It’s Week 7 of the College Football season and there are two big match-ups on the docket in the SEC and Big Ten. Alabama travels to Tennessee while Ohio State visits Wisconsin. Both games have national implications regarding the College Football Playoff.
Here are our top five games for Week 7.
Mississippi State Bulldogs at BYU Cougars: Mississippi State has turned things around after a tough start to the season. The Bulldogs are playing much better, especially on offense.
Dan Mullen’s team will have their hands full with BYU’s defense but speed kills and the Dawgs are the faster team.
This game will be close for a half but Mississippi State will pull away in the second half and earn a quality road win.
Prediction: Miss St. 35 BYU 21
#1 Alabama Crimson Tide at #9 Tennessee Volunteers: Tennessee put up a valiant fight last week at A&M. The never say die Volunteers almost came from behind and beat the Aggies but lost in overtime. Something tells me this game won’t be close enough for the Vols to make another comeback.
I think the Volunteers will have a tough time stopping a tough time stopping Jalen Hurts and a Bama offense that is averaging 44.8 points per game.
The Tide are balanced on offense. They can run and throw the ball effectively. They make big plays on a consistent basis. Its hard to believe I am saying this, but Alabama is a an offensive program now.
Tennessee will score some points but there is no wauy their defense stops Bama.
Prediction: Alabama 35 Tennessee 31
Stanford Cardinal at Notre Dame Irish: I circled this game at the beginning of the season as a game that could have playoff implications. Now you have to wonder if either team will even get a bowl bid.
Both teams are struggling offensively and with Stanford running back Christian McCaffery questionable to play, you’d have to think the Cardinal will open things up more and allow quarterback Brent Burns to throw the ball more.
Neither team plays great defense so expect both teams to score some points. This game will come down to which team can finish drives and takes care of the football. The Irish need a win in the worst way. They don’t match up well with Stanford but if there was ever a year to beat them, this the year.
Prediction: Notre Dame 31 Stanford 27
#12 Ole Miss Rebels at #22 Arkansas Razorbacks: I love when a spread team plays Arkansas. Razorbacks coach Bret Bielema does not like the spread offense so its always a war of words.
Arkansas has had mixed results defending the spread during the Bielema years. One of the ways the Razorbacks can help their defense is by running the ball and controlling the clock. It seems to be the only way to slow down Chad Kelly and the Rebels.
Wooo-Pig-Sooey is tough in Fayetteville but I don’t think its going to matter. Ole Miss might have the most talented skill group in the SEC. Cream rises. I think Ole Miss will rise to the occasion and use their athleticism to beat Arkansas.
Prediction: Ole Miss 38 Arkansas 24
#2 Ohio State Buckeyes at #8 Wisconsin Badgers: If the Buckeyes to get back to the College Football Playoff, they must win this game. It is that simple.
Camp Randall might be the toughest place to play in the Big Ten. It has been a house of horrors for many opponents including Ohio State in recent years. It is imperative that Ohio State scores first and takes the crowd out of the game. If Wisconsin is in this game and they have a chance to win it, the crowd will become a factor in the second half.
I think this will be a tight games and it’ll go back and forth but its tough to pick against the Buckeyes. While the 2016 edition might not be as talented as the 2015 edition, I think these Buckeyes are tougher.
Prediction: Ohio State 24 Wisconsin 17