The View From The Roof: Week 7

Last week: 10-5
Season: 73-27

It was just another crazy week of college football as three more top teams lost.  The Trojans fell to 41-point underdogs; the Badgers had their longest win streak in the nation snapped; and Kentucky coughed up two fumble returns for TDs in their defeat.  Missouri and Kansas proved they are contenders in the Big 12 while Virginia Tech proved you can win put up 41 points without an offense.  This week’s slate of games might not stack up to last week, but there are still some intriguing matchups highlighted by the Missouri/Oklahoma showdown.     

#1 LSU Tigers vs. #17 Kentucky Wildcats
The consensus No.1 team in the country will have to put their emotional victory over Florida behind them and travel to Lexington to take on another great quarterback in Kentucky’s Andre’ Woodson.  Woodson is a more conventional quarterback relying on his arm more than his legs, but the Wildcats do possess a potent rushing attack featuring Rafael Little.  In Kentucky’s first loss of the season last week, Little ran for 135 yards against South Carolina but will be questionable for the LSU game with a bruised thigh.  The Tigers defense will be as hungry as ever after giving up season highs in yardage (314) and points (24) last week.  LSU’s offense has incorporated the two-quarterback system with Matt Flynn and Ryan Perrilloux almost to perfection this year with the former being the thrower and the latter more of a running threat.  Throw in the four-headed beast at tailback and the possible return of Earley Doucet at receiver and then you realize why they are No. 1.
Prediction:
Both teams are coming off a loss so it’ll be interesting to see how the two head coaches have their teams prepared.  Andre’ Woodson is a great quarterback, but that might be the only position on the field where Kentucky is better.  LSU will come ready to play and I expect a blowout in this one.
LSU 41
Kentucky 13

#11 Missouri Tigers vs. #6 Oklahoma Sooners
Missouri gets its chance to prove they are a legitimate national title contender when they travel to Norman this weekend.  Missouri QB Chase Daniel had 359 yards of offense in last year’s matchup but threw three costly interceptions in a 26-10 loss; something he hopes to avoid this time.  Daniel is averaging 380 yards of total offense this season and the Tigers offense as a whole has looked spectacular scoring no less than 38 points in every game.  Another good sign is that the Missouri defense has given up fewer points each game beginning with the 34 they gave up to Illinois in the opener to the six points they gave up last week to Nebraska.  However, Oklahoma offers the toughest challenge by far to the Tigers.  Freshman QB Sam Bradford rebounded from an awful game at Colorado to have arguably his best game of the season last week against Texas where he was 21-32 for 244 yards and three touchdowns.  DeMarco Murray and Allen Patrick are probably the second best tailback duo in the country combining for 855 yards and 14 touchdowns on the season. 
Prediction:
The Tigers will score some points in this game because Daniel has too many weapons to throw to for the Sooners to shut down.  Tight ends Martin Rucker and Chase Coffman are matchup nightmares for any defense so the Sooners will need to figure out a way to slow them down.  However, I think the tight end on the other side, the Sooners Jermaine Gresham, will play a key part in this one.  Missouri’s defense gives up over 400 yards a game so Oklahoma will look to establish their two backs which should open up the passing lanes for Bradford to hit Gresham down the middle of the field and wide receiver Malcolm Kelly down the sidelines.  Both teams will score, but in the end the Sooners defense will make some plays and the Battle of the Heisman quarterbacks will go Oklahoma’s way.   
Oklahoma 38
Missouri 27

#12 Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Duke Blue Devils
The Hokies offense has struggled mightily this season so a date with the worst defense yards-wise and scoring-wise should help.  QB Tyrod Taylor still doesn’t look comfortable throwing the ball (he has thrown for only 131 yards in the last two games combined), but as long as he is able to make plays with his feet, the passing game should eventually develop.  The offensive line should get a boost this week with the debut of converted tight end and now right tackle, Ed Wang.  On the other side of the ball, Duke does possess some explosive weapons on offense.  QB Thaddeus Lewis is third in the ACC in passing yards per game and is tied with Matt Ryan for the ACC lead in touchdowns with 15.  Eron Riley is Lewis’ go-to-guy collecting seven of those TDs and is averaging an astounding 21.8 yards a catch. 
Prediction:   
The loss of Vince Hall is a big blow for the Hokies defense but veteran Brett Warren should fill in adequately for the moment.  Special teams has been a big part of the Hokies success this year returning three kicks for touchdowns including two last week, but I look for Duke to make the special teams splash in this one with Jabari Marshall who leads the nation in kickoff return yardage.  With all that being said, I look for Tech’s offense to finally emerge and for Taylor to get about 200 yards through the air.
Virginia Tech 51
Duke 20

#19 Wisconsin Badgers vs. Penn State Nittany Lions
Wisconsin’s 14-game winning streak is no more after succumbing to the Illini’s powerful run game last week.  The Badgers not only lost the game and dropped 14 spots in the poll, but they lost senior receiver Luke Swan who possibly may have suffered a career-ending hamstring injury in the game.  The Badgers will be forced to rely more on P.J. Hill and the running game which doesn’t bode well as they take on Nittany Lion team that only gives up 80 yards a game on the ground and only 253 total yards a game.  Penn State will be without their second leading rusher, Austin Scott, who was suspended indefinitely, but freshman Evan Royster stepped up big last week and showed that he can carry the load if starter Rodney Kinlaw continues to have fumble problems.  The big question for the Lions, though, as is the case most weeks will be what Anthony Morelli shows up.  Morelli has been consistently inconsistent in his three Big 10 games and was actually booed in the first quarter last week before leading Penn State to their first Big 10 win.
Prediction:
The nation’s sixth best defense last year has flopped this season as the Badgers are allowing almost 369 yards a game.  This game is in Happy Valley so as long as Morelli hands the ball off and then converts on a couple early third downs and doesn’t do anything stupid, the Penn State defense will take care of the rest.
Penn State 27
Wisconsin 17  

