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Brant's best college football predictions and upset picks for Week 7 of the 2025 season. His top CFB underdogs and favorites on upset watch, including Indiana, Arizona State, and more.
In a week filled with massive upsets, namely UCLA knocking off Penn State and Florida toppling Texas within a matter of minutes of each other, it is definitely disheartening that I went 0-for-5 on last week’s picks. I suppose there is only one way to go from here.
A common trend has been home teams knocking off higher-rated visitors not only this season but frequently in the past. Despite this common trend, I am going right back to some away underdogs that I believe have a chance to go and earn a tough win on the road.
Read on to learn more about five potential upsets to keep your eyes on this weekend.
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Air Force Falcons (at UNLV)
UNLV has not skipped a beat since hiring Dan Mullen, who has the Rebels at a perfect 5-0 entering the week. The Rebels are undefeated and searching for a Mountain West title and potential College Football Playoff berth.
On the opposing sideline, things have not gone Air Force’s way this season. The Falcons have won just one game and despite coming close to knocking off both Hawai’i and Navy over the last two weeks, they have not been able to finish the job.
Wow! AF sophomore QB Liam Szarka is the first player in MW history with three straight 200-yard passing, 100-yard rushing games. He is one of only six nationally since 1996 to do it and first since Lamar Jackson of Louisville from 2015-16. Yes, that Lamar Jackson!
— Troy Garnhart (@USAFASID) October 8, 2025
Despite sitting at 1-4, Air Force’s offense has been electric. Sophomore quarterback Liam Szarka took over the starting job full time in Week 4 and has now thrown for 200+ yards and rushed for 100+ yards in three straight games. Szarka’s arm adds a new dimension to a Falcons’ offense that is typically one-dimensional.
While UNLV is undefeated and well-coached, their most impressive win is over UCLA. Outside of that one, none of their wins have been particularly impressive. The Rebels have not faced an offense on Air Force’s level, yet surrendered 31 points to Idaho State and 38 to Miami (OH). The Falcons will put numbers up, as the 65.5 point total implies. I like their chances to pull the upset off.
Maryland Terrapins (vs Nebraska)
Maryland made my upset list last week and was looking strong with a 20-0 lead over Washington. Then, the unthinkable happened. The Terrapins collapsed, surrendering 24 straight points to lose to the Huskies.
This week, they host a 4-1 Nebraska team fresh off of a strong home win over Michigan State. It will be an entertaining matchup between two young, talented quarterbacks in Dylan Raiola and Malik Washington.
Nebraska is favored by 6.5 points, which I think is disrespectful to the Terrapins. Sure, they could easily let last week’s collapse trickle into this week. But this is a young team with fight, and they are playing at home against a team that historically may struggle to win a game like this. I like Malik Washington to get his team back on track with a win this week.
South Carolina Gamecocks (at #11 LSU)
Already 3-2, Shane Beamer’s team faces a daunting five game stretch. @ #11 LSU, vs. #6 Oklahoma, vs #8 Alabama, @ #4 Ole Miss, @ #5 Texas A&M. No team will be put through the ringer harder in a five game stretch this season.
Bottom line: the Gamecocks need a win and they need it badly to instill some confidence going into this five game bloodbath. Coming off of a bye after a 35-13 win over Kentucky, the Gamecocks have had plenty of time to prepare for this game.
LSU, on the other hand, is coming off of a bye after a 24-19 road loss to Ole Miss. The Tigers’ defense has carried them, but the offense has been relatively stagnant this year. Garrett Nussmeier has not looked like a quarterback that should be touched in the first round, despite being hyped as a potential first overall pick before the season. Outside of a 56-10 win over Southeast Louisiana, the Tigers have not topped 23 points in a game this year.
LANORRIS SELLERS JUKED HIM AND TOOK IT 75 YARDS TO THE HOUSE 😤 pic.twitter.com/OMsweS79wk
— ESPN (@espn) September 14, 2024
Despite the game being in Baton Rouge at night, I like the Gamecocks to keep the trend going. They have the defensive firepower, led by sophomore EDGE Dylan Stewart, to stifle the LSU offense. LaNorris Sellers has the clutch gene and will make game-winning plays in what I expect to be a close game through and through.
#21 Arizona State Sun Devils (at Utah)
Kenny Dillingham’s big breakthrough a season ago was when the Sun Devils took down Utah in a late-night game. Fast forward a season and despite being the preseason favorite in the Big 12 and being ranked, and the Sun Devils are still underdogs on the road at Utah.
Survive and advance has been the motto of Arizona State’s season thus far. While they lost a narrow one early at Mississippi State, they have won the last two games at Baylor and home against TCU both on game winning field goals. Transfer kicker Jesus Gomez has been clutch, and quarterback Sam Leavitt has been poised all season. Undefeated in Big 12 play, the Sun Devils will have their hands full on Saturday night.
Kenny Dillingham said what Kyle Whittingham's done at Utah is a blueprint for him at ASU:
"The culture that he's established there is elite... We're not playing a football team, we're playing a football program. Those are the hardest teams to beat."@SunDevilSource pic.twitter.com/uV1TlY4TUF
— Jakob Brooks (@Jakobrooks) October 6, 2025
Kyle Whittingham was extremely disappointed in Utah’s 2024 season, and the Utes have looked the part for most of 2025. They faltered in a 34-10 home loss against Texas Tech, but bounced back the following week with a 48-14 victory over West Virginia to start Big 12 play 1-1. Still in the race, Utah needs a win over Arizona State to stay afloat.
After watching the Utes against Texas Tech, I just don’t think this team has enough firepower on the offensive side of the ball to make game-winning plays against a solid Sun Devils’ defense. They have made strides from where they were a season ago, but Devon Dampier proved time and time again a few weeks ago that he isn’t the answer against a good defense. I’m going with the proven commodity in Sam Leavitt to narrowly win another tough one on the road.
#7 Indiana Hoosiers (at #3 Oregon)
This is undoubtedly the game of the week. Anytime a team travels to Eugene, they often return home with a loss. Especially travelling all the way out west, Curt Cignetti will have his hands full this weekend.
Oregon quarterback Dante Moore has looked the part thus far. I was skeptical going into the season, but I may have been proven wrong with his performance against Penn State. At least, I thought so until I saw Penn State’s defensive effort against Nico Iamaleava and UCLA last weekend.
Don’t get me wrong, the Ducks are well-coached and an extremely talented team. They are rightfully favored by more than a touchdown in this one. There is just something about this Hoosier team that I believe in. Indiana is more talented than they were a season ago during their magical run. Fernando Mendoza vs. Dante Moore will be a treat for viewers, as both quarterbacks are considered potential first rounders in the 2026 NFL Draft.
It's unlikely you will see a better NFL-level throw from a prospect this cycle. Staring down the gun barrel, getting hit on the follow through, and precisely nailing this seam throw with zip. Elite throw and process from Fernando Mendoza. pic.twitter.com/ERw2bCVb4Z
— Browns Film Breakdown (@BrownsFilmBDN) September 28, 2025
Indiana’s dominant 63-10 win over Illinois a few weeks back left me feeling validated in my beliefs that they are one of the best teams in college football. Oregon is, too, but I believe that Cignetti will walk into Autzen with a strong gameplan. The Hoosiers’ defense has talent all over and can give Oregon a fit. Offensively, they have the firepower to hang points on the Ducks’ talented defense. This game could go a million different ways, but many of the outcomes do have the Hoosiers coming out on top for one of the upsets of the season. Oregon doesn’t lose often at home but when they do, they are overpowered by a better team. Much like with Washington a few seasons back, I believe that Indiana is capable of doing so.
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