Week 8 College Football Best Bets: Will The Real Contenders Please Stand Up

By Bill Speros Oct 12th, 2025 7:27 PM EDT

Ohio State remains on track to repeat as national champions - so far. (USA TODAY)

With the first college football playoff poll just weeks away, the line between the contenders and pretenders continues to sharpen. Our Week 8 College Football Best Bets attempt to provide a modicum of clarity amid a murky and crazed season.

The week begins with 3 FBS teams still unbeaten against the spread: Memphis, Ohio State, and Texas Tech. The No. 1 Buckeyes (6-0 SU, 5-0-1 ATS, 3-0 Big Ten) further cemented their hold as the nation's top-seed with another display of defensive dominance Saturday, this time against ranked conference foe Illinois. The Bucks' top-ranked defense allows just 6.8 points per game. This week, Matt Patricia's defensive group runs up the negative score against Wisconsin.

Texas Tech (6-0 SU, 6-0 ATS, 3-0 Big 12) joins a 3-way tie atop the Big 12. (What else is new?) The Red Raiders routed Kansas 42-17 Saturday and draw the injury-depleted Arizona State Sun Devils.

Elsewhere, in Week 8, the SEC picture could finally give fans and bettors some clarity. Saturday, the Georgia Bulldogs nabbed their first cover of the season thanks to some help from a blown call that negated an Auburn TD, and Kirby Smart's Jedi Mind Mastery of the officials.

Speaking Of Contenders & Pretenders

Penn State began the season ranked No. 2. They've now dropped 3 straight Big Ten games to Oregon, UCLA and Northwestern. The Lions were favored in all three and have fallen to 0-6-0 ATS. They are the only FBS Power 5 school not to cover the line at least once this season.

Among the other would-be College Football Playoff hopefuls who tasted defeat on Saturday: Oregon, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Florida State.

Texas A&M remains this year's most underrated potential national champion. The Aggies smothered Florida 34-17 Saturday night for an easy cover as 7.5-point favorites. Texas A&M visits Arkansas among our Week 8 College Football Best Bets.

Texas A&M is closely followed by Indiana in the "No Respect" Poll. The Hoosiers rolled into Eugene and roasted the home-town Ducks, ending an 18-game home winning streak. Indiana plays host to Michigan State this week.

Week 8 College Football Best Bets: Odds & Picks

DATE	MATCHUP	BEST BET	TV/TIME
Fri., Oct. 17	Louisville at Miami	Miami -13.5	7 p.m. (ESPN)
Fri., Oct. 17	North Carolina at California	UNC +12.5	10:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 18	LSU at Vanderbilt	Vanderbilt +1.5	12 p.m. (ABC)
Sat., Oct. 18	Georgia Tech at Duke	Georgia Tech +2.5	12 p.m. (ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 18	Washington at Michigan	Washington +6.5	12 p.m. (FOX)
Sat., Oct. 18	Arizona at Houston	Houston ML (-120)	12 p.m. (FS1)
Sat., Oct. 18	Baylor at TCU	TCU ML (-110)	12 p.m. (ESPN2)
Sat., Oct. 18	Oklahoma at South Carolina	Oklahoma -4.5	12:45 p.m. (SEC)
Sat., Oct. 18	West Virginia at UCF	West Virginia +7.5	1 p.m. (TNT)
Sat., Oct. 18	Ohio State at Wisconsin	Under 42.5	3:30 p.m. (CBS)
Sat., Oct. 18	Michigan St. at Indiana	Indiana -26.5	3:30 p.m. (Peacock)
Sat., Oct. 18	Ole Miss at Georgia	Georgia -6.5	3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Sat., Oct. 18	Texas Tech at Arizona St.	Texas Tech -8.5	4 p.m. (FOX)
Sat., Oct. 18	Mississippi St. at Florida	Under 52.5	4:15 p.m. (SEC)
Sat., Oct. 18	Oregon at Rutgers	Oregon -14.5	6:30 p.m. (BTN)
Sat., Oct. 18	Washington St. at Virginia	Virginia -17.5	6:30 p.m. (CW)
Sat., Oct. 18	Texas at Kentucky	Texas -12.5	7 p.m. (ESPN)
Sat., Oct. 18	Tennessee at Alabama	Alabama -8	7:30 p.m. (ABC)
Sat., Oct. 18	USC at Notre Dame	USC +8.5	7:30 p.m. (NBC)
Sat., Oct. 18	Utah at BYU	Alabama -8	8 p.m. (FOX)
Sat., Oct. 18	Cincinnati at Oklahoma St.	Cincinnati -20.5	8 p.m. (ESPN2)

Week 8 College Football Best Bets: Game-By-Game Analysis

The unbeaten Miami Hurricanes have their eyes on a national championship this season. (USA TODAY)

Friday, October 17

Louisville at Miami, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Buzz: The No. 2 Hurricanes (5-0 SU, 4-1 ATS, 1-0 ACC) face conference foe Louisville coming off the bye and their dominant win over Florida State. Miami won't leap into the nation's No. 1 spot this week with a win in our Week 8 College Football Best Bets, barring a catastrophic loss by Ohio State. But the 'Canes need to impress future CFB Playoff voters, never mind themselves and the rest of the ACC, with a big-ticket win here. Another warm and humid South Florida night won't help the visitors.

