Week 8 end up being “Show Up and Survive Week”! We had some anticipated matchups including a Big Ten matchup with two top 10 teams in Ohio State and Penn State and top 20 matchups in the ACC and the SEC.
What really made it a wild week though was so many teams that were favored big either struggled or outright lost.
As the stretch run of the season nears teams are jockeying for position in not only their conference, but nationally as well.
Every week we start to get more clarity as to the strength of each team and you will see the rankings updated below.
Take a look and see where your team stands in this week’s Top 5 Rankings.
Scroll to the bottom to see how Rivalry Sports did on their picks for the week 8 games and to see a summary of this week’s picks!
Win/Loss Records of the picks for Week 8:
| Picker | Rivalry Sports – Dustin Kirby | Guest Picker |
| Win – Loss Record Week 8 | 11 – 5 | 11 – 5 |
| Overall Won/Loss Record on Picks (starting in Week 5 for Dustin) | 49 – 23 | 34 – 20 |
Guest Picker Won/Loss Records
| Guest Picker | Week | Won/Loss Record on Picks | Winning Percentage |
| Stephanie Kirby | 6 | 11 – 7 | 61.11% |
| Lance Kirby | 7 | 12 – 8 | 60.00% |
| Brandon Kirby | 8 | 11 – 5 | 68.75% |
| Nolan Kirby | 9 |
RIVALRY SPORTS LOCK PICK OF THE WEEK
| Week | Rivalry Sports Game Score Pick | Actual Result |
| 6 | Notre Dame over Louisville | Louisville Over Notre Dame 33 – 20 |
| 7 | Utah over California 24 – 10 | Utah over California 34 – 14 |
| 8 | Michigan over Michigan State 38 – 17 | Michigan over Michigan State 49 – 0 |
| 9 | Penn State over Indiana 38 – 10 |
Check out last week’s Top 5 Rankings
College football never disappoints, and this year is no exception. Let’s check in with the Weekly Rivalry Sports Top 5 for each Power Conference.
SEC TOP FIVE
The SEC is well known as “THE” Power Conference in College Football and is looking to have one of their teams win the 7th of the last 11 National Championships!
As the Year progresses we see that Georgia is still the class of the SEC East, but in the West it is a three team race between Alabama, LSU, and Ole Miss.
The next few weeks have a lot of tough games scheduled and will show us just who is the class of the Division.
1. GEORGIA (7 – 0) AP Ranking – #1
The Dawgs had a Bye Week to rest up and to tighten up in areas that will help them for their remaining games.
This week we will see how Georgia performs without their best player in TE Brock Bowers.
Bowers might be missing, but the Dawgs are loaded with talent and Championship experience so they are expected to continue to roll.
This week the Dawgs face a challenge in their annual rivalry game with Florida.
The Georgia – Florida game is played annually in Jacksonville, FL as to be at a neutral location and has been called “The World’s Largest Cocktail Party” for years due to the tailgating fun for this game.
Last Week SEC Ranking: 1
Week 9 Opponent: @ Florida at 3:30pm EDT Saturday 10/28/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
2. ALABAMA (7 – 1) AP Ranking – #9
Coach Nick Saban said he is enjoying the challenge of coaching this inconsistent, yet tough and resilient team.
The Crimson Tide might not resemble the offensive juggernauts that previous Alabama teams featured, but they are tough and are finding ways to win.
This past week they found a way to win again by the score of 34 – 20 over a tough Tennessee team.
QB Jalen Milroe has continued to be a powerful runner and is continuing to grow as a passer. If other offensive weapons continue to step up like WR Jermaine Burton has, then combined with a stout Defense, this team can make a run for the SEC Championship.
The Bye Week comes at a good time for the Tide as they need to get ready for their pivotal game against LSU on Nov. 4th.
Last Week SEC Ranking: 2
Week 9 Opponent: Bye Week
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Bye Week
3. OLE MISS (6 – 1) AP Ranking – #12
The Rebels beat Auburn by the score of 28 – 21 this past week.
This year Auburn is not a powerhouse, but it is never easy to win on the road, particularly at Jordan-Hare stadium.
