After a wild week of college football, one that saw five top-10 upsets — and nearly a sixth — Week 8 features a more muted schedule among top-25 teams.
On paper, at least.
The biggest of those is a ranked SEC matchup between No. 7 Mississippi and No. 18 Texas in a game that is of monumental importance to the Manning family. Rebels legends Archie Manning and Eli Manning will watch as their alma mater takes on the Longhorns — but will embattled quarterback Arch Manning start (or finish) the game?
Elsewhere, in the "College GameDay" game of the week, No. 16 Houston travels to No. 9 Utah for an impactful Big 12 matchup that may have ramifications
on how many teams the conference gets into the College Football Playoff in 2026.
Though there are no more contests between opponents ranked in the top 25 of the US LBM Coaches Poll, there are plenty of impactful meetings and trap games that bear watching in Week 8.
Here's how USA TODAY Sports' college football experts are picking the games:
College football Week 8 top-25 predictions, picks
Odds courtesy of BetMGM as of Tuesday, Oct. 20
Pittsburgh at No. 1 Miami
- Spread: Miami (-20)
- Over/under: 50.5 points
- Moneyline: Miami (-1600) | Pitt (+1050)
- Austin Curtright: Miami 35, Pitt 17
- John Leuzzi: Miami 42, Pitt 21
- Jordan Mendoza: Miami 36, Pitt 22
- Adam Bittner: Miami 38, Pitt 20
What our experts are saying: "The Panthers have averaged 19 points in the two games since quarterback Mason Heintschel was lost for the season with an injury. Senior Holden Geriner struggled in a loss to North Carolina before freshman Corey Dailey had a rough outing last week against Boston College. It’s hard to believe coach Pat Narduzzi has things figured out to the point of a realistic upset bid, regardless of what decision he makes behind center." — Adam Bittner
No. 3 BYU at Central Florida
- Spread: BYU (-6.5)
- Over/under: 43.5 points
- Moneyline: BYU (-250) | UCF (+210)
- Austin Curtright: BYU 34, UCF 26
- John Leuzzi: BYU 28, UCF 10
- Jordan Mendoza: BYU 34, UCF 26
- Adam Bittner: BYU 27, UCF 18
What our experts are saying: "How does BYU respond after a program-defining win? The Cougars shouldn’t underestimate a solid UCF team coming off a bye week. The Knights will provide another upset scare. However, BYU is able to contain the Knights' offense and leave the cross-country trip with a victory." — Jordan Mendoza
No. 5 Texas Tech at Cincinnati
- Spread: Texas Tech (-10.5)
- Over/under: 56.5 points
- Moneyline: Texas Tech (-450) | Cincinnati (+333)
- Austin Curtright: Texas Tech 35, Cincinnati 21
- John Leuzzi: Texas Tech 31, Cincinnati 20
- Jordan Mendoza: Texas Tech 40, Cincinnati 26
- Adam Bittner: Cincinnati 38, Texas Tech 34
What our experts are saying: "Texas Tech's offense showed some life in its 53-25 win over Arizona State in Week 7, thanks to a 173-yard, two-touchdown performance from J'Koby Williams. The Bearcats have one of the worst defenses in the Power Four, having just allowed 543 total yards to West Virginia's Michael Hawkins Jr. in a 45-42 loss. The Red Raiders win big." — Austin Curtright
No. 6 Indiana at Michigan
- Spread: Indiana (-7)
- Over/under: 41.5 points
- Moneyline: Indiana (-275) | Michigan (+225)
- Austin Curtright: Indiana 23, Michigan 13
- John Leuzzi: Indiana 31, Michigan 20
- Jordan Mendoza: Indiana 23, Michigan 13
- Adam Bittner: Indiana 28, Michigan 10
What our experts are saying: "The taste of losing won't last long in the Indiana locker room, as Curt Cignetti's Hoosiers bounce back with a win on the road against Michigan. Tommy Carr has the Wolverines' offense showing some life in his first true start, though." — John Leuzzi
No. 7 Ole Miss at No. 18 Texas
- Spread: Texas (-3)
- Over/under: 53.5 points
- Moneyline: Texas (-160) | Ole Miss (+135)
- Austin Curtright: Texas 27, Ole Miss 24
- John Leuzzi: Texas 24, Ole Miss 21
- Jordan Mendoza: Ole Miss 31, Texas 29
- Adam Bittner: Ole Miss 34, Texas 24
