Week seven has arrived and it is full of big-time matchups across the college football landscape. Saturday’s lineup features two top-ten matchups in the Big 10 and SEC, a huge game in the Big 12, an important game in the competitive ACC Atlantic division and a top 20 matchup out west in the Pac-12. With each week that passes by the stakes increase, as this week marks the halfway point of the schedule. Let’s break down the marquee games weekend.
#10 Penn State vs #5 Michigan (-7):
This is a huge game in the Big 10, as the winner will have a good shot at reaching the College Football Playoff while the loser will need a lot of help for them to reach their goal. Michigan’s running back Blake Corum has rushed for 735 yards so far this season, but he will be going up against a Penn State defense that only gives up 79.6 yards rushing a game. Michigan QB J.J. McCarthy will be making his first start against a ranked team, and it will be against a pass defense that only allows a completion percentage of 49.6%. Michigan also has a stout defense, so points will be at a premium.
#3 Alabama (-7) vs #6 Tennessee:
Alabama was fortunate to get by Texas and Texas A&M, and now the Tide will travel to Knoxville to take on a Vols team that is on the rise – led by quarterback Hendon Hooker. For a rivalry that is played “On the Third Saturday in October,” this matchup hasn’t been close lately as Alabama has won 15 straight games. Bama running back Jahmyr Gibbs has rushed for 360 yards in his last two games and will need to continue to dominate on the ground as Bryce Young deals with his injury. Hendon Hooker has been rising up the Heisman rankings and can have a signature moment this Saturday against the top program in college football.
#8 Oklahoma State vs #13 TCU (-4):
TCU has been waiting for this one after the Cowboys beat them 63-17 last year. Since that game, TCU has won six out of its last seven contests and comes into this game off of a big win over Kansas on the road. Oklahoma State is 5-1 in its last six games against ranked opponents when they are ranked as well. Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders and TCU quarterback Max Duggan have both played well this season and this matchup could come down to which quarterback outshines the other.
#15 NC State vs #18 Syracuse (-3.5):
Last week NC State was able to bounce back from a 17-3 deficit at home versus a previously ranked Florida State team. Now they will have to go to the Carrier Dome to take on a Syracuse team that is off to its best start since 1987. State has already lost a division game to Clemson and can’t afford to drop another one. A win for Syracuse would make them bowl eligible for the first time in four seasons. If the Orange wins it sets up a monster showdown with Clemson next Saturday. NC State quarterback Devin Leary is listed as day to day after suffering a shoulder injury against FSU. Orange quarterback Garrett Shrader has completed 70% of his passes so far this season and has 10 TDs to only 1 interception, but the Wolfpack defense is second in the ACC in scoring defense.
#7 USC vs #20 Utah (-3.5):
Despite USC coming in as the higher ranked team and undefeated, Vegas is listing Utah as 3.5-point favorites. Both teams are scoring just over 40 points per game, while their defenses are giving up almost an identical number of points this season. This is the first time USC has played a rank team this year. It will be interesting to see how Lincoln Riley and his quarterback, Caleb Williams, perform on their first big test of the season.