College GameDay Week 8 Predictions: A Deep Dive into the Matchups
Week 8 of the college football season is a pivotal moment, and ESPN's "College GameDay" is in full swing, previewing the action. This article provides a comprehensive look at the top games, analyzing team strengths, weaknesses, and key matchups to watch. The crew of Rece Davis, Kirk Herbstreit, Desmond Howard, Nick Saban, and Pat McAfee, along with guest picker Jelly Roll, have weighed in on the biggest games, offering their predictions and insights.
College GameDay Heads to Athens
ESPN's "College GameDay" chose to broadcast from Athens, Georgia, for the highly anticipated matchup between the No. 5 Ole Miss Rebels and the No. 7 Georgia Bulldogs. This SEC showdown features Lane Kiffin's undefeated Rebels against Kirby Smart's Bulldogs, who are looking to avenge a loss from the previous season. The atmosphere in Athens is sure to be electric as fans eagerly await this clash of titans.
'College GameDay' Guest Picker: Jelly Roll
"College GameDay" announced that Nashville, Tennessee-based rapper and songwriter Jelly Roll will be the guest picker for Week 8. Jelly Roll is a country music star, and this will be his first appearance on GameDay. His song ‘Get By' was the soundtrack of ESPN's college football coverage during the 2024 season.
Week 8: Top Games and Predictions
Here's a detailed breakdown of the top games in Week 8, with predictions from the "College GameDay" crew:
No. 5 Ole Miss Rebels at No. 7 Georgia Bulldogs
Georgia is looking for revenge on Ole Miss in 2025, as the Rebels defeated the Bulldogs 28-10 last season. Georgia coach Kirby Smart and Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin have history, of course, as the two coaches served as defensive and offensive coordinator, respectively, at Alabama together.
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This game pits two of Nick Saban’s assistants against each other.
The Bulldogs have won 34 of the 48 all-time meetings between the two programs but are looking to avenge last season’s 28-10 loss, when Georgia was ranked No. 3 at the time and Ole Miss was No. 16.
Preview and Prediction:
Georgia's dreams of competing for a national title took a hit with their loss to Alabama back on September 27. Since then, however, the Bulldogs have gotten back on track with wins against Kentucky and Auburn, but their playoff hopes still hinge on their ability to win down the stretch.
It will not be easy against an Ole Miss squad that has beaten them two of the last three times they have competed against each other and is looking to remain undefeated this deep into the season for just the third time in 60 years. Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart is 18-10 against ranked opponents and has a starting quarterback in 21-year-old Gunner Stockton who has six passing touchdowns to one interception and six more rushing touchdowns.
He has accounted for 1,484 total yards six games and will be the centerpiece of Georgia's offensive gameplan.
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Across the field, Rebels head coach Lane Kiffin will look to Ferris State transfer Trinidad Chambliss to continue his excellent play thus far in 2025 and lead Ole Miss to victory.
The senior quarterback has completed 65.4 percent of his passes this season for 1,286 yards and seven touchdowns to just one interception. Like Stockton, he is a threat with his feet, too, amassing 281 yards and another three touchdowns on the ground.
Ole Miss' defensive weaknesses may prove to be the difference in the game. The Rebels rank 49th in the country to Georgia's 26th and have given up 337.7 yards per game and 14 touchdowns to opposing teams.
While the Bulldogs' unit is not much better, the Rebels have not played a team as explosive as Georgia can be and had a near-miss against Washington State a week ago, when they surrendered 21 points to the Cougars and only won by three.
Kiffin and Ole Miss have already defeated a ranked team in LSU, and are in the midst of another strong season, but Georgia is made for this time of year, when wins matter most.
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While Georgia’s defense has been phenomenal against the run this year (third-best PFF run-defense grade), the Bulldogs have had serious issues defending opposing passing games. Georgia’s 0.095 EPA per pass figure is just 99th in America, as the Bulldogs rank just 68th in PFF coverage grade and have the fifth-lowest pressure rate in the Power Four. Even those numbers are buoyed by games against Marshall, Austin Peay, Kentucky and Auburn. That could be an issue against a talented Ole Miss passing attack, headlined by quarterback Trinidad Chambliss. His 80.8 PFF passing grade is 25th among FBS quarterbacks this season, while the Rebels hold the 16th-best team PFF receiving grade in the nation (78.2).
Georgia has a clear identity six games into the season - play elite defense, stay on schedule with the run game and don’t take chances through the air. Gunner Stockton ranks just 77th among qualified passers in PFF passing grade on balls thrown at least 10 air yards. His 6.8-yard average depth of targets is the 12th-lowest mark among that same group, and he’s thrown the second-most screen passes in the FBS. This game could come down to the wire, as both quarterbacks could find success against these defenses.
