2026 FCS Picks: Week 8

The NC Central Eagles and Delaware State Hornets kick off Week 8 of the FCS schedule on Friday as they meet in a MEAC matchup at Alumni Stadium. This is the conference opener for both teams. Under second-year head coach DeSean Jackson, the Hornets (4-3) enter conference play with a winning record and a perfect 4-0 home record this season. The Eagles (2-5) are looking to snap a four-game losing streak. NCCU has struggled defensively during this stretch, giving up 38 or more points in three of those four defeats.

NC CENTRAL AT DELAWARE STATE ODDS, GAME TIME

• Game Date: Friday, October 23, 2026
• Game Time: 7:00 PM ET
• Location: Dover, DE
• Stadium: Alumni Stadium
• Favorite: Delaware State Hornets
• Underdog: NC Central Eagles
• Over/under: 55.5
• Point Spread: Delaware State (-5.5)

HOW TO WATCH NC CENTRAL AT DELAWARE STATE

• TV/Streaming: ESPN2

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR NC CENTRAL AT DELAWARE STATE

Dunkel Ratings: NC Central 35.522; Delaware State 46.558
Dunkel Line & Total: Delaware State by 11; 51
Vegas Line & Total: Delaware State by 5 1/2; 55 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Delaware State (-5 1/2); Under

Below are all of the Dunkel Index picks for Week 8 of the FCS schedule:

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR YALE AT PENN

Date: Friday, October 23
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Yale 59.537; Penn 46.018
Dunkel Line & Total: Yale by 13 1/2; 45
Vegas Line & Total: Yale by 4 1/2; 49 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Yale (-4 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR WAGNER AT DUQUESNE

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Wagner 34.268; Duquesne 43.923
Dunkel Line & Total: Duquesne by 9 1/2; 49
Vegas Line & Total: Duquesne by 14 1/2; 46 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Wagner (+14 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR ALBANY AT RHODE ISLAND

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Albany 56.298; Rhode Island 63.262
Dunkel Line & Total: Rhode Island by 7; 41
Vegas Line & Total: Rhode Island by 3 1/2; 44 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Rhode Island (-3 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR NEW HAMPSHIRE AT MERRIMACK

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: New Hampshire 43.722; Merrimack 40.672
Dunkel Line & Total: New Hamsphire by 3; 53
Vegas Line & Total: Merrimack by 1 1/2; 46 1/2
Dunkel Pick: New Hampshire (+1 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR STONEHILL AT LIU

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Stonehill 39.599; LIU 48.034
Dunkel Line & Total: LIU by 8 1/2; 34
Vegas Line & Total: LIU by 2 1/2; 38 1/2
Dunkel Pick: LIU (-2 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR ST. THOMAS AT MARIST

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: St. Thomas 43.538; Marist 45.113
Dunkel Line & Total: Marist by 1 1/2; 63
Vegas Line & Total: St. Thomas by 3 1/2; 52 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Marist (+3 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR NEW HAVEN AT CENTRAL CONNECTICUT STATE

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: New Haven 43.584; Central Connecticut State 50.069
Dunkel Line & Total: Central Connecticut State by 6 1/2; 48
Vegas Line & Total: Central Connecticut State by 14 1/2; 55 1/2
Dunkel Pick: New Haven (+14 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR CORNELL AT BROWN

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Cornell 47.531; Brown 54.996
Dunkel Line & Total: Brown by 7 1/2; 49
Vegas Line & Total: Brown by 1 1/2; 44 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Brown (-1 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR SAN DIEGO AT DAYTON

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 12:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: San Diego 42.459; Dayton 50.517
Dunkel Line & Total: Dayton by 8; 62
Vegas Line & Total: Dayton by 4 1/2; 56 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Dayton (-4 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR JACKSON STATE AT BETHUNE COOKMAN

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Jackson State 46.380; Bethune Cookman 42.832
Dunkel Line & Total: Jackson State by 3 1/2; 45
Vegas Line & Total: Jackson State by 9 1/2; 50 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Bethune Cookman (+9 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR BUTLER AT DRAKE

