Will the Rebels be able to take out Texas?
No. Ole Miss travels to No. 19 Texas in one of two games between AP Top 25 teams in Week 8. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC. It’s the highlight of the SEC schedule and a chance for the Rebels to hand the Longhorns a third loss. The quartterback matchup between Trinidad Chambliss and Arch Manning also will draw a great deal of interest among those interested in the 2027 NFL Draft quarterback class.
No. 14 Houston takes on No. 10 Utah in the other matchup between ranked teams. That’s the late-night game at 10:15 p.m. ET on ESPN. The Utes and Cougars have the top scoring offenses in the Big 12 – which has three teams in our latest College Football Playoff projection.
What else is on the schedule? No. 6 Indiana will look to break an infamous streak at Michigan at 12 p.m. ET, and No. 11 Tennessee is an underdog at South Carolina at 3:30 p.m. ET. Let the second half of the season begin.
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All spreads and odds are courtesy of bet365 Sportsbook.
All prediction market implied probabilities are from ProphetX. ProphetX displays market percentages instead of betting odds. The percentages reflect the collective implied probability of an event.
Week 8 picks against the spread
Pitt at No. 1 Miami (-20.5) (12 p.m., ESPN)
This is a huge spread for the Hurricanes – who are coming off an emotional double-overtime victory against Florida State. Miami beat Pitt 38-7 last season, and the Panthers have shuffled quarterbacks since losing Mason Heintschel (ACL) for the season. The Hurricanes average 40.5 points per game in ACC play and Darian Mensah should feast against Pitt’s pass defense, which ranks 115th in the FBS.
Pick: Miami wins 38-21 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
No. 6 Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan (12 p.m., Fox)
Will Michigan start Tommy Carr? The Wolverines lead the Big Ten in total defense (256.9 ypg.). The Hoosiers are first in the conference in scoring defense (12.9 ppg.). Michigan averaged 7.6 yards per rushing attempt after putting in Carr in last week. Indiana’s more consistent passing attack with Josh Hoover will make the difference – but keep in mind the Hoosiers have not won at Michigan Stadium since 1967.
Pick: Indiana wins 24-14 and COVERS the spread.
No. 8 Texas Tech (-10.5) at Cincinnati (12 p.m., FS1)
The “Brendan Sorsby Bowl” is here. The Red Raiders have a plus-six turnover margin in their last two games, and A.J. Holmes Jr. leads a defense that has five players with at least two sacks. Cincinnati quarterback JC French hasn’t thrown an interception, this is the Red Raiders’ first road game at Cincinnati and it’s a rare home underdog spot.
Pick: Texas Tech wins 30-22 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
No. 18 LSU (-7.5) at Auburn (12 p.m., ABC)
This line fluctuated after opening at -6.5. LSU has been a hot-and-cold, home-and-road play within the SEC, and Auburn is riding high after knocking off Georgia in Week 7. LSU has the best rush defense in the SEC (88.1 ypg.), All three of Auburn’s SEC games have been decided by 10 points or less. These traditional rivals have not met since 2023.
Pick: LSU wins 27-17 and COVERS the spread.
Cal at No. 23 SMU (-17.5) (12 p.m., The CW)
Cal benched quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele in a 41-7 blowout loss to Wake Forest last week. Will he start against the Mustangs? SMU is 0-2 ATS as a double-digit favorite this season. The Golden Bears have the worst rushing offense in the ACC at 90.3 yards per game. That will make it tough to keep the Mustangs off the field.
Pick: SMU wins 38-18 and COVERS the spread.
Rutgers at No. 24 Northwestern (-15.5) (12 p.m., Peacock)
Rutgers has allowed 28 points or more in five games against FBS opponents and they allow 5.6 yards per carry. The Wildcats should have success against that front with its versatile rushing attack. Aidan Chiles leads the Big Ten with a 70.5% completion percentage, nine TDs and no interceptions. Northwestern is 1-3 ATS as a favorite this season.
Pick: Northwestern wins 35-21 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
Rob Gray-Imagn Images
No. 2 BYU (-6.5) at UCF (3:30 p.m., Fox)
Will BYU have an emotional letdown after the victory against Notre Dame? UCF had a bye week after back-to-back road losses against Houston and Oklahoma State. Will quarterback Alonza Barnett III be back from a hamstring injury? The Knights allow just 3.2 yards per carry. Bear Bachmeier has a 113 passer rating on the road. The Cougars are 6-2 ATS as a road favorite since 2024.
Pick: BYU wins 28-20 and COVERS the spread.
MORE: Controversy aside, BYU makes big statement for Big 12
Michigan State at No. 9 UCLA (-14.5) (3:30 p.m., CBS)
Michigan State has been a solid underdog this season, and there is value with the line moving up a point. The Spartans are 3-2 ATS as an underdog under first-year coach Pat Fitzgerald, and they have lost their last two games by a combined total of four points. Michigan State still allows four yards per carry, which means a big game for running back Wayne Knight at home. Ty Dieffenbach will make enough plays in the passing game.
