College Football Week 7 Predictions for Saturday's 10 Biggest Games

1. No. 7 Indiana at No. 3 Oregon

Kickoff/TV: 3:30 p.m. ET on CBS
Spread: Oregon -7

Steven Lassan: Both teams passed their first Big Ten test, as Indiana (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) pounded Illinois 63-10, and Oregon (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) defeated Penn State in overtime in Happy Valley. The Hoosiers are rolling on offense, averaging 47.8 points a game behind quarterback Fernando Mendoza, a deep backfield, and a standout receiving corps. While coach Curt Cignetti’s offense gets all of the credit, Indiana’s defense has allowed only four touchdowns this season. Even though this game is in Eugene, the Hoosiers' standout offense/defense combination will be a tough out for the Ducks. Oregon quarterback Dante Moore has emerged as one of the top Heisman candidates after the win over Penn State. Another strong performance would only entrench Moore atop the favorite list. And similar to Indiana, Oregon's defense (12.2 points a game allowed) is underrated. Mendoza and Indiana will fight for all four quarters, but the Ducks are tough to beat at home.
Prediction: Oregon 34, Indiana 27

Kyle Wood: The Hoosiers disproved the notion that they can’t beat top-25 teams when they throttled then-No. 9 Illinois a few weeks back. Then they went on the road and won ugly at Iowa. But drawing the Ducks at Autzen Stadium is a different task entirely. Oregon is an FBS-best 38-1 at home since 2019. Dante Moore, who’s taken just one sack this season, is hitting his stride and beginning to use his legs more often. He’s also backed up by a Ducks defense that hasn’t allowed more than two touchdowns in regulation this season. Fernando Mendoza has Indiana’s offense rolling, and the two-headed run game is also one of the nation’s best. Oregon has the edge at home, but the Hoosiers will keep it close throughout.
Prediction: Oregon 27, Indiana 21

2. No. 6 Oklahoma vs. Texas (Dallas)

Kickoff/TV: 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Spread: Oklahoma -1.5

Lassan: This game is impossible to project without clarity on the status of Oklahoma (5-0, 1-0 SEC) quarterback John Mateer. If Mateer plays, the Sooners are the pick here. Oklahoma’s defensive front against a struggling Texas’ (3-2, 0-1 SEC) offensive line is a massive mismatch based on how last week’s game played out in the Swamp for the Longhorns. However, if Michael Hawkins Jr. starts for the Sooners, the Longhorns are the pick. A Texas defense that was pushed around by Florida last week needs to rebound, especially in the trenches where Oklahoma’s offensive line and rushing attack has struggled. If the Longhorns can do just enough up front to give quarterback Arch Manning time to throw, I think he will hit one or two plays that will be the difference in this game. In a tight matchup, the turnover battle also looms large.
Prediction: Texas 20, Oklahoma 17

Wood: It sure sounds like John Mateer is suiting up on Saturday. There's been movement in Las Vegas on OU's direction, and the Sooners’ Heisman Trophy candidate has been upgraded to probable for the Red River Rivalry. If he doesn't play, Oklahoma would again have to trot out Michael Hawkins Jr., who started last season’s blowout loss to the Longhorns. Even if that is the case, this isn’t the same Sooners’ team. With Brent Venables calling the defense, no unit — other than maybe Ohio State — is playing on their level. OU also has a competent running game and pass-catchers, to boot. This also isn’t the same Texas team from last year, only in the opposite direction. The Arch Manning-led offense is not as sharp and the defense isn’t on the level it was in 2024, either, especially after last week’s loss to Florida. The pressure the Sooners will be able to create in the pocket will make all the difference.
Prediction: Oklahoma 24, Texas 20

