Last Saturday I was at a family wedding, waiting in line at the bar, when I noticed another guy checking his betting app. When I asked how he was feeling, he complained to Alabama. Well, screw uphis settlement.
Instead, the seemingly lackluster performance of Week 6 demonstrated why there are no bad weekends in college football, as many have pointed out in recent days. It was also a reminder not to dismiss a matchup based solely on the size of the gamble, especially in conference play (Alabama was a 23.5-point favorite for Vanderbilt). in the NFL–a dominant landscape where double-digit favorites are rare, it's easy to forget how volatile such wide spreads can be in college football. Until Alabama ruins your deal.
Let's rank the top 10 games of Week 7, starting with the standouts and counting down.
Distinction: Washington at Iowa, Wisconsin at Rutgers, Cincinnati at UCF, Stanford at No. 11 Notre Dame, Louisville at Virginia, Memphis at USF, Arizona at No. 14 BYU, Florida at No. 8 Tennessee, Vanderbilt at Kentucky
(All point spreads are provided by BetMGM; slam Here for live odds. Stream college football is Fubo. All start times are Eastern and Saturday unless otherwise noted.)
10. Kal (3-2) pod nr 22 Pitta (5-0), 15:30, FuboESPN
Show some respect for the Pitt Panthers, who finished in the top 20 this week and are 5-0 for the first time since 1991. Quarterback Eli Holstein, a transfer from Alabama, looks to be one of the top picks in the portal business this offseason. He's eighth in the FBS with an average of 313.4 passing yards per game and the first Pitt QB to win his first five starts since Dan Marino in 1979. Add in running back Desmond Reid and first-year offensive coordinator Kade Bell, and the offense has new look. made Pitt one of the first surprises of 2024. Cal and Kalgorytm went on a cross-country trek, looking to bounce back from the ups and downs of last Saturday's “College GameDay” atmosphere and Miami's late-night collapse.
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Line: Pitta -3
9. No. 17 Boise State (4-1) at Hawaii (2-3), at 11 p.m., FuboCBS Sports Network
Ashton Jeanty is reason enough to tune in to Boise State. The running back and Heisman hopeful leads the FBS with 1,031 rushing yards — 260 yards more than the nearest player — and 16 rushing touchdowns, averaging 10.9 yards per carry. That's in addition to the fact that the Broncos are in pole position among Group 5 programs for a playoff spot. Boise's offense ranks third in the FBS with an average of 8 yards per play (matching Jeanty's poor passing) and first at 50.6 points per game. That should be enough to deal with a Hawaii team that has yet to record an FBS win. The Rainbow Warriors were decent defensively. And with a bye week on the horizon followed by a trip to UNLV, the Broncos can't afford to get caught up in looking to the future.
Line: Stan Boise -20.5
8. No. 16 Utah (4-1) at Arizona State (4-1), Friday, at 10:30 p.m., FuboESPN
Not to be confused with the other Big 12 game that features a ranked team from Utah against a team from Arizona, but this game takes the top spot on our list. The Utes, preseason Big 12 favorites, will look to avoid a second conference loss on the road to the surprisingly feisty Sun Devils, a team defying its last place position in the league's preseason poll. Cam Rising's ongoing injury story continues as well, with Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham once again being non-conclusive on the quarterback's status for Saturday. The Big 12 race is already looking like the tie everyone expected, but two losses this early would seriously hamper Utah's conference title ambitions.
Line: Utah -5,5
7. South Carolina (3-2) at No. 7 Alabama (4-1), noon, FuboABC
Big moment for the Tide. How will they respond to a home loss at Vanderbilt Stadium to very hot and cold South Carolina? The Gamecocks beat Kentucky, should have beaten LSU, and then last Saturday against Liverpool, Olu Pani only scored three points at home. But that's all about lowly Alabama, which features a defense that has been gashed since halftime against Georgia. A loss to Vanderbilt will not only draw attention to Alabama, but will also instill in every team it faces this season a confidence that opponents tend to lack when Nick Saban is on the sideline. Kalen DeBoer's lineup of both Tennessee and Missouri awaits on the other side of this, but first it must prove it can withstand scrutiny and bounce back.
