Week eight of the college football season is here and that means there are some stellar matchups on tap in both the Sun Belt and Conference USA to kick off the week. On Tuesday, Troy travels to South Alabama for a showdown with the Jaguars. Reigning back-to-back Sun Belt Champions, Troy has had a dismal season so far with a rebuilding roster under head coach Gerad Parker. At 1-5, they are facing an uphill battle against South Alabama who also is having a down year at 2-4, but are 1-1 in conference play to date. Meanwhile, in Conference USA action that same day, Louisiana Tech squares off against New Mexico State in Las Cruces as both squads are looking to turn their years around as well. The Bulldogs enter this game at 2-3, while NMSU sits at 1-5.
For this report, SBS will be going over what to look for from each of these teams, a predicted winner in both matchups, and also some more notes about college football betting.
| NCAA Football Week Eight Games | The Pick |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Troy at South Alabama | South Alabama ML | -441 | -441 | -441 |
| Louisana Tech at New Mexico State | La Tech ML | -430 | -430 | -430 |
Team Spotlight: Troy Trojans
Coming into this game, Troy had moderate expectations this season under coach Parker, but this has turned out to be a rebuilding year for the normally powerful Trojans. Indeed, with a record of 1-5, Troy is looking for some more bright spots in the 2024 campaign. They have had some near-misses to date (a two-point loss to Nevada at home and also a four-point defeat to UL Monroe), but this has been a tough campaign. During the course of this season, they have used different quarterbacks, with Goose Crowder being their main stats leader. However, the uncertainty in that position could be a big issue for the Trojans.
Team Spotlight: South Alabama Jaguars
Entering this contest, the Jaguars are coming off a nail-biting loss to Arkansas State on the road, 18-16. Regardless, they are sitting at 1-1 in conference play and could be poised for some momentum coming back to home and against the vulnerable Trojans. Quarterback Gio Lopez has been excellent this season with 1,308 yards through the air, 12 touchdowns, and just one interception to date. His main target has been wide receiver Jamaal Pritchett who has reeled 36 receptions to date along with 532 yards and six receiving scores. While they were demolished by LSU at the end of September, the Jaguars have been more steady against foes that are on their level.
This game definitely favors South Alabama, the Jaguars are capable of making a run at similar Sun Belt foes and are also due for a home victory.
Team Spotlight: Louisiana Tech Bulldogs
Similar to South Alabama, the Bulldogs sit at 2-3 overall, with a record of 1-1 in conference play to date. Quarterback Evan Bullock is the main centerpiece of the offense and has had some solid outings to date and paces the Bulldogs with six scores and 557 passing yards. La. Tech is also coming off an emphatic win at Middle Tennessee, 48-21. In that game, the Bulldogs blistered the Blue Raiders and never looked back. Bullock was masterful, throwing for 290 yards along with five touchdown scores. As a freshman, this could be a great chance to string together some back-to-back wins for Louisiana Tech.
Team Spotlight: New Mexico State Aggies
Opposing the Bulldogs this Tuesday evening is New Mexico State and 2024 has already been a season to forget for the Aggies. NMSU is coming off a 54-13 thrashing defeat to Jacksonville State. This season, the Aggies have benefited from the services of running back Seth McGowan who has been great for them this season. With 392 rushing yards and two scores, he is one to watch out for NMSU. Also, sitting at 1-5, this could be a solid “get right” game for the Aggies as they make a stand at Las Cruces.
Another game with two squads at a crossroads, take the Bulldogs to score the victory here on the road. The Aggies have looked in disarray this year and La. Tech still has a chance for a bowl berth with a win here.
Once you are all dialed in regarding the latest gaming news coming from the world of college football, make sure to definitely check out the excellent array of information at SBS. Of course, for even more information as it pertains to the sport covered here, make sure to check out the college football betting sites guide where you can find all of the latest betting markets in the sport and beyond. Additionally, if you are interested in maximizing your wagers, look no further than the best bonus betting sites breakdown. Here you can find a catalog of the latest and greatest welcome bonus offers to charge up your wagers. Finally, if you are interested in some higher-stakes wagering, look no further than the VIP sports betting sites rundown which goes over the perks of VIP betting and if it potentially makes sense for you.
About the Author
Chris Boline is a Reno-based business development professional and freelance sports writer with over a decade of experience covering the NBA G League, Los Angeles Chargers, and national football and basketball. His expertise spans the NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and motorsports, along with topical news, marketing, and promotional content. A proud University of Nevada graduate, Chris earned both his BS in Management & Economics (2015) and MBA (2023). He is active in the Reno community, serving on boards such as the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET, and the College of Business Alumni Association, where he was past president (2022–23). Notable honors include: - Two-time University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year honoree (2017, 2021) - 2021 NCET Professional Services Organization of the Year (with TAC) - 2016–17 Reno Bighorns MVP, awarded by the Sacramento Kings - Nevada Press Association Award for Best Sports Column (2015) - Former Editor-in-Chief of The Nevada Sagebrush Chris blends his passion for sports with a strong background in sales, marketing, and community engagement.
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