Buell's Eye: Week 7's College Football Picks

While Week Six answered some of the questions still left behind after the start of this 2009 season, Week Seven is destined to dispose of even more as six of the 18 games feature matchups between ranked teams.

And, as destiny often does, it is sure to catch up with me this weekend after last week's 16-2 record, only seven total points away from going undefeated. My overall record rose to 102-24, while a tough week for predictions is dead ahead.

Five of the Top 10 teams are on the list to play another ranked opponent, preparing the main course as those high hope programs fight for their spot at the head of the table.

Week Seven's Bye Weeks

Only two teams take a break this weekend as the No. 10 LSU Tigers heal from an impressive showing in which they lost to the No. 1 Florida Gators a week ago.

The other bye week belongs to one of the hottest teams in the country, the No. 13 Oregon Ducks, who hope to keep the momentum going as they travel to Washington to take on the much improved Huskies in two weeks.

No. 24 Utah Utes (4-1) @ UNLV Rebels (2-4)

The Utes from Utah climb back into the rankings after their Week 3 loss to Oregon to take on the Rebels from UNLV.

Utah pulls away late, 37-21, over UNLV.

No. 23 Houston Cougars (4-1) @ Tulane Green Wave (2-3)

I haven't had a chance to yell at them yet because they ran away so quickly, but what the heck, Houston?!

Here we have a classic case of a University on the rise, shocking the universe, loading up their band wagon, climbing the charts, and then they give up 58 points to a 1-3 UTEP Miners team in a road loss.

Not the first time, I know. So, welcome back, Houston.

In Week Seven, they hit the road again, this time to Tulane.

The Cougars move on through lessons learned, overcoming the Green Wave 38-24.

No. 18 Brigham Young Cougars (5-1) @ San Diego State Aztecs (2-3)

It's amazing what one loss can do to your season.

Even with a win against a ranked Oklahoma team, it appears Brigham Young may be doomed to roam outside the Top 10 for eternity, no matter what they do.

Obviously, their strength of schedule is a huge factor in their demise, and playing San Diego State this weekend doesn't contribute much to their cause either.

The Cougars conquer the Aztecs 44-24, and BYU doesn't budge much again.

No. 17 Kansas Jayhawks (5-0) @ Colorado Buffaloes (1-4)

The Jayhawks' first loss of the season keeps inching closer and closer, but I just can't pick it to happen yet.

Kansas visits Colorado this weekend, hoping to improve their unbeaten record to 6-0.

The Jayhawks succeed, but just barely, escaping the Buffs 23-20.

No. 16 Oklahoma State Cowboys (4-1) vs. USA Today Poll No. 24 Missouri Tigers (4-1)

In my first upset pick of the weekend, Missouri takes on Oklahoma State.

This matchup either screams equality or mediocrity. I'm not sure which, but a close game is no doubt on the horizon.

The Tigers steal a win from the Cowboys 28-27.

No. 15 Nebraska Cornhuskers (4-1) vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-2)

The Red Raiders are a better team this season than I gave them credit for, I'll give them that.

However, the way Nebraska hung around until the very end against Virginia Tech in Week 3 and how they came back like gangbusters last weekend against Missouri has me impressed.

Is Nebraska back? That question is one that still remains unanswered, but I have them continuing their winning ways again in Week Seven over Texas Tech 36-30.

No. 14 Penn State Nittany Lions (5-1) vs. Minnesota Golden Gophers (4-2)

Minnesota football has certainly done some improving lately on both the collegiate and professional level.

While the Golden Gophers are poised to ruin somebody's season eventually this year, the Nittany Lions are expecting a fight this weekend.

Penn State prevails, 33-28, over Minnesota.

No. 12 Texas Christian Horned Frogs (5-0) vs. Colorado State Rams (3-3)

Texas Christian remains undefeated, and remains outside the Top 10.

A matchup in Week Seven versus Colorado State does not do a lot to improve their ranking, but does keep them in the National Title hunt.

The Horned Frogs win again, beating the Rams 27-14.

No. 11 Iowa Hawkeyes (6-0) @ Wisconsin Badgers (5-1)

Iowa fans everywhere are going to continue to relentlessly scream at me, and eventually, I may have to listen to them.

Yet, for now, I will still turn a deaf ear.

