College Football Odds Week 8: Lines, Betting Trends on Biggest Games

Patrick Everson Sports Betting Expert

9 minute read

College football odds for Week 8 are almost as loaded as Week 7. A handful of games will have a huge impact on the College Football Playoff odds landscape.

Easily the marquee matchup in odds for college football Week 8: Georgia Bulldogs vs. Texas Longhorns. In fact, it's an SEC-dominant week of key matchups, including Alabama vs. Tennessee and LSU vs. Arkansas.

Here’s everything you need to know about the college football odds Week 8 market: opening lines, spreads and betting trends for the biggest games, as multiple oddsmakers provide insights on Week 8 college football odds and action. Check back regularly for updates and use our BetMGM bonus code to get the most out of your action.

College Football Odds for Week 8

Miami vs. Louisville Odds

• Opening point spread: Miami -4.5
• Opening moneyline: Miami -180/Louisville +150
• Opening total: Over/Under 61 points scored
• Time: Noon ET Saturday (ABC)

UPDATE 10 A.M. ET SATURDAY: BetMGM has moved the Hurricanes 4.5-point favorites to 5.5-point favorites in this matchup. The Canes are the third-most bet team on the spread in college football this weekend. Miami is getting 67% of the spread tickets and 68% of the money being bet on the spread. The total, which opened at 59.5 at BetMGM is up to 60.5 with 79% of the tickets 85% of the money on the over. That total is the second-most bet over at BetMGM.

UPDATE 3:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Fanatics Sportsbook pegged Miami 4.5-point chalk to open and is now at -5. The Hurricanes are attracting 72% of spread bets 85% of spread money early on.

Fanatics' total bounced around a bit, opening at 59.5, peaking at 61.5 and now back at 59.5. The Over is drawing 74% of bets, but money is running dead even.

UPDATE 4:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: No. 6 Miami (6-0 SU/3-3 ATS) is coming off a bye, after a wild comeback victory at California. The Hurricanes were 10-point favorites at California and trailed 38-18 with 14 minutes remaining.

But Cam Ward & Co. put up three touchdowns – the last with 26 seconds remaining – to squeeze out a 39-38 victory.

Louisville (4-2 SU/3-3 ATS) needed a late TD in Week 7 to halt a two-game SU and ATS hiccup. The Cardinals scored with 1:55 remaining at Virginia to pull out a 24-20 victory, but failed to cash as 7.5-point favorites.

Miami is already down to -3.5 from a -4.5 opener on TwinSpires Sportsbook's college football Week 7 odds board. The Hurricanes are seeing 64% of early spread bets, while 58% of early spread money is on the Cardinals.

"It's Pros vs. Joes. Sharp play on Louisville +4.5 and +4," TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said.

The total opened at 61 and inched to 60.5, with 63% of bets/55% of money on the Over.

Alabama vs. Tennessee Odds

• Opening point spread: Alabama -2.5
• Opening moneyline: Alabama -135/Tennessee +115
• Opening total: Over/Under 55.5 points scored
• Time: 3:30 p.m. ET Saturday (ABC)

UPDATE 10 A.M. ET SATURDAY: The Crimson Tide have played back-to-back thrillers and bettors like 'Bama against the spread. At BetMGM, Alabama is the most-bet team at -3 and the under in that game is also the most-bet under at 57.5.

That said, the public is bracing for another potential loss for Alabama. The Volunteers are +125 on the moneyline in this game and have garnered the most tickets of any underdog this week with 68% of the tickets on Tennessee.

UPDATE 2:45 P.M. ET THURSDAY: Alabama opened as 2.5-point road chalk and is now -3 on TwinSpires' college football Week 8 odds board. The Crimson Tide are taking 60% of early spread bets and a more notable 83% of early spread money.

At Fanatics, only Texas has taken more spread money than Alabama this week.

"Both of these teams have really struggled the past two weeks,” Meyer said. “I think the difference here is that bettors trust Jalen Milroe more than Nico Iamaleava right now. There has been interest on Tennessee to win outright, but there’s still nearly three times more money on Alabama spread than Tennessee moneyline (+130)."

The total opened at 56.5, fell to 55.5 and is now 56.5 again, with 71% of bets/77% of dollars on the Over.

UPDATE 5 P.M. ET MONDAY: Just a week after a shocking loss at Vanderbilt, No. 7 Alabama nearly blew another game. The Crimson Tide (5-1 SU/3-3 ATS) trailed South Carolina 19-14 entering the fourth quarter.

