It’ll be almost unimaginable for Week 7 to return near Week 6.
Simply final weekend, 4 top-10 groups misplaced on the highway. No. 1 Alabama misplaced at Vanderbilt, No. 4 Tennessee fell at Arkansas, No. 9 Missouri was blown out at No. 25 Texas A&M and No. 10 Michigan misplaced its nationwide title recreation rematch at Washington.
We’re going to exit on a limb and say that 4 top-10 groups gained’t lose this Saturday, however that doesn’t imply Week 7 is setting as much as be lackluster. It options the season’s first matchup of groups ranked within the prime three, and the No. 1 group within the nation is taking part in in a famed impartial website rivalry recreation. The day must be feisty.
Listed here are the 5 video games we’re most trying ahead to in Week 7. All instances are Japanese and all odds are from BetMGM.
Time: 3:30 p.m. | TV: ABC |Line: Texas -14.5 | Whole: 50.5
Each groups enter their Cotton Bowl rivalry recreation off bye weeks. The Longhorns moved to the highest spot within the AP High 25 after Alabama’s loss and Quinn Ewers seems to be set to regain his spot again within the beginning lineup. Ewers has been sidelined since he left the Longhorns’ Week 3 recreation with a strained stomach. He was changed within the beginning lineup by backup QB Arch Manning.
Ewers was superb earlier than he was injured. He had accomplished 58-of-73 passes for 691 yards and threw eight TDs to 2 interceptions. He’d additionally taken only one sack. Although Manning performed effectively in reduction of Ewers, it’s not a lot of an issue that the senior is getting his spot again.
Oklahoma, in the meantime, will begin true freshman Michael Hawkins for the second straight recreation. He received his first profession begin at Auburn after taking on for Jackson Arnold in opposition to Tennessee. Hawkins has thrown 65 fewer passes than Arnold has this season, however he’s finishing a better share of his throws and is averaging over three extra yards per try than Arnold did earlier than he was benched.
If the Sooners are going to drag the upset, Hawkins needs to be improbable and the run recreation has to get on monitor. Oklahoma is averaging lower than 4 yards a carry as main rusher Jovantae Barnes has 57 carries for simply 199 yards.
Time: 3:30 p.m. | TV: CBS |Line: Penn State -5.5 | Whole: 50.5
This recreation misplaced some luster every week in the past because the Trojans misplaced at Minnesota when Gophers QB Max Brosmer snuck into the top zone on fourth down with lower than a minute left. That loss dropped USC out of the highest 25 and dented the Trojans’ probabilities of successful the Large Ten considerably.
This nonetheless may very well be a harmful recreation for Penn State, nevertheless. It’s simply the second highway recreation of the season for the Nittany Lions after they opened the yr with a 34-12 win at West Virginia.
The Penn State offense has appeared miles higher to this point in 2024 after an offseason coordinator swap, and the protection has allowed 12 or fewer factors in 4 of its 5 video games. RBs Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen have mixed to hurry 127 instances for 775 yards to this point.
The 17 factors USC scored in opposition to the Gophers was the fewest the Trojans have scored all season. Miller Moss threw for simply 200 yards on 38 makes an attempt and likewise tossed two interceptions. The USC offense has been a lot better at dwelling than on the highway to this point this season and if it doesn’t bounce again, USC is probably going observing a 1-3 begin to life within the Large Ten.
Time: 7:30 p.m. | TV: NBC |Line: Ohio State -3.5 | Whole: 52.5
The marquee recreation of the weekend must be a doozy. Each offenses have been among the many greatest within the nation, and Ohio State’s has been on one other stage. The Buckeyes are averaging 7.7 yards a play by way of 5 video games as defenses haven’t been capable of remedy for OSU’s two-headed speeding assault and a passing recreation that options all-world freshman Jeremiah Smith.
RB TreVeyon Henderson is averaging eight yards a carry and Ole Miss switch Quinshon Judkins is correct behind at 7.8 yards a rush. Smith has 23 catches for 453 yards already whereas Emeka Egbuka operates because the beneath menace with a team-high 30 catches.
