College Football Week 7, Previews/Predictions

The Crimson Tide secured a major victory in College Station last Saturday. Jalen Milroe played a terrific game and is on the verge of breaking out. He and his teammates will face Arkansas at home with an early kick on Saturday.

The Auburn Tigers hit the road at Baaton Rouge to take on the Bengal Tigers on a Saturday Night in Tiguh Stadium. Always a tall order. Coach Freeze and his team will be severely tested.

Some key SEC matchups and a massive national contest in Seattle at 2:30 PM on Saturday. Very much looking forward to that after the first round of games.

Here’s a look at this week’s activity along with the James Spann forecasted outcomes.

Last Week, 11-5, Season, 118-23, 84%

ATS, 7-9, Season, 71-67, 51%

All times Central. All games Saturday unless otherwise noted.

Arkansas @ No. 11 Alabama

Bryant-Denny Stadium, Tuscaloosa

11 AM

ESPN

Dave Pasch, Dusty Dvoracek, Lugues

Bama by 20

The Crimson Tide looked more like past Crimson Tide teams last Saturday in their 26-20 victory @ A&M. Arkansas plays teams tough, but has not gotten over the hump yet. In fairness to Sam and his team, they’ve been on the road @LSU and @ Ole Miss and A&M was at a neutral site, AT&T Stadium in Arlington. They were very competitive with LSU and Ole Miss, while A&M was not as much so. Really like what I’m seeing out of the Crimson Tide defense. Dallas Turner and Chris Braswell are enforcers off the edge. Jermaine Burton really stepped it up on the perimeter last Saturday for the Tide with 9 receptions for 197 yards and two TDs. If Jace McClellan and Roydell Williams and the running game get it going , this team is formidable. The O line needs to keep homing in on their run blocking. If they do that, this is a dangerous team going forward. It already is for the most part.

Alabama 34, Arkansas 17

Auburn @ No. 22 LSU

Tiger Stadium, Baton Rouge

6 PM

ESPN

Tess, Jess, Katie

LSU by 11

This is a tough one for Coach Freeze’s Tigers. I just don’t see enough offense right now. Certainly down the road. Hugh’s an exceptional offensive mind. The defense is pretty good, but Jayden Daniels, with 19 TDs and 2 ints through the air and 4 TDs on the ground, and WRs Malk Nabors (48-771, 6 TDs) and Brian Thomas (37-603, 9 TDs) are a load to handle.

LSU 35, Auburn 23

No.1 Georgia @ Vanderbilt

FirstBank Stadium, Nashvegas

11 AM

CBS

Tom McCarthy, Ross Tucker, Tiffany Blackmon

Dawgs by 31 1/2

Massacre.

Georgia 52, Vanderbilt 10

Texas A&M @ Tennessee

Neyland Stadium, Knoxville

2:30 PM

CBS

Brad, Gary, Jenny

Vols by 3

I’ll take the upset here.

A&M 30, Tennessee 28

Missouri @ No.24 Kentucky

Kroger Field, Lexington

6:30 PM

SEC Network

Tom, JRodg, Cole

Cats by 2 1/2

Kentucky was humbled by Georgia last Saturday in Athens, 51-13. But I like them to get by Mizzou this Saturday. Should be a tight one.

Kentucky 27, Missouri 24

Florida @ South Carolina

Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia

2:30 PM

SEC Network

Taylor, Stinch, Alyssa

Gamecocks by 2

Like Shane Beamer and his team on their home turf.

South Carolina 23, Florida 20

Off: Ole Miss, Miss State

National Blockbuster

No.8 Oregon @ No.7 Washington

Husky Stadium, Seattle

2:30 PM

ABC

Chris, Kirk, Holly

Huskies by 3

Oregon coach Dan Lanning is a stud. He and Bo Nix, who’s been superb, pull off the upset in this gigantic matchup. It’s a tough one because Kalen DeBoar is a stellar coach and quarterback. Michael Penix Jr. is a massive stud himself. The numbers are through the roof good for both quarterbacks. Penix Jr. has completed 133 of 178, 74%, for 1,999 yards, 16 TDs against 2 ints. Nix has completed 131 of 163, 80%, for 1,459 yards, 15 TDs against 1 int. Something has to give. I’ll take the Ducks in a slight upset, but this is a tough one, especially since it’s in Seattle, which will be raucous. Above and beyond that, the Huskies are an outstanding team. Tremendous national implications though these two teams could see each other again in the PAC-12 Championship Game at Allegiant Stadium in Vegas in December as well. Nix vs. Penix Jr. is a Heisman competition as well. What a matchup.

Oregon 31, Washington 30

Other national contests

No. 2 Michigan 41, Indiana 10

Michigan Stadium, Ann Arbor

11 AM

FOX

Gus Joel, Jenny

Wolverines by 33 1/2

Michigan needs to play somebody before I’m convinced they’re legit. It’s a joke schedule until they play @ No.6 Penn State Saturday, November 11th.

No.3 Ohio State 38, Purdue 17

Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana

11 AM

Peacock

Andrew Siciliano (Godfather cast member?), Kyle Rudolph, Lewis Johnson

Buckeyes by 19 1/2

Ohio State has played a little tougher schedule than Michigan. Penn State comes to Columbus next Saturday.

