 percent of Colorado’s yards from scrimmage and 41 percent of its offensive touchdowns.

Colorado quarterback Steven Montez managed just 3.6 yards per pass attempt last week, and he’ll be facing a unit this week that ranks in the top 30 in pass efficiency defense.

While Colorado was exposed as a pretender last week, Washington has probably been a bit unlucky to lose two games. S&P+ still sees the Huskies as a top-10 team, and they’ve had a couple of bounces go against them in both losses. Their offense sputtered in the red zone in the season opening loss against Auburn, including a Jake Browning fumble on an ill-fated option play that took at least three points off of the board.

Last week against Oregon, Washington had a fumbled snap on a crucial fourth-and-1, and missed a 37-yard field goal at the end of regulation before falling in overtime to the Ducks.

Washington is most likely still the Pac-12’s best team, and I think it’ll rebound nicely this week at home.

Pick: Washington 31, Colorado 14