Ole Miss controlled the game by gaining 150 more yards than Auburn and controlling the clock, but they got sloppy a couple of times and allowed Auburn to keep the game close.
The Rebels get a chance to secure another win at home this week against Vanderbilt.
Ole Miss will also be rooting for LSU in two weeks against Alabama as a win by LSU would put the SEC West into a three way tie between Alabama, LSU, and Ole Miss.
Last Week SEC Ranking: 3
Week 9 Opponent: Vanderbilt at 7:30pm EDT Saturday 10/28/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
4. LSU (6 – 2) AP Ranking – #15
LSU dominated an overmatched Army football team to the score of 62 – 0.
The Tigers continued to show that with QB Jaden Daniels and WR Malik Nabers leading the way, this team will score points and lots of them.
While the Tigers shut out an Army team, there is still questions on how the Defense will perform against tougher teams as they have struggled up to this point.
LSU will use their Bye Week to prepare for their upcoming game against Alabama in Week 10. That game will decide if LSU has the chance to win the SEC West.
Last Week SEC Ranking: 4
Week 9 Opponent: Bye Week
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Bye Week
5. Tennessee (5 – 2) AP Ranking – #21
The Volunteers lost to a tough Alabama team this week, but a tough loss on the road will not knock them out of the SEC Top 5.
QB Joe Milton played well, but he needs more consistent help from other offensive playmakers, particularly in the running game.
The Tennessee Defense played well in the first half of their 34 – 20 loss to Alabama, but seemed to tire out in the second half.
Tennessee gets another chance to prove that they deserve their spot in the SEC Top 5 this week against a solid Kentucky team.
Kentucky, Florida, and especially Missouri are knocking on the door to get into the Top 5 ranking so the Volunteers need to win this week.
Last Week SEC Ranking: 5
Week 9 Opponent: @ Kentucky at 7:00 pm EDT, Saturday 10/28/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
Dropped from SEC Top 5 Rankings:
Same 5 as last week
Big Ten TOP FIVE
What a week in the B1G! Michigan has had to deal with accusations of illegal scouting, but on the field, OSU proved that they are still a step ahead of Penn State in their head to head meeting, and Iowa lost in heartbreaking fashion to Minnesota.
Take a look to see how this week affected the Top 5 Rankings.
1. MICHIGAN (8 – 0) AP Ranking – #2
The Wolverines might be dealing with the accusations of illegal in season scouting, but that did not affect the team’s focus this past weekend.
Michigan defeated MSU by the score of 49 – 0 and the game was not even that close.
Star QB J.J. McCarthy and most of the other starters didn’t even play a full three quarters or the score would have been even worse.
If Michigan can avoid letting outside distractions affect their focus then they have a great chance to compete for the Big Ten Championship again this year.
They have a Bye Week this week so hopefully the team can get some more clarity on the accusations and stay focused on their future opponents.
Last Week B1G Ranking: 1
Week 6 Opponent: Bye Week
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Bye Week
2. OHIO STATE (7 – 0) AP Ranking – #3
The Buckeyes showed that they are once again a threat to win the B1G and more with a defensive dominant win over Penn State. The final score of 20 – 12, doesn’t show just how dominant the OSU defense was as Penn State scored a TD in the final seconds.
With possibly the best WR in college football in Marvin Harrison, Jr. and a dominant D, the Buckeyes have proven to be a top tier team in both the Big Ten and nationally.
OSU will look to continue to get healthy for the stretch run, but they have another tough game this week against a Wisconsin team that might not be winning at their expected rate, but is still a physical team that is a challenge to beat.
Last Week B1G Ranking: 2
Week 9 Opponent: @ Wisconsin at 7:30PM EDT Saturday 10/28/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
3. PENN STATE (6 – 1) AP Ranking – #10
Young, but talented Penn State had a tough day against the Buckeyes this past weekend.
The Nittany Lions are very talented, but they are also young and it showed on Offense where prized QB Drew Allar was totally controlled by the OSU Defense and failed to complete 50% of his passes.
With that being said, the Penn State D looked great except for a couple of drives and each week this team gets more experienced.
