We’re in the second half of the 2023 college football season and the schedule is quickly filling up with great games and storylines. With more than a dozen undefeated teams remaining – many of which will face at least one other undefeated team in the next few weeks – there is still a lot to sort out before the College Football Playoff picture comes into clearer focus.
The first CFP rankings of the season will be released in just under two weeks, and there’s a good chance that either No. 3 Ohio State or No. 7 Penn State — more specifically, the winner of Saturday’s rivalry game — is a member of that initial Field with four teams. Quarterback Drew Allar is hoping to end the Nittany Lions’ six-game losing streak, while another significant win for coach Ryan Day will give him even more reason to be proud as he’s still a few weeks away from playing.
A CBS doubleheader brings together two big matchups in the afternoon as the first of three Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy battles opens the day, with No. 22 Air Force – one of the undefeated players – seeking its fourth straight win about the rival navy. Fittingly, the third Saturday in October continues with No. 11 Alabama and No. 17 Tennessee, with both SEC teams looking to avoid effectively being eliminated from CFP contention with a single loss.
With two top 20 battles in the ACC and Pac-12, the drawbacks aren’t a problem either. No. 4 Florida State looks to maintain its unblemished record against a spirited No. 16 Duke team, while No. 18 USC looks for a rebound against No. 14 Utah.
Be sure to stick with CBS Sports all day Saturday for college football coverage starting with the opening game. Let’s take a look at our expert picks for the best plays in Week 8.
Odds via SportsLine Consensus | Always east
No. 2 Michigan at Michigan State
7:30 p.m. | NBC, fubo (Try it for free) — Almost every Michigan game this season has followed the same formula: sleepy start, dominant approach, easy pick-up and coverage. While MSU poses a rivalry challenge, there is absolutely no reason to believe the Spartans have any chance of keeping up with the Wolverines. Michigan State held the winning margin to 22 points last season in Ann Arbor, Michigan, but this Spartans team is significantly worse and has to contend with all sorts of off-field distractions. Pick: Michigan -24 – Shehan Jeyarajah
No. 16 Duke at No. 4 Florida State
7:30 p.m. | ABC, fubo (Try it for free) — This is the toughest defense Florida State has faced since Clemson, and the Tigers didn’t let the Seminoles take the lead until overtime. I think Duke has the personnel to disrupt Jordan Travis’ rhythm enough to keep him close, although with an X-factor like Keon Coleman the Seminoles should be able to avoid complete surprise. Pick: Duke +14 – Chip Patterson
No. 14 Utah at No. 18 USC
8 p.m. | Fox, fubo (Try it for free) — Yes, USC’s defense has looked downright terrible most of the year against Pac-12 competition. And yes, the Trojans offense has its own issues to figure out against the No. 1 defense in the conference. Still, the gap in quarterback play between the two teams is simply too big to pick the Utes in this game. Utah keeps things interesting for a while, but this game becomes a shootout in the later rounds. Unfortunately for the Utes, they simply don’t have enough to win this way Selection: USC -6.5 –Cameron Salerno
No. 7 Penn State and No. 3 Ohio State
lunch | Fox, fubo (Try it for free) — I picked Penn State to cover the range below, but that’s more a reflection of how I think the game is played than confidence in Penn State. I have far more confidence in both of these defenses than I do in the offenses. My gut feeling is that it will be a close, low-scoring battle and neither team will be able to pull away. If I’m betting on anything here, it’s the under. Selection: Under 45.5 – Tom Fornelli
No. 22 Air Force at the Navy
lunch | CBS, Paramount+ with ShowtimeCBSSports.com, CBS Sports App — The logical choice here is Air Force, but that also feels like a trap game for the Falcons as they begin to navigate life without their starting quarterback. Even though it’s not Navy’s “Super Bowl” – that doesn’t come until Army competes in mid-December – the Midshipmen have every reason to play a little more inspired on Saturday, with the home crowd on their side. Also remember that the Air Force had lost four consecutive trips to Annapolis, Maryland, before finally overcoming that hurdle on its final visit of 2021. The Falcons will improve to 7-0, but it will be a battle for the most of the afternoon before retreating to a late cover. Selection: Luftwaffe -11.5 – Dean Straka
No. 11 Alabama vs. No. 17 Tennessee
3:30 p.m. | CBS, Paramount+ with ShowtimeCBSSports.com, CBS Sports App — These teams both struggle to throw the ball, and both defenses excel at racking up sacks and living in the backfield. That means life will be even more difficult than normal for two quarterbacks who aren’t great to begin with. Alabama should be looking for revenge after Tennessee won a classic at Neyland Stadium last season. With the Crimson Tide having home field advantage on their side, they can pull off a narrow win without erasing the lead. Pick: Tennessee +8.5 – David Cobb
Which college football picks can you make with confidence in Week 8 and which underdogs will clearly win? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the spread – all using a proven computer model that has returned more than $2,000 in profit over the last seven-plus seasons – and find out.