College Football Week 7: Key Matchups and Predictions
A look at the highly anticipated Week 7 college football schedule, featuring several matchups between ranked teams and expert picks against the spread.
The seventh week of the college football season is set to feature a slate of high-stakes games, including six matchups of ranked teams and four contests between programs in the top 15. The weekend's schedule highlights a particularly strong Saturday, often considered the premier day for college football.
The marquee game of the week pairs No. 4 Ohio State against No. 5 Indiana, a meeting of two recent national champions. The Southeastern Conference (SEC) will host several critical battles, with No. 6 Alabama traveling to face No. 14 Tennessee.
No. 2 Notre Dame faces its most significant test of the season against No. 8 BYU at LaVell Edwards Stadium. The Fighting Irish have won 16 consecutive games, with each victory by double digits. However, their schedule has included only two ranked opponents during this streak. Notre Dame's last encounter with a top-20 team on the road resulted in a season-opening loss to Miami last year, and they also lost at home to Texas A&M, a team ranked inside the top 20, the previous season.
BYU, entering the game as a 10.5-point underdog, holds a strong record at home, particularly in night games, where they have a 40-4 record since 2019. The Cougars have also covered the spread in six of their last seven games as underdogs. However, they may be without star running back LJ Martin.
In other notable matchups:
SEC Showdowns
Alabama is favored by 8.5 points against Tennessee in a game at Neyland Stadium. Despite Tennessee winning the last two meetings between the rivals at home, Alabama's quarterback Keelon Russell is expected to exploit a Volunteers defense that has not yet faced a top-45 offensive unit.
Ole Miss, favored by 6 points, hosts Missouri. The Tigers have struggled on the road against ranked SEC opponents, losing their last seven such games by an average of nearly 15 points. The return of former Ole Miss starter Trinidad Chambliss for Missouri presents an emotional challenge against an opposing coach, Pete Golding, who previously prepared defenses against him.
Other Key Contests
Ohio State, seeking to end a 22-game winning streak, is a 3.5-point favorite over Indiana. Ohio State's Jeremiah Smith is highlighted as a potential difference-maker, with a history of strong performances in challenging environments. Indiana's quarterback Josh Hoover has struggled against top-15 opponents.
LSU is a 14.5-point favorite against Mississippi State. LSU's home victories have been by an average of nearly 34 points. Mississippi State may be forced to start redshirt freshman Parker Puckett at quarterback in his first start at Death Valley.
Michigan faces Penn State, with the Wolverines being 6.5-point underdogs. Michigan's offense ranks 108th in total yards and has struggled to score, though quarterback Bryce Underwood's contract is reportedly worth $12.5 million.
Auburn, a 20.5-point underdog, plays Georgia. Unranked Auburn has challenged Georgia in recent years, and the Bulldogs may be experiencing a letdown after a significant win against Alabama.
Arizona State is a 14.5-point underdog against Texas Tech. Texas Tech has struggled to cover the spread in home games this season.
Florida is an 11.5-point underdog against Texas. The Gators have allowed a significant number of points in recent weeks, and their defense faces the challenge of stopping Texas quarterback Arch Manning.
Florida State is a 21.5-point favorite over Miami in a rivalry game that has seen close contests in recent years.
Kentucky, a 6.5-point underdog, faces Oklahoma. Kentucky has secured consecutive wins on last-second two-point conversions, with quarterback Kenny Minchey of Notre Dame transfer having a strong touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Oklahoma State, a 4.5-point underdog, plays Houston. The Cowboys' offense is ranked seventh nationally and is expected to challenge Houston's secondary.
Wisconsin, a 2.5-point underdog, plays UCLA. UCLA's undefeated season and strong rushing game face a challenge from Wisconsin's elite run defense, particularly with the potential inexperience of UCLA transfer quarterback Ty Dieffenbach.
Utah, undefeated and a 15.5-point favorite, faces Colorado. Utah's first-year coach Morgan Scalley has led the team to cover the spread in all five games this season, with an average margin of victory of nearly 30 points.
Oregon is a 7.5-point favorite over Nebraska. Oregon has a strong home record at Autzen Stadium, having lost to an unranked team there in a decade and winning 47 of their previous 50 home games before a recent loss where they committed seven turnovers and played without their starting quarterback.
Best bets for Week 7 include Penn State, Auburn, and Kentucky. The Pigskin Profit, Howie Kussoy, has a season record of 50-40 with 12-6 in best bets.