College Football Picks, Predictions: Expert Week 8 Bets for Ole Miss vs. Texas, Indiana vs. Michigan, More

If you want more Action Network content, be sure to add us as a preferred source on Google.

Week 8 of the college football season is here. We have a number of intriguing matchups this week, and it all starts on Friday night.

To kick off my Week 8 betting card, I’m looking toward Laramie, Wyoming, where the Wyoming Cowboys host the Air Force Falcons in a Mountain West matchup.

When Saturday rolls around, we’ll begin in Ann Arbor, where Tommy Carr and the Michigan Wolverines have another test against Curt Cignetti and the No. 6 Indiana Hoosiers.

Then, in the SEC, the No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers head to Columbia, where they’ll take on the South Carolina Gamecocks, who are coming off a big win over Florida prior to the bye week.

Finally, to close it all out, we’ll take a look at this weekend’s marquee matchup, as the No. 7 Ole Miss Rebels meet the No. 19 Texas Longhorns.

With so much to get to, let’s dive into my college football picks and NCAAF predictions for the Week 8 games on Saturday, October 24.

Be sure to download the Action Network app for more expert picks and analysis!

College Football Picks, Predictions

The team logos in the table below represent each of the matchups that Action Network senior writer Collin Wilson is targeting from this week’s slate of college football games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.

The Falcons have had a successful season after a disappointing 2025 season that left head coach Troy Calhoun with a 4-8 record and no bowl game.

Air Force sits atop the Mountain West standings with a 3-1 conference record, with a potential conference championship preview against New Mexico to end the regular season.

First, the Falcons must face an improved Wyoming team while integrating a new starting quarterback. Quarterback Evan Medders has taken over after a season-ending injury to Liam Szarka in Week 5.

The sophomore has been nothing short of electric on the ground through two games, with five rushing touchdowns and 12 explosive plays in the triple-option attack.

The defense has seen the most improvement since the 2025 season, when the team sat at the bottom of the FBS. Steve Russ returned as coordinator after serving in the same role from 2012-17, implementing a 2-4-5 that uses man coverage on 25% of snaps.

Air Force sits in the top 50 in Rushing Success Rate allowed and Passing EPA allowed. The defense has been stingy when opponents fall off schedule, ranking in the top 30 in passing down Success Rate allowed and passing down EPA allowed.

Wyoming logged its biggest victory of the season over Northern Illinois in Week 7. The Cowboys sit 3-1 in conference play and look to separate from the pack with a victory over Air Force.

New offensive coordinator Christian Taylor was brought in by head coach Jay Sawvel to energize a lifeless offense. Taylor was a former offensive advisor with the Buffalo Bills, working with former Wyoming quarterback Josh Allen.

Quarterback Tyler Hughes has struggled to deliver in the passing game for the Cowboys, but the sophomore leads the team in rushing yards and touchdowns this season.

The Cowboys’ nickel defense runs a low number of blitzes and has severe issues stopping the run. Wyoming ranks 130th or worse in Rushing Success Rate allowed, Defensive Line Yards and Rushing EPA allowed .

Nearly every opponent has consistently stayed on schedule and posted a methodical drive, as the Cowboys rank 121st in standard down Success Rate allowed.

Even more worrisome for the defense is the poor strength of schedule, as coordinator Aaron Bohl’s defense has allowed 23 points or more to the offenses of Northern Illinois, North Dakota State, Central Michigan and Colorado State.

The handicap in this Friday night Mountain West showdown comes down to the ability to stop the rush.

Stopping Air Force’s option offense can be a brutal assignment because of the run concepts used, including outside zone, power, pull lead and fullback dive.

Wyoming struggled against a similar offense from Central Michigan early this season, led by former Army co-offensive coordinator Matt Drinkall.

Wyoming owns a mid-FBS Success Rate against outside zone but has struggled against teams running power. Air Force not only runs power as its second-most popular run concept but also does so with eight men in the box in 31 personnel .

The Falcons rank eighth in offensive momentum killer, a stat that measures drive-stopping events such as fumbles, missed field goals and 15-yard penalties.

