Week 8 of the 2026 college football season featured some incredible performances. Cincinnati running back Cole Tabb tallied 178 total yards and two touchdowns in a 37-24 upset win over No. 8 Texas Tech. Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney logged 16 receptions for 194 yards and three touchdowns in a 52-23 thrashing of Pitt. The focus now shifts to a Week 9 slate that kicks off on Tuesday night with two intriguing Conference USA matchups. Here’s a look at my college football picks for Tuesday’s contests.
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Tuesday’s Best College Football Picks & Predictions (Week 9)
(Odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook)
Delaware Blue Hens at Western Kentucky Hilltoppers
Talk about a breath of fresh air. Delaware quarterback Nick Minicucci returned from a leg injury to guide the Blue Hens to a 61-38 victory over Missouri State in Week 8, snapping their three-game losing streak. The senior completed 20-of-29 passes for 229 yards and five touchdowns and also rushed for a score. Meanwhile, Western Kentucky’s defense stood tall in a 16-3 Week 7 win over Sam Houston. Freshman linebacker Westen Ard led the defense with 10 tackles, 1.5 sacks and one pass breakup.
Minicucci’s impact on Delaware’s offense cannot be overstated. The Blue Hens have averaged 37.8 points and 440.5 yards in the four games he has played. They have averaged a dismal 15.7 points and 303.3 yards in the three games he has not played. Facing Western Kentucky gives Minicucci another chance to shine. Despite a great effort against Sam Houston, the Hilltoppers remain ranked outside of the top 100 FBS teams in opponent points per game (34.5) and yards per play (6.3).
Delaware’s defense is nothing to write home about. However, it doesn’t draw the same tough matchup as Western Kentucky’s. The Hilltoppers’ offense is averaging a lackluster 313.2 yards and 16.2 points per contest. Quarterback Rodney Tisdale Jr. hasn’t been the game-changer he was when he was named CUSA Freshman of the Year in 2025. I trust Minicucci to lead the Blue Hens to their first road win of the season. Overall, Delaware has covered the spread in three of its four games as a betting favorite.
Pick: Delaware -2.5 (-110)
Sam Houston Bearkats at Missouri State Bears
Neither program has had a stellar campaign. Sam Houston is in the midst of a five-game losing streak, most recently falling 30-24 to New Mexico State in Week 8. Wide receiver Tim Burns Jr. had a strong game, catching four passes for 117 yards and one touchdown. On the other side, Missouri State couldn’t keep up, falling 61-38 to Delaware in Week 8. Wide receiver Isaiah Myers caught 11 passes for 242 yards and two touchdowns.
Both defenses have a clear weakness. Sam Houston has struggled to stop the run, ranking 131st out of 138 FBS squads in opponent rushing yards per game (213.5) and 124th in opponent yards per rush attempt (5.3). Missouri State hasn’t figured out how to defend the pass, ranking 125th in opponent passing yards per game (274.3) and 119th in sacks per game (1.0). Those stats put Bearkats quarterback Landyn Locke and Bears running back Connor Lair in positions to succeed.
Another component to watch in this clash: Sam Houston and Missouri State rank in the bottom 15 in penalties per game. Penalties extend games by stopping the clock, and defensive infractions keep opposing drives alive. As a result, expect plenty of scoring in Springfield on Tuesday. The Bearkats have scored more than 51 points in three of their last five games, and the Bears have done the same in four of their last six. The crowd at Robert W. Plaster Stadium is in for a show.
Pick: Over 51.5 Points (-110)
