Last weekend was a college football masterclass, and there are some matchups this Saturday that should keep the good times rolling.
The pregame narrative: My best bet is on the game of the week, No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 3 Oregon. I also have a prop bet from the No. 9 Ole Miss vs. No. 13 LSU matchup, as well as an ATS pick in favour of Vanderbilt after a huge upset last Saturday.
Check out the best college football Week 7 picks for the action on Oct. 12.
College football Week 7 picks
| NCAAF Week 7 picks | Odds |
| Ohio State/Oregon over 53.5 pts | -120 |
| Vanderbilt +13.5 | -130 |
Go to full college football betting markets.
Best Bet: Ohio State/Oregon over 53.5 points (-120)
If both offences are firing on Saturday night, this is a number they can definitely clear.
Ohio State has been beating up on lesser opponents through five games, averaging 46.0 points (third in the NCAA) along the way. Oregon isn’t quite in that stratosphere but is still scoring at a 35.0 PPG clip (22nd in the NCAA).
There are a lot of ways to speak kindly of the Buckeyes’ offence. They have …
- A veteran quarterback averaging 9.6 yards/attempt on a 71.5% completion rate
- Two running backs averaging more than 7.5 yards/rush
- A receiver with a first-round draft grade (and two more that will likely have first-round grades in ’26 and ’27)
The over is 3-2 in Buckeyes games so far, but they haven’t been pushed by an opposing offence. Oregon should be able to change that.
After a disconcerting season opener against Idaho, the Ducks have rebounded to score 30-plus points in four straight games. Maybe transfer quarterback Dillon Gabriel needed some time to settle in.
Gabriel’s passing volume is down since the Idaho game, but Oregon’s run game has stepped up to create a more balanced attack. In their past four games, the Ducks are averaging 5.1 yards/rush with eight scores.
Of the two teams, only Oregon has faced another reputable offence so far, courtesy of No. 17 Boise State. In that matchup in Eugene, the Ducks won a barn-burner, 37-34.
Key stat: Ohio State has scored 35-plus points in all five games and cleared this line once on its own (a 56-0 win over Western Michigan).
Quick pick
Vanderbilt +13.5 (-130): Vanderbilt knocked off then-No. 1 Alabama last week, after which a bunch of students marched the goalposts down Broadway and deposited them in the Cumberland River. As they should.
I mention that to say that this week’s road game against Kentucky is a readymade hangover game. But if I can back the Commodores while banking nearly two touchdowns, I’ll happily do it.
Vandy is 4-1 ATS this year and has covered this number in all five games. That includes losing by a field goal on the road against No. 21 Missouri and beating Virginia Tech outright as a 13-point underdog.
Kentucky did almost upset Georgia, but it has only covered this number once in its past four games.
NCAA picks made at 11:30 a.m. on 10/11/2024.
Jordan enjoys writing data-driven game previews and analysis articles — especially for MLB markets or NFL/NBA props. And as a proud Ohio University grad, he’ll always have a soft spot for college sports (especially if the Bobcats are involved). Previous stops include mlb.com, Sportsnet and The Athletic.