The Stacked Week 7 slate could determine College Football Playoff contenders and pretenders, as FOX’s “Big Noon Kickoff” kicks off from Provo, Utah, setting the stage for an exhilarating 12-hour marathon of top-25 matchups nationwide.
Now is the perfect moment for fans to start crafting excuses for any weekend plans that might interfere with the action.
With twenty teams from the AP Poll’s Top 25 in play, this weekend features a thrilling top-five clash at Autzen Stadium, the storied Red River Rivalry, a high-stakes top-15 showdown under the lights at LSU, and the ongoing journeys of Penn State and BYU to maintain their unbeaten records. Additionally, all eyes will be on Colorado’s standout Travis Hunter as he aims for the Heisman Trophy.
Are fans prepared for the excitement?
“We’re hoping for great handle,” stated Wynn Resorts senior trader Motoi Pearson in a conversation with FOX Sports. “College football often takes a backseat to the NFL, which reigns supreme, so when higher-ranked matchups arise, we aim to quickly identify the numbers and encourage as much action as possible.”
Let the games begin.
No. 3 Ohio State (-3.5, O/U 53) @ No. 2 Oregon
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, NBC/Peacock
Pearson: “I have this number much higher. My numbers have Ohio State -8. That might sound a little absurd given Oregon’s strong preseason ranking, but I’m confident in my assessment. Ohio State boasts a significantly stronger defense, and [Dillon] Gabriel needs to prove himself against elite competition. I’ll gladly eat my words if he does.”
No. 1 Texas (-14, O/U 50.5) vs. No. 18 Oklahoma
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, ABC
Pearson: “I believed the initial number was accurate. This rivalry game allows for some deviation from standard ratings. Both teams come in off a bye, with Oklahoma striving to regain offensive strength while Texas has Georgia looming on their schedule. We might find ourselves backing Oklahoma behind the counter, anticipating a significant betting handle.”
No. 9 Ole Miss (-3.5, O/U 62) @ No. 13 LSU
Saturday, 7:30 pm ET, ABC
Pearson: “Night games in Baton Rouge usually favor LSU. However, most in our group pegged Ole Miss around -5/-5.5. Both teams face immense pressure, and with the SEC’s current chaos, the loser may find themselves outside the playoff picture. Personally, I’m a fan of Ole Miss and will be rooting for them.”
No. 4 Penn State (-5, O/U 50.5) @ USC
Saturday, 3:30 pm ET, CBS
Pearson: “Penn State is one of the toughest teams to assess, alongside Oregon. They dominated West Virginia in their opener but seemed to coast through several subsequent games. I adjusted Penn State’s rating slightly down, especially after USC’s unexpected loss to Minnesota. However, Penn State still holds strong potential.”
Arizona @ No. 14 BYU (-3.5, O/U 48.5)
Saturday, 4 pm ET, FOX/FOX Sports App
Pearson: “This matchup reflects a significant shift from earlier in the season. Arizona has not performed as expected, while BYU remains surprisingly undefeated. The Big 12 is wide open right now. I still have reservations about BYU, and it’s unclear how the public will approach betting on this game. I’m eager to see how it unfolds.”
No. 18 Kansas State (-4, O/U 56.5) @ Colorado
Saturday, 10:15 pm ET, ESPN
Pearson: “Colorado has become quite the enigma. The media attention can make it easy to root against them, yet they are clearly outperforming preseason expectations. This matchup presents a challenging situation for Colorado and a favorable opportunity to back Kansas State with a short spread.”
For those wondering about Pearson’s best bet, he didn’t disappoint.
“Chattanooga is the play against Furman,” he declared. “That’s the best bet of the week, surpassing any of the other matchups we discussed.”