'Bama then put up two TDs to go up 27-19, but still nearly lost. The Tide gave up a last-minute Gamecocks TD and failed to recover the subsequent onside kick. However, Alabama held on for the 27-25 victory, while falling miles short of covering as 21.5-point home chalk.

Meanwhile, No. 11 Tennessee (5-1 SU/4-2 ATS) rebounded from its stunning upset loss at Arkansas. But like Alabama, the Vols didn't make it look pretty at all.

Tennessee, laying 14 points at home vs. Florida, gave up a TD with 29 seconds left and was forced to overtime tied at 17. The Vols then won 23-17.

A week ago, the lookahead line for Alabama-Tennessee was pick 'em at TwinSpires Sportsbook. It reopened at 'Bama -2.5, where it remains this evening. The Vols are seeing 58% of early spread tickets/55% of early spread money.

"The public seems to be turning on 'Bama for its poor performances of late," TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said.

TwinSpires' total opened at 55.5 and is up to 56.5, with 62% of tickets/66% of dollars on the Over.

LSU vs. Arkansas Odds

• Opening point spread: LSU -3
• Opening moneyline: LSU -135/Arkansas +115
• Opening total: Over/Under 57 points scored
• Time: 7 p.m. ET Saturday (ESPN)

UPDATE 2:45 P.M. ET THURSDAY: LSU hit Fanatics Sportsbook's board as a 2.5-point road favorite, climbed to -3, then fell back to the current -1.5. Arkansas is landing 61% of spread tickets/78% of spread money.

In fact, the Razorbacks have the second-most spread tickets – behind Auburn – and second-most spread money – behind Georgia – of all teams in Week 8 college football odds.

"This is a really tricky spot for LSU," Fanatics senior editor Max Meyer said. "The Tigers are coming off a dramatic overtime win at home over Ole Miss to basically keep their playoff hopes alive. Now they have to play another Saturday night game, this time on the road.

"Arkansas is coming off a bye, and they’ve played ranked teams tough this season."

The total opened at 57.5 and is down to 56.5, with 57% of tickets on the Under/79% of cash on the Over.

UPDATE 4:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: No. 8 LSU (5-1 SU/2-4 ATS) is on a five-game winning streak, after losing its opener vs. USC. In Week 7, the Tigers scored a late touchdown to tie Ole Miss at 23 and force overtime. LSU then won 29-26 catching 4 points at home.

Arkansas (4-2 SU/5-1 ATS) is one of the best spread-covering outfits in the country this season. And the Razorbacks are rested, after a Week 7 bye that followed a huge upset. Arkansas rallied from a 14-3 third-quarter deficit to beat Tennessee 19-14 getting 14 points at home.

TwinSpires Sportsbook opened LSU -3 and is down to -2.5 (-118). The Tigers are taking 56% of early spread tickets, but 60% of early spread money is on the home 'dog Razorbacks.

"Sharp play on Arkansas +3," TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said.

The total fell from 57 to 54.5, then rebounded to 55.5. The Under is drawing 57% of tickets and 64% of money.

Georgia vs. Texas Odds

• Opening point spread: Texas -3.5
• Opening moneyline: Texas -165/Georgia +140
• Opening total: Over/Under 55.5 points scored
• Time: 7:30 p.m. ET Saturday (ABC)

UPDATE 10 A.M. ET SATURDAY: This is the most bet game of the day at BetMGM in terms of tickets and the over 57.5 is the most-bet over of the day.

“This weekend’s highly anticipated matchups of Alabama-Tennessee and Georgia-Texas have great two way action so far," said trader Michael Ranftle of BetMGM.

The Bulldogs are getting 47% of spread tickets and 51% of spread money. Georgia's spread is also getting the most handle of any team at the sportsbook this weekend.

UPDATE 3 P.M. ET THURSDAY: As was the case elsewhere, Fanatics Sportsbook moved this line notably on Wednesday afternoon. Texas opened -3.5 and got as high as -5, and the line is now -4.5.

The Longhorns are taking a modest majority 55% of early spread tickets, but 90% of early spread money. Texas has six times more spread money and four times more moneyline dollars than any other college football team this week.

"Action on Texas is in a league of its own this week in college football. It’s definitely shaping up to be one of the biggest sides this season," Fanatics senior editor Max Meyer said. "Even when looking at Ohio State-Oregon betting at the same time last week, Texas has received four times more money on its spread and moneyline than the spread and moneyline for Ohio State and Oregon combined."

