Before the start of the regular season, the Miami Hurricanes were the favorites to win the ACC Coastal Division. However, things have not gone according to plan on South Beach. The Hurricanes lost to Middle Tennessee State at home, and then they lost to North Carolina, 27-24, on Saturday. The Carolina defense had been getting roasted all season long, but then DeAndre Boykins intercepted the game-ending Hail Mary attempt from Tyler Van Dyke. Boykins’ celebration involved throwing up the U (which is a celebration that Miami uses) and then turning that U upside-down. The Tar Heels have now won four in a row over Miami, with three of those games coming down to a field goal. Despite some ugly outcomes in the early going, North Carolina now has the inside track to the Coastal Division title, and a likely date with Clemson in the ACC Championship. Don’t lock in your College Football betting for Week 7 until you read some of our straight up picks.
NCAA News: SU Picks for Week 7
→ Saturday, October 15
Cal Golden Bears (-14.5) at Colorado Buffaloes
(2:00 pm ET, Pac-12 Network)
You don’t see a lot of two-touchdown road favorites in college football – at least not in conference play that doesn’t involve College Football Playoff contenders. However, the Colorado Buffaloes have played awful football since Karl Dorrell became head coach. Dorrell has gone, but the players who stayed behind are basically auditioning for the transfer portal. The Buffs are 0-5 (0-2 Pac-12). They haven’t scored more than 20 points in any game, and they have permitted at least 38 points in every game (and 41 or more points in four games). They went into the bye losing by 23 at Arizona, and they come out to face Cal at home.
The Golden Bears are 1-1 in Pac-12 play and have run the ball much more effectively than observers thought this year. Bill Musgrave uses a pro-style system that benefits from Jaydn Ott, one of the most promising backs in the nation, and Cal also has some great potential on defense. Colorado permits 294.2 rushing yards per game, the worst in the nation by over 40 yards. They permit 6.7 yards per carry. The next-worst team permits 6.2 yards per carry. So, expect Ott to rumble, but the Golden Bears have enough depth at tailback to make this a long day even when Ott takes a breather. Cal to win (and cover).
Arkansas Razorbacks (+3) at BYU Cougars
(3:30 pm ET, ESPN)
The Razorbacks had high hopes this season, beating Cincinnati, South Carolina and Missouri State to start the year, but the SEC West has not been kind to them, as Texas A&M and Alabama gave them two straight losses. Their latest misadventure was a rout at the hands of Mississippi State. BYU last played in Las Vegas against Notre Dame in the 2022 installment of the Shamrock Series, and BYU ended up falling eight points short. For Arkansas, the new emphasis was going to be on defense, but Mississippi State scored on the Razorbacks in every quarter. Arkansas quarterback Malik Hornsby threw for 234 yards and a score, and he ran for 114 yards on eight carries, but he also threw two interceptions.
BYU’s season started with a rout of South Florida and an overtime win over Baylor. They got roasted by Oregon but then rebounded to beat Wyoming and Utah State. Going against Notre Dame, the Cougars’ offense struggled as quarterback Jaren Hall threw for two scores but only accounted for 120 yards and also threw a touchdown. Christopher Brown ran for 86 yards and a score on 14 attempts. Arkansas’ porous defense will give them trouble at BYU, even though the Cougars struggled to sustain drives against Notre Dame. I see the Cougars making yet another statement that they are ready to join the Big 12. Cougars to win (and cover).
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