What our experts are saying: "Things aren't going great in Austin, Texas, right now, with talk of Arch Manning potentially being benched as the offense continues to struggle. I think Texas rebounds, though, for at least one game." — Austin Curtright
No. 16 Houston at No. 9 Utah
- Spread: Utah (-6.5)
- Over/under: 56.5 points
- Moneyline: Utah (-235) | Houston (+200)
- Austin Curtright: Houston 31, Utah 28
- John Leuzzi: Utah 27, Houston 24
- Jordan Mendoza: Utah 30, Houston 23
- Adam Bittner: Utah 28, Houston 25
What our experts are saying: "The Utes have been an interesting team that looks unstoppable one week and then fragile the next. Houston has proven it is a legit contender and will really give Utah fits. In a close game, Utah uses the home field advantage to power a big fourth quarter to remain undefeated." — Jordan Mendoza
Michigan State at No. 10 UCLA
- Spread: UCLA (-14)
- Over/under: 44.5 points
- Moneyline: UCLA (-625) | Michigan State (+475)
- Austin Curtright: UCLA 24, Michigan State 10
- John Leuzzi: UCLA 20, Michigan State 14
- Jordan Mendoza: UCLA 30, Michigan State 10
- Adam Bittner: UCLA 31, Michigan State 13
What our experts are saying: "Ty Dieffenbach has stepped up for the Bruins and they remain a solid contender. The defense has really been suffocating, and it feasts on a suspect Michigan State team that hasn’t been able to close out games, on the cusp of a really bad first season for Pat Fitzergald." — Jordan Mendoza
No. 11 Tennessee at South Carolina
- Spread: South Carolina (-2.5)
- Over/under: 50.5 points
- Moneyline: South Carolina (-130) | Tennessee (+110)
- Austin Curtright: South Carolina 31, Tennessee 27
- John Leuzzi: South Carolina 24, Tennessee 21
- Jordan Mendoza: South Carolina 26, Tennessee 23
- Adam Bittner: South Carolina 27, Tennessee 17
What our experts are saying: "LaNorris Sellers was awesome in leading the Gamecocks to an upset of Florida last week. He threw four touchdown passes and averaged eight yards per attempt. George MacIntyre was … fine as the Volunteers took down Alabama, primarily with a dominant defensive effort. It’s hard not to lean toward Sellers, as it looks like he might be getting hot." — Adam Bittner
Vanderbilt at No. 12 Kentucky
- Spread: Kentucky (-10.5)
- Over/under: 51.5 points
- Moneyline: Kentucky (-450) | Vanderbilt (+340)
- Austin Curtright: Kentucky 35, Vanderbilt 23
- John Leuzzi: Kentucky 27, Vanderbilt 14
- Jordan Mendoza: Kentucky 37, Vanderbilt 20
- Adam Bittner: Kentucky 32, Vanderbilt 21
What our experts are saying: "Kentucky extends its winning streak to six games with a commanding victory over Vanderbilt. Quarterback Kenny Minchey throws for three touchdowns, and the Wildcats can breathe a little easier after back-to-back wins that were decided by just one point." — John Leuzzi
Texas A&M at No. 13 Alabama
- Spread: Alabama (-14)
- Over/under: 50.5 points
- Moneyline: Alabama (-600) | Texas A&M (+450)
- Austin Curtright: Alabama 30, Texas A&M 14
- John Leuzzi: Alabama 38, Texas A&M 24
- Jordan Mendoza: Alabama 28, Texas A&M 12
- Adam Bittner: Alabama 31, Texas A&M 17
What our experts are saying: "Alabama can't lose three in a row, right? This is somewhat of a scary matchup for the Crimson Tide, and I like it to be close early, but the Aggies can't find enough points to stay in the game. Keelon Russell bounces back, and Marcel Reed gets benched." — Austin Curtright
No. 14 Iowa at Minnesota
- Spread: Iowa (-6.5)
- Over/under: 40.5 points
- Moneyline: Iowa (-235) | Minnesota (+200)
- Austin Curtright: Iowa 20, Minnesota 17
- John Leuzzi: Iowa 20, Minnesota 17
- Jordan Mendoza: Iowa 24, Minnesota 17
- Adam Bittner: Iowa 24, Minnesota 20
What our experts are saying: "Jeremy Hecklinski looked solid in his first start against Washington two weeks ago, as the Hawkeyes were able to move the ball and find a rhythm between the passing and running game. He continues that against Minnesota on Saturday and helps Iowa win back-to-back Big Ten road games." — John Leuzzi
No. 15 Southern California at Wisconsin
