Another week of the college football season means another week of finding value on some of the biggest games of the week.
For Week 8, I broke down 3 games and dished out a pick (or 2) for each.
We'll start out in Ann Arbor, as the Washington Huskies have to travel across multiple time zones to take on a Michigan Wolverines team looking to bounce back after a deflating loss to USC.
Then, we'll head to what may be the biggest game of the week, as the No. 5 Ole Miss Rebels meet the No. 9 Georgia Bulldogs between the hedges in Athens.
Finally, we'll close things out with a historic rivalry between the No. 20 USC Trojans and No. 13 Notre Dame Fighting Irish in South Bend.
Without further ado, let's take a look at my Week 8 college football picks and NCAAF predictions for Saturday, October 18.
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 today's slate of games. Click on the team logos for any of the matchups below to navigate to a specific bet discussed in this article.
| Game | Time (ET) | Pick |
|---|---|---|
  | 12 p.m. | |
  | 3:30 p.m. | |
  | 7:30 p.m. | |
Specific betting recommendations come from the sportsbook offering preferred odds as of writing. Always shop for the best price using our NCAAF Odds page, which automatically surfaces the best lines for every game. | ||
Washington vs Michigan Pick
The Washington Huskies take on the Michigan Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Saturday, Oct. 18. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET on FOX.
Michigan is favored by 6 points on the spread with a moneyline of -220. Washington, meanwhile, comes in as a +6 underdog and is +180 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 50.5 points.
Here’s my Washington vs. Michigan prediction and college football picks for Saturday, October 18.
Washington Huskies
A Friday night tilt in conference play saw Washington fall asleep in a Seattle home game against Rutgers. The heavily-favored Huskies trailed at halftime before a 21-point outburst in the third quarter put the game away.
The rush offense caught fire with five explosive plays and an average of 5.9 yards per play.
Quarterback Demond Williams and running back Jonah Coleman provide one of the most dynamic one-two punches in FBS zone-read run concepts.
Even more impressive is the loss of two offensive linemen on the left side, as backups Paki Finau and Maximus McCree graded out well against Rutgers.
Washington is highly efficient when it runs inside zone, racking up a Success Rate of 74%. Outside zone, meanwhile, averages an explosive play on one of every four attempts.
While the offense has been one of the best nationally in quality drives, the defense has had consistent issues in generating Havoc and keeping opponents out of the end zone.
The nickel defense ranks 89th in Pass EPA allowed and 96th in Finishing Drives allowed. Opponents have logged 27 possessions that crossed the Washington 40-yard line, and the Huskies have given up an average of 4.1 points per attempt.
The defense has been top-35 in Rushing Success Rate allowed and explosives allowed, but the secondary continues to post poor grades in coverage and creating a contested catch.
Michigan Wolverines
The Michigan defense never showed up in Los Angeles, as the USC offense posted 7.2 yards per play in Week 7.
The Wolverines allowed 6.2 yards per play on 36 rushing attempts, as the Trojans played 51 snaps in standard downs to just 17 in passing downs.
The Michigan defense continues to struggle in defending the pass, sitting outside the top 50 in coverage, efficiency and pass explosives allowed.
The bigger issue is passing downs, ranking outside the top 90 in Success Rate and EPA allowed when opponents get behind the chains.
The Wolverines hold opponents to an average third-down distance of 7.4 yards but rank 70th in opponent conversions.
Grim news came with the loss against USC, as running back Justice Haynes carried the ball just 10 times before exiting with an injury. The running back has one of the highest yards after first contact numbers nationally, leading a Michigan ground attack that was top-30 in efficiency, Line Yards and Stuff Rate.
Haynes was described as questionable entering this game. He would be a massive loss, as backup Jordan Marshall has produced just 2.7 yards after first contact this season.
Washington vs Michigan Prediction
Without Haynes in the lineup for Michigan, the question remains: Is there any offense outsiof de freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood?
The Michigan signal-caller is the third leading rusher on the team but has generated just 80 yards through zone read and an additional 127 off scrambles.
Slot Semaj Morgan and wideout Donaven McCulley may receive an upgraded target share, as both combine to average less than 10 per game with only three touchdowns on the season.
Notably, Underwood has been fantastic against Cover 3 with a 59% Success Rate. Washington spends a considerable amount of time flipping between Cover 1 and Cover 3 under defensive coordinator Ryan Walters.
The Huskies will have success of their own moving the ball with Williams and Coleman on outside zone reads. The Wolverines have been taken advantage of at the edge position, posting a low 44% Success Rate against outside zone.
Washington holds the statistical advantage in creating methodical drives and finishing in the red zone, while also ranking sixth in FBS in terms of converting third downs.
However, the situational spot cannot be ignored from a kickoff time and geographical angle.
