Week 7 has arrived in the 2018 College Football season and we have three top 25 matchups this week. Big matchups from the big conferences including our featured game in the Big Ten. In the SEC, #2 Georgia takes on #13 LSU. Pac 10, #7 Washington at #17 Oregon. And the big one in the big 10, #15 Wisconsin at #12 Michigan. There are other juicy games on the card that we’ll predict also but those are the big ones. I went 4-4 last week so let’s jump right in and give you our predictions for this week and try and sweep the card.
No. 19 Colorado at USC (-7)
The undefeated Buffs are the Pac-12’s best remaining shot at making the Playoff for the first time since 2016. Quarterback Steven Montez is solid QB with 11 touchdowns to two interceptions this season. That said, USC should be able to handle them but it won’t be easy to win the game much less cover the seven. Take Colorado.
Pitt at No. 5 Notre Dame (-21)
Can Notre Dame avoid dip after a convincing win against Virginia Tech last week? We think the Irish do, for several reasons. The Panthers won’t catch Notre Dame off guard after they upset Syracuse at home. Even if they did, the emergence of Ian Book (887 yards, nine touchdowns to one interception) and Dexter Williams (339 rushing yards, four touchdowns in two games) will be more than enough against a Pitt team that ranks in the bottom half of the country in total defense, pass defense, rush defense and scoring defense. Pitt hangs around for a while but then the Irish open it up in the 2nd half.
No. 6 West Virginia (-6.5) at Iowa State
As you know we have been backing the Mounties this season. Last week was a win but a bad one. The game in Ames looks a lot more dangerous for WVU than this time last week. Iowa State upset Oklahoma State 48-42 that shows Matt Campbell’s squad presents problems. Will Grier, meanwhile, had his worst outing of the season last week, tossing four touchdowns and three interceptions in a 38-22 win over Kansas. That could end up working out for the Mountaineers, though — Dana Holgorsen will make sure his team stays on its toes but getting this win will not come easy and may not come at all. Take Iowa State.
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No. 7 Washington (-3) at No. 17 Oregon
Here’s our first premier matchup this week. Perhaps no game has more important conference championship implications this weekend than Washington at Oregon. Jake Browning and Co. return to Autzen Stadium for the first time since a 70-21 beatdown in 2016, These aren’t the same teams. Browning only has nine touchdowns and five interceptions this year while Myles Gaskin hasn’t had much success on the ground. Meanwhile, Justin Herbert (1,411 passing yards, 15 touchdowns) looks like one of the best quarterbacks in the country. We like the Ducks coming off a bye against Washington who looked lifeless last week against a winless UCLA team.
No. 2 Georgia (-7) at No. 13 LSU
Our second big matchup. LSU’s season will hinge on how it responds to a bad loss to Florida last week. Georgia comes in as a clear favorite to win the SEC East behind an efficient offense and defense that gives up fewer than 300 yards a game. However, the Bulldogs have shown a tendency to let competition hang around. LSU plans on doing more than just hang around, they’re going to win the game. It will be low scoring and the Tigers may just get the win.
No. 15 Wisconsin at No. 12 Michigan (-7.5)
It’s our first Big Ten elimination game. A loss here for either team not only eliminates them from Playoff contention, but also the conference championship. Wisconsin wrecked the Wolverines last year thanks in part to subpar quarterback play from Brandon Peters and John O’Korn (who completed 11 of 26 passes for 176 yards). Shea Patterson will need to be much better for the Wolverines to win, but their defense, which ranks ninth in defensive efficiency nationally, should limit Wisconsin’s scoring opportunities. This one comes down to the final possession and it’s anybody’s guess who wins it but we like the points especially when you’re getting more than a field goal.
Morris Chambers is a Wannamakeabet.com Staff Writer.