3. No. 8 Alabama at No. 14 Missouri

Kickoff/TV: Noon ET on ABC
Spread: Alabama -3

Lassan: Missouri (5-0, 1-0 SEC) has passed its first five tests of the season in impressive fashion, but the challenge gets significantly more challenging for coach Eli Drinkwitz’s team this Saturday. Alabama (4-1, 2-0 SEC) had its back against the wall after losing to Florida State in the opener and has responded with key wins over Georgia and Vanderbilt. A road trip to Columbia with the Tigers coming off a bye is a tough spot for coach Kalen DeBoer’s team - especially with Alabama struggling on the road during his tenure. Two matchups will decide this game. Missouri’s rushing attack led by quarterback Beau Pribula and running back Ahmad Hardy averages 292 yards a contest. The Crimson Tide have had issues stopping ground attacks, ranking 13th in the SEC in rush defense. Missouri is one of the SEC’s top teams in pressure rate, but the secondary is a concern. Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson has been on fire since the Week 1 loss and could torch the Tigers’ secondary if he has time to throw.
Prediction: Alabama 30, Missouri 27

Wood: The Tigers have trounced every opponent in front of them, winning their first five games by at least two scores. However, none of those teams were as good as the Crimson Tide, who Missouri has not beaten since joining the SEC. Alabama won last season’s meeting 34-0, and the 2025 team looks considerably better with Ty Simpson under center. The Tide have their work cut out for them defending the dual-threat Beau Pribula and the nation’s leading rusher Ahmad Hardy. But ’Bama also has no shortage of offensive firepower with Jam Miller back in the fold and Ryan Williams and Germie Bernard out wide. With a road win over Georgia under their belt, the Crimson Tide can be trusted to win again in a hostile environment, but the Tigers will stay within striking distance.
Prediction: Alabama 28, Missouri 23

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4. No. 10 Georgia at Auburn

Kickoff/TV: 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Spread: Georgia - 3.5

Lassan: Auburn’s (3-2, 0-2 SEC) 2025 season started off on a high note with a win over Baylor, but coach Hugh Freeze’s team enters October looking to get back on track after losses in SEC play to Oklahoma and Texas A&M. With Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Vanderbilt up next, this could be a season-defining stretch for the Tigers. Last week’s off date should give Auburn a chance to reset offensively. A struggling offensive line won’t see as much pressure from Georgia (4-1, 2-1 SEC) compared to Texas A&M and Oklahoma, while the Bulldogs’ vulnerable secondary has a tough matchup against receivers Eric Singleton and Cam Coleman. Georgia’s offense is also finding its footing behind a strong ground game and steady play from quarterback Gunner Stockton. And with a ton of youth starting on both sides of the ball, this Bulldogs’ team can only get better with more snaps. I trust Georgia coach Kirby Smart to find a way to pull out a close win.
Prediction: Georgia 24, Auburn 20

Wood: The Tigers need a win in the worst way, and the last team you want to see coming to town in that scenario is the Bulldogs, the most dominant team of the decade. Auburn’s defense can still muck things up, and good luck moving the ball on the ground, but coach Hugh Freeze’s offense is floundering. They’ve found the end zone twice amid an 0-2 start to SEC play, and Jackson Arnold is tied for the most sacks taken (20) in the country. Georgia’s defense isn’t what it once was, so it remains to be seen how much Kirby Smart will make the Tigers pay. But the Bulldogs know what they’re doing on offense. Gunner Stockton can move the ball on this secondary and extend his team’s eight-game winning streak in the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry.
Prediction: Georgia 24, Auburn 17

5. No. 1 Ohio State at No. 17 Illinois

Kickoff/TV: Noon ET on Fox
Spread: Ohio State -14

Lassan: Ohio State (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) continues to quietly roll along as the No. 1 team in the nation. Outside of the victory over Texas, the Buckeyes have defeated their opponents by at least 18 points. A road trip to Champaign isn’t easy, but coach Ryan Day’s team has the edge in matchups. A banged up Illinois’ (5-1, 2-1 Big Ten) secondary will have its hands full against quarterback Julian Sayin and receiver Jeremiah Smith. And in the trenches, Ohio State’s rebuilt defensive front has an edge over a veteran Illinois’ offensive line. Quarterback Luke Altmyer will need to have a huge game for the Fighting Illini to have a chance. The Buckeyes have yet to allow more than nine points in a contest this season.
Prediction: Ohio State 38, Illinois 17