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Butler 41.020; Drake 42.546
Dunkel Line & Total: Drake by 1 1/2; 59
Vegas Line & Total: Butler by 2 1/2; 54 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Drake (+2 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR BUCKNELL AT HOLY CROSS

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Bucknell 41.708; Holy Cross 45.762
Dunkel Line & Total: Holy Cross by 4; 42
Vegas Line & Total: Holy Cross by 7 1/2; 46 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Bucknell (+7 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR CAMPBELL AT MAINE

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Campbell 52.366; Maine 45.231
Dunkel Line & Total: Campbell by 7; 49
Vegas Line & Total: Campbell by 10 1/2; 53 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Maine (+10 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR LAFAYETTE AT FORDHAM

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Lafayette 49.979; Fordham 42.359
Dunkel Line & Total: Lafayette by 7 1/2; 59
Vegas Line & Total: Lafayette by 2 1/2; 49 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Lafayette (-2 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR PRESBYTERIAN AT VALPARAISO

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 1:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Presbyterian 48.949; Valparaiso 24.906
Dunkel Line & Total: Presbyterian by 24; 62
Vegas Line & Total: Presbyterian by 1 1/2; 58 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Presbyterian (-1 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR NORFOLK STATE AT SOUTH CAROLINA STATE

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 1:30 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Norfolk State 34.947; South Carolina State 56.450
Dunkel Line & Total: South Carolina State by 21 1/2; 53
Vegas Line & Total: South Carolina State by 16 1/2; 56 1/2
Dunkel Pick: South Carolina State (-16 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR DARTMOUTH AT COLUMBIA

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 1:30 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Dartmouth 51.231; Columbia 52.886
Dunkel Line & Total: Columbia by 1 1/2; 49
Vegas Line & Total: Dartmouth by 2 1/2; 44 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Columbia (+2 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR EAST TENNESSEE STATE AT VMI

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 1:30 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: East Tennessee State 56.834; VMI 27.800
Dunkel Line & Total: East Tennessee State by 29; 63
Vegas Line & Total: East Tennessee State by 32 1/2; 59 1/2
Dunkel Pick: VMI (+32 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR STETSON AT MOREHEAD STATE

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Stetson 14.958; Morehead State 23.085
Dunkel Line & Total: Morehead State by 8; 68
Vegas Line & Total: Morehead State by 2 1/2; 62 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Morehead State (-2 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR SAMFORD AT FURMAN

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Samford 41.215; Furman 55.415
Dunkel Line & Total: Furman by 14; 54
Vegas Line & Total: Furman by 10 1/2; 46 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Furman (-10 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR TARLETON STATE AT WEST GEORGIA

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Tarleton State 71.298; West Georgia 43.285
Dunkel Line & Total: Tarleton State by 28; 62
Vegas Line & Total: Tarleton State by 24 1/2; 58 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Tarleton State (-24 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR NORTHERN IOWA AT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Northern Iowa 66.682; Southern Illinois 60.853
Dunkel Line & Total: Northern Iowa by 6; 48
Vegas Line & Total: Southern Illinois by 3 1/2; 51 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Northern Iowa (+3 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR MONMOUTH AT HAMPTON

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Monmouth 47.421; Hampton 36.404
Dunkel Line & Total: Monmouth by 11; 63
Vegas Line & Total: Monmouth by 27 1/2; 58 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Hampton (+27 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR TENNESSEE TECH AT THE CITADEL

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Tennessee Tech 58.233; The Citadel 50.054
Dunkel Line & Total: Tennessee Tech by 8; 44
Vegas Line & Total: Tennessee Tech by 20 1/2; 51 1/2
Dunkel Pick: The Citadel (+20 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR STONY BROOK AT BRYANT

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Stony Brook 47.942; Bryant 49.312
Dunkel Line & Total: Bryant by 1 1/2; 43
Vegas Line & Total: Stony Brook by 3 1/2; 49 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Bryant (+3 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR COLGATE AT RICHMOND

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Colgate 45.108; Richmond 52.096
Dunkel Line & Total: Richmond by 7; 41
Vegas Line & Total: Richmond by 3 1/2; 44 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Richmond (-3 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR MERCYHURST AT ROBERT MORRIS

