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NCAA College Football 2006 Week 7 Picks
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Fearless Rick's NCAA College Football Week 7 Picks - Early Games
Rick Gagliano | 10/10/06
For games of 10/12 - 10/14/06
All times Eastern - Click here for late Saturday games
Thursday, October 12, 2006
7:30 pm Virginia Tech (-2 1/2, 42) at Boston College - The Hokies took a week off after their thrashing by Georgia Tech, but don't expect the BC Eagles to inflict more pain. While the Hokies generally have handled their opponents with impunity, Boston College hasn't been as dominant, winning 2 of their 4 games in overtime, one by a TD (over Central Michigan) and last week walked over Maine by a 22-0 tally.
The Eagles do get home advantage, but the Hokies' defense should prove to be too much for them, as they play the pass and run with equal efficiency. BC turnovers may be too much to overcome as the Hokies regain some status in the ACC.
Prediction: Hokies 24 Eagles 13
4-1 Colorado State also has a solid defense and has already beaten Colorado and Fresno State. If the Rams' D can shut down Air Force's running game, they'll likely stifle any attempts by the Falcons to win this through the air. This is a major upset in the making.
Prediction: Rams 31 Falcons 14
12:00 pm Wake Forest at NC State (-4, 38 1/2) - After starting the season 5-0, Wake Forest fell apart late and lost last week to Clemson, blowing a 17-3 lead in the 4th quarter and losing 27-17. The Demon Deacons allowed 24 4th quarter points at home and now have to go on the road to play the red-hot and well-rested Wolfpack.
NC State has knocked off Boston College and Florida State in succession (the last one on Thursday night) and despite their 3-2 record, are actually leading the ACC Atlantic division because their two losses were to non-conference opponents Akron and Southern Miss. NC State has emerged as a force to reckon with, especially at home. The Wolfpack has a balanced offensive attack, with Daniel Evans having emerged as the starting QB. If he avoids throwing interceptions, NC State can roll.
Wake Forest won't go away quietly, however. Last season they upset NC State, 27-19, though that game was played at Groves Stadium in Winston-Salem. This one will be on Wolfpack turf in Raleigh, and it looks like payback time.
Prediction: Wolfpack 31 Demon Deacons 17
Navy fans at Annapolis will be vocal and should provide impetus for the Middies' awesome ground attack. Navy leads the nation in rushing by a wide margin, and have been working their spread-option offense to near-perfection. It all starts with QB Brian Hampton, who leads the Middies with 645 yards rushing, and bruising Adam Ballard, averaging 95.7 yards per game. But a quick look at the Navy rushing roster reveals that a full 7 players have carried the ball 10 or more times this season, furnishing coach Paul Johnson with plenty of variety.
Rutgers, 5-0 and ranked, has not been a fluke. The program has been on the improve the past three years and they came back with 14 starters from last season's solid 7-5 team. The offense gets plenty of fuel from RB Ray Rice, who is averaging 161 yards per game and 5.7 per carry. QB Mike Teel needs to find the end zone more often if Rutgers plans on challenging for the Big east title this season - he's only thrown 2 TD passes to 6 INTs.
For all the offense here, this game may come down to defense. If Navy can control Rice and force 3rd and long situations, they may come away with a number of picks. Rutgers, meanwhile, will have their 8th-ranked rushing defense tested all day. Rutgers hasn't really played any top-notch opponents, though they did hold a decent South Florida team to just 104 yards rushing in their most recent win.
This one will be about as good as old school Eastern football can get. Neither team can claim advantage anywhere, but home and heart of Navy will prevail in a close one.
Prediction: Midshipmen 23 Scarlet Knights 20
All times Eastern - Click here for late Saturday games
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