COLLEGE FOOTBALL: WEEK SEVEN PREDICTIONS

Last Week:      23 - 4    85.2%
Overall:         138 - 29  82.6%

It was another good week, and it would have been better if I hadn't been foolish enough to think Texas A&M and Arkansas could pull upsets. There are no games involving pairs of ranked teams, but there are plenty of close intra-conference match-ups. I'll need some good fortune to keep my average over 80% for the season. I've grouped the games by kickoff times so readers have more information on when to tune into their favorite teams.

Friday:

6:30 pm CDT:

(2) Clemson (6 - 0) 34 @ Syracuse (3 - 3) 17 : The Carrier Dome in Syracuse can be one of the most difficult places for visiting teams to play. Last season, an eventual 4 - 8 Orange team upset Virginia Tech. Clemson is playing far better than the Hokies did last year, but it can still be a tough place to win. I'll stick with the favorites, even though Syracuse has hung in there in losses to LSU and NC State.

9:30 pm CDT

(8) Washington State (6 - 0) 31 @ California (3 - 3) 20: Washington State appears to have a complete football team, an anomaly under Mike Leach, generally considered an offensive minded head coach. The Cougars' defense is pretty good and quarterback Luke Falk is playing as well as any signal caller in the country. Cal has exceeded expectations, but they'll need to bring their best effort of the season to challenge Washington State.

Saturday:

11:00 am CDT:

(6) TCU (5 - 0) 27 @ Kansas State (3 -2) 13: With Oklahoma and and Oklahoma State already suffering conferences losses, it's important for the Big 12 that TCU keeps winning. Ir's going to be difficult for the conference to get a team into the playoffs given the way Alabama, Clemson, Penn State, Washington and Washington State are playing in the other Power Five leagues. As far as this game goes, Kansas State is not as good as their mediocre record, and TCU is every bit as good as their undefeated status.

(17) Michigan (4 - 1) 23 @ Indiana (3 - 2) 16: Indiana was over-matched in their lopsided losses to Ohio State and Penn State. Until Michigan's loss to Michigan State last week, the Wolverines were considered in the same class as those other Big Ten East teams. The big difference between Michigan and the other two teams mentioned above is that they aren't as explosive, giving Indiana a fighting chance in this game. If Michigan has a hang over from last week, this one could be close.

(20) NC State (5 - 1) 34 @ Pittsburgh (2 - 4) 20: NC State is looking to go victoriously into their bye week before a big games on the road at Notre Dame and at home against Clemson that most likely will be for the ACC Atlantic crown. After a big Thursday night win against Louisville, the Wolfpack needs to guard against a letdown. Fortunately for them, Pittsburgh is in a down year and NC State should be able to take care of business on the road.

(24) Texas Tech (4 - 1) 27 @ West Virginia (3 - 2) 30: This is one of the more interesting games in a week where there are no match-ups between ranked teams. West Virginia's two losses are to top fifteen teams by the identical score of 31 - 24. I don't believe Texas Tech is in the same class as TCU and Virginia Tech, so I'm giving the Mountaineers the edge at home.

Florida State (1 - 3) 27 @ Duke (4 - 2) 10: Florida State is coming off a difficult, last second loss to Miami, giving them three losses to the number one, eleven and twentieth ranked teams in the country. Duke is nowhere near that class, so I believe the talent of the Seminoles, especially on defense, will enable them to win the game as long as they can get over the loss to the Hurricanes.

BYU (1 - 5) 17 @ Mississippi State (3 - 2) 37: This a good opportunity for Mississippi State to bounce back after consecutive road losses to top ten Georgia and Auburn. BYU is not very good, especially offensively and will be challenged to stay in this game into the second half.

South Carolina (4 - 2) 27 @ Tennessee (3 - 2) 23: Until Arkansas served up pick sixes to South Carolina like a father lobbing pitches to his kid, the Gamecocks were struggling in losing two of three games and the win was by a point against Louisiana Tech. Tennessee is on a similar path after getting drilled by Georgia in their last game and barely beating a bad UMass team the week before. This is one of the more difficult picks of the week, especially because Tennessee will start a new quarterback. I have to go with momentum: Good for South Carolina, bad for the Vols.

2:30 pm CDT:

Purdue (3 - 2) 17 @ (7) Wisconsin (5 - 0) 24: Purdue is improved, but it will take quite an effort for the Boilermakers to upend the Badgers. Wisconsin, given a schedule that includes neither Penn State nor Ohio State and a home games against Iowa and Michigan, might have the best chance of any Big Ten team to make the playoffs. They appear to be headed to a 9 - 0 record when they face Iowa on Nov. 11, but this is college football and you only have to look at last week to see teams that lost their focus and get upset.