Predictions:
- Herbstreit: No pick (on the call in Athens)
- Howard: N/A
- Jelly Roll: N/A
- Saban: N/A
- McAfee: N/A
No. 10 LSU Tigers at No. 18 Vanderbilt Commodores
Both LSU and Vanderbilt are 5-1 to start 2025. While both still have very difficult games left on their respective schedules, the winner of this game could still feasibly lose another contest and still make the College Football Playoff.
LSU’s offense has been too reliant on star quarterback Garrett Nussmeier for most of this season. The Tigers throw the ball on 58.9% of their plays, the 13th-highest rate in the Power Four. But, the Tigers put together their best rushing performance of the season in their win this past week over South Carolina. LSU ran for a season-high 165 yards in the victory, with 143 yards coming after contact. Vanderbilt’s run defense has been pretty average this year, placing 53rd in yards per attempt allowed (4.5). Three of those yards come after contact, which is 70th in the FBS.
Matchup to watch when Vanderbilt has the ball (Dalton): Vanderbilt’s run game vs. While Diego Pavia has improved as a passer this season, the foundation of Vanderbilt’s offense is its dynamic run game that often leaves defenses searching for the football. The Commodores lead the nation in yards before contact per carry and rank 15th in explosive run rate. That rushing attack presents a challenge to an LSU defense that allows 5.1 yards per carry between the tackles, 88th in the FBS. The players that get stressed the most by Vanderbilt’s ground game are linebackers. The Tigers’ linebacker unit ranks just 98th in PFF run-defense grade this season.
Predictions:
- Herbstreit: Vanderbilt
- Howard: Vanderbilt
- Jelly Roll: Vanderbilt
- Saban: LSU
- McAfee: Vanderbilt
No. 11 Tennessee Volunteers at No. 6 Alabama Crimson Tide
After starting off its season with a loss to Florida State, Alabama has been on a scorching hot streak since then. The Crimson Tide have won their last five games, including their last three over No. 5 Georgia, No. 16 Vanderbilt and No. 23 Arkansas. Alabama has a chance to earn its fourth ranked victory in as many weeks this weekend against No. 11 Tennessee.
Matchup to watch when Tennessee has the ball (Dalton): Tennessee’s offensive line vs. Tennessee’s pass protection has been outstanding this season, as the Volunteers rank 10th in the nation in PFF pass-blocking grade. That has led to a plethora of clean pockets for Joey Aguilar, who has produced at a high level in clean pockets. Aguilar could have that advantage again this week against an Alabama team that has struggled to disrupt passers in the pocket. The Crimson Tide rank just 114th in PFF pass-rushing grade this season. Their 36.6% pass-rush win rate also sits in …
Predictions:
- Herbstreit: Alabama
- Howard: Alabama
- Jelly Roll: Tennessee
- Saban: Alabama
- McAfee: Alabama
No. 21 USC Trojans at No. 15 Notre Dame Fighting Irish
The Trojans and Fighting Irish rivalry is one of the best in all of college football, and the whole crew is ready to watch this one in primetime.
Predictions:
- Herbstreit: Notre Dame
- Howard: USC
- Jelly Roll: Notre Dame
- Saban: Notre Dame
- McAfee: Notre Dame
Washington Huskies at Michigan Wolverines
A rematch of the 2024 College Football Playoff National Championship Game.
Washington boasts a 5-1 record this season, with its only loss coming to top-ranked Ohio State. A defeat for the Huskies wouldn’t outright kill their playoff hopes, but it would make them extremely unlikely considering Washington still has teams like Illinois and Oregon left on its schedule.
Demond Williams Jr. has been one of the most electric quarterbacks in college football this season. The true sophomore’s 89.5 PFF grade is seventh among all quarterbacks in the nation, while his 74.1% completion rate is third. He’s tallied seven big-time throws and no turnover-worthy plays so far, and his 473 rushing yards trail only Taylen Green among Power Four signal-callers.
Michigan wields the fifth-best PFF run-defense grade in college football (92.7), though the Wolverines have had some issues with mobile quarterbacks this season. The status of star Michigan running back Justice Haynes is unclear regarding playing against Washington this week. He’s been the best player on offense for the Wolverines with a 7.4 yards-per-carry mark and an 86.4 PFF rushing grade, which rank among the top 15 running backs in the nation. Regardless of who is starting at running back for Michigan, stopping the run will be paramount to the Huskies’ success. After a rocky first couple of weeks, Washington has made improvements to its run defense. Since Week 3, the Huskies rank 31st in PFF run-defense grade while placing among the top 15 teams in yards per carry allowed and explosive run rate allowed.
