Preview and picks for NCAA Football Week 7

Four more Top 25 matchups headline the college football card on Saturday, Oct. 14, highlighted by Pac-12 teams and the showdown in Seattle between No. 7 Washington Huskies and No. 8 Oregon Ducks. Some rivalry games are included between No. 10 USC and No. 21 Notre Dame in South Bend. and more Pac-12 power closes out the late Saturday action with No. 18 UCLA at No. 15 Oregon State. Those Top 25 contests will be driving the watch and wager betting action at the leading online sportsbooks. 

Saturday College Football

Top 5 bet counts
1. Oregon +3
2. USC +2.5
3. Notre Dame -2.5
4. Washington -3
5. UNC -3

Top 5 Liabilities
1. Florida St -19 by far
2. Miami FL +2.5
3. Bowling Green +4
4. Temple +5.5
5. Nevada +8

Odds> https://t.co/K1WpeqSddo

— Dave Mason (@DaveMasonBOL) October 13, 2023

All college football 2023 Picks and Opinions through Week 6 are 15-9, including 12-7 ATS on sides. 

Top 25 Matchup Picks: 1-2 
Top 25 Matchup Opinions: 6-3
Top 25 Game Picks: 1-1
Bonus Picks: 2-0
Bonus Opinions: 1-1
Top 25 Games Opinions: 3-1
Top 25 Totals Opinions: 1-1 

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Top 25 Games, Odds and TV Schedule

College football odds from reduced juice sportsbook BetAnySports refresh periodically and are subject to change, including on props and live betting. All times Eastern (ET). 

Saturday, Oct. 14 

No. 1 Georgia (-31.5) at Vanderbilt | 12 p.m. | CBS
No. 2 Michigan (-33.5) vs. Indiana | 12 p.m. | FOX
No. 3 Ohio State (-19) at Purdue | 12 p.m. | Peacock
No. 4 Florida State (-17.5) vs. Syracuse | 12 p.m. | ABC
No. 5 Oklahoma | Bye
No. 6 Penn State (-41.5) vs. UMass | 3:30 p.m. | Big Ten Network
No. 7 Washington (-3) vs. No. 8 Oregon | 3:30 p.m. | ABC
No. 9 Texas | Bye
No. 10 USC at No. 21 Notre Dame (-2.5) | 7:30 p.m. | NBC/Peacock
No. 11 Alabama (-19.5) vs. Arkansas | 12 p.m. | ESPN
No. 12 North Carolina (-3) vs. No. 25 Miami | 7:30 p.m. | ABC
No. 13 Ole Miss | Bye
No. 14 Louisville (-7.5) at Pitt | 6:30 p.m. | CW Network
No. 15 Oregon State (-3.5) vs. No. 18 UCLA | 8 p.m. | FOX
No. 16 Utah (-10.5) vs. Cal | 3 p.m. | Pac-12 Network
No. 17 Duke (-3) vs. NC State | 8 p.m. | ACC Network
No. 19 Tennessee (-3) vs. Texas A&M | 3:30 p.m. | CBS
No. 20 Washington State (-8.5) vs. Arizona | 7 p.m. | Pac-12 Network
No. 22 LSU (-11) vs. Auburn | 7 p.m. | ESPN
No. 23 Kansas (-3.5) at Oklahoma State | 3:30 p.m. | FS1
No. 24 Kentucky (-2.5) vs. Missouri | 7:30 p.m. | SEC Network 

Others receiving votes: Missouri 69, Wyoming 42, Air Force 41, Wisconsin 41, Tulane 27, West Virginia 26, Clemson 17, Maryland 9, Iowa 7, James Madison 7, Texas A&M 5

Week 7 Top 25 Picks And Matchups

No. 7 Washington vs. No. 8 Oregon | 3:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Line: Washington -3.5 and Total 66.5
Opinion: Oregon 

The plus 3.5 (-115) are showing, and Oregon has the strong defense and balanced 515 yards per game offense to outduel the Huskies and their No. 1 offense averaging 565 yards per game. More stats and Washington-Oregon game info in my Top 25 coverage in Forbes. 

