College Football Picks & Predictions: Week 8 (Tuesday)
Week 8 of the 2026 college football season kicks off with a three-game Tuesday night slate. There are two Conference USA matchups and one Sun Belt battle. Let’s break the games down for our top college football picks and predictions for Tuesday night. Note that all betting odds are accurate as of this writing but are always subject to change. Good luck.
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Tuesday’s Best College Football Picks & Predictions (Week 8)
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders at Florida International Panthers
We have two Conference USA games on tap for Tuesday night. Let's break down one of them, as Florida International (FIU) hosts Middle Tennessee. The Panthers are worth backing as 9.5-point home favorites for this weekday clash.
FIU's strong defense should control this matchup. The Panthers are ninth in the country in total yards and points allowed per game. They also rank seventh nationally in defensive success rate and ninth in defensive expected points added (EPA)/play.
This elite-level FIU defense now faces a Middle Tennessee attack that's struggled more often than not. The Blue Raiders rank 125th in adjusted offensive EPA/play and 92nd in offensive success rate. They did put up 33 points in last week's win, but that might've been more about how bad Delaware has looked.
Previously, Kansas shut out Middle Tennessee while Jacksonville State held them to 13 points. Both games were on the road, like this matchup at FIU. Don't expect much from the Blue Raiders' offense against a Panthers defense that has allowed only six total points in its past two home games combined.
Meanwhile, FIU should score enough against Middle Tennessee's weak defense. The Blue Raiders rank 121st nationally in defensive EPA/play and 131st in defensive success rate. They're also allowing 31.2 points per game against FBS competition this season.
Pick: Florida International -9.5 (-120)
South Alabama Jaguars at Marshall Thundering Herd
Tuesday night brings us a weekday Sun Belt matchup as Marshall hosts South Alabama. The over/under is very high, at 65.5 total points. Even so, we're taking the over. Expect a high-scoring game as both offenses pace the matchup.
South Alabama's style and team profile naturally lead to shootouts. The Jaguars are averaging 38.8 points per game, powered by a potent offense. They've also scored 52 and 56 points in their first two conference games. The offense ranks 10th nationally in EPA/play and 17th in total yards against FBS competition.
Conversely, the South Alabama defense is one of the worst in the country. The Jaguars are allowing 38.6 points per game against FBS opponents, ranking 130th in the sport. They've also allowed 35+ points in four straight games. The defense ranks 137th in EPA/play, 134th in success rate and 127th in total yards allowed.
It's easy to see why a high-scoring, back-and-forth game is expected when South Alabama is involved, given their strong offensive numbers and poor defense. The over has cashed in five straight games for the Jaguars. Plus, their last four matchups have averaged 83.8 combined points.
Marshall has struggled on defense as well. The Thundering Herd are 132nd in total yards and 129th in points allowed per game this season. They also rank 115th in defensive EPA/play and 110th in defensive success rate. South Alabama could easily score 40+ points in this matchup.
Meanwhile, Marshall is just good enough offensively to exploit the Jaguars' terrible defense on the other side of the ball. The Thundering Herd rank 37th nationally in offensive success rate. They made a quarterback change last game, with Zion Turner throwing for two touchdowns with a 67% competition rate in relief. The offense also put up 505 total yards in the loss to Coastal Carolina.
Pick: Over 65.5 Points (-110)