Washington has struggled with two-plus time-zone travel in Big Ten play, failing to log a win in four games at Iowa, Rutgers, Indiana and Penn State in 2024.
In this season's first trip out east, the Huskies failed to score in the first half against Maryland and average eight fewer points in first-half scoring on the season.
With a 9 a.m. PT kickoff, look for Michigan to have the edge despite the potential loss of Haynes.
Pick: 1H Michigan -3.5 or Better
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Ole Miss vs Georgia Pick
The Ole Miss Rebels take on the Georgia Bulldogs in Athens, Georgia, on Saturday, Oct. 18. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
Georgia is favored by 7.5 points on the spread with a moneyline of -275. Ole Miss, meanwhile, comes in as a +7.5 underdog and is +225 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 54.5 points.
Here’s my Ole Miss vs. Georgia prediction and college football picks for Saturday, October 18.
Ole Miss Rebels
The world has changed for Ole Miss since its last trip to Sanford Stadium in 2023, a 52-17 blowout loss thanks to an injury-depleted roster.
Head coach Lane Kiffin used the transfer portal to beef up depth and add blue chips in an effort to exact revenge against the Bulldogs.
This Ole Miss roster wasn't expected to have as much success as the 2024 team, but the addition of quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has changed the direction of the Rebels' season.
The transfer from Ferris State took over starting duties in Week 3 and has since posted eight big-time throws to just two turnover-worthy plays.
Chambliss has been deadly on the ground with 212 yards off inside zone keepers, posting 10 explosive runs this season.
Chambliss has meshed well with a pair of transfer targets in Harrison Wallace III and Deuce Alexander, who each average 2.4 yards per route run.
The Ole Miss offense has been much more explosive through the air, even with pressure on the quarterback. Chambliss elevates with a crowded pocket, posting an 88% adjusted completion rate in 32 pressured dropbacks.
Creating quality drives will be key against Georgia, as the Bulldogs have had issues in keeping opponents off the board in scoring opportunities.
On the other side, the defense has seen a drop-off from the 2024 team, as numerous run analytics now sit outside the top 100. Ole Miss is a bottom-20 team in terms of Line Yards and Stuff Rate, so Georgia will have plenty of success owning the trench.
The narrative changes with a secondary led by safeties Sage Ryan and Wydett Williams Jr., as Ole Miss ranks 17th in Passing Success Rate allowed.
The 3-3-5 has been excellent at limiting opponent pass explosives while maintaining a top-35 third-down defense.
If Ole Miss wants to win this game, the front of the nickel defense must produce against inside zone rushing attempts.
Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia survived one of the wildest games of 2025 with a 20-10 victory over an Auburn team that may have been robbed of a 17-0 lead at the end of the first half.
The Bulldogs ended with a 53% post-game win expectancy in the 10-point win, barely edging out Auburn in overall yards per play.
The rushing attack was stuffed on 11-of-29 attempts against a Tigers defensive front that's one of the best in the nation at defending the run.
Auburn imploded just before halftime, ending the game with 11 penalties for 103 yards despite converting nearly half of all third- and fourth-down attempts.
Quarterback Gunner Stockton has seen smoke in his touchdown-to-interception ratio, posting just six big-time throws to five turnover-worthy plays.
Georgia struggles to create explosives, ranking 131st in Pass EPA.
Stockton has relied on short passing and a 6.8-yard mark in average depth of target, as slot Zachariah Branch has done most of his damage in the backfield. Of his 36 targets this season, 21 have come in the backfield, making open-field tackling an emphasis for Ole Miss.
The Georgia defense has seen a drop-off since the national title teams of the post-pandemic era.
The Bulldogs have been unable to generate Havoc and rank in the bottom 15 in terms of creating a pass rush.
The secondary, which plays plenty of Cover 3, quarters and man, ranks 68th in coverage, per PFF.
Where the Bulldogs have exceeded expectations is against the rush, dominating teams that use inside zone and power run concepts.
Ole Miss vs Georgia Prediction
Chambliss has been a revelation for Ole Miss in passing, scrambling and RPO decisions. However, Georgia's defense may be the kryptonite for Ole Miss' style of ground attack.
The Bulldogs rank second of all FBS teams in tackling, allowing just 17 missed tackles over the past three SEC games against Alabama, Kentucky and Auburn.
Kirby Smart's defense dominates inside zone, the preferred run concept for Ole Miss, at a 56% Success Rate. That number grows to 60% against Ole Miss' second preferred choice with man blocking.
On the other side of the ball, Georgia should have plenty of success moving the ball despite the injury status of running back Chauncey Bowens.
Nate Frazier has been the more elusive running back, averaging 3.3 yards after first contact, while Josh McCray has been a red-zone option with Stockton on goal-line attempts. Georgia ranks 10th nationally in Offensive Finishing Drives.
Action Network's betting power ratings project Georgia -5, prompting an initial play on the Rebels at +7 in early-week wagering in the Action App.
