College Football Week 7 Preview: Betting Odds & Picks Including Penn State at Michigan and Alabama at Tennessee
No. 10 Penn State at No. 5 Michigan Odds and Picks
Saturday 15th October – 12:00 pm EST
Game Lines:
Moneyline: Michigan -275 | Penn State +210
Spread: Michigan -7
Points Total: 52 | Over -110 | Under -110
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Penn State
Spread: Penn State to cover
Over/Under: Under 52
The Nittany Lions are fresh off a bye week as they head to the Big House this weekend in an undefeated BIG10 showdown. This one comes down to the two QBs – JJ McCarthy will have to show up this weekend if the Wolverwines want to move to 7-0. Michigan’s biggest strength is the run game, but they’re against a stout Penn State rushing defence which has allowed just 79.3 yards per game on the ground and will make things tough for standout RB Blake Corum. This is the litmus test for McCarthy, as the Nittany Lions can be challenged through the air in the passing game. Sean Clifford is a seasoned vet by college standards and will need every bit of that experience going against a Michigan defense that ranks in the top five. I’m going with Clifford and the underdogs in what I expect to be a closely fought slugfest.
Matt’s Pick of the game:
This is a massive game for two teams that will be eyeing up the Big Ten Championship game come the end of the season. Both teams have exceptional running backs, and have been very good against the run all season, so it figures that who has a better day pounding the rock should win the game. Blake Corum has 735 yards and 11 touchdowns in just six games for the Wolverines this season, while Penn State’s Nick Singleton has 463 yards and five touchdowns at 7.3 yards per carry. I fancy Corum will continue his monstrous season here and wear out Penn State, helping them to cover the spread.
Points Spread: Michigan -7
No. 8 Oklahoma State at No. 13 TCU Odds and Picks
Saturday 15th October – 3:30 pm EST
Game Lines:
Moneyline: TCU -175 | Oklahoma State +145
Spread: TCU -3.5
Points Total: 68.5 | Over -110 | Under -110
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Oklahoma State
Spread: Oklahoma State to Cover
Over/Under: Over 68.5
Whilst QB Max Duggan and the TCU offense do pack a punch, Oklahoma State are rolling right now. In back-to-back weeks the Cowboys have impressed against Baylor and Texas Tech, covering the spread in both as QB Spencer Sanders has impressed through the air and on the ground in recent weeks. The Cowboys offense will need to be on their game, as they’re against two of the biggest playmakers in CFB this Saturday in QB Max Duggan and RB Kendre Miller, who ripped apart the Oklahoma Sooners defense a couple of weeks ago. Both will score points this weekend, as the Cowboys defence ranks 104th in yards allowed per game. But Sanders and the Oklahoma State offense will have their opportunities too given TCU’s pass defence is ranked 110th in the country. Stretching back into last season, the Cowboys have won 10 of their last 11 with Sanders at the helm, with the one loss being them denied on a goaline stand in the dying seconds of the BIG12 Championship game. This could go either way, but I’m back them to extend their record to 6-0.
Matt’s Pick of the game:
This is another matchup between two unbeaten teams, and these two have both been electric on offense this year. TCU has won three straight games against ranked opponents, and will undoubtedly be coming into this game feeling hot. This is a tough game to bet on the winner, as I’m expecting a game where both offenses flash, so the over feels like the best bet of this game.
Points Total – Over 68.5 Points
No. 15 NC State at No.18 Syracuse Odds and Picks
Saturday 15th October – 3:30 pm EST
Game Lines
Moneyline: Syracuse -185 | NC State +155
Spread: Syracuse -3
Points Total: 43 | Over -110 | Under -110
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Syracuse
Spread: Syracuse to Cover
Over/Under: Under 43
NC State travel to the Syracuse Orange and it looks like they’ll be without starting QB Devin Leary, who injured his shoulder in last week’s win against FSU. They pushed Clemson close two weeks ago, but Leary will be a big miss this weekend. The Wolfpack are strong on the defensive side of the ball, ranking 17th in the nation for total defense, but I’m struggling to see where the points come from on the offensive side of the ball. Syracuse will have enough to take it in a low scoring affair.
Matt’s Pick of the game:
It’s rare that we see an unbeaten team five games into the season that leaves everyone asking if they’re actually any good or not, but that’s where we are with the Syracuse Orange. The offense is definitely good, but they needed some late heroics to beat a poor Purdue team, snuck by Virginia and then had an FCS matchup last week. NC State has had a far tougher schedule, and their wins against Florida State and Texas Tech show they are a legit outfit. However, the wolfpacks starting QB Devin Leary left the game last week with a shoulder injury, and if he’s out then NC State could be in a spot of bother. Assuming he is out, the Wolf Pack defense will have to show what they’re all about, and I can see this one being a slugfest. The points total is dropping on this one, but if you can still find it at 43, take the under.
