Texas-OU, Ohio State-Oregon on call

College Football Headquarters makes our final head-to-head picks and predictions for the most impactful plays on the Week 7 college football schedule as it kicks off across the country today.

And what a weekend it should be, packed with key rivalry games in the SEC as well as two revamped Big Ten matchups on the West Coast that could have a direct impact on how the selection committee selects the top 12 teams in SEC expanded college football Playoffs.

Texas and Oklahoma face off in the Red River Shootout, a classic rivalry that features an SEC logo on the field for the first time and where the Sooners look to deliver a shock to the No. 1 Longhorns that will carry into next week Texas hosts Georgia.

Ohio State and Penn State embark on a trip to the West in two games that represent important tests for the Big Ten, while the Buckeyes travel to Oregon in a clash of the three top-ranked teams and the Nittany Lions land at the Coliseum looking to give USC a blow move that could end the season.

Let’s take a tour of the country and make our final predictions for Week 7’s biggest games as conference action heats up from coast to coast.

Florida in Tennessee

SI Tips: Tennessee | After last week’s loss at Arkansas, there are legitimate concerns about the Vols’ vertical game, but that defensive front and ground game should carry the team in the meantime, but the Gators can sneak a few deep balls past UT’s young corners if they have a chance.

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Iowa State at West Virginia

SI Picks: Iowa State | West Virginia has eliminated some of its turnover problems and has a home-court advantage that shouldn’t be ignored, but the Cyclones play solid up front in the pass rush, protect their quarterback well and can run the ball on the Mountaineers.

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Clemson at Wake Forest

SI Picks: Clemson | And with a sizable edge against a Wake front seven that will struggle to stop the run or get to the quarterback, and a secondary that could be generous against the Tigers’ skill threats, and thanks to a strong Clemson defensive rotation that Should gain the upper hand The sloppy protection of the deacons.

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Kansas State at Colorado

SI Picks: Kansas State | This game could go either way, considering the remarkable ability of Colorado’s passing attack to overcome its subpar blocking and the lack of a rushing threat and still be able to make big gains down the field, but the Wildcats have a ground game that Shedeur Sanders has right now could keep away from the field long enough.

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South Carolina in Alabama

SI Tips: Alabama | We should see Kalen DeBoer’s offense get aggressive in hopes of making last week’s blowout loss to Vanderbilt a thing of the past and forgotten, but the Gamecocks have a strong edge-rushing combination in Jalen Milroe could throw you out of the game early on.

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Penn State at USC

SI Pick: Penn State | USC is in must-win mode after a loss at Minnesota that dropped the team to 1-2 in Big Ten play, and Penn State’s front seven and rushing game will be a big test for the Trojans and be their obvious defensive improvements. The long journey might be a little difficult for the Nittany Lions at the beginning and keep the game close, but they are the better team.

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Ole Miss at LSU

SI Pick: LSU | We may be overestimating the near-mythical intensity of Tiger Stadium at night, especially given LSU’s vulnerable secondary and one-dimensional offense, and the Rebels will stick around with their array of skill threats, but we trust Garrett Nussmeier to be just enough Ole Miss is back at seven when it matters most.

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Ohio State at Oregon

SI Picks: Ohio State | Oregon has the home crowd and wide receivers to test the Buckeyes’ secondary, keeping their blue-ship skill players off balance and hurting their early momentum, but this game could actually come from Ohio’s defensive front State won against a duck-protecting unit that didn’t live up to expectations.

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Texas vs. Oklahoma

SI Tips: Texas | Quinn Ewers will return to center to give the Longhorns a decent boost against a punishing Sooner front seven that can chase the quarterback and make some noise at the line, but OU’s dismal offensive performance and lengthy injury record will ultimately work against it it and keep Texas undefeated.

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Place your bets… College Football Week 7 picks against the spread

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