Week Seven of the College Football season is here, though we have fewer on paper great matchups, if this season is any indication we should get surprise outcomes this weekend!
Here is your Week Seven College Football 2021 preview.
Week Seven College Football Top Matchups
UCF at No. 3 Cincinnati
- Game Info: Friday, 12:00 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Prediction: UCF 42, Cincinnati 35
The Bearcats are three-score favorites at home in what has been a tough series over the last few years with the Knights.
Cincinnati has won the last two meetings by three points. All of UCF’s games against FBS opponents have been one-score games.
The offense couldn’t get the job done against a not-great Navy team, but it was able to slug its way past East Carolina with three takeaways and solid defensive performance. So what happens in this game, will the offense wake up or will it have to depend on its defense? I think Gus Malzahn opens the playbook and comes out with something creative to shock the bearcats.
No. 12 Oklahoma State No. 25 Texas
- Game Info: Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET (Fox)
- Prediction: Texas 32, Oklahoma St. 29
The Longhorns are coming off an emotional loss but remain favorites against the Cowboys, who had a bye week to prepare for the matchup. The teams have split the last four meetings, and all of those games have been decided by seven points or less.
There’s no time for a hangover here for Texas with three road trips in the next four games. A loss doesn’t end any hope of getting another shot at Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship, but it would be a severe blow.
Oklahoma State can certainly throw, and the offense has been more than fine – this team plays up or down to its competition – but the Texas attack will get its balance back fast.
The Cowboy defensive front and the pass rush will keep this game in range, but in the third straight Big 12 thriller for the Longhorns, they’ll rise up at home on two big late drives.
No. 11 Kentucky at No. 1 Georgia
- Game Info: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (CBS)
- Prediction: Georgia 42, Kentucky 14
Georgia is a huge favorite for a game of this magnitude, but the Bulldogs have won 11 straight games in the series and have allowed just two offensive TDs all season.
Bennett has GOT to avoid interceptions.
He’s been great so far, and he hit a few big throws in last year’s 14-3 win, but he also gave up two picks.
Kentucky won’t beat itself – even with a few giveaways – but it won’t have the passing punch needed to pull this off.
Georgia has won 11 straight in this and 13 of 14. The streak continues.
No. 5 Alabama at Mississippi State
- Game Info: Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Prediction: Alabama 52, Mississippi State 31
Could Alabama actually lose two games in a row? We doubt that, but the Bulldogs had an extra week to prepare and have played in four games decided by three points or less. There is no in-between with this game, and I think Mississippi State is catching Alabama at the absolute worst time.
The 2019 Alabama team lost to Joe Burrow and the epic LSU squad. A week later it won at Mississippi State 38-7.
In 2018, the Tide lost to Auburn, but went on to its next game to thump Clemson in the College Football Playoff on the way to the national title.
In 2015 – it’s hard to find Tide regular-season losses – the team followed up a loss to Ole Miss with a 34-0 win over ULM, and it rocked Mississippi State 24-7 a week after losing to LSU 9-6 in 2011.
The Bulldogs will get a few passing yards to keep this interesting, and the better-than-you-think defense will keep this from getting out of hand, but you’re messing with history here if you think Nick Saban is about to lose two straight regular-season games.
TCU at No. 4 Oklahoma
- Game Info: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Prediction: Oklahoma 35, TCU 32
The Sooners’ string of one-score victories continued, but quarterback Caleb Williams’ arrival could change the dynamic of the season. Oklahoma has won seven in a row in this series.
Even with all of the injuries, TCU is never the team – and Gary Patterson isn’t the coach – you want to face when you need to refocus after a massive game like Oklahoma just played.
Here’s the big question – does the Oklahoma offense go back to being the OKLAHOMA offense with Williams under center? Can the team maintain the explosion and balance is showed last week in Dallas?
It’s not like the team was bad with Rattler – it just wasn’t able to finish off games with ease, and the rushing attack wasn’t there without a runner under center.
TCU has played up or down to its competition all year, and it’s about to do it yet again with a plucky effort in the second half. The Sooners will get up big right away, but the Horned Frogs will slowly keep chipping away. But I have the Sooners pulling this off.
