by Week 7 of the college football season brings a healthy dose of big matchups as the midpoint of the regular season approaches. While it will be difficult to match the chaos of Week 6, there are some blockbuster games that should ensure another exciting day of action.
The headliner is a battle between No. 2 Ohio State and No. 3 Oregon, as the undefeated Big Ten heavyweights test themselves. Both teams will rely on veteran transfers at quarterback as Will Howard brings the Buckeyes out west to take on Dillon Gabriel and the Ducks.
Howard and Gabriel are both proven and experienced, but both have their limitations. Can any of them dig deep to be the difference-maker in a game with major implications for the Big Ten title and the College Football Playoff?
There’s another big Big Ten battle with an interesting quarterback matchup, with No. 4 Penn State heading to Los Angeles to take on USC. Trojans QB Miller Moss will be looking for a bounce-back performance after a loss at Minnesota. His counterpart, Penn State’s Drew Allar, will want to show he has the power needed to lead the Nittany Lions to a big conference win.
Here’s a first look at the odds for those games and other top matchups from Week 7.
Odds via Sportsline consensus
The big games
No. 4 Penn State (-3.5) at USC: Oregon vs. Ohio State may be the headliner, but USC vs. Penn State is a great Week 7 Big Ten undercard. It is the first meeting between the teams since the Trojans defeated the Nittany Lions 52-49 in a legendary Rose Bowl game to close the 2016 season. Back at the same venue, they now meet for the first time as conference foes. If Penn State wins, it will be well-positioned in the Big Ten race and in the quest for a spot in the College Football Playoff.
No. 1 Texas (-14.5) vs. No. 18 Oklahoma: The Red River Rivalry game falls under the SEC banner for the first time as the Longhorns look to avenge a 34-30 loss to the Sooners from last season. Both teams are coming off bye weeks and hope to put the early season quarterback snafus behind them. Quinn Ewers is expected to be back in the saddle for Texas after missing two games due to an abdominal strain. OU freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. is in line for a dose of the national spotlight in his third career start after dethroning former five-star prospect Jackson Arnold.
No. 9 Ole Miss (-2.5) at No. 13 LSU: These teams combined for 104 points in a 55-49 Ole Miss win last season. However, the Tigers may host the Rebels in Death Valley this time, and they will do so after a bye week. Ole Miss heads into back-to-back grueling SEC battles against Kentucky and South Carolina. The Rebels were up to the task against the Gamecocks, but they must stay sharp in this battle between border foes looking to prove they belong in the CFP conversation.
No. 2 Ohio State (-4.5) at No. 3 Oregon: This highly anticipated clash between Big Ten titans marks the first matchup against a ranked foe that either team has played. So it should serve as a litmus test for where they belong in the national pecking order. The Buckeyes led the all-time series 9-1, but the Ducks stunned the Buckeyes 35-28 on the road in 2021. Now they host Ohio State for the first time since 1967 as two of the nation’s top brands meet as opponents of the conference. for the first time.
No. 18 Kansas State (-5.5) op Colorado: These teams met every year from 1948 to 2010 before Colorado left the Big 12 for the Pac-12. Now the Buffs are back in the conference and the series resumes with both teams in the hunt for the league title. The Wildcats like to hit the rock, while the Buffaloes prefer to blow it out. This will serve as an attractive nightcap to a loaded week 7 slate.
