College Football: B/R Experts Answer Biggest Questions for Week 7

Hyperbole for the sake of drama is unnecessary. But as realignment begins to reshape how college football looks yet again, Week 7 of the 2022 season is one of the last great weekends in this era.

All five power conferences—the ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and SEC—boast a matchup of Top 25 teams.

While that isn't an enormous rarity, it isn't a regular feature of the schedule, either. We're going to bask in the evenly distributed, much-anticipated, coast-to-coast madness.

B/R's six-person expert panel—Max Escarpio, David Kenyon, Adam Kramer, Kerry Miller, Morgan Moriarty and Brad Shepard—is outlining the best of the slate, covering each of those ranked clashes and more.

Kerry Miller

In the "How bad are things going to get for those teams?" tier of options, you have Miami at Virginia Tech, Arkansas at BYU, Stanford at Notre Dame and Wisconsin and Michigan State. In all four of those games, the loser will have some serious questions to answer, especially if it's Miami, Arkansas, Stanford and/or Michigan State.

There's also an intriguing battle in the ACC between loathed rivals Duke and North Carolina. The 5-1 Tar Heels look like the team to beat in the ACC Coastal, but a loss at Duke would put a huge damper on those expectations and further the inevitability of Clemson winning the ACC title game.

But the clear choice is 4-2 LSU at 4-2 Florida.

Can LSU bounce back from that butt-kicking it took from Tennessee at home last week, or was that just the beginning of a tailspin from a 4-1 start to a 1-6 finish? After this game, the Tigers have back-to-back home games against Ole Miss and Alabama and still need to play at Arkansas and Texas A&M. Things could get ugly in a hurry.

Conversely, Florida is still trying to prove that its season-opening win over then-No. 7 Utah was more than just a fluke. Since then, the Gators have lost to both Kentucky and Tennessee and barely scraped out home victories over South Florida and Missouri. The Anthony Richardson Heisman campaign is thoroughly dead and buried, but the Gators would love to be the one with the first-year head coach that improves to 5-2.

David Kenyon

While LSU and Florida is the clear top choice, the ACC Coastal showdown between Duke and North Carolina is closely behind.

From an outside perspective, Duke entered the season with minimal expectations. First-year coach Mike Elko inherited a program that finished 5-18 over the last two years of David Cutcliffe's tenure. However, the Blue Devils jumped out to a 4-1 start before a close loss to Georgia Tech.

North Carolina, meanwhile, has soared under the leadership of new quarterback Drake Maye. He's a simmering Heisman Trophy candidate with six-game totals of 2,211 yards and 24 touchdowns.

In a wide-open Coastal, the winner of this clash at Duke will pick up a valuable ACC win in a congested race to (likely) meet Clemson in the conference title game.

Kerry Miller

In honor of Bailey Zappe getting the first win of his NFL career this past weekend, it's time we shine a little national spotlight on his alma mater, where yet another Hilltopper is threatening to lead the nation in passing yards in his first season after transferring in from a non-FBS school.

Zappe went from FCS school Houston Baptist to Western Kentucky and racked up an outrageous 426.2 passing yards per game in his lone season at the FBS level. Apparently, Hilltoppers head coach Tyson Helton decided that was too easy and opted to dig even deeper this offseason, bringing in Austin Reed from D-II school West Florida.

Reed averaged 311 passing yards per game in 2021 for the Argonauts. Despite the substantial uptick in competition level this season, he is sitting at just under 340 passing yards per game with the Hilltoppers.

That's even after a slow start to the season, too. Reed has eclipsed 370 in each of his last three games and is gaining ground on Mississippi State's Will Rogers atop the national passing yardage leaderboard. Rogers has to play road games against the defenses of Kentucky and Alabama in the next two weeks, too, which might provide an opening for Reed to ascend to No. 1.

Western Kentucky is 3-3, so no one seems to care about this absurd achievement. But a team like Iowa should think about giving Helton many millions of dollars to teach its offense how to move the ball through the air.

