Week 8 of the 2025 college football season brings an intriguing game between the Washington State Cougars and the Virginia Cavaliers. The game will take place at Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, VA, under the lights at 6:30 PM on October 18, 2025. Fans can catch the action live on the CW channel.
Washington State comes into the game with a 3-3 record, having struggled on the road with a 1-2 record. The Cougars are part of the Pac-12 conference and are looking to improve their performance after a narrow loss to Ole Miss in their last outing. Their past few games have been a mix of high-scoring affairs and solid defensive showings.
Virginia, ranked #18 in the AP and #19 in the Coaches Poll, boasts a strong 5-1 record, including an undefeated 4-0 at home. The Cavaliers, members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, have shown consistent form, recently edging out Louisville in a close 30-27 victory. They will aim to leverage their home advantage against Washington State.
Virginia vs Washington State At a Glance
- Game Location: Scott Stadium in Charlottesville, VA, with an outdoor field setting.
- Game Time: Scheduled for Saturday, October 18, 2025, at 6:30 PM.
- TV Broadcast: Available on CW.
- Washington State’s Record: Currently at 3-3 overall for the season.
- Virginia’s Ranking: Positioned at #18 in the AP and #19 in the Coaches Poll.
- Game Odds: Virginia is a -906 favorite on the moneyline with a -17.5 spread.
Virginia Cavaliers Set to Challenge Washington State: A Preview of Virginia’s Season Performance
Team Overview
The Virginia Cavaliers have been performing impressively during the 2025 regular season, scoring 258 points, ranking them 8th in the league. Their offensive strategy has seen them achieve 1630 passing yards, placing them at 33rd, while their rushing game has yielded 1352 yards, securing the 18th position. Additionally, the team has managed to secure 147 first downs, which ranks them 14th.
Defensively, the Cavaliers have allowed 143 points, which places them 84th in the rankings. However, their defensive line has been effective, recording 16 sacks, ranking 10th, and they have been efficient in turnovers with 4 interceptions (5th) and 5 fumbles recovered (4th).
Recent Performances
Virginia has shown their mettle in recent games, coming off a narrow 30-27 victory against Louisville Cardinals. Despite having fewer first downs, they capitalized on Louisville’s mistakes, recovering more fumbles and maintaining a solid rushing defense. Their ability to withstand pressure was evident in their 46-38 win over Florida State Seminoles, where they outpaced their opponents with 211 rushing yards.
The Cavaliers dominated Stanford Cardinal with a 48-20 win, showcasing their offensive depth by recording 384 passing yards. Virginia also displayed a strong defensive performance, limiting Stanford to just 15 first downs. Against William & Mary Tribe, they were relentless, winning 55-16 and amassing 407 rushing yards while restricting their opponents to only 7 first downs.
Key Players
Quarterback Chandler Morris has been pivotal for the Cavaliers, with 1428 passing yards and 11 touchdowns, ranking 1st in the team. Running back J’Mari Taylor leads the rushing attack with 465 yards and 8 touchdowns, demonstrating significant impact on the ground game. Wide receiver Trell Harris has been a standout in the receiving corps with 384 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Defensively, the Cavaliers have relied on a cohesive unit to disrupt their opponents. Their consistent performance in recovering fumbles and intercepting passes has been crucial in tight games. Kicker Will Bettridge has been reliable, making 9 field goals and 31 extra points, contributing significantly to the team’s scoring.
Injury Concerns
The Cavaliers are dealing with several injury concerns, notably on the offensive line with Monroe Mills and Makilan Thomas out for the season. The uncertainty surrounding players like Brady Wilson and David Wohlabaugh Jr. poses challenges for their depth. Other key players like Noah Vaughn and Dre Walker are questionable, which could impact their strategies against Washington State.
Team Betting Trends
- Virginia is currently 4-0 SU in their last 4 games of the 2025 season.
- They are also 4-0 ATS in their last 4 games, highlighting their strong performance against the spread.
- The Cavaliers are 4-0 SU and ATS in their last 4 home games.
- Virginia has a perfect record of 4-0 O/U in their last 4 home games.
- As favorites, they have a 17-6 SU record over the last 23 games.
