Jeremiah Smith is one big point away from tying the Big Ten career touchdown record. But Indiana never allowed him to score in two games.
Will that change Saturday in Bloomington?
Heisman Trophy favorite Ohio State has 38 career touchdowns, one shy of the Big Ten record held by Michigan’s Braylon Edwards. Smith broke a similar slump earlier this season against Texas, which had held him in check in two previous meetings, and rushed for 164 yards (in a loss) in Week 2.
No other team has held Smith scoreless more than once. He can end that drought — and break another record — Saturday when No. 4 Ohio State visits No. 5 Indiana. The Hoosiers are slight underdogs despite winning 22 straight games and posting a perfect 19-0 record at home under Curt Cignetti.
Week 7 promises to be a big one across the sport. This is the first weekend since 2018 with four matchups between AP Top 15 teams.
No. 6 Alabama heads to Knoxville after a loss to Georgia, which moved up to No. 1 this week. The Crimson Tide haven’t lost consecutive regular season games since 2007, Nick Saban’s first season, a streak of 220 consecutive games. The home team has won the last five games in the rivalry known as the Third Saturday in October. No. 14 Tennessee spent the week sorting out its quarterback situation – George MacIntyre will start in place of injured freshman Faizon Brandon.
Elsewhere in the SEC, Austin Simmons returns to No. 9 Ole Miss, where he opened last season as a starter before an ankle injury opened the door for Trinidad Chambliss. Now, Simmons brings No. 13 Missouri to Oxford for a mammoth showdown.
Next comes Provo night, as No. 8 BYU hosts No. 2 Notre Dame in one of the greatest games in Cougars history. The Irish have won 16 straight games by double digits, but enter Saturday with seven straight road losses to AP Top 10 teams. BYU hasn’t beaten a top-two team since Ty Detmer stunned Miami in 1990.
A lot can change in a week. Remember, Texas was No. 1 last week and Florida was in the top 10 two weeks ago. Nothing is certain in college football.
Here’s how our experts see the big weekend unfolding.
Ohio State vs. Indiana Prediction, Picks
Noon on Fox, Fubo (try for free): This should be another great matchup between two national title contenders, and it could very well be a preview of the Big Ten Championship game. That said, I wonder how well Indiana’s pass defense will hold up for 60 minutes, especially without D’Angelo Ponds in the secondary this time. Ohio State makes enough big plays with Smith to create some breathing room late. Pick: Ohio State -3.5 – Austin Nivison
Texas vs. Florida Prediction, Picks
Noon on ABC, Fubo (try for free): Texas has problems on offense, but Florida is even worse on defense. Back-to-back SEC blowouts have erased the goodwill of a 4-0 start and a No. 8 ranking, and a LaNorris Sellers secondary selected last week now gets Manning. Consistency hasn’t been Manning’s calling card, but this game should restore some confidence in the Longhorns’ passing game. Florida isn’t giving anyone a reason to trust their defense, especially against an opponent who has something to prove. Last season’s loss to the Gators should get Texas’ attention. The Longhorns return the favor this weekend. Pick: Texas -10.5 – Brad Crawford
No. 22 LSU vs. No. 16 Mississippi State
Noon on ESPN, Fubo (try for free): LSU is a 14.5-point favorite and SportsLine gives the Tigers a 76% chance of winning, but the total is the more interesting number.
Take out overtime and LSU’s three SEC games produced 56, 41 and 54 points combined. None managed 58.5. Kiffin’s offense averages 42 points per game, but against SEC defenses, LSU has scored 24, 35 and 27 in regulation.
Mississippi State scores 39 points per game, but that production relies on Taylor’s legs and Bothwell’s workload. Both are in question against a front that has been among the best in the country against the run. Mississippi State’s SEC games have averaged nearly 70 points, and if Taylor is close to 100%, Lebby’s pace can carry LSU into a bayou shootout. It’s hard to bet on this version of Taylor appearing two weeks after leaving Alabama in no time. Pick: Under 58.5 – Brandon Marcello
Michigan vs. Penn State
3:30 p.m. on CBS CBSSports.com, CBS Sports app Paramount+ Premium: There’s a “stoppable force versus moving object” situation happening here with Michigan’s offense versus Penn State’s defense, but I’m counting on the home team dictating the tempo here in a classic Big Ten rock fight. Michigan’s games have ended with fewer than 40 total points four times in five games – with the lone exception against lowly UTEP – and even against a shifty Nittany Lions defense, it’s hard to see this Michigan offense being too explosive. On the other side, the Wolverines are as strong as ever defensively, and this seems destined to be a tense game with just one score behind, with both teams struggling to reach 20 points. Pick: Under 42.5 – Robby Kalland
No. 6 Alabama vs. No. 14 Tennessee
3:30 p.m. on ABC, Fubo (try for free): Tennessee’s defense and running game carried it to a 5-1 start. Replicating this formula against Alabama won’t be possible unless the Crimson Tide shoot themselves in the foot with turnovers and special teams mistakes. Because the Crimson Tide won’t respect the Volunteers’ passing game, they will be able to load the box and frustrate Tennessee’s ground game, much like Texas did in Week 4. Offensively, Alabama has too much firepower to be completely overpowered for four quarters. Look for Bama to pull away in the fourth quarter. Pick: Alabama -8.5 – David Cobb
No. 3 Miami vs. Florida State
7 p.m. on ESPN, Fubo (try for free): Miami isn’t just blowing teams up on the scoreboard this season; this is a team that has also exceeded oddsmakers’ expectations almost every week. The Hurricanes do indeed have the best point differential in the FBS (+39.8), but they also rank T-14 nationally with a 4-1 record against the spread and hold the 15th best coverage margin in the country, beating the spread by an average of 7.8 points per game. With those kinds of trends, it’s hard to think that Miami is a candidate for an upset scare, and Florida State’s road issues make it very possible that this game goes badly against the Seminoles. Pick: Miami -21 – Chip Patterson
No. 2 Notre Dame vs. No. 8 BYU
7:30 a.m. on ABC, Fubo (try for free): Don’t let the line fool you; a war is coming to Provo. BYU’s defense is vastly underrated and Notre Dame showed some disarray against a depleted North Carolina team. The loss of running back LJ Martin will be too much for the Cougars to overcome and prevent them from winning the game, but BYU will comfortably cover the spread and threaten late in the low-scoring game. Pick: BYU +10.5 – Shehan Jeyarajah
The Proven SportsLine Computer The model simulated every Week 7 college football game 10,000 times. Visit SportsLine now to see the picks, all from the model which is on a 48-40 run among CFB’s top-rated picks this season.
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