Our college football Week 7 picks: Louisville vs. Pittsburgh, Kentucky vs. Missouri, more
No member of The Courier Journal sports staff was perfect pickin' last week, with editor Lucas Aulbach posting the best mark at 4-1.
The ironic part? It's the local team sporting a perfect record that prevented Aulbach from going 5-0. He picked against Louisville, as did five other members of the staff. Only sports editor Natalie Pierre correctly predicted U of L would remain unbeaten and upend Notre Dame at home. No staffer was brave enough to cast their lot against the Cardinals this week, though, with all seven pickers predicting Louisville will return from Pittsburgh with another win.
Elsewhere, Kentucky is licking its wounds and aiming to regroup after suffering its first loss of the season: a 51-13 drubbing against two-time defending national champion Georgia. UK has a difficult home matchup Saturday with another team coming off its first loss of the fall: Missouri (5-1, 1-1 SEC).
Here's a look at this week's picks. As always, predictions are straight up winners and losers (not against the spread), with rankings based on the latest US LBM Coaches Poll. All times listed are ET.
No. 15 Louisville at Pittsburgh
How to watch: 6:30 p.m. Saturday, The CW Network
The picks: Seven for Louisville
The good news for Pitt: It leads the all-time series (10-9) and holds an edge in home games (7-5) when it faces Louisville. The bad news for Pitt: It enters Saturday on a four-game losing streak, with its lone victory this season coming in the opener versus an FCS squad, Wofford. The Cardinals are seeking their first 7-0 start since 2012 and will look for another big game from running back Jawhar Jordan, who ran for 143 yards and two touchdowns against the Fighting Irish. He's rushed for 100 or more yards four times in six games this fall.
No. 25 Missouri at No. 23 Kentucky
How to watch: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, SEC Network
The picks: Six for Kentucky, one for Missouri (Pierre)
This is an ultra-important game for both teams: After losing to Georgia, Kentucky needs to win the remainder of its conference games to have any shot at capturing the SEC East in the final season of divisions in the league. Missouri needs a victory to try to keep pace with Georgia as well. Missouri faces South Carolina next week before its open date, then takes on the Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on Nov. 4. Though UK has dominated the series with Missouri recently (seven wins in the last eight meetings), it's rarely easy: Five of the Wildcats' eight triumphs in that span have been by a single possession (eight points or less), with an average margin of victory of only 8.9.
Tarleton State at Eastern Kentucky
How to watch: 3 p.m. Saturday, ESPN+
The picks: Five for Eastern Kentucky, two for Tarleton State (Aulbach, Brooks Holton)
Eastern Kentucky is starting to find its rhythm. After starting the season 0-3, the Colonels enter Saturday off back-to-back victories. Tarleton State is 4-2, with a 38-point loss (41-3) at Texas Tech and a one-point defeat at home last week to Southern Utah (27-26). These teams have met once: In 2021, EKU rolled to a 20-3 win in Richmond. Colonels quarterback Parker McKinney will look for a better day through the air this time; two years ago, he went 12 for 27 (44.4%) for 157 yards and an interception (no touchdowns).
Southern Illinois at Murray State
How to watch: 3 p.m. Saturday, ESPN+
The picks: Five for Southern Illinois, two for Murray State (Aulbach, Alexis Cubit)
The Salukis are the No. 13 team in the latest FCS coaches poll, taking their first loss last week at Youngstown State in decisive fashion, 31-3. The Racers, on the other hand, are 2-3, falling last week to then-No. 15 South Dakota. The all-time series is tied 10-10-2, but Southern Illinois has won the last three, tying the longest streak by either school since the rivalry began in 1927. SIU will be a tough test for Murray State on homecoming: Salukis quarterback Nic Baker has 7,773 career passing yards and needs 28 more to become the program's all-time leader. The defense ranks among the best in the FCS in rushing defense (77.2 yards per game; fourth) and sacks (3.60 per game; fifth)
Miami at No. 12 North Carolina
How to watch: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, ABC
The picks: Six for North Carolina, one for Miami (Pierre)
If the Hurricanes only kneeled with the ball instead of running it, they'd be undefeated. Instead, they're trying to bounce back after a shocking last-second loss to Georgia Tech last week at home. The Tar Heels are riding high, sitting at 5-0 for the first time since they won their first eight outings in 1997. UNC leads the series 15-11, entering Saturday with four straight wins over Miami, including a 27-24 victory last season in Miami Gardens. Tar Heels signal caller Drake Maye is No. 1 in the ACC (and ranks No. 4 nationally) in passing yards per game at 325.8. He squares off with a Hurricanes defense that is middle of the pack in passing yards allowed (210.2 per game, seventh in the 14-team league) but has given up only four TDs through the air this fall, which is tied for fifth fewest in the FBS.
The standings
1 - Natalie Pierre, 26-4 (last week 3-2)
2 (tie) - C.L. Brown, 24-6 (last week 2-3)
2 (tie) - Lucas Aulbach, 24-6 (last week 4-1)
4 - Ryan Black, 23-7 (last week 2-3)
5 - Alexis Cubit, 21-9 (last week 2-3)
6 - Brooks Holton, 20-10 (last week 3-2)
7 - Jason Frakes, 19-11 (last week 2-3)
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: College football picks: Louisville vs Pitt prediction, UK vs Missouri
