It's tradition around these parts once the Ohio State football season starts. Every year (and every week of the season), we have a little friendly competition among our writers for world domination in picking the Big Ten football games and some of the bigger college football contests now that conference play is in full swing.

Preseason favorites Ohio State, Indiana, and Oregon have already experienced one loss. You can't count out teams like Iowa and UCLA at this point, especially with what's going on in Westwood, where the Bruins are the only other team besides the Buckeyes that remain undefeated in the Big Ten. There's still a long way to go, and many teams still have an opportunity to prove themselves to be taken seriously, especially Michigan*.

So, just how will Week 8 look as we go? Our writers take turns picking all the games in the League straight up and against the spread for your wagering and reading consumption — do with it as you wish.

As a reminder, if there’s an asterisk next to the pick, that means the team will win, but not cover. If there is a tie, rather than have a cage match or old-fashioned duel, we’ll settle it with less violence and go with the tried-and-true coin flip, where George Washington has the say.

EXAMPLE: If Ohio State is favored -3.5 over Michigan:

If you think Ohio State will win outright and cover: OSU

If you think Ohio State will win, but NOT cover: OSU*

If you think Ohio State will lose: Michigan

Here are our expert picks for Week 8, focusing on the Big Ten games, but also throwing in the biggest non-Big Ten games across the country now that we are starting the conference season. Ohio State is off this week, so if you are a Buckeye fan, sit back and enjoy the games.

Big Ten and biggest national college football picks and predictions for Week 8

Results So Far

Follow Phil Harrison: 76-21 SU, 54-43 ATS

Follow MarkRussell: 72-25 SU, 49-48 ATS

Follow Sunny Verma: 71-26 SU, 48-49 ATS

Follow Alec Lasley: 72-25 SU, 48-49 ATS

Next ... Big Ten games

Indiana at Michigan

Saturday, Oct. 24

Noon ET | Fox (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Indiana

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Indiana

Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Indiana

Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Indiana

CONSENSUS PICK | Indiana

Rutgers at Northwestern

Saturday, Oct. 24

Noon ET | Peacock

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Northwestern*

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Northwestern

Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Northwestern

Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Northwestern*

CONSENSUS PICK: Northwestern

Oregon at Illinois

Saturday, Oct. 24

3:00 p.m. ET | Big Ten Network (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Oregon

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Oregon

Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Oregon

Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Oregon

CONSENSUS PICK | Oregon

Michigan State at UCLA

Saturday, Oct. 24

3:30 p.m. ET | CBS (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | UCLA*

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | UCLA

Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | UCLA

Alec Lasley (@allasley) | UCLA*

CONSENSUS PICK | UCLA

Iowa at Minnesota

Saturday, Oct. 24

3:30 p.m. ET | FS1 (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Iowa

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Iowa

Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Iowa

Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Iowa

CONSENSUS PICK | Iowa

USC at Wisconsin

Saturday, Oct. 24

7:30 p.m. ET | NBC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | USC

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | USC

Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | USC

Alec Lasley (@allasley) | USC

CONSENSUS PICK | USC

Next ... Biggest non-Big Ten games

Pittsburgh at Miami (FL)

Saturday, Oct. 24

Noon ET | ESPN (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Miami*

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Miami*

Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Miami

Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Miami

CONSENSUS PICK | Miami

LSU at Auburn

Saturday, Oct. 24

Noon ET | ABC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | LSU*

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | LSU

Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | LSU

Alec Lasley (@allasley) | LSU

CONSENSUS PICK | LSU

Texas A&M at Alabama

Saturday, Oct. 24

3:30 p.m. ET | ABC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Alabama*

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Alabama

Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Alabama

Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Alabama*

CONSENSUS PICK | Alabama

Ole Miss at Texas

Saturday, Oct. 24

7:30 p.m. ET | ABC (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Texas

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Texas

Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Texas

Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Ole Miss

CONSENSUS PICK | Texas

Houston at Utah

Saturday, Oct. 24

10:15 p.m. ET | ESPN (Stream fuboTV (watch here))

Phil Harrison (@PhilHarrisonBW) | Utah

Mark Russell (@MarkRussell1975) | Utah*

Sunny Verma (@thesunnyv) | Utah

Alec Lasley (@allasley) | Utah

CONSENSUS PICK | Utah