They may have lost to OSU, but they have a bounce back game against Indiana this week and if they can run the table the rest of the way, who knows what could happen…
Last Week B1G Ranking: 3
Week 9 Opponent: Indiana at 12:00PM EDT Saturday 10/28/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
4. MARYLAND (5 – 2) AP Ranking – Unranked
Maryland had a Bye Week and was still able to move up a spot in the Big Ten Top 5 Rankings due to Iowa’s loss.
Maryland will look to come off their Bye Week and defeat Northwestern this coming week.
The Terrapins were rolling and then suffered two losses in a row before the Bye Week.
If Maryland can get back on track they can show that they belong in these Rankings for the rest of the year.
Last Week B1G Ranking: 5
Week 9 Opponent: @ Northwestern at 12:00PM EDT Saturday 10/28/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
5. Iowa (6 – 2) AP Ranking – Unranked
The Hawkeyes suffered a heartbreaking loss to Minnesota this past weekend by the score of 12 – 10.
Iowa thought that star CB/PR Cooper DeJean had won the game for them with a last minute punt return for a TouchDown, but a controversial call by the officials called the return back as they said that DeJean had made a motion for a fair catch.
Iowa is on a Bye Week and will look to get back on track and run the table for their last four regular season games.
Last Week B1G Ranking: 4
Week 9 Opponent: Bye Week
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Bye Week
Dropped from Big 10 Top 5 Rankings:
Same Five as Last Week
PAC-12 TOP FIVE
The Pac 12 has really started to shake up the past couple of weeks, but this week almost cost a couple of the top teams another loss.
As the top teams continue to cannibalize each other we will see who is left at the end of the year to compete for the Pac-12 Championship.
1. WASHINGTON (7 – 0) AP Ranking – #5
Washington had their biggest clunker of the year this past week, but still managed to pull out a win against Arizona State by the score of 15 – 7.
Fortunately for Washington, they were tested and were still able to come away with a victory.
They will look to get their powerful Offense back on track this week against a struggling Stanford Cardinal team.
Don’t expect star QB Michael Penix Jr. to struggle two games in a row.
Last Week Pac-12 Ranking: 1
Week 9 Opponent: @ Stanford at 7:00pm EDT Saturday 10/28/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
2. OREGON (6 – 1) AP Ranking – #8
Oregon bounced back from their tough loss to Washington in Week 7 with a quality win by the score of 38 – 24 over Washington State.
QB Bo Nix and RB Bucky Irving led the offense back to their lofty standards by gaining over 500 yards and scoring 38 points over a good Washington State team.
Oregon will look to increase the chance that they make the Pac-12 Championship game and possibly more with a win over Utah this week.
However, wanting to win against Utah, especially in Utah, is easier said than done. This game will give the winner the inside track on second place in the Pac-12.
Last Week Pac-12 Ranking: 2
Week 9 Opponent: @ Utah at 3:30pm EDT Saturday 10/28/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
3. UTAH (6 – 1) AP Ranking – #13
Coach Kyle Whittingham and the Utes are doing it again. They have beat USC four times in a row including this past weekend by the score of 34 – 32.
Every time they are counted out, they bounce back.
Utah declared that star QB Cam Rising is out for the year, but QB Bryson Barnes has really stepped up and had a hand in 4 TDs this past week.
Utah will continue to try to prove that they are a threat to defend their Pac-12 Title when they take on Oregon at home this week.
Last Week Pac-12 Ranking: 5
Week 9 Opponent: Oregon at 3:30PM EDT Saturday 10/28/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Loss
4. OREGON STATE (6 – 1) AP Ranking – #11
The Beavers were able to move up in the Pac-12 Rankings this week due to USC losing to Utah.
USC’s Defense is a weaker unit than either of the units on the well-rounded Oregon State team.
The Beavers will look to continue to climb in the Rankings this week with a road game against an underrated Arizona team.
Oregon State is one of four teams in the Pac-12 that have one loss and are tied for second place in the conference.