In another upset pick, the Badgers welcome in the Hawkeye's to hand them their first loss of the 2009 season 27-21.

No. 9 Miami Hurricanes (4-1) @ UCF Knights (3-2)

Here's a question, and only because I'm curious:

Who are you more impressed with, the Miami Hurricanes, or the Cincinnati Bearcats?

I still don't know, because Cincinnati certainly appears to be legit, and I fully expected to see Miami start the season 0-4.

Either way, Miami continues to sit pretty in the Top 10 as they travel north to Orlando to take on the University of Central Florida.

The Hurricanes blow past the Knights 34-10.

No. 8 Cincinnati Bearcats (5-0) @ No. 21 South Florida Bulls (5-0)

Yes, I set that up on purpose.

SPEAKING of Cincinnati, how about this for a Thursday matchup?

Maybe I should have included South Florida in that question comparing the Hurricanes and Bearcats together, but this is a game that defines not only your season, but your entire program, as well.

These two teams own the night on Thursday as both undefeated squads continue to try and stay on the tongues of the National Title talk this season.

Cincinnati wins this bout 21-13.

No. 7 Ohio State Buckeyes (4-1) @ Purdue Boilermakers (1-5)

These two programs may have opposite records, but traveling to Purdue has proven to be tumultuous to teams at times.

No matter, the Buckeyes come to play Saturday, taking this game against the Boilermakers 35-21.

No. 6 USC Trojans (4-1) @ No. 25 Notre Dame Fighting Irish

This one features quarterbacks, coaches and tradition.

In one of the most anticipated games of the season, this classic rivalry between the Trojans of Southern California and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame finally gets underway this Saturday, and it's anybody's game.

After the final whistle, though, the scoreboard will reflect a similar result as seen in recent years.

USC wins in South Bend against Notre Dame 28-24.

No. 5 Boise State Broncos (5-0) @ Tulsa Golden Hurricane (4-1)

Does anybody else wish Oregon could play Boise State again?

Yeah, me too.

I'm sure the BCS can finagle something, though. As for this week's Boise State game, it is brought to you by the letter "O", but not for "Oregon".

"Offense" is the only terminology needed when these two teams get together.

The Broncos travel to Tulsa to take on the Golden Hurricane, outlasting them on the road 49-38.

No. 4 Virginia Tech Hokies (5-1) @ No. 19 Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets (5-1)

This will certainly fit the description of an exciting, midseason, evening game of two ranked ACC opponents.

Even though it's on the road, the Hokies from Virginia Tech know they are in the driver's seat to get back to their first National Title game since 1999.

In a close one, Virginia Tech outscores Georgia Tech 34-27.

Bonus question: How many National Championships has Virginia Tech won in their school's history?

Answer: Zero.

No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide (6-0) vs. No. 22 South Carolina Gamecocks (5-1)

Keep clapping, Coach Saban.

You're winning more and more believers and voters each week, notifying everyone that there may actually be another SEC team that has what it takes to get to the top.

So far, Alabama has succeeded in every task they've faced this season, and Steve Spurrier's bunch arrives on Saturday to be the next one.

South Carolina is good, but they're not that good.

The Tide keep rolling some more, defeating the Gamecocks 28-13.

No. 1 Florida Gators (5-0) vs. Arkansas Razorbacks (3-2)

Arkansas is actually going to have something for the No. 1 ranked team in the land this weekend.

Don't believe me?

Ask Auburn.

But, as the Florida Gators proved again last Saturday, they are still the cream of the crop until someone grows a better harvest.

The nation's longest winning streak stays alive one more week as the Gators take down the Hogs 30-17.

Game of the Week: No. 3 Texas Longhorns (5-0) vs. No. 20 Oklahoma Sooners (3-2)

There is revenge to be had on both sidelines in Week Seven's Game of the Week.

Last season, Texas walked away with a win in the Red River Rivalry over Oklahoma but still watched the BCS National Title Game from their couch as the Sooners put on a uniform.

This weekend, both Universities look to reverse their fortunes from a year ago, both team's quarterbacks are strapping up, and National Title implications hang in the balance yet again.

Like last year, Texas outscores Oklahoma, winning 41-30, only hoping to see their Title dreams end a little differently this season.