College Football Week 7 Expert Picks, Predictions For Ohio State-Indiana And More

Can No. 4 Ohio State avenge its Big Ten championship game loss to No. 5 Indiana on “Big Noon Kickoff”? Will No. 6 Alabama bounce back against No. 14 Tennessee after a loss to No. 1 Georgia?

Elsewhere, a College Football Playoff spot could be on the line when No. 2 Notre Dame visits No. 8 BYU. Austin Simmons leads No. 13 Missouri against his former team, No. 9 Ole Miss. 

With six matchups between Associated Press Top 25 opponents, Week 7 of the college football season might feature the most exciting slate of the season. We’re breaking down our straight-up picks and the matchups to watch closely throughout the weekend.   

Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith is two touchdowns short of breaking the all-time Big Ten touchdown receiving record. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images)

when: Saturday, noon ET (FOX)
Where: Memorial Stadium, Bloomington, Indiana
Line: Ohio State -3.5

RJ Young: Ohio State
The best player in the game is Jeremiah Smith, and coach Ryan Day of Ohio State shouldn’t be shy about reminding Indiana about that.

Laken Litman: Ohio State
This is the answer for almost every Ohio State game: The Buckeyes don’t have Jeremy Smith and Indiana.

Ben Portnoy: Indiana
OK, well, this is probably something to choose from. I took the Hoosiers to a big win at the start of the season, and I can’t stray from that, right? That’s right. Curt Cignetti’s team gave me the greatest home game in Indiana football history.

LSU head coach Lane Kiffin is 1-2 against Press Associates Top 25 teams during the 2026 season. (Photo by Andy Lyon/Getty Images)

when: Saturday, noon ET (ESPN)
Where: Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Line: LSU -14.5

Youth: LSU
Mississippi State QB Kamario Taylor won’t be 100% healthy even if he plays on Saturday. Advantage, LSU.

Litman: LSU
The Tigers will bounce back at home after an upset loss to Kentucky in overtime last week. Plus, Mississippi State QB Kamario Taylor’s status is still uncertain.

Portnoy: LSU
Kamario Taylor is still on the mend and while the spread feels pretty big for a matchup of two top-25 teams, I have a hard time with the Bulldogs pulling this one off. I’ll take LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt against what is just a mediocre Mississippi State defense.

Keelon Russell had his first loss as Alabama’s starting quarterback in the rivalry game against Georgia last week. (Photo by Butch Dill/Getty Images)

when: Saturday, 3:30 pm ET (ABC)
Where: Neyland Stadium, Knoxville, Tennessee
Line: Alabama -7.5

Young: Alabama
Crisson Tide better have a quarterback and a wide receiver. Tennessee must run the ball well to win.

Litman: Alabama
Even after last week’s loss to Georgia, Alabama looks like a team that could win it all. The Crisson Tide aren’t going to lose two in a row, especially not against a Tennessee team led by quarterback George MacIntyre.

Portnoy: Alabama
Nothing complicated about this one. Tennessee has real problems at quarterback and absolutely nothing the Vols did on tape last week against Arkansas makes me think they are up to the challenge. Bama rolls big.

Texas Tech quarterback Will Hammond threw for 1,102 yards, five touchdowns and five interceptions. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)

when: Saturday, 3:30 pm ET (FOX)
Where: Galaxy Stadium, Lubbock, Texas
Line: Texas Tech -14.5

Young: Texas Tech
The Texas Tech disaster was enough to make me feel nervous, but I think the Red Raiders have an answer for ASU running back Card Mack.

Litman: Texas Tech
In a heated Big 12 race, Texas Tech remains undefeated with a dubious tie at ASU.

Portnoy: Texas Tech
Arizona State and quarterback Cutter Boley have had their moments and I still think Texas Tech is barely a shoo-in for the Big 12 title, but the Red Raiders are the more talented team in this one.

Austin Simmons will face his former team, Ole Miss, this Saturday in Oxford. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

when: Saturday, 3:30 pm ET (SEC Network)
Where: Vaught-Hemingway Stadium, Oxford, Mississippi
Line: Ole Miss -5.5

Young: Missouri
Running back Jamal Roberts has broken through for at least 200 yards in back-to-back games and it’s been enough for quarterback Austin Simmons to lead Ole Miss’ secondary.

Litman: Missouri
The Tigers crush Ole Miss on the road and further cement themselves as a legitimate SEC contender.