If the sport comes all the way down to quarterback play, Oregon might have the sting. Former Kansas State QB Will Howard has been strong for the Buckeyes as he’s finishing 72% of his passes for 1,248 yards and is chargeable for 16 TDs. Oregon QB Dillon Gabriel leads the nation in completion share at 77.8% and has thrown for 1,449 yards. Ohio State will probably look to decelerate Oregon’s fast passing recreation and we’re intrigued to see if Oregon hundreds up in opposition to Ohio State’s run recreation to drive Howard to make performs and win the sport.
Time: 7:30 p.m. | TV: ABC |Line: Ole Miss -3.5 | Whole: 63.5
This recreation has all of the makings of a shootout. The Rebels enter averaging 44 factors per recreation whereas LSU is scoring over 35 per recreation. The Tigers haven’t scored fewer than 34 factors since a 27-20 season-opening loss to USC.
Ole Miss received again on monitor from its Week 5 loss to Kentucky in Week 6 with a dominating win over South Carolina. QB Jaxson Dart has thrown for two,100 yards already and is averaging over 12 yards an try by way of the primary six video games of the season. LSU QB Garrett Nussmeier is following 2023 Heisman winner Jayden Daniels properly and has thrown for 1,652 yards and 15 TDs by way of 5 video games.
The Tigers have been off in Week 6 and we’ll see if the bye week helped solidify the protection. LSU is giving up 5.9 yards a play as far as opposing QBs have accomplished 66% of their passes. We like LSU’s well-balanced passing assault in opposition to the Rebels’ protection. We’re simply not so certain LSU’s protection will be capable to maintain up its finish of the discount.
Time: 10:15 p.m. | TV: ESPN |Line: Kansas State -4 | Whole: 56.5
This recreation is quite a bit like Colorado’s Week 4 journey to Oregon a season in the past. The Buffaloes went to Eugene because the speak of school soccer following a 3-0 begin and promptly received blown out on the best way to a 1-8 end to the season.
It’s unlikely that Kansas State will blow out Colorado late Saturday night time, however the Wildcats are a great measuring stick for what seems to be an improved Buffaloes squad. The group has already matched its win complete from 2023 and is simply two victories away from bowl eligibility.
The most important check for Colorado will likely be up entrance on protection. Groups are averaging over 150 yards a recreation in opposition to the Buffaloes and KSU RB DJ Giddens and QB Avery Johnson are every averaging 7.3 yards a carry. Kansas State will look to maintain the ball away from the Buffaloes and will not check Travis Hunter all that a lot. Simply two Wildcat receivers have greater than seven catches to this point this season.
Different video games to observe
South Carolina at No. 7 Alabama (Midday, ABC): How will the Crimson Tide bounce again from their loss at Vanderbilt? South Carolina is already 1-2 within the SEC and put up simply three factors at dwelling in opposition to Ole Miss in Week 6. This may very well be a get-right recreation for the Crimson Tide.
Cal at No. 22 Pitt (3:30 p.m., ESPN):The Panthers turn into bowl-eligible with a win over a Bears group that has misplaced its first two ACC video games following a 3-0 begin. Alabama switch Eli Holstein has been superb in his first season as Pitt’s starter, throwing for 1,564 yards and 15 TDs already this season.
Arizona at No. 14 BYU (4 p.m., Fox):The Cougars have a uncommon noon dwelling recreation as Arizona heads to Provo. The Wildcats have already got a win in Utah this season in opposition to the Utes, however misplaced at dwelling in Week 6 to Texas Tech. The Cougars are favored by 4.5 factors, however an Arizona win wouldn’t be sudden — and it will additional show the Large 12’s parity.
Vanderbilt at Kentucky (7:45 p.m., SEC Community):Vanderbilt is 3-2 total and 4 of these video games have been determined by one possession. Kentucky can also be 3-2 and has a 13-12 loss to Georgia and a 20-17 win over Ole Miss. Now we have a sense that is going to be a detailed recreation.
No. 11 Iowa State at West Virginia (8 p.m., Fox):The undefeated Cyclones head to Morgantown after West Virginia beat Oklahoma State on the highway to drop the Cowboys to an 0-3 begin in Large 12 play. Opposing groups are averaging over 4 yards a carry in opposition to Iowa State’s protection and WVU’s offense is run-heavy. The Mountaineers common over 42 speeding makes an attempt per recreation.
