College Football DFS: Saturday Night Week 8 Picks and Predictions for DraftKings and FanDuel

Hooray!  Our DraftKings and FanDuel slates are identical for Saturday night, so we'll be able to offer our favorite DFS selections for the eight-game offering in one fell swoop. Let's get to it!

College Football DFS Saturday Night Week 8 Slate Overview

Although the USC/ND game has the highest total right now, impending weather will likely drive this number down before kickoff, and it's looking increasingly likely that it could be a very wet and windy day in South Bend. It's important to keep that possibility in mind when attacking this slate. I've faded Missouri, Utah, Auburn, Syracuse, UCLA, Kentucky, Texas, Iowa, Tennessee and Penn State tonight, which leaves a broad swath of players I've excluded. It's more than I usually omit, but it's what the numbers dictate. If I had to cull from one of these teams, I would probably opt for Tennessee and Texas, so feel free to find your favorites for those teams if you'd like.

WEATHER REPORT

PSU/IOWA - 60 percent chance of rain

TEX/KY - 50 percent chance of rain

USC/ND - 90 percent chance of rain, winds gusting to 20 m.p.h.

Top CFB DFS Week 8 Saturday Night Picks for DraftKings and FanDuel

Quarterback

Ty Simpson, Alabama (DK $8,700, FD $10,800) vs.Tennessee

Although Simpson's salaries are a little higher than I'd like, I favor Simpson's floor over the potential volatility that's out there. The home advantage will be pivotal here, and it will be difficult for Joey Aguilar to adjust his pre-snap reads in a noisy environment. I expect a good dose of three-and-outs from Alabama's defense, thus maximizing Simpson's production opportunities.

Mason Heintschel, Pittsburgh (DK $9,100, FD $9,800) @ Syracuse

Syracuse's defense is poor in almost every defensive category and is arguably the worst defense in the conference. Their pass rush is almost non-existent, with just six sacks over five games. Every offense they've faced has had no trouble moving the ball, so I really like Heintschel in this spot, especially on FanDuel, where he's at a slight discount. It's very unlikely that Eli Holstein will take over his starting gig, but it's always good to check in before kickoff to make sure.

Also consider: Malik Washington, Maryland (DK $7,300, FD $8,800) @ UCLA 

Running Back

Jeremiyah Love, Notre Dame (DK $9,000, FD $12,200) vs. USC

Don't worry about spending up in this spot - it will be well worth it. The poor weather could turn this game into an ugly slugfest on the ground, and the Irish are much better prepared for that environment. If you need cap relief, you still need to get involved here, so I would also suggest looking at Jadarian Price (DK $5,400, FD $8,900), who will also get plenty of touches.

Jam Miller, Alabama (DK $8,600, FD $9,300) vs. Tennessee

I really hoped for lower salaries from Miller, considering his absence, but it looks like he's ready to go and is a worthwhile add if you can afford him. Tennessee's run defense is probably one of the bottom-three units on this slate, and they surrender a lot of yards for an elite SEC program. Simpson's elite running ability, paired with Miller's, will represent a one-two punch that will keep the Vols on their heels.

Pittsburgh INJURY ALERT: Desmond Reid (DK $6,600, FD $10,100) vs. Syracuse

This is a spot to monitor against an abysmal Syracuse defense. Even if Reid suits up, the team might elect to give him a rest against a weaker opponent, in which case Ja'Kyrian Turner (DK $4,100, FD $7,300) becomes your guy. You'll have a 30-minute buffer after the slate begins to make a more educated call in this spot.

Also consider: LJ Martin, BYU (DK $8,000, FD $9,500) vs. Utah

Wide Receiver

I have no problem aiming a little lower at this position, and it's really the only way to go given the atmosphere at other positions. Based on what we've done up to this point, we want to target wideouts below $6,000 on DraftKings and below $8,000 on FanDuel.

Germie Bernard, Alabama (DK $5,900, FD $8,900) vs. Tennessee

Simpson has a lot of offensive options available to him, but I'm inclined to take Bernard despite the obvious upside of less expensive options like Isaiah Horton or Josh Cuevas. Ryan Williams has been a big disappointment in recent weeks, so Bernard makes the most sense as the stable target among those options.

Parker Kingston, BYU (DK $5,300, FD $7,700) vs. Utah

While Chase Roberts makes some sense, Kingston's been the top guy lately, and since both of them are pried similarly, I will take the hot hand from the offensive method that will likely be most successful for the Cougars in this intrastate matchup. Utah is hard to run against, but LJ Martin should do well enough to open up the passing lanes for Bear Bacjmeier to inflict some damage. Kingston should get more than his share of targets.

Jordan Faison, Notre Dame (DK $4,800, FD $7,800) vs. USC

We're going to talk a bit more about this game in a moment, but if the weather clears a bit, you'll see a lot of targets going Faison's way via CJ Carr's arm. There are other plays in the offense, but Faison is right in that sweet spot we discussed earlier, and there's value beyond the run game with this team.

S-Flex Considerations

Although I typically endorse a dual-quarterback approach, there are some other options to consider, especially given the unique scenario we encounter tonight. If the weather report approaching kickoff indicates a clearer day in South Bend, the S-FLEX is a place where I'd use USC and Notre Dame a bit more liberally. A perfect example is Makai Lemon (DK $7,400, FD $10,800). It's an easier swap on DraftKings, but he's hard to pass up if the weather improves. You could also stay with a quarterback, but sprinkle in Jayden Maiava (DK $8,500, FD $10,700) or CJ Carr (DK $8,300, $9,500) with more frequency. This approach requires a bit more vigilance on your part as kickoff approaches, but it could reap huge benefits.