Best Bet: Miami -13.5 (-110) FanDuel via OddsJam

North Carolina at California, 10:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Buzz: The trainwreck that is North Carolina Football under coach-for-now Bill Belichick limps into Berekely. This could be Belichick's "On To Cincinnati" gameat UNC if the Heels can pull off the upset. However, Tom Brady isn't walking through that door. And Jordon Hudson can't do anything about North Carolina's sputtering offense. But this does have all the makings of Belichickian upset. Or at least a backdoor cover. Cal has a freshman QB in Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele. Never a good sign going up against a team coached by The Hoodie. The Bears are consistently inconsistent (4-2 SU, 3-3 ATS, 1-1 ACC).

Best Bet: North Carolina +12.5 (-110) FanDuel via OddsJam

Ole Miss heads to Athens this week to face the Georgia Bulldogs in a key SEC showdown. (USA TODAY)

Saturday, October 18

LSU at Vanderbilt, 12 p.m. (ABC)

Buzz: Each team already owns an SEC loss, pushing this one into "must-win territory." Vanderbilt received its reality jolt two-weeks ago in a 30-14 loss to Alabama. A year ago, the Commodores upset the Tide in Nashville. They're hoping to catch the No. 10 Tigers napping here, ahead of their game against Texas A&M. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier continues to struggle, throwing 2 picks in LSU's 20-10 nail-biter win over South Carolina. Both teams have beaten the Gamecocks, but Vanderbilt's margin was 31-7. No. 17 Vandy QB Diego Pavia remains a dual threat. But Vandy's defense wins the day in our Week 8 College Football Best Bets.

Best Bet: Vanderbilt +1.5 (-110) DraftKings via OddsJam

Georgia Tech at Duke, 12 p.m. (ESPN)

Buzz: Duke (4-2 SU, 3-3 ATS, 3-0 ACC) knocked off Georgia Tech in Atlanta 35-21 a year ago. This season, the teams enter this game a combined 10-2. The Yellowjackets (6-0 SU, 4-2 ATS, 3-0 ACC) have quietly dominated the ACC, safely hidden behind the clouds of the Miami Hurricanes. Tech enjoys the ACC spotlight Saturday, rambling through Wallace Wade Stadium.

Best Bet: Georgia Tech +2.5 (-110) FanDuel via OddsJam

Washington at Michigan, 12 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: Big Noon Kickoff returns to the Big House as Michigan (4-2 SU, 2-4 ATS, 2-1 Big Ten) seeks to find balance. This is another loser-go-home game when it comes to the Big Ten conference championship. USC freshman walk-on running back King Miller and the Trojans defense humbled Michigan 31-13 Saturday. Washington (5-1 SU, 3-3 ATS, 2-1 Big Ten) has quietly stacked some quality wins. The Huskies show bark and bite with signature Big Ten victory behind QB Desmond Williams.

Best Bet: Washington +6.5 (-110) FanDuel via OddsJam

Arizona at Houston, 12 p.m. (FS1)

Buzz: A pair of evenly-matched Big 12 teams. Houston (5-1 SU, 5-1 ATS, 2-1 Big 12) remains a tough out at home and in contention for a possible shot in the conference title game. Arizona (4-2 SU, 4-2 ATS, 2-2 Big 12) saw its road to a Big 12 title shot end with in a 33-27, double-OT loss at home to BYU Saturday.

Best Bet: Houston ML (-120) FanDuel via OddsJam

Baylor at TCU, 12 p.m. (ESPN2)

Points. Points. And more points.

Best Bet: TCU ML (-110) FanDuel via OddsJam

Oklahoma at South Carolina, 12:45 p.m. (SEC Network)

Buzz: The Sooner Schooner sank while trying to cross the Red River Saturday. Texas kept the Oklahoma and QB John Mateer (who clearly was bothered by his injured hand) out of the end zone in a 23-6 win. That marked first time the Sooners (5-1 SU, 5-1 ATS, 1-1 SEC) failed to cover this season. South Carolina (3-3 SU, 3-3 ATS, 1-3 SEC) can't seem to figure it out. The Gamecocks sputtered all day against LSU. Expect Mateer and the No. 14 Sooners to recover this week.

