CFB Week 8 Saturday Best Picks

College football’s Week 8 slate features a boatload of games, but we are keying in on a SEC showdown in Athens, a Big Ten mismatch in Madison and a primetime clash in South Bend. Let’s dive into our CFB best bets for Saturday, focusing on value, trends and matchups that give each side an edge.

CFB Saturday Predictions

Pick #1: Ole Miss Rebels vs Georgia Bulldogs Under 54.5 (-105) Click Here to Bet

Pick #2: Ohio State Buckeyes -25 over Wisconsin Badgers (-110) Click Here to Bet

Pick #3: Jadarian Price (ND) 70+ Rushing Yards in Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs USC Trojans (-130) Click Here to Bet

PICK #1: Ole Miss vs Georgia Under 54.5 (-105) Click Here to Bet

The SEC spotlight falls on Athens this weekend as No. 9 Georgia (5-1) hosts No. 5 Ole Miss (6-0) in one of Saturday’s marquee showdowns (3:30 PM ET, ABC). Georgia enters as a touchdown favorite, but the real betting value lies on the total.

At first glance, this might look like a shootout. Ole Miss ranks fifth nationally in total offense (515.3 yards per game) and eighth in passing (311.0), led by Trinidad Chambliss and a deep receiving corps. But tempo and matchup context matter. Georgia’s defense ranks 19th in scoring (17.0 ppg) and fifth nationally in red-zone defense (allowing scores on just 66.7% of trips).

The Bulldogs win by grinding opponents down: 32:23 average time of possession (19th nationally), and forcing teams to sustain long drives. Ole Miss, on the other hand, thrives on explosives but sits 104th in time of possession and 125th in penalty yards per game (73.8). Their lack of discipline and reliance on big plays are dangerous traits against a Georgia defense that ranks seventh in explosive play prevention.

Neither quarterback is likely to light up the scoreboard in this spot. Georgia’s Gunner Stockton has been turnover-prone, while Chambliss’s mobility could be neutralized by Georgia’s pass defense. Both teams prefer to run, but these defenses are built to contain those attacks.

Expect a slower, physical game script, with a score in the region of 30-21 to Georgia, landing below 54.5. 

PICK #2: Ohio State -25 over Wisconsin (-110) Click Here to Bet

No. 1 Ohio State (6-0) travels to Wisconsin on Saturday (7:30 PM ET, NBC), facing a Badgers team in total free fall. Wisconsin (2-4) has lost four straight, including 37-0 to Iowa at home, and now draws a Buckeyes squad that’s outscoring opponents by 30 points per game.

The mismatch starts at the line of scrimmage. Wisconsin’s offense ranks 131st in scoring (15.5 ppg) and hasn’t scored more than 10 points in three weeks. Their quarterback situation is dire. Between Danny O’Neil and Hunter Simmons, the Badgers have combined for six TDs and eight INTs, and the offensive line can’t generate consistent push in the run game.

Meanwhile, Ohio State’s defense is playing at an elite level, leading the FBS in scoring defense (6.8 ppg) and allowing only one opponent (Illinois) to reach double digits all season. The Buckeyes’ pass rush and depth up front should overwhelm a Wisconsin unit short on answers.

Offensively, Jeremiah Smith has a touchdown in five straight games, and Ryan Day’s team has covered double-digit spreads in three straight. Even on the road, this is a statement spot for the Buckeyes, facing former OSU assistant Luke Fickell in what feels more like a send-off than a showdown.

The number looks large, but the reality is Wisconsin hasn’t shown the ability to move the ball. Expect Ohio State to build a multi-score lead early and cruise. Something in the range of 45-7 feels right, as the Buckeyes stay unbeaten and continue their march toward the CFP.

PICK #3: Jadarian Price (ND) 70+ Rushing Yards (-130) Click Here to Bet

Saturday night’s primetime matchup between No. 13 Notre Dame (4-2) and No. 20 USC (5-1) (7:30 PM ET, NBC) sets up perfectly for a big night from the Irish backfield, and Jadarian Price in particular.

Notre Dame enters as a 10-point home favorite, with weather expected to bring rain and gusty winds. That plays right into Notre Dame’s identity. The Irish rank 50th nationally in rushing (172.7 ypg) and feature the best RB room in college football.

While Jeremiyah Love headlines the group, Price has quietly been just as effective, rushing 63 times for 422 yards (6.7 ypc) and seven touchdowns. He’s cleared 70+ yards three times and has posted a 20+ yard run in every game this season.

USC’s defense, while improved, still has holes up front and is coming off a physical win over Michigan that could leave them thin in the trenches. Traveling cross-country to face a power-run team like Notre Dame is a brutal turnaround, especially if the Irish control tempo.

Expect Notre Dame to feed both backs, with Price’s explosiveness and efficiency giving him plenty of opportunity to clear this modest 70-yard number. Even splitting touches, his home-run ability and projected workload make this a strong value play.