NCAAF betting: What to look for in CFB Week 7

Red River Rivalry

You're better off betting on this one than going to it since ticket prices are averaging $630 according to Sports Illustrated. So who should you back?

No. 1 Texas and No. 18 Oklahoma are each coming off of their bye weeks and return to play in the win column. The biggest question for the undefeated Longhorns is whether Quinn Ewers will return from an oblique injury since he has reportedly been practicing with the team. Texas has been rolling with Arch Manning under center and are 16-1 dating back to last season — with their lone loss in 2023 being to the Sooners.

Texas is a 14-point favorite at DraftKings against an Oklahoma team dealing with some big injuries. But while College Football Network projects the Longhorns winning while the Sooners try to "make this game ugly," SI has Oklahoma covering the spread.

"OU’s offense is in tatters amid some big injuries and poor output, but its defense has the muscle to contain the Longhorns’ skill threats enough to keep this one close," writer James Parks explains.

Oklahoma is 3-2-0 ATS per Covers, for what it's worth.

Do bettors think the Ducks can bump the Buckeyes?

Finally, a worthy opponent for No. 2 Ohio State. So how do your sports-betting brethren think things will shake out when the Buckeyes visit the equally undefeated No. 3 Oregon Ducks.

According to SI, Ryan Day's team is projected to win outright in 64.2% of computer simulations. However, 57% of bettors at FanDuel are backing Oregon to win outright or keep Ohio State from covering the 3.5-point spread.

CBS Sports explains why those bettors could be right: "The Ducks have won 11 straight games at home, including last week's 31-10 victory over Michigan State. Quarterback Dillon Gabriel completed 20 of 32 passes for 254 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in the win. Wide receiver Tez Johnson was his favorite target as the senior finished with 10 catches for 84 yards and a score."

Long story short: Don't expect a blowout in Eugene on Saturday. Wager wisely.

Will the Wildcats call the Buffs' bluff?

247Sports seems to think so, with writer Brad Crawford calling the Colorado-Kansas State matchup "Week 7's toughest pick."

Deion Sanders's team has won three straight and comes out of its bye week 2-0 in Big 12 play. However, Crawford has a desperate No. 18 Kansas State team covering as the road favorite.

"The Wildcats are essentially in must-win mode since they already have a conference loss to BYU," he writes. "Chris Klieman's team makes good on its previous road loss in the Big 12 and wins a pivotal matchup."

The biggest Magnolia Bowl yet

Both No. 9 Ole Miss and No. 13 LSU enter their big rivalry matchup with a loss on their dance card, and neither can afford another if they want to play in the playoffs this season. 

"The Magnolia Bowl is always important to both sides, but it wouldn't have such stakes without the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff," CBS Sports explains. "That opportunity makes LSU versus Ole Miss as important as No. 2 Ohio State's trip to No. 3 Oregon, or No. 1 Texas' clash against No. 18 Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry, even if those are the billed marquee matchups."

DK lists Lane Kiffin's team as the 3.5-point betting favorite, even though the Rebels haven't defeated the Tigers in Baton Rouge since 2008. USA Today's LSU Wire has the underdog Tigers winning, but barely. 

On the Heisman front ...

We'd tell you to take a good look at Miami quarterback Cam Ward since he has thrown for 2,219 yards and has a 91.2 QBR via ESPN, but the Hurricanes are on a bye in Week 7. Instead, keep an eye on how Jalen Milroe responds after that upset loss to Vanderbilt.

The Alabama quarterback is now listed at 10-1 odds at DK to win the Heisman, but a rebound victory in Week 7 against South Carolina could shorten those odds. The Crimson Tide are 21-point favorites in that game, while Milroe is listed at -235 to be an anytime TD scorer against the Gamecocks.