David Kenyon

Coastal Carolina is doing it again.

Two years ago, the Chanticleers ripped off an 11-0 regular season and climbed as high as ninth in the AP poll. Last season, they finished 11-2. And in 2022, they're off to a 6-0 start.

Yes, the competition level hasn't been especially high. So far, the Chants' best victory is over either Buffalo or Georgia Southern. Plus, they needed late scores to clip lower-division Gardner-Webb and GS, and they held off Louisiana-Monroe in a tight fourth quarter. There is justifiable concern about CCU navigating a much tougher back half of the schedule.

Nevertheless, the Chants are undefeated. Grayson McCall, with 1,744 total yards and 18 touchdowns to one interception, is again one of the nation's most efficient QBs.

Since James Madison isn't eligible to win the Sun Belt as a first-year FBS school—which is a dumb rule, by the way—and both Appalachian State and Marshall have two conference losses, Coastal can take a commanding lead in the East division with a victory over Old Dominion.

Adam Kramer

With an enormous slate of games on deck, there are a bunch of different ways to go here. With that in mind, give me Penn State quarterback Sean Clifford, who feels like he’s been with the program for at least 12 years.

Clifford has the ability to lead Penn State to a victory over Michigan. In Week 1, when Penn State was in trouble against Purdue, Clifford led the Nittany Lions on a surgical game-winning drive.

This year, he has 13 total touchdowns and only two interceptions. His play has been solid, although there have been blips of inconsistencies. Against the Wolverines on the road, those issues cannot surface. Penn State can't afford it.

With that said, Clifford does not have to win this game by himself. He has a stable of talented young running backs that will help him, and the Penn State defense has largely played well. But in a game where Penn State has been deemed a touchdown underdog, it needs more than complementary play from its starting QB.

It’s in there somewhere for Clifford. We’ve seen it before. We just need to see more of it Saturday.

Brad Shepard

For the first time ever, Tennessee and Alabama are ranked in the Top 6 for the famed Third Saturday in October showdown. Also, for the first time in what seems like eons, the Vols have a legitimate chance to win.

Those chances will decrease if defending Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young plays. That isn’t to say the Crimson Tide won’t win with Jalen Milroe under center or that Tennessee couldn't pull off an upset if Young plays. But as ‘Bama proved last week in a struggle against Texas A&M, it doesn't have the same high-flying offense with Young on the sideline.

While the Vols played much better in the secondary against LSU, that unit has been a weak link for most of the season. Starting safety and team captain Jaylen McCullough’s status is up in the air after an arrest this past weekend, too. Tennessee hasn’t played a quarterback as talented as Young, who possesses a will to win like few others.

Neyland Stadium is going to be a hostile environment, and if the Vols can make Alabama one-dimensional, they have a better chance to win. If Young plays, though, that will become significantly more difficult.

Morgan Moriarty

I might be irrationally excited about a Syracuse team that's 5-0 for the first time since 1987, but I'm going with the Orange here. Syracuse has home-field advantage and will be rested coming off of an idle weekend.

Meanwhile, NC State came from behind to beat Florida State last week. The Wolfpack were down 17-3 at halftime, but their defense got them back into the game in the second half. NC State, which ranks 17th nationally in total defense, forced three three-and-outs, a punt after four plays and two interceptions on its second-half drives.

The Wolfpack's defense has been solid all season, with the exception of giving up 30 points and 354 yards to Clemson in Week 5. But the balance that Syracuse's offense has shown all season gives the Orange an edge here.

Syracuse running back Sean Tucker ranks 11th nationally with 109.2 rushing yards per game, and he has scored six total touchdowns this season. Quarterback Garrett Shrader has thrown for 1,224 yards and 10 touchdowns with only one interception.

I think this game will be pretty close throughout. But playing in the Carrier Dome fresh off a week of rest helps the Orange quite a bit.

