Friday Night Football Week 8 Predictions | College Football Picks Today, Best Bets

Week 8 of the college football season might already be underway, but the best matchups lie ahead. That starts with a busier-than-usual Friday night featuring some of the country’s best teams. A short week will impact preparations for some programs, but we expect the cream to rise to the top under the bright Friday Night lights.

Florida State Seminoles vs Duke Blue Devils

Spread: Florida State +3.5 (-124) | Duke -3.5 (+102)
Moneyline: Florida State +126 | Duke -152
Total: OVER 42.5 (-105) | UNDER 42.5 (-115)

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It’s not every day you see a spread price bet down to +102, but that’s the price on the Duke Blue Devils to cover -3.5 against the Florida State Seminoles. It also reflects sportsbooks’ apprehension in moving the line toward a key number, preferring to entice bettors with plus-money rather than risk a flood of cash in the opposite direction. 

With just one win through their first six games of the season, the bitter disappointment from last year has somehow gotten worse for the Seminoles. A hand injury to DJ Uiagalelei has forced Florida State to turn to Brock Glenn, and the early returns aren’t promising. The Noles put up just 250 yards of offense in Glenn’s first start, with the freshman looking out-matched by the Clemson Tigers.

Duke doesn’t possess the same reputation as the Tigers, but its defense is equally impressive. The Blue Devils are holding opponents to 343.6 yards per game, five better than Clemson’s mark of 348.3. They’ve been particularly effective at defending the pass, limiting opponents to a paltry 167.6 passing yards per game. That puts Glenn at an even bigger disadvantage as he embarks on his first road start against a premier pass defense. 

We’re falling for the trap and backing the Blue Devils to cover -3.5 at +102. The home field is a significant advantage, and Duke should deliver another outstanding effort.

Recommended Play: Duke -3.5 +102

2024 Group of 5 Power Rankings | Week 8 of College Football Season

Oregon Ducks vs Purdue Boilermakers

Spread: Oregon -28.5 (-110) | Purdue +28.5 (-110)
Moneyline: Oregon -7000 | Purdue +2000
Total: OVER 60.5 (-105) | UNDER 60.5 (-115)

Emotions ran high in last week’s triumphant win over the Ohio State Buckeyes. The Oregon Ducks stunned the second-ranked Buckeyes, claiming victory on a last-minute field goal in Eugene. That sets Friday’s conference showdown against the Purdue Boilermakers as a classic flat spot. 

Oregon has a few factors working against it in this one. First, they have a short week to prepare for the Big Ten clash. Second, this is the Ducks’ first trip outside of the Pacific time zone all season. Finally, they have matchups versus ranked opponents in each of the next two weeks, making it very easy to look past Purdue. 

The Boilermakers’ defense has been their Achilles heel all season. Still, they can trot out a surprising offense that will catch the Ducks off guard. Purdue put up 49 points on 536 yards of total offense last week against the Illinois Fighting Illini, an encouraging sign for an underperforming offense. We could see a similar performance at Ross-Ade Stadium with the home crowd at their backs. 

Oregon hasn’t fared well as the favorites this season. The Ducks have covered the spread just once in five games, a blowout win over the Oregon State Beavers. Otherwise, the Boise State Broncos, Michigan State Spartans, UCLA Bruins, and even the Idaho Vandals have kept things relatively close against the Ducks. We’re betting that unflattering trend continues, with Purdue staying within four touchdowns of its guests.

Recommended Play: Purdue +28.5 -110

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Oklahoma State Cowboys vs BYU Cougars

Spread: Oklahoma State +9.5 (-108) | BYU -9.5 (-112)
Moneyline: Oklahoma State +280 | BYU -360
Total: OVER 52.5 (-110) | UNDER 52.5 (-110)

All eyes will be on the BYU Cougars as they look to remain one of the lone undefeated teams left in the country. BYU is off to a surprising 6-0 start to the season, a distinction they can maintain against the gutless Oklahoma State Cowboys. 

Mike Gundy’s air raid offense is no more. Oklahoma State has been toppled in recent outings, failing to record more than 20 points in three straight games. Predictably, the absence of scoring correlates with limited offensive production, as the Cowboys have been held below 285 yards of total offense in two of those three games. They’ll face a stiff challenge against a Cougars team that has hamstrung opponents all season.

BYU has a top-25 defense, complemented by an efficient offense. The Cougars have limited opponents to an average of 324.2 yards and 17.0 points per game, containing some high-octane offenses along the way. Led by Jake Retzlaff, the Cougars’ offense has taken the pressure off their defense, eclipsing 34 points in all but one outing.

The Cougars are superior to the Cowboys on both sides of the ball. BYU should move one step closer to its undefeated season, covering the spread along the way.

Recommended Play: BYU -9.5 -112

Fresno State Bulldogs vs Nevada Wolf Pack

Spread: Fresno State -3.5 (-102) | Nevada +3.5 (-120)
Moneyline: Fresno State -150 | Nevada +126
Total: OVER 49.5 (-110) | UNDER 49.5 (-110)

Week 8’s showdown against the Nevada Wolf Pack is a troubling position for the Fresno State Bulldogs. Losers of two straight, there aren’t many positives that validate the Bulldogs’ price tag as road favorites. Consequently, our recommended play is backing the underdog Wolf Pack. 

Fresno State’s resume is one of the worst in the Mountain West. Their three wins came against an FCS opponent, the New Mexico Lobos and New Mexico State Aggies, two bottom-feeders in the Group of Five. While the Bulldogs have put forth a solid defensive effort, they’ve looked out of sync on offense. They rank in the bottom half of the country in total offense and have totaled just 31 points over their last two games. Compounding those offensive issues, Fresno State will be playing on the road for the third time over its past four games. 

Nevada has seemingly turned a corner with its more recent efforts. The Wolf Pack have won two of three, averaging 40.7 points per game across the modest sample. Predictably, the increased output is supported by top-end production metrics. The 3-4 MWC program has eclipsed 400 yards in each contest for a boisterous 422.0 yards per game. 

This is an ideal spot to back Nevada. These Mountain West foes are trending in opposite directions offensively, and scheduling concerns negatively impact the Bulldogs’ prospects on the road. If the price on the spread is too steep, consider backing the Wolf Pack to win outright at home.

Recommended Play: Nevada +3.5 -120

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