College Football Week 8 Expert Picks, Predictions For Texas-Ole Miss And More

Week 7 of the college football season was chaotic, with five of the top seven teams falling. The upsets confounded experts everywhere, but they’ll try to rebound in Week 8. It starts with “Big Noon Kickoff” as No. 6 Indiana tries to bounce back from its loss to No. 3 Ohio State against a Michigan team, resurging after a quarterback change. Arch Manning will try to keep his job as he leads No. 19 Texas into a must-win game against No. 7 Ole Miss. Then the night ends with a Big 12 matchup with College Football Playoff stakes when undefeated No. 10 Utah hosts No. 14 Houston. After consecutive weeks where the No. 1 team lost, the field is wide open. We’re breaking down our straight-up picks and the matchups to watch closely throughout the weekend. When: Saturday, noon ET (FOX)Where: Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor, MichiganLine: Indiana -7 RJ Young: IndianaAfter watching Indiana’s defense turn Julian Sayin into a tackling dummy, I shudder to think what it might do against Michigan’s newly named starting quarterback, Tommy Carr. Laken Litman: IndianaThe Hoosiers have never lost back to back games under Curt Cignetti and that won’t start now — not even with Michigan likely starting Tommy Carr at quarterback. Ben Portnoy: IndianaAfter being in Bloomington last week for Indiana’s loss to Ohio State, I think I’m more confident than ever that the Hoosiers can repeat as Big Ten champions. Michigan should get a nice spark from Tommy Carr, but I’m skeptical of a first-time starter against Bryant Haines’ defense. When: Saturday, noon ET (ESPN)Where: Hard Rock Stadium, Miami, FloridaLine: Miami -20.5 Young: MiamiThe No. 1 team in the country needs to act like it against a team that lost its star player and starting quarterback Mason Heintschel earlier this season. Litman: MiamiThe ‘Canes escaped their scariest test of the season vs. Florida State last week and will be locked in against a struggling Pitt team. Portnoy: MiamiPitt hasn’t been the same team since Mason Heintschel was lost for the season. Miami quarterback Darian Mensah is still my pick for the Heisman Trophy and I think he’ll put up more big numbers on Saturday. When: Saturday, noon ET (ABC)Where: Jordan-Hare Stadium, Auburn, AlabamaLine: LSU -7.5 Young: LSUI sincerely doubt Auburn can pull off that trick of knocking off a top-25 team for the second week in a row. Litman: AuburnJordan-Hare Stadium will be rocking and ready for Auburn to upset its second straight SEC powerhouse. Portnoy: LSUThe Tigers are in do-or-die mode right now. LSU brass spent millions to flip this roster and bring Lane Kiffin to Baton Rouge. I think it keeps its CFP hopes — fleeting as they may be — alive for one more week. When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (FOX)Where: Acrisure Bounce House, Orlando, FloridaLine: BYU -6.5 Young: BYUI don’t believe in “emotional letdowns,” and UCF has been playing without star quarterback Alonza Barnett III most of this season. Litman: BYUThe Cougars don’t seem like the kind of team that’s going to have a letdown week after their massive win over Notre Dame. How many ways will quarterback Bear Bachmeier score this Saturday? Portnoy: BYUNo Alonza Barnett III, no way UCF is winning this game. The Golden Knights are improved in Year 2 of the Scott Frost Era (Part 2), but the Cougars look like the best team in the Big 12. I think they get it done, even in a potential letdown spot here. When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)Where: Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia, South CarolinaLine: South Carolina -2.5 Young: TennesseeWith George MacIntyre at quarterback and DeSean Bishop as the engine powering the Power T offense, the Volunteers look a lot like the 2024 version that made the College Football Playoff. Litman: TennesseeIt’s never easy to win on the road in the SEC, but Tennessee ekes this one out against a rejuvenated South Carolina team coming off a bye. Portnoy: South CarolinaTennessee smoked Alabama last week, but I’m still not sure how good the Volunteers are. Williams-Brice has a tendency to bring weird results (See the 2022 meeting between these two teams for proof of as much). I’ll take Shane Beamer to further cool his hot seat. When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (FS1)Where: Huntington Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MinnesotaLine: Iowa -6.5 Young: IowaThe Hawkeyes play a better version of smashmouth football offensively than the Golden Gophers do. Litman: IowaThe Hawkeyes continue their journey to a CFP berth in what’s become a wide open Big Ten. Portnoy: IowaThe Hawkeyes may have a quarterback decision to be made between Jeremy Hecklinski and Hank Brown, but they might finally have figured out the offense. Give me Kirk Ferentz’s bunch in this one. When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)Where: DKR-Memorial Stadium, Austin, TexasLine: Texas -3 Young: Ole MissTexas is one loss away from folding this season. The Rebels look like a team that could find their way into the SEC Championship Game Litman: Ole MissThe Rebels will not miss this opportunity to beat a conference opponent when they’re already down. Portnoy: Ole MissTexas is in free-fall mode and there’s nothing I’ve seen from Arch Manning this year that makes me think he can win a quarterback duel with Trinidad Chambliss. I’ll take the Rebels in a high-scoring affair. When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)Where: Camp Randall Stadium, Austin, TexasLine: USC -3 Young: USCThe Trojans are more talented offensively than Wisconsin. Litman: USCHead coach Lincoln Riley gets another Big Ten road win and keeps his team from looking ahead to next week’s showdown vs. Ohio State. Portnoy: USCLincoln Riley has quietly built a bit of stability in recent weeks. A win over Wisconsin would go a long way before a Julian Sayin-less, uber-talented Ohio State team comes to L.A. next week. When: Saturday, 10:00 p.m. ET (CW)Where: University Stadium, Albuquerque, New MexicoLine: New Mexico -4.5 Young: New MexicoThe Lobos have yet to lose to a Group of Six opponent this year, and the Bison got taken down by UNLV just a couple weeks ago. Litman: North Dakota StateIn a matchup between two one-loss Group of Six teams, the Bisons prevail behind veteran quarterback Nathan Hayes. Portnoy: New MexicoI’m all in on the Jason Eck experience. He’s expected to be one of the hottest candidates on the coaching carousel this offseason and for good reason. Lobos get it done against the efficiency machine that is North Dakota State. When: Saturday, 10:15 p.m. ET (ABC)Where: Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, UtahLine: Utah -6.5 Young: HoustonThe Cougars did something I did not think they were capable of against Oklahoma State: win a shootout. This, and Utah nearly dropped last week’s game to a two-win Colorado. Litman: HoustonThis is a tough one, but the Cougars get a massive win on the road behind sneaky Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Conner Weigman. Portnoy: HoustonUtah hasn’t had a chance to prove itself yet, but I’ve liked what I’ve seen from the Houston offense and Texas A&M reclamation project Conner Weigman. Willie Fritz has the Cougars riding high after last week’s huge victory over Oklahoma State. That momentum carries them in this one.