Pick: UCLA wins 28-19 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
No. 11 Tennessee at South Carolina (-2.5) (3:30 p.m., ESPN)
Welcome to the tricky SEC chaos line of the week. The Vols opened as favorites before the line shifted in South Carolina’s favor. The Gamecocks lead the SEC in rushing yards at 232.3 ypg. Tennessee is second at 217.1 ypg. The Vols have the better defense. Defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam, who has 10.5 tackles for loss, will help disrupt that running game. That will be the difference as long as George MacIntyre does not turn the ball over. The Gamecocks have won three of the last four home meetings in this series.
Pick: Tennessee wins 24-21 in an UPSET.
Texas A&M at No. 13 Alabama (-14.5) (3:30 p.m., ABC)
The Aggies had a bye week to prepare for a road trip to Alabama. Marcel Reed has a 44.6% completion percentage with three interceptions on the road this season. The Crimson Tide are 2-2 ATS at home, and this line has dropped a point. Look for a bounce-back performance from Keelon Russell, but the line looks deceiving. Texas A&M will hang around in the first half.
Pick: Alabama wins 29-22 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
MORE: ‘Hangover Saturday’ will have lasting effect on SEC
No. 15 Iowa (-6.5) at Minnesota (3:30 p.m., FS1)
The Floyd of Rosedale trophy is on the line here between Big Ten rivals. The Gophers are 1-8 S/U against the Hawkeyes under coach PJ Fleck, and the Hawkeyes have a functional passing attack with quarterbacks Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown. Minnesota has an excellent third-down defense (30.9%). The Gophers had three turnovers in a 41-3 loss to the Hawkeyes last season.
Pick: Iowa wins 24-16 and COVERS the spread.
No. 21 Boise State (-12.5) at Washington State (6 p.m., USA Network)
Boise State is coming off a bye week, and the Broncos remain the only Group of 6 team in the AP Top 25. Maddux Madsen had a 154 passer rating on the road, and running back Dylan Riley ranks second in the FBS with 139.2 rushing yards per game. That combination should travel well against the Cougars. Washington State coach Kirby Moore played receiver at Boise State. Washington State is 3-0 ATS as a double-digit underdog.
Pick: Boise State wins 38-13 and COVERS the spread.
Vanderbilt at No. 12 Kentucky (-10.5) (7:30 p.m., SEC Network)
The Commodores are on a four-game losing streak, and they average 16.8 points per game in SEC play. Freshman Jared Curtis has a 60.3% completion rate with two TDs and four interceptions the last two weeks. Kentucky is playing at a high-efficiency with Kenny Minchey, and they will be able to run the ball in a convincing home victory.
Pick: Kentucky wins 34-17 and COVERS the spread.
Iowa State at No. 25 Arizona (-10.5) (7:30 p.m., ESPN2)
The Wilcats are in the AP Top 25 with veteran quarterback Noah Fifita, who ranks sixth in the FBS wtih 292.6 passing yards per game. Arizona has allowed just 10.3 points per game at home this season – and the Cyclones are 0-3 ATS as an underdog with two-TD losses to Utah and BYU. Iowa State is coming off a bye week.
Pick: Arizona wins 31-22 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
No. 16 USC (-3.5) at Wisconsin (7:30 p.m., NBC)
It’s another time-zone tester for the Trojans in prime time against the Badgers. Wisconsin allows 7.3 points per game at home, and they are 3-5 ATS in their last eight games as a home underdog. USC (152.3 ypg.) and Wisconsin (152.2 ypg.) have almost-identical rushing numbers, too. This line already ticked up a point.
Pick: USC wins 27-20 and COVERS the spread.
No. 7 Ole Miss at No. 19 Texas (-3.5) (7:30 p.m., ABC)
Will Texas lose three in a row? It’s a back-against-the-wall moment against Ole Miss, which is clicking with the healthy combination of Chambliss and Kewan Lacy. Chambliss has taken just five sacks this season. Can the Longhorns get that pressure to land? This is yet another prove-it moment for Manning against a ranked team.
Pick: Texas wins 31-28 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
MORE: Did Florida knock Texas out of the CFP again?
No. 14 Houston at No. 10 Utah (-6.5) (10:15 p.m., ESPN)
The Cougars and Utes both rank in the top five in the Big 12 in rushing offense and rushing defense. Houston quarterback Conner Weigman has a 70% completion percentage with 11 TDs and no interceptions on the road this season. Utah’s Devon Dampier has a 73.1% completion percentage with 10 TDs and two interceptions at home. The Cougars are 5-0 all time against the Utes.
Pick: Utah wins 26-23 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
