This Week 7 college football slate is absolutely bonkers, loaded with six top-25 matchups that are going to shape the entire season. We’re nearing the midway point, and let me tell you, those preseason expectations we all had? They mean absolutely nothing right now. Just ask teams like LSU, Texas A&M, Michigan, and Penn State. Narratives are already forming, and the stakes are through the roof with playoff implications for SEC, Big Ten, and Big 12 teams trying to keep those unbeaten records intact. Ohio State-Indiana, Notre Dame-BYU, and Alabama-Tennessee are just a few of the games you won’t want to miss.
LSU’s Do-Or-Die Weekend Against Mississippi State
Oh boy, if you’re an LSU fan, you gotta be stressed. No. 22 LSU is hosting No. 16 Mississippi State, and expert Chris Hummer is calling for an LSU bounce back, picking them to cover the 10.5-point spread. He’s talking about LSU’s elite secondary and pass rush being major advantages. But here’s the kicker, the massive red flag waving in the wind: Sam Leavitt and turnovers. The dude leads the nation in interceptions. If he can play clean, Hummer thinks LSU rolls, predicting a 38-24 win.
Brad Crawford, on the other hand, is laying it all out there. He also picks LSU to cover, predicting 37-20. For him, this isn’t just another game. It’s the week LSU *has* to look like a potential College Football Playoff team. They’ve already got two SEC losses, and a third one? That shuts the door completely on the 12-team bracket, even if they win out from there. Crawford straight up gave this game the “must-win” label for Lane Kiffin. He says Kiffin’s first season is teetering on “total disappointment” if they get handed a third loss before they even play Alabama in November. That’s heavy, man. This game is everything for LSU’s season.
Texas’s Offense Needs to Show Up Against Florida
Over in another SEC vs. Big 12 showdown, we’ve got Florida taking on No. 7 Texas, with Texas favored by 9.5 points. Hummer is leaning towards Florida covering the spread, and it all boils down to one question: which version of Arch Manning and the Texas passing attack are we going to see? It’s going to make or break whether Texas blows this game wide open.
Florida’s pass defense is legitimately the worst in the SEC. They’ve been torched by passing attacks that are way less talented on paper than Texas’s. You’d think that means Texas should just light them up, right? But here’s the twist: Texas’s offense has been incredibly inconsistent this year. They’re ranked just 62nd nationally in passing yards per game. Yeah, you read that right, 62nd! While Texas does boast a top-15 rushing defense, the passing game inconsistency is a real head-scratcher. If Manning connects, it could be a long day for Florida, but if they struggle, this one might be closer than expected.
This weekend is going to be wild. With six top-25 matchups, every game has huge implications for teams clinging to playoff dreams and unbeaten records. Don’t blink, because this is where the contenders separate themselves from the pretenders!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply