Last week featured absolute chaos at the top of the AP Poll, and the next slate of games is headlined by a massive Big Ten matchup at the Big House. We'll also see whether Texas can stop its downward trajectory and stay in playoff contention.
Here are our picks and favorite bets against the spread.
👉 Check out all college football Week 8 lines on theScore Bet
Our trio of betting writers - Brenden Deeg, Dane Belbeck, and Eric Patterson - will make picks against the spread for the week's biggest games all season.
Brenden Deeg breaks down a few of this week's marquee matchups, adding his own analysis and insights. He also identifies three hidden gems the public may be overlooking.
Game time - 12 p.m. ET
🏈 Bet: Indiana (-7.5)
It's Tommy Carr time in Michigan. The freshman gets the nod after Kyle Whittingham finally benched Bryce Underwood last week, but it's worth noting that Carr's first start comes against the reigning national champions.
The Hoosiers have been elite at stopping the run and should force Carr to beat them with his arm. Indiana ranks second in the country in rush-defense success rate, allowing an insane 2.3 yards per carry. The team's secondary isn't great, but Carr may not be able to capitalize on that weakness if he's forced to become a dropback passer without a threatening running game to accompany him.
Michigan's defense has been great all year, but it hasn't yet faced an offense like Indiana's, which is led by two future first-round talents in receivers Charlie Becker and Nick Marsh. Josh Hoover has been incredible when he's had time to throw; he's posted a 197.3 passer efficiency rating (second in the country) with 17 touchdowns to no interceptions when he hasn't been pressured, according to TruMedia. Indiana's offensive line has allowed the sixth-lowest pressure rate in the country, and Michigan hasn't succeeded in getting after the quarterback this season, ranking 88th in total pressures.
This is a tough spot for Carr, and I trust Curt Cignetti to rally his team after a narrow loss to Ohio State. I like the Hoosiers to roll at the Big House. 👉 Add Indiana to your betslip on theScore Bet here.
Game time - 7:30 p.m.
🏈 Bet: Ole Miss (+3.5)
These two SEC programs are going in opposite directions. Ole Miss has won two straight, while Texas, which was the No. 1 team in the country a couple of weeks ago, has lost consecutive games, and its College Football Playoff hopes are on life support.
The Rebels' bye week seemed to come at the perfect time, as Pete Golding's defense has since found its form. The unit struggled mightily with missed tackles early in the season, but it's missed just five over the last two weeks and held star running back Jamal Roberts to 39 rushing yards in last Saturday's rout of Missouri. Ole Miss' ground attack is also back to form, averaging 6.3 yards per carry in the last two games while recording 13 explosive runs. Running back Makhi Frazier has stepped up and has given the Rebels a nice one-two punch alongside Kewan Lacy, who led the nation in carries last season.
On the other side, let's be honest: Arch Manning might be cooked. Among 62 qualifying Power 4 quarterbacks this season, Manning ranks 39th in completion percentage and 42nd in EPA/dropback. He's been careless with the ball and isn't seeing the field well. Backup signal-caller KJ Lacey Jr. reportedly got more first-team snaps in practice this week, and Manning could get benched Saturday if his poor play continues.
Texas is also dealing with major injury issues. Hollywood Smothers has an undisclosed injury and is listed as questionable, while Colin Simmons, who leads the country in sacks, is unlikely to play due to an ankle ailment. Simmons is responsible for 39% of the Longhorns' quarterback hits this season, meaning Trinidad Chambliss should have plenty of time to operate. I love getting the hook here, as I don't see Texas winning this game by more than a field goal. 👉 Add Ole Miss to your betslip on theScore Bet here.
Game time - 10:15 p.m.
🏈 Bet: Utah (-6.5)
This is arguably the game of the week, with both teams pushing for a spot in the Big 12 title game and the College Football Playoff. The resurgence of Houston, led by quarterback Conner Weigman, has been one of the best stories of 2026. The Cougars are 5-1, with their only loss coming to Texas Tech. Weigman, a former five-star recruit, has positioned himself for NFL draft consideration, but his team is in a tough spot Saturday versus Utah.
