College Football Picks Week 8: Predictions for Top 25 Games on Upcoming Schedule

The return of the Big Ten is the biggest Week 8 college football storyline.

While some of the top teams will ease into action against unranked foes, a pair of the conference's Top 25 teams face off right away. 

The Minnesota Golden Gophers' quest to back up their 11-win campaign from 2019 begins against the Michigan Wolverines, who have their own point to prove.

Jim Harbaugh's team is ranked lower than the Ohio State Buckeyes and Penn State Nittany Lions, and it needs to be near-perfect to contend for a Big Ten Championship Game berth. 

The North Carolina Tar Heels also need to make a statement in Week 8 that they can rebound from a deflating loss. 

However, that task will be difficult against the NC State Wolfpack, who are in the Top 25 for the first time this season. 

CFB Week 8 Schedule

Friday, October 23

Illinois at No. 14 Wisconsin (-23.5) (8 p.m. ET, BTN)

Saturday, October 24

Syracuse at No. 1 Clemson (-44.5) (Noon ET, ACC Network)

Nebraska at No. 5 Ohio State (-25.5) (Noon ET, Fox)

No. 23 NC State at No. 14 North Carolina (-16.5) (Noon ET, ESPN)

Kansas at No. 20 Kansas State (-18.5) (Noon ET, FS1)

Georgia Southern at No. 25 Coastal Carolina (-4.5) (Noon ET, ESPNU)

Florida Atlantic at No. 22 Marshall (-14.5) (2:30 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Networks)

No. 2 Alabama (-19.5) at Tennessee (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)

No. 3 Notre Dame (-9.5) at Pittsburgh (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

No. 17 Iowa State at No. 6 Oklahoma State (-3.5) (3:30 p.m. ET, Fox)

No. 8 Penn State (-6.5) at Indiana (3:30 p.m. ET, FS1)

No. 19 Virginia Tech (-7.5) at Wake Forest (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN3)

No. 18 Michigan (-2.5) at No. 21 Minnesota (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

Virginia at No. 11 Miami (-11.5) (8 p.m. ET, ACC Network)

No. 9 Cincinnati (-1.5) at No. 16 SMU (9 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

Texas State at No. 12 BYU (-29.5) (10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook; Predictions against the spread in bold.

Predictions

No. 18 Michigan at No. 21 Minnesota (+2.5)

Paul Beaty/Associated Press

It is only fitting that the Big Ten schedule opens with a game that hands out of the conference's unique rivalry trophies. 

Michigan owns a 75-25-3 record against Minnesota in the competition for the "Little Brown Jug," but the Golden Gophers gave the Wolverines a fight in two of the last three meetings. 

Minnesota won the 2014 edition at Michigan Stadium and came three points shy of beating the Wolverines at home in 2015. 

P.J. Fleck's squad appears to have a slight advantage despite being a small home underdog. Quarterback Tanner Morgan and wide receiver Rashod Bateman, who originally opted out of the 2020 season, form one of the best one-two punches in the conference. 

A year ago, Bateman recorded 1,219 receiving yards and 11 touchdowns. Only Tyler Johnson, who is playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, topped him in those categories. 

Morgan performed well against Top 25 sides at the end of the 2019 season, as he put up 339 yards on the Penn State Nittany Lions and 368 yards versus the Iowa Hawkeyes. 

The 3,000-yard passer carries more experience than Michigan starter Joe Milton, who will try to provide some stability under center after Shea Patterson's departure.

Milton has returning starters Nico Collins and Donovan Peoples-Jones in place to make him feel comfortable in the offense from the start. 

But the biggest concern looming around the Wolverines is if they can consistently beat Top 25 opponents. In 2019, Harbaugh's team went 3-3 versus Top 25 squads. 

If Milton proves he can orchestrate the Michigan offense well, the Wolverines will be competitive for four quarters, but they may not have enough firepower to keep up with Morgan and Bateman.

If that is the case, the Wolverines would have to wait until their November 14 meeting with the Wisconsin Badgers to attempt to earn their first win over a ranked foe. 

No. 23 NC State at No. 14 North Carolina (-16.5) 

Gerry Broome/Associated Press

North Carolina could be in the perfect position to bounce back from its deflating road defeat to Florida State in which it was down 31-7 at halftime. 

While the Tar Heels may scare you away since they failed to cover as a double-digit favorite in Week 7, you may want to come back to their side for Week 8.

UNC has played much better at home in Mack Brown's second tenure than on the road, and it beat NC State by 31 points in 2019. 

The Tar Heels are 5-3 at home in the last two years and they defeated the Syracuse Orange and Virginia Tech Hokies by double digits in Chapel Hill, North Carolina this season. North Carolina is 3-4 on its travels in that span, but one of those wins was at Carter-Finley Stadium.

The 14th-ranked team in the country should have the advantage at quarterback with Sam Howell facing Bailey Hockman, who is replacing the injured Devin Leary.

Howell has thrown for at least 225 yards in each game this season and has cut down on his turnovers after throwing two interceptions versus Syracuse. He has been picked twice in the last three contests. 

The highest yardage total of Howell's career occurred in the rout of NC State in 2019, as he threw for 401 yards and three touchdowns. 

If Leary was playing, NC State may have had a chance to keep this a one-possession game. He had seven touchdowns and two interceptions combined in the last three games. He left Saturday's win over the Duke Blue Devils with a leg injury. 

Hockman has not been convincing in the pocket with two touchdowns and three interceptions. He has also been sacked on five occasions. 

If Hockman fails to keep up with Howell, NC State's short time in the Top 25 will come to an end. The Tar Heels should have a chance to cover the 16.5-point spread.

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90.

Statistics obtained from ESPN.com.