College Football Picks Week 7: Odds, Predictions, Schedule, Rankings for Top 25
Week 7 of the 2022 college football season is the most important one yet.
A pair of Top 10 matchups from the Big Ten and SEC headline a Saturday that could separate the College Football Playoff contenders from pretenders.
The Tennessee Volunteers have the most to prove Saturday. The undefeated sixth-ranked Vols welcome the Alabama Crimson Tide to Neyland Stadium.
Alabama is still one of two teams to beat in the SEC, along with the Georgia Bulldogs, but it has shown flaws in some of its most important games in 2022. The Crimson Tide are also dealing with the shoulder injury of Bryce Young. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner did not play in the win over the Texas A&M Aggies in Week 6.
The Big Ten should eliminate one of its three playoff contenders on Saturday, when the Penn State Nittany Lions visit the Michigan Wolverines.
The showdown at Michigan Stadium will be important for both sides since they have only played one quality opponent between them through the first six weeks.
The title races in the Big 12 and Pac-12 will also earn more clarity Saturday. The teams that emerge victorious from the top games should be heavily involved in the playoff discussion.
Week 7 Schedule and Odds
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Saturday, Oct. 15
No. 10 Penn State at No. 5 Michigan (-7) (noon ET, Fox)
Auburn at No. 9 Ole Miss (-15.5) (noon ET, ESPN)
No. 19 Kansas at Oklahoma (-7) (noon ET, ESPN2)
Iowa State at No. 22 Texas (-14) (noon ET, ABC)
Minnesota (-3.5) at No. 24 Illinois (noon ET, BTN)
Vanderbilt at No. 1 Georgia (-38) (3:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
No. 3 Alabama (-7.5) at No. 6 Tennessee (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)
No. 8 Oklahoma State at No. 13 TCU (-3.5) (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
No. 15 NC State at No. 19 Syracuse (-5) (3:30 p.m. ET, ACC Network)
No. 25 James Madison (-10) at Georgia Southern (4 p.m. ET, ESPN+)
No. 4 Clemson (-4.5) at Florida State (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)
No. 16 Mississippi State (-6.5) at No. 22 Kentucky (7:30 p.m. ET, SEC Network)
No. 7 USC at No. 20 Utah (-3.5) (8 p.m. ET, Fox)
No. 10 Penn State at No. 5 Michigan (-7)
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Penn State and Michigan each need to pass their first major test in the Big Ten East to keep their playoff aspirations alive.
Both teams still have to play the Ohio State Buckeyes, and the margin for error will be much smaller for the team that leaves Michigan Stadium with a loss.
Michigan's defense has been a bit more impressive. The Wolverines give up 11.3 points per game and 247.0 total yards per contest. Penn State comes in with a defense that allowed 14.8 points and 341.8 total yards per game through five contests.
Both rushing defenses have allowed under 82 rushing yards per game. Regardless of which team wins, the game could be a low-scoring affair.
Neither team hit the 30-point mark in the previous three meetings between the Wolverines and Nittany Lions. Only three point totals over 30 have been reached in the matchup dating back to 2014.
Michigan appears to have the advantage because it is at home. The Wolverines passed a small test on the road against the Iowa Hawkeyes two weeks ago in which they allowed just 14 points.
Michigan pulled away from Iowa and the Indiana Hoosiers to wins of 13 and 21 points in the last two weeks. Penn State sleepwalked through a 33-14 win over Central Michigan and it struggled to move the ball on a consistent basis in a 17-7 victory over Northwestern.
Michigan's slightly better amount of success on offense could give it the edge and the clear No. 2 spot behind Ohio State in the Big Ten.
No. 3 Alabama (-7.5) at No. 6 Tennesseee
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Alabama-Tennessee has the potential to be the most exciting game of the college football season.
The Crimson Tide come into Neyland Stadium at 6-0 with a few notable victories in tight contests. They survived a one-point win over the Texas Longhorns in Week 2 and battled through turnovers in a four-point victory over the Texas A&M Aggies.
Alabama survived its last upset bid from Texas A&M without Bryce Young on the field. Young's status may not be revealed until later in the week.
Alabama with Young on the field may be favored by more than 7.5 points against its one of its rivals from the SEC East.
Tennessee has everything to prove in the contest. The Vols have passed every test this season with flying colors, but Alabama represents a large step up in competition from beating the Florida Gators and LSU Tigers.
Josh Heupel's team needs yet another fast start to make Alabama feel uncomfortable and to put pressure on Young if he starts that could potentially result in a few mistakes.
Tennessee could have a larger chance of beating Alabama if Young is still out and Jalen Milroe starts. Milroe fumbled twice and was intercepted once against Texas A&M.
If Alabama cleans up its turnover issue from last week, it could only give Tennessee a few chances to score in each half.
The Crimson Tide defense allows 250.8 total yards per game and it could take away some parts of the passing game that typically thrive with Hendon Hooker at the helm. The Vols average 547.8 total yards per game.
Alabama is still the better team, and you typically never get it as a 7.5-point favorite, but you may want to wait to bet on the game until Young's playing status becomes a bit clearer.
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