College Football Week 8 Best Sports Betting Picks & Predictions

The push to the College Football Playoff can only heat up from here.

Week 8 marks the start of the regular season’s second half. As the stakes rise on the field, so too do the opportunities for those playing along at home.

Missouri -4 vs. Auburn

There’s an interesting contrast with Auburn limping into Week 8 on a three-game losing streak while the line has dropped from six points after the consensus sat at Missouri -10 at open. 

Missouri has not necessarily resembled the playoff contender some believed these Tigers would be this season, squeaking out wins over Boston College and Vanderbilt before laying an egg in Week 6 at Texas A&M. Still, there is plenty to like about Missouri with this drop in the line.

All four of Auburn’s losses — three of which came at home — were by at least six points. The War Eagle variety of Tigers averaged just 15.5 points per game in defeat and totaled two rushing touchdowns in those four contests.

Meanwhile, opponents have scored multiple rushing touchdowns against Auburn in each of the last three games, even with the AU defense holding teams to 4.1 yards per carry or fewer. Opposing offenses are able to win a war of attrition against AU, reflected in the staggering 34:30 to 25:30 time of possession disparity, of which Auburn is on the wrong end.

This is partly the result of Auburn being tied for the nation’s worst turnover margin at -11. Missouri, meanwhile, is +5 to rank No. 22 nationally.

It may be closely contested, but Missouri should be able to send Auburn to a fourth straight loss by a touchdown or more.

Illinois ML +152 vs. Michigan

In a Top 25 Big Ten matchup, two of the nation’s stingiest defenses in points allowed jockey to stay near the front of a tight conference race.

This is a big game for the home-underdog Illini. 

Illinois has not beaten Michigan since 2009, which was one of the worst seasons in Wolverines history. To beat a reigning national champion Michigan team carries symbolic weight for Illinois in its development under coach Bret Bielema.

More importantly for the 2024 Illini, a win keeps them within striking distance of the crowded top of the conference ahead of a visit to second-ranked Oregon. 

Memorial Stadium, where Illinois is 4-0 on the season, will be rocking — and so will an Illini defense looking to rebound from a surprisingly porous performance last week against Purdue.

Illinois’ struggles were a byproduct of giving up 11.4 yards per pass attempt and three touchdowns to the Boilermakers. This week, the Illini are in a much better position to challenge Michigan to put the ball in the air.

The Wolverines’ struggles establishing a passing offense didn’t cost them in narrow wins over USC and Minnesota, but Washington successfully pressured Michigan to throw 25 times. Expect Illinois to similarly constrict Michigan’s rushing offense to dictate the tone.

If the Illini are able to do so successfully, there is value in a straight-up Illinois pick.

Miami QB Cam Ward 3+ Passing Touchdowns +106, FanDuel

Cam Ward and Miami come into Louisville off a bye, with Ward having thrown at least three touchdowns in four of five games. The Cardinals’ defense has allowed just five passing touchdowns this season.

Something has to give — and it’s likely to be the Louisville defense.

Despite the low touchdown numbers Louisville has allowed, it is surrendering more than 65 percent completions — including 73.9 and 78.6 percent against Notre Dame and SMU, both of which were losses for the Cardinals.

The Miami passing attack is the most prolific Louisville will have faced to this point, thanks to Ward and the tandem of Isaiah Horton and Xavier Restrepo. To that end, the intrepid bettor might consider Restrepo at +165 to reach 100 yards receiving via DraftKings, which the Miami wide receiver has accomplished in half of the Hurricanes’ games (with a fourth outing of 99 yards).

DraftKings also offers Restrepo at +425 to score two or more touchdowns for those looking to really go big on Miami’s passing offense.