Last Week Pac-12 Ranking: 4
Week 9 Opponent: @ Arizona at 10:30PM EDT Saturday 10/28/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
5. USC (6 – 2) AP Ranking – #24
After starting the season 6 – 0, the Trojans have lost their last two games, first to Notre Dame and then this past week to Utah.
The loss to Utah was by the score of 34 – 32 and was particularly hard to take as it was their fourth loss in a row to the Utes.
Fortunately for USC, they still only have one loss in the Conference and are tied for second place. If they can win the rest of their games they could have a spot in the Pac-12 Championship.
The rest of the schedule starts with California this week on the road.
Last Week Pac-12 Ranking: 3
Week 9 Opponent: @ California at 4:00PM EDT Saturday 10/28/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
Dropped from Pac – 12 Top 5 Rankings:
Same 5 as Last Week
BIG 12 TOP FIVE
The Big 12 is a Conference that has basically two tiers this year: Oklahoma and Texas are in Tier 1 and everyone else in is Tier 2.
Teams will need to start cementing their identity if they want a chance for a good Bowl game this year.
1. OKLAHOMA (7 – 0) AP Ranking – #6
Oklahoma had a huge win against Texas in Week 7 and then a Bye Week in Week 8 and almost predictably, they came out flat in their game against a scrappy UCF team before winning 31 – 29.
You kept feeling that Oklahoma would wake up and take control of the game, but UCF hung in there until the final seconds when they failed a 2-pt conversion try that would have sent the game to overtime.
The Sooners need to use this wake up call to refocus for the rest of the season.
They have a game this week against an unpredictable, but talented Kansas Jayhawk team.
Last Week Pac-12 Ranking: 1
Week 9 Opponent: @ Kansas at 12:00pm EDT Saturday 10/28/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
2. TEXAS (6 – 1) AP Ranking – #7
Texas struggled to beat Houston this past week, but hung on to win by the score of 31 – 24 when Houston failed a 4th Down try in the Red Zone in the final minute of the game.
More concerning for the Longhorns is the fact that star QB Quinn Ewers was hurt during the game and didn’t return.
If his injury is serious the Longhorns could have a tough time holding their position in the Big 12 as well as nationally.
Texas will control what they can control by preparing for the rest of their games starting with BYU this coming weekend.
Last Week Pac-12 Ranking: 2
Week 9 Opponent: BYU at 3:30PM EDT Saturday 10/28/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
3. Kansas State (5 – 2) AP Ranking – Unranked
Kansas State is looking like a revitalized team the last two weeks since they started sprinkling in playing time for Freshman phenom QB Avery Johnson.
He has been a perfect complement to experienced QB Will Howard and together the two QBs led Kansas State to a 41 – 3 win over TCU this past weekend.
The Wildcats will look to continue their revitalized ways this weekend against Houston.
If Kansas State can continue to win then their showdown with Texas on November 4th will be for possession of 2nd place in the Big 12.
Last Week Big 12 Ranking: 3
Week 9 Opponent: Houston at 12:00PM EDT Saturday 10/28/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
4. KANSAS (5 – 2) AP Ranking – #Unranked
The Jayhawks had a Bye last week, but are welcomed back to the playing field this week with a tough game against Oklahoma.
With a win the Jayhawks would change the race for 1st place in the Big 12, but it is a tall task to beat the undefeated Sooners.
If star QB Jalon Daniels is able to play in the game then it will improve the chances for the Jayhawks.
Last Week Pac-12 Ranking: 3
Week 9 Opponent: Oklahoma at 12:00PM EDT Saturday 10/28/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Loss
5. Oklahoma State (5 – 2) AP Ranking – Unranked
I should have never counted out Coach Mike Gundy and the Cowboys.
In their third game of the year they were crushed by South Alabama then lost to Iowa State and looked like a bottom feeder team, but since that point they have three straight wins against Big 12 opponents.
Behind experienced transfer QB Alan Bowman and star Sophomore RB Ollie Gordon II, the Cowboys are putting points on the board and making it difficult for any opponent to stop them.
This week they are at home to take on Cincinnati in another winnable game for them.
