NCAA Football 2018 Week 7 picks

Wow, we're already to the halfway point of the regular season.  Where does the time go?  We start Tuesday games this week, so let's get right into it...

Tues Oct 9
Appalachian State Mountaineers at Arkansas State Red Wolves:  No team has a better overall record against Sun Belt opponents over the year than Arkansas State, but the Mountaineers are a real force this season.  APPALACHIAN STATE

Thurs Oct 11
Texas Tech Red Raiders at TCU Horned Frogs:  TCU is favored, but I smell an upset brewing.  TCU has a good defense, but we know it can be shredded (Ohio State, anyone?).  Plus, TCU hasn't really gotten their footing after that Buckeye loss, losing to Texas and barely surviving against Iowa State.  I think the Red Raiders will roll into town and roll over the Frogs.  TEXAS TECH

Fri Oct 12
South Florida Bulls at Tulsa Golden Hurricane:  South Florida is one of three unbeaten teams in this conference.  At least for this week, they'll stay that way.  SOUTH FLORIDA

Air Force Falcons at San Diego State Aztecs:  Did you know the Aztec indians were early falconeers?  Interesting piece of trivia.  You don't have to have a history of working with falcons to know how these Falcons will play, as Air Force's game play isn't too sophistocated.  San Diego, on the other hand, can put together some interesting plays, which should make it hard for Air Force.  SAN DIEGO STATE

Arizona Wildcats at Utah Utes:  Utah has found their spirit, and they are playing great ball right now.  These short weeks usually benefit the home team, although Utah could probably win this if they traveled to Arizona.  UTAH

Sat Oct 13
Top 25
Missouri Tigers at #1 Alabama Crimson Tide:  The Tigers are in the midst of a skid; not the best time to visit the Tide.  ALABAMA

Minnesota Golden Gophers at #2 Ohio State Buckeyes:  The Gophers got their heads handed to them last week.  That'll happen again.  This game might be close at halftime, but the second half is Ohio State's part of the game.  OHIO STATE

Michigan State Spartans at #3 Penn State Nittany Lions:  The Spartans need a good game to erase the sting of their loss to Northwestern.  They won't get it in Happy Valley.  Penn State has a strong team on both sides of the ball.  Their defense could mess up Michigan State's offense worse than Northwestern did.  PENN STATE

#4 Georgia Bulldogs at #16 LSU Tigers:  Prior to the Tigers loss last week, I might pick the home team.  Now, the Tigers had too many holes exposed in that game for me to believe a good team like Georgia would not be able to beat them.  GEORGIA

Pittsburgh Panthers at #6 Notre Dame Fighting Irish:  The Panthers just beat favored Syracuse and now they have to travel to South Bend?  Let's hope they celebrated their win over Syracuse well, as they won't be celebrating after this one.  NOTRE DAME

#7 UCF Golden Knights at Memphis Tigers:  UCF gets its first real conference challenge and they should emerge victorious.  Memphis has not been doing well in conference play, despite a fabulous non-conference performance, and this will just make things worse.  UCF

#8 West Virginia Mountaineers at Iowa State Cyclones:  While the Cyclones can surprise opponents at home, I don't think they'll be able to outplay the Mountaineers.  West Virginia has the best defense in the conference.  While that is usually not saying much in the Big XII, it means something on this team.  WEST VIRGINIA

#12 Wisconsin Badgers at #9 Michigan Wolverines:  Someone will lose their first conference game after this one ends.  Wisconsin can be very good, and Michigan has been sluggish a lot this season.  However, it is very hard to come into the Big House and win.  The Badgers could do it, but I have to give a slight edge to the home team.  MICHIGAN by one point

#10 Colorado Buffaloes at USC Trojans:  USC is starting to play a bit better.  Can they upset the Buffaloes and put themselves in the driver's seat for the division title?  Not with the Buff's defense.  The Trojans offense still needs work, something Colorado will clearly expose.  COLORADO

#20 Washington Huskies at #13 Oregon Ducks:  The Ducks got an extra week to practice, but with a rivalry this intense, I'm not sure that was needed.  The Ducks will be fired up for this game, and that's just going to spur their offense to even greater heights.  OREGON

#14 Florida Gators at Vanderbilt Commodores:  Florida gets a nice breather and a pleasant trip to Vandy.  FLORIDA

#15 Iowa Hawkeyes at Indiana Hoosiers:  Indiana played Ohio State tough last week, so they'll be stoked for this one.  Iowa will have tricks up their sleeves, though, and keep things interesting for the strained Hoosier defense.  IOWA

Baylor Bears at #17 Texas Longhorns:  So long as the Longhorns can prevent a letdown after their great victory over rival Oklahoma, they should have this game in hand.  TEXAS

#18 Miami Hurricanes at Virginia Cavaliers:  Miami barely escaped alive last week against week against their bitter rivals.  This week things will go much smoother.  MIAMI

Wyoming Cowboys at #25 Fresno State Bulldogs:  The Bulldogs get to celebrate their first week as a ranked team by demolishing the Cowboys.  FRESNO STATE

Big Ten
Rutgers Scarlet Knights at Maryland Terrapins:  The Terrapins need a great victory to help bolster their conference standings.  This game will qualify.  Rutgers has been terrible, and they have the worst defense BY FAR in the conference.  Maryland will score more than 30 points and put this game away early in the second half.  MARYLAND

Nebraska Cornhuskers at Northwestern Wildcats:  The Cornhuskers are still looking for their first win of the season.  Before last week, I thought this might be it.  Now, after seeing the Wildcats right their course against Michigan State, Nebraska needs to keep looking.  NORTHWESTERN

Purdue Boilermakers at Illinois Fighting Illini:  I'm stepping out on a limb on this game.  Statistically, Purdue should win this game.  However, after such an impressive win last week, that might be just the confidence boost this young offense needs.  ILLINOIS in an close upset

Other Games of Interest
Tennessee Volunteers at Auburn Tigers:  Auburn failed to score a touchdown last week, so they're gunning for a good game.  I think they'll get it, but Tennessee can be tricky, so this game might be closer than Auburn fans would like.  AUBURN

Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles at North Texas Mean Green:  The best offense in Conference USA meets the best defense.  Usually those bouts favor the defense, but North Texas is so strong on offense, I think they will wear down the Eagles.  It will take a second half comeback, but the Mean Green should emulate Ohio State and charge out of the locker room in the second half.  NORTH TEXAS

Texas A&M Aggies at South Carolina Gamecocks:  Despite two losses, A&M is becoming a serious threat in the SEC.  They will test the Gamecock defense, and stretch it until it breaks.  TEXAS A&M

UNLV Running Rebels at Utah State Aggies:  These Aggies could even have an easier time than A&M.  UTAH STATE