BYU’s defense just spent over 70 snaps on the field last week in their dramatic 28,24 win over Notre Dame, a victory that catapulted them to the No. 2 spot in the AP poll. That’s a huge workload, and now they are heading into a potential trap game where that fatigue could absolutely cost them.
BYU Heads to the Sunshine State For a Real Test
This Saturday, the No. 2 Cougars hit Orlando for a Homecoming game against UCF, and SportsLine expert Jeff Hochman is already seeing red flags. BYU needs to stay incredibly sharp under that warm Florida sun, which will be in the low to mid-80s, all while missing their stud running back LJ Martin. UCF isn’t backing down either; they roll in with a top-15 rushing attack ready to exploit any signs of fatigue in that overworked BYU defense. UCF head coach Scott Frost is known for his creative rushing plays, and if there is a weakness, he will find it. The Knights are also super dangerous in the red zone, converting 21 of 22 chances, and quarterback Keyone Jenkins just dropped a four-touchdown performance. Hochman says take the points, and honestly, with UCF getting (+7), it makes a lot of sense.
The Longhorns Are a Mess and Utah Looks Strong
Beyond that BYU-UCF showdown, Week 8 of college football has some other absolute heaters. No. 19 Texas is hosting No. 7 Ole Miss at 7:30 p.m. ET, and folks, “Texas is a mess right now.” That’s straight from SportsLine expert Thomas Casale, who is backing Ole Miss to cover as 3-point underdogs. Then at 10:15 p.m. ET, No. 10 Utah hosts No. 14 Houston. The SportsLine Projection Model is all-in on Utah to cover as 7-point favorites there, while expert Jeff Hochman has locked in his UCF vs. BYU pick. The model, by the way, simulates every FBS game 10,000 times and entered Week 8 on a 59-49 run on all top-rated college football picks at betting sites, returning nearly $600 for $100 players. That’s serious business. If you are feeling spicy, combining these three picks into a Saturday parlay betting wager at BetMGM Sportsbook would result in a payout of +621, meaning you risk $100 to profit $621. Odds are always subject to change, but that’s a sweet return.
It’s going to be a wild Saturday of college football, with major implications for these teams. Whether it’s BYU fighting off fatigue, Texas trying to clean up their mess, or Utah asserting dominance, there’s action everywhere. If you want to get in on these picks and more, BetMGM has an offer going right now: use bonus code CBSSPORTS to get up to $1,500 in bonus bets if your first bet loses, or $150 in bonus bets if your first bet wins. That offer depends on your location, so check it out. Get ready for some incredible college football!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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