College football Week 8 schedule: 4 sneaky good games of the week

The college football Week 8 schedule features some big games that get all the attention, but these four under-the-radar games could be the most entertaining.

College football continues this week, with the Big Ten rejoining the fray after its reversal of an August decision to cancel the season. While fans will likely be eager to tune into the conference’s kickoff week, there are plenty of other games on the slate that should provide plenty of entertainment value, even if they fly under the radar.

Georgia Southern at No. 25 Coastal Carolina (-5.5)

Coastal Carolina has been impressive this season, starting 4-0 and breaking into the rankings after an impressive last-second win over Louisiana. However, a 3-1 Georgia Southern team presents a stiff test for the Chanticleers as each vies for Sun Belt superiority.

Look for contrasting styles here, with Grayson McCall and Coastal Carolina looking to air it out while J.D. King and the Eagles rely on the ground attack. The Chanticleers should come away with the win, but do not be surprised if Georgia Southern makes them earn it.

Auburn at Ole Miss (+3)

Auburn has been one of the nation’s biggest disappointments this season, dropping out of the rankings completely after an embarrassing loss to South Carolina last week. The reeling Tigers now need to make up ground in the SEC, and Ole Miss will give them an opportunity to do so. The Rebels have stumbled out to a 1-3 start, and another loss threatens to sink them completely.

Tigers quarterback Bo Nix needs to step up, or Gus Malzahn may need to start considering a change under center. The sophomore quarterback has been underwhelming, to say the least, and if he cannot pick on a Rebels team which figures to end up near the bottom of the conference, he may not be the answer to Auburn’s problems.

No. 8 Penn State at Indiana (+6)

Penn State likely presents the stiffest test to Ohio State in the Big Ten this year, and with a home date with the Buckeyes just a week away, Saturday’s game against Indiana is the only chance for a quick tune-up. The Hoosiers, fresh off of an 8-5 finish in 2019, will be looking to play spoiler, and the Nittany Lions must make sure that they do not look past a solid opponent.

Sean Clifford figures to lead the way for the Nittany Lions once again in 2020, but the defense will miss top NFL prospect Micah Parsons, who opted out of the season. And the offense will miss running back Journey Brown who is out for the year with a medical condition. The Hoosiers, meanwhile, will trot out Michael Penix Jr. at quarterback. The redshirt sophomore made four starts in 2019, and should have enough of a grasp on the offense to give Penn State trouble.

No. 9 Cincinnati at No. 16 SMU (-2.5)

In a matchup between arguably the AAC’s two best teams, Cincinnati and SMU will vie for conference supremacy on Saturday night. While the Bearcats have the benefit of three weeks’ rest, the Mustangs narrowly survived a close call against Tulane last Friday. Both teams will likely be on a mission to prove that they can hang with their Power Five peers.

Expect Shane Buechele to sling the ball around the field for the Mustangs as he continues to play his way into the Heisman conversation as one of the nation’s top passers. The Bearcats, meanwhile, will lean on a strong defensive unit currently ranked 12th in the nation in total defense.

For more NCAA football news, analysis, opinion and unique coverage by FanSided, including Heisman Trophy and College Football Playoff rankings, be sure to bookmark these pages.