#22 Auburn Tigers vs. Arkansas Razorbacks
Darren McFadden.  Darren McFadden.  Darren McFadden.  That’s all anyone talks about when Arkansas is mentioned because let’s be honest, you add in Felix Jones and that is all that the Razorbacks have.  The passing game has been nonexistent and the defense has been torched to the tune of 885 yards and 67 points in their two SEC games, both losses.  Meanwhile, Auburn has re-emerged as an SEC power winning their last three games including a shocking 20-17 win at The Swamp.  The Tigers have re-established their running game on offense and senior QB Brandon Cox has been extremely proficient completing 71 percent of his passes during the winning streak.  Auburn also welcomed back tailback Brad Lester who returned last week from a six game suspension so the rushing attack should only be better from here on out. 
Prediction:
Auburn is hitting on all cylinders right now offensively and defensively so a trip to Fayetteville won’t deter that.  McFadden and Jones will get their yards, but Arkansas can’t stop anyone right now so Lester and fellow back Ben Tate will team with Cox to rack up the yardage as well as the points.
Auburn 38
Arkansas 20  

Other Top 25 Action:

#2 California Bears over Oregon State Beavers
Nate Longshore, Justin Forsett, DeSean Jackson and Lavelle Hawkins are the best set of offensive skill players in the country.  Throw in the fact that the Beavers lead the country in turning the ball over and it should be a big day for this group.

#3 Ohio State Buckeyes over Kent State Golden Flashes
Ohio State’s defense gives up a nation’s best 7.2 points per game.  The offense continues to improve on a weekly basis behind first year QB Todd Boeckman and the power running of the Wells boys, Chris and Maurice.  Expect another manhandling by the Buckeyes.

#4 Boston College Eagles over Notre Dame Fighting Irish
QB Matt Ryan will put up his usual numbers, but I think tailback Andre Callender will be the star in this one as he’ll take on an Irish defense that allows 190 yards a game on the ground.

#5 South Florida Bulls over Central Florida Knights
Kevin Smith may be the best player in the country that no one knows about.  The junior tailback for the Knights has amassed 860 yards and 11 touchdowns in only five games this season including 149 yards and two touchdowns against the Texas Longhorns.  The Bulls while struggling of late should have enough firepower on offense and discipline on defense to pull this one out.

#7 South Carolina Gamecocks over North Carolina Tar Heels
Gamecock freshman QB Chris Smelley has looked great throwing for over 250 yards and two touchdowns in each of his last two games.  The Tar Heels have their own freshman at QB in T.J. Yates who has struggled of late, but with his struggles a running game has emerged for UNC.  The Tar Heels have accumulated almost as many rushing yards in their last two games (307) as their first four games (318).  That being said, the Gamecocks are just better and will win.

#9 Oregon Ducks over Washington State Cougars
I feel Oregon is a Top-5 team even with the loss to Cal, but it will be a little tougher for them now with the loss of their rock on defense in linebacker A.J. Tuitele who will be out for up to two months.  Dennis Dixon and Jonathan Stewart still lead an explosive offense, though, which will carry the Ducks in this one.

#10 USC Trojans over Arizona Wildcats
Wow.  It’s been over four years since the Trojans were this low in the rankings so that can’t leave a good taste in the mouth of coach Pete Carroll and the 80 High School All-Americans on that team.  The Wildcats picked a bad week to travel to Los Angeles.  If I were a betting man, I would take USC in this one, big.

#12 Arizona State Sun Devils over Washington Huskies
The Sun Devils offense is led by QB Rudy Carpenter who has thrown 15 TDs this year so his eyes should light up when he sees a Huskies defense that gives up over 400 yards a game.  Washington QB Jake Locker has struggled lately especially throwing the ball so hopefully the week off got him back on track.  I think the Huskies will be able to stay with ASU for most of the game, but in the end the Sun Devils just have too much on offense against a weak Huskies defense.

#15 Cincinnati Bearcats over Louisville Cardinals
I contemplated this one for a long time, but in the end that Louisville defense is just too bad for me to take them against any team that has a pulse.  QB Brian Brohm will probably have another 400 yard, four touchdown performance but it won’t be enough as Bearcats QB Ben Mauk and their balanced rushing attack will run roughshod over the Cardinals defense.

#18 Illinois Fighting Illini over Iowa Hawkeyes
The Illini are ranked for the first time in six years after beating then No. 5 Wisconsin last week, so they must beware of a letdown against a talented but very inexperienced Hawkeye team.  Illinois tailback Rashard Mendenhall with his 772 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns needs to be in the Heisman race and linebacker Jeremy Leman is just a tackling machine.  The Illini will win this game and I look for them to hopefully be 9-1 when they head to Columbus on Nov. 10 for their showdown with the Buckeyes.

#20 Kansas Jayhawks over Baylor Bears
The Fighting Manginos proved they might actually be a good team with their win at Kansas State last week.  Sophomore QB Todd Ressing has had a fabulous year thus far and it should be more of the same as Baylor comes to town.

#23 Texas Longhorns over Iowa State Cyclones
A great remedy for a struggling team is to play a bad team.  Texas gets that this week facing the Cyclones, so even with the absence of receiver Limas Sweed expect QB Colt McCoy to have a big day.

#24 Georgia Bulldogs over Vanderbilt Commodores
Losing Thomas Brown for a