College Football Week 7 Odds, Picks & Predictions (2024)
Gear up for another awesome weekend of college football action with BettingPros! We’ll have you covered with all of our top picks for the week along with our projected spreads and totals to help guide your college football bets. Below are our top picks and predictions for Week 7’s college football games.
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Top College Football Odds & Picks: Week 7
South Carolina vs. Alabama
How will Alabama respond after suffering a huge upset against Vanderbilt? Although they dropped in the rankings, they're still one of the most talented rosters in the nation with Jalen Milroe as he leads the nation in passing efficiency, and true freshman Ryan Williams has become a star as he's 12th in receiving yards with six touchdowns. The defense has been struggling by allowing 69 points in the last six quarters. To determine how this game will go, we have to know which South Carolina offense will show up. They put a beating on Kentucky for 31 points, the same Kentucky that beat Ole Miss, and then SC suffered a beating from Ole Miss 27-3. They need to get third and manageable to where LaNorris Sellers can make a convert with a run or short pass. The Tide will not come unprepared, and they saw Ole Miss able to beat South Carolina easily, and they will look to do the same.
Pick: Alabama -21.5
-John Supowitz
Missouri vs. Massachusetts
Last week was an absolute gut punch for Missouri. What looked to be a very promising season for the Tigers seemed to come off the rails a bit in a 41-10 loss to Texas A&M. It was the defense that let them down allowing 512 yards of offense and 12.5 yards per pass attempt. Massachusetts will be a bit of a reprieve in that sense. The Minutemen have a fairly putrid offense that ranks 115th in EPA per play. They won’t be able to have much success against this Missouri defense because they haven’t had much success against any defense they’ve played. One common opponent they played was Buffalo. Missouri routed them 38-0 and outgained them 518-169. The following week, Buffalo returned the favor to Massachusetts winning 34-3. The transitive property is a bad way to break down matchups in college football, but in this case, it helps highlight how large of a mismatch there is between these two teams. Missouri still has hopes of the CFP and should bounce back big time on Saturday.
Pick: Missouri -27
-Ryan Rodeman
Clemson vs. Wake Forest
The last two meetings between these two teams have been one-possession games. However, those final scores are not indicative of the disparity between these two teams this season. The Demon Deacons’ pass defense is the fourth-worst in the country. They’re allowing over 326 passing yards per game. Because Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik is so dangerous through the air, this game is going to get ugly quick. Plus, Klubnik doesn’t turn the ball over much. The Tigers may score every time they have the ball. The Demon Deacons, who scored just six points against Ole Miss earlier this year, will struggle against one of the best defenses they’ve faced this season. This many points for a road team is a lot, but these teams aren’t remotely close talent-wise.
Pick: Clemson -20.5
-Phil Wood
Georgia Tech vs. North Carolina
North Carolina started the season off well with wins in their first three games but have now lost three straight and the first two conference matchups. The offense is doing what it needs to; Jacolby Criswell has established himself as the starting quarterback by averaging 331 passing yards with six touchdowns, and RB Omarion Hampton's 764 yards are third in the nation. The Tar Heels have trouble containing dual-threat quarterbacks; none are better than Haynes King. You can't let him control the game’s pace because he will exhaust the defense as he runs up and down the field. Both offenses are elected, and while Georgia Tech's defense is better this year, UNC should push them around and make this a high-scoring game. This is a big total, but both offenses can score 30.
Pick: Over 60.5
-John Supowitz
Texas vs. Oklahoma
All signs point to Texas easily winning this one. Oklahoma has struggled on offense this season. The passing game has been forgettable, which is unusual for a Sooners team. They don't really have much of a run game, either. The one thing they have going for them is that their defense is solid. It's been good, but can good beat a Texas team ranked No. 1 in the nation? Can they? Sure-it is possible, but only if the defensive front has an excellent day. Oklahoma ranks No. 5 in sacks and No. 9 in tackles for a loss. If they can dominate the line of scrimmage, there is a chance they will make this game better than it looks on paper. Then again, this rivalry game is often one of the best of the season.
