College Football Week 7 Preview: Ohio State-Indiana, Notre Dame-BYU and Every Game Worth Watching

Week 7 of the college football season is one of the best Saturdays of the year so far. Six ranked-versus-ranked games are on the board, two of them feature top-10 teams, and nine undefeated FBS teams are still standing as the day begins. If you only have time to watch a few games, here is a plain-English guide to the ones that matter most, what the betting lines say, and what to watch for.

No. 4 Ohio State at No. 5 Indiana: The Last Two National Champions Collide

The noon ET kickoff on Fox is the headliner. Indiana (6-0) is the reigning national champion, and Ohio State (5-1) won the title the year before that, so this is a heavyweight fight between the last two champs in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes are 3.5-point road favorites with a total around 50.5, and the moneyline sits near Ohio State -170 to -190, with Indiana paying roughly +145 to +150. Lines bounce between 3 and 3.5 depending on the book, so shop around before you bet.

Ohio State has looked like a different team since its early-season loss to Texas, and the Buckeyes have the star power to back it up with receiver Jeremiah Smith and quarterback Julian Sayin leading the offense. Indiana, led by quarterback Josh Hoover, is unbeaten but has had a couple of tight escapes, which is why the market still leans toward the visitors. For casual fans, this is the easiest game on the slate to enjoy: two elite programs, a loud home crowd, and a result that reshapes the Big Ten race.

The pick here is Ohio State to win a close one. The Buckeyes have more proven firepower, and a 3.5-point number is small enough that a field goal win covers it, but a one-score game is the most likely outcome. To track the action as it moves, the Live NCAAF Odds page is a handy place to compare numbers.

No. 2 Notre Dame at No. 8 BYU: A Night Game at Altitude

The late window brings the second top-10 matchup, and it comes with a real challenge for the visitors. Notre Dame (6-0) travels to Provo to face an undefeated BYU team (5-0) in a loud building high above sea level. The Fighting Irish are roughly 10.5-point favorites at FanDuel, with a moneyline near Notre Dame -420 and BYU +320, though some books were showing the spread closer to 10.

The question is whether the Irish can handle the pressure of the spot. BYU has not lost yet, and a double-digit spread says the market believes Notre Dame is simply deeper and more complete. That is a lot of points to lay on the road, though, so the Cougars are the lean to cover, even if the Irish win the game outright.

No. 6 Alabama at No. 14 Tennessee: The Third Saturday in October

One of the oldest rivalries in the SEC lands at Neyland Stadium with a 3:30 p.m. ET kickoff. Alabama (5-1) is coming off a 20-17 loss to Georgia that cost it the top spot, while Tennessee (5-1) is looking to keep its own conference hopes alive. Alabama is favored by about 7 to 7.5 points, with moneylines around Alabama -319 and Tennessee +255.

The storyline to track is Tennessee’s quarterback situation, which at least one preview flagged as a concern against a strong Crimson Tide defense. Alabama has the edge on paper, but rivalry games at Neyland tend to be tight, and a touchdown-plus spread is exactly the kind of number where backing the underdog is tempting. The lean is Alabama to win, Tennessee to cover.

Other Games Worth Setting Your Alarm For

No. 1 Georgia hosts Auburn at 3:30 p.m. ET on ESPN after beating Alabama on the road last week. The Bulldogs are laying somewhere between 19.5 and 20.5 points depending on the book, with the total at 49.5, so this is the kind of game where the spread matters more than the winner. In the SEC, No. 13 Missouri visits No. 9 Ole Miss in what looks like a win-or-else moment for both teams, since each has already lost a league game. Ole Miss is favored by about 5.5 points with a total near 58.5. Florida visits No. 7 Texas at noon on ABC, with the Longhorns favored by roughly 10.5 to 11.5 as they try to bounce back from their Red River loss to Oklahoma. And No. 3 Miami hosts Florida State as a 21-point favorite, a reminder of how firmly the Hurricanes control the ACC race.

This Week’s Best Bets

Here are the leans from the three marquee games, based on the lines available as of Friday. Lines move, so double-check them before you place anything.

• Ohio State at Indiana: Ohio State -3.5
• Notre Dame at BYU: BYU +10.5
• Alabama at Tennessee: Tennessee +7.5

If you are new to betting on college football, start small, stick to a budget, and treat it as entertainment. Our responsible gambling guide has tools and resources if you need them.