Line: Alabama -21.5
6. No. 18 Stan Kansas (4-1) at Colorado (4-1), 22:15, FuboESPN
Marquee, Colorado's primetime TV window against a ranked opponent that's sure to draw a significant number of viewers – get ready for something crazy. Both teams will have bye weeks before Kansas State pulled off a big league win in the best performance of quarterback Avery Johnson's young career, and the Buffs had arguably the best all-around game of the Deion Sanders era. This matchup is another critical one for the Big 12 race; Much like Utah, the Wildcats need to avoid a second conference loss, and a win will establish Colorado as a legitimate contender for the league crown. And if recent history is any indication, expect Travis Hunter to do something that will enhance his Heisman resume.
Line: Stan Kansas -3.5
5. No. 11 Iowa State (5-0) at West Virginia (3-2), at 20:00, FuboNov
Iowa sits quietly at the edge of the top 10, taking care of business expertly while chaos reigns elsewhere. The Cyclones typically rely on defense under Matt Campbell, and this year's unit is once again one of the best in the country. But a balanced attack carries this team into playoff contention, led by redshirt sophomore point guard Rocco Becht and a pair of game-winning players in Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins. West Virginia will look to play offense a week after rushing for nearly 400 yards against opposing Oklahoma State — and during the first-ever Coal Rush game in the new black alternate uniforms.
Line: Stan Iowa -3
4. Nr 4 Stan Penn (5-0) w USC (3-2), 15:30, FuboCBS
It looks like it will be a huge game for both teams to prove it. USC after a defeat against, among others, dropped out of the top 25 Minnesota, but if Penn State can fly across the country and pick up a win against a familiar opponent, it will solidify its top-five rankings and improve the team's Big Ten chances, as Ohio State at home is the only currently ranked opponent remaining on the schedule. For the Trojans, a third loss would essentially put Lincoln Riley's season under the microscope. However, a Top 5 win keeps Playoff hopes alive. Our Lady is close to the end of the regular season, but not Ohio State Or Oregon (Or Indiana!) in league play.
Line: Stan Penn -4
3. No. 9 Ole Miss (5-1) at No. 13 LSU (4-1), at 7:30 p.m., FuboABC
This could be an incendiary: Both offenses rank in the top 20 nationally in yards per play. However, Ole Miss hasn't been as efficient in the last two games, going a combined 4-of-23 in the third down loss to Kentucky and the win over South Carolina, while rushing just 3.3 yards per rush over them. two games. The Rebels must rediscover top gear in the raucous Tigers' stadium. Aside from a narrow escape in South Carolina, LSU hasn't had much testing outside of a season-opening loss to USC and could use a quality win. Winners will remain at the top of the SEC and Playoff Contenders rankings for another week, while losers will be relegated to the Pretenders bin.
Line: Close Life -3
2. No. 1 Texas (5-0) vs. No. 18 Oklahoma (4-1), 3:30 p.m., FuboABC
Only a top-five finish allowed the Red River team to stay in first place, but in recent years this run has rarely disappointed. Nine of the last 11 games, including the 2018 Big 12 Championship in 2018, have been decided by one point, though Oklahoma has won eight of those 11, including a quadruple overtime victory in 2020 and last year's last-minute loss. The two will face off in Dallas in the 120th installment of the rivalry and for the first time as SEC foes. Quinn Ewers is back at quarterback for Texas after missing more than two games, and his experience could prove crucial against the Sooners' aggressive defense and its league-leading plus eight turnovers.
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Texas will start Quinn Ewers against Oklahoma
Line: Texas -14.5
1. No. 2 Ohio State (5-0) at No. 3 Oregon (5-0) at 7:30 p.m., FuboNBC
Our last top-five matchup was a blitz classic against Georgia at Alabama a few weeks ago, so this game has a lot to offer. Oregon and Ohio State are facing each other as conference opponents for the first time after the Ducks won the last tilt in Columbus in 2021, the program's only win over the Buckeyes in 10 tries. There are serious implications for the Big Ten and the CFP that should provide a much-needed litmus test for both. Ohio State started 5-0 with Marshall scoring his most points all season against the Buckeyes with 14. Oregon's road wasn't as smooth, including a last-second victory over Boise State. The offense has been playing better lately, but remains below the high standards set by the Ducks last season. Saturday should provide an answer to the question of whether Ohio State is higher in the Big Ten or if Oregon is a legitimate national title contender.
Line: Stan Ohio -3,5
(Photo of Ohio State running back TreVeyon Henderson by Ian Johnson/Sportswire Icon via Getty Images)