David Kenyon

As of this writing, it's unclear if NC State quarterback Devin Leary (shoulder) will be available. Despite his possible absence, the Wolfpack have a serious shot at winning anyway.

That's how good this defense can be.

Now, "can" is the operative word in that statement. Exclude the victories over lower-division Charleston Southern and long-struggling UConn, and the Pack have surrendered 5.6 yards per snap. That isn't terrible by any means, but it isn't particularly close to elite, either.

Syracuse is vastly improved, especially compared to last November, when NC State squashed the Orange 44-17. Shrader threw for a paltry 63 yards on 20 attempts in that blowout loss and averaged only 6.2 yards per pass attempt for the season. This year, he's up to 9.6 yards per pass attempt, tied for the eighth-best mark nationally.

NC State is the better team if Leary plays. If he's sidelined, though, Syracuse will remain undefeated.

Morgan Moriarty

It's a bit surprising to see Penn State still undefeated this season. Its most impressive win came was its 35-31 road victory over Purdue in Week 1. Since then, the Nittany Lions beat Ohio, Auburn, Central Michigan and Northwestern to move to 5-0.

Michigan being undefeated isn't as surprising. The Wolverines have been in some tight games against Indiana and Maryland—both were just one-score games at halftime. But Michigan had big second halves in both to put the game away.

I think Michigan is a better overall team than Penn State, so I like the Wolverines to win and cover the 7-point spread.

Michigan running back Blake Corum has 11 rushing touchdowns so far, and he's averaging 6.2 yards per carry. However, Penn State has given up only 79.9 rushing yards per game, so Corum's numbers might not be as big Saturday.

Even if Michigan's rushing attack isn't as productive as usual, quarterback J.J. McCarthy should be able to open up the passing game. He's coming off his best game of the season against Indiana, throwing for 304 yards and three touchdowns with an interception, his first of the year.

I think Michigan's ability to not panic in tight contests and have big second halves will help a lot on Saturday.

Brad Shepard

This game falls at a perfect time for the Nittany Lions, following a bye week and after the Wolverines had to sweat a little more than usual against an upset-minded Indiana team that was tied at halftime.

Michigan has now played six consecutive weeks, and no matter how good you are, fatigue sets in with a bye week looming after this game. The Nittany Lions should be rested and prepared for the Wolverines, who are looking to get back to this year’s College Football Playoff.

The incredible balance PSU has found with Sean Clifford in a groove throwing the ball and signs of life in the ground game with the freshman duo of Nicholas Singleton and Kaytron Allen will be a major test for Michigan.

This game comes down to McCarthy and whether he can continue to elevate his play with the game on the line. He is super-talented, but I believe the Nittany Lions make one more huge play, force a pivotal turnover and escape the Big House with a 26-23 win.

Kerry Miller

It's a total copout answer, but it all depends on Bryce Young's status.

If he doesn't play, I'm picking Tennessee to get the win. Hendon Hooker doesn't make any mistakes, and this Volunteers defense is good enough to stifle a Young-less Alabama offense. Frankly, Tennessee might win by three scores if Young doesn't play.

If he plays but he doesn't have the same zip on his fastball or the same depth on his deep ball because of his shoulder injury, I'm also picking Tennessee.

But if the reigning Heisman Trophy winner is anything close to 100 percent, I think Alabama gets the road W. That close call against Texas back in Week 2 woke up a sleeping dragon, and the Crimson Tide were looking like a juggernaut up until Young got hurt against Arkansas.

It's a tough road game, and Alabama has been uncharacteristically turnover-prone, already giving the ball away almost as many times in 2022 (nine) as it did in the entire 2017 or 2019 season (10). But, yes, Young is that much of a difference-maker.

David Kenyon

Copout, yes. Fair, also yes.

I'll slightly veer from my good pal Kerry and say Alabama wins if Young is available. However, it should be a close, uncomfortable game for the Crimson Tide to the finish.