Wood: Since their one-possession win over top-ranked Texas to start the season, no one has come close to knocking off the Buckeyes. They really can do it all, and they might just have the best offensive (Jeremiah Smith) and defensive (Caleb Downs) players in the country. The Illini have rebounded nicely since their blowout loss to Indiana, but that outcome doesn’t bode well for Saturday’s draw against Ohio State. Illinois’ secondary could get exposed by Julian Sayin, and Luke Altmyer is in for a long day against Caden Curry and Co. The Illini have not beat the Buckeyes since 2007, and none of the games since then have been especially close.
Prediction: Ohio State 31, Illinois 16

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6. No. 15 Michigan at USC

Kickoff/TV: 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC
Spread: USC -2.5

Lassan: Not only is this matchup a great helmet game, it’s a fascinating contrast in styles. Will the power and physicality of Michigan’s (4-1, 2-0 Big Ten) offense behind true freshman quarterback Bryce Underwood and running backs Jordan Marshall and Justice Haynes win out over USC’s (4-1, 2-1 Big Ten) high-powered passing game? Behind quarterback Jayden Maiava and receivers Ja’Kobi Lane and Makai Lemon, the Trojans average 338 passing yards a contest. However, USC’s defense remains a question mark, especially in the trenches. That’s a bad sign against Michigan.
Prediction: Michigan 31, USC 27

Wood: The Trojans’ loss to the Wolverines last season surely still sings. They gave up 32 passing yards and lost because they were gashed on the ground. USC’s identity has not changed all that much, evidenced by the loss to Illinois two weeks ago, but coach Lincoln Riley’s offense is even better with Jayden Maiava under center. Bryce Underwood and Justice Haynes might be able to march Michigan up and down the field, but Maiava and Makai Lemon should have an answer, even against a stout defense. The Wolverines also lost outright at Oklahoma and had a close call on the road against Nebraska. Between Michigan traveling out west and an extra week of rest, USC will come out on top of a tight game.
Prediction: USC 31, Michigan 30

7. Florida at No. 5 Texas A&M

Kickoff/TV: 7 p.m. ET on ESPN
Spread: Texas A&M -7.5

Lassan: Which Florida (2-3, 1-1 SEC) team are we going to see on Saturday? The one that struggled to put together anything offensively against South Florida, LSU, and Miami? Or the team that looked like a playoff contender in last week’s game against Texas? The emergence of true freshman receiver Dallas Wilson, along with quarterback DJ Lagway rounding into form after navigating an offseason injury, certainly aided Florida’s offense last week. But this Saturday’s challenge is steeper, as Texas A&M’s (5-0, 2-0 SEC) home crowd and stronger line of scrimmage than the Longhorns will come into play. The Aggies have rushed for over 200 yards in three out of their last four games, and quarterback Marcel Reed and receivers Mario Craver and Kevin Concepcion will be a tough matchup for the Gators. I think Florida covers, but Texas A&M’s line of scrimmage is the difference on Saturday night.
Prediction: Texas A&M 27, Florida 20

Wood: There might be something to the idea that the Gators play better with their backs against the wall. That proved true last week when they upset Texas, and now they face another top-25 team from the Lone Star State on the road. The Aggies have one of the best résumés in the country. They’ve won shootouts with Marcel Reed slinging the ball all over the field to his speedy receivers, and they’ve also leaned on their defense in low-scoring games. This matchup profiles more like the latter, especially the way Florida’s defense has performed. If DJ Lagway can build on his performance from last week with Dallas Wilson in the fold, perhaps the Gators can hang around. But A&M should stop that momentum in its place and ratchet up the pressure on Billy Napier yet again.
Prediction: Texas A&M 27, Florida 17