Last Week Pac-12 Ranking: Unranked
Week 9 Opponent: Cincinnati at 8:00PM EDT Thursday 10/12/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
Dropped from Big 12 Top 5 Rankings:
West Virginia (4 – 3) AP Ranking – Unranked
Coach Neal Brown has led the Mountaineers to a better than expected record, but they have unfortunately dropped their last two games.
To get back into the Big 12 Top 5 Rankings, West Virginia will need to string together at least a couple of wins.
Last Week Pac-12 Ranking: 5
ACC TOP FIVE
The ACC went from a stable conference over the last ten years where we knew Clemson would be at or near the top of the Conference, to a seeming free-for-all behind undefeated Florida State.
The Seminoles themselves were tested this past week, but pulled out the victory and stake claim as the only undefeated team in the Conference.
1. FLORIDA STATE (7 – 0) AP Ranking – #4
The Seminoles had a tough game against a good Duke team and were not able to pull away until Duke QB Riley Leonard was injured again.
Fortunately for FSU, they continued to show what they are made of when they are tested and they went on to win by the score of 38 – 20.
FSU is now the only undefeated team in the ACC and are on a path for the College Football Playoffs, but they will need to stay focused and motivated.
This week they have a winnable game that they cannot overlook against Wake Forest.
Last Week ACC Ranking: 1
Week 9 Opponent: @ Wake Forest at 12:00PM EDT Saturday 10/28/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
2. NORTH CAROLINA (6 – 1) AP Ranking – #17
The Tar Heels will be kicking themselves for giving away a game they should have won against a one win Virginia team this past weekend when they lost by the score of 31 – 27.
North Carolina has star QB Drake Maye leading the way, but they need more consistency on Offense and on Defense if they hope to challenge for the ACC Championship.
If NC wants to seriously contend for the ACC Championship then they will need to get refocused and win their game against Georgia Tech this weekend.
Last Week ACC Ranking: 2
Week 9 Opponent: @ Georgia Tech at 8:00PM EDT Saturday 10/28/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
3. DUKE (5 – 2) AP Ranking – #20
The Blue Devils suffered a tough loss to Florida State this past weekend and star QB Riley Leonard was reinjured.
However, Duke once again showed the world that they are a good team that cannot be overlooked.
If QB Riley Leonard, who wanted to return to the game against FSU, is able to get healthy then Duke could make a run for the ACC Championship game.
First they need to get ready for their showdown this week against fellow ranked ACC team Louisville.
Last Week ACC Ranking: 3
Week 9 Opponent: @ Louisivlle at 3:30PM EDT Saturday 10/28/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
4. LOUISVILLE CARDINALS (6 – 1) AP Ranking – #18
The Cardinals are coming off their Bye Week and are looking to get back on a winning streak, but it won’t be easy against a tough Duke team.
Coach Jeff Brohm has really turned the Cardinals around in his first year at his Alma Mater and will look to continue to fight for a shot in the ACC Championship game.
If Louisville can defeat Duke, that may be the toughest game left on their schedule.
Last Week ACC Ranking: 4
Week 9 Opponent: Duke at 3:30PM EDT Saturday 10/28/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Loss
5. Miami (5 – 2) AP Ranking – Unranked
The Hurricanes bounced back from the dead with an important 28 – 20 win over the King of the ACC in Clemson.
Clemson might not be themselves this year, but they are still a good win and it set Miami up to make a run for a spot in the national top 25 if they can win at least four of their last five games.
This week they face a Virginia team that just shocked North Carolina last week.
Last Week ACC Ranking: Unranked
Week 9 Opponent: Virginia at 3:30PM EDT Saturday 10/28/23
Rivalry Sports Prediction: Win
Dropped from Big 12 Top 5 Rankings:
CLEMSON (4 – 3) AP Ranking – Unranked
Clemson seems off this year. They are making mistakes that this championship program doesn’t make and the Offensive Line has failed to uphold the standards of previous Clemson teams.
If Clemson doesn’t turn it around quickly then they can forget about a good Bowl game this year.
NOTABLE Week 9 GAMES
The season just continues to provide us with games to look forward to. There are lots of good games on the schedule for Week 9, and some of the most exciting games for Week 9 are listed below:
- #8 Oregon @ #13 Utah – This game features two heavyweights in the Pac-12 that are two of four teams tied for second place in the Conference. The winner gets a leg up on the competition while the loser will most likely be out of the race for the Pac-12 Championship Game.