- Spread: USC (-3)
- Over/under: 49.5 points
- Moneyline: USC (-150) | Wisconsin (+125)
- Austin Curtright: USC 24, Wisconsin 21
- John Leuzzi: USC 27, Wisconsin 20
- Jordan Mendoza: USC 27, Wisconsin 23
- Adam Bittner: Wisconsin 27, USC 24
What our experts are saying: "The Trojans are coming off a bye week and Wisconsin is a real sneaky team that could cause them trouble. The Badgers wake up from the bad game at UCLA with a fourth quarter lead, but the big play ability of USC comes up clutch and the Trojans escape with another road victory." — Jordan Mendoza
No. 17 LSU at Auburn
- Spread: LSU (-7.5)
- Over/under: 50.5 points
- Moneyline: LSU (-300) | Auburn (+240)
- Austin Curtright: LSU 42, Auburn 20
- John Leuzzi: LSU 24, Auburn 17
- Jordan Mendoza: LSU 24, Auburn 23
- Adam Bittner: Auburn 32, LSU 24
What our experts are saying: "Byrum Brown has been as erratic as he has been dynamic. His 116 rushing yards to topple No. 1 Georgia fall in the latter category, and it's natural to wonder if this is a come-down spot where the other proverbial shoe could drop. That said, it’s also hard to shake the feeling that Brown may give Auburn more of an identity than we’ve seen from coach Lane Kiffin’s Bayou Bengals so far. " — Adam Bittner
California at No. 20 SMU
- Spread: SMU (-19.5)
- Over/under: 54.5 points
- Moneyline: SMU (-1100) | Cal (+775)
- Austin Curtright: SMU 35, Cal 27
- John Leuzzi: SMU 28, Cal 7
- Jordan Mendoza: SMU 44, Cal 23
- Adam Bittner: SMU 37, California 20
What our experts are saying: "The Tosh Lupoi era at Cal is off to a bad start, and it doesn't get any better against SMU. Maybe Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele can have another magical start against the Mustangs like last season, but he hasn't taken the jump many expected in 2026." — Austin Curtright
No. 22 Boise State at Washington State
- Spread: Boise State (-13)
- Over/under: 51.5 points
- Moneyline: Boise State (-525) | Washington State (+400)
- Austin Curtright: Boise State 45, Washington State 17
- John Leuzzi: Boise State 38, Washington State 14
- Jordan Mendoza: Boise State 48, Washington State 10
- Adam Bittner: Boise State 27, Washington State 10
What our experts are saying: "Boise State wins its fifth consecutive game and keeps itself in the mix as the Group of 6 representative for the College Football Playoff. The Broncos' defense, which is second in the Pac-12 in scoring, is too powerful for the Cougars." — John Leuzzi
Rutgers at No. 23 Northwestern
- Spread: Northwestern (-16)
- Over/under: 57.5 points
- Moneyline: Northwestern (-750) | Rutgers (+550)
- Austin Curtright: Northwestern 38, Rutgers 17
- John Leuzzi: Northwestern 35, Rutgers 17
- Jordan Mendoza: Northwestern 25, Rutgers 13
- Adam Bittner: Northwestern 38, Rutgers 30
What our experts are saying: "The Wildcats are the hunted now, having slipped into the back end of the national polls. The Scarlet Knights have demonstrated an ability to score against conference foes including Maryland and USC. We like dynamic Northwestern QB Aidan Chiles to win the day. He still hasn’t thrown an interception in 2026. It could take a back-and-forth affair to get there, though." — Adam Bittner
No. 25 Oregon at Illinois
- Spread: Oregon (-9.5)
- Over/under: 50.5 points
- Moneyline: Oregon (-350) | Illinois (+280)
- Austin Curtright: Oregon 24, Illinois 20
- John Leuzzi: Oregon 24, Illinois 14
- Jordan Mendoza: Oregon 20, Illinois 10
- Adam Bittner: Oregon 27, Illinois 24
What our experts are saying: "It will be worth watching who starts at quarterback for Oregon, but regardless, it seemed to have finally figured something out in the end of the win against Nebraska. Mix that with the defense continuing to limit opponents and the Ducks secure another ugly win to keep the season alive." — Jordan Mendoza
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: College football picks: Week 8 expert predictions, odds for every top 25 game
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