Florida State vs Stanford Prediction, Picks & Odds for Tonight — College Football Week 8

Naessens' prediction: Stanford will be forced to throw early, paving the way for a big game from Ben Gulbranson.

Phil Naessens - Contributor at Covers.com
Phil Naessens • Betting Analyst
Oct 18, 2025 • 19:01 ET • 4 min read

NCAAF

Match starts: 58 mins
STAN
55 %
FSU
45 %
Read Analysis
Ben Gulbranson Stanford Cardinal NCAA College Football
Photo By - Imagn Images. Stanford Cardinal quarterback Ben Gulbranson (15) throws a pass.

The Florida State Seminoles travel to Northern California to take on the Stanford Cardinal in tonight's ACC showdown.

Cardinal quarterback Ben Gulbranson has been racking up the passing yards, and my Florida State vs. Stanford predictions expect another solid game through the air.  

Find out more in my college football picks for Saturday, October 18.

Kickoff is set for 10:30 p.m. ET from Stanford Stadium, with the game airing on ESPN.

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Florida State vs Stanford prediction

Florida State vs Stanford best bet: Ben Gulbranson Over 215.5 passing yards (-114)

Stanford Cardinal quarterback Ben Gulbranson should see massive passing volume Saturday against a Florida State Seminoles defense built to stop the run that is vulnerable through the air. 

The Seminoles allow just 78 rushing yards per game, forcing opponents to attack downfield, where they’ve given up 11 passing touchdowns and an average of 11.8 yards per completion.

Gulbranson has quietly found his rhythm, throwing for 225+ yards in three straight games, and he’ll likely surpass 35 attempts here with Stanford playing catch-up.

Yes, the Cardinal offensive line has struggled, allowing over three sacks per game, but that only increases the chance of quick throws and big-yardage opportunities once protection breaks down.

With FSU expected to build an early lead, Gulbranson should have every opportunity to pile up passing yards against a secondary that tends to soften late.

Florida State vs Stanford same-game parlay

Stanford tight end Sam Roush has cleared his receiving yards prop in three straight games.

Micah Ford has cleared his rushing yards prop in four of his six previous games, but the game script and the stout Seminoles' front seven will likely stymie the Toms River product.

Florida State vs Stanford SGP

  • Ben Gulbranson Over 215.5 passing yards
  • Sam Roush Over 30.5 receiving yards
  • Micah Ford Under 43.5 rushing yards

Our deep-ball SGP: House of Cards

Sam Roush has scored touchdowns in two of his previous three games and meets a Florida State stop unit that’s already allowed 11 through the air.

The Seminoles have failed to cover the spread in three straight. Stanford is 2-0 straight up and 1-1-0 ATS at home, and covering -17.5 points is a big ask on the road for FSU.

Florida State vs Stanford SGP

  • Ben Gulbranson Over 215.5 passing yards
  • Sam Roush Over 30.5 receiving yards
  • Micah Ford Under 43.5 rushing yards
  • Sam Roush anytime touchdown
  • Stanford +17.5

Florida State vs Stanford game predictions

Florida State vs Stanford moneyline prediction

Florida State will win by dominating time of possession and exploiting Stanford’s weak passing defense while controlling the trenches.

Florida State vs Stanford spread prediction

FSU should win this game, but the Seminoles are 0-3-0 ATS in their last three.

Stanford has scored 30+ in both home games and should score enough against the Seminoles to cover as massive underdogs.

Florida State vs Stanford Over/Under prediction

Both offenses have upside. They also face defenses that don’t get many stops.

I’m not betting on it, but this game seems destined for a high-scoring affair.

Florida State vs Stanford odds

  • Spread: Florida State -17.5 (-110) | Stanford +17.5 (-110)
  • Moneyline: Florida State -1000 | Stanford +650
  • Over/Under: Over 54.5 (-110) | Under 54.5 (-110)

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Florida State vs Stanford trend to know

Florida State has only covered the spread in four of its last 11 games (-3.65 Units / -30% ROI). Find more college football betting trends for Florida State vs Stanford.

How to watch Florida State vs Stanford

Location Stanford Stadium, Stanford, CA
Date Saturday, October 18, 2025
Kickoff 10:30 p.m. ET
TV ESPN

Florida State vs Stanford latest injuries

Florida State vs Stanford weather

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Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change.
Not intended for use in MA.
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Phil Naessens
Betting Analyst

Prior to joining Covers in 2022, Phil Naessens spent 38 years as a resident tennis pro in Las Vegas, Mykonos, and Corfu, Greece. He’s the past host of the Phil Naessens Show (Armed Forces Radio), and currently hosts the Crush and Rush Tennis Podcast.

Phil is the author of the Betting 101 series (MLB, NFL, NCAAF, and Tennis) and has written for numerous publications, including Advance Local, SB Nation, FanSided, and Lenny Melnick Fantasy Sports. 

His favorite sports to bet on are tennis, MLB, WNBA, Euro men’s and women’s hoops, NCAA sports, NFL, and the NBA. Phil has numerous betting accounts in the US and Europe, and his best advice is to line shop for the best value possible.

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