The Utes have been elite at stopping the run this year, allowing 70.8 yards per game on the ground. They also allow just 2.9 yards per carry with a light box, so defensive coordinator Colton Swan should be able to put more bodies in the secondary to slow down Weigman.
If you haven't been following Kevin McGiven's offense since he came over from Utah State, it's been one of the most creative schemes in the country. Utah attacks every blade of grass on the field and uses a two-quarterback system that gives defenses fits. Houston's unit allows 5.8 yards per play, which ranks 98th in the country, and it sits 128th in passing yards surrendered per game. Additionally, Utes running back Wayshawn Parker has been incredible, ranking ninth in yards per carry (6.7) among 80 qualified running backs.
Utah has one of the best home-field advantages in college football at Rice-Eccles Stadium, where the team is 8-2 against the spread in its last 10 games there. I like the Utes to pull away late and cover this number. 👉 Add Utah to your betslip on theScore Bet here.
Game time - Friday 9 p.m.
🏈 Bet: Air Force (-5.5)
I usually don't like picking service academy games, but Wyoming's run-defense metrics stood out to me while assessing the Week 8 slate.
The Cowboys have gotten absolutely gashed on the ground this year, ranking 107th in yards per carry and 123rd in success rate. They most recently allowed Northern Illinois, one of the worst teams in the country, to run for 176 yards on an average of 6.1 yards. While Wyoming is usually a different team at home, it's giving up 4.7 yards per carry at War Memorial Stadium this season, which ranks 127th nationally among teams playing at home.
Air Force, meanwhile, has been a wagon this season, sitting 5-1 overall and 4-2 against the spread. It's averaging over 400 yards per game and ranks fourth nationally in rushing success rate. This spread should be far bigger. 👉 Add Air Force to your betslip on theScore Bet here.
Game time - 4 p.m.
🏈 Bet: Troy (-13.5)
Another week, another opportunity to fade Louisiana Monroe. I'm 3-0 this year when doing so, including last week's cover, so why stop now?
The Warhawks have proved to be one of the worst, if not the worst, programs in FBS. They lost 24-0 to Louisiana Tech a week ago, scoring zero points against a mediocre defense. Now, they face a Troy team that only lost to Missouri by 10 and held the Tigers to 27 points.
Louisiana Monroe ranks 133rd in line-of-scrimmage EPA against a weak schedule that includes games against UAB, South Alabama, and FCS program Southeastern Louisiana, which beat the Warhawks 38-35 in Week 3. Troy isn't a world beater, but its minus-7 point differential suggests that the Trojans should roll at home and keep Louisiana Monroe winless. 👉 Add Troy to your betslip on theScore Bet here.
Game time - 7:30 p.m.
🏈 Bet: Virginia Tech (+2.5)
Clemson has won four of its last five games after getting destroyed by LSU in its season opener, but its second loss - a beatdown delivered by Miami - wasn't any prettier. Now, Virginia Tech comes to town.
This matchup features a massive difference in quarterback play. Tait Reynolds, the Tigers' freshman signal-caller, ranks dead last among Power 4 quarterbacks in EPA/dropback and 128th among all FBS schools. Reynolds, who's recorded one touchdown and six turnovers in five starts, will face a Hokies defense that sits ninth in success rate and forces a negative play on 41.7% of its snaps (10th in the country).
The other quarterback in this game, Ethan Grunkemeyer, ranks fifth nationally in completion percentage with 20 touchdowns to five turnovers. Clemson's defense hasn't been elite this year, so it can't make up for the Tigers' poor offense. Virginia Tech is the better team, and you're getting points to work with. 👉 Add Virginia Tech to your betslip on theScore Bet here.
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