A top-10 matchup between the top two statistical offenses in the FBS is the highlight of the Week 7 college football schedule.
No. 8 Oregon travels to No. 7 Washington in a rematch of last year’s 37-34 thriller, and there are Heisman Trophy, Pac-12 and College Football Playoff implications on the line. Washington – led by Heisman favorite Michael Penix Jr. – leads the nation with 569.4 yards per game. Oregon – led by veteran quarterback Bo Nix – averages 557.8 yards per game. Kalen DeBoer and Dan Lanning are two high-rising coaches, and this game should be a showcase for those high-powered teams in the 3:30 p.m. ET window.
There are three other matchups between teams ranked in the AP Top 25 in prime time. No. 10 USC travels to No. 21 Notre Dame, and No. 25 Miami will travel to No. 12 North Carolina. Both games are in the 7:30 p.m. ET window. No. 18 UCLA meets No. 15 Oregon State at 8 p.m. in yet another Pac-12 ranked matchup.
MORE: Oklahoma, North Carolina jump into top 10 in TSN's ranking of all 133 teams
There are a total of 18 matchups involving ranked teams in Week 7. A look at our track record this season:
- Straight up: 90-17 (10-5 in Week 6)
- ATS: 52-53-2 (8-7 in Week 6)
Here are our picks against the spread for Week 7 (Odds courtesy of BetMGM.com):
Week 7 Top 25 picks against the spread
- No. 1 Georgia (-31.5) at Vanderbilt (12 p.m., CBS)
The Bulldogs have won the last three meetings against the Commodores by a combined score of 147-6. Carson Beck averages 346.7 passing yards with eight TDs and one interception in his last three games, and Vanderbilt has allowed 40.3 points per game in its last three SEC losses. This is a week where Kirby Smart can challenge his defense against a Commodores offense that is more capable than the last three years.
Pick: Georgia wins 45-10 and COVERS the spread.
- Indiana at No. 2 Michigan (-34.5) (12 p.m., Fox)
Michigan has covered each of the last two weeks, and they have allowed 8.0 points per game against Big Ten opponents. The Hoosiers have not won at Michigan Stadium since 1967, but Tom Allen has managed to keep the last two meetings relatively competitive. Indiana has lost those games by an average of 21.5 points per game. It’s an early kickoff, and the Wolverines have not covered a spread over 20 points this season.
Pick: Michigan wins 42-10 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
- No. 3 Ohio State (-20.5) at Purdue (12 p.m., Peacock)
The Boilermakers are 2-3 ATS as a single-digit underdog, but in the blowout losses to Syracuse and Wisconsin the Boilermakers had seven turnovers. Ryan Walters is building a program, but they are catching an Ohio State team that has been looking for that all-around breakout performance. Strange-but-true stat. The Buckeyes have lost three of their last four trips to Ross-Ade Stadium. That won’t happen this time. Ohio State looks sharp, Kyle McCord protects the football and the defense takes over ahead of the Week 8 showdown with Penn State.
Pick: Ohio State wins 35-14 and COVERS the spread.
- Syracuse at No. 5 Florida State (-17.5) (12 p.m., ABC)
The Orange’s brutal schedule continues after losses to Clemson and North Carolina. Syracuse has rushed for just 3.1 yards per carry in those losses, and Florida State had a blip in run defense against Virginia Tech last week. Expect Mike Norvell to tighten that up this week, and the spread is just low enough that the Seminoles should be able to pull away in the second half.
Pick: Florida State wins 38-17 and COVERS the spread.
- Arkansas at No. 11 Alabama (-19.5 ) (12 p.m., ESPN)
The Crimson Tide are 16-0 against Arkansas under Nick Saban, and Arkansas has lost four straight games. The Razorbacks are 2-0 ATS as double-digit underdogs this season with one-score losses to LSU and Ole Miss. KJ Jefferson and Jalen Milroe will both make huge plays, but it comes down to whether Jefferson can protect the ball enough to allow the Razorbacks to hang around.
Pick: Alabama wins 37-21 and FAILS TO COVER the spread.
- Cal vs. No. 16 Utah (-13.5) (3 p.m., Pac-12 Network)
The Utes are home, and whether Cam Rising plays continues to be a week-to-week decision. Utah is 2-0 ATS at home against FBS teams this season, and the Golden Bears lost 35-0 to the Utes in their last visit there. It’s hard to trust an underdog that allowed 50-plus points to Washington and Oregon State. Get this now before the line jumps to more than 14 points.
Pick: Utah wins 32-13 and COVERS the spread.
- No. 23 Kansas (-3.5) at Oklahoma State (3:30 p.m., FS1)
Just when it looked like the Cowboys were done, Oklahoma State pulled an upset against Kansas State last week. Oklahoma State’s quarterbacks have combined for five TDs and four interceptions this season. Kansas quarterback Jalon Daniels remains week to week with a back injury, but the running game piled up 399 yards last week. If the Jayhawks really are a Big 12 championship contender, then they have to prove it here.
Pick: Kansas wins 34-27 and COVERS the spread.
- UMass at No. 6 Penn State (-42.5) (3:30 p.m., BTN)
This is the largest line of the week. The Minutemen have allowed 40 or more points in four games this season, and that includes a 59-14 loss to Auburn on Sept. 2. UMass gave up 375 rushing yards to Toledo in Week 6. The Nittany Lions are one of five teams with a perfect record against the spread, and that includes two late covers against West Virginia and Northwestern. Penn State will be sharp with the showdown against Ohio State looming, but it comes down to whether UMass can score one touchdown or not.
