College Football Picks: Week 7

It was another good week at 8-2. I had a much better week than Texas and Kansas anyway. Now, those two teams trade opponents, and that’s where we start the Week 7 picks.

The locals

#6 Oklahoma State at #22 Texas

Texas had a rough time against Oklahoma in Dallas,
and it won't get much easier against Oklahoma State.

The Longhorns got absolutely embarrassed last week against Oklahoma. You’re not going to beat anyone when you turn the ball over five times, three of those for touchdowns. I don’t see it getting a whole lot better this week. Maybe Texas plays a little better at home. Maybe Texas limits the turnovers a little, and maybe Oklahoma State doesn’t create quite as much havoc defensively as the Sooners did. It still doesn’t change the fact that Oklahoma State has an offense that can be just as explosive as the Oklahoma offense that moved the ball at will in Dallas last week. Justin Blackmon will abuse the young Texas secondary, and Brandon Weeden will find him.

The pick: Oklahoma State 42-24

#3 Oklahoma at Kansas

I see zero reason to believe this game will be remotely close. Kansas gave up 56 points to Oklahoma State in the first half, prompting Mike Gundy to call off the dogs in the second quarter. If Kansas sniffs the endzone, it will be late in the game, when Oklahoma’s young guys are getting some playing time. The only question is how many points Oklahoma wants to score. More or less than the 70 that OSU hung on KU last week?

The pick: Oklahoma 70-9

UAB at Tulsa

The Golden Hurricane has got to be ready to resume Conference USA play. TU took some beatings against Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Boise State. Now, it’s time to find out if TU truly is better for it. UAB should be a pretty simple test. The Blazers are winless and even lost 49-10 to a Tulane team that Tulsa defeated convincingly 31-3. Tulsa should have no problem with the Blazers and should easily move to 2-0 in the conference.

The pick: Tulsa 45-10

Just don’t sue us

#20 Baylor at #21 Texas A&M

Yeah, there are some hard feelings between Baylor and A&M.

Expect a lot of bitter feelings in this one. Baylor held up Texas A&M’s move to the SEC with the threat of a lawsuit. That threat may be gone, but I doubt the bitterness is.

As for the game itself, I don’t go out on a limb often, but I feel like doing it in this case. Texas A&M’s defense has not proven to be quite as great as many thought. 30 points to Oklahoma State, 42 points to Arkansas, and 40 points to Texas Tech. Robert Griffin should cause a lot of problems for A&M (like he does for everyone). Baylor’s defense isn’t exactly strong (which makes me hesitate a bit with my upset pick), but I think Griffin will lead Baylor past the Aggies in a shootout.

The pick: Baylor 42-38

The battle for the Paul Bunyan Trophy

#11 Michigan at #23 Michigan State

For a while, I kind of had the feeling that Michigan was overachieving and was due for a fall. As the season goes along however, I wonder more and more if this team has something. The Wolverines may trip up eventually, but I don’t see it against the rival Spartans, even if the game is in East Lansing. While Michigan State’s defense has only allowed a total of 20 points in its four wins, those wins are Youngstown State, Florida Atlantic, Central Michigan, and a mediocre Ohio State squad. Michigan, meanwhile, has a much better offense than those teams. While his throwing motion may not be perfect and he will throw his fair share of interceptions, Denard Robinson just finds ways to put points on the board. The Wolverines’ offense should give Sparty a challenge more like Notre Dame, which scored 31 in a win.

The pick: Michigan 28-24

Addition by subtraction

#15 South Carolina at Mississippi State

Stephen Garcia is gone.
That might be a good thing.

South Carolina has finally decided to part ways with troubled quarterback Stephen Garcia, and the Gamecocks are better for it. Sophomore Connor Shaw looked great against Kentucky last week (then again, a lot of quarterbacks do) when he threw for 311 yards and 4 touchdowns.

Mississippi State, meanwhile, has been a bit of a disappointment. The Bulldogs looked like they were ready to take another step forward after getting 9 wins a year ago. Now, Mississippi State sits at 0-3 in the SEC and going nowhere. With Alabama and Auburn still on the schedule, it is critical for the Bulldogs to upset South Carolina at home. Unfortunately for them, I think South Carolina has eliminated a big distraction and is ready to make its move in the SEC East.

The pick: South Carolina 30-24

No respect

#17 Kansas State at Texas Tech

Kansas State wants respect, and the Wildcats are apparently still searching for it as they find themselves as an underdog in Lubbock this weekend. I’ve missed on Kansas State the past two weeks, and I find this one tough to pick as well. What helps me make my decision, though, is Texas Tech’s defense. It’s not so much the 45 points allowed to Texas A&M as it is the 34 points each surrendered to Kansas and Nevada. Kansas State keeps finding ways to win, I’ll say it continues.

The pick: Kansas State 33-30

Who’s under center?

Florida at #24 Auburn

What makes this game really tough to pick is the fact that both teams are dealing with shaky quarterback situations. If John Brantley was healthy for Florida, I think the Gators win this one by at least a touchdown. Now it’s not clear if Jacoby Brissett or Jeff Driskel will be taking the snaps.

Auburn, on the other hand, is sticking with struggling junior QB Barrett Trotter while fans are starting to scream for freshman Kiehl Frazier to take over. I don’t expect either team to be crisp, but I think Florida will look much better than it has the past two weeks. Anyone will look bad playing Alabama and LSU’s defenses. Auburn doesn’t have a defense of that caliber. Really, nobody does (except maybe Oklahoma).

The pick: Florida 21-17

Fallen leader

#18 Arizona State at #9 Oregon

The injury to James looked bad, but he might be okay.

There’s a chance that Ducks star LaMichael James could miss this game after suffering what appeared to be a nasty elbow injury last week. The damage thankfully wasn’t as bad as originally feared, but it could still keep him out this week

I like what I’ve seen from Arizona State this year, and I think the Sun Devils will eventually win the Pac-12 South. ASU will give the Ducks a fight, and it’ll be closer than some people think. However, I do not think they can match up with Oregon’s elite speed, with our without James. In the end, Darron Thomas will have enough weapons at his disposal to pull out the W.

The pick: Oregon 35-27

Love the Drake? Hate the Drake?

Drake at San Diego

Both teams are 5-1 and 3-0 in the Pioneer Football League. Yes, that’s the name of a real conference. If it’s basketball, I love the Drake. But on the road against a team that’s scored 97 points over the last two weeks, I hate the Drake.

The pick: San Diego 41-33

I’ll leave you with two picks I’m very confident in: San Diego State will NOT get invited to the Big 12, and Memphis will absolutely NOT get invited to the SEC.