Points Total – Under 43 Points
No. 3 Alabama at No. 6 Tennessee Odds and Picks
Saturday 15th October – 3:30 pm EST
Game Lines
Moneyline: Alabama -300 | Tennessee +230
Spread: Alabama -7.5
Points Total: 65.5 | Over -110 | Under -110
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Alabama
Spread: Tennessee to Cover
Over/Under: Under 65.5
This really comes down to the health of Alabama QB Bryce Young. Even if Young was fully healthy, I’d still back Tennessee to cover with the way their offense is moving the ball. Whilst his status is still not fully clear, Nick Saban is hoping he will be available. If so, I can still see this being a coin flip, but I’m leaning towards Alabama simply because they’re Alabama and this is what they do.
Matt’s Pick of the game:
Yep, Tennessee is officially legit. Even when LSU aren’t a great team, very few teams come into Death Valley and mud-stomp them in the way the Vols did last week. The atmosphere in Neyland Stadium is going to be incredible, and I can see the Tide struggling to quiet them down, whether Bryce Young is healthy or not. I was very close to going with Tennessee outright here, but I’ll play it safe and take the points spread, which I think is very high considering quite how well Hendon Hooker and this Tennessee offense is playing.
Points Spread: Tennessee +7
No. 16 Mississippi State at No. 22 Kentucky Odds and Picks
Saturday 15th October – 7:30 pm EST
Game Lines
Moneyline: Mississippi State -175 | Kentucky +145
Spread: Mississippi State -4
Points Total: 49 | Over -110 | Under -110
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: Kentucky
Spread: Kentucky to Cover
Over/Under: Over 49
It seems likely that QB Will Levis will play this week for the Wildcats, who will be happy to reunite him with standout running back Chris Rodriguez for just the second time this season. Although Kentucky has lost two in a row, they were without Levis in last week’s loss to South Carolina, and the only other loss came in a three-point game against 9th-ranked Ole Miss. Mississippi State’s loss to LSU looks even worse after the Tigers were dismantled by Tennessee in Death Valley on Saturday, and in front of a home crowd, I’m backing the duo of Levis and Rodriguez to get it done.
Matt’s Pick of the game:
As Sam pointed out, the back-to-back losses Kentucky has suffered aren’t as bad as it sounds. It looks as if Will Levis will be back for this one and he and Chris Rodriguez should be able to cause the Bulldogs some trouble. That said, the return of Levis has meant Vegas has shortened the spread from -7 in some places to -4. We still don’t know how healthy Levis is, and on the other side of the ball Will Rogers is playing some excellent football. I’m laying the points.
Points Spread: Mississippi State -4
No. 7 USC at No. 20 Utah Odds and Picks
Saturday 1st October – 8:00 pm EST
Game Lines
Moneyline: Utah -175 | USC +145
Spread: Utah -3.5
Points Total: 65 | Over -110 | Under -110
Sam’s Picks
Moneyline: USC
Spread: USC to Cover
Over/Under: Under 65
This is the first of two big tests for USC if they’re serious about a playoff appearance. The first travelling to 20th ranked Utah before facing off against a currently undefeated UCLA. Utah boasts a mean defence which ranks 22nd in the nation and allows the 19th fewest passing yards per game – but they were exposed last week against UCLA and the trio of Head Coach Lincoln Riley, QB Caleb Williams and star wideout Jordan Addison will have seen lots of opportunities when reviewing the Utah tape from last week. Whilst my colleague is correct in bringing up the cannibalistic nature of the PAC-12, I argue true PAC-12 football would be an undefeated USC losing to an undefeated UCLA in November, before the Bruins themselves lose to Cal the following week in a scenario where nobody’s a winner.
Matt’s Pick of the game:
We knew that Lincoln Riley and Caleb Williams could cause some problems out west, but I don’t think we thought it would be quite so soon. However, they haven’t faced a challenge like Utah yet, and in the other PAC-12 road game against a good team they’ve played this season, they just about got over the line against Oregon State, despite the Beavers’ QB throwing four picks. I think Kyle Whittingham is too good of a coach to let his team drop two in a row and I like Utah to win here. Remember the first rule of PAC-12 teams: if they get an opportunity to rule themselves out of playoff contention with a disappointing loss, they’ll do it. I’m just going with the moneyline despite Utah being favored, as I think we’re in for a close one and I like the odds.
Utah Moneyline
