Two weeks before the first College Football Playoff rankings and fresh off one of the wildest Saturdays in decades, the 2026 season continues to surprise. The college football odds for Week 8 arrive after a historic shakeup in which five of the top seven teams in the AP poll lost on the same day, creating rebound chances for several contenders.
Only six teams remain unbeaten at midseason, including BYU, James Madison, Miami, Texas Tech, UCLA and Utah. With volatility high, more perfect records could be tested this week.
Early numbers are courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.
College football odds: The big games
Ole Miss at Texas (-3.5): The Longhorns enter as home favorites looking to steady themselves after recent setbacks in SEC play. Texas could get a boost if standout pass rusher Colin Simmons, the national sacks leader with 10.5, is able to return after being carted off against Florida, though his status is uncertain. Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss has already sparked wins over ranked foes LSU and Missouri, giving the Rebels confidence on the road.
Indiana (-7.5) at Michigan: Michigan turned to backup quarterback Tommy Carr against Penn State, and he led multiple second-half touchdown drives after taking over from Bryce Underwood. Replicating that surge against the defending national champions, who just had a 22-game win streak snapped by Ohio State, is a taller order. Indiana has not won in Ann Arbor since 1967, which helps explain the opening number.
Tennessee (-2.5) at South Carolina: With extra prep time, Shane Beamer aims for another top-15 scalp at Williams-Brice Stadium. Tennessee’s College Football Playoff hopes hinge on road poise in a pivotal SEC tilt. South Carolina’s offense finally clicked at Florida, with LaNorris Sellers accounting for five touchdowns. The series is even over the past eight meetings dating back to 2016.
Houston at Utah (-5.5): Utah survived a scare at Colorado and now returns home to protect its unbeaten mark. Houston edged Oklahoma State 35-32 behind five touchdown passes from Conner Weigman and looks capable of crashing the Big 12’s CFP conversation. For the Utes, holding serve in Salt Lake City would strengthen a résumé still seeking a signature win with BYU on deck Nov. 7.
LSU (-6.5) at Auburn: After toppling the SEC’s standard-bearer, Auburn faces the challenge of repeating that performance with heightened attention. LSU throttled Mississippi State by 31 and knows the margin for error in league play is slim. Whether Auburn’s breakthrough was a turning point or a high-water mark should become clearer inside Jordan-Hare in Week 8.
Best of the rest in college football odds
Additional ranked clashes and trap spots dot the slate, even if there are fewer headline matchups than last week. With so many contenders reeling from upsets, market movement is worth watching as injury updates and quarterback decisions emerge throughout the week.
For more betting breakdowns beyond the college game, check out our NFL Week 6 predictions: Expert picks for every game. Fans tracking teams with recent national titles can also follow developments from the College Football Playoff and the latest AP poll via the Associated Press college football rankings.
