The official halfway point for the 2022 college football season has arrived with the Saturday class set for Week 7. With six games among the top 25 opponents on the roster, there’s no doubt that College Football Playoff’s dreams will be shattered two weeks before the game begins. Launch of the first CFP ratings.
The Big Ten East will start the count early when they visit No. 10 Pennsylvania No. 5 Michigan with the Nittany Lions hoping to continue their strong season, while the Wolverines look to prove that 2021 was no aberration. The highlight game of the day though, is #3 in Alabama entering Rocky Top to take sixth in Tennessee with the Volunteers confidence as they have always been in welcoming opponent Crimson Tide into town. Is this the year the Vols get past the Schneids and become legitimate CFP contenders, or will quarterback Bryce Young return to set the tide for the second half of the season?
No. 8 Oklahoma State also visits No. 13 TCU in another meeting of the undefeated Big 12 that should clear the field in the league, while No. 7 USC travels to No. 20 in Utah in the Pac-12 main game. Will Utes regain their dominance of the conference and prove two back-to-back league titles, or will the Trojans continue to thrive under first-year coach Lincoln Riley with Caleb Williams under center?
By the time Saturday’s work ends, many of the conference’s title photos will be visible and there may be noticeable changes to Jerry Palm’s pot projections (look for those Sunday photos). Be sure to stick to CBS Sports all day for coverage of college football from the start of the inaugural game onwards. Let’s take a look at our experts’ picks for the best games of Week 7.
Odds via Caesars Sportsbook | All times are oriental
No. 10 Pennsylvania at No. 5 Michigan
Featured game | Michigan Wolverines vs Penn State Nittany Lions
nun | Fox fuboTV (try for free)– Although I can’t be sure of what I know about either of these teams yet, my idea is that defenses remain stronger than attacks. Michigan’s offense has relied heavily on Blake Corum for the big plays in recent weeks, and Penn State’s improved offensive line hasn’t been tested in the same way it will this week. We are more likely to see a match with lower points than a match with high points (none of the last four meetings have crossed the 50 point mark). Prediction: less than 51.5 – Tom Fornelli
No. 3 Alabama at No. 6 Tennessee
Featured game | Tennessee Volunteers vs Alabama Crimson Tide
3:30 PM | CBS, CBSSports.comAnd the CBS Sports . app – Take TN and points, but you might want to consider splashing money on this. Even if Bryce Young plays for Alabama, he is unlikely to be 100%. If Bama’s offense falters, or even if it contains a few empty possessions, the volunteers will have a chance to win those possessions instantly. This is exactly what I think will happen. Tennessee QB Hendon Hooker will make a massive statement for the Heisman Cup in what will be the Vols’ biggest win in a generation. Prediction: TN +7.5 – Barrett Sally
No. 8 Oklahoma State at No. 13 TCU
Featured game | TCU Horned Frogs vs. Oklahoma State Cowboys
3:30 PM | ABC, fuboTV (try for free)– TCU has been one of the best stories this season, but Oklahoma State is a different kind of challenge. Cowboys are equally deep, physical and well trained. Oklahoma State’s defensive line is good enough to cause problems for TCU’s shaky offensive line, especially against interference. It will be a close match, but Oklahoma State will end the bet. Prediction: Oklahoma State +3.5 – Sheehan Jiraj
LSU vs. Florida
Featured game | Florida Gators vs. LSU Tigers
7 pm | ESPN, fuboTV (try for free) Although it’s not technically a top 25 game, the SEC’s rivalry showdown is always one of the most anticipated matches of the year. Florida and LSU bear similarities as both teams are 4-2 in their first seasons under new coaches. They both rely on moving midfielders who have been throwing football infrequently, and both have endured some extreme highs and lows during the first half of the season. LSU’s defense looks better on paper, ranking 29th nationally in overall defense as opposed to Florida’s 99th ranking, but that’s misleading as the Tigers surrendered 438 yards against lowly Auburn two weeks ago before giving up 502 yards at home against Tennessee last week. With such a narrow spread in this game and little differentiation between teams, Florida gets the nod due to its pitch advantage on its own land. The swamp should be swaying for a night match against an SEC competitor. Prediction: Florida -2.5 – David Cope
USC’s No. 7 in Utah’s No. 20
Featured game | Utah Utes vs USC Trojans
8 pm | Fox fuboTV (try for free)– There must have been some real concern that Utah could not put pressure on Dorian Thompson Robinson in the loss to UCLA. There will be plenty for Lincoln Riley and his staff to work with in terms of looking to exploit the Utah defense in a similar fashion, and the recent success of the Troy defense is a welcome sign when this side of the ball was thought to be an upcoming weakness of the season. Utah will play better than it did against UCLA, but things don’t quite live up to the championship level we’ve come to expect of the season. I give USC a good chance of winning, so I think taking the points is the right play. Prediction: USC +3.5 – Chip Patterson
What college football picks can you make with confidence in Week 7, and which top 15 players will drop the hardest? Visit SportsLine to see which teams will win and cover the difference – all from a proven computer model that has made close to $3,000 in profits over the past six seasons – and find out.
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