With Wyoming coming in at 133rd in Defensive Line Yards and 127th in Stuff Rate against the 133rd-ranked strength of schedule, there are signs that Air Force will create methodical drives and bust explosives on the ground.

On the other side, Hughes will look to attack an Air Force defense that sits outside the top 100 in Line Yards. Wyoming ranks in the top 10 nationally in Offensive Line Yards, meaning the offensive line has dominated the trenches throughout the schedule.

The Cowboys thrive on outside zone with two-tight-end sets, posting a 59% Success Rate. Air Force has been fantastic, dominating outside zone at a 63% Success Rate but has yet to see the run concept used with multiple tight ends.

Action Network’s Betting Power Ratings project Air Force as a 4.5-point favorite, in line with the current market offering. The difference in this game is the heavy run concepts against defensive trenches that have been incapable of stopping the rush.

The total will likely be brought down thanks to double-digit winds and two offenses averaging more than 30 seconds per play, but neither is a factor for two offenses set to dominate on the ground.

Pick: Over 44.5 or Better

Indiana’s 22-game winning streak came to an end as the Hoosiers lost to Ohio State after missed field goals and a few inches out of bounds on a game-winning catch.

The home field was electric for the Hoosiers, but now they must regroup and take on a physical Michigan team.

The Hoosiers’ offense outgained Ohio State by nearly a full yard per play, creating a methodical and two explosive drives in 12 offensive possessions.

However, Indiana was stuffed well above the national average in 12 of 28 rushing attempts . Quarterback Josh Hoover fought hard through injury, recording 5 big-time throws and 2 turnover-worthy plays.

Coordinator Bryant Haines 4-2-5 defense limited the Ohio State rushing attack, allowing just 3.7 yards per play on 33 attempts.

The Buckeyes fell 10 percentage points short of the national average in success rate on standard downs, setting up 15 third-down attempts with an average distance of 7.1 yards.

The Hoosiers defense stood up in the red zone, allowing just a single touchdown on three attempts. Edge Tobi Osunsanmi continues to be a national leader in tackles for loss, ranking second nationally with 11.5 on the season.

Although Michigan beat Penn State by a field goal in State College, the Wolverines posted an 82% post-game win expectancy.

A quarterback change from Bryce Underwood to Tommy Carr was the spark a struggling offense needed after a scoreless first half .

Carr led the Wolverines to 21 second-half points on just 5-of-7 passing. The most important statistic was the lack of turnover-worthy plays for the freshman, as Underwood stunted Michigan with 6 interceptions and 6 fumbles this season.

Coordinator Jay Hill saw the Michigan defense energized in the second half against the Nittany Lions, producing three takeaways. The Wolverines’ strength has been on the defensive side all season, ranking as a top-10 team nationally in success rate, EPA allowed, and opponent finishing drives.

A top-20 pass rush is led by a combined 29 pressures from John Henry Daley and Dom Nichols, while middle linebacker Troy Bowles leads the team in tackles with 35.

The starting quarterback will be the biggest question of the week, as head coach Kyle Whittingham has refused to commit to either Carr or Underwood.

There is no denying the team’s turnaround once Carr entered the game at Penn State. The bulk of the production from the defense, running back Jordan Marshall and the remainder of the team came in the second half.

A start for Carr could keep the momentum going, but it could be an enormous task for a freshman to make his first start against one of the best defenses in the nation.

The Wolverines use power and inside zone for an offense that elects to rush on 60% of snaps. Indiana’s defense dominates both run concepts, particularly inside zone at a success rate of 68% .

Because the Hoosiers are third in defensive rushing success rate, Michigan could be forced to move the chains through the arm of Carr or Underwood.

Indiana struggled to run the ball against an Ohio State team considered vulnerable to the rush. The Hoosiers were stuffed on 43% of attempts and averaged just 3 yards per play in 28 attempts.

Indiana uses a heavy amount of inside zone, a run concept the Michigan defense dominates .

