College football Week 7: Picks and preview

Ranked for the first time since 2011, Illinois is getting it done, surprisingly, with a defense that's allowed 48 points this season. And, just 15 at home, where the Illini have yet to allow a touchdown in four games. Minnesota, meanwhile, hasn't played since it was held to 10 points in a 20-10 home defeat to Purdue on Oct. 1. Though it's uncertain if injured Illini starting quarterback Tommy DeVito (ankle) will play, this contest features the nation's top rusher in Illinois' Chase Brown (879 yards) and Minnesota's Mohamed Ibrahim (ranked 17th with 567, plus eight TDs). Brown ran for 147 on 32 carries in the Illini's 14-6 road win over the Gophers in 2021.

Prediction: Illinois (+3 1/2)

On Nov. 28, 2020, Michigan lost 27-17 at home to Penn State. Since then, the Wolverines are 18-1 during the regular season and won 11 straight such contests. That run also included a 21-17 road victory over the Nittany Lions from last season. Penn State, however, has outscored its opponents 172-74, and already won at Purdue at Auburn. Behind star Blake Corum (735 rushing yards, 11 touchdowns), the Wolverines rank third in the Big Ten, averaging 212.3 rushing yards. But, Penn State is fifth in the country, yielding just 79.6 on the ground per contest.

Prediction: Michigan (-7)

The Sooners might be in a tailspin while allowing an average of 48.3 points during their three-game losing streak, all within the Big 12. However, should Kansas' upstart 2022 campaign include a win in Norman, it might just be the defining moment of its season. Looking to rebound from their first '22 defeat, the Jayhawks have dropped 17 straight to the Sooners and last won at Oklahoma in 1996. Trying to end that slide without injured stud quarterback Jalon Daniels (shoulder), likely makes the task tougher. Then again, this is a Kansas squad that doesn't seem to care about the past.

Prediction: Oklahoma (-9)

The second half of Mississippi's schedule is certainly more daunting than their first six games. The Rebels have lost six in a row to Auburn, and last beat the Tigers at home in 2012. After this, Ole Miss makes trips to LSU and Texas A&M. Then, Alabama, Arkansas, and the Egg Bowl are on the horizon. First off, ending that extended run of misery against the Tigers, who have averaged just 14.0 points while losing three of their last four games. Auburn has also dropped five straight against Top 25 opponents.

Prediction: Ole Miss (-14 1/2)

So, what do we make of the Longhorns' 49-0 rout of rival Oklahoma? Is Texas really a legitimate Big 12 title contender? Or, is Oklahoma just not on par with the rest of the league? We'll see, but we do know that Bijan Robinson might be living up to his preseason Heisman hype while averaging 129.3 rushing yards and scoring eight touchdowns over the last four contests. He's totaled 144 yards without a touchdown in the last two games with Iowa State, which has won three in a row during the series, The Cyclones, though, have dropped its last three overall by a combined 11 points.

Prediction: Iowa State (+17)

Following back-to-back, less-than-dominant performances against Kent State and Missouri, Georgia rolled to a 42-10 win over Auburn last weekend. Is that enough to ease any concerns among the Bulldog faithful? If not, expect Georgia to keep piling up the points again this weekend while trying for a fifth consecutive victory over Vandy. The Commodores have been outscored 178-33 during the last four meetings with Georgia.

Prediction: Georgia (-38 1/2)

One must go back to 1987 for the last time Syracuse won its first six football games. And, with N.C. State's star quarterback Devin Leary (1,265 passing yards, 11 touchdowns, eight interceptions) dealing with a shoulder injury, the Orange would appear in a good position to accomplish that feat again -- and snap a three-game skid in this series. Syracuse has not allowed more than 29 points in any game this season. Meanwhile, the Wolfpack totaled 39 in splitting its first two ACC contests versus Clemson and Florida State.

Prediction: Syracuse (-3 1/2)

The last remaining undefeated teams in the Big 12 hook-up. It's also a matchup of the two teams tied for third in the country, averaging 46.4 points. Those offenses are led by two of the top quarterbacks in the nation with TCU's Max Duggan (1,305 passing yards, 14 touchdowns, one interception; 204 rushing yards) and Spencer Sanders (1,394 passing yards, 12 TDs, two interceptions; 241 rushing yards, six rushing TDs) of Oklahoma State. The Horned Frogs have won two straight and five of the last six at home in this series.

Prediction: Oklahoma State (+3 1/2)

Is this the year that Tennessee finally takes down the Crimson Tide and ends a 15-game losing streak in the series? If Bryce Young can't go, then the Volunteers' chances of pulling out the upset would seem better. Tennessee last started 6-0 in 1998. That included a home win over Alabama, which has had to grind out some victories this season . Vols quarterback Hendon Hooker (1,432 yards, 10 touchdowns; 231 rushing yards) is a serious Heisman candidate and threw for 282 yards with three touchdowns and an interception during a 52-24 loss at Alabama last season that was close into the fourth quarter.