Pick: Oklahoma +15.5
-Travis Pulver
Stanford vs. Notre Dame
Stanford and Notre Dame renew their rivalry with the Cardinal now a member of the ACC. It’s been a rough start to the year, with a solid win over Syracuse that was quickly followed up by back-to-back blowout losses at the hands of Clemson and Virginia Tech. The offense for Stanford has been subpar, managing only 21 points in the last two contests combined. They rank 108th in EPA per play on the offensive end as well and they get no favors in their trip to South Bend. Notre Dame has an elite defense. They’ve allowed 12.6 PPG but are coming off a game where they gave up 24 points to Louisville. The Cardinals have a solid offense, but Notre Dame will look to get that defense back on track and try to shut down the Stanford attack. The Fighting Irish will get their points but with Stanford unlikely to add much on their end, this is a game that looks to go under.
Pick: Under 45.5
-Ryan Rodeman
Cincinnati vs. UCF
This is an interesting matchup. These teams have played up and down to their competition all season long, leading to each entering this week’s game at 3-2. The Bearcats are coming off a 44-41 loss to Texas Tech, but they did have a bye last weekend to recover from the game and prepare for this week. Meanwhile, the Knights have lost two games in a row by double digits. Ultimately, the Bearcats passing attack will be the difference in the game. They rank 23rd in the nation in yards per game, and quarterback Brendan Sorsby has thrown just one interception this season. The Knights are ranked 117th in the country in passing yards allowed. This will be a close contest, and it makes sense the Knights are favored at home, but the Bearcats will keep this within a field goal, and they may even pull off the upset.
Pick: Cincinnati +3.5
-Phil Wood
Arizona vs. BYU
When Arizona's offense is clicking, it is a ton of fun to watch. Noah Fifita is a talented quarterback with a wealth of untapped potential, and he has one of the best wide receivers in the league to work with in Tetairoa McMillan. But the duo have been inconsistent since the opener that saw Fifita throw for 400+ yards, with McMillan accounting for 301 yards. However, BYU's offense has not been very impressive; good enough not to lose games. But good enough to win them? Eh... The Cougars defense is certainly up to the task against Arizona's offense. The Wildcats’ is not great. This matchup should be a pretty competitive game, one I think Arizona can keep close, if not win outright.
Pick: Arizona +3.5
-Travis Pulver
Mississippi State vs. Georgia
Georgia responded to their first loss of the season with a definitive win against Auburn. Carson Beck continues to prove why he'll play on Sundays and prevented turnovers like the game against Bama, and had a 79.3 completion rate. You hope they aren't looking past this week with Texas, Ole Miss, and Tennessee on the horizon because another loss, especially a huge upset, would team them out of the championship. Along with Auburn, Miss State is the only other team without an SEC win. There isn't anything good about this team: second to last in points scored, last in points allowed, and yards allowed. Blake Shapen is out, so it will be Michael Van Buren Jr., who has a 52.8 competition percentage and has yet to throw a touchdown. The Dawgs need another big win before their schedule gets tough. This is such a big number, and anything can happen late in a game, so it would be best to have them with a big lead going into halftime.
Pick: Georgia 1H -20.5
-John Supowitz
Florida vs. Tennessee
What a brutal spot for Tennessee. The Vols return home after being upset on the road against Arkansas but have a massive game against Alabama on deck that could be a College Football Playoff elimination game. However, Tennessee can’t overlook a rivalry renewal with the Florida Gators, who head to Knoxville riding a two-game winning streak against Mississippi State and UCF. The Gators thoroughly dominated a Knights team that came into the season with plenty of hype. And I could see Graham Mertz having another efficient output against a Vols secondary that I’m still not convinced about. On the flip side, I’d expect a much better showing from the Tennessee offense against an unimpressive Gators defense that’s been shredded against Miami and Texas A&M, two offenses with a legitimate pulse. While I’m queasy about laying more than two touchdowns with a Volunteers team that ate some humble pie last week, I do think there could be plenty of scoring.
