COLLEGE FOOTBALL BEST EARLY BETS WEEK 7
Summary
As college football’s Week 7 schedule unfolds, several key matchups present intriguing betting opportunities. The author advises caution regarding Alabama’s recent return to form, suggesting that an undefeated Missouri is poised for an upset victory. Florida State, reeling from two consecutive losses, is expected to be challenged by a competitive Pittsburgh team, likely resulting in a high-scoring affair.
In other games, Texas is favored to bounce back against Oklahoma, while Tennessee’s contest with Arkansas is predicted to be an offensive shootout. Texas A&M is expected to handle Florida comfortably, and the late-night game between Utah State and Hawaii is forecast to be a high-scoring encounter due to suspect defenses on both sides.
By Adam Greene
It’s Monday and since college football can happen pretty much on any day now (we have two games on Wednesday) there’s just no time to waste. Here are your best bets for Week 7 of the NCAA football season.
No. 8 ALABAMA AT No. 14 MISSOURI (+3, O/U: 51.5)
I know all of college football is dying to craft a Taylor Swift-ian ode to the return of Alabama (4-2, 2-0 SEC) football to relevancy after a big win over Georgia two weeks ago, but lets hit the breaks. Paul Finebaum’s headshine might have never been brighter but let me just pause all this Crimson Tide adulation and ovulation for just a second. While the final score of last week’s victory over Vanderbilt looks good on the stat sheet, 30-14, if you watched that game then you know it doesn’t tell the story at all. The Commodores literally gave that game away in the fourth quarter with an interception with Bama leading by six and then a turnover on downs that the Tide tuned into a filed goal to lead 23-14. The final Alabama touchdown came in the last 1:01 of the game and was all for the AP voters.
Missouri (5-0, 1-0) has a couple of solid wins over South Carolina and Kansas. And its non-conference cupcakes have been obliterated by the scores they should have. I like Mizzou in the upset, straight up.
Best bets: Missouri +3, Missouri +130 and Over 51.5
PITTSBURGH AT No. 25 FLORIDA STATE (-10.5, O/U: 57)
Florida State (3-2, 0-2 ACC) is hurting. This was the year where they were looking to return to power and back-to-back losses have all but ended that. There’ll still be a solid bowl in their future, but that’s not what they want to play for in Tallahassee. FSU’s playoff hopes probably could have survived their 28-22 loss to No. 3 Miami a week ago, but that 46-38 turd against Virginia the week before is still floating around and is impossible to ignore.
The Panthers (3-2, 1-1) have been a fun watch, staying competitive in games they’ve lost against West Virginia (31-24) and Louisville (34-27) and blowing out everyone else on their schedule. I see another shootout here and, if Pittsburgh’s season holds, they’ll keep it within a score.
Best bets: Pittsburgh +10.5, Over 57
No. 6 OKLAHOMA AT TEXAS (-2.5, O/U: 42.5)
I think I figured out what happened last week. Texas (3-2, 0-1 SEC) quarterback Arch Manning and UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava Freaky Friday-ed. Total body swap and I’m pretty sure Rick Neuheisel and that cursed idol Bobby Brady found in when the Brady Bunch was in Hawaii was involved. Either way, it’s time for a bounce back for the Manning heir apparent. Anyone who thinks Arch is ready for the trash heap doesn’t remember Uncle Peyton going 0-4 against Florida in his collegiate career and throwing two picks in a 21-17 loss to unranked Memphis, when the Tennessee Volunteers were ranked No. 6 in the country, in his junior season.
The Sooners (5-0, 1-0) have looked good, but this is pretty much the same team the Iamaleava Vols handled a year ago. So, any Freaky Friday issues should be fine.
Best bets: Texas -2.5, Over 42.5
ARKANSAS AT No. 12 TENNESSEE (-13, O/U: 69)
Speaking of Iamaleava, his former team, Tennessee (4-1, 1-1 SEC) has done pretty well with his replacement, Joey Aguilar. The former Appalachian State gunslinger has completed 65 percent of his passes for 1,459 yards, 13 touchdowns and five picks this season and is a missed field goal against Georgia away from probably QB-ing the No. 1 team in the country.
The problem for the Vols is the Razorbacks (2-3, 0-1 SEC) are pretty good at this whole offense thing as well. Arkansas was shut down by No. 22 Notre Dame last week but has scored at least 21 in every other contest. The line makes me nervous, but that over looks like it could be hit easily.
Best bets: Over 57
FLORIDA AT No. 5 TEXAS &AM (-7.5, O/U: 46.5)
Is Florida (2-3, 1-1 SEC) dangerous? Sure, you could catch polio at Disneyworld, but outside of that, I’m not too sure. Yes, the 29-21 win over then No. 9 Texas was huge last week and shocked the college world and likely sealed away any chance that Arch Manning will come out in next April’s NFL Draft. I don’t think it makes up for the three straight losses to USF, LSU and Miami the weeks before.
The Aggies (5-0, 2-0 SEC) have been on cruise control with the exception of a barn burning 41-40 win over Notre Dame. They had a close one against Auburn but won it 16-10. I feel like reality shows back this week in College Station.
Best bets: Texas A&M -7.5, Over 46.5
UTAH STATE AT HAWAII (-2, O/U: 58)
Our nightcap is actually a fun one as Utah State (3-2, 1-0 Mountain West) crosses the ocean to soak it in on the shores of Hawaii (4-2, 1-1). It’s our latest start time, literally 11:59 p.m. EST so you have to be serious to watch this one and I’ll give you a reason to pay attention and find this one on whatever station might show it. I literally can’t find it.
Both these teams can score points. The Aggies haven’t put up less than 22 this season, in a loss to Texas A&M. Hawaii did post a sixer against Arizona but has hit 21 at least ever since. I feel like both these defenses are suspect and this one should be high scoring, even if no one is watching it outside of our 50th state. And, you might say, surely someone in Utah will tune in but that is way past Mormon bed time, even in MST, and they’re not allowed to drink caffeine. All the Elders will be long asleep by the time this one kick’s off.
Best bets: Over 58. Follow Adam Greene on Blue Sky @AdamGreene13, threads @adam.greene and Twitter @TheFirstMan
