Welcome to our College Football Week 8 picks! We’ll look at the top games of the day and what that means for our favorite CFB picks and player props.
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College Football Week 8 Picks & Preview
Two ranked matchups headline Friday’s slate as college football Week 8 kicks off in style — with grit, quarterbacks making noise, and plenty of playoff implications on the line. Let’s dive into the Friday action and the weekend’s top-ranked showdowns.
Louisville at No. 2 Miami
It’s an ACC showdown under the lights as Louisville (4–2, 1–1 ACC) looks to bounce back after an overtime heartbreaker against No. 24 Virginia. The Cardinals battled to the end — tying it at halftime and forcing OT before falling by three.
Quarterback Miller Moss has quietly put together a solid year, throwing for over 1,300 yards with seven touchdowns and four picks. In his last two outings, Moss has tossed five touchdowns to two interceptions.
Miami, meanwhile, is the nation’s No. 2 team but hasn’t looked invincible. The Hurricanes escaped Florida State last week by just six points, giving up 19 in the fourth quarter after only leading 14–3 at half.
Pick: Louisville +11.5 — The Cardinals’ grit keeps this close late.
No. 25 Nebraska at Minnesota
All eyes are on Dylan Raiola. After a narrow three-point loss to Michigan, Raiola has rebounded with steady play — five touchdowns to four interceptions — leading wins over Michigan State and Maryland.
Nebraska has handled inferior opponents well, and Minnesota’s been shaky — dropping two of their last four and barely surviving the others. Expect Raiola to shine against a middling Gophers defense.
Pick: Nebraska Moneyline — Raiola gets his get-right game.
No. 10 LSU at No. 17 Vanderbilt
SEC play opens Saturday with a surprising line — Vanderbilt favored by 2.5. Dave Portnoy likes Vandy as he bet $212,000 on them. The Commodores are 5–1 but coming off a 30–14 loss to Alabama, while LSU grinded out a 20–10 win over South Carolina.
Garrett Nussmeier hasn’t been a world-beater (three interceptions in his last three games), but LSU’s defense is elite — allowing under 11 points in all but one of their games.
Pick: LSU +2.5 — The Tigers’ defense flips the script in Nashville.
No. 5 Ole Miss at No. 9 Georgia
Top-10 fireworks in Athens. Ole Miss enters undefeated (6–0) but survived Washington State by just three points last week. Georgia, 5–1, rebounded from a tight Alabama loss with a grind-it-out win at Auburn.
Gunner Stockton continues to steady the Bulldogs’ offense, adding mobility with six rushing TDs — three in the past two games. He’s thrown only one interception all season. Ole Miss has been sharp but inconsistent against strong fronts.
Pick: Georgia –7.5
No. 11 Tennessee at No. 6 Alabama
A rivalry renewed. Tennessee’s Joey Aguilera burst onto the scene with a 44–41 shootout against Georgia, but since then has cooled off — just five touchdowns to three picks over three lesser opponents. Alabama’s Ty Simpson has found his stride again, with three touchdowns and 200 passing yards in last week’s win over ranked Missouri.
The Tide have won three straight versus ranked foes since their season-opening loss to Florida State. Home-field advantage should keep it rolling.
Pick: Alabama –8.5 — Tide stay hot; Aguilera struggles in Tuscaloosa.
No. 20 USC at No. 13 Notre Dame
USC’s Jordan Maviata continues to play like a Heisman dark horse — 13 touchdowns, just two picks, and an option on the ground (four rushing scores). The Trojans handled Michigan 31–13 last week and look sharp.
Notre Dame rebounded from early losses to Miami and Texas A&M with four straight wins, though against lighter competition. The Irish defense has tightened, but USC’s battle-tested schedule gives them the edge.
Pick: USC +9.5 — Trojans cover, Maviata keeps it interesting in South Bend.
No. 23 Utah at No. 15 BYU
The Battle of Utah is back — and it’s a good one. BYU is undefeated (6–0) behind Bear Bachmeier, the Stanford transfer who’s been dynamic with both arm and legs (two rushing TDs last week vs. Arizona). Utah, 5–1, has scored 42+ in consecutive Big 12 wins and looks rejuvenated offensively.
Expect fireworks: BYU’s mobile QB meets Utah’s balanced attack in a game that could decide who’s for real in the region.
Pick: Over 49.5 — Both teams trade blows in a classic late-night duel.
CFB Week 8 Predictions
- Louisville’s resilience gets tested against Miami’s firepower.
- Dylan Raiola’s return to form headlines Friday night.
- LSU seeks redemption in Nashville.
- Georgia and Ole Miss battle for SEC supremacy.
- Alabama–Tennessee and USC–Notre Dame headline a loaded prime-time slate.
- The Battle of Utah could turn into a late-night thriller.
October football is heating up — and Week 8 delivers everything from freshman fireworks to playoff positioning. Buckle up.