8. No. 21 Arizona State at Utah

Kickoff/TV: 10:15 p.m. ET on ESPN
Spread: Utah -5.5

Lassan: Nothing through the first six weeks of the season has altered the idea these two teams are two of the best in the Big 12. The Sun Devils (4-1, 2-0 Big 12) lost a close game on the road to a much-improved Mississippi State team but rebounded by beating Baylor and TCU. Utah (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) suffered a setback in the Big 12 title race by losing to Texas Tech in Salt Lake City a few weeks ago. But coach Kyle Whittingham’s team has impressed outside of that, including dominant wins over UCLA and West Virginia. Quarterback Devon Dampier anchors a Utes’ attack averaging 242.6 rushing yards a game, which will test an Arizona State front limiting teams to 78.2 yards per contest. Utah is also down starting safety Nate Ritchie in the secondary - a problem with the top pass-catch combination of quarterback Sam Leavitt and receiver Jordyn Tyson up next. However, Leavitt's status is in doubt after he was designated as doubtful on the Big 12's Thursday night injury report. If he can't go, Jeff Sims would start under center for the Sun Devils.
Prediction: Utah 27, Arizona State 20

Wood: Aside from that game against Texas Tech, the Utes have been downright dominant. Coach Kyle Whittingham’s team boasts a relentless rushing attack that’s good for well over 200 yards per game. Utah backs that up with a stingy secondary, which spearheads one of the best defenses in the Big 12. Jordyn Tyson can surely test that group, but his effectiveness could be in question if Sam Leavitt is unable to go on Saturday. The Utes’ might also struggle to find room to run against an ASU defense that has stifled opponents on the ground, but the dual-threat Devon Dampier can win in a variety of ways.
Prediction: Utah 27, Arizona State 20

9.  South Carolina at No. 11 LSU

Kickoff/TV: 7:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network
Spread: LSU -8.5

Lassan: This game marks the start of a critical stretch for both teams and the hopes of contending for a spot in the College Football Playoff. The health of quarterback Garrett Nussmeier looms large for LSU (4-1, 1-1 SEC), as the senior clearly wasn’t 100 percent in the loss to Ole Miss. Additionally, the Tigers need more out of their ground game to give the offense much-needed balance. South Carolina’s (3-2, 1-1 SEC) supporting cast is also a question mark. The rushing attack, offensive line, and receiving corps all have concerns going into Saturday’s game. However, over the Gamecocks’ last two matchups, quarterback LaNorris Sellers has started to look like the player who finished '24 on a tear. If Nussmeier is healthy, this should be an entertaining battle between two of the nation’s top quarterbacks. LSU’s defense is the difference.
Prediction: LSU 27, South Carolina 17

Wood: It’s been an odd start to the season for both of these teams. The Gamecocks have largely been a letdown, and they cannot afford a third loss. That seems unlikely given their upcoming schedule, but South Carolina did find its footing on both sides of the ball last time out against Kentucky in LaNorris Sellers’ best all-around game. The Tigers still have all of their goals in front of them, but Garrett Nussmeier has also fallen shy of preseason expectations amid his injury issues. LSU’s defense is no longer an issue, only now the offense is inconsistent. A week off after the Ole Miss loss will do the Tigers good heading into a night game at Death Valley.
Prediction: LSU 24, South Carolina 21

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10. No. 18 BYU at Arizona

Kickoff/TV: 8 p.m. ET on ESPN2
Spread: BYU -1.5

Lassan: Although the schedule has been light, BYU (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) has impressed with a 5-0 start behind true freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier. The Cougars are also one of the Big 12’s best on defense, ranking No. 31 nationally in success rate and giving up only 12.2 points a game. However, BYU’s defense could be missing star linebacker Jack Kelly on Saturday night after an injury in last week's win over West Virginia.After struggling mightily last season, Arizona’s (4-1, 1-1 Big 12) offense is on the right track behind new coordinator Seth Doege and quarterback Noah Fifita. The Wildcats also have an array of talented skill players to test BYU’s defense. This game is crucial to sorting out the early pecking order in the Big 12.
Prediction: BYU 27, Arizona 24

Wood: The Cougars have been impressive on both sides of the ball, providing true freshman quarterback Bear Bachmeier with all the support he needs to succeed. BYU has already gone on the road and won at Colorado and ECU, so that shouldn’t be a concern when it puts its undefeated record on the line in the desert. Quarterback Noah Fifita is the big name for the Wildcats, but it’s their defense that has punctuated such a strong start. Arizona doesn’t give up much on the ground and excels at creating takeaways, but the Cougars play clean and bring their own tough defense to the table.
Prediction: BYU 26, Arizona 23