Week 7 NCAA Predictions

Week 7 NCAA Predictions

By Max Baez
Contributing writer Football Reporters Online

Last week, let’s just say my predictions went terribly. Too many road teams, and I overestimated Missouri, Auburn, and Georgia. This week, I still am picking two road teams (out of four, one game is a neutral site – I don’t think I even need to hint at what it is), but with a lot more confidence. Auburn was relatively unproven, Georgia simply isn’t very good (I should have realized this when they needed a last second field goal to beat Arizona State), but this week – let’s just say the teams I have picked on the road are established teams that will both be in BCS games. Now, for the picks:


Texas vs. Oklahoma

Ahhh, the Red River Shootout. Oklahoma was thinking they would be undefeated at this point (and much of the country was as well), but Sam Bradford’s injury and a tougher than expected Miami squad have caused Oklahoma to drop 2 early games, making this a must win if they want a chance to make a BCS bowl game. Texas, on the other hand, has coasted to a 5-0 record, with their hardest game so far being against a relatively average Texas Tech team. Texas has won almost all of their games big, but yet, has seemed to have something missing so far, and hasn’t looked like the national championship team people in Austin have been expecting. However, I do like Texas to win this one, as I feel that Texas has more talent overall and because I am expecting Colt McCoy to have a bigger day than Sam Bradford.

Texas 31, Oklahoma 20


USC @ Notre Dame

Now, it’s time to talk about America’s most overhyped team, Notre Dame. Except, they are ranked 25th, so I guess they really aren’t rated that high. When I watch Notre Dame play, I always feel like I’m watching a glorified high school team play. They never look that together, that in sync, and they never really look more athletic than their opponents, even though they outrecruit almost everybody every year. I don’t know what it is with them (actually, I do know what it is – their coaching staff doesn’t get enough out of their players.) Still, it’s been a good year for Notre Dame, and they are getting a lot out of one guy, Jimmy Clausen, who is starting to look like an elite quarterback. Is it enough to beat USC though? No, it isn’t, because even though Notre Dame recruits well, USC recruits better. They are also coached better, and play better. And last but not least, USC always wins big games. This isn’t Oregon State or Washington, this is Notre Dame, aka their rival that they beat into a pulp every year. Expect the same again.

USC 42, Notre Dame 13


Virginia Tech @ Georgia Tech

This matchup will have a major impact on how the ACC shapes up. Georgia Tech is the last ranked team remaining on the Hokies’ schedule, and after this game, the schedule for Georgia Tech is pretty easy: their toughest game afterward is a home matchup with North Carolina. Georgia Tech has a smashmouth offense, and you normally associate good defense with that, but the D has been a bit lackluster for the Yellow Jackets their last two games, allowing 31 points against Mississippi State and 44 against Florida State (although GT did win both.) As for this game, it will be interesting to see how the VT defense matches up with the GT running game. However, I feel that the Hokies are a more complete team than Georgia Tech, and the key to this game for Virginia Tech is getting a lot of points on the board. If they fall behind early, it’s going to be tough to manage a comeback, especially since Georgia Tech keeps possession really well. However, I do expect Virginia Tech to get an early lead, and use that to cruise to victory.

Virginia Tech 34, Georgia Tech 20


Missouri @ Oklahoma State

This game would definitely be more exciting if Dez Bryant played, so I’m hoping the NCAA reinstates him by game time. However, that won’t happen, but this should still be interesting. Missouri was stagnant last week after lighting up teams the first week of the season, so they are definitely going to be hungry for a win this week. Oklahoma State has a good defense, but they are susceptible to big plays, as we saw when they lost to Houston. Missouri is a big play offense, or at least they want to be one, because they certainly didn’t show that ability last week. On the other side of the ball, Oklahoma State is a good enough offense with Zac Robinson at quarterback, and Missouri’s strength isn’t on defense, so I expect the Cowboys to have some success on that side. In the end, I do like the Tigers’ team, but more for the future than for now, and I don’t like them this week against a solid Oklahoma State team.

Oklahoma State 28, Missouri 17


California @ UCLA

You know when you’re in a casino, and you really want to bet on something, and don’t know which way to go? And the reason why you don’t know which way to go isn’t because you like both teams, but because you have no confidence in either team? That’s what this game is to me. Both do some things right. Cal, for example, is great at running the ball, and has a very solid secondary. UCLA is great overall on defense, especially in the front seven. On the other hand, these teams both do things poorly. For Cal, well, they’ve scored 6 points combined in their last two games – I don’t think I need to elaborate on that. UCLA is also not the best team offensively, scoring over 20 points in only 2 of their first 5 games, one of which was against San Diego State. So, don’t expect a lot of yards, especially in the air, where both have major deficiencies. As to this game, I have to pick someone, right? I see this one being decided by a field goal, and I’ll go with UCLA for two reasons: 1. I expect Cal to burnout, similar to how they did two years ago and 2. because I got burned picking too many road teams last week.

UCLA 13, Cal 10


Five other games to watch: Iowa @ Wisconsin, NC State @ Boston College, Texas Tech @ Nebraska, South Carolina @ Alabama, Stanford @ Arizona