College football picks, predictions, odds: LSU-Ole Miss, Utah-Arizona State among best bets in Week 7

Jerry Palm's best bets for Week 7 also includes a possible 'trap game' for an SEC team on the road

We are just about halfway through the season and things are starting to heat up. Losses by Alabama and Tennessee last week threw the SEC race into chaos. No. 1 Texas, No. 15 Texas A&M and No. 13 LSU are the remaining undefeated teams in conference play. The Aggies play the other two at home in the only games among those three teams. The Crimson Tide, Volunteers and Georgia need to win out and get favorable tiebreakers. Tennessee will host Alabama next week and visit Georgia on Nov. 16.

The Big Ten race heats up when No. 2 Ohio State visits No. 3 Oregon. This could be a preview of the Big Ten Championship Game, although No. 4 Penn State and No. 18 Indiana are also undefeated. The Nittany Lions and Hoosiers will each face Ohio State, but not Oregon.

The Big 12 has nine teams that look like they can contend for the title in the most wide-open race among the power conferences. Eight of those teams have games against one of the others this week. Texas Tech, 3-0 in the Big 12, is off.

The ACC has five teams still undefeated in conference play, including league newbie SMU, but it will be next week before they start facing each other.

Each week, I will use this space to tell you what I think are a few of the best bets heading into the weekend. I will also throw in an upset of the week, which will be a team that is at least a touchdown underdog that I am picking to win outright.

I will also give you picks on other games involving potential College Football Playoff teams. Now that we are into October, I have expanded the Other CFP candidates list to the top 16 in the AP poll.

Games against FCS opponents are not considered. 

This week's picks include a big game in the SEC and a team that is becoming a staple here. Also, I am going for a second correct upset pick in a row.

Odds via SportsLine consensus

Week 7 picks

No. 9 Ole Miss (-3.5) at No. 13 LSU: The Rebels bounced back from a loss to Kentucky in their first SEC game with a convincing 27-3 win at South Carolina. Playing at LSU at night is a little different though. The Tigers have been sharp the last couple times out and also have a win at South Carolina. I like LSU to win this one before the season started and I still do, but since the Tigers are getting points, I'll take them. Pick: LSU +3.5

Purdue at No. 23 Illinois (-19.5): Purdue will be a feature of this section until either the Boilermakers or the linemakers catch on. The only game in which Purdue was mildly competitive so far this season was at home to Nebraska. Illinois should roll by at least three touchdowns. Pick Illinois -19.5

No. 21 Missouri (-27.5) at UMass: Normally, this would be something of a trap game. Not a "Missouri loses" trap game, but maybe one where it comes out flat. However, the Tigers got pounded by Texas A&M last week 41-10. This should be a get back on track game for them. Pick: Missouri -27.5

Upset of the Week

No. 16 Utah (-6.5) at Arizona State -- Friday:  Utah hits the road for the third time in four games and may yet again be without starting QB Cam Rising. Arizona State is off to a 4-1 start but is lacking an eye-catching win. Even if Rising does not play, this would still qualify as a quality win. I like the Sun Devils in the desert. Pick: Arizona State

Other CFP contenders

• No. 1 Texas (-14.5) vs. No. 18 Oklahoma -- Dallas Pick: Texas -14.5
• No. 3 Ohio State at No. 2 Oregon (O/U 53.5) Pick: Oregon Over 53.5
• No. 4 Penn State (-5.5) at USC Pick: Penn St -5.5
• Mississippi State at No. 5 Georgia (O/U 53.5), Friday Pick: Over 53.5
• South Carolina at No. 7 Alabama (-21.5) Pick: Alabama -21.5
• Florida at No. 8 Tennessee (-15.5) Pick: Tennessee -15.5
• No. 10 Clemson (-20) at Wake Forest Pick: Clemson -20
• No. 11 Iowa State (-3) at West Virginia Pick: Iowa St -3
• Stanford at No. 11 Notre Dame (-23.5) Pick: Notre Dame -23.5
• Arizona at No. 14 BYU (-4.5) Pick: Arizona +4.5

SportsLine's proven computer model is calling for seven outright upsets in Week 6 of college football. Visit SportsLine now to see them all, plus get spread picks for every game from the model that simulates each game 10,000 times.