Friday Forecast: SDS Staff picks 5 Week 7 matchups against the spread
By Ethan Stone
Published:
Week 7’s slate is as good as it gets. This week, the Saturday Down South crew made picks for top-tier matchups including Ohio State at Indiana, Alabama at Tennessee and Notre Dame at BYU, among others.
Let’s jump right in.
(All odds are via DraftKings, finalized on Thursday, October 15. Point spreads might not necessarily reflect current odds.)
Week 7 Picks ATS
Here’s how the SDS crew picked 5 college football games in Week 7 (against the spread).
Want to join the SDS crew and make some picks? Take a look at our guide of the best sports betting apps to score a sign-up bonus ahead of Week 7.
2026 Season Records
- Spenser Davis: 14-19
- Andy Olson: 13-20
- Adam Spencer: 15-18
- Ethan Stone: 23-10
Ohio State (-3.5) at Indiana
Spenser Davis: I like the Hoosiers here. I think Indiana will be able to put pressure on Julian Sayin like it did in the Big Ten Championship Game last season. Josh Hoover has taken good care of the ball so far this year and the IU running game is extremely explosive — a big run or two should be able to keep Indiana within the number or even give it a chance to win outright. PICK: Indiana +3.5
Andy Olson: I really think it’s Ohio State and everybody else in the Big Ten. The Buckeyes are for real, and the collapse in Austin will continue to become a bigger and bigger head-scratcher. PICK: Ohio State -3.5
Adam Spencer: I’ll go with Indiana. I just don’t want to pick against Curt Cignetti. Especially not after that near-debacle at Nebraska last week. He’ll use that to get this team locked in ahead of the Ohio State contest. Plus, Julian Sayin hasn’t faced a defense like Indiana’s yet this year. PICK: Indiana +3.5
Ethan Stone: This was almost too easy of a pick, which makes me a little nervous. Like Andy said, Ohio State is just head and shoulders better than other teams in the Big Ten right now. Indiana hasn’t shown itself to be as dominant as it was last season, and last week’s win says a whole lot more about Nebraska than it does the Hoosiers. PICK: Ohio State -3.5
Mississippi State at LSU (-14.5)
Spenser Davis: The Mississippi State offensive line just isn’t good enough if Kamario Taylor isn’t in the lineup. I don’t trust State’s defense against Lane Kiffin and LSU, either. This one could get ugly if Taylor doesn’t play, which this line is certainly implying is the case. PICK: LSU -14.5
Andy Olson: This looked like such an intriguing game a couple of weeks ago, but I don’t think it’s close on Saturday. Mississippi State’s injury situation is unfortunate. LSU has been dominant at home, and I can see Lane Kiffin being aggressive (no punts on 4th-and-1) and running up the score to get those Kentucky frustrations out. PICK: LSU-14.5
Adam Spencer: I’m a big Lane Kiffin believer, but I’m not exactly sure what he’s been doing in some of LSU’s biggest games this year. He just seems off somehow. Plus, the Tigers are banged up and Trey’Dez Green and Whit Weeks are still out. Give me the Tigers to win, but the Bulldogs to cover. PICK: Mississippi State +14.5
Ethan Stone: I initially picked Mississippi State then changed my vote. There’s just too much going for LSU’s side right now. Even if Kamario Taylor plays, MSU’s defensive line is vulnerable, Isaac Smith is out and Fluff Bothwell is questionable. Any one of those is a major blow – if all miss, that’s devastating for MSU. Kiffin and the Tigers might need to let off a little steam, and I think the Bulldogs are limping into this one. PICK: LSU -14.5
Alabama (7.5) at Tennessee
Spenser Davis: I’m inclined to take the points given that Keelon Russell is still growing into his potential as a pocket passer. His habit of taking sacks at bad times could keep the Vols in this game. I also think George MacIntyre is a material upgrade over Faizon Brandon and I think the Vols’ offense will be able to score enough to make this a one-possession game. PICK: Tennessee +7.5
Andy Olson: I’m still pretty high on Alabama after the Georgia game. Even with the help of the Neyland Stadium crowd in a rivalry game, I don’t think the Vols have the offensive firepower to keep this a one-score game. PICK: Alabama -7.5
Adam Spencer: George MacIntyre, meet Alabama’s secondary. The Vols’ QB struggles will come back to bite them in this matchup. Give me Alabama to snap its 2-game losing streak on Rocky Top. PICK: Alabama -7.5
Ethan Stone: Keelon Russell is an elite talent, but he’s never played anywhere like Neyland Stadium, and Tennessee’s defense has proven to be legit under Jim Knowles. Kalen DeBoer has struggled in Knoxville. This is a super tough spot for Alabama after a titanic effort came up just short last week against Georgia. I’d probably take the Crimson Tide -6.5, but I’ll roll with the Vols to keep it within a touchdown at home. PICK: Tennessee +7.5
Mizou at Ole Miss (-5.5)
Spenser Davis: I think this Mizzou team is really good, but this is a bad matchup and spot for the Tigers. This is one of the few games on Mizzou’s schedule where it won’t have an edge at QB. They’re also catching the Rebels after a rocking-chair winner against Vandy last week while Mizzou is coming off of back-to-back home wins over Florida and Texas A&M. I think Ole Miss rolls. PICK: Ole Miss -5.5
Andy Olson: I wouldn’t be surprised at all if this comes down to a late field goal in regulation or which team scores a TD in overtime when the other only scores 3. I’m riding with Muck Vick for the Mizzou cover. PICK: Mizzou +5.5
Adam Spencer: Mizzou has lost its last 7 true road games against ranked opponents, with its last win coming in Lexington against then-No. 24 Kentucky. Eli Drinkwitz has already bucked one trend this season by beating a ranked Florida team. But one does not simply walk into Oxford and win. PICK: Ole Miss -5.5
Ethan Stone: Mizzou has been so slow out of the gate this season, and it cost them last time they played on the road (at Mississippi State). They can’t afford it against the Rebels with Trinidad Chambliss under center. I think it’ll bite the Tigers on Saturday. PICK: Ole Miss -5.5
Notre Dame at BYU (-10.5)
Spenser Davis: Notre Dame is way, way more talented than BYU. I’d give the Cougars more of a chance if the Fighting Irish had tougher games on their schedule, but the reality is that Notre Dame probably spent a good chunk of the last month preparing for this game. If BYU gets behind early and has to get into a pass-heavy game script, this could turn into a blowout quickly. Regardless, I think Notre Dame will win by 2+ touchdowns. PICK: Notre Dame -10.5
Andy Olson: Maybe I’m too down on the Big 12, but I’m not that impressed by what BYU has done. I think Notre Dame is the real deal, and covers. PICK: Notre Dame -10.5
Adam Spencer: I simply do not understand why Notre Dame is the No. 1 team in ESPN’s FPI rankings. Georgia won at Alabama this past weekend and still got leapfrogged by the Irish. Make it make sense. I used to live in Utah. The elevation will get you. Even though it’s not that high in Provo, that atmosphere will at least will the Cougars to cover. PICK: BYU +10.5
Ethan Stone: I don’t think either of these teams have proven anything through the first half of the season, definitely not enough to take either by more than a touchdown. I’ll roll with BYU to at least cover at home. PICK: BYU +10.5
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Ethan Stone is a Saturday Down South News Editor and an advocate for the return of the Seattle Supersonics.