Prediction: Tennessee (+7 1/2)

It's been quite an introduction to the FBS level for James Madison, which is ranked for the first time at this level and possibly headed to a Sun Belt title. Sadly, the Dukes can't qualify for a bowl but are the third team ever to start 5-0 in the season transitioning from the FCS to FBS.  They've done it thanks to quarterback Todd Centeio (1,312 passing yards, 15 touchdowns, one interception; 289 rushing yards), running back Percy Agyei-Obese (354 yards, four TDs), receiver Kris Thornton (32 receptions, 516 yards, five TDs) and a defense that's allowed 75 points. Georgia Southern, meanwhile, is 1-3 since winning at Nebraska on Sept. 10 and allowing an average of 35.0 points against FBS foes this season.

Prediction: James Madison (-11 1/2)

Clemson is rather methodically proving to be one of the best teams in the country. The Tigers have allowed 44 second-half points and scored at least 30 in every contest. Meanwhile, when it comes to this series, Clemson has won six straight over the Seminoles by an average margin of 20 points. Florida State's 4-0 start has been followed by losses to ranked Wake Forest and N.C. State squads. This is obviously a tall task for the 'Noles, who are 2-16 against ranked opponents since the start of the 2017 season.

Prediction: Clemson (-3 1/2)

While Mississippi State is looking for a fourth consecutive victory, Kentucky is trying to avoid a third straight defeat. If there's one area of weakness harbored by the Bulldogs, it's a run defense that's allowed an average of 194.3 yards in SEC play. Kentucky ranks 123rd in the nation averaging just 92.5 rushing yards, but perhaps this is the week for a breakout. The Wildcats have won the last three series of meetings in Lexington.

Prediction: Kentucky (+6 1/2)

USC sits atop the Pac-12, while Utah just allowed 42 points to the surging UCLA Bruins during its second loss of the season. However, the Utes are at home, where they've won 11 in a row and 22 of the last 23. We expect the atmosphere to be massively energetic, with the home crowd doing all they can to rattle the Trojans. That said, this is an opportunity for Lincoln Riley's  USC group to truly prove its worth, while Utah has a chance to show it can still contend for a conference title.

Prediction: Utah (-3 1/2)

Returning from an off week, Baylor looks to rebound from that home loss to then-No. 9 Oklahoma State. And with that, try to end its struggles at West Virginia. The Bears are 0-5 at Morgantown since 2012. Meanwhile, the Mountaineers' Big 12 losses to Kansas and Texas came by a combined 31 points. Depending on who is doing the talking, West Virginia coach Neal Brown might start feeling the heat if the program's struggles continue.

Prediction: Baylor (-3 1/2)

Quite the intriguing non-conference matchup between Top 25 staples, who have fallen on rocky times of late. BYU totaled just 276 yards and allowed 234 on the ground during its 28-20 loss to Notre Dame in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Arkansas is mired in a three-game skid, with the last two losses versus Alabama and Mississippi State each by 23 points. The Razorbacks hope to have star quarterback KJ Jefferson (1,096 passing yards, nine touchdowns, one interception, four rushing TDs) back after missing the Mississippi State contest with a head injury.

Prediction: BYU (+1 1/2)

Much has been made about Wisconsin's issues on both sides of the ball during a frustrating first half of the season, but Michigan State's recent slide is quite revealing. The Spartans outscored a pair of Mid-American Conference opponents 87-13 to open the season, but have been on the wrong end of a 149-68 scoring disadvantage during their four-game skid. The Badgers avoided a third straight defeat by rolling Northwestern last week and now try to win back-to-back games at Michigan State for the first time since 2000 and '02.

Prediction: Wisconsin (-7 1/2)

When the season started, there was a decent chance both the Tigers and Gators would be ranked for this October rivalry matchup. Instead, there still seem to be more questions than answers regarding both teams. Florida will be trying for a third straight win after beating Eastern Washington and Missouri at home but has dropped three in a row to the Tigers. However, LSU must find a way to rebound from last weekend's rough 40-13 home loss to then-No. 8 Tennessee.

Prediction: Florida (-3)

Since those opening losses to Ohio State and Marshall, Notre Dame has rebounded with three straight wins. Each of the Irish's five games has been decided by 13 or fewer points. On the flip side, Stanford has suffered three losses by at least 13 points, but did fall to Oregon State by a point last weekend. Dating to last season, Stanford has dropped five straight on the road. The Cardinal also lost their last three meetings with Notre Dame, including one at South Bend, by a combined 73 points.

Prediction: Stanford (+17)

Nebraska is 2-1 in the post-Scott Frost era, with both wins coming in each of the last two weeks of Big Ten play -- against Indiana and Rutgers. The Cornhuskers are still inconsistent on both sides of the ball, and that could be exploited by Purdue, which is looking for a third consecutive victory -- after winning back-to-back road contests with Minnesota and Maryland -- overall, and fourth in the last five meetings against Nebraska.

Prediction: Nebraska (+13 1/2)

The Tar Heels sit atop the ACC Coastal Division, thanks in part to the strong play of quarterback Drake Maye (1,903 yards, 21 touchdowns, three interceptions; 308 rushing yards, three TDs). They average an ACC-best 42.3 points on the season. North Carolina has also won three straight over rival Duke, which is looking to rebound from a loss to resurgent Georgia Tech. The Blue Devils, though, are giving up just 19.7 points per contest.

Prediction: Duke (+7)