Predictions:
- Herbstreit: Michigan
- Howard: Michigan
- Jelly Roll: Michigan
- Saban: Washington
- McAfee: Michigan
No. 22 Utah Utes at No. 14 BYU Cougars
The Holy War is taking center stage in Provo.
Predictions:
- Herbstreit: BYU
- Howard: BYU
- Jelly Roll: BYU
- Saban: Utah
- McAfee: BYU
No. 8 Texas Tech Red Raiders at Arizona State Sun Devils
Texas Tech has been easily the best team in the Big 12 this season. The Red Raiders are ranked seventh in the latest AP Poll, eight spots higher than anyone else in the conference. Texas Tech also has -175 odds to win the Big 12, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. The Red Raiders go on the road to take on last year’s Big 12 champion, Arizona State. The Sun Devils have just a 4-2 record this year and are coming off a 42-10 loss to Utah. It should be noted that star quarterback Sam Leavitt missed that game and is questionable to play this week.
Matchup to watch when Texas Tech has the ball (Dalton): Texas Tech’s rushing attack vs. Texas Tech quarterback Behren Morton is currently listed as questionable on the Red Raiders’ injury report. So far this season, Texas Tech ranks fifth in the FBS in PFF rushing grade and 35th in PFF run-blocking grade. Running backs J’Koby Williams and Cameron Dickey both hold 80.0-plus PFF rushing grades this season. Furthermore, the Red Raiders’ run game could be even more lethal if backup Will Hammond plays, as he is a better rushing threat than Morton. If Arizona State wants any chance at upsetting Texas Tech, it needs star quarterback Sam Leavitt to be available. He missed this past weekend’s loss to Utah, and the Sun Devils could only compile 10 points offensively. His backup, Jeff Sims, completed just 47.4% of his passes in the rain with just a 55.1 PFF passing grade. It’s hard to say the elements were the only thing holding him back, though, as he’s never even registered a 60.0 PFF passing grade in any of his five prior seasons. Even if Leavitt is back, how close he is to 100% will also be a major question mark. He was seen wearing a boot on his right foot in the loss to Utah, and he’ll need his elite mobility against this Texas Tech defense. The Red Raiders lead the nation with a 92.2 team PFF pass-rush grade and 96.4 PFF run-defense grade this season while pacing the Power Four with a 92.9 PFF coverage grade. Meanwhile, Leavitt’s 84.4 PFF rushing grade against pressure is second among FBS quarterbacks this season. Even if Leavitt plays, it’s unknown how effective his mobility will be.
Predictions:
- Herbstreit: Texas Tech
- Howard: Texas Tech
- Jelly Roll: Texas Tech
- Saban: Texas Tech
- McAfee: Texas Tech
No. 12 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets at Duke Blue Devils
Saturday’s matchup between Georgia Tech and Duke lines up two of the five remaining ACC teams who are undefeated in conference play. The Yellow Jackets are a perfect 6-0 on their season and, if they win this game, may finish the year undefeated in conference play - which would put them with at least an 11-1 record. The Blue Devils are 4-2, but their two losses came out of conference to Illinois and Tulane.
The Blue Devils entered 2025 with one of PFF’s top-10 secondaries in college football, thanks to stars like cornerback Chandler Rivers and safety Terry Moore returning. But with Moore still recovering from a torn ACL, Duke’s secondary struggled immensely to start the season. Duke has turned it around in its last two games against Syracuse and California, though. Since Week 5, the Blue Devils’ 85.6 coverage grade is third in the Power Four and eighth in the entire nation. This week will prove if Duke’s secondary truly improved.
Georgia Tech quarterback Haynes King possesses an 82% adjusted completion rate this season, which trails only Ohio State’s Julian Sayin among FBS quarterbacks.
Matchup to watch when Duke has the ball (Dalton): Nate Sheppard vs. While quarterback Darian Mensah has played outstanding football for the majority of this season, a major catalyst for the Blue Devils’ three-game win streak has been the emergence of their run game. The emergence of true freshman running back Nate Sheppard has been the biggest reason for Duke’s success on the ground. Sheppard has earned an PFF 86.0 rushing grade, which ranks 14th among qualified running backs. He’s also generated 19 missed tackles forced and 16 explosive runs across just 56 carries. Both quarterbacks should find success in this game against two inconsistent secondaries.
Predictions:
- Herbstreit: Georgia Tech
- Howard: Georgia Tech
- Jelly Roll: Georgia Tech
- Saban: Georgia Tech
- McAfee: Georgia Tech
Louisville Cardinals at No. 25 Miami Hurricanes
Louisville is one the best of the seven teams remaining on the Hurricanes’ schedule. While the Cardinals aren’t ranked, they’re 4-1 to start their 2025 campaign with their only blemish coming at the hands of No. 18 Virginia in overtime.