Other Week Seven College Football Contests
Cal at No. 9 Oregon
- Game Info: Friday, 10:30 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Prediction: Oregon 24, Cal 21
Both teams had a bye week to prepare, and the Golden Bears are 2-0 as an underdog this season. Oregon needs to bounce back after a loss to Stanford, and the loss of running back CJ Verdell is another concern. The last two meetings have been defensive struggles. That said, Oregon needs to flex in order to stay in the CFP race.
No. 24 San Diego State at San Jose State
- Game Info: Friday, 10:30 p.m. ET (CBSSN)
- Prediction: San Diego State 35, San Jose State 24
The Aztecs continue to roll in Mountain West Conference play, and they are 4-1 as favorites this season. Greg Bell leads a potent rushing attack, too. The Spartans have played better at home, so this could be closer than expected.
No. 10 Michigan State at Indiana
- Game Info: Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET (FS1)
- Prediction: Michigan State 45, Indiana 21
Is this a trap game for the Spartans heading to a bye week before a potential battle of unbeatens against Michigan? Maybe, but the Spartans are really good in all facets of the game this season when it is single digits, and the Hoosiers haven’t been the same team this season.
Auburn at No. 17 Arkansas
- Game Info: Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET (CBS)
- Prediction: Arkansas 42, Auburn 21
Both SEC West teams are coming off losses, and if it comes down to motivation the Tigers have a five-game winning streak in the series. Auburn also has a better run defense, and that could make it interesting if Bo Nix is on point. I just like the Razorbacks a little more at home.
No. 20 Florida at LSU
- Game Info: Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Prediction: Florida 45, LSU 31
Florida could easily roll here given the struggles LSU has had on both sides of the ball. That said, this series typically brings out close games and memorable finishes. This will be more of the same with the Tigers in desperation mode.
No. 21 Texas A&M at Missouri
- Game Info: Saturday, 12:00 p.m. ET (SECN)
- Prediction: Missouri 31, Texas A&M 28
The easy pick here is to say that the Aggies will feast on the bad rushing defense of Missouri, but I think Texas A&M fell more in love with the passing game last week and will outsmart themselves a bit here. I predict an upset here.
Purdue at No. 2 Iowa
- Game Info: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Prediction: Iowa 28, Purdue 20
Is this a trap game? Purdue has won three of the last four meetings, and all of those games have been decided by nine points or less. The Hawkeyes are coming off an emotional victory, and Purdue had an extra week. Iowa wins, but the Boilers make it interesting.
No. 19 BYU at Baylor
- Game Info: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ET (ESPN2)
- Prediction: BYU 31, Baylor 24
BYU is coming off a loss at Boise State, and now they turn around for another tough road game at Baylor. The Bears average 227.7 rushing yards per game and can control the tempo. This is bad news for the Cougars. But I think they are up for the challenge and will find a way to win this one.
No. 13 Ole Miss at Tennessee
- Game Info: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (ABC)
- Prediction: Ole Miss 51, Tennessee 45
Lane Kiffin makes his return to Knoxville, and that alone makes this game worth the price of admission. The Vols hammered South Carolina and Missouri the last two weeks; a sign of things to come under Josh Heupel. Kiffin, however, has a better offense in what should be a wild matchup.
No. 18 Arizona State at Utah
- Game Info: Saturday, 10:00 p.m. ET (ESPN)
- Prediction: Arizona State 39, Utah 28
The Sun Devils can win the Pac-12. Arizona State has the top scoring defense and third-best rushing attack in the conference, and those are handy on the road. Arizona State wins for the fourth straight game since that loss to BYU.
College Football – Upset Alert
No. 22 N.C. State at Boston College
- Game Info: Saturday, 7:30 p.m. ET (SEC Network)
- Prediction: Boston College 27, NC State 24
This has been a trouble spot for the Wolfpack in the past. Boston College has won four of the last six home meetings, and the ACC race is as unpredictable as ever. This feels like another one of those moments. I pick the upset here.
Should be another excellent week of College Football!
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