Pick: Over 56.5
-Matt Barbato
Washington State vs. Fresno State
John Mateer leads the Cougars in both passing and rushing yards this season. He’s in for a huge game tonight against a run defense allowing 156.0 rushing yards per game. The Bulldogs have faced some really good rushing attacks this season, but they haven’t had to take on a dual threat like Mateer yet. Both teams are coming off bye weeks following really bad performances in Week 5. But the Cougars simply have more upside. They have the more impressive wins, and they have the more complete team. With this number set at 3.5, it feels like oddsmakers are trying to bait bettors into taking the home team. Don’t fall for the trap.
Pick: Washington State -3.5
-Phil Wood
North Texas vs. Florida Atlantic
The Mean Green hit the road for Boca Raton, and North Texas brings a high-octane offense with them. UNT has averaged 48.0 PPG in the past two games against Wyoming and Tulsa, and North Texas is good for 35 or more points in four of five games this season, with the exception being a 66-21 loss at Texas Tech. Of course, with that lack of defense, the Over cashed then, too. In fact, the Over is 4-0 in four games for North Texas against FBS opponents, with UNT scoring 44 or more points in three of those games, while allowing 20 or more points in four of five games to date. For FAU, QB Cam Fancher has been dealing with a thumb injury, and he aggravated that ailment against FCS Wagner last season. Redshirt freshman QB Kasen Weisman saw a ton of time, and he was shaky at first, before settling in. FAU has scored 38 or more points in each of the past two games at home. The defense has had some issues, but generally it has been good, except for the UConn game. If Fancher isn’t quite 100 percent, that’s a concern, but even with Weisman, the Owls should be able to move the ball against UNT’s shaky D. And, the Mean Green will have a solid showing on offense, making the Over the expectation.
Pick: Over 59
-Daniel Dobish
Ole Miss vs. LSU
Ole Miss and LSU meet in Death Valley Saturday night in a massive SEC matchup. With both of these teams vying for a CFP spot, winning or losing this game could make their season. The headlines will talk about how these are two elite offenses and that’s true, but I’m focused on the defenses. Ole Miss has been one of the best defenses in the country. They’ve allowed just 7.5 PPG through the first six games of the year and only 11.5 PPG during SEC play. LSU is a different animal than any offense they’ve seen and the Tigers should be able to score some at home, but the total in this game indicates these are average defenses and they aren’t. This is an under play for Saturday night.
Pick: Under 62.5
-Ryan Rodeman
Iowa State vs. West Virginia
Amidst a wild Big 12 conference, Iowa State has emerged as the frontrunner to win the conference crown. The 5-0 Cyclones have taken care of business in their first two conference matchups, soundly defeating Houston and Baylor. But the Cyclones could be facing their toughest test yet traveling to Morgantown to battle a Mountaineers team that’s also 2-0 in conference with wins over Kansas and Oklahoma State, who both happen to be in free fall. This game will come down to the West Virginia ground game, which should find success against a Cyclones run defense allowing more than four yards per clip. Don’t be surprised if the Mountaineers pull off an upset here.
Pick: West Virginia +3
-Matt Barbato
Kansas State vs. Colorado
Both teams are coming in off of bye weeks and having won convincingly the last time they played, Colorado over UCF and K-State over Oklahoma State. So, both will be well-rested and confident. Kansas State has been one of the better rushing teams in the country this year, averaging 252 yards per game. While the Wildcats have a good overall defense, they've struggled to defend against the pass-which Colorado excels at. However, the Buffs may become their own worst enemy if the offensive line can't keep a solid Wildcats pass rush off of Shedeur Sanders. While the Colorado defense has improved, it may struggle against K-State's run game. Colorado has come a long way in the last year, but the Wildcats run game will limit the time Sanders and Travis Huner, the wide receiver, are on the field.
Pick: Kansas State -3.5
-Travis Pulver
Boise State vs. Hawai’i
Hawaii's passing game is coming along, as expected, under head coach Timmy Chang. But Hawaii struggles to run the ball, and a good run game is the best defense against a running back like Ashton Jeanty. He can't score if he's not on the field. But Jeanty will get on the field, and if Hawaii stacks the box enough to slow him down, quarterback Maddux Madsen will make them regret disrespecting the Broncos’ pass game. Hawaii is improving, but they aren't in the same league as Boise State. Jeanty will have the spread covered by halftime.
