College Football Odds Week 7: Picks Against the Spread and Score Predictions
The Oklahoma Sooners have not announced their starting quarterback for the Week 7 clash with the TCU Horned Frogs.
All signs are pointing toward Caleb Williams taking over for Spencer Rattler, just like he did in the second half against the Texas Longhorns.
Oklahoma's offense looked much better with Williams at the helm last Saturday. The freshman could provide a boost to the unit moving forward to help the Sooners make a run at the College Football Playoff.
Saturday's game is the first of five in a row against unranked Big 12 opponents for the Sooners. If they go on a run with Williams under center, Oklahoma will be one of the last undefeated teams.
Oklahoma and the other teams in the Top Five of the AP Top 25 poll are all double-digit favorites in Week 7.
The Alabama Crimson Tide are the only squad within the group looking to bounce back off a defeat. Nick Saban's side could be in good shape to do so and cover the spread against an average Mississippi State Bulldogs squad.
Week 7 Schedule and Odds
1 of 3
Friday, October 15
California at No. 9 Oregon (-13.5) (Over/Under: 54.5) (10:30 p.m., ESPN)
No. 24 San Diego State (-9.5) at San Jose State (O/U: 41) (10:30 p.m., CBSSN)
Saturday, October 16
UCF at No. 3 Cincinnati (-21) (O/U: 57.5) (Noon, ABC)
No. 10 Michigan State (-4.5) at Indiana (O/U: 48.5) (Noon, FS1)
No. 12 Oklahoma State at No. 25 Texas (-5) (O/U: 60.5) (Noon, Fox)
Auburn at No. 17 Arkansas (-5.5) (O/U: 53.5) (Noon, CBS)
No. 20 Florida (-12) at LSU (O/U: 60) (Noon, ESPN)
No. 21 Texas A&M (-8.5) at Missouri (O/U: 59.5) (Noon, SEC Network)
No. 11 Kentucky at No. 1 Georgia (-23) (O/U: 44.5) (3:30 p.m., CBS)
Purdue at No. 2 Iowa (-11.5) (O/U: 43) (3:30 p.m., ABC)
No. 19 BYU at Baylor (-6.5) (O/U: 50.5) (3:30 p.m., ESPN)
No. 5 Alabama (-17) at Mississippi State (O/U: 57.5) (7 p.m., ESPN)
TCU at No. 4 Oklahoma (-13.5) (O/U: 65) (7:30 p.m., ABC)
No. 13 Ole Miss (-2.5) at Tennessee (O/U: 82) (7:30 p.m., SEC Network)
No. 22 NC State (-3) at Boston College (O/U: 52) (7:30 p.m., ACC Network)
No. 18 Arizona State (-1) at Utah (O/U: 50.5) (10 p.m., ESPN)
Predictions against the spread in bold.
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook. All Times ET.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL).
Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or call or text the TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789 (TN).
21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN only. In partnership with Meadows Racetrack & Casino. Eligibility restrictions apply. See draftkings.com/sportsbook for details.
TCU at No. 7 Oklahoma (-13.5)
2 of 3
Oklahoma head coach Lincoln Riley should have seen enough from Caleb Williams to install him as the team's starting quarterback for Saturday.
According to OU Daily's Mason Young and Austin Curtwright, Williams took a majority of the snaps with the first-team wide receivers in Tuesday's practice.
After that report was published, Riley opted to cancel media availability for the rest of the week, per KOCO's Carson Cunningham.
Riley's decision to withhold that information only adds fuel to the speculation that Williams will start.
If he is the starter, Oklahoma should have an explosive offense that takes advantage of an average TCU defense.
The Sooners scored 35 second-half points against Texas with Williams in charge. The freshman leading the Sooners to a victory over one of their biggest rivals should be enough to earn him the job moving forward.
TCU comes into Memorial Stadium with an average of 429.2 yards allowed per game. The Horned Frogs allowed over 30 points to each of their last four opponents.
Gary Patterson's team may not have the firepower to stay with Oklahoma.
Quarterback Max Duggan and running back Zach Evans are both listed as questionable, per The Athletic. Evans did not play much of the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders last week.
Even if Duggan and Evans are on the field, there is no guarantee they will be 100 percent. They will also be going up against an Oklahoma defense that allowed 29 points in its last three true home games.
If the Sooners revert back to their tight defense in Norman, TCU could be in for a rough night under the lights.
Prediction: Oklahoma 42, TCU 17
No. 5 Alabama (-17) at Mississippi State
3 of 3
Not many people will feel bad for the Alabama Crimson Tide losing one game. Most programs across the FBS would be desperate just to have one season like the last decade the Tide have had.
A lot of people could feel bad for what is in store for Mississippi State, as it has to face Alabama off a loss.
The Crimson Tide could take all of their frustration from the Texas A&M loss out on the Bulldogs, who beat Alabama's victors before their Week 6 bye.
Mississippi State might have benefited from the off week if Alabama beat A&M and entered Davis-Wade Stadium in a letdown spot, but that is far from the case on Saturday.
Alabama still put up 38 points in its defeat, and Bryce Young has led the unit to 44.3 points per game across six contests.
Conversely, Mississippi State has not been as dynamic as a typical Mike Leach offense. The Bulldogs average 27.8 points per game, and they possess a one-sided offense. They average 372.4 passing yards and 56.2 rushing yards per game.
Alabama allows fewer than 200 passing yards per game. If it shuts down Mississippi State's passing game, it could run away with a victory.
Add in the fact that Alabama has played well off in-season losses in recent times, and it could be a rough four quarters for the Bulldogs.
Since 2017, the Crimson Tide have outscored opponents 97-29 in three games that occurred after losses in the same season. The average margin of victory in those matchups was 22.6 points.
Prediction: Alabama 41, Mississippi State 17
