Previewing and Predicting the Biggest Week 8 Games in College Football

October 14, 2025·2 hr 29 min·5 clips

Miami's unblockable defensive line faces Louisville's 105th-ranked pass blocking unit in a Friday night showdown.

Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman preview the twelve biggest games of Week 8 in college football. They highlight a particularly difficult and even slate of matchups, with five contests between ranked teams. The hosts note their competitive season-long prediction record, with Dalton currently holding a four-game lead. They begin with Friday night's Louisville at Miami game, focusing on the critical trench battles. Miami's defensive line, featuring Reuben Bain and Akeem Mesidor, poses a major threat to Louisville's struggling offensive line. Conversely, Louisville's highly-graded defensive line, led by Clevan Lubin and Rene Conga, will challenge Miami's elite offensive front and quarterback Carson Beck. The second previewed game is the SEC showdown between LSU and Vanderbilt, where Vanderbilt's innovative run game, keyed by Diego Pavia and scheming, will test LSU's linebackers. LSU's offense seeks balance after a season-high rushing performance against South Carolina. The pivotal ACC clash between Georgia Tech and Duke centers on Duke's offensive evolution with true freshman running back Nate Shepard complementing quarterback Darian Mensah. Georgia Tech's offense, led by Haynes King, will test a Duke secondary that has dramatically improved its coverage grade over the last two weeks. Another noon game features Washington at Michigan, a potential playoff eliminator and a rematch of the 2023 national title game. Michigan's offense hinges on the health of running back Justice Haynes against a Washington run defense that has strengthened recently. A surprising insight is that Louisville's defensive line is graded second nationally, setting up a rare elite-versus-elite clash with Miami's offensive line. The hosts reveal Duke's coverage grade improved from dead last in the nation to top-ten over a two-week span. They also note Carson Beck's remarkably quick average time to throw of 2.35 seconds, a key asset against Louisville's pass rush. The tone is energetic and conversational, blending deep analytical stats with friendly rivalry between the co-hosts. The style is heavily data-driven, using PFF grades and metrics to frame every matchup while maintaining an accessible, preview-focused energy. This episode is ideal for dedicated college football fans seeking detailed, analytics-informed game previews and betting insights. Listeners who prefer narrative-driven content or have no interest in statistical breakdowns might want to skip it.

As heard by us

A crowded Week 8 board, cut down with real matchup logic.

Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman keep this Week 8 board moving by getting straight to the stakes. The pace is brisk, but it does not feel rushed.

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Why you'd press play

You want a disciplined read on a loaded Week 8 slate that may be the hardest one all year to predict.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

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