Week 7 arrives, which means every FBS program in Texas will be at least to the halfway point of its regular season by the end of the day on Saturday. There are three mid-week games featuring Baylor, UTSA, and SMU. Four programs -- Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Houston, UTEP – are idle in Week 7. 

Craven’s Corner suffered its first sub-.500 week in Week 6 with a 3-5 record. We’re still paying the bookie with their own money, however, thanks to a 33-21-1 record against the spread in the 2022 season. 

GAMES OF THE WEEK 

TCU vs. Oklahoma State 
Viewing info: Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on ABC 
Gambling odds: TCU -3.5; O/U 68.5 
The two best teams in the Big 12 – at least currently – battle in Fort Worth for sole possession of the inside track to one of the two spots in Arlington for the championship game. Both teams enter with similar traits. Quarterbacks Max Duggan and Spencer Sanders are playing the best football of their experienced careers. The two offenses average exactly 46.4 points per game. Even the defenses are allowing almost the exact same amount per game with TCU giving up one point less than the Cowboys at 23.8 points per game. 
Craven’s bet: Oklahoma State +3.5 

Baylor at West Virginia: 
Viewing info: Thursday at 6 p.m. FS1
Gambling odds: Baylor -3.5; O/U 54.5 
Baylor’s chances to repeat as Big 12 champions require the Bears to run the table in conference play. That starts with a Thursday night game on the road against an explosive West Virginia team. The Mountaineers are averaging 38.2 points per game with quarterback JT Daniels improving each time out. Baylor has already lost as many games in five contests in 2022 (2) as it did in the 14-game 2021 season. The defense allowed over 30 points for the first time in a season and a half last time out in a loss to Oklahoma State. 
Craven’s bet: Baylor -3 (buy the hook) 

North Texas vs. La Tech 
Viewing info: Saturday at 3 p.m. on ESPN+ 
Gambling odds: North Texas -6.5; O/U 70.5 
An intriguing Conference USA matchup takes place Saturday afternoon in Denton when the Mean Green host a La Tech squad coming off a 10-point win over UTEP. North Texas is 2-0 in C-USA play and coming off a much-needed bye week after starting the season in Week 0 on the road against UTEP. The difference here might be the run game. North Texas averages 220 a game while La Tech sits at 97.6 a game. The Mean Green hold a clear advantage if they can avoid turnovers in the passing game. 
Craven’s bet: Under 70.5 

QUICK BETS 

SMU vs. Navy 
Viewing info: Friday at 6:30 p.m. on ESPN 
Gambling odds: SMU -13.5; O/U 57.5 
The Mustangs need to stop a three-game losing streak as a double-digit favorite at home against Navy on Friday night. Quarterback Tanner Mordecai has thrown as many interceptions (5) as touchdown passes over the past three games. SMU needs to find some explosive plays in the running game, and hopefully playing against Navy masks the deficiencies in the secondary. 
Craven’s bet: Over 57.5 

UTSA at FIU 
Viewing info: Friday at 7 p.m. on CBSSN 
Gambling odds: UTSA -32; O/U 64
The only question for UTSA is if the Roadrunners can cover. Jeff Traylor’s squad should glide past FIU, even in a road game. FIU is one of the 10-worst college football teams in the country. UTSA is one of the five best G5 squads and should move to 3-0 in C-USA play. 
Craven’s bet: Over 64 

Texas vs. Iowa State 
Viewing info: Saturday at 11 a.m. on ABC 
Gambling odds: Texas -16.5; O/U 49.5 
Texas looks like a Big 12 title contender with Quinn Ewers at quarterback. The Longhorns exorcised some demons in the 49-0 win over Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown. The second-half collapse against the Sooners in the 2021 contest started Texas’ reputation as a program that folds in the second half. The Cyclones aren’t as good as normal. Weird how that “five-star culture” doesn’t help as much when an NFL running back leaves campus. It is almost like stars matter. Iowa State is strong defensively, but the Longhorns possess many more offensive weapons. 
Craven’s bet: Under 49.5 

Texas State at Troy 
Viewing info: Saturday at 2:30 p.m.  
Gambling odds: Texas State +16; O/U 48.5 
The Bobcats should enter this road game with plenty of confidence following an upset win at home against App State in Week 6. Texas State’s defense is becoming a force, and quarterback Layne Hatcher looks more comfortable in the offense with each passing week. The Sun Belt doesn’t offer many breaks, and Troy will be another Goliath for the Bobcats to slay. The good news for Texas State is that this Troy team lost by four points to App State earlier in the season. 
Craven’s bet: Texas State +16 

Rice at FAU 
Viewing info: Saturday at 5 p.m. on ESPN+ 
Gambling odds: Rice +4; O/U 56 Rice is on pace to reach a bowl game for the first time since 2014. The Owls are 3-2 overall and 1-0 in C-USA play entering the road game against FAU. Rice is coming off a bye week. The defense is allowing 18.33 points per game in three wins and 50 points per game in the two losses. The only defeats for Mike Bloomgren’s squad in 2022 were to USC and Houston. 
Craven’s bet: Rice +4

Idle: Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Houston, UTEP