- #18 Louisville @ #20 Duke – Another game with two ranked teams that are tied for second place in their conference. Much like the Oregon vs Utah game, the winner is that much closer to the Conference Championship game while the loser falls behind in the Conference.
- #21 Tennessee @ Kentucky – This is a border war game with both teams fighting for 2nd place in the SEC East.
- #1 Georgia @ Florida – This rivalry game is known as “The World’s Largest Cocktail Party” and even though Georgia is favored, this will be no easy win, especially without Brock Bowers.
- #14 Notre Dame @ Pitt – These two teams don’t like each other and it always shows in this rivalry game.
Rivalry Sports Lock Pick of the Week – Penn State over Indiana 38 – 10
Rivalry Sports Underdog Pick of the Week – #20 Duke over # 18 Louisville
Check back in for updated Top 5 Rankings next week!
WEEK 8 PICKS REVIEWED
| Week 8 Pick Results | Record |
| SEC | 4 – 0 |
| B1G (Big Ten) | 3 – 1 |
| Pac – 12 | 2 – 2 |
| Big – 12 | 3 – 1 |
| ACC | 2 – 2 |
| Total | 14 – 6 |
WEEK 8 GAME PICK Results
| GAME | RIVALRY SPORTS PICK – Dustin Kirby | GUEST PICKER PICK – Brandon Kirby | WINNER |
| Tennessee @ Alabama | Alabama | Tennessee | Alabama |
| Ole Miss @ Auburn | Ole Miss | Ole Miss | Ole Miss |
| Army @ LSU | LSU | LSU | LSU |
| Michigan @ Michigan State | Michigan | Michigan | Michigan |
| Penn State @ Ohio State | Ohio State | Ohio State | Ohio State |
| Minnesota @ Iowa | Iowa | Minnesota | Minnesota |
| Arizona State @ Washington | Washington | Washington | Washington |
| Washington State @ Oregon | Oregon | Oregon | Oregon |
| Utah @ USC | USC | USC | Utah |
| UCF @ Oklahoma | Oklahoma | Oklahoma | Oklahoma |
| Texas @ Houston | Texas | Texas | Texas |
| TCU @ Kansas State | Kansas State | Kansas State | Kansas State |
| Oklahoma State @ West Virginia | West Virginia | West Virginia | Oklahoma State |
| Duke @ Florida State | Florida State | Duke | Florida State |
| Virginia @ North Carolina | North Carolina | North Carolina | Virginia |
| Clemson @ Miami | Clemson | Miami | Miami |
| WINS PER PICKER | 11 | 11 | 16 |
Week 9 Game Picks
| Game | Rivalry Sports Pick – Dustin Kirby | Guest Picker – Nolan Kirby | Winner |
| Georgia @ Florida | Georgia | Georgia | |
| Vanderbilt @ Ole Miss | Ole Miss | Ole Miss | |
| Tennessee @ Kentucky | Tennessee | Kentucky | |
| Ohio State @ Wisconsin | Ohio State | Ohio State | |
| Indiana @ Penn State | Penn State | Penn State | |
| Maryland @ Northwestern | Maryland | Maryland | |
| Washington @ Stanford | Washington | Washington | |
| Oregon @ Utah | Oregon | Oregon | |
| Oregon State @ Arizona | Oregon State | Oregon State | |
| USC @ California | USC | USC | |
| Oklahoma @ Kansas | Oklahoma | Oklahoma | |
| BYU @ Texas | Texas | Texas | |
| Houston @ Kansas State | Kansas State | Kansas State | |
| Cincinnati @ Oklahoma State | Oklahoma State | Oklahoma State | |
| Florida State @ Wake Forest | Florida State | Florida State | |
| North Carolina @ Georgia Tech | North Carolina | North Carolina | |
| Duke @ Louisville | Duke | Duke | |
| Virginia @ Miami | Miami | Miami | |
| WINS PER PICKER | 18 |