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Mercyhurst 39.293; Robert Morris 38.280
Dunkel Line & Total: Mercyhurst by 1; 59
Vegas Line & Total: Robert Morris by 6 1/2; 49 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Mercyhurst (+6 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR NORTH DAKOTA AT SOUTH DAKOTA

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 2:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: North Dakota 66.944; South Dakota 76.367
Dunkel Line & Total: South Dakota by 9 1/2; 65
Vegas Line & Total: South Dakota by 3 1/2; 56 1/2
Dunkel Pick: South Dakota (-3 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR CHATTANOOGA AT WESTERN CAROLINA

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 2:30 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Chattanooga 56.953; Western Carolina 55.319
Dunkel Line & Total: Chattanooga by 1 1/2; 43
Vegas Line & Total: Western Carolina by 2 1/2; 51 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Chattanooga (+2 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR HOWARD AT MORGAN STATE

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Howard 39.477; Morgan State 50.340
Dunkel Line & Total: Morgan State by 11; 51
Vegas Line & Total: Morgan State by 7 1/2; 48 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Morgan State (-7 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR NICHOLLS STATE AT NORTHWESTERN STATE

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Nicholls State 36.983; Northwestern State 22.452
Dunkel Line & Total: Nicholls State by 14 1/2; 46
Vegas Line & Total: Nicholls State by 10 1/2; 54 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Nicholls State (-10 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR WEBER STATE AT MONTANA STATE

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Weber State 53.325; Montana State 83.322
Dunkel Line & Total: Montana State by 30; 72
Vegas Line & Total: Montana State by 26 1/2; 67 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Montana State (-26 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR SE MISSOURI STATE AT EASTERN ILLINOIS

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: SE Missouri State 57.550; Eastern Illinois 43.426
Dunkel Line & Total: SE Missouri State by 14; 58
Vegas Line & Total: SE Missouri State by 7 1/2; 55 1/2
Dunkel Pick: SE Missouri State (-7 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR PRINCETON AT HARVARD

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Princeton 57.473; Harvard 62.697
Dunkel Line & Total: Harvard by 5; 29
Vegas Line & Total: Harvard by 10 1/2; 38 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Princeton (+10 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR INDIANA STATE AT ILLINOIS STATE

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Indiana State 52.594; Illinois State 69.619
Dunkel Line & Total: Illinois State by 17; 61
Vegas Line & Total: Illinois State by 20 1/2; 57 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Indiana State (+20 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR AR-PINE BLUFF AT FLORIDA A&M

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: AR-Pine Bluff 40.175; Florida A&M 37.261
Dunkel Line & Total: AR-Pine Bluff by 3; 51
Vegas Line & Total: Florida A&M by 2 1/2; 56 1/2
Dunkel Pick: AR-Pine Bluff (+2 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR SOUTHERN AT TEXAS SOUTHERN

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Southern 32.690; Texas Southern 35.612
Dunkel Line & Total: Texas Southern by 3; 61
Vegas Line & Total: Southern by 1 1/2; 57 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Texas Southern (+1 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR CHICAGO STATE AT LINDENWOOD

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Chicago State 26.074; Lindenwood 45.572
Dunkel Line & Total: Lindenwood by 19 1/2; 43
Vegas Line & Total: Lindenwood by 23 1/2; 52 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Chicago State (+23 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR WEST FLORIDA AT EASTERN KENTUCKY

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: West Florida 56.060; Eastern Kentucky 45.952
Dunkel Line & Total: West Florida by 10; 50
Vegas Line & Total: West Florida by 1 1/2; 46 1/2
Dunkel Pick: West Florida (-1 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR MURRAY STATE AT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 3:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Murray State 32.445; South Dakota State 76.943
Dunkel Line & Total: South Dakota State by 44 1/2; 64
Vegas Line & Total: South Dakota State by 39 1/2; 58 1/2
Dunkel Pick: South Dakota State (-39 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR LEHIGH AT VILLANOVA

