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AT's Week 7 College Football Predictions

It was another 9-1 week for AT, as only Miami went against the picks and lost to Florida State.  However, AT did correctly pick Vandy beating Auburn and North Carolina defeating UConn, both underdogs winning at home. 

For the season AT stands at 44-16, good for a 73 percent success rate.  To this weeks picks).

Game of the Week:

No. 5 Texas vs. No. 1 Oklahoma: 12 p.m. ABC

The Red River Rivalry always features at least one of the nation's top teams, and this year is no exception as both Texas and Oklahoma believe they are good enough to win a National Championship.  The Longhorns are led by do-everything quarterback Colt McCoy- who has not only been one of college football's most efficient passers, but is also Texas' leading rusher.  On the opposite sideline stands the Oklahoma Sooners- arguably college football's most talented team.  They feature Sam Bradford at quarterback, DeMarco Murray at running back, a slew of speedy receivers and skill all over their defense. They've scored at least 49 or more points in four games, and their closest margin of victory was 25 points.  Although this is usually one of college footballs best rivalries, Oklahoma will take this game.  Texas lacks the traditional play making skill position players they've had in years past.  There are no Cedric Benson's, Roy Williams' or Limas Sweed's on this version of the Longhorns.  This will put added pressure on McCoy who is already going against one of the most talented front sevens in college football.  This one will be close on the scoreboard, but the final outcome will never be in doubt. 

The Pick: Oklahoma

Upset of the Week:

Notre Dame at No. 24 North Carolina: 3:30 ABC Regional

North Carolona is one of the best teams that no one in college football seems to know about, as they are coming off two impressive wins- at Miami two weeks ago and a dominant 38-12 victory over No. 24 UConn in their last contest.  Despite losing starting quarterback T.J. Yates on Sept. 20^th, the Tar Heels have kept rolling behind the solid play of both Cameron Sexton and Mike Paulus in Yates' place.  As for their opponent- there may have never been a more incognito one loss Notre Dame team in the history of the program.  Although they haven't won very pretty, the wins are wins- and beating Purdue, Stanford and Michigan is nothing to scoff at.  Although I think the Tar Heels are more talented, they are a young team, that may be for the first time believing the hype surrounding them.  For a team that featured no player that had ever won a game outside the state of North Carolina until Week 2 of this season, to all of a sudden be ranked and the toast of Chapel Hill may be too much for this inexperienced group.  I don't expect Notre Dame to be world beaters- but much like North Carolina did a week ago, beat a team riding high and reading their own press clippings. 

The Pick: Notre Dame

Nebraska at No. 7 Texas Tech:

It may be a different season, but it's the same story at Texas Tech  It doesn't matter who coach Mike Leach plugs in at quarterback, this offense continues to put up a ton of points.  Graham Harrell is the latest in a long line of Red Raiders signal callers to accumulate a ton of stats, and is throwing to the best receiver the program has ever seen in Michael Crabtree.  As for their opponents, Nebraska comes to Lubbock coming off two straight losses- including an embarrassing 52-17 defeat to Missouri a week ago.  Things will be no different this week for the Cornhuskers.  Unfortunately there are just a lot of really good offenses this year in the Big XII, and the traditional "Black Shirts," defense which won Nebraska so many championships in previous decades has yet to be re-established under first year coach Bo Pelini.  Another big win for the Raiders and bad loss for Nebraska.  

The Pick: Texas Tech

Tennessee at No. 10 Georgia: 3:30 CBS

Of all the games on Saturday's schedule, none has lost more meaning since the schedule came out than this one.  Tennessee is, to everyone's surprise, 2-3 at this point, with coach Phil Fulmer in danger of losing his job.  Georgia stands at 4-1, but the one loss was one of the college football's biggest shockers this season- a 41-30 defeat to Alabama at home- a game which was no where near as close as the final score might indicate.  Recent history indicates that the Volunteers may actually be the pick as they've won the last two in this series, as well as their last two trips to Sanford Stadium.  But I'm going to go with the home team.  They are coming off a bye, and are hungry to prove that their embarrassing loss to Alabama was just an aberration and not a trend.  Knowshown Moreno might not be 100 percent healthy, but Georgia has too much depth at the skill positions to lose this one at home.