Tennessee stuck with Alabama for most of last season's matchup. Heading into the fourth quarter, the Crimson Tide only held a seven-point lead. The fourth quarter happened, and we cannot selectively ignore the 28-7 stretch in the final period. But the point is the 52-24 final margin was not representative of the Vols' competitiveness for 45 minutes.

Mostly, I believe a Bama defense that has allowed only 3.8 yards per play will contain the explosive Vols offense. Tennessee has survived Cedric Tillman's absence so far, but Bama is a different level.

Provided that Young plays, Alabama survives Rocky Top.

Max Escarpio

This game is not getting the excitement and public attention it deserves. Both teams have skilled quarterbacks that are the focal point of the program. TCU's Max Duggan has 1,305 passing yards and 14 touchdowns, while Oklahoma State's Spencer Sanders has 1,394 passing yards and 12 scores.

Sanders is a dual-threat QB who carries the flow of the offense with his feet. Duggan has been phenomenal, particularly at limiting turnovers. With similar offenses in terms of production, defense should be the primary question when asking who will win this game.

TCU has a very good linebacker core led by Dee Winters, who’s played a clean game in the tackling and coverage realm. The Horned Frogs should have the edge with playmakers on both ends of the ball.

Duggan and TCU will be at home in this underrated matchup, so they’ll put on a show for the home crowd and wait their turn to move up the rankings after a win over the Cowboys.

Brad Shepard

TCU is one of those teams that everybody is wanting to know if they're for real.

The Horned Frogs survived a scare last week against fellow unbeaten Kansas, which hung close despite losing Jalon Daniels.

While the Horned Frogs have plenty of defensive question marks, the offense is one of the best in the nation. They can score on anybody. The 55 points that they dropped on Oklahoma two weeks ago wasn’t an aberration. TCU is third nationally in scoring offense, third in total offense and in the top 21 in both passing and rushing offense.

Oklahoma State’s defensive strength from a season ago has become a weakness. The Cowboys rank 58th in scoring defense and 105th in total defense, which is not a good ingredient for success Saturday.

It comes down to the Horned Frogs’ ability to score points, and the fact I don’t trust Oklahoma State quarterback Spencer Sanders with the game on the line. TCU wins in a close one.

Max Escarpio

The USC Trojans are one of two teams left standing with an undefeated record in the Pac-12. Despite fielding a transfer quarterback with a new offensive system and coaching staff, they’ve yet to hit a major bump on the road. They’ve played some quality teams this season, including a close win against Oregon State, but they have yet to face a team like Utah.

The Utes looked like a freight train after their Week 1 loss to Florida, but their four-game win streak came to a halt against UCLA last week. Both teams are hungry to add a win over a ranked team to their resume, so they’ll be prepared for an offensive shootout.

The Utes have R.J. Hubert at safety and the Trojans have a constant contributor at linebacker in Eric Gentry, but they both lack a defensive scheme that’s able to stop one another.

Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams has forced his way into the Heisman Trophy conversation, while Utes quarterback Cameron Rising has helped Utah average more than 40 points per game. The game will be played in Salt Lake City, which should give the Utes a slight advantage, but Williams will come out of this game with another high-level performance and put USC over Utah on the road.

Adam Kramer

No. Despite Utah’s rough start to the year, the Utes will win a game we’ve been thinking about since the day Lincoln Riley was hired at USC.

For starters, Utah is the favorite. This wouldn’t be an upset. It would be in terms of rankings, but not according to the oddsmakers. (And the oddsmakers call the shots.)

In terms of the game, Utah is just a different team at home. We’ve seen it this year, and we’ll see it again. Its two losses have come in trips to Florida and UCLA, and it could have won both games. One would argue the game against the Gators should have been a victory.

USC is unbeaten, and that achievement is worth celebrating considering the state this program has been in. At the same time, it hasn’t been completely dominant in recent weeks. The offense has slowed down a bit, and I believe that will prove to be costly here.

It won’t be a blowout, but Utah resurrects its season with an enormous victory.

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