College Football Week 7 Expert Picks, Predictions For Ohio State-Indiana And More

Can No. 4 Ohio State avenge its Big Ten championship game loss to No. 5 Indiana on “Big Noon Kickoff”? Will No. 6 Alabama bounce back against No. 14 Tennessee after a loss to No. 1 Georgia? Elsewhere, a College Football Playoff spot could be on the line when No. 2 Notre Dame visits No. 8 BYU. Austin Simmons leads No. 13 Missouri against his former team, No. 9 Ole Miss. With six matchups between Associated Press Top 25 opponents, Week 7 of the college football season might feature the most exciting slate of the season. We’re breaking down our straight-up picks and the matchups to watch closely throughout the weekend. When: Saturday, noon ET (FOX)Where: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, IndianaLine: Ohio State -3.5 RJ Young: Ohio StateThe best player in the sport is Jeremiah Smith, and Ohio State coach Ryan Day should not be shy about reminding Indiana about that. Laken Litman: Ohio StateThis is my answer for nearly every Ohio State game: The Buckeyes have Jeremiah Smith and Indiana doesn’t. Ben Portnoy: IndianaOK, fine, this is probably a bit of a homer pick. I took the Hoosiers to win the Big Ten at the start of the season and I can’t stray from that, right? Right. Give me Curt Cignetti’s squad in the biggest home game in the history of Indiana football. When: Saturday, noon ET (ESPN)Where: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, LouisianaLine: LSU -14.5 Young: LSUMississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor won’t be 100% healthy even if he plays on Saturday. Advantage, LSU. Litman: LSUThe Tigers will rebound at home after an upset loss to Kentucky in overtime last week. Plus, Mississippi State quarterback Kamario Taylor’s status is still uncertain. Portnoy: LSUKamario Taylor is still on the mend and while the spread feels pretty big for a matchup of two top-25 teams, I have a hard time seeing the Bulldogs pull this one out. I’ll take LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt to get right against what’s been just a mediocre Mississippi State defense. When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)Where: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, TennesseeLine: Alabama -7.5 Young: AlabamaThe Crimson Tide have the better quarterback and wide receiver room. Tennessee must run the ball well to win. Litman: AlabamaEven after last week’s loss to Georgia, Alabama looks like a team that could win it all. The Crimson Tide are not going to lose two in a row, especially not against a Tennessee team led by backup quarterback George MacIntyre. Portnoy: AlabamaNothing complicated about this one. Tennessee has real problems at quarterback and absolutely nothing the Vols put on tape last week against Arkansas makes me think they’re up for this challenge. Bama rolls big. When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (FOX)Where: Galaxy Stadium, Lubbock, TexasLine: Texas Tech -14.5 Young: Texas TechTexas Tech has flirted with disaster enough to make me feel nervous, but I think the Red Raiders have an answer for ASU running back Cardae Mack. Litman: Texas TechIn a heated Big 12 race, Texas Tech stays unbeaten with a decisive win over an inconsistent ASU team. Portnoy: Texas TechArizona State and quarterback Cutter Boley have had their moments and I still think Texas Tech is hardly a shoo-in for the Big 12 title, but the Red Raiders are just the more talented team in this one. When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network)Where: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, MississippiLine: Ole Miss -5.5 Young: MissouriRunning back Jamal Roberts has rushed for at least 200 yards in back-to-back games and quarterback Austin Simmons is good enough to exploit Ole Miss’ leaky secondary. Litman: MissouriThe Tigers surprise Ole Miss on the road and further cement themselves as a legit SEC contender. Portnoy: Ole MissI know Ole Miss got run by Florida a few weeks back, but I still think quarterback Trinidad Chambliss is one of the five best players in the sport this year. Austin Simmons has been awesome for Missouri and I think he’ll find success against a bad Rebels defense, but Chambliss will make one more play down the stretch to win a shootout. When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)Where: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, UtahLine: Notre Dame -10.5 Young: Notre DameBYU will play its biggest game of the season without star tailback and 2025 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year LJ Martin. I’ll take Notre Dame. Litman: Notre DameIn both of these teams’ first true test, Fighting Irish quarterback CJ Carr outduels the Cougars’ Bear Bachmeier and removes any doubt that Notre Dame is a real threat to compete for the CFP title. Portnoy: Notre DameSimply put, I don’t think BYU has enough firepower without running back LJ Martin to get over the hump here. Notre Dame has been a touch shaky in spurts this fall, but I expect the Irish to handle the Cougars relatively comfortably in this one. When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network)Where: Memorial Stadium, Norman, OklahomaLine: Oklahoma -6.5 Young: KentuckyThe Sooners can’t consistently move the ball offensively, and Kentucky has shown it can win close games late. Litman: KentuckyThis is a letdown game for OU after a massive win over Texas last week, while coach Will Stein and Kentucky earn a third SEC road win. Portnoy: KentuckyOklahoma might have won the “Red River Rivalry”, but that had far more to do with the horrific play of Texas quarterback Arch Manning down the stretch than anything the Sooners did. Kentucky has won its last two by the skin of its teeth, but the Wildcat offense is simply a far more effective operation right now. When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (FOX)Where: TDECU Stadium, Houston, TexasLine: Houston -4.5 Young: Oklahoma StateThe Cowboys are just too explosive, and the Cougars can’t win a shootout. Litman: Oklahoma StateIn a game with huge Big 12 standing implications, Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker gets the better of Houston’s Conner Weigman and the Cowboys win their fifth consecutive game. Portnoy: Oklahoma StateDrew Mestemaker has come on strong following whatever it is Oklahoma State did when it lost to Tulsa earlier this year. Houston should keep this close down to the wire, but I’ll take the Cowboys offense to be the difference. When: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (NBC)Where: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CaliforniaLine: UCLA -2.5 Young: WisconsinThe Badgers have won four game in a row and will play a UCLA team that needed seven turnovers to win by two points against an Oregon team that started its backup quarterback last weekend. Litman: UCLABruins quarterback Nico Iamaleava is reportedly expected to miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, but backup Ty Dieffenbach does enough to keep the offense rolling. UCLA remains undefeated. Portnoy: UCLAI know Nico Iamaleava is out for the season, but I’m not altogether sure how much that will matter for a UCLA offense that has lived and died by running back Wayne Knight. Wisconsin is riding a high and I like the pieces Luke Fickell has compiled, but I’m giving coach Bob Chesney’s bunch the benefit of the doubt. When: Saturday, 11:00 p.m. ET (FOX)Where: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, OregonLine: Oregon -7 Young: NebraskaWith quarterback Dante Moore ruled out, Nebraska has the edge. Litman: NebraskaNebraska had Indiana on the rails last week before the defending champs pulled away in the fourth quarter. The Huskers will rebound from the loss against a reeling Oregon team that’s trying to keep its season alive. Portnoy: NebraskaDylan Raiola was a disaster last week against UCLA and considering what Nebraska showed against Indiana, I like the Huskers defense to be disruptive in this one. Matt Rhule finally gets a marquee win.