Week 8 of college football promises to deliver another round of thrilling matchups, with a focus on the SEC and some intriguing rivalry games. Let’s take a look at the top 10 games of the week, starting with some honorable mentions and working our way down the list.
Honorable Mention: Oklahoma State at No. 13 BYU, Ohio at Miami (Ohio), Virginia at No. 10 Clemson, Auburn vs No. 19 Missouri, Louisiana at Coastal Carolina, Toledo at NIU, Colorado at Arizona, James Madison at Georgia Southern, UCF at No. 9 Iowa State.
Two surprise teams in the Big 12 will face off as Arizona State takes on Cincinnati. Arizona State, led by running back Cam Skattebo, has been exceeding expectations, while Cincinnati, with transfer QB Brendan Sorsby, looks to capitalize on ASU’s depleted lineup. The game promises to be a close one, with Cincinnati favored by 4.5 points.
UNLV, coming off a strong win against Utah State, heads to Oregon State in a matchup with Mountain West implications. UNLV, currently tied with Boise State in the standings, will look to secure a win on the road. Oregon State, looking to bounce back from a loss to Nevada, will provide a tough challenge for UNLV.
Kansas State faces off against West Virginia in a crucial Big 12 matchup. Kansas State, the only ranked team among the Big 12 trio playing on the road, will be looking to avoid a second loss and stay in the conference title and CFP race. West Virginia, known for their resilient play, will aim to upset Kansas State at home.
Michigan and Illinois meet in a ranked matchup with Michigan favored by 3.5 points. Illinois, sporting throwback uniforms in honor of legendary halfback Red Grange, will look to continue their surprising 5-1 start. Michigan, despite struggles on offense, will aim to secure a win on the road.
In a potential College Football Playoff showcase, Nebraska faces off against Indiana. Indiana, led by coach Curt Cignetti, has been a surprise team this season with a 6-0 start. Nebraska, with freshman quarterback Dylan Raiola, will provide a tough test for Indiana’s top-10 defense. Indiana is favored by 6.5 points in this matchup.
LSU and Arkansas will battle for the Golden Boot in a key SEC matchup. LSU, coming off a thrilling overtime win against Ole Miss, will look to continue their momentum. Arkansas, better than anticipated this season, will aim to upset LSU and secure a signature win. LSU is favored by 2.5 points in this game.
Miami faces off against Louisville in a high-scoring matchup. Miami, led by Heisman hopeful Cam Ward, remains unbeaten and boasts the top offense in FBS. Louisville, with quarterback Tyler Shough leading a top-15 offense, will look to pull off the upset at home. Miami is favored by 5 points in this game.
Alabama takes on Tennessee in a critical matchup for both teams. Alabama, with a top-10 offense, will face a tough Tennessee defense. Both teams will look to avoid a second loss and stay in the national title conversation. Alabama is favored by 3 points in this game.
The top matchup of the week features Georgia against Texas in a top-five showdown. Georgia, underdogs for the first time in 50 games, will face a strong Texas team that is undefeated. A win for Texas would solidify their status as national title favorites, while a Georgia victory would shake up the college football landscape. Texas is favored by 4.5 points in this highly anticipated matchup.
Overall, Week 8 promises to deliver plenty of excitement and drama on the college football field. Stay tuned for these top matchups and more as the season continues to unfold.