No. 10 USC at No. 21 Notre Dame | 7:30 p.m. ET on NBC
Line: Notre Dame -2.5 and Total 60.3
Pick: Notre Dame 

Heisman winning QB Caleb Williams has led USC's elite offense and efficiency averaging 7.2 yards per rush and 9.7 yards per pass play (and 2.8 yards per play better than average). He was slowed last week vs. Arizona (219 yards passing) and the Trojans escaped at home in OT 43-41 as a 21'-point favorite. The Trojans offense will be tested by a Notre Dame stop unit that has been 1.1 yards per play better than average this season, per Dr. Bob Sports. In addition, an 80% chance of rain is forecast Saturday in South Bend with winds 10-20 MPH. Notre Dame top QB Sam Hartman and the Irish offense are 1.4 yards per play better than average and should move the ball well and have more success against a mediocre USC defense that’s been 0.1 YPPL worse than average. Especially on the ground as well with USC's defense allowing 5.4 yards per rush versus less capable running teams. Note (DrBS) that the Trojans allowed a combined 6.1 YPPL and 34 points to Colorado and Arizona in their two recent wins, and the Irish have a better defense than USC by more than 125 YPG and Notre Dame is going to tackle the Trojans and hand USC their first loss of the season. 

No. 12 North Carolina vs. No. 25 Miami | 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC
Line: North Carolina -3 and Total 57.5 
Opinion: Miami

North Carolina has played the much stronger schedule in their 5-0 start and has an elite CFB quarterback in Drake Maye. Miami enters off the complete clueless coaching miscue last week that led to the Hurricanes first loss of the season. Both teams have top-10 offenses averaging nearly 500 yards per game, but Miami's 4.7 YPPL defense is a bit better statistically and NC (4.9) but the 'Canes have played a weaker schedule. Still, Miami is the preferred play. 

No. 15 Oregon State vs. No. 16 UCLA | 8:00 p.m. ET on FOX
Line: Oregon State -3.5 and Total 54.5
Opinion: Under 54.5 and Lean Oregon State

UCLA's recent road trip to Utah resulted in a 14-7 defeat with the Bruins offense held to less than 300 yards. Oregon State beat Utah on this field two weeks ago 21-7 in another low yardage game. Bruins freshman QB Dante Moore could struggle a bit to find his footing and timing against a solid Beavers defense and with a 50% chance of rain in the afternoon forecast. Beavers QB DJ Uiagalelei faces more pressure and the strongest defense he's faced as well against the Bruins. Both the Bruins and Beavers offenses have similar stat profiles rushing for 200-205 yards per game and passing for 245-255 per game. The Bruins run defense leads the Pac-12 allowing just 64 rushing YPG and less than 2.0 yards per rush and one rushing TD, and UCLA also sports the league's top pass defense allowing 189 yards per game. The Beavers run defense is stout as well allowing 96 rushing yards per game.  

Bonus Picks

No. 14 Louisville at Pittsburgh (+7.5). 
Pick: Pitt Panthers 

Louisville (6-0) is one of the 14 undefeated teams and certainly one of the surprises ranked No. 14 while also sitting on top of the ACC with Florida State. The Cardinals beat Notre Dame 33-20 last week and a 'storm the field' celebration ensued for their signature win. Louisville gained just 330 yards, but forced 5 Irish turnovers. With Duke on deck next week, this trip to Pittsburgh (1-4) looks easy for many bettors, especially since the Pitt Panthers have yet to cover a point spread this season and have been pounded the last two weeks by 17 points against other ACC opponents. The Panthers offense is worst in the ACC at 308 YPG and 23 points per game. But the defense is top 4 allowing just 301 yards per game while holding West Virginia to 17 points and 211 yards and Cincinnati to 27 points. Pitt also held No. 12 North Carolina to 373 yards and just 77 yards rushing (39 attempts) in a misleading 41-24 final. This low total (44.5) also tells us that the Cardinals are in for a tough fight today from a underperforming Pitt team that will bring their best.

Check back later and Saturday morning for more updates and analysis with information you can bet on. 

FairwayJay is a proven sports handicapper and loves college football. He's been handicapping and betting college football for more than two decades and is recognized as one of the sports industry's most insightful analysts. He chips in additional sports betting coverage and reporting on industry news and events. Follow FairwayJay here at OSGA.com and on X (Twitter) @FairwayJay for more sports and betting insights.