B/R Top 25 College Football Poll: Week Seven

Previous: 6
Strength of Schedule: 61
Last Week: Beat Purdue 20-6
This Week: at Wisconsin (+5.5)

This has the feel of an ambush.

Penn State comes to Madison riding high, undefeated, and relatively untested on the road—unless you count the pacified, daytime crowd of 57,215 last week at Purdue. 

Meanwhile, Wisconsin has lost its last two games by a total of five points and is threatened by the possibility of a 0-3 start in conference play.

There will be 81,000-plus lying in wait for the Nittany Lions at Camp Randall.  If you’re looking for an upset special, this may be your game.

7. Texas Tech (5-0)

Previous: 8
Strength of Schedule: 15
Last Week: Beat Kansas State 58-28
This Week: Nebraska (+21)

The question was could they win on the road against a legitimate opponent.  The answer was a resounding, 30-point-thumping-yes.

Of the Big 12 South contenders, Oklahoma and Texas Tech continue to have the most favorable schedule set up—and favorable is a relative term in this division.  The Red Raiders' toughest task will be a November trip to Norman.  But if Texas manages to knock off the Sooners, the Red Raiders instantly become the front-runner in the South. 

8. USC (3-1)

Previous: 10
Strength of Schedule: 61
Last Week: Beat Oregon 44-10
This Week: Arizona State (+27.5)

For years, we’ve suspected that USC’s backup quarterback is probably a better option than any other Pac-10 team’s starter.  But what if the opponent’s starter goes down as well?

Highly-touted Mitch Mustain is the latest Trojan to hold the Matt Cassel honorary clipboard, and this Saturday, he’ll get his shot against Arizona State and...Danny Sullivan?

Injuries to both Mark Sanchez and Rudy Carpenter have created a potential battle of the backups at the Los Angeles Coliseum. 

In just nine attempts, Mustain has tossed two touchdowns this season.  In just eight attempts, Sullivan has thrown for minus-one yard.

9. BYU (5-0)

Previous: 7
Strength of Schedule: 74
Last Week: Beat Utah State 34-14
This Week: New Mexico (+23.5)

Neither of BYU’s next two opponents are ranked, but New Mexico and TCU are both more than capable of snapping the nation’s longest winning streak.

The Lobos have one of the best defenses in the Mountain West and proved it with a 24-0 shutout of Wyoming.  Meanwhile, the Horned Frogs had cracked the top 25 before a loss at Oklahoma, and they responded from that loss with a 41-7 thrashing of San Diego State. 

So mid-major haters, here’s the plan.  Hope BYU drops one of the next two (preferably both).  Then the Cougars snipe unbeaten Utah in the season finale.

10. Georgia (4-1)

Previous: 11

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