No. 4 Florida State 35, Syracuse 17

Doak Campbell Stadium, Tallahassee

11 AM

ABC

Bob, RGIII, Kris

FSU by 17 1/2

Noles keep their terrific season going under the great Mike Norvell.

No. 10 USC 28, No. 21 Notre Dame 27

Notre Dame Stadium, South Bend

6:30 PM

NBC/Peacock

Jac Collinsworth, Coach Garrett, Zora Stephenson

Irish by 3

The Trojans have been a little sluggish this season, but I like the upset on the road here. Marcus Freeman is coming down to earth as the Irish coach after his team was dispatched by Louisville on the road last Saturday, 33-20. Still like him, but like Caleb Williams, Lincoln Riley and SC a little better in this one. USC is still a major factor in the PAC-12 and nationally as they are undefeated. I like them to keep it that way at South Bend.

No. 12 North Carolina 37, No. 25 Miami 33

Kenan Stadium, Chapel Hill

6:30 PM

ABC

Sean, Gregory, Molly

UNC by 3 1/2

Quarterback Drake Maye, Coach Mack Brown and the Heels keep their stellar undefeated season intact, but in a tight one. Mario Cristobal may never live down his colossal coaching mistake against Georgia Tech last Saturday in which he ran the ball instead of having his quarterback take a knee, which would have run out the clock and secured the Miami victory. The Canes fumbled, Georgia Tech recovered and got a 7 to secure the upset. That was demoralizing to Miami. He did the same thing in 2018 against Stanford at home as Oregon’s coach and lost the game. How do you do that twice? Carolina is a sleeper for the playoff at this point.

No. 17 Duke 34, North Carolina State 33

Wallace Wade Stadium, Durham, N.C.

7 PM

ACC Network

Wes Durham, Tim Hasselbeck, Taylor Tannebaum

Duke by 3

The Blue Devils, with quarterback Riley Leonard most likely out with an ankle injury, squeak by N.C. State.

Friday

Tulane 31, Memphis 28

Simmons Bank Liberty Stadium, Memphis

6 PM

ESPN

Anish Shroff, Andre, Carc

Tulane by 4 1/2

Memphis is a tough place to win for the visitors, but I like quarterback Michael Pratt to lead his team to the victory and keep Tulane’s Group of 5 New Year’s Six hopes alive. They defeated USC in the Cotton Bowl last season, 46-45, in a classic. Tulane’s for real under Willie Fritz.

Air Force 28, Wyoming 21

Falcon Stadium, USAF Academy, Colorado

6 PM

CBS Sports Network

Rich Waltz, Aaron Taylor, Justin Walters

The Academy by 10 1/2

Two other teams competing for a New Year’s Six Bowl. Air Force is undefeated and the Cowboys just came off an upset of previously No. 24 Fresno State at Laramie and have only lost once, on the road to Texas in a game in which they were tied 10-10 at the start of he fourth quarter before succumbing 31-10. Should be a classic. Air Force Coach Troy Calhoun is phenomenal. So is Craig Kohl of Wyoming. Like the Falcons at home.

TCU 35, BYU 32

Amon G. Carter Stadum, Fort Worth

2:30 PM

ESPN

Dave Flemming, Brock Osweiler, Kayla Burton

Frogs by 6

This hasn’t been the Horned Frogs best year after an electric run until the national championship game last season, and BYU are road warriors. But I’ll take TCU, barely.

No. 15 Oregon State 30, No. 18 UCLA 26

Reser Stadium, Corvallis, OR.

7 PM

FOX

Timmy B. Spencer

Beavers by 3 1/2

Like the Beavs to handle business at home.

***Upset Central***

UAB 41, UTSA 38

Alamodome, San Antone

7 PM

ESPNU

Jay Alter, Rene “Richards” Ingoglia

Texas San Antonio by 9

Quarterback Jacob Zeno, who has completed 176 of 233, 75%, for 1,795 yards, 12 TDs against 5 ints, and sensational running back Jermaine Brown, 270 yards, 7 TDs, lead the Blazers to a massive upset. If Trent Dilfer can control himself, he can have good success on the Southside.

9 Responses

  1. DW -In NC mountains with some college buddies. We/ they like those picks but one friend really likes ND to beat USC.I am a believer in your picks so give me USC. I think Bama is in a trap game coming off of the road win at A&M and the Vols next week. AU could surprise in my view. Thanks for the piece DW awesome as always.

  2. I never like the 11:00 games. Hopefully, the Tide can survive and advance with no injuries. Auburn will have their hands full but, the bye week to prepare might keep it close. The Trojans are going to have to show that they are not as soft on defense as they appear. Keep up the 84% pick rate DW, that is strong!

  3. Good comments DW. I think Saban pushed the right buttons and is on cruise control for a while.
    AU several offensive players away so you are on target there.
    aTm v UT will be a good one as will USCv Florida and ND v USC

  4. Thanks for the previews, DW! Agree on your analysis of the Tide…if their running game improves they will be a formidable opponent for any team that they play. Like your A & M prediction for the upset. They have a GREAT defensive line, and the Vols will find it tough sledding to move the ball against the Aggies.

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