This Weekend in College Football: Week 7

As usual, all times Eastern and all predictions wrong.

Noon:

• North Carolina State @ Clemson (ABC): Clemson still seems like a fully functional battle-station, so I'm taking them here.
• Kansas State @ Oklahoma (ESPN): The Big 12 is just a mess right now, and in so many ways. On-the-field, off-the-field, it doesn't matter. And while it would seem pretty Big 12 for Oklahoma to drop this game after knocking off Texas, well, I don't see it.
• Iowa @ Purdue (ESPN2): There's not much that would make Kirk Ferentz's extension more ridiculous at this point, so... go Boilermakers!
• West Virginia @ Texas Tech (FS1): I suspect the defense is going to let down the Red Raiders once again. By the day, did you know West Virginia is still undefeated? I don't know how much longer it'll last, but yeah, they're currently 4-0.
• Minnesota @ Maryland (ESPNU): I still don't know how to cope with the idea that Maryland isn't completely terrible. In fact, I'll pick them over the Golden Gophers.
• Illinois @ Rutgers (ESPNEWS): Illinois is bad, but... yeah.
• Vanderbilt @ Georgia (SEC): While obviously the most hilarious outcome would be for Vandy to win, well... I don't see it. I just don't.

12:30:

• Pittsburgh @ Virginia (ACC): Virginia is 2-3 overall, but they've been surprisingly not awful? I don't think they're good enough to beat this Pitt team, but still.
• Georgia Southern @ Georgia Tech (ACC/RSN): We could have won the Pitt game. We probably even should have! But even while watching, I never got the sense we were much better than them. I think the sequence that I disliked the most was probably after they committed a couple of penalties and faced 1st and 35. Three quick passes later, and it was a Pitt first down. I can't think of any better indictment of Ted Roof's defense.

3:30:

• Alabama @ Tennessee (CBS): It is actually the third Saturday in October! Tennessee is still one of the most inherently unstable teams in college football, but you really need a lot more than just luck to beat Bama.
• Southern California @ Arizona (FOX): USC looked suddenly competent last week, so sure, let's go with the Trojans.
• North Carolina @ Miami (ABC/ESPN2): Both these teams are good, but I think Miami has at least as much defensive talent as Virginia Tech, and they completely shut down Carolina last weekend. That said, the issue with many past Miami teams has been one of attitude, so we'll see what Richt's effect is after last week's heartbreaking loss to FSU.
• Nebraska @ Indiana (ABC/ESPN2): Did you notice Nebraska is 5-0? I hadn't either until I was writing this. Regardless, while I think this is definitely a game Indiana team, I'll go with the Huskers.
• Wake Forest @ Florida State (ESPN): While this is the tenth anniversary of one of Wake's upsets of FSU, it's basically impossible to pick a repeat.
• Kansas @ Baylor (FS1): Baylor.
• New Mexico vs. Air Force (@Dallas, TX; ESPNEWS): Air Force.
• Northwestern @ Michigan State (BTN): So... uh, Michigan State is really not good this year, huh? Northwestern, as odd as that feels.
• Western Michigan @ Akron (CBSS): ROW THAT BOAT (to P.J. Fleck's new job this offseason).

3:45: Virginia Tech @ Syracuse (ESPNU): VPI.

4:00:

• Missouri @ Florida (SEC): We'll get to it in a month, but that LSU-Florida game did wind up getting rescheduled. For this game, well, Mizzou is just too offensively challenged to really pick them for an upset.
• Utah @ Oregon State (Pac12): I'm still dealing with the idea that Oregon State is probably better than Oregon this year, so at least let me pick the Utes here and be done with it.

7:00:

• Mississippi @ Arkansas (ESPN): Arkansas started hot, but suddenly they're 0-2 in conference play. It's still mid-October, and they still have a chance to impact in November, but right now, it's not looking that good.
• Tulsa @ Houston (ESPN2): It seems almost like the pressure got to the Cougars, and I suspect ESPN is regretting this pick after they lost to Navy last weekend. Regardless, Houston is still really good and still a massive favorite in most of their remaining games.
• Connecticut @ South Florida (CBSS): USF might be kinda good?
• Texas-San Antonio @ Rice (beIN): Unlike, you know, either of these teams. But hey, you probably get beIN Sports, so it's my duty to list it. Uh, going with the Roadrunners.

7:30:

• Southern Mississippi @ Louisiana State (SEC): While Southern Miss did beat Kentucky, they've also already lost to Troy and UT-San Antonio. So yeah, I'm not going to go crazy with picking them against LSU.
• Stanford @ Notre Dame (NBC): Uh... yeah. Neither of these teams can move the ball. Christian McCaffety is hurt and may not play. Notre Dame's coach may be a terrible human being. I have no idea why you would watch this game. I'm going to pick Stanford on general principal.
• Temple @ Central Florida (ESPNU): It seems as though UCF is slight better and they're at home.

8:00:

• Ohio State @ Wisconsin (ABC): I don't put a lot of stock on lines, but the line on this game is Ohio State by 10. Now let us consider that Michigan beat the Badgers at home 14-7. Let us also consider that Michigan just went out and demolished Rutgers by about 20 more points than the Buckeyes did. Put these things together, and Ohio State may be out to prove a point.
• Arizona State @ Colorado (Pac12): If the Buffs can win this one, I'll be ready to believe. But not quite yet.

10:15: Colorado State @ Boise State (ESPN): Boise's back, y'all.

10:30:

• California-Los Angeles @ Washington State (ESPN2): Yep, it's pretty much going according to plan for Wazzou. After having disrupted the Pac-12 North race, which could very well come down to the Apple Cup (?!??!), it's their chance to really make the South a mess. And they might well do so!
• Nevada @ San Jose State (CBSS): Provided the Wolfpack can find their way to San Jose, I don't think they'll have any other trouble.