Hard to believe, but we are now seven full weeks into the college football season.
Here are the Crystal Ball Run Week 7 staff picks, including why a few writers like Baylor to pull an upset at Texas A&M, and why Vontaze Burfict (pictured above), is coming for YOU, Darron Thomas.
No. 23 Michigan State vs. No. 11 Michigan: Saturday, 12 p.m. ESPN
Kevin McGuire’s Take: This will be a big test for Michigan and we will see just how much their defense has improved. Through the first six games of the season the Wolverines have yet to really be tested in terms of physical play, and few teams on their schedule will play as hard physically as Michigan State. The Spartans will need their own, top-ranked defense, to bring pressure on Denard Robinson and cut down his opportunities to do damage on the ground. Robinson tossed three interceptions against Northwestern last weekend, so the blueprint for getting to Robinson may be there. This should be a great game, much more deserving than a noon kickoff would typically indicate.
Michigan 31, Michigan State 30
Everybody Else’s Take:
Aaron Torres: Michigan State 24, Michigan 21
Allen Kenney: Michigan St. 34, Michigan 28
Matt Yoder: Michigan State 31, Michigan 30
Michael Felder: Michigan 37, Michigan State 24
Tom Perry: Michigan State 20, Michigan 28
No. 24 Baylor at No. 23 Texas A&M: Saturday, 12 p.m. FX
Allen Kenney’s Take: Get ready for a classic Big 12 game between two high-powered offenses and sub-par defenses. Baylor QB Robert Griffin III lights up the A&M secondary for more than 300 yards passing and gains another 50 on the ground. The Aggies come up with just enough stops, though, and their RB duo of Cyrus Gray and Christine Michael combine for 175 yards rushing.
Texas A&M 45, Baylor 38
Everybody Else’s Take:
Aaron Torres: Baylor 38, Texas A&M 31
Kevin McGuire: Texas A&M 38, Baylor 36
Matt Yoder: Baylor 42, Texas A&M 33
Michael Felder: Baylor 45 Texas A&M 37
Tom Perry: Texas A&M 45, Baylor 30
No. 13 South Carolina at Mississippi State, 12:21 p.m. SEC Network/ESPN
Allen Kenney’s Take: The Gamecocks come to Starkville on the heels of a tumultuous week that saw one-time starting QB Stephen Garcia dismissed from the squad. It won’t get better after Saturday. New signal caller Connor Shaw will find far tougher sledding this week against a Bulldogs defense that will key on shutting down Marcus Lattimore and force Shaw to move the ball through the air. MSU forces multiple turnovers, one of which leads to the deciding score.
Mississippi State 17, South Carolina 13
Everybody Else’s Take:
Aaron Torres: South Carolina 24, Mississippi State 10
Kevin McGuire: South Carolina 27, Mississippi State 20
Matt Yoder: South Carolina 24, Mississippi State 20
Michael Felder: South Carolina 28 Mississippi State 17
Tom Perry: Mississippi State 22, South Carolina 20
Miami at North Carolina: Saturday, 12:30pm ESPN3
Michael Felder’s Take: The Canes come into this game off of a gut wrenching loss to Virginia Tech where they let Logan Thomas get loose in the final minutes to win. At 2-3 we still don’t know how good Miami actually is and this game against North Carolina can be Al Golden’s chance to right the proverbial ship.
UNC has issues moving the football consistently and while their front seven is solid this Miami offense is going to tax the soft underbelly that is the UNC secondary. Look for Tommy Streeter and Travis Benjamin to be the difference here as The U will opportunities to score on big plays.
Miami 34 North Carolina 27
Everybody Else’s Take:
Aaron Torres: North Carolina 30, Miami 24
Allen Kenney: North Carolina 27, Miami 23
Matt Yoder: North Carolina 24, Miami 23
Kevin McGuire: North Carolina 24, Miami 23
Tom Perry: North Carolina 21, Miami 14
Ohio State at No. 16 Illinois: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ABC/ESPN
Matt Yoder’s Take: OSU’s choke job last week was unfortunate because of how well freshman quarterback Braxton Miller had played. Even with a semi-competent offense, the Buckeyes hammered Nebraska for most of last week’s game.
Then, in stepped Joe Bauserman… and… yea. The Bucks have had problems with Illinois in the past and the Illini are firing on all cylinders, coming off a comeback win over Northwestern. Part of me wants to go with the upset, but this OSU team is incapable of producing any confidence with these picks.
Illinois 21, Ohio State 13
Everybody Else’s Take:
Aaron Torres: Ohio State 24, Illinois 17
Allen Kenney: Ohio State 16, Illinois 13
Kevin McGuire: Ohio State 20, Illinois 18
Michael Felder: Illinois 31 Ohio State 20
Tom Perry: Ohio State 17, Illinois 14
Tennessee at No.1 LSU: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. CBS
Kevin McGuire’s Take: Matt Sims will look to finish what he could not a year ago as Tennessee looks to shock top-ranked LSU in Neyland Stadium. Last year’s bizarre ending between the Vols and Tigers still boggles the mind but this year things look pretty simple. Tennessee is rebuilding, LSU is on a mission. LSU’s defense is among the best in the nation and Tennessee is struggling to run the football, which means the pressure will be on Sims to do something through the air. To Sims, we wish you the best of luck because this certainly won’t be easy.