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Lehigh 60.487; Villanova 61.396
Dunkel Line & Total: Villanova by 1; 45
Vegas Line & Total: Lehigh by 3 1/2; 50 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Villanova (+3 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR GEORGETOWN AT WILLIAM & MARY

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Georgetown 40.853; William & Mary 50.709
Dunkel Line & Total: William & Mary by 10; 44
Vegas Line & Total: William & Mary by 6 1/2; 47 1/2
Dunkel Pick: William & Mary (-6 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR CHARLESTON SOUTHERN AT TENNESSEE STATE

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 3:30 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Charleston Southern 54.866; Tennessee State 43.343
Dunkel Line & Total: Charleston Southern by 11 1/2; 39
Vegas Line & Total: Charleston Southern by 2 1/2; 42 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Charleston Southern (-2 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR HOUSTON CHRISTIAN AT LAMAR

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 4:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Houston Christian 48.521; Lamar 55.052
Dunkel Line & Total: Lamar by 6 1/2; 56
Vegas Line & Total: Lamar by 10 1/2; 42 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Houston Christian (+10 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR UT-MARTIN AT WESTERN ILLINOIS

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 4:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: UT-Martin 52.276; Western Illinois 53.940
Dunkel Line & Total: Western Illinois by 1 1/2; 41
Vegas Line & Total: UT-Martin by 2 1/2; 48 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Western Illinois (+2 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR SOUTHERN UTAH AT IDAHO

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 5:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Southern Utah 56.461; Idaho 68.862
Dunkel Line & Total: Idaho by 12 1/2; 68
Vegas Line & Total: Idaho by 3 1/2; 63 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Idaho (-3 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR TX-RIO GRANDE AT CENTRAL ARKANSAS

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 5:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: TX-Rio Grande 51.030; Central Arkansas 52.160
Dunkel Line & Total: Central Arkansas by 1; 39
Vegas Line & Total: Central Arkansas by 4 1/2; 44 1/2
Dunkel Pick: TX-Rio Grande (+4 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR UTAH TECH AT CAL POLY

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 5:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Utah Tech 36.558; Cal Poly 58.497
Dunkel Line & Total: Cal Poly by 22; 54
Vegas Line & Total: Cal Poly by 18 1/2; 58 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Cal Poly (-18 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR MCNEESE STATE AT INCARNATE WORD

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 5:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: McNeese State 49.823; Incarnate Word 56.786
Dunkel Line & Total: Incarnate Word by 7; 61
Vegas Line & Total: Incarnate Word by 14 1/2; 56 1/2
Dunkel Pick: McNeese State (+14 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR PORTLAND STATE AT IDAHO STATE

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Portland State 43.641; Idaho State 63.553
Dunkel Line & Total: Idaho State by 20; 68
Vegas Line & Total: Idaho State by 16 1/2; 62 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Idaho State (-16 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR SE LOUISIANA AT STEPHEN F AUSTIN

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 6:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: SE Louisiana 52.235; Stephen F Austin 76.348
Dunkel Line & Total: Stephen F Austin by 24; 50
Vegas Line & Total: Stephen F Austin by 20 1/2; 54 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Stephen F Austin (-20 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR NORTHERN COLORADO AT UC-DAVIS

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Northern Colorado 45.062; UC-Davis 63.941
Dunkel Line & Total: UC-Davis by 19; 61
Vegas Line & Total: UC-Davis by 10 1/2; 57 1/2
Dunkel Pick: UC-Davis (-10 1/2); Over

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR PRAIRIE VIEW AT EAST TEXAS A&M

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Prairie View 40.269; East Texas A&M 39.172
Dunkel Line & Total: Prairie View by 1; 41
Vegas Line & Total: East Texas A&M by 3 1/2; 46 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Prairie View (+3 1/2); Under

DUNKEL INDEX PREDICTION FOR AUSTIN PEAY AT NORTH ALABAMA

Date: Saturday, October 24
Time: 7:00 PM ET
Dunkel Ratings: Austin Peay 70.643; North Alabama 50.586
Dunkel Line & Total: Austin Peay by 20; 60
Vegas Line & Total: Austin Peay by 12 1/2; 51 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Austin Peay (-12 1/2); Over