College football spread picks, Week 7: Ohio State-Oregon, Texas-Oklahoma and more

PHEWWW, what’s now known as “Upset Saturday” in the college football world was a wild one. Five of the top-11 teams went down, parity in the sport seems more present than ever and we here at For The Win have done a decent job at predicting the future. Mostly.

Across the board, we were unanimously correct picking Navy and Clemson to cover, and we were all very wrong in thinking South Carolina would hold its own against Ole Miss. The thing is, we unfortunately cannot actually predict the future.

After Week 6 picks, Blake Schuster has surged to the top of the standings with his 7-3 record each of the last two weeks, so we’re all chasing him.

Looking at the Week 7 slate, we have a few ranked-versus-ranked matchups on our list, highlighted by No. 2 Ohio State at No. 3 Oregon.

So here are our 10 college football picks against the spread for Week 7. Tail responsibly, and best of luck out there.

Name	Last Week	YTD
Blake Schuster	7-3	37-27
Christian D’Andrea	4-6	35-29
Michelle Martinelli	5-5	35-29
Mitchell Northam	5-5	32-32
Tyler Nettuno	4-6	31-33

All odds via BetMGM

No. 16 Utah at Arizona State, Friday, 10:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Opening Line: Utah -5.5

Blake Schuster: Arizona State +6.5

This feels like a big week for home underdogs. Arizona State is having a sneaky great season, and the temperature in Tempe should be higher than 100 degrees around kickoff. Give me the points, and watch Cam Skattebo go to work.

Mitchell Northam: Arizona State +6.5

Is Cam Rising back? Until he is, I don’t think Utah should be taken seriously as contenders.

Christian D’Andrea: Arizona State +6.5

Maybe Cam Rising plays, maybe he doesn’t. The Sun Devils can cover either way.

Michelle Martinelli: Arizona State +6.5

Utah probably still comes away with the win, but it’s certainly not playing like the powerhouse many of us expected this season without Cam Rising. Don’t have a ton of faith in the Sun Devils’ defense, but their offense could match Utah point for point.

Tyler Nettuno: Arizona State +6.5

I just don’t care about this Utah team until Cam Rising comes back. Whether or not that’s this week remains to be seen, but assuming it’s not, an improved Sun Devils team should at least keep this one close enough to cover in what I expect will be a low-scoring game.

South Carolina at No. 7 Alabama, Saturday, noon ET on ABC/ESPN+

Opening Line: Alabama -21.5

Blake Schuster: Alabama -21.5

The Tide don’t have my full trust again just yet, but I trust Gamecocks even less. LaNorris Sellers may turn into a stud in a year or two, but South Carolina needs more than a QB with more interceptions than touchdown passes to hang with the Tide in Tuscaloosa.

Mitchell Northam: Alabama -21.5

I might pick the Gamecocks if this game was in Columbia, but it feels like the Crimson Tide will try to send a message with a big home win after being upset by Vandy.

Christian D’Andrea: Alabama -21.5

The Gamecocks are nice. Not Vanderbilt-nice, mind you.

Michelle Martinelli: Alabama -21.5

Let’s try this again with the Crimson Tide again as three-touchdown favorites.

Tyler Nettuno: Alabama -21.5

The Tide clearly have some problems, as teams that lose to Vanderbilt usually do. But I don’t think the Gamecocks have the offensive firepower to test this defense the way that the Commodores did.

No. 1 Texas at No. 18 Oklahoma, Saturday in Dallas, 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN+

Opening Line: Texas -8.5

Blake Schuster: Oklahoma +14.5

There will be some nerves on both sides here. Texas couldn’t have asked for a better time to have a bye week as Week 6 saw a number of top teams fall, but it may take a minute for Quinn Ewers to find his rhythm after missing three weeks with an abdomen injury. Beyond that, it’s just far too many points to lay in a heated rivalry game.

Mitchell Northam: Oklahoma +14.5

I feel like Texas is capable of covering this spread, but this game always seems to be whacky and close.