Best Bet: Oklahoma -4.5 (-110) FanDuel via OddsJam

West Virginia at UCF, 1 p.m. (TNT)

Buzz: The Evil Of Two Lessers. UCF (3-3 SU, 3-3 ATS, 0-3 Big 12) remains out of its league in the Big 12. West Virginia (2-4 SU, 2-4 ATS, 0-3 Big 12) , meanwhile, can't rekindle the magic it once had under coach-for-the-second-time Rich Rodriguez. WVU, however, should be healed after the bye. Look for a backdoor cover by the visitors. (As long as you get the hook here).

Best Bet: West Virginia +7.5 (-110) FanDuel via OddsJam

Ohio State at Wisconsin, 3:30 p.m. (CBS)

Buzz: The No. 1 until-further-notice Buckeyes haven't lost a game in 11 months. Ohio State's nation ranks No. 1 in the nation, allowing just 6.8 points per game. The Buckeyes (6-0 SU, 5-0-1 ATS, 3-0 Big Ten) pushed as 28-point favorites over Ohio U. This week's number is massive but Wisconsin lost 37-0 to Iowa at Camp Randall. The Bucks are playing for style points, and no points on defense. Look for Matt Patricia's defensive squad to run up the negative score.

Best Bet: Under 42.5 (-110) FanDuel via OddsJam

Michigan State at Indiana, 3:30 p.m. (Peacock)

Buzz: Curt Cignetti and the No. 3 Hoosiers squelched the doubters with a convincing 30-20 triumph in Eugene Saturday. Indiana (6-0 SU, 4-2 ATS, 3-0 Big Ten) won outright as 7-point underdogs. Any discount on the Hoosiers has evaporated this season, given that they're priced as 26.5-point favorites against visiting Michigan State (3-3 SU, 3-42 ATS, 0-3 Big Ten). Indiana and Ohio State won't meet this season, until perhaps the Big Ten title game. Indiana's upcoming conference schedule features UCLA, Maryland, Penn State (yikes), Wisconsin and Purdue. The Spartans covered as big dogs against USC and Nebraska. But this week, Spartans fall hard in Bloomington in our Week 8 College Football Best Bets.

Best Bet: Indiana -26.5 (-110) FanDuel via OddsJam

Texas A&M at Arkansas, 3:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Buzz: Texas A&M vs. Indiana for the national championship? Why not. Not sure anyone saw them as the No. 4 and 3 teams in the country, respectively, heading into Week 8. The Aggies (6-0 SU, 3-3 ATS, 3-0 SEC) covered for the 2nd week in a row by dominating in the trenches against Florida, and scoring the easy cover off 7.5 points in a 34-17 win. This week, they've been sold short against Arkansas, giving just 7 points in Pig Country. The Razorbacks (2-4 SU, 2-4 ATS, 0-2 SEC) will be hard pressed to cross the goal line at home.

Best Bet: Texas A&M -7 (-110) FanDuel via OddsJam

Ole Miss at Georgia, 3:30 p.m. (ABC)

Buzz: Two Sons Of Saban face off with the winner holding serve for a spot in the SEC title game. Kirby Smart and the Dawgs earned an officials-aided win over Auburn Saturday. An Auburn TD would have put No. 9 Georgia (5-1 SU, 2-4 ATS, 3-0 SEC) down 17-0 was missed on the field. And Smart used Jedi Mind Mastery on the refs to create a phantom time out. The Lane Train nearly got derailed by 31-point underdog Washington State in Oxford. Ole Miss (6-0 SU, 4-2 ATS, 3-0 SEC) avoided the trap in a 24-21 win. Georgia's defense earned a win and cover over Auburn (for the second week in a row) and will do so again this week.

Best Bet: Georgia -6.5 (-105) BetMGM via OddsJam

Texas Tech at Arizona State, 4 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: The Sun Devils' saw their map to the Big 12 title game made more complex Saturday. ASU (4-2 SU, 2-4 ATS, 2-1 Big 12) got soaked by the elements and Utah's offense in a 42-10 rout. The Devils played without QB Sam Leavitt, but 6th-year senior Jeff Sims could not compensate for the Utes' ferocious offensive attack. No. 7 Texas Tech (4-2 SU, 6-0 ATS, 3-0 Big 12) and Ohio State are the only Power 4 teams unbeaten outright and ATS this season. That run continues for the Red Raiders this week.