(10) Auburn (5 - 1) 30 @ LSU (4 - 2) 21: In a battle of the Tigers, one will leave Death Valley Saturday afternoon with a loss. LSU beat Florida by virtue of a missed Gator extra point and they'll need the same type of good fortune to get past Auburn. The visitors will put a lot more pressure on the LSU defense than Florida is capable of generating. I just don't think LSU can keep up.

Georgia Tech (3 - 1) 23 @ (11) Miami (4 - 0) 30: After a big win that broke a seven game losing streak to Florida State, Miami hosts the most difficult team in the ACC to defend. But the Hurricanes are on the rise and playing at home after getting a big monkey off their back. It's difficult to tell how good a team that Georgia Tech has, as their victories are against an FCS team and a couple that are winless  in the ACC. Generally, I'd give the Yellow Jackets a chance, but the 41 points they gave up to a mediocre Tennessee team in week one bothers me.

(12) Oklahoma (4 - 1) 24 vs. Texas (3 - 2) 27 (Dallas, TX): This is a compelling game. We have an Oklahoma team that beat Ohio State, then struggled against winless Baylor and lost last week to Iowa State. The Sooners still control their own destiny in the Big 12, but they're currently looking up at Texas in the standings and will probably need run the table to have a shot at the playoffs. I believe Texas' opening game against Maryland was an anomaly and it looks like first year Longhorn coach Tom Herman has the team headed in the right direction.

Baylor (0 - 5) 20 @ (14) Oklahoma State (4 - 1) 37: Unlike their in-state rivals at Oklahoma, the Cowboys have little margin for error and need other teams to lose for them to make it to the conference title game and keep playoff hopes alive. Baylor is actually making some improvements, but I look for Oklahoma State to come out strong.

Virginia (4 - 1) 27 @ North Carolina (1 - 5) 24: It's been quite a turnaround for both of these teams. This is a regional rivalry between elite public colleges. Virginia has already doubled their win total from a season ago and North Carolina has struggled all year. I think the Cavaliers are just a better football team than the Heels and should make things pretty miserable in Chapel Hill. It doesn't get any easier for Carolina, as they travel to Va. Tech and host Miami in the next two weeks.

Northwestern (2 - 3) 27 @ Maryland (3 - 2) 31: Maryland seems to be on rise and need a win this weekend to have a shot another bowl. The bad news is that the Terps play Wisconsin, Michigan, Michigan State and Penn State down the stretch. Northwestern has been a little disappointing and a loss would put a real dent into their postseason hopes.

2:45 pm CDT:

(25) Navy (5 - 0) 31 @ Memphis (4 - 1) 34:Not that Navy isn't a pretty good team, but I'm having a hard time understanding the Middies sneaking into the top 25. Their schedule is pretty pedestrian and they've given up a lot of points. Memphis has a quality win over UCLA and can really light up a scoreboard. I'll take the Tigers to come through.

6:00 pm CDT:

East Carolina (1 - 5) 10 @ (22) UCF (4 - 0) 44: There's no question, despite being ranked twenty-second, that UCF might be the most underrated or under-recognized team in the country. They haven't been challenged, but they've only played four games due to hurricane postponements and cancellations. East Carolina has one of the worst FBS defenses, so this could get ugly very early.

Texas A&M (4 - 2) 27 @ Florida (3 - 2) 24:Most teams struggle the week after playing Alabama, and Texas A&M was in a tough one with the Tide last week. But Florida also faced defeat at home and I like the Aggies to put a lot of pressure on Florida's defense. Offensively, the Gators have a hard time moving the ball, so I'm going against the grain and predicting an A&M victory.

6:15 pm CDT:

Arkansas (2 - 3) 17 @ (1) Alabama (6 - 0) 38: Last week's game against South Carolina was a dumpster fire for the Razorbacks. Quarterback Austin Allen looked uncomfortable and made some questionable decisions. I don't see how they can recover enough to challenge the nation's top team. The unit that is generally considered head coach Bret Bielema's forte, the offensive line, is just not performing well. That makes it difficult to run the ball and totally takes the play action pass off the table. Alabama is about as tough as they've been in recent memory.