The Pick: Georgia

Arizona State at No. 8 USC

When the Pac-10 schedule came out this summer, some thought this would be the game to determine the conference championship.  But with Arizona State losing to UNLV, Georgia and Cal and USC going down at Oregon State, this game has certainly lost much of its luster.  The talk all week in this one is the health of USC quarterback Mark Sanchez- although it does look like he'll play.  Lucky for you Trojans fans, you have the most talented team in college football.  What other school has a former national high school player of the year as their back-up quarterback- as USC does with Mitch Mustain.  No matter who's under center, USC wins big.  ASU has yet to prove they can stop anyone defensively, or the ability to move the ball offensively.  Quarterback Rudy Carpenter is talented, but hasn't had the time or skill position talent to do much for the Sun Devils.  It doesn't help that he'll be injured in this one.

The Pick: USC

Purdue at No. 12 Ohio State: 3:30 p.m. ABC regional

There is no way to deny it: Terrelle Pryor is the real deal.  In a win last week at Wisconsin, the true freshman was spectacular, throwing for 144 yards and leading a late drive, to steal a game on the road.  He and the Ohio State Buckeyes will not be going against a defense anywhere near that talented this weekend at home in Columbus.  Purdue is 2-3, with the last two losses not even close- 38-21 to Notre Dame and 20-6 against Penn State a week ago.  The Buckeyes are riding high and will have no problems doing as they please this week.  They will score early and often as Pryor and the home team continue to gain confidence as the season goes on. 

No. 23 Michigan State at Northwestern: 3:30 ESPN2

 With all the hoopla around some other games in the Big 10 this weekend, it'd be easy to overlook this one- but don't.  Northwestern comes into the game with a perfect 5-0 record, and only need a win at home against the Spartans to get bowl eligible.  Michigan State comes in with a team that no one knows much about- expect for running back Javon Ringer.  Ringer, a senior, has been the real deal- with already close to 1000 yards rushing and 12 touchdowns on the year.  With all the hype surround Ringer, no one talks about a Spartans defense which has been relatively strong since a Week 1 loss at California.  That defense will be going against a Wildcats offense which is stellar, but unspectacular.  If you've seen them you know they can become awfully predictable and often rely too heavily on running back Tyrell Sutton.  Look for Northwestern to do the same on Saturday, but this time the game doesn't end in victory.  Michigan State will be ready and make enough plays on defense to win, and in the process hand Northwestern their first loss of the season. 

The Pick: Michigan State

No. 17 Oklahoma State at No. 3 Missouri: 8:00 ESPN2

With everyone busy fawning over the Red River Rivalry, many forget that this is another match-up of undefeated top 25 teams.  We all know about the offensive juggernaut in Missouri- the numbers Chase Daniel is putting up are Playstation-like.  But not many know much about Oklahoma State, a team which has scored 50 or more points in the past four games.  Quarterback Zach Johnson has already thrown for over 1000 yards and 10 touchdowns, while running back Kendall Hunter has 700 yards rushing.  It is safe to say however, that although the Cowboys are undefeated, they are also untested, as they have yet to face a team with a winning record.   It is hard not to like Missouri in this one.  Remember Oklahoma State has a history of starting off strong, only to hit the skids when entering Big XII play (they started out 5-0 in 2004 before finishing 7-5 and have finished with a 7-6 record the past two seasons).  The Cowboys will put up their points, but no where near what Missouri does.  Take the Tigers- big.

The Pick: Missouri

No. 6 Penn State at Wisconsin: 8:00 p.m. ESPN

I say it every week, but it stands true as the season goes on: no one has been more impressive game in and game out this season than Penn State.  Last week however, they played their toughest game to date- a hard fought 20-6 win at Purdue.  It won't be nearly as easy when they travel to Camp Randall Stadium to take on a Badgers squad that hasn't lost two games in a row at home since 2002.  While I think this one will be close, expect that streak to end and the Lions to win.  The visitors have too much speed at the skill positions, and Daryll Clark- who's thrown one interception to nine touchdowns will have another big day.

The Pick: Penn State

No. 4 LSU at No. 11 Florida

Despite having the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and as much talent at the skill positions as anyone in the country, there just appears to be something wrong with Florida's offense.  Although they've scored 30 or more points in four of their five games, they already have a home loss to Ole Miss and struggled against both Miami and Tennessee.  They will face the toughest defense they'll see all year Saturday night, when Ricky Jean-Francois and the LSU Tigers come to the Swamp.  The Tigers boast one of the most feared front sevens in the country, but to win this one will need a stellar game from Jarrett Lee, their first year quarterback.  All the talk this week was Jean-Francois' comments about hitting Tim Tebow- but it will be Florida quarterback that gets the last laugh.  No one has a bigger will to win than Tebow and it will be on display Saturday night.  Florida wins and the Heisman Trophy winner looks more like he did last year than he has so far in 2008.

The Pick: Florida