NCAA Football Week 7 Against the Spread Picks

Last week in college football taught us a few things. One is that the Heisman Trophy race will likely come down to quarterbacks. How do you choose among Dwayne Haskins, who is tearing up defense after defense at Ohio State; Tua Tagovailoa, who is mowing down teams long before the start of the fourth quarter; Kyler Murray, who has stood tall in the giant shoes of Baker Mayfield; and Will Grier, who might be having the best season of any of these at West Virginia? Let’s take a look at three primo NCAA Football Week 7 odds to bet against the spread for the coming weekend from the gridiron. As always, home teams are in all caps.

NCAA Football Week 7 Against the Spread Picks

Anddd the Week 6 @Big12Conference rankings are IN. pic.twitter.com/oAdrSG7xsA

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) October 10, 2018

Friday, October 12

TULSA (+7.5) over South Florida (7:00pm ET, ESPN)

South Florida would move to 6-0 for the second year in a row with a win here. They have won seven of eight on the road, and Blake Barnett has filled in for Quinton Flowers quite nicely at quarterback, throwing nine touchdown passes and completing over 65 percent of his passes, while throwing just four picks. He has 10 pass plays of at least 25 yards this season, showing that he will throw the ball down the field. The Bulls’ running game is terrific too, averaging 212 yards per game. The issue comes on defense as South Florida allows over 25 points and 422 yards per game. They visit a Tulsa team that has lost four in a row and five of seven at home overall. Quarterback Luke Skipper is having a hard time finding his own team with the ball, with six picks against just four touchdown passes, and he has completed just under 59 percent of his passes. Corey Taylor II leads a strong ground game that averages over 206 yards per game. On defense, the Golden Hurricane permits 31 points per game. Given that this game is on a Friday night, when the change in rhythm can particularly affect road teams, and given that South Florida has covered just once in their last six conference games, I’m going with Tulsa to cover. NCAA Football Week 7 Prediction: South Florida 31, Tulsa 27

Saturday, October 13

Florida (-7) over VANDERBILT (12:00pm ET, ESPN)

Florida dealt LSU a massive blow to their SEC hopes with a 27-19 win last week, moving the Gators to 5-1. Quarterback Feleipe Franks has been clutch this season, throwing 13 touchdown passes with just four interceptions, and Lamical Perine and Dameon Pierce have combined for four touchdowns this year. The Gators’ offense appears to be back, average 34 points per contest, and the defense remains strong, allowing just under 15 points per game. Vanderbilt sits at 3-3 after taking a 41-13 whipping from Georgia in their last game. Quarterback Kyle Shurmur has nine touchdown passes and four picks while completing 60 percent of his passes on the season. They score 25.2 points per game, but it’s hard to say that they can keep up with the Gators, even at home. Florida has covered the spread in four straight games and five of their last seven following after a win against the spread. Vanderbilt has covered just once in their last 10 SEC contests. I see the Gators coming to town and covering. NCAA Football Week 7 Prediction: Florida 24, Vanderbilt 13

NORTHWESTERN (-3.5) over Nebraska (12:00pm ET, ABC)

Nebraska has started 0-5 for the first time in 53 years, and things aren’t going to get any easier. Quarterback Adrian Martinez has generated just 916 yards of passing in those games, with five scores and three picks. Devine Ozigbo is the team’s leading rusher but has just 289 yards and three scores. Defensively, Nebraska is quite generous, permitting 39.2 points per game. Northwestern needs a win to get to 3-3 and have gone 4-4 in their last eight home games. Clayton Thorson has six touchdowns but also five picks this year, and the Northwestern running game hasn’t been that prolific either, averaging under 78 yards per game. Even so, Nebraska looks absolutely incompetent so far this year, so I’m taking the Wildcats. NCAA Football Week 7 Prediction: Northwestern 27, Nebraska 16