College Football Week 7 Look-Ahead Lines: Red River Rivalry, Buckeyes Big 10 Showdown

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Written By Brett Gibbons | Last Updated
college football look-ahead lines week 7

Buckle up, college football fans. Week 7 offers among the densest and most exciting Saturday slates in a handful of years. This weekend likely has enormous implications on College Football Playoff odds as well as how we view the landscape of college football this year. Top games this weekend include the Red River Rivalry (No. 2 Texas vs. No. 19 Oklahoma), No. 7 Penn State at No. 11 USC, No. 12 Ole Miss at No. 13 LSU, and No. 3 Ohio State at No. 6 Oregon. In anticipation, top college football betting sites released a bevy of look-ahead lines. We at TheLines hope you gained your brownie points.

Other games of interest include Florida at No. 4 Tennessee, Stanford at No. 14 Notre Dame, and Washington at Iowa. Welcome to Week 7.

College Football Week 7 Look-Ahead Lines

Here are the best available opening odds across several betting apps.

South Carolina at No. 1 Alabama, Saturday (12:00 p.m., ABC)

Fresh off a huge win against No. 2 Georgia, Alabama jumps to No. 1 in the AP Poll and in many power rankings. The Tide visits Vanderbilt in Week 6 as huge favorites, a game unlikely to move this line much, barring a shocking performance. South Carolina hosts No. 12 Ole Miss in Week 6, a game that could move this line early. The Gamecocks are nearly 10-point home underdogs, a line that’s come down. Expect Ole Miss at South Carolina to have the heavier impact on this Week 7 line.

  • Opening odds: Alabama -21, O/U 51.5

Washington at Iowa, Saturday (12:00 p.m. ET, FOX or Big Ten Network)

Iowa (3-1, 1-0) has established itself as one of the top ground games behind star RB Kaleb Johnson. The Hawkeyes have an enormous task at hand, visiting Ohio State in Week 6. Iowa took action for that line, moving from a +24 to +18.5 underdog in Columbus. However, still a large underdog, that result likely bares little impact on this line against Washington, barring a total blowout. Washington (3-2, 1-1) hosts Michigan in Week 6 – a game sure to impact this line and give another valid data point for both parties. How the Huskies fare in that game is likely an indicator of how they hold up against a similar offensive attack in Week 7.

  • Opening odds: Iowa -3.5, O/U 40.5

No. 2 Texas vs. No. 19 Oklahoma, Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

One of the sport’s best rivalries has been appointment television for years. High scoring, back-and-forth, and exciting matchups dominated TV ratings for the last half-decade. With Texas (5-0, 1-0) fielding its best team since ’08, this game becomes even more intriguing. In preparation for the Dallas showdown, both teams sit on bye in Week 6 – any movement this week is market-driven (or due to injury news).

The Sooners (4-1, 1-1) were without all five top receivers and one of their top backs against Auburn. Backup QB Michael Hawkins assumed QB1 duties and led OU to a slim 27-21 win in the Plains. Oklahoma’s offense has come out sluggish this year–due in part to injuries but also lackluster QB play–ranking 84th in points per drive. Defensively, Brent Venables’ system is starting to take root and the Sooners rank 10th in defensive points per drive.

QB Quinn Ewers missed the last two games with an abdominal injury but should return for this game. Should he not, Arch Manning might grab headlines, but he’s looked like a fresh college QB, tossing two interceptions in a start against ULM.

  • Opening odds: Texas -14.5, O/U 54.5

Cal at Pitt, Saturday (3:30 p.m., ESPN or ACC Network)

Both teams have matchups on tap, sure to move this line one way or another. Cal (3-1, 0-1) hosts both No. 8 Miami (FL) and College Game Day for the first time in school history. The Golden Bears opened +14 underdogs but moved to +10.5 for the matchup. Pitt (4-0) visits North Carolina as near a field goal favorite. The Panthers have been one of the biggest overachievers in the FBS this season under new offensive coordinator Kade Bell and QB Eli Holstein. Pitt ranks 15th in points per drive against an opposing slate, including Cincinnati and West Virginia. The Panthers are also 4-0 against the spread.

  • Opening odds: Pitt -2.5, O/U 58.5

Louisville at Virginia, Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN or ACC Network)

Louisville (3-1, 1-0) suffered its first loss of the year at Notre Dame in Week 5 and hosts SMU in Week 6. The Cards saw serious action against them, re-opening at -6.5 from a previous -11 mark. Virginia (3-1, 1-0) hosts Boston College as slight -1 favorites in Week 6. The Hoos secured a win over Coastal Carolina in Week 4 and sat on a bye in Week 5. With two projected one-score games inbound, watch for this line to re-open at a differing number than what’s posted.

  • Opening odds: Louisville -8, O/U 54.5

Cincinnati at UCF, Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN2)

An AAC rivalry imported to the Big 12 writes another chapter in Week 7. Cincinnati (3-2, 1-1) sits on bye ahead of the matchup while UCF (3-1, 1-1) visits Florida in one of Week 6’s most interesting matchups. The Knights dropped an ugly 48-21 game to Colorado in Week 5, but have won each of the last two matchups against Cincinnati. The Bearcats won three straight between 2019-21 but trailed the all-time series, 5-4. Watch for injury updates to Cincinnati RB Corey Kiner, who is one of the country’s tougher backs to bring down.

