WEEK SEVEN: FOOTBALL PREVIEW

By Adam Kiefaber

Another week without Ohio State cracking my list of top-ten games.

Here is my helpful guide to Week Seven in the college football world.

It was recommended that I make picks with spreads - so i did.

While we are talking about spreads, let me tell you my top five spreads for this week: I like the road teams this week.

Missouri +12 @ Oklahoma
South Carolina -7 @ North Carolina
Wisconsin +6.5 @ Penn State
Tennesse -7 @ Mississippi State
Louisville +10.5 @ Cincinnati

1) #11 Missouri at #6 Oklahoma (6:30 p.m.- FSN)
While people complain that Oklahoma should be ranked better than South Florida and Boston College, Missouri is quietly undefeated. The Tigers are coming off a 41-6 win over then-ranked No. 25 Nebraska. With a win over Oklahoma, Missouri should leap into the top-five of the polls. The Tigers defense is supposed to be a weakness according to some sources, I really don’t know who will win this game.
Pick: 35-31, Oklahoma wins, but Missouri (+12)
2) #1 LSU at #17 Kentucky (3:30 p.m. – CBS)
Last week, Kentucky moved all the way down to No. 8 in the polls after wins against rival Louisville and at Arkansas. However, the Wildcats lost to South Carolina, 23-38. The Gamecocks have the nation’s best pass defense, which plays against UK’s strength. LSU will have a tough battle on its hands.
Pick: 45-42, Kentucky wins- (+9.5)
3) Louisville at #15 Cincinnati (7:00 p.m. - ESPNU
The Bearcats have become ESPN’s little sweetheart appearing on its college football shows all week. Sure the crowd for UC will pumped up for this one, but there are a lot of loyal Louisville fans in the area. UC students might have waited in line for tickets this week, but Queen City UL fans got their tickets when the schedule was released. I like UL in the upset.
Pick: 42-28, Louisville wins (+10.5)
4) Washington at #14 Arizona State (10:26 p.m. - FSN)
Washington is a young team on the rise. Arizona State barely held on last week against lowly Washington State. The Sun Devils have to play No. 2 California and then at No. 9 Oregon. They could be looking ahead, but I see Arizona State winning big at home after two weeks on the road.
Pick: 45-21, Arizona State wins (-12)
5) Oregon State at #2 California (7:07 p.m.)
Somehow the Beavers have the top-rated run defense in the nation. CAL has a great RB in Justin Forsett. Oregon State could force CAL to pass, which I think the Golden Bears’ passing game is extremely overrated. Personally, I like their running game, which opens it up for the big play. I think this game could be close, but I just don’t think it’s CAL’s time to lose.
Pick: 31-24, California wins, but OSU (+14)
6) #19 Wisconsin at Penn State (3:30 p.m. - ABC)
No one honestly knows who will win this game. Penn State is already 1-2 in the Big Ten with loses to Michigan and Illinois. Wisconsin lost to Illinois last week and dropped from No. 5 to No. 19 in the polls. I have to go with Wisconsin in a boring Big Ten game.
Pick: 10-7, Wisconsin wins (+6.5)
7) UCF at #5 South Florida (noon - ESPNU)
UCF is a dangerous team, it almost beat Texas (32-35). Intrastate games are always scary for the heavy favorite. However, UCF is 0-17 all-time against ranked opponents. I expect USF to take care of business, but wouldn’t be surprised to see the upset either.
Pick: 28-13, South Florida wins (-11.5)
8) Purdue at Michigan (noon - BTN)
I love this game. Again, who knows how good any Big Ten team is? Both teams have the talent to be good. I can see the winner of this game finishing in the top of the Big Ten, while the loser will finish somewhere in the middle. Good game to find out who is for real and who isn’t.
Pick: 35-32, Purdue wins (+5.5)
9) #4 Boston College at Notre Dame (3:30 p.m. - NBC)
The whole nation is waiting for BC to lose, but I don’t see them losing. At least not this week. It took one 20-6 win for Notre Dame to get a national buzz for an upset. BC could be looking ahead, it has No. 12 VTECH on the road followed by No. 21 FSU at home the next two weeks. I expect BC to coast against the Irish.
Pick: 28-7, Boston College wins (-14)
10) Connecticut at Virginia (3:30 p.m. - ESPNU)
All this talk about Stanford and USC, has everyone forgetting about the undefeated and yet unranked UCONN. They haven’t played anyone good, but if they would beat Virginia (5-1) then we should have another ranked undefeated team. Last year, UCONN finished 4-8 so they have improved. However, lasting the whole season undefeated will be impossible. It will still have to play No. 5 USF, Rutgers, @ No. 15 Cincinnati and @ No. 8 WVU. I know nothing about UCONN and Virginia has a bunch of talent. However, I have to pick UCONN for fun.
Pick: 45-44, UCONN wins (+3)

BIG TEN PICKS

BUCKEYE LANE’S 2007 BIG TEN RECORD: 39-13 (straight up picks - no spreads)

Kent State at #3 Ohio State (noon - BTN)
OSU shouldn’t have a problem with Kent State (more to come on this game before kickoff)
Pick: 42-10, Ohio State wins (-31)
Purdue at Michigan (noon - BTN)
see above
#18 Illinois at Iowa (noon - ESPN2)
Which Iowa team is going to show up. I think we know what Illinois team will show.
Pick: 28-17, Illinois wins (-5)
Minnesota at Northwestern (12:07)
I think it’s about time Minnesota gets a Big Ten win.
Pick: 35-28, Minnesota wins (+7)
#19 Wisconsin at Penn State (3:30 - ABC)
(see above)
Indiana at Michigan State (7:00 - BTN)
Another year, and another terrible season for MSU after a good start.
Pick: 42-28, Indiana wins (+4)