The Wolverines have a 55% success rate while producing a negative EPA for opponents that use inside zone.

The success of the Hoosiers’ offense could come down to Hoover against the man, Cover 1 and Cover 3 used by Michigan. Indiana has been mid-FBS in success rate against man and cover 1, with more success against cover 3.

Action Network’s Betting Power Ratings list Indiana as a 10-point favorite on the road, with the touchdown spread reflecting the Ohio State hangover. The better bet comes in the first-half under, where Indiana will look to regroup, and Michigan will look for offensive success through Underwood or Carr.

Both defenses are well-suited to stop the bread and butter of the opposing offense, and downfield passing in the second half should determine the winner between Indiana and Michigan.

Pick: 1H Under 20.5 or Better

A glorious third Saturday in October brought the Volunteers a home victory over Alabama. Tennessee averaged more than a yard per play while stuffing 57% of the Crimson Tide rushing attempts.

Quarterback George MacIntyre continues to be a safe option for the offense, failing to commit a turnover-worthy play against Alabama, bringing his season number to a 1.1% mistake rate on 85 drop backs .

Tennessee generated twice the national average in methodical drives, defined as an offensive possession to have at least 10 plays.

While the offense continues to be a heavy rush unit with DeSean Bishop, the biggest part of the victory falls on coordinator Jim Knowles’ defense.

The Volunteers’ defensive front has manhandled the offensive lines of Texas and Alabama this season, ranking as the third-best havoc unit in FBS.

Opponents that fall into passing downs have experienced nightmares from Tennessee’s pass rush and coverage.

Defensive interior lineman Xavier Gilliam leads the team in pressures, while edge Tyree Weathersby leads in sacks . The Volunteers grade as one of the best coverage units nationally, led by three interceptions from safety Dejuan Lane and three pass breakups from corner Ty Redmond.

A strange season headed in a downward spiral all changed before the bye week for South Carolina.

The Gamecocks lost three consecutive games against Mississippi State, Alabama and Kentucky through Week 5, posing questions about head coach Shane Beamer’s job security.

There were signs of life in the losses, though, as the Gamecocks posted a 72% post-game win expectancy against the Wildcats.

Thanks to three turnovers from the Gators and a five-touchdown effort from quarterback LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina boat raced Florida in Week 6 before a needed bye week.

Despite the final score, Florida did move the ball successfully against South Carolina. The Gamecocks allowed 5.2 yards per play, but three red zone attempts from the Gators produced a single touchdown .

South Carolina has struggled in defensive finishing drives all season, as 30 opponent possessions crossing the 40-yard line have resulted in an average of 4.2 points.

The Gamecocks have severe issues against the pass, using primarily quarters coverage to the tune of a 41% success rate.

A rank of 125th in pass EPA indicates that opponents have thrived on the air attack against South Carolina.

There’s no denial of the situational spot for South Carolina, as it’s fresh off a bye week and playing a Tennessee team that beat a century old rival.

Early week investors were quick to erase South Carolina numbers off the board, as resistance came in the market with Tennessee at +2.5.

The Action Network projects this game with the Volunteers as a field goal favorite, indicating the market has baked in the spot to the point spread .

Tennessee has started slow in games this season, failing to score in the first quarter during the last road trip to Arkansas and just a touchdown at Georgia Tech. The first quarter is the lowest offensive scoring output and differential for the Volunteers.

A fresh South Carolina team can take advantage with the inside zone read run concept.

The Gamecocks use a heavy amount of inside zone with 11 personnel in a light six man box, utilizing running back Matt Fuller, who’s averaging 4.5 yards after first contact .

Sellers has 13 rushing gains of at least 10 yards while producing nearly 200 yards on designed calls.

Tennessee has been successful against most run concepts with the exception of inside zone and a light box. The Volunteers have a 30% success rate against inside zone with six players in the box, signaling that Sellers will be able to attack a vulnerable defense.

Look for South Carolina to have success early on offense through Sellers and the uptempo preference of coordinator Kendal Briles.

