College Football Picks Week 7

I had a good week last week going 5-2. I am now 19-16 ATS for the year after a really shaky start. The Thursday night game may very well be the game of the week with Cincinnati at South Florida. This is Cincinnati's big chance to get noticed by the nation.

Cincinnati -2.5
South Florida

Cincinnati. I really like Cincy's offense. They really like to spread it out 5wide and throw it around. Their QB is good enough, and tall enough, to pick the defense apart. This is likely the best secondary and pass rush they have faced, but Cincinnati likes to run a lot of WR screens and other quick-hitters.

Oklahoma
Texas -3.5

Oklahoma. The Sooners are too good to have three losses. Something that may have went unnoticed, Oklahoma still has a ton to play for. All of their losses are in the non-conference, so they still have the Big12 to play for. To go with that, they also can get back into the national title picture if teams start dropping. I think they start a run with Saturday's game. I also do not care for how Texas has played. Their only true test came against Texas Tech, and the Longhorn offense struggled. I think Texas is over-rated.

Iowa
Wisconsin -2.5

Iowa. Bielema really needs this game, but I think Iowa is just better. There is a huge coaching advantage for Iowa in this game. Even if Wisconsin is up for the game, and Iowa is sluggish, Iowa is strong enough on both lines to withstand any early burst from Wisconsin. This should be a really good game, but I think the Badger coaching will make the difference, in a bad way. The team has given up too many big plays in bad situations. Michigan State, Minnesota, and last week to Ohio State at the end of the first half. Receivers get behind the secondary too easily, and too often, when that is the one thing that should be defended considering game situation. I have witnessed too many coaching gaffes the last couple of years to have any confidence in the Wisconsin coaching when the game comes down to the wire.

USC -10
Notre Dame

USC. I actually think this could be the year Notre Dame can make it close, but I am going with recent history here. USC is better, even if the quarterback is a freshman. Also, Pete Carrol knows another blowout of Notre Dame can boost his team above the other one-loss teams. Even though the biggest game left on USC's schedule, including this one, is the Oregon game, in the eyes of voters it is this game. That means USC will treat this as a big game, USC does not lose many big games.


South Carolina
Alabama -17

South Carolina. Alabama will hold on for the win, but South Carolina's defense is too good to be given 17 points. I still think Alabama is the best all-around team in the country, but they will need to pull out a tight win here.