College Football Predictions Week 7: Predicting Top Matchups

Last week was high on drama and low on ranked matchups. Week 7 has a bunch of great games and will hopefully be just as exciting.

There are four games between ranked opponents and two other games where a ranked team plays a one-loss team who is not ranked.

How will these games play out? Read on to find out.

Quick Picks

LSU vs. Tennessee – No Tyler Bray + LSU defense = big problems. 48-6 LSU

South Carolina vs. Mississippi State – If the Bulldogs come to play they can make this a game but their recent performances don’t indicate they will. 27-13 USC

Ohio State vs. Illinois – The Buckeyes were so close to pulling the upset against Nebraska but Illinois’ defense is much better. 17-10 Illinois

Michigan vs. Michigan State

This is the most interesting and difficult game to pick all day simply because we don’t know much about this Michigan team.

Last year at this point the Wolverines were 5-1 and ranked but proceeded to fall off the deep end at the end of the season, especially on defense.

Under Brady Hoke things appear to be different but this is the first real defense they have seen and it is spectacular.

The Spartans held Michigan to just 17 points last year and I like them to do something similar this year but their offense has been putrid.

This game could really go either way which gives the advantage to the home team which is Michigan State.

MSU – 24

Michigan – 21

Baylor vs. Texas A&M

Both of these offenses have been explosive but their defenses have been lackluster at best.

A&M’s pass defense ranks worst in the country and Baylor is allowing 170 yards on the ground per game.

The Aggies have more talent and are playing at home but you have to question their mindset coming into this game after losing two games in heartbreaking form to Oklahoma State and Arkansas.

The edged out a win against previously undefeated Texas Tech but how impressive was that really?

In another close but much higher scoring game, the edge goes to the 12th Man and A&M.

A&M – 48

Baylor – 41

Oklahoma State vs. Texas

Based on the rankings, the Cowboys should blowout the Longhorns but Mack Brown has an interesting history in games following the Red River Rivalry—he is 13-0 in the game following the big rivalry.

Oklahoma State has never been ranked this high and collapsed repeatedly in the past when highly ranked. And remember that 21 of Oklahoma’s 55 points last week came off of five turnovers.

The Pokes’ defense is not nearly as good and Texas held them to 33 points last year.

I’m not going to call the upset here but there is a reason why Oklahoma State is only a 7.5 point favorite in this game.

OSU – 34

Texas – 27

Virginia Tech vs. Wake Forest

Wake Forest has very quietly built a 5-1 season with their lone loss coming in overtime with their starting quarterback on the bench with an injury.

Virginia Tech’s offense exploded last week.

Quarterback Logan Thomas had a career game, completing 92% of his passes for 310 yards, three touchdowns, no interceptions and two rushing touchdowns.

The biggest question for the Hokies is on defense where they will be without their starting defensive tackle and possibly their starting defensive end and whip linebacker.

The Deacon’s defense is good but not great but they are fresh off an upset of Florida State and will be fired up for this game.

But three of their wins have come by a single possession and Virginia Tech will be equally amped for this game.

VT – 31

WFU – 20

Kansas State vs. Texas Tech

The Wildcats are somehow undefeated and the Red Raiders only lost to Texas A&M by five.

Defense will decide this game because Kansas State’s offense but their defense is and Texas Tech is the exact opposite.

Their rush defense is particularly poor and that is how State scores their points.

The only problem is that they enjoy keeping games close—four of their wins have come by a touchdown or less—and that is a problem on the road.

An upset could happen here—Vegas has the Raiders as a three point favorite—but the odds should be with Kansas State.

KSU – 31

Tech – 28

Florida vs. Auburn

Florida’s two losses have been to the top two teams in the country and Auburn could just as easily be 2-4 instead of 4-2.

But the Gators got thoroughly blown out in both of those game and Auburn’s defense has drastically improved after the first three weeks.

They allowed 534 ypg total offense and 36.6 ppg with a 67 percent third down conversion rate, one turnover and two sacks.

The last three games Auburn allowed 345 ypg total offense, 21.6 ppg, 34 percent on third down conversions with seven turnovers and five sacks.

Without quarterback John Brantley, Florida has even less of a passing game and Auburn can stack the box all day against Chris Rainey, Jeff Demps and replacement Jeff Driskel.

But Rainey and Demps are the fastest players the Tigers have seen all season and keeping them in check is no small feat.

Another fantastic matchup that could go either way so I’ll take the home team once again.

Auburn – 34 (OT)

Florida – 27

Arizona State vs. Oregon

I’m a big fan of Arizona State this year but they are just not very good on the road, losing four of their six games last year away from home last season.

Oregon is one of the toughest places to play in the entire country.

Vegas has the Ducks as a 16-point favorite and that may be a bit much without LaMichael James playing but they did put up 42 on the Sun Devils last year.

If Oregon’s defense comes to play, they should win easily. If not, this game becomes much more interesting but they should still win.

With College GameDay on hand, expect the Ducks to be firing on all cylinders

Oregon – 52

ASU - 31