Best Bet: Texas Tech -8.5 (-105) ESPN BET via OddsJam

Mississippi State at Florida, 4:15 p.m. (SEC Network)

Buzz: James Franklin being fired by Penn State before Billy Napier got the boot in Gainesville remains one of the biggest surprises in a season that's shocked and awed us each week since August. Napier is in "must-win" territory until further notice. Florida (2-4 SU, 2-4 ATS, 1-2 SEC) relies on its defense to handle business, especially at home. Expect a low-scoring affair.

Best Bet: Under 52.5 Points (-105) Rebet via OddsJam

Oregon at Rutgers, 6:30 p.m. (Big Ten Network)

Buzz: The now No. 8 Ducks take flight to the East Coast after getting plucked by Indiana at home Saturday. Oregon (5-1 SU, 4-2 ATS, 2-1 Big Ten) missed three covers when their line was under 26 points. But Rutgers (3-3 SU, 3-3 ATS, 0-3 Big Ten) has allowed 107 points in its 3 conference games. Oregon's offense will right itself this week, even with the jet lag. The Ducks' defense bullies the Scarlet Knights into wishing they stayed in the Big East.

Best Bet: Oregon -14.5 Points (-110) ESPN BET via OddsJam

Washington State at Virginia, 6:30 p.m. (CW)

Buzz: The Cavaliers (5-1 SU, 5-1 ATS, 3-1 ACC) find themselves ranked No. 18 after 3 straight ACC wins. Wahsington State nearly upset Ole Miss as 33-point underdogs, losing 24-21 in Oxford. Bettors have been cashing on Virginia all season. This number was swayed by WSU's close-call against Ole Miss. Virginia has us sold on the cover, especially coming off the bye.

Best Bet: Virginia -17.5 (-110) FanDuel via OddsJam

Texas at Kentucky, 7 p.m. (ESPN)

Buzz: The ESPN-Arch Manning Love Fest hits ludicrous speed this week as the No. 21 Longhorns (4-2 SU, 2-4 ATS, 1-1 SEC) run wild at Kroger Field.

Best Bet: Texas -12.5 (-110) FanDuel via OddsJam

Tennessee at Alabama, 7:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Buzz: This week's highest-ranked matchup sends No. 11 Tennessee to Tuscaloosa to face the No. 6 Crimson Tide. Both teams survived 3-point wins over SEC foes Saturday. Tennessee (5-1 SU, 3-3 ATS, 2-1 SEC) slipped past Arkansas 34-31, while Alabama held off Missouri 27-24. Tide QB Ty Simpson continued to bolster his Heisman application by throwing for 200 yards and 3 TDs. Alabama (5-1 SU, 4-2 ATS, 3-0 SEC) has improved on a weekly basis and comes into this game playing cleaner and at a higher level on both sides.

Best Bet: Alabama -8 (-110) Caesars Sportsbook via OddsJam

USC at Notre Dame, 7:30 p.m. (NBC)

Buzz: The annual showdown between USC and Notre Dame see both teams ranked in the Top 25. This aids the Irish in terms of their College Football Playoff push, given that they've yet to beat a ranked team this season. Both teams are 3-3 ATS this season. The Irish have enjoyed some easy wins of late, but haven't been pushed for 4 quarters since the season-opening loss at Miami. The Trojans, meanwhile, are coming off 4 straight Big Ten games, including an impressive 31-13 win over Michigan. They'll get the cover at this number in our Week 8 College Football Best Bets.

Best Bet: USC +8.5 (-110) Hard Rock Bet via OddsJam

Utah at BYU, 8 p.m. (FOX)

Buzz: The Holy War resumes hostilities this week with both Utah (No. 23) and BYU (No. 15). ranked in the Top 25. Stock up the fridge with Caffeine-Free Coke and O'Douls for what could be the game of the year in the Big 12. Bettors have profited by backing Utah (5-1 SU, 5-1 ATS, 2-1 Big 12) this season. Utah failed to cover this season as 3.5-point favorites in their 34-10 loss to Texas Tech. The Utes are 3.5-point favorites again this week against the Cougars (6-0 SU, 4-2 ATS, 3-0 Big 12). BYU needed 2 OTs to beat Arizona Saturday. This one also goes down the final possession.

Best Bet: Utah +3.5 (-110) BetMGM via OddsJam

Cincinnati at Oklahoma State, 8 p.m. (ESPN2)

Buzz: The No. 24 Bearcats own a piece of first place in the Big 12 and don't plan on giving it up. They score early and often in Stillwater. Oklahoma State, not so much.

Best Bet: Cincinnati -20.5 (-110) DraftKings via OddsJam