LSU 38, Tennessee 20
Everybody Else’s Take:
Aaron Torres: LSU 31, Tennessee 10
Allen Kenney: LSU 30, Tennessee 14
Matt Yoder: LSU 31, Tennessee 10
Michael Felder: LSU 30 Tennessee 16
Tom Perry: LSU 35, Tennessee 7
No. 6 Oklahoma State at No. 22 Texas: Saturday, 3:30 p.m. ABC/ESPN
Matt Yoder’s Take: Texas was finally exposed last week for the frauds they are. There’s no way that team was anywhere near their #11 ranking heading into the Red River Shootout. Ok State won’t embarrass the Horns on defense like OU did, but they should score more than enough to make this a comfortable road win.
Oklahoma State 42, Texas 20
Everybody Else’s Take:
Aaron Torres: Oklahoma State 37, Texas 31
Allen Kenney: Texas 34, Oklahoma State 31
Kevin McGuire: Oklahoma State 38, Texas 24
Michael Felder: Oklahoma State 49, Texas 30
Tom Perry: Oklahoma State 45, Texas 24
No. 19 Virginia Tech at Wake Forest: Saturday, 6:30 p.m. ESPN3
Tom Perry’s Take: As much as I’d love to see Jim Grobe get another huge win at Wake this weekend, the Demon Deacons will have a tall task against Virginia Tech. Logan Thomas, the Hokies quarterback, had a breakout game against Miami last week. Virginia Tech needs to solve some issues on the defensive side of the ball. Wake’s Tanner Price is having a strong season with 1,352 passing yards and 10 touchdowns.
Virginia Tech 27, Wake Forest 17
Everybody Else’s Take:
Aaron Torres: Virginia Tech 24, Wake Forest 17
Allen Kenney: Virginia Tech 23, Wake Forest 20
Kevin McGuire: Virginia Tech 23, Wake Forest 17
Matt Yoder: Virginia Tech 33, Wake Forest 17
Michael Felder: Virginia Tech 24 Wake Forest 17
Florida at No. 24 Auburn: Saturday, 7:00 p.m. ESPN
Aaron Torres’ Take: The difference between these two teams is simple. With Florida, we’re not sure if they’re good. Yes they’ve lost two in a row, but when they come against the top two teams in the country, they get a bit of a pass.
But Auburn? They’re just bad. Just as easily as they have two losses right now, they could have two or three more.
Even on the Plains, Florida wins, and really, I don’t think it’s close.
Florida 24, Auburn 10
Everybody Else’s Take:
Allen Kenney: Auburn 31, Florida 30
Kevin McGuire: Florida 27, Auburn 24
Matt Yoder: Auburn 25, Florida 22
Michael Felder: Florida 26, Auburn 24
Tom Perry: Auburn 24, Florida 20
No. 8 Clemson at Maryland: Saturday, 7 p.m. ESPNU
Tom Perry’s Take: Tajh Boyd is expected to start at quarterback for Clemson, but it will be interesting to see how much his hip injury from last week impacts him at Byrd Stadium. The Tigers may rely more on Andre Ellington and the running game. It shouldn’t take too much to take down a Maryland squad that is struggling to adapt under new coach Randy Edsall.
Clemson 24, Maryland 10
Everybody Else’s Take:
Aaron Torres: Maryland 24, Clemson 21
Allen Kenney: Clemson 23, Maryland 17
Kevin McGuire: Clemson 32, Maryland 20
Matt Yoder: Clemson 31, Maryland 14
Michael Felder: Clemson 34 Maryland 19
No. 17 Kansas State at Texas Tech: Saturday, 7:00 p.m.
Aaron Torres’ Take: As my colleague Allen Kenney pointed out last week, this Bill Synder story really is incredible. Quite frankly, I’m shocked that Tom Rinaldi hasn’t tried to squeeze one of those sappy, annoying tear-jerker pieces out of Snyder’s redemption in Manhattan.
Anyway, I’m blabbing. Kansas State is good, Texas Tech not so much. Even on the road, Snyder’s crew finds a way to win.
Kansas State 27, Texas Tech 21
Everybody Else’s Take:
Allen Kenney: Texas Tech 29, Kansas State 24
Kevin McGuire: Kansas State 31, Texas Tech 27
Matt Yoder: Kansas State 37, Texas Tech 28
Michael Felder: Texas Tech 35, Kansas State 31
Tom Perry: Texas Tech 28, Kansas State 21
Arizona State at Oregon 10:15pm ESPN
Michael Felder’s Take: Both teams enter the game with one loss to a currently undefeated team. Both teams are popular picks for the Pac-12 championship game. However, Oregon is the big favorite to folks while Arizona State is not being given much of a chance. We’ll find out how legit Oregon’s defense is because Arizona State is going to run the football with Cameron Marshall and we’ll find out if the Ducks can stop the run for four quarters. On defense with our without LaMichael James the Sun Devils will have to work to stop the Ducks. Late start for us east coast folks but I highly recommend putting on a pot of coffee and watching this Pac-12 showdown.
Oregon 35 Arizona State 27
Everybody Else’s Take:
Aaron Torres: Oregon 41, Arizona State 34
Allen Kenney: Oregon 38, Arizona State 29
Kevin McGuire: Oregon 30, Arizona State 23
Matt Yoder: Oregon 41, Arizona State 37
Tom Perry: Oregon 37, Arizona State 17