Portnoy: Ole Miss
I know Ole Miss ran over Florida a few weeks back, but I still think Trinity Chambliss is one of the five best players in the game this year. Austin Simmons has been terrific for Missouri and I think he’ll find success against a bad Rebels defense, but Chambliss will need one more play down the stretch to get a shot at winning.

Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr completed 70.8% of his pass attempts for 1,378 yards and 16 touchdowns. (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

when: Saturday, 7:30 pm ET (ABC)
Where: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah
Line: Notre Dame -10.5

Youth: Notre Dame
BYU’s biggest game of the season is without star tailback and 2025 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year LJ Martin. I will take Notre Dame.

Litman: Notre Dame
In both of these teams’ first true tests, Fighting Irish QB CJ Carr defeats the Cougars’ Bear Bachmeier and removes any doubt that Notre Dame is a real threat to compete for the CFP title.

Portnoy: Notre Dame
Obviously, I don’t think BYU has enough firepower without LJ Martin to pass the hump here. Notre Dame is looking a touch shaky going into this fall, but I expect the Irish to handle the Cougars relatively nicely in this one.

Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer helped pace Texas in the Red River Rivalry last week. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)

when: Saturday, 7:30 pm ET (SEC Network)
Where: Memorial Stadium, Norman, Oklahoma
Line: lacinia -6.5

Young: Kentucky
Quick can’t consistently move the ball on offense, and Kentucky can win close games late.

Litman: Kentucky
This game is a letdown for OU after a big win in Texas last week, while coach Stein and Kentucky will deserve their third straight road win.

Portnoy: Kentucky
Oklahoma won the “River Rivalry,” but that had far more to do with the horrible play of Texas quarterback Arch Manning down the stretch than anything else they did. Kentucky has won its last two by the skin of its teeth, but the Wildcat offense is far more efficient.

Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker threw for 30 yards and two touchdowns at UCF last Saturday. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)

when: Saturday, 7:30 pm ET (FOX)
Where: TDECU Stadium, Houston, Texas
Line: Houston -4.5

Young: Oklahoma State
The Cowboys are too nervous, and the Cougars can’t win a shootout.

Litman: Oklahoma State
In a big Big 12 standings performance, Oklahoma State quarterback Drew Mestemaker got the better of Houston’s Conner Weigman and the Cowboys won their fifth consecutive game.

Portnoy: Oklahoma State
Mestemaker Drew reached a strong following whatever Oklahoma State did when it lost to Tulsa earlier this year. Houston should keep this close to the wire, but I’ll take the Cowboys offensive differential.

UCLA running back Wayne Knight leads the Big Ten with nine rushing touchdowns. (Photo by Greg Fiore/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

when: Saturday, 7:30 pm ET (NBC)
Where: Rosa Crater, Pasadena, California
Line: UCLA -2.5

Young: Wisconsin
The Honeymooners have won four games in a row and are playing a UCLA team that needed seven turnovers to win by two points against an Oregon team that started its backup quarterback last weekend.

Litman: UCLA
Bruins QB Nico Iamaleava announced he will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury, but backup Ty Dieffenbach is doing enough to keep the offense rolling. UCLA remains undefeated.

Portnoy: UCLA
I know Nico Iamaleava is out for the season, but I’m not quite sure how much of a live and die-hard Wayne Knight running back the UCLA offense is. Wisconsin is riding high and has compiled the likes of Lucas Fickell, but I’m giving coach Bob Chesney a bunch of benefit of the doubt.

Oregon quarterback Dylan Raiola struggled against UCLA, completing 6 of 22 passes while committing three turnovers. (Photo Al Sermeno/ISI Images/ISI Images via Getty Images)

when: Saturday, 11:00 pm ET (FOX)
Where: Autzen Stadium, Eugene, Oregon
Line: Oregon -7

Young: Nebraska
With Dante Moore in command, Nebraska has the edge.

Litman: Nebraska
Nebraska had Indiana on the rails last week before the defense pulled away in the fourth quarter. The Huskers will bounce back from a loss against a struggling Oregon team that is trying to keep its season alive.

Portnoy: Nebraska
Dylan Raiola was a disaster last week against UCLA and considering what Nebraska showed against Indiana, I like the Huskers’ defense to be disruptive in this one. Matt Rhule finally wins the championship.

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