Week 8 picks, preview: Michigan looks to bounce back, reeling MSU gets no reprieve vs. Indiana
One Mitten team is off, one plays host, and three are on the road for a Week 8 that will shape the second half of the season.
Another four-pack of games for the Mitten this weekend, as Western Michigan gets a week off after reeling off four-straight wins.
Elsewhere, Michigan hosts a dangerous Washington team, Michigan State visits Indiana to play for the Old Brass Spittoon, and Central Michigan and Eastern Michigan are on the road to play Bowling Green and Miami (OH), respectively.
Picks went 2-2 last week and are 20-9 on the year.
Michigan vs. Washington, noon, FOX/FOX Streaming
Jedd Fisch makes his return to Ann Arbor as a head coach, bringing along a stout Washington team led by dual-threat dynamo Demond Williams Jr. at quarterback. Williams has been one of the most accurate and effective passers in the country while adding oodles of rushing upside. Flanking him in the backfield is Jonah Coleman, a runaway train of a tailback who leads the country in total touchdowns with 12. Receiver Denzel Boston is the chief recipient of Williams’ passes, with 30 catches for 444 yards and six touchdowns. And the Huskies boast one of the better run defenses in the country, allowing just 82.8 yards per game.
This team is the real deal at 5-1, posing a similar defensive challenge as Wisconsin did for the Wolverines, paired with an offense that can march it up and down the field led by Williams. So far, only Ohio State’s defense of Monstars has succeeded in stopping the Huskies. And while Michigan certainly has the tools to cause Williams problems, he’ll still get his. It’s potentially another weekend where the Wolverines, trailing late, need Bryce Underwood’s arm to pull out a win. There’s every chance this week presents a breakthrough in that department, but the ingredients for a Husky win are all in line, and Williams has been cooking.
The pick: Washington 27, Michigan 20
Central Michigan at Bowling Green, noon, ESPN+ streaming
Bowling Green has been surging of late under first-year head coach Eddie George. And with quarterback Lucian Anderson III stepping in for his first start last Saturday for an injured Drew Pyne, the Falcons pulled off a massive rivalry win in a comeback against Toledo. And the Falcons will try to get after Central Michigan in many of the ways the Chippewas want to go at their opponents: A strong run game with several capable ball carriers and a defense that flies around.
The last time Central Michigan took the field, it started sluggish and couldn’t overcome a deficit against Akron as it attempted to come back. After a week off with some rest and resetting mentally, the Chippewas are hoping for a hotter start in order to play from ahead and get a key win to move up the ladder and finish closer to the top of the MAC standings, as both CMU and BGSU at 1-1 in conference so far. Saturday’s contest will be close, but a Central Michigan team that doesn’t sleep walk to start gets the job done.
The pick: Central Michigan 23, Bowling Green 18
Eastern Michigan at Miami (OH), noon, ESPN+ streaming
Miami (OH) is currently undefeated in conference play, and looks like a potential contender for the MAC title. But as Eagles head coach Chris Creighton has repeatedly said, every week in the MAC, anyone can beat anyone. And the Eagles have fined tuned a recipe to win in recent weeks as the defense has shaped up and the offense clicks along. Quarterback Noah Kim is the most prolific passer in the conference and Dontae McMillan is one of the most effective backs. Getting wideout Terry Lockett Jr. back from injury could be a boon.
The big challenge for Eastern Michigan in this game is slowing the Redhawks offense led by Dequan Finn, who previously starred at Toledo before making a stop at Baylor. Finn is a dynamic dual threat and can punish a defense on any play. Finn is 4-1 against Eastern Michigan in his career, and if the Eagles want to make it 4-2, slowing him down is the first step. Eastern Michigan keeps it close, as it has all year, but can’t get over the hump.
The pick: Miami (OH) 28, Eastern Michigan 24
Michigan State at Indiana, 3:30 p.m., Peacock streaming
The Hoosiers came to East Lansing last season and blasted the Spartans after an early deficit. And Curt Cignetti’s 2025 squad is appearing to be even better. Led by transfer quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the offense is even more expansive than it was a year ago and the defense, with veterans of Cignetti’s program from JMU still dotting the field, has been a nightmare for opposing offenses, particularly up front.
And that has all the makings of disaster for the Spartans, with a banged up offensive line that has struggled to provide a playable level to the offense. Compounding the problem is Aidan Chiles’ health status. The quarterback’s status for Saturday remains unknown, and head coach Jonathan Smith said it wouldn’t be until later in the week until a decision was made. If Chiles can’t go, the Spartans will turn to Alessio Milivojevic under center. Either way, the Spartans just don’t seem to have the horses to run this race.
The pick: Indiana 48, Michigan State 16
