The Red River Shootout highlights what should be a good slate of games for Week 7. Here are my picks.
Friday, October 13
No. 2 Clemson (-22.5) at Syracuse: Don’t sleep on Dino Babers Orangemen. They will give the Tigers fits for four quarters. Clemson wins but I’m taking Cuse as a dog at home.
No. 8 Washington State (-14) at California: This has the makings of a potential upset. Justin Wilcox has coached against Mike Leach for years and knows how to defend his offense. Washington State will win this game but they won’t cover. I like Cal as a home dog.
Saturday, October 14
No. 6 TCU (-5.5) at Kansas State: Manhattan is one of the toughest venues in all of college football to play in. TCU is in for a four quarter battle but it is hard to pick against Kenny Hill and the Frogs. They are battle tested. I am picking TCU to win by ten.
No. 17 Michigan (-7) at Indiana: Vegas has lost faith in Michigan. I haven’t. The Wolverines bounce back in a big way by trouncing Tom Allen’s Hoosiers.
No. 20 NC State (-12) at Pittsburgh: The Pack is finally playing up to their potential, especially their defense. Pittsburgh is wildly inconsistent and have been a hard team to gauge all season. -12 is a big number for a road favorite but I like the Pack anyway.
No. 24 Texas Tech at West Virginia (-3.5): I don’t buy Texas Tech despite the fact that they are taking care of the ball and playing better defense this season. Morgantown is a tough place to play. That is why I like the Mountaineers in this one. Will Grier and company pick up a big home win.
Purdue at No. 7 Wisconsin (-16.5):Wisconsin makes me nervous as a double digit home favorite (See Northwestern two weeks ago) I am going to take the Badgers in this game but it is with great trepedition.
No. 10 Auburn (-7) at LSU: Rivalry trap game alert. LSU kind of sort of found their mojo last week in a big road win at Florida. Can they carry that momentum over to this week? Sure. Will they? No. I like Auburn as a road favorite.
Georgia Tech at No. 11 Miami (FL) (-6): Miami has to have a let down after last week’s win right? I think they will, especially with running back Mark Walton out. That’s why I am taking Georgia Tech as a road dog at +6. I think their flexbone option will give Miami some serious problems. Put the cake on the Jackets.
No. 12 Oklahoma (-7.5) at Texas: The Red River Rivalry is one of my favorite rivalry games in all of college football. Texas is playing much better since their opening season loss to Maryland. Despite that, I can’t imagine Oklahoma losing back to back games. They will be hangry! I am putting my money on the Sooners in this one with confidence.
Baylor at No. 14 Oklahoma State (-25.5): Mason Rudolph and company roll. They are an easy play here as a home favorite.
No. 25 Navy at Memphis (-3.5): Memphis beat UCLA at home so you would think they could beat Navy right? WRONG! The flexbone option is a pain to defend and Memphis won’t stop it. Take Navy at +3.5.
East Carolina at No. 22 UCF (-35): East Carolina hasn’t stopped anyone all season and they won’t stop the Knights potent offensive attack. Central Florida wins big.
Arkansas at No. 1 Alabama (-30.5): Alabama got a little exposed last week offensively against a mediocre Texas A&M defense. They will turn it around this week but -30.5 is a big number in my opinion. Arkansas will come to play. I am taking the Hogs as a road dog. Bama wins but not by 30.
Missouri at No. 4 Georgia (-30.5): Georgia on the other will easily cover at home against a bad Missouri team.
No. 9 Ohio State (-24) at Nebraska: Ohio State is playing with a purpose and looks like they could run the table the rest of the season. Playing in Lincoln is not as tough as it used it be.
Cincinnati at No. 18 South Florida (-24.5): I think we need to start taking the Bulls serious. They have the talent to potentially run the table and earn a New Years Bowl bid. They should take care of business against the Bearcats this week.
Utah at No. 13 USC (-13): Sam Darnold and the Trojans have been way too inconsistent this season to take as a double digit home favorite. Despite losing to Stanford last week, I still think Utah is good enough to go into Los Angeles and win this game. Now, I don’t think they will but they won’t lose by two scores either. Take Utah in this one as a road dog.
No. 21 Michigan State (-4) at Minnesota: For those of you predicting an upset here. It’s not going to happen. Michigan State is back and they will take care of business in Minneapolis. I’m taking the road favorites in this one with confidence.
Boise State at No. 19 San Diego State (-7): I’m officially on the Aztecs bandwagon. Rocky Long and his staff have done a great job but they need to win this Mountain West litmus test in order to win the conference and solidify themselves as the best team in the conference. I think they will. Take San Diego State as a home favorite.