College Football Picks Against the Spread: Week 8 ATS Predictions

Despite not being on quite the same level as last week's college football slate, Week 8 is loaded with massive matchups, and my college football picks against the spread focus on the 20 biggest games on the schedule as part of our college football predictions for Week 8.

My three favorite college football picks this week are backing the only undefeated team on the spread to stay that way, a Missouri squad to bounce back in a jungle brawl between Tigers, and taking the lower-ranked team to win the Holy War.

💰 Best college football ATS picks: Week 8

Track the latest college football scores for line movement and matchup info.

🐅 Memphis (-21.5) vs. UAB ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Only one team in the country is undefeated against the spread, with Memphis clocking in at 6-0. The Tigers are the clear Group of Five College Football Playoff odds favorite with the way they've dominated opponents. Memphis' only win that's come by fewer than 21 points this season was against an SEC program, Arkansas.

Led by an explosive run game that's No. 1 in the nation in EPA per rush thanks to Brendon Lewis, Sutton Smith, and Greg Desrosiers Jr., Memphis should make quick work of UAB. The Blazers just fired head coach Trent Dilfer, following a 20-point loss to an FAU team that's ranked just No. 100 by SP+ ... Memphis is ranked No. 24. 

With Memphis head coach Ryan Silverfield's name popping up for Power Four jobs, this is another opportunity to make a statement against one of the worst defenses in the country. UAB has failed to cover in back-to-back games in American Conference play as an underdog, and if it loses by 22-plus, a $10 bet on Memphis pays a $9.09 profit at bet365.

🐯 Missouri (-1.5) vs. Auburn ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

With this matchup between a pair of Tigers out of the SEC coming off losses to college football championship odds contenders, it might not be a shock to see Missouri favored by just 1.5 points, but this spread should be much larger. While Auburn played Georgia tight in the first half last week, the seat continues to heat up for Hugh Freeze following a strange situation surrounding the departure of running back Damari Alston, the team's third-leading rusher.

As Freeze continues to be himself and rub former Auburn players the wrong way, I can't help but think he's losing the Tigers' locker room. With Auburn sitting 1-3-1 ATS since that big Week 1 road win over Baylor, there hasn't been much toilet paper to clean up at Toomer's Corner lately. Meanwhile, Missouri nearly took down Alabama, ranks No. 8 in SP+, has the Power Four's most productive running back in Ahmad Hardy, and a defense led by a violent front seven.

That last piece is key to a cover at Jordan-Hare Stadium, with Jackson Arnold's lack of pocket awareness frequently killing Auburn's drives - he's the second-most sacked QB in the country (21). Look for pass rushers Zion Young and Damon Wilson II to feast on Arnold like a deer in the rainforest. If Missouri covers, a $10 bet pays a $9.09 profit at Caesars.

🔴 Utah (-3) vs. BYU ⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of the most underrated rivalries in a sport built on them, this year's Holy War should be one of the best in recent memory. Both teams are ranked this season, both have top-tier run games, and both have violent defenses. But the difference should be Utah QB Devon Dampier, one of the few Heisman Trophy odds contenders in the Big 12.

A New Mexico transfer, Dampier has helped Utah rank top 30 in both EPA per pass and rush with his dul-threat ability being an X-factor behind an offensive line with two potential first-round picks (Spencer Fano, Caleb Lomu). With Dampier's skill set and offensive coordinator Jason Beck's creativity, look for the Utes to create enough splashy plays to build a lead and lean on its defense against BYU freshman QB Bear Bachmeier.

While Bachmeier's physical run style has been a good fit for BYU, especially with him wearing No. 47, his inconsistency as a passer could hurt against a defense that's No. 6 in SP+. BYU sits just No. 48 in EPA per pass and Bachmeier has a higher turnover-worthy play percentage (3.4%) than big-time throw rate (3.2%). 

With a dynamic QB and ferocious defense, Kyle Whittingham's team is poised to cover for the sixth time in seven games this season. If the Utes win by more than three, a $10 bet pays an $8.33 profit at bet365.

🏈 College football picks against the spread: Week 8 ATS predictions

College football picks against the spread are based on the latest college football odds; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5-star scale.