College Football Week 7: Expert Picks for Top Matchups
FOX Sports experts offer their predictions for six ranked matchups, including Ohio State vs. Indiana and Notre Dame vs. BYU.
Week 7 of the college football season features six matchups between Associated Press Top 25 opponents, with several potentially impacting the College Football Playoff picture.
Ohio State vs. Indiana
No. 4 Ohio State faces No. 5 Indiana in a key Big Ten matchup. Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is highlighted as a player to watch, needing two more touchdowns to break the all-time Big Ten receiving touchdown record. While two experts, RJ Young and Laken Litman, favor Ohio State due to Smith's presence, Ben Portnoy picks Indiana, citing an early season prediction to win the Big Ten and coach Curt Cignetti's squad.
LSU vs. Mississippi State
The No. 6 Alabama Crimson Tide will look to bounce back against No. 14 Tennessee after a loss to No. 1 Georgia. Experts RJ Young, Laken Litman, and Ben Portnoy all predict Alabama to win, citing quarterback and wide receiver advantages over Tennessee, which is dealing with quarterback issues. Alabama's Keelon Russell experienced his first loss as starting quarterback against Georgia.
Alabama vs. Tennessee
In a matchup featuring two Associated Press Top 25 teams, No. 2 Notre Dame visits No. 8 BYU. The experts largely favor Notre Dame. RJ Young notes BYU's potential disadvantage due to the absence of star running back LJ Martin. Laken Litman believes Notre Dame quarterback C.J. Carr will outperform BYU's Bear Bachmeier, solidifying Notre Dame's CFP contention. Ben Portnoy also picks Notre Dame, citing BYU's lack of firepower without Martin.
Missouri vs. Ole Miss
No. 13 Missouri faces No. 9 Ole Miss. RJ Young picks Missouri, highlighting running back Jamal Roberts and quarterback Austin Simmons. Laken Litman also anticipates a Missouri upset. Ben Portnoy sides with Ole Miss, pointing to quarterback Trinidad Chambliss as a top player and predicting a shootout victory.
Notre Dame vs. BYU
No. 2 Notre Dame visits No. 8 BYU in a game that could impact College Football Playoff aspirations. Experts largely anticipate a Notre Dame victory. RJ Young notes BYU's potential disadvantage due to the absence of star running back LJ Martin. Laken Litman believes Notre Dame quarterback C.J. Carr will outperform BYU's Bear Bachmeier, solidifying Notre Dame's CFP contention. Ben Portnoy also picks Notre Dame, citing BYU's lack of offensive firepower without Martin.
Oklahoma vs. Kentucky
RJ Young predicts Kentucky over Oklahoma, citing the Sooners' offensive struggles. Laken Litman also favors Kentucky, viewing the game as a potential letdown for Oklahoma after their win over Texas. Ben Portnoy argues that Kentucky's offense is more effective currently, despite Oklahoma's victory in the Red River Rivalry.
Oklahoma State vs. Houston
Oklahoma State is favored by the experts in their matchup against Houston. RJ Young points to Oklahoma State's explosiveness. Laken Litman expects quarterback Drew Mestemaker to lead the Cowboys to victory. Ben Portnoy believes Oklahoma State's offense will be the difference.
UCLA vs. Wisconsin
Experts are divided on the UCLA vs. Wisconsin game. RJ Young picks Wisconsin, citing UCLA's close win over Oregon that relied on seven turnovers. Laken Litman predicts UCLA to remain undefeated, despite quarterback Nico Iamaleava's reported season-ending injury, with backup Ty Dieffenbach stepping in. Ben Portnoy also favors UCLA, emphasizing running back Wayne Knight's importance to their offense.
Nebraska vs. Oregon
Nebraska is favored by the experts against Oregon. RJ Young notes Nebraska's advantage with Oregon quarterback Dante Moore ruled out. Laken Litman believes Nebraska will rebound from a previous loss. Ben Portnoy expects Nebraska's defense to be disruptive, leading to a significant win for head coach Matt Rhule.
Individual records for the week and overall are also provided for the participating experts: RJ Young (6-4 last week, 42-16 overall), Laken Litman (6-4 last week, 38-20 overall), and Ben Portnoy (4-6 last week, 36-22 overall).