Can the Washington State Cougars Upset the Cavaliers?
Offensive Challenges
The Washington State Cougars have shown inconsistency on offense this season. They have accumulated 124 points, ranking them 77th in the nation. The Cougars are striving to improve their passing game, with 1,360 passing yards, which places them 67th overall.
Rushing has been a significant challenge for Washington State, as they rank 126th with only 529 yards on the ground. Despite these struggles, the team has managed to secure 110 first downs, ranking 49th, which shows their capability to extend drives.
Defensive Struggles
Defensively, Washington State has been vulnerable, allowing 168 points against, ranking them 99th nationally. However, the Cougars have been effective in generating pressure with 14 sacks, placing them 12th in this category. This pressure could be vital in disrupting Virginia’s offensive rhythm.
Turnover creation has been a mixed bag for the Cougars. They lead the nation with zero interceptions, yet they have been efficient at recovering fumbles with four, ranking 5th. This ability to capitalize on opponents’ mistakes could be crucial in their upcoming game.
Quarterback Play
Zevi Eckhaus has been a standout at quarterback for the Cougars, with 756 passing yards over four games. His performance ranks 114th nationally, but his six passing touchdowns show a potential for explosive plays. Jaxon Potter, the backup, has also contributed with 604 yards and four touchdowns in three games.
Both quarterbacks have had their share of interceptions, with Eckhaus throwing two and Potter three. Limiting turnovers will be a key focus for Washington State as they prepare for Virginia.
Key Players to Watch
Running back Kirby Vorhees has been the primary option in the backfield, rushing for 244 yards over six games. His performance ranks him 195th in the nation, and he’ll look to build on this against Virginia. On the receiving end, Tony Freeman leads the team with 302 yards and one touchdown.
Freeman’s 30 receptions rank him 46th nationally, indicating his reliability as a target. Tight end Trey Leckner has also been effective, catching 10 passes for 49 yards and two touchdowns, providing a reliable option in the red zone.
Team Betting Trends
- SU – As Favorite: 21-6 (77.8%)
- SU – Home Games: 8-2 (80.0%)
- ATS – Home Games: 17-9 (65.4%)
- ATS – As Underdog: 16-9 (64.0%)
- SU – After Win: 16-9 (64.0%)
- ATS – After Win: 18-11 (62.1%)
- O/U – After Win: 4-1 (80.0%)
- SU – All Games: 11-7 (61.1%)
- ATS – As Favorite: 15-11 (57.7%)
- ATS – After Loss: 13-9 (59.1%)
- O/U – As Favorite: 15-12 (55.6%)
- ATS – Away Games: 14-11 (56.0%)
- O/U – After Loss: 9-6 (60.0%)
- O/U – All Games: 16-14 (53.3%)
- SU – Totals ≥ 50: 16-14 (53.3%)
- O/U – Totals ≥ 50: 15-13 (53.6%)
- ATS – All Games: 11-9 (55.0%)
- O/U – Home Games: 9-7 (56.2%)
- SU – After Loss: 5-3 (62.5%)
- O/U – Away Games: 12-11 (52.2%)
Virginia vs Washington State Prediction: Over 56.5
Virginia has displayed a powerful offensive performance this season, ranked 8th in points scored with 258 total points. Their high scoring trend is supported by their recent games, which have all ended over the total in their last four home games. These statistics indicate that Virginia will likely continue this trend against Washington State.
Washington State, on the other hand, has struggled defensively, allowing 168 points across their six games. Their defensive vulnerabilities could be exploited by Virginia’s strong offense, which will likely increase the overall score. This sets the stage for a high-scoring game at Scott Stadium.
Additionally, both teams have shown trends leaning towards the over in recent matchups. Virginia’s games have gone over the total in six of their last seven matchups, while Washington State’s defense has been permeable. This trend supports the likelihood of a total score exceeding 56.5.
Considering the offensive strength of Virginia and the defensive struggles of Washington State, the total is expected to exceed the set line. The final score projection supports this, with Virginia winning decisively.
- Virginia vs Washington State Prediction: Over 56.5
- Virginia vs Washington State Score: Virginia 42 – Washington State 21
