2021 NCAA Week 7 Picks

3:30 pm #11 Kentucky at #1 Georgia (-23 1/2, 44 1/2) - The schedule hasn't been exactly easy for the Bulldogs, but they've handled it without skipping a beat. The past two weeks have seen Georgia bury Arkansas, 37-0, and head down to Auburn to put a 34-10 smacking on the Tigers. Their defense could possibly be one of the best in college football in decades. They're #1 in total yards allowed, yards passing and total points (5.5)

The offense isn't bad either, scoring 39.8 points per game, 12th in the nation.

Kentucky is probably as surprised as anybody else that they're 6-0, though the last two wins - 20-13 over Florida, 42-21 past LSU - were of good quality. Do they have enough to upend the Bulldogs between the hedges? Probably not. Can they keep it close? Probably not. They just don't have enough offense.

Coin Flip: Kentucky

Prediction: Bulldogs 38 Wildcats 6

3:30 pm Purdue at #2 Iowa (-11 1/2, 43) - After Georgia, the Iowa Hawkeyes may have the best defense in the country, allowing 13-.0 points per game as they've rolled to a 6-0 record and first place all alone in the Big Ten West with a 3-0 mark.

So far, the Hawkeyes have knocked off three ranked teams, including Penn State last week, in a 23-20 thriller than had fans pouring onto the field at the buzzer.

Purdue can keep this close if they are able to score at least one TD against the Hawkeyes because their defense is very sound as well. They are 8th in scoring (15.4) and very good defending the passing game.

Coin Flip: Purdue

Prediction: Hawkeyes 20 Boilermakers 16

3:30 pm #19 BYU at Baylor (-6, 50) - BYU fell from the ranks of the unbeaten last week, taking one on the chin in a 26-17 home loss to Boise State. Now they shift their focus to a Big 12 opponent, Baylor, coming off a 45-20 breeze over West Virginia. The Bears are 5-1, their only lass two weeks back, 24-14 at Oklahoma State. The Bears have a dynamic offense led by QB Gerry Bohanon (1332 yards, 11 TDs, 0 INTs) and RB Abram Smith (597-78, 7.7 yards avg., 7 TDs).

Baylor has a huge edge on offense and a slimmer advantage defensively. They may just run BYU out of the stadium.

Coin Flip: Baylor

Prediction: Bears 37 Cougars 23

7:00 pm #5 Alabama (-17, 57 1/2) at Mississippi State - Now that Texas A&M has proven that the Tide can be taken out on the road, it's the Bulldogs' turn to try to upend the classic SEC leaders. Alabama comes off a 19-game winning streak and hasn't lost back-to-back games since 2013, when Auburn defeated them in the final game of the season, halting a 15-game win streak and Oklahoma took down the Tide in the Sugar Bowl, 45-31, making a Mississippi State win something of an oddity in college football.

The Bulldogs already have losses to Memphis and LSU, but they beat Texas A&M two weeks ago and haven't played since. They should be well-rested and ready for Alabama, but, in the end, unlikely to produce a win. Alabama's defense has proven to be a sore spot and MSST QB Will Rogers will be airing it out all night. He clicks at 76% and has 14 TDs against just two INTs.

Coin Flip: Mississippi State

Prediction: Crimson Tide 42 Bulldogs 34

7:30 pm TCU at #4 Oklahoma (-10 1/2, 66) - The Sooners benched QB Spencer Rattler after Oklahoma fell behind Texas, 28-17, and the Longhorns scored three plays later to go up 35-17. Caleb Williams came on and threw for 212 yards and 2 TDs and ran for 88 yards and a score, guiding the Sooners to a 55-48 victory in the Red River Rivalry. Improving to 6-0, the question remains as to whether Williams will start against the Horned Frogs and for the remainder of the season.

Getting a win at Teas Tech last week, 52-31, TCU is 1-1 in Big 12 play and 3-2 overall. The last time they topped the Sooners was 2-14, a year in which they went 12-1 and took the conference crown. This doesn't appear to be anything like that season and the Sooners have their choice of quality QBs.

Coin Flip: Oklahoma

Prediction: Sooners 48 Horned Frogs 24

7:30 pm #13 Ole Miss (-3, 81) at Tennessee - Get ready for some offensive fireworks when the Rebels visit the Vols as the two teams are both among offisive leaders nationally. 4-2 Tennessee ranks 7th in points scored, averaging 41.5 per game, while the Rebels stand at #4, putting up 46.2. Neither team is known for stout defense, so this could come down to who has the ball last, special teams and turnovers.

Despite being in the SEC, these two almost never meet, being in different divisions. The last time they got together, Ole Miss was ranked #3 and put a 34-3 beating on the Vols. Tennessee is improving, but the Rebels appear a step ahead.

Coin Flip: Ole Miss

Prediction: Ole Miss 48 Volunteers 38

7:30 pm NC State (-3, 52) at Boston College - BC has quietly rung up a 4-1 record, their only loss at 19-13 setback at Clemson in a game they trailed throughout but still were in a position to win in the final minute.

Let's not forget that the Wolfpack upended Clemson, 27-21 in double overtime, sending the Tigers to their second loss of the season. Both teams are solid defensively and have the ability to sustain drives on offense, making for a close encounter of the ACC kind. NC state's lone loss was at Mississippi State, 24-10, their only road game of the year. BC has played just two home games and won them both. They should be favored and should pocket a win.

Coin Flip: NC State

Prediction: Eagles 29 Wolfpack 23

10:00 pm #18 Arizona State (even, 51) at Utah - This one is for first place in the PAC-12 South. The Sun Devils improved to 5-1 and 3-0 in the conference with a 28-10 win over Stanford, adding to wins over UCLA and Colorado, neither of which were close games. QB Jayden Daniels has thrown for 1,269 yards and run for another 369, making him one of the premier dual threats in college.

The Utes have upped their game after back-to-back losses at BYU and San Diego State, dumping Washington State, 24-13 and handling USC on the road in a 42-26 score. The teams are fairly evenly matched on offense, though Daniels give the Sun Devils a unique X factor. 5-1 Arizona State holds a sizable defensive edge, allowing 16.2 points per game to the Utes' 23.0.

Coin Flip: Arizona State

Prediction: Sun Devils 37 Utes 21

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IdleGuy.com December 2024, Vol. 1 #11