Matchup to watch when Louisville has the ball (Dalton): Louisville’s offensive line vs. Blocking Miami’s outstanding defensive line is the first priority in attempting to beat the Hurricanes this season. Led by superstar edge rusher Rueben Bain Jr., Miami ranks third in the nation in PFF pass-rush grade and pressure rate. That could be a problem for a Louisville team that sits just 104th in PFF pass-blocking grade. That further creates an issue for quarterback Miller Moss, who has recorded a paltry 35.0 PFF passing grade under pressure this season. This promises to be one of the best trench matchups all season. Miami’s overall dominance this season is mostly attributed to its ability to maul teams both along the offensive line and defensive line. The Hurricanes’ 79.9 offensive line grade is fourth among all units in the country this season, and they’re one of four teams in the nation to place inside the top-15 of both PFF pass-blocking grade (eighth) and PFF run-blocking grade (12th). Meanwhile, Louisville has the third-highest-graded defensive line in the country (91.0), trailing only Texas Tech and Miami. The Cardinals boast the second-best pressure rate in America (46.8%) and only allow one rushing yard before contact per attempt (18th).
Oklahoma Sooners at South Carolina Gamecocks
Oklahoma suffered its first loss of the 2025 season this past weekend, losing 23-6 in the Red River Rivalry to archrival Texas. The Sooners thus dropped from No. 6 in the AP Poll all the way down to No. 19. The second half of Oklahoma’s season includes five games against top-20 opponents in No. 5 Ole Miss, No. 6 Alabama, No. 10 LSU, No. 11 Tennessee and No. 16 Missouri. The only opponent the Sooners have remaining that isn’t ranked is this week’s showdown at a South Carolina team which is looking to get back on track after losing three of its last four games.
Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer had surgery on his throwing hand after injuring his right thumb in Oklahoma’s win over Auburn. To say that Mateer struggled would be an understatement. He posted just a 31.1 PFF passing grade against the Longhorns, the worst of his career. Mateer threw three interceptions and totaled four turnover-worthy plays in the loss, with no touchdowns or big-time throws. Mateer will need to bounce back this week against a South Carolina defense that should present an easier challenge than Texas.
Matchup to watch when South Carolina has the ball (Dalton): South Carolina’s offensive line vs. South Carolina’s offense has struggled to find consistent footing through its first six games. A big reason for that is that the Gamecocks’ offensive line has yet to create consistent space up front. That unit ranks just 109th in PFF grade and 124th in pressure rate allowed. Oklahoma counters with an outstanding defensive line, led by star edge rusher R Mason Thomas and defensive tackle David Stone. That unit slots 20th in the nation in PFF grade with a relatively equal balance in production against the run and pass. These two teams are very similarly put together with offenses that are tough to trust.
Boise State vs. UNLV
Boise State and UNLV have met in the last two Mountain West Championship Games, with the Broncos winning both titles. They could be on a collision course to clash once again this year, as Boise State (-150) and UNLV (+425) have the best odds to win the conference, according to DraftKings Sportsbook. While it seems likely that the Group of Five representative in the College Football Playoff will come from the American Conference, UNLV should not be counted out of that race, as the Rebels currently sport a perfect 6-0 record.
UNLV’s run game has been one of the most difficult to stop in college football this season. The Rebels’ 4.4 rushing yards after contact per carry is second to only USC. Running back Jai’Den Thomas boasts a 90.6 PFF rushing grade this season, second to only Ahmad Hardy among FBS running backs. On top of that, Anthony Colandrea is ninth among all quarterbacks with 256 rushing yards after contact. As a team, Boise State is 94th in both PFF run-defense grade (74.4) and yards per attempt allowed (5.1) this season. The Broncos have allowed quarterbacks to run for at least 70 yards on them in three of their six games this year.
Matchup to watch when Boise State has the ball (Dalton): Boise State’s run game vs. As it has been in many recent seasons, Boise State’s success is predicated on its dominant ground game. They no longer have Ashton Jeanty, but the Broncos still rank among the top 35 teams in PFF rushing grade and PFF run-blocking grade. UNLV has found a way to win high-scoring games in spite of its porous run defense. The Rebels rank 109th in PFF run-defense grade so far this season. They also place among the bottom seven teams in the FBS in yards per carry allowed and explosive run rate allowed. Both teams will look to rely on their run games against two vulnerable run defenses. Boise State has been able to put up a ton of points on its unranked opponents. UNLV’s run defense allows the Broncos an opportunity to dominate on the ground and control possession.
Potential 'College GameDay' Guest Pickers
Before Jelly Roll was announced, several names were in the mix as potential guest pickers for the Georgia-Ole Miss game:
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