This season, Rivals.com's weekly college football predictions involve anyone on the national staff brave – or foolish – enough to risk embarrassment by making their picks against the spread. Through six weeks, the group still is clinging to a winning record, collectively standing at 125-115 overall and 26-22 on the "lock" picks.
Here are the Week 7 picks versus Wednesday's Vegas line, according to MGM Mirage.
MORE: Trocchi's Betting Man
LOCKS OF THE WEEK
ROB CASSIDY: UCF (-34) over East Carolina. "Let’s ride the Knights until the wheels fall off here. ECU is, well, awful, and Scott Frost’s offense isn’t built to ease off the gas in the fourth quarter. Yes, I know 34 is a ton of points, but UCF has covered every spread it faced this season and it’s going to do it again. The Orlando-based covering machine scores 65 on Saturday."
MIKE FARRELL: Michigan (-7.5) over Indiana. "Coming off a rivalry loss, Jim Harbaugh will have his troops fired up and ready to roll up a good number on the Hoosiers."
ADAM FRIEDMAN: N.C. State (-11) at Pittsburgh. "NC State’s defense is just too good to allow Pittsburgh’s offense to get much done. With the playmakers that the Wolfpack have on offense, expect some explosive plays and NC State should cover."
ADAM GORNEY: Michigan (-7.5) over Indiana. "The best time to bet a good team like Michigan? After a disappointing loss, to a rival, when every pundit out there is questioning if things are moving forward or staying stagnant. Watch out Indiana. The Hoosiers are 3-2 but two of those wins are against cupcakes Georgia Southern and Charleston Southern. Michigan might not blow any team out but a comfortable win happens this weekend. If not, there are major problems in Ann Arbor."
JOSH HELMHOLDT: Northern Illinois (–4) against Buffalo. "Few things in football can be as unsatisfying as losing a seven-overtime game. Add in a brewing quarterback controversy and a very good NIU team coming to town, and four points is not enough to keep Buffalo in this one."
DEREK SAMSON: Washington State (-15) over Cal. "Mike Leach isn't exactly known for easing off the gas and Cal's defense has been awful so far in Pac-12 play."
BILL TROCCHI: Georgia Tech (+5.5) against Miami. "Huge letdown situation for Miami coming off the FSU win, while Georgia Tech enjoyed a bye week. The Canes have owned this series, which is another reason Miami may have trouble getting up for this game. Couple that with Miami's shaky run defense (No. 62 nationally) and you have all the makings of a straight-up Georgia Tech win."
WOODY WOMMACK: South Carolina (+2.5) against Tennessee. "The Gamecocks are coming off of a huge win at home against Arkansas and seem to have righted the ship after facing a few major injuries. Tennessee is reeling and even though the Vols are coming off a bye and playing at home, I'm taking the Gamecocks to cover."
FIVE SPOTLIGHT GAMES
Midweek lines according to MGM Mirage (all games Saturday & Eastern time):
- Auburn (–7) at LSU, 3:30 p.m.
- Oklahoma (–8) vs. Texas, 3:30 p.m.
- Ohio State (–23.5) at Nebraska, 7:30 p.m.
- Boise State (+7) at San Diego State, 10:30 p.m.
- Washington (–17) at Arizona State, 10:45 p.m.
