Week 8 of the college football season offers one of the most exciting schedules yet, featuring at least two games every day, with a particularly packed lineup on Saturday that includes three ranked matchups. According to the latest College Football Vegas odds, No. 7 Alabama is a 3.0-point favorite against No. 11 Tennessee, while No. 24 Michigan is favored by 3 points at Illinois, both kicking off at 3:30 p.m. ET.
In the primetime spotlight, No. 1 Texas will host No. 5 Georgia as a 3.5-point favorite in a highly anticipated top-five showdown.
What? College Football Week 8
Where? USA
When? Saturday, October 19, 2024
Alabama vs. Tennessee
In their most recent matchup, Alabama secured a narrow 27-25 victory over the South Carolina Gamecocks. Meanwhile, Tennessee earned a hard-fought 23-17 win against the Florida Gators.
For the Crimson Tide, quarterback Jalen Milroe threw for 209 yards on 16-of-23 passing (69.6%), with one touchdown and two interceptions. He also contributed on the ground, rushing 18 times for 36 yards and two touchdowns. Jamarion Miller added 42 rushing yards on 12 carries (3.5 yards per carry) and had a reception for 13 yards, while Germie Bernard recorded four catches for 89 yards (22.3 yards per catch) and scored one touchdown.
On the other side, Tennessee’s Nico Iamaleava went 16-for-26 with 169 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception against Florida. Dylan Sampson was a standout, rushing 27 times for 112 yards (4.1 yards per attempt) and three touchdowns, along with two catches for seven yards. Squirrel White had a solid game as well, making five receptions for 71 yards on six targets.
The Crimson Tide enter this matchup as slight favorites, listed at -3.0, with an over/under of 56 points. For those looking at the moneyline, Alabama is -145 while Tennessee sits at +125.
The Michigan Wolverines will aim to bounce back from a road loss when they face the Illinois Fighting Illini at Memorial Stadium for a Big Ten college football showdown on Saturday.
Illinois (5-1) has quietly had a strong season and could have what it takes to upset the Wolverines (4-2) at home.
Historically, Michigan has dominated this rivalry with a record of 77-23-2, and the Illini haven’t tasted victory against the Wolverines since 2009. However, they’ve come close, losing by just two points in two of the last six meetings.
While the total for their last encounter in 2022 was set at 36 points, the current over/under of 43.5 is historically low for this rivalry. Outside of last season, this game has only fallen below 45 points once since 1996.
It’s worth noting that Illinois will be without their leading rusher, Kaden Feagin, once again.
In a highly anticipated showdown, the Georgia football team finds itself in an unusual position as they take on the No. 1 Texas Longhorns this Saturday night. For the first time since the 2021 season opener, Georgia will enter a game as the underdog according to the best College Football betting sites.
After losing their top ranking following a defeat to Alabama on September 28, the Bulldogs now sit at No. 5 in the AP Top 25, while Texas remains undefeated and holds the No. 1 spot. Currently, Georgia is a 3.5-point underdog, with the over/under set at 56 points.
The last time Georgia was an underdog was in 2021 against Clemson, where they were 2.5-point underdogs and won 10-3. With a 5-1 overall record, Georgia has struggled against the spread this season, going 1-5, with their only cover coming in the opener against Clemson.
Texas, on the other hand, has yet to lose this season and stands as the only undefeated team in the SEC. The Longhorns have consistently won by double-digit margins, including a decisive 34-3 victory over Oklahoma.
Both teams share a common opponent in Mississippi State; Texas defeated the Bulldogs 35-13 at home, while Georgia claimed a 41-31 victory on Saturday.
Starting out in the betting industry, Henry later found his calling in sports writing. Specializing in soccer, golf, and darts, he also offers insights into a wide array of sports across the globe. After earning a BA Honors degree in Business and Management, Henry advanced through the ranks at William Hill in England. His career isn't just limited to sports; he's also made a mark in Property and Finance, fields in which he remains engaged. Henry now resides in Barcelona, where he enjoys playing golf year-round as part of the Real Federacion Espanola de Golf.