College Football Expert Picks: Week 7
Kansas vs. Texas Tech (-14.5)
Texas Tech has proven itself to be a dominant team this year. The Red Raiders have won all of their games by 24 points or more. One of their victims even included 16th-ranked Utah, whom they dominated at Utah.
Their win over the Utes is particularly relevant to this game because Utah's quarterback is a dual-threat quarterback who has run for over 80 yards in two different games. Against Texas Tech, however, Utah's quarterback had by far the worst game of his season, as measured by passer rating. His Utes mustered ten points.
Whereas Kansas with its dual-threat quarterback will struggle on offense, the Red Raiders will thrive offensively with their quarterback, who boasts a 177.9 passer rating. As evident when the Jayhawks surrendered 42 points to Missouri and 37 points to Cincinnati, they lack the ability to contain strong passing attacks.
Pick: Texas Tech -14.5 at -103 with BetOnline
Purdue vs. Minnesota (-9.5)
Against Power Four opponents, Purdue has allowed 33 points to USC, 56 to Notre Dame, and 43 to Illinois. The total for this game is lower than last week's, when Purdue and Illinois combined for 70 points, because Minnesota generally doesn't score many points. Minnesota's offensive struggles against the likes of Ohio State with its elite defense creates value, in this way, in the "over" by deflating the posted total. The key is that the Golden Gophers can score a lot of points. They scored 31 against Rutgers, for example, whose defense ranks much higher than Purdue's.
Against Rutgers, Minnesota's quarterback amassed 324 yards and three passing touchdowns. He'll thrive against Purdue's pass defense, which ranks second-to-last at limiting the opposing passer rating. Purdue's offense, which is very pass-heavy, will also score a lot of points against Minnesota's pass defense, which ranks 118th at limiting the opponent's passer rating.
Pick: Over 51.5 at -110 with BetOnline
Michigan vs. USC (-2.5)
If you look at Michigan's game against Nebraska, then you might conclude that the Trojans will score many points, via its pass attack, against Michigan. However, the Wolverines were debilitated by injuries in their secondary when they played against Nebraska. This Michigan pass defense is healthy now, especially with vital safety Rod Moore having rediscovered his form in last week's 24-10 win over Wisconsin. Moore wasn't even playing when a reasonably healthy Michigan pass defense limited former Heisman favorite Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer to his worst performance of the season.
On offense, the Wolverines boast a running back in Justice Haynes who amassed over six YPC in both of his games against a top-five rushing defense. Michigan's developing quarterback gets to face USC's 96th-ranked pass defense.
Pick: Michigan +2.5 at -110 with BetOnline
Kansas vs. Texas Tech (-14.5)
Texas Tech has proven itself to be a dominant team this year. The Red Raiders have won all of their games by 24 points or more. One of their victims even included 16th-ranked Utah, whom they dominated at Utah.
Their win over the Utes is particularly relevant to this game because Utah's quarterback is a dual-threat quarterback who has run for over 80 yards in two different games. Against Texas Tech, however, Utah's quarterback had by far the worst game of his season, as measured by passer rating. His Utes mustered ten points.
Whereas Kansas with its dual-threat quarterback will struggle on offense, the Red Raiders will thrive offensively with their quarterback, who boasts a 177.9 passer rating. As evident when the Jayhawks surrendered 42 points to Missouri and 37 points to Cincinnati, they lack the ability to contain strong passing attacks.
Pick: Texas Tech -14.5 at -103 with BetOnline
Purdue vs. Minnesota (-9.5)
Against Power Four opponents, Purdue has allowed 33 points to USC, 56 to Notre Dame, and 43 to Illinois. The total for this game is lower than last week's, when Purdue and Illinois combined for 70 points, because Minnesota generally doesn't score many points. Minnesota's offensive struggles against the likes of Ohio State with its elite defense creates value, in this way, in the "over" by deflating the posted total. The key is that the Golden Gophers can score a lot of points. They scored 31 against Rutgers, for example, whose defense ranks much higher than Purdue's.
Against Rutgers, Minnesota's quarterback amassed 324 yards and three passing touchdowns. He'll thrive against Purdue's pass defense, which ranks second-to-last at limiting the opposing passer rating. Purdue's offense, which is very pass-heavy, will also score a lot of points against Minnesota's pass defense, which ranks 118th at limiting the opponent's passer rating.
Pick: Over 51.5 at -110 with BetOnline
Michigan vs. USC (-2.5)
If you look at Michigan's game against Nebraska, then you might conclude that the Trojans will score many points, via its pass attack, against Michigan. However, the Wolverines were debilitated by injuries in their secondary when they played against Nebraska. This Michigan pass defense is healthy now, especially with vital safety Rod Moore having rediscovered his form in last week's 24-10 win over Wisconsin. Moore wasn't even playing when a reasonably healthy Michigan pass defense limited former Heisman favorite Oklahoma quarterback John Mateer to his worst performance of the season.
On offense, the Wolverines boast a running back in Justice Haynes who amassed over six YPC in both of his games against a top-five rushing defense. Michigan's developing quarterback gets to face USC's 96th-ranked pass defense.
Pick: Michigan +2.5 at -110 with BetOnline
