College Football's Most Overrated and Underrated Top-25 Clashes of Week 7

Tim Heitman-US PRESSWIRE

Upsets happen in college football all the time, but we still give top-25 teams too much credit far too often.

Sometimes what is supposed to be a blowout turns into a nail-biter, and it's not until ecstatic fans tear down the goal posts that we realize "that other team" wasn't so bad after all.

Just because two top-25 teams are playing each other, it doesn't mean it's going to be a highly competitive matchup.

In the same breath, just because there's a top-25 team playing a program not even on the bubble, it doesn't mean you should turn off the TV set and do something, you know, productive on Saturday.

Here's a look at my overrated and underrated matchups of Week 7.

Underrated: USC at Washington

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Despite No. 11 USC's dominance against Washington last year, this is a new season, and the Trojans haven't looked like world-beaters.

USC lost to Stanford (who Washington beat), let Cal hang around until the final quarter and won by 10 points against a Utah team that got destroyed by Arizona State, 37-7.

Quarterback Matt Barkley is back, but USC's offense still isn't in the same stratosphere as Oregon's, and Washington held Stanford to a season-low 13 points.

In a Pac-12 clash, don't be surprised if the Huskies make a game out of this.

Overrated: Texas at Oklahoma

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Texas may be No. 15 in the country, and Oklahoma may be No. 13 in the country, but Oklahoma's defense is vastly better than Texas', and I don't anticipate this being as close as some might think.

Texas is averaging 46.8 points per game this season (sixth in the nation), but it has allowed 26.4 points per game (66th), including giving up 48 points to West Virginia last week.

Oklahoma has allowed 16.0 points per game this season (20th in the nation) and ceded a combined 44 points against explosive offenses in Kansas State and Texas Tech the past two weeks.

This won't be as riveting a matchup as some think, especially given the Sooners are playing at home.

Underrated: West Virginia at Texas Tech

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The West Virginia offense may be rolling along with Geno Smith, but the defense has been atrocious, allowing 35.0 points per game this season (104th in the nation).

Put it this way: The Mountaineers needed to put up 48 points to win by three points against Texas last week.

Not only does Texas Tech have an offense that can compete with West Virginia's (39.0 points per game), the Red Raiders have allowed 16.8 points per game this season (23rd in the nation).

Yes, Texas Tech had a down game against Oklahoma, but the Sooners are underrated, in my opinion, and I don't expect senior quarterback Seth Doege to get picked off three times against the Mountaineers.

Overrated: Stanford at Notre Dame

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No. 17 Stanford has beaten an overrated USC squad, lost to Washington and needed 54 points to dispose of Arizona last week.

The Cardinal allowed 132 yards and three touchdowns to Arizona running back Ka'Deem Carey last week. That's bad news heading into a matchup against a capable Notre Dame running game. 

On top of that, Stanford will be hard-pressed to score a lot of points against a Fighting Irish defense ceding just 7.8 points per game (second in the nation).

You add the fact that Notre Dame is coming off a 41-3 thumping of Miami (FL), and you have what will likely be a mediocre matchup.

Underrated: Kansas State at Iowa State

Scott Sewell-US PRESSWIRE

Kansas State dual-threat quarterback Collin Klein has been absolutely fantastic this season, leading the Wildcats to 43.6 points per game, but Iowa State's defense isn't to be taken lightly.

The Cyclones have allowed just 15.8 points per game this season while holding Texas Tech to 24 points and defeating then-No. 15 TCU last week, 37-23.

The Cyclones have not only limited opposing quarterbacks to 5.6 yards per pass attempt, they have ceded just 3.35 yards per carry and two rushing touchdowns.

That's important given Klein has rushed for 405 yards and seven touchdowns this season.