Considering Georgia's tackling excellence and its ability to stop inside zone, there's a real chance Ole Miss will have more success against the Bulldogs' secondary in creating scoring opportunities.
The Georgia offense will have no issues controlling the line of scrimmage and running into red-zone attempts on most possessions.
The Ole Miss offense will have deep strikes through the arm of Chambliss, but there will be no resistance against Georgia's ground game.
Pick: Georgia Team Total Over 31 or Better
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USC vs Notre Dame Pick
The USC Trojans take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in South Bend, Indiana, on Saturday, Oct. 18. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC.
Notre Dame is favored by 9 points on the spread with a moneyline of -330. USC, meanwhile, enters as a +9 underdog and is +265 on the moneyline to pull off the upset. The over/under sits at 61.5 points.
Here’s my USC vs. Notre Dame prediction and college football picks for Saturday, October 18.
USC Trojans
Although USC isn't technically playing in a conference game, traveling to Big Ten territory has not been kind to head coach Lincoln Riley.
The Trojans have yet to win a Big Ten road game two time zones east of Los Angeles, most recently suffering a loss to Illinois on Sept. 27.
However, the late kickoff might be an advantage for an offense that's one of the most potent in the nation.
USC has a balanced attack that ranks as the best nationally in standard downs efficiency, but it now must deal with a massive injury.
Running back Waymond Jordan put up great numbers in counter, inside zone and power, but the Trojans will now be without their star after an ankle injury.
Freshman King Miller has flashed in 29 rushing attempts this season, recently creating three explosives against Michigan.
The passing attack has been just as good with quarterback Jayden Maiava leading the best offense in quality drives. The junior is rising up the Heisman ranks thanks to 13 big-time throws and just two interceptions on the season.
Maiava has put up a massive 67% Success Rate against Cover 1, a coverage most likely implemented by the Notre Dame defense.
The wide receiver group is also at full health with the recent return of Ja'Kobi Lane.
USC's struggles have come on the defensive side of the ball, as coordinator D'Anton Lynn has seen opponent rushing attacks dice up the Trojans.
A rank of 112th in defensive rush efficiency and 119th in Defensive Line Yards comes from a failure to stop opponents using inside zone and power concepts.
Although there are strong numbers in the Havoc department, USC comes in as one of the worst secondaries in the nation in terms of pass breakups and interceptions.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has found his groove with the Irish roster, averaging 44 points per game after two losses to start the season.
Notre Dame ranks fourth nationally in standard downs explosives, sitting top-25 in both Rush and Pass EPA.
Running backs Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love have combined for 15 touchdowns to just two fumbles, and both average at least 3.6 yards after first contact.
Notre Dame has been nearly unstoppable running outside zone in 11 personnel, generating a 54% Success Rate and adding an explosive on one of every four snaps.
Freshman quarterback CJ Carr leads a passing attack that ranks top-20 in Success Rate.
The top four targets are all averaging more than two yards per route run, the barrier at which a pass-catcher is considered explosive.
Notre Dame may be the best hitch/comeback route team in the nation, averaging a 92% Success Rate with a massive 1.3 EPA per Attempt on those routes.
The Irish have improved on defense over the past two games against Boise State and NC State, allowing just a single explosive run.
Notre Dame ranks 111th in Defensive Line Yards against the 11th-toughest schedule in the nation. The issue comes against teams that use man blocking tendencies, as zone read concepts have been shut down by the nickel defense.
USC vs Notre Dame Prediction
Injuries are a concern for the Trojans heading into South Bend, not only missing Jordan in the backfield, but potentially others in the trenches.
Anchor left tackle Elijah Paige didn't play against Michigan, as substitute Tobias Raymond posted a poor run blocking grade. Center Kilian O'Connor also missed the win over the Wolverines and doesn't have an estimated return date.
The great news for Notre Dame is that USC's blueprint run concepts revolve around zone read and power, not the man blocking schemes that have haunted the Irish defense.
The USC defense may be hard-pressed to stop Price and Love out of the backfield. Both running backs will mix inside and outside zone read concepts, an area the Trojans have struggled to defend.
If the USC defense forces Notre Dame into passing downs, the Irish rank fourth in efficiency and 21st in converting third downs.
Mother Nature will have her say in this game, as South Bend could see thunderstorms all day Saturday. The weather could change in the time between writing and kickoff, but keep an eye on winds expected to gust at more than 20 MPH.
The Notre Dame offense will have no issues running against the Trojans defense, considering the run concepts at play and the possibility of a wet field.
With USC's injury issues on the offensive line, combined with poor historical travel in Big Ten territory, investments on the Notre Dame team total and rushing props are in order.
Pick: Notre Dame Team Total Over 35.5 · Jadarian Price Over 61.5 Rushing Yards or Better