Christian D’Andrea: Texas -14.5

My math suggests a 10-point loss to Tennessee at home is equal to a 15-point loss to Texas on a neutral field.

Michelle Martinelli: Oklahoma +14.5

Texas is definitely 15 points better than Oklahoma, which is looking messy with one of the worst defenses so far and giving up more yards than it’s gaining. But the Red River Rivalry is far from any other game, and this spread is too big.

Tyler Nettuno: Oklahoma +14.5

The Longhorns are the much better team, especially with Quinn Ewers potentially poised to return. But crazy things happen in Red River, and this spread is just too big against a Sooners defense that I think is pretty nice.

No. 4 Penn State at USC, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS/Paramount+

Opening Line: Penn State -4.5

Blake Schuster: Penn State -5.5

This is a clear let-down spot for Penn State after waltzing over UCLA at home. But the Nittany Lions’ strong run game is reliable enough to keep them up a score at the final whistle.

Mitchell Northam: Penn State -4.5

USC is a pretender.

Christian D’Andrea: USC +5.5

The Trojans got embarrassed by a not-great Minnesota team last week, but I think we may be overvaluing Penn State a bit on the road.

Michelle Martinelli: USC +5.5

Even though it’s still undefeated, Penn State hasn’t really looked all that dominant this season, especially on offense, which has been starting slowly against quality opponents. The Nittany Lions’ defense is there, and USC has been inconsistent at best. But I think Penn State is in for a reality check against an opponent it should unquestionably beat.

Tyler Nettuno: Penn State -5.5

I don’t love this pick, especially with the Nittany Lions traveling across the country. But I love this Trojans team even less after it managed just 17 points against Minnesota. We’ll need to see more out of the offense for Penn State to win this game and cover, but I think it’s capable of getting that.

Cal at No. 22 Pitt, Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN

Opening Line: Pitt -2.5

Blake Schuster: Pitt -3.5

I love Jaydn Ott, but Pitt is so legit. Why aren’t we talking about Pitt more?

Mitchell Northam: Pitt -3.5

I’m a bit scared of picking a Pat Narduzzi team to win its sixth game in a row, especially against a team capable of causing chaos like Cal. But Eli Holstein and this offense are legit good.

Christian D’Andrea: Pitt -3.5

That’s a long trip into the Eastern time zone, especially for a team that lost to Florida State.

Michelle Martinelli: Pitt -3.5

Pitt is rocking right now with an average of 521.6 yards per game — fourth-most in FBS play — and an offensive line that hasn’t been giving up as many sacks as earlier in the season. Cal held its own against Miami, but I think it loses here by a touchdown or so.

Tyler Nettuno: Pitt -3.5

In spite of a valiant losing effort against Miami, I think this Cal team is pretty flawed. The Panthers look much more complete with an ascendent offense led by Eli Holstein, and they benefit from the cross-country ACC travel dilemma in this one.

No. 2 Ohio State at No. 3 Oregon, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC/Peacock

Opening Line: Oregon -1

Blake Schuster: Oregon +3.5

If this game were in Ohio, I’d be all over the Buckeyes. But this is a sweet spot for a home underdog against a visiting team that hasn’t been tested by a real offense yet.

Mitchell Northam: Oregon +3.5

The Ducks are getting points at home?

Christian D’Andrea: Oregon +3.5

That .5 points really feels significant here.

Michelle Martinelli: Oregon +3.5

This feels like a defensive showdown in what will be the biggest challenge for both teams to date — and maybe through the rest of the season. The clear Big Ten frontrunners, their only common opponent was Michigan State, and Ohio State won by 31 points while Oregon won by 21. In theory, the Buckeyes should win. But with the travel distance and home-field advantage, I think the Ducks pull out a victory.

Tyler Nettuno: Ohio State -3.5

It’s been easy to forget about Ohio State entirely given the Buckeyes laughable early season slate. But Oregon has also managed to avoid the spotlight thanks to a mixture of Peacock and late-night kicks, and if you’ve watched the Ducks, you’ve seen a team that’s been a bit iffy to start the year (relatively speaking). Ohio State is my preseason national title pick, and it’s going to prove why in its first real test on the road.