6:30 pm CDT:

Missouri (1 - 4) 10 @ (4) Georgia (6 - 0) 38: This is one of the biggest mismatches of the week. Georgia is on a roll and Missouri is trying to rebuild. The Bulldogs are on a collision course with Alabama for a potential meeting in the SEC championship game. After pounding Tennessee, Georgia probably only has to take care of Florida in Jacksonville in a couple of weeks to solidify the SEC East title.

(9) Ohio State (5 - 1) 30 @ Nebraska (3 - 3) 13: I would dearly love for Nebraska to upset the Buckeyes, but I just don't believe if the 'Huskers have enough firepower to stay with Ohio State, which is averaging almost 52 points a game in their five wins. The main problem with Nebraska is an offense that hasn't been able to keep up with their opponents. I don't see it happening in this one unless Ohio State self destructs.

Cincinnati (2 - 4) 17 @ (18) South Florida (5 - 0) 41: I could argue that South Florida deserves a higher ranking than their current eighteenth spot, but the playoff committee will have plenty to say about that in another week. The Bulls have rolled through their schedule thus far, but the schedule hasn't been all that challenging. It stays the same this week, but their signature games coming up will pit them against Houston and UCF. That final game will most likely be for the AAC East crown.

7:00 pm CDT:

Utah (4 - 1) 23 @ (13) USC (5 - 1) 30: Utah took a tough, close loss at home to Stanford last week and I think this game will be similar, but with more scoring. Despite a 5 - 1 record, USC can struggle against good defenses. However, the Trojans are clicking on offense and by the end of the season, that loss to Washington State might look very good. My concern is Utah's ability to put points on the board against top, Pac-12 defenses.

(21) Michigan State (4 - 1) 27 @ Minnesota (3 - 2) 13: Can the Spartans consolidate their wins over Iowa and Michigan? No one was giving them much of a chance in the Big Ten East before the season began. They have a loss to Notre Dame, but the Irish are showing themselves to be a very good team. Minnesota will really need to step up offensively against a stout Michigan State defense. I don't see it happening.

8:00 pm CDT:

UCLA (3 - 2) 31 @ Arizona (3 - 2) 27: Arizona hosts the Bruins in what is probably a very big game for coach Rich Rodriguez's future in Tuscon. Both teams are coming off wins over Colorado and UCLA was off last week. This should be a good, competitive game that can go either way, but I'm going to give the edge to the visitors.

9:30 pm CDT:

Boise State (3 - 2) 21 @ (19) San Diego State (6 - 0) 27: San Diego State is trying to run the table and stay in the running for the Group of Five's New Year's Day bowl bid. Boise State is in a bit of a down year and they won't be able to stay with a battle-tested Aztec squad. They'll need some breaks and I'm tempted to go with the Broncos in an upset, but I'll stick with the favorites.

9:45 pm CDT:

(5) Washington (6 - 0) 37 @ Arizona State (2 - 3) 24: If Washington State continues to win, the Apple Bowl on Nov. 25 will most likely be for the Pac-12 North championship. It appears that Todd Graham, head coach at Arizona State will need a couple of miracles to stay on in Tempe. I don't see this as one of them. Washington is balanced and plays well on both sides of the ball. Is it time for Graham to head off into desert sunset? Likely.

10:00 pm CDT:

Oregon (4 - 2) 27 @ (23) Stanford (4 - 2) 31: Willie Taggart has Oregon playing much better than a season ago and the future looks bright, but they lost their starting quarterback and Stanford has rebounded from a couple of early losses. Stanford's defense will be able to control Oregon's explosiveness and Bryce Love should give the Cardinal plenty of yardage on the ground.

Hear my recent interview with legendary sports agent Leigh Steinberg, where we discussed his agency, concussions, franchise relocation and philanthropy at http://thechtonsports.com/cold-hard-truth-sports-radio-show-1242017/

Also listen to our conversation with author and sports journalist Mike Carey, as we discussed his latest book "Bad News" about Marvin Barnes and reminisced about Mike's coverage of the Boston Celtics during their glory years with Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Danny Ainge and Robert Parish. http://www.blogtalkradio.com/golongmedia/2017/02/08/the-cold-hard-truth-on-sports-radio-show

Don't forget to check out my new book, "Offsetting Penalties - A PK Frazier Novel" at  Amazon.com and listen to me Friday's at 8:40 am EDT/ 7:40 am CDT on Lou in the Morning, streaming live on www.WPFLradio.com, 105.1 FM. Also check out www.thechtonsports.com for our podcasts and live broadcast on Tuesday's at 8:30 pm EST. I can also be reached via email at kevin@pkfrazier.com.