Fanatics opened the total at 55 and is up to 56.5, with the Over taking a hefty 86% of tickets/92% of money.

UPDATE 6:30 P.M. ET WEDNESDAY: There was big surge of Texas action this afternoon, with multiple oddsmakers saying sharp play landed on the Longhorns. At The SuperBook, Texas moved from -3.5 – which was the opening number – to -4/-4.5/-5, then resettled at -4.5.

"We've got double the tickets on Georgia, but almost four times the money on Texas to cover," SuperBook risk manager Casey Degnon said.

The total opened at 55.5 and went to 56.5 in relatively short order Sunday at The SuperBook. On Monday, the number returned to 55.5, and this morning, it went to 56. Degnon said there's not much action on the total.

UPDATE 5 P.M. ET MONDAY: Texas (6-0 SU/5-1 ATS) is ranked No. 1 in the nation and is atop odds to win the College Football Playoff. In Week 7, QB Quinn Ewers returned, and the Longhorns thumped Oklahoma 34-3 as 17-point neutral-site favorites.

No. 5 Georgia (5-1 SU/1-5 ATS) has one loss, but it was more than respectable at Alabama. Still, the Bulldogs are one of the nation's worst spread-covering outfits.

In Week 7, Georgia generally had no issue with Mississippi State, winning 41-31. But the Dawgs failed to cash as massive 33.5-point home faves.

Zachary Lucas, director of retail sports at TwinSpires Sportsbook, noted that last week's lookahead line on Georgia-Texas was Bulldogs -1.5. But it reopened this week at Longhorns -3.5, where it sits now.

Texas is taking 58% of early spread bets/55% of early spread dollars.

"Texas has been rolling teams, and the public is expecting the Longhorns to get the cover here. It's rare we ever need Georgia, but I like the position we're in," Lucas said.

The total just moved from 55.5 to 56.5.

Oklahoma State vs. BYU Odds

• Opening point spread: BYU -9
• Opening moneyline: BYU -340/Oklahoma State +270
• Opening total: Over/Under 55.5 points scored
• Time: 10:15 p.m. ET Friday (ESPN)

UPDATE 2:30 P.M. ET THURSDAY: This line has been around the block at Fanatics Sportsbook. BYU opened -7, shot as high as -10 and is now -8.5. The Cougars are seeing 60% of early spread tickets and 59% of early spread dollars for a Friday night clash in Provo.

However, of all the underdogs in college football odds Week 8, Oklahoma State is taking the most moneyline tickets and dollars. The Cowboys are currently +260.

"This has been a really interesting game for betting action,” Fanatics Sportsbook senior editor Max Meyer said. “The public trusts BYU, as the Cougars have gone 6-0 against the spread this season. The bigger money, though, has been on Oklahoma State to pull off the upset.

"There’s been about 2.5 times more handle on Oklahoma State moneyline than BYU spread. The Big 12 has been filled with upsets this year, and this could be a good buy-low/sell-high spot, given these teams’ preseason expectations."

Fanatics opened the total at 54.5 and is down to 52.5, with 86% of tickets/73% of money on the Under.

UPDATE 4:30 P.M. ET MONDAY: BYU is a perfect 6-0 SU and ATS, right in the thick of the chase for the Big 12's automatic CFP bid. In Week 7, the 13th-ranked Cougars rolled over Arizona 41-19 as 2.5-point home favorites.

On the flip side, Oklahoma State (3-3 SU and ATS) is on a season-killing three-game slide. The Cowboys had a bye in Week 7, after getting drilled by West Virginia 38-14 as 3-point home favorites.

TwinSpires Sportsbook opened BYU -9 and is up to -9.5 (-118) in its college football odds Week 8 market. The Cougars are netting 72% of early spread tickets/76% of early spread money.

"It's lopsided tickets and money on BYU again this week. The Cougars have not been kind to us," TwinSpires director of retail sports Zachary Lucas said.

The total opened and remains 55.5, with 58% of tickets/57% of cash on the Over.

Patrick Everson

Patrick Everson is a senior reporter for VegasInsider. Based in Las Vegas since 1994, he's worked in the sports betting journalism/content space for more than a decade. He's most known for his deep roster of contacts behind sportsbook counters, providing readers and viewers with the ins-and-outs of how events are being bet. He's also a thought leader in the sports betting space, often appearing on or moderating panels at national conferences. More from Patrick Everson