CFB Bowl Projections 2014-15: Week 7 Playoff Predictions

The college football madness isn't going to stop. Following a week of chaos that set dynamite to the College Football Playoff projections, another sizzling slate of games will reconfigure the standings once again.

Half of the nation's top 10 squads went down last week. ESPN Stats & Info delivered some historical perspective on the carnage before No. 8 UCLA also suffered an upset late Saturday night.

Now is a good time to take a breather and access the damage, but another earthquake is set for Week 7. Four matchups pit ranked opponents against one another, including two bouts between top-10 squads.

Somebody is going down again, but who will take the plunge this time? Here's a look at what lies ahead for the current top-four schools, along with the predicted playoff picture after Week 7.

AP Top 4	Week 7 Opponents	Prediction	Predicted Post-Week 7 Rankings
1. Florida State	at Syracuse	47-7 FSU	1. Mississippi State
2. Auburn	at Mississippi State	38-35 MSU	2. Florida State
T3. Mississippi State	vs. Auburn	38-35 MSU	3. Ole Miss
T3 Ole Miss	at No. 14 Texas A&M	34-28 Ole Miss	4. Baylor

Game of the Week: No. 2 Auburn vs. No. 3 Mississippi State

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

It's safe to say the loser falls from the playoff snapshot and the victor at least sits at No. 2 while making a case for the top spot. 

They're not No. 1 in the polls, but the Auburn Tigers hold the top slot in ESPN's Power Index.

It's easy to see how the model gives them the edge over Florida State. Through five games, they're undefeated with a 27.6-point average margin of victory. Against an LSU squad brandishing title aspirations, they gained 566 total yards to their SEC rival's 280 in a one-sided contest.

While Nick Marshall has completed just 57.9 percent of his passes, the number has risen in each of his last three games. He's also amended those accuracy issues with 12 total touchdowns to just one interception. He noted the strides he's taken this season to ESPN.com's Greg Ostendorf.

"

I’m a way better [passer] than I was last year. Coach [Rhett] Lashlee and Coach Malzahn, they took time out with me in the offseason and focused on my footwork, my eyes on the target and then just stepping through the throws. I’m satisfied [with this game], but there’s always room for improvement.

"

Actually, he's only shown significant improvement in the turnover department while slightly regressing in other key indicators. 

Category	2013	2014
GP	13	5
Total YPG	234.1	229.4
CMP %	59.4	57.9
YPA	8.27	7.95
TDs	26	12
INTs	6	1

Meanwhile, Dak Prescott is producing a strong Heisman campaign for Mississippi State, who have pulled off two consecutive upsets over LSU and Texas A&M. ESPN The Magazine's Twitter page compared his hot start to past Heisman winners.

"

.@HailState's Dak Prescott is looking a lot like a few former Heisman winners through 5 games #MAGraphic pic.twitter.com/yWJfsiywrr

— ESPN The Magazine (@ESPNMag) October 6, 2014"

Even when this wasn't a groundbreaking matchup in 2013, the two delivered a great game, which Auburn won, 24-20, by scoring with 10 seconds left. Now Mississippi State knocking Auburn down a peg would hardly be considered a stunner.

According to Odds Shark, the Bulldogs are underdogs for the third straight time, but only by a small amount in a coin-flip game. They're now firmly on Auburn's level, a reality offensive lineman Ben Beckwith hopes onlookers are late to realize.

“Recognition is awesome, but you kind of like being under the radar, honestly,” Beckwith told ESPN.com's Edward Aschoff. “I like going [into games] thinking the other teams are looking over us. You would think they wouldn’t be.” 

If Florida State had to deal with an SEC schedule, these two opponents could easily justify finishing the season ranked No. 1 and 2. Given the new playoff system, a loss shouldn't doom the team that draws the short end of the stick, although it'll take a perfect finish afterwards.

A shootout plays in the Bulldogs' favor. Prescott still has a firm upper hand over the rising Marshall, and Auburn gained just 78 rushing yards in last year's head-to-head showdown. 

The Bulldogs have proved they're for real over the past two weeks, and they'll do some again at home by scoring a monumental victory over the Tigers.

Predictions: Mississippi State 38, Auburn 35