Pick: Boise State -20.5
-Travis Pulver
Ohio State vs. Oregon
After all of the wild results last week, both of these teams took care of business and slid up the rankings. We get a No. 2 vs. No. 3 battle in this first of many Big Ten meetings between these schools. Ohio State has been powerful, as transfer portal add QB Will Howard and true freshman WR Jeremiah Smith have stood out. But, it’s been the defense also shining in the first two conference games against Michigan State and Iowa, allowing seven points in each win. The offense has gone for 35 or more points, and they should be fine to hit their average against the Ducks. Oregon has been sluggish at times, winning just 24-14 against FCS Idaho, and it averaged 32.5 PPG in wins over Michigan State and UCLA, while allowing 11.5 PPG. That’s not bad, but it’s not dominant. Ohio State has been more dominant against similar teams. What will help Oregon is that it already faced a top talent like Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, and the Ducks managed to escape with a 37-34 win. Oregon has been tested, and it passed, even in a blowout win over rival Oregon State. Ohio State hasn’t really been put to the test yet. This should be a high-scoring game, coming right down to the end, but taking the points with the Ducks is the best bet. Plus, the public is hammering the Buckeyes, which is even more reason to go the other way.
Pick: Oregon +3.5
-Daniel Dobish
Penn State vs. USC
The Nittany Lions will travel cross-country to take on USC. Since the Big Ten expanded this year, these cross-country games have not been kind to the team traveling. Big Ten teams that are playing two time zones over from their home are 1-8 SU. This doesn’t bode well for the favored Penn State. USC should have a good shot in this one but it has more to do with concerns over Penn State. The Nittany Lions haven’t been battle-tested yet this season, and this will be their first road conference game of the year. This should be an excellent matchup but I’ll be backing the home underdog who has been in some big moments already this year.
Pick: USC +4
-Ryan Rodeman
Purdue vs. Illinois
Purdue fired its offensive coordinator after a 28-10 loss to Nebraska. The following week, Purdue lost to Wisconsin, 52-6, and gained just 216 yards with only ten first downs in the entire game. It wasn't Graham Harrell's fault, and it's not new OC Jason Simmons' fault. The bottom line is that Purdue doesn't have enough talent to compete in the Big Ten. Meanwhile, Illinois does. Despite a 21-7 loss to Penn State a couple of weeks ago, Illinois has a terrific pass defense and continues to make tackling look easy. What happens when Purdue gets down? Purdue has to throw the ball. But they won't find much success doing that against Illinois. Take the Fighting Illini at home at -23.
Pick: Illinois -23
-Jason Radowitz
Wisconsin vs. Rutgers
Rutgers went to a tough environment and played Nebraska tight throughout its 14-7 loss last week. It was the Scarlet Knights' first loss of the season. However, it felt like Rutgers could've won that game with better quarterback play. The defense came alive in the second half, but the offense could never find a consistent rhythm. Rutgers got into Nebraska's territory nine times in the first ten drives and returned with no points. But at home, Rutgers is way more likely to limit mistakes and flags and convert on more chances. Meanwhile, Wisconsin took care of business against Purdue, but Purdue is basically the "new" Rutgers. Without Tyler Van Dyke, Wisconsin is rolling with Braedyn Locke at quarterback, who has completed only 55.4% of passes since taking over. Give me Rutgers at home at -1.5.
Pick: Rutgers -1.5
-Jason Radowitz
Washington vs. Iowa
There probably should be more hype around this game than there is. Iowa is coming off a loss against Ohio State but already has a win against Minnesota, who knocked off USC last week. On the other hand, Washington is coming off a ten-point win against Michigan and is now 2-1 in Big Ten play to start the season. Both teams have extraordinary secondaries. In addition, both teams rarely miss tackles on the defensive end. On the offensive side of the ball, both teams have reliable running backs and veteran quarterbacks. To me, the difference is special teams. Iowa always comes up big in special teams, and Washington's kicker, Grady Gross, has really struggled to make field goals. Every field goal attempt will be massive in this low-scoring defensive battle. I'll back Iowa at home at -3.
Pick: Iowa -3
-Jason Radowitz