College football Week 7: The most intriguing game in each conference

Each week, On3 takes a look at the most intriguing matchup in each Power 5 conference, along with a Group of 5 game worth keeping an eye on.

Here’s our Week 7 edition, excluding our game of the week — No. 11 Kentucky at No. 1 Georgia.

All games are Saturday and all times are Eastern.

ACC: Pitt (4-1, 1-0 in ACC) at Virginia Tech (3-2, 1-0)

Time/TV: 3:30 p.m., ESPN2
If you’ve been reading On3, you’re very much aware of the big-time numbers being put up by Kenny Pickett and Pitt’s offense. Led by Pickett, who’s emerging as a potential early-round NFL draft pick, the Panthers are ranked No. 1 nationally in scoring (52.4 points per game) and are coming off a 52-21 win over Georgia Tech in Week 5. Pitt was off last week, while Virginia Tech lost 32-29 to No. 14 Notre Dame; the Irish scored 11 points in the final 2:26 to win it. The Hokies have dropped two of their past three since starting 2-0.The Panthers are a five-point favorite in a key ACC Coastal contest; these are the only two unbeatens in the division, and every other Coastal team has two league losses except Miami.

Big Ten: Michigan State (6-0, 3-0 in Big Ten) at Indiana (2-3, 0-2)

Time/TV: Noon, FS1
A Michigan State win would set the stage for a huge matchup against archival Michigan, which also is 6-0 heading into a Week 7 matchup against Northwestern. Running back Kenneth Walker III, Michigan State’s Heisman contender, leads the nation with 913 rushing yards and has run for at least 172 yards in three games. Michigan State is a 4.5-point favorite.

Big 12: No. 12 Oklahoma State (5-0, 2-0 in Big 12) at No. 25 Texas (4-2, 2-1)

Time/TV: Noon, Fox
Oklahoma State is one of the last two unbeatens in the Big 12, along with Oklahoma. The Cowboys are second in the Big 12 in total defense, but will be facing a Texas offense that’s ranked fifth nationally in scoring (44.5 points per game). Longhorns running back Bijan Robinson has rushed for at least 130 yards in each of Texas’ past four games. Texas — which lost 55-48 to Oklahoma last week — is a four-point favorite and needs to win to remain a legitimate league title contender.

Pac-12: No. 18 Arizona State (5-1, 3-0 in Pac-12) at Utah (3-2, 2-0)

Time/TV: 10 p.m., ESPN
Utah is 2-0 since benching Charlie Brewer and turning to Cameron Rising as its starting quarterback. In a 42-26 win over USC last week, Rising threw for 306 yards with four total touchdowns (three passing, one rushing) and no interceptions. Arizona State, meanwhile, has won three in a row since a Week 3 loss at BYU — 35-13 over Colorado in Week 4, 42-23 over UCLA in Week 5 and 28-10 over Stanford last week. It’s a pick ’em game, and the winner takes control of the Pac-12 South race.

SEC: No. 12 Ole Miss (4-1, 1-1 in SEC) at Tennessee (4-2, 2-1)

Time/TV: 7:30 p.m., SEC Network
In the last two weeks (wins over Missouri and South Carolina), Tennessee has gained 1,155 yards and scored 107 points. Now, the Vols match up against another high-scoring offense. Behind star QB Matt Corral, Ole Miss bounced back from a Week 5 loss to Alabama with a 52-51 win over then-No. 13 Arkansas. The Rebels are a 2.5-point favorite in coach Lane Kiffin’s first trip back to Knoxville as a head coach since he left UT in January 2010.

Group of 5: Air Force (5-1, 2-1 in Mountain West) at Boise State (3-3, 1-1)

Time/TV: 9 p.m., FS1
Boise is better than its record suggests. The Broncos’ losses were 36-31 at UCF when the Knights still had a healthy Dillon Gabriel at quarterback, a 21-20 loss to No. 12 Oklahoma State and a 41-31 loss to Nevada, which is 4-1. Last week, Boise beat BYU, which was 5-0 and ranked No. 10. Air Force leads the nation in rushing (341.3 yards per game) and in rushing TDs (24), and beat previously unbeaten Wyoming last week. The Broncos are a 3.5-point favorite over Air Force, which is aiming for its first 6-1 start since 2002.