No. 9 Ole Miss at No. 13 LSU, Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC/ESPN+

Opening Line: LSU -2.5

Blake Schuster: LSU +3.5

Why is LSU getting points at home? This is a nightmare game for Ole Miss fans.

Mitchell Northam: LSU +3.5

Ole Miss hasn’t won in Baton Rouge in nearly two decades.

Christian D’Andrea: LSU +3.5

That’s a lot of points to lay on the road. The Tigers aren’t great, but nutty things happen in the Bayou.

Michelle Martinelli: LSU +3.5

This game feels chaotic already, like it’ll come down to the last drive regardless. I keep going back and forth, so let’s go with the home team.

Tyler Nettuno: LSU +3.5

This one has all the makings of another shootout, but Ole Miss hasn’t won a game at Death Valley since 2008. I think that streak extends on Saturday night.

No. 18 Kansas State at Colorado, Saturday, 10:15 p.m. ET on ESPN

Opening Line: Kansas State -6.5

Blake Schuster: Colorado +4

It’s about time for some Big 12 chaos. Colorado solidifying it’s position in the conference title race amid Travis Hunter’s Heisman Trophy race? Oh yeah, that’s the good stuff.

Mitchell Northam: Colorado +4

The Buffs had an extra week off to prepare for this game. Let’s see if Deion is as good of a coach as he thinks he is.

Christian D’Andrea: Kansas State -4

Colorado has the chops to play with anyone but struggles when its lines are tested. And Kansas State is all about big meaty men slappin’ meat.

Michelle Martinelli: Colorado +4

The Buffs are showing they can win at home and on the road, but Travis Hunter keeps leading this team and making his Heisman case regardless.

Tyler Nettuno: Kansas State -4

The Wildcats are disappointing, and Colorado is much better than I thought it would be. But I don’t think the Buffs are quite built to win a game against a team like Kansas State yet, even at home.

Vanderbilt at Kentucky, Saturday, 7:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network

Opening Line: Kentucky -11.5

Blake Schuster: Vanderbilt +13.5

STOP GIVING VANDY POINTS. THIS TEAM FEEDS ON YOUR DISAPPROVAL.

Mitchell Northam: Vanderbilt +13.5

What is this line?

Christian D’Andrea: Vanderbilt +13.5

How did this line swing two points in UK’s favor after last week? Did oddsmakers assume Diego Pavia never stopped drinking after Saturday?

Michelle Martinelli: Vanderbilt +13.5

I resent having to make this pick, and there’s a good chance Vanderbilt makes me regret it. But between the Commodores’ high from last week’s monumental upset and Kentucky coming off a bye, I say the Wildcats win but by, like, 12, not two touchdowns.

Tyler Nettuno: Kentucky -13.5

I think the emotion of Saturday’s win will catch up with the Commodores here against a Wildcats team that specializes in playing games on its own terms. It did that against Georgia and Ole Miss, and I think the same should happen here with Kentucky pulling away late to cover.

Florida at No. 8 Tennessee, Saturday, 7 p.m. ET on ESPN

Opening Line: Tennessee -10

Blake Schuster: Tennessee -15.5

The Vols need a massive bounce-back game to rejoin the playoff race. Dylan Sampson might run Florida into the ground.

Mitchell Northam: Tennessee -15.5

Much like Alabama, the Vols are coming off a game they shouldn’t have lost and will aim to send a message.

Christian D’Andrea: Tennessee -15.5

Oh, the Vols are big-mad right about now.

Michelle Martinelli: Tennessee -15.5

Zero confidence in this Florida team, and after Tennessee lost a close one to Arkansas last week, I think Nico Iamaleava and the Vols wreck the Gators at home.

Tyler Nettuno: Tennessee -15.5

I think the Vols may have some real issues on offense, but I don’t think this Florida defense will stress those considerably in spite of an encouraging performance against UCF. The Gators have been pretty good offensively in recent weeks, but this may be the best defense they’ve faced all year, and we saw how the Miami and Texas A&M games went.