Pick: South Carolina 1Q ML (-125) · Matt Fuller Anytime TD (-160)

Ole Miss has rolled in back-to-back blowout victories against Vanderbilt and Missouri.

The defense allowed a grand total of 20 points, while the offense totaled 83 points. Led by Heisman contender Trinidad Chambliss, the Rebels have one of the best offenses nationally, thanks to a top-10 success rate.

Running back Kewan Lacy sparked the outburst upon his return from injury in Week 6 against the Commodores. The junior has been one of the most elusive backs in the nation at 4 yards after first contact.

The play from Chambliss has been stable compared to his 2025 numbers, posting the same low turnover-worthy play rate with a higher average target depth.

The defensive numbers continue to show poorly despite the recent domination of two SEC offenses.

The Rebels are dominating the line of scrimmage as a top-20 team in stuff rate, but a 126th-ranked coverage grade has allowed opposing offenses to build methodical drives.

Ole Miss checks in at 117th in 3rd-down defense, allowing an average distance of 7.4 yards. Neither quarters nor cover 3 has produced stops for head coach Pete Golding , each allowing an explosive on 1 of 5 opponent attempts.

A full evaluation of the offense is underway following two consecutive losses by the Longhorns. Head coach Steve Sarkisian noted that every aspect of the offense, from his play-calling to Arch Manning‘s execution, was under a microscope.

There will be no changes at the starting position, but sophomore KJ Lacey is in line to take snaps if additional trouble looms. Sarkisian emphasized that the Longhorns’ offense simply lacks better execution and production from the running game.

Texas is 79th in standard downs success rate, anchored by horrible offensive line blocking at 114th in line yards.

Havoc allowed has been the biggest issue for Texas, as a 133rd-ranked finish stems from eight fumbles and 46 tackles for loss allowed. The biggest culprit of fumbles has been Manning himself, posting five fumbles lost since Week 3 against UTSA .

The Texas defense allowed methodical drives at the start of the third and fourth quarters, contributing to the losing effort. Florida posted a 15-play touchdown drive to start the second half and a 14-play drive to start the 4th quarter, sealing the victory.

Coordinator Will Muschamp calls one of the best defenses in the nation, but 14 missed tackles and a single sack were unexpected from one of the best havocunits in FBS.

Injury concerns will persist into Week 8, as edge Colin Simmons could miss multiple games due to an ankle sprain . The junior accounts for 23% of the team’s total pressures.

Sarkisian wants the Longhorns to establish a run game, a realistic deliverable against Ole Miss. The Rebels must defend outside zone against Texas, a run concept with which the Rebels produce a modest 48% success rate with minimal negative plays.

Running back Hollywood Smothers has been ineffective because of poor offensive line blocking, but generating a season-high 67 yards against a Tennessee defense that also had mid-FBS success with outside zone.

There is no expectation Ole Miss will generate pressure or sacks on Manning, as the Longhorns’ offensive line ranks 11th in pass protection .

The good news for Texas is the explosive coverage against quarters, as Manning has a 58% success rate against the concept. The Rebels’ poor tackle grade of 97th could help the Longhorns get into scoring position.

The biggest factor in the game is the absence of Simmons at edge for the Texas defense, as Chambliss outside the tackles can be a nightmare to defend.

EDGEs Zina Umeozulu and Richard Wesley must pick up the slack in creating Havoc, a near-impossible task as Simmons is the second-highest-graded edge in pass rush productivity per PFF.

The Action Network projects Texas as a 6.5-point favorite, signaling an ultimate buy-low, sell-high opportunity exists. Texas’ two-game losing streak, with Ole Miss’ two-game blowout, has settled the number on a field goal.

Ultimately, the loss of Simmons will allow Ole Miss to avoid drive-ending havoc from Texas. Look to buy low on a Texas team full of questions, while the poor Ole Miss defense and the loss of Simmons for the Longhorns should increase scoring opportunities.

Pick: Over 53.5 or Better · Texas -3

=ML3074002964&deeplinkId=ML3074002981&context=action-articles” expiration_date=”2026-10-31″]