Pick: Penn State wins 48-7 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
- No. 8 Oregon at No. 7 Washington (-3) (3:30 p.m., ABC)
This is such a tough line because this game likely will be decided by a field goal either way. Penix and Nix are efficient quarterbacks who have combined for 31 TDs and three interceptions this season. How will the Ducks slow down a passing attack where Rome Odunze, Ja’lynn Polk and Jalen McMillan all average 15 yards per catch? How will Washington slow down Oregon’s running game where Bucky Irving, Jordan James and Noah Whittington all average more than seven yards per carry? This is a true coin flip.
Pick: Washington wins 42-37 and COVERS the spread.
MORE: How Michael Penix Jr. has made Washington's offense nation's best
- Texas A&M at No. 19 Tennessee (-3.5) (3:30 p.m., CBS)
The Aggies won 34-13 in their last visit to Neyland Stadium in 2020, and this matchup hinges on whether Tennessee – which leads the SEC in rushing offense at 231.2 yards per game – can keep that rolling against the top statistical defense in the SEC. The Vols had a bye week to add some new wrinkles, and Texas A&M is coming off an emotional loss to Alabama. Tennessee is 9-0 S/U and 7-2 ATS since 2022 under Josh Heupel.
Pick: Tennessee wins 34-28 and COVERS the spread.
- No. 14 Louisville (-7.5) at Pitt (6:30 p.m., CW Network)
Prime-time football on the CW should be fun. The Panthers needed a reset with a bye week after four straight losses, and that should help a defense that allowed an average of 39.5 points per game in losses to North Carolina and West Virginia. Christian Vellieux will take over at quarterback, too. This is a possible hang-over for Louisville after the huge win against Notre Dame, and the Cardinals are 0-3 ATS in neutral site or road games this season.
Pick: Louisville wins 31-24 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
- Arizona at No. 19 Washington State (-8.5) (7 p.m., Pac-12 Network)
Both teams are coming off tough losses in Week 6. Washington State could not generate a running game in a loss to UCLA, and the Wildcats lost a triple-overtime thriller at USC. Arizona is 3-0 ATS as an underdog this season, but it’s a matter of how they can bounce back in another tough road test.
Pick: Washington State wins 31-24 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
- No. 10 USC at No. 21 Notre Dame (-2.5) (7:30 p.m., NBC/Peacock)
The Irish are playing in their fourth straight prime-time game, and this is one more chance for Marcus Freeman to score a signature victory. USC is facing the same-old questions about a defense that has allowed 40-plus points each of the last two weeks. Caleb Williams had 257 total yards and four total TDs in last year’s 38-27 victory – and the key was the Trojans were +2 in turnover margin. This will be an instant classic, but somehow USC survives.
Pick: USC wins 37-34 in an UPSET.
- No. 25 Miami at No. 12 North Carolina (-3.5) (7:30 p.m., ABC)
How will Miami bounce back after the late-game collapse against Georgia Tech? North Carolina has won four straight meetings in this series, though three of those games have been decided by three points. The Hurricanes also have the best rush defense in the ACC (58.2), but Drake Maye presents a different challenge and is coming off his best game of the season. The Tar Heels are 4-0 ATS when favored by single digits this season.
Pick: North Carolina wins 34-24 and COVERS the spread.
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- Auburn at No. 23 LSU (-11.5) (7 p.m., ESPN)
Auburn had a bye week to prepare for LSU, and that will give Hugh Freeze time to add a few wrinkles in the running game to test LSU’s much-maligned defense. Auburn faces the same challenge in containing Jayden Daniels – who ranks second in the FBS with 398.5 yards per game. This one could get wild in the second half, but LSU will keep their SEC West hopes intact. LSU is 7-2 ATS at home under Brian Kelly, and Auburn has averaged 12 points per game in two road games. However, six of the last seven meetings have been one score games.
Pick: LSU wins 35-28 but FAILS TO COVER the spread.
- Missouri at No. 24 Kentucky (-2.5) (7:30 p.m., SEC Network)
Kentucky has won seven of the last eight meetings, and that includes one-score games each of the last two seasons. The Wildcats must have an answer for Brady Cook and Luther Burden – a connection that has helped the Tigers put up more than 30 points each of the last four weeks. Kentucky will counter with Devin Leary and running back Ray Davis – who will bounce back after a tough night against the Bulldogs.
Pick: Kentucky wins 34-31 and COVERS the spread.
- No. 18 UCLA at No. 15 Oregon State (-4.5) (8 p.m., Fox)
UCLA upset Washington State last week and has a chance to keep it rolling on the road against the Beavers. The Bruins are 2-3 ATS as a road underdog the last two seasons. D.J. Uiagalelei (155.7) and Dante Moore (143.7) have comparable efficiency ratings, but Uiagalelei has been a little more accurate. That comes with experience, and the home crowd will help. Oregon State keeps its Pac-12 championship hopes alive.
Pick: Oregon State wins 31-26 and COVERS the spread.
- NC State vs. No. 17 Duke (-3) (8 p.m., ACC Network)
Riley Leonard suffered a high ankle sprain in the loss to Notre Dame on Sept. 30, so we will re-evaluate this line depending on if he plays. If Leonard is active, then the Blue Devils will be in business. The Wolfpack and Blue Devils have split the last four meetings, and Duke is 6-0 S/U as a home favorite against Mike Elko. We’ll trust a defense that allows 11.2 points per game.
Pick: Duke wins 28-23 and COVERS the spread.