  • Opening odds: UCF -7, O/U 60.5

No. 7 Penn State at No. 11 USC, Saturday (3:30 p.m. ET, CBS)

One of many exciting matchups created by conference realignment, Penn State (4-0, 1-0) visits USC (3-1, 1-1) for one of Week 7’s top games. The last time these teams played, Sam Darnold and the Trojans out-dueled Penn State in an instant classic, 52-49, in the 2017 Rose Bowl. In Week 6, Penn State hosts UCLA as four-touchdown favorites. USC visits Minnesota in a tricky matchup of differing styles; sportsbooks favor the Trojans by nine points. How USC handles Minnesota’s run game could provide serious insights for how it might handle Penn State on the ground, though the offensive systems differ.

  • Opening odds: Penn State -3, O/U 53.5

Arizona at BYU Saturday (4:00 p.m. ET, FOX)

BYU (5-0, 2-0) defied all odds through its first five games, going a perfect 5-0 ATS with an average +16.5 point margin above the closing line. The Cougars host Arizona (3-1, 1-0) as slight home underdogs. BYU rests on a bye in Week 6 while Arizona hosts Texas Tech in an exciting southwest duel with a 65-point over/under. How the Wildcats fare against Tech, this game will be the primary driving factor behind movement here. UA upset Utah in Week 5, perhaps contributing to them being favored on the road. LaVell Edwards Stadium provides a strong and underrated home-field advantage for BYU here, suggesting sportsbooks favor Arizona by 4-4.5 points on a neutral.

  • Opening odds: Arizona -1, O/U 54.5

Florida at No. 4 Tennessee, Saturday (7:00 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Perhaps exciting in tradition only, Florida (2-2, 1-1) and Tennessee (4-0, 1-0) fire up another edition of this classic SEC rivalry. The Gators took five of the last six matchups, including as +5 underdogs last year. If it weren’t for that recent run, the Vols might be in a look-ahead spot in Week 7 with the Third Saturday In October on deck (home vs. Alabama). Under Josh Heupel, Tennessee is 17-5 ATS as a favorite in Neyland Stadium. The Vols play at Arkansas in Week 6 as -14 road favorites, while Florida hosts UCF in a desperation game. Another home loss to an in-state recruiting rival could send things south for UF quickly.

  • Opening odds: Tennessee -18.5, O/U 56.5

No. 3 Ohio State at No. 6 Oregon, Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, NBC)

Ohio State (4-0, 1-0) visits Oregon (4-0, 1-0) for the weekend’s biggest matchup. This summer, Oregon was lined as a -1.5 home favorite. Since then, Ohio State moved to a -2.5 road favorite. These look-ahead lines are sure to change this weekend as the Buckeyes host Iowa and the Ducks host Michigan State in Week 6 college football action.

Find a full assessment of Ohio State at Oregon opening odds here.

No. 12 Ole Miss at No. 13 LSU, Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET, ABC)

If you’re a fan of points, this matchup is for you. Since 2016, these teams played to an average of 74.6 points, including 104 just last year; removing 2021 (48 combined points), that average jumps to 78.4 average points. LSU (4-1, 1-0) opens as a home underdog to Ole Miss (4-1, 0-1) in Week 7. The Tigers notched a win in their lone SEC matchup at South Carolina – an ending marred in controversy and heavily influenced by officiating. The Rebels dropped their first SEC game against Kentucky, 20-17. Watch for key injuries to Ole Miss, including WR Tre Harris and DE Jared Ivey.

  • Opening odds: Ole Miss -3, O/U 66.5

No. 18 Iowa State at West Virginia, Saturday (8:00 p.m. ET, FOX)

Perhaps a surprise 4-0 team, Iowa State left little doubt in its last two decisions, a 52-7 win over Arkansas State and a 20-0 shutout over Houston. The Cyclones see a step up in class against West Virginia (2-2, 1-0) for a game that could have Big 12 future implications. Far from the sexiest matchup on the Week 7 docket, this game is a valuable data point for both teams. In Week 6, WVU visits Oklahoma State while Iowa State hosts Baylor. Expect both results to weigh on these odds, barring a pair of pushes. The Mountaineers’ road date with the Pokes likely carries a more heavy impact.

  • Opening odds: Iowa State -3.5, O/U 50.5

No. 20 Kansas State at Colorado, Saturday (10:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)

Both teams rest on bye this week ahead of what’s turned into a major Big 12 matchup. Colorado (4-1, 2-0) secured wins in its first two Big 12 games, one coming off a Hail Mary over Baylor and the other a no-doubt 48-21 win over UCF. Kansas State bounced back and proved once again the team plays much better at home with a 42-20 win over Oklahoma State. All movement from here on out is market-driven since neither team plays in Week 6. However, do note the home/away splits for K-State, who’s put on a Jekyll and Hyde act in the last two seasons.

  • Opening odds: Kansas State -4.5, O/U 57.5

College Football Week 7 Look-Ahead Lines: Odds COmparison

As more college football look-ahead lines become available at sportsbooks, this odds comparison table will update.

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Photo by Jeffrey McWhorter, Associated Press

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