Top 5 College Football Week 8 Picks & Predictions (2024)

by Scott Bogman |
Oct 17, 2024

College football betting expert Scott Bogman will provide his top picks and predictions for each and every week of CFB action. Let’s get ready for this weekend’s games with Bogman’s best college football bets for Week 8. Check out all of his top picks and predictions below.

College Football Week 8 Picks & Predictions

Oklahoma State vs. BYU (Friday)

The over is absolutely in play for this Friday night matchup. BYU has hit their stride offensively over their last four games, putting up totals of 34, 38, 34, and 41, with the last three of those games coming against Big 12 opponents. The Oklahoma State defense has been getting beat all year, giving up at least 38 to only one P4 opponent in Utah, who were playing their backup QB in his second start. Mike Gundy has found success coming off a bye week with an 18-11 record and an average of 29 points in their last 3 regular season games off of a bye. Oklahoma State does come into this game with offensive issues, but they have still averaged over 30 PPG and are coming in with two weeks to prep. BYU is playing with confidence; an extra week to prep for Oklahoma State and rain potentially causing turnovers (and short fields) should all help get this total Over.

Pick: OVER 52.5

Michigan vs. Illinois

Michigan hasn't shown much on offense this season, but a new quarterback, transfer Jack Tuttle, is expected to start and could bring some much-needed balance to this offense. Michigan might not need balance, as Purdue has been bad against the run. Purdue has faced four P4 opponents and Nebraska was the only one not to beat them for 185+ on the ground, with Kansas, Penn State, and Purdue. Last week the Illini gave up 100 yards rushing to both QB Ryan Browne and RB Devin Mockabee and the Boilermakers averaged just under 7.5 yards per carry. The Illini will also have a hard time fighting back if they get down due to the offensive line giving up 19 sacks (t-120th in the nation) and Michigan having 17 this season (t-19th) and the #1 PFF Pass Rush grade. Michigan isn't the same team they were last season but the early troubles have been exacerbated by the 4th hardest strength of schedule this year and they are coming into Champaign with two weeks to prep. Get his one quick as it has already opened up to Michigan -3 after starting the week as -1.5.

Pick: Michigan -3

Army vs. ECU

ECU has been rough this season, and the 3-3 record so far is very deceiving. The Pirates started hot with two wins against Norfolk State and Old Dominion, but since then have gone 1-3 and have been getting TORCHED on the ground. The Pirates have given up rushing totals of 191 at Liberty, 170 vs UTSA, and 311 in their last game against Charlotte. Army comes into this game with the leading rushing attack in the Country, averaging 369.8 rushing yards per game. Army QB Bryson Daily is 8th in the rushing Nationally, and RB Kayne Udoh is 33rd. Army hasn't been challenged defensively but may not been on defense very long in this game, as ECU is 133/134 in TOP (only Southern Miss is worse). Army is 3rd in TOP this season, 2nd in Scoring defense behind only Texas, and 33rd in passing defense (ECU 58.5% Passing plays on offense). Army is middling on defense, and ECU might score, but it's likely that Army scores on most possessions, Army slows it down with a bottom ten pace in the country.. East Carolina just doesn't match up well against Army in this game, so lay the points and take the Knights.

Pick: Army -15.5

SMU vs. Stanford

These teams are headed in opposite directions at this point in the season, and Stanford has already been blonde out in two of their three home games. SMU had some struggles offensively early, benching starting QB Preston Stone for Kevin Jennings in their first game against Nevada, and then lost to what we now know is a strong BYU team in Week 2. Jennings has found his stride as the Mustangs have had 66 (vs. TCU), 42 (vs. FSU), and 34 (at Louisville) points scored in their last three games, and SMU looks like the team that was projected to compete in the ACC now sitting at 5-1. Stanford won two of their first three games but has been mired in a three-game losing streak and is at the end of a brutal stretch of their schedule against Clemson, Va Tech, Notre Dame, and now SMU. Stanford has been having issues at quarterback, and if they get down, it will be tough to mount a comeback with the 122nd-ranked pass offense. Stanford has only scored 28 points in this three-game losing streak, and while they might score against SMU they won't be able to stop them. SMU is likely to win this going away but take this ASAP as it has already gone up three points this week.

Pick: SMU -15.5

Texas vs. Georgia

Texas will face their biggest test on defense here with UGA coming to town. The issue with Georgia is not Carson Beck’s passing. He's turned it on after that 2nd half against Bama and has been great but the OL holding up against the Texas DL is where the concerns lie. Texas is Top 10 with 19 sacks and is graded as the 4th-best Pass Rush in the country. Texas is holding teams to 126 passing yards and 6.3 PPG. This will be by far the best offense that the Longhorns have played so there is a reasonable expectation that Georgia will be able to score more than anyone else has against Texas (13 from Miss State). The larger problem for Georgia is on the defensive side of the ball with them giving 41 points to Bama and then allowing 3 2nd-half TDs to Miss State last week (24 more points than they could manage against Toledo when #1 QB Blake Shapen was healthy). Texas is 11th in passing yards per game and 7th in scoring. It is fair to say Texas hasn't faced a good offense but they put up 31 against Michigan (no other opponent more than 24) and Oklahoma gave up 34 to Texas (before that 25 against Tennessee was the most they had given up). Georgia has the roster strength and coaches to beat Texas, but it has not been performing at a level that its fans would say is acceptable, and no one has even challenged Texas yet. Georgia should score enough points to put this game over, but they haven't shown enough on defense recently to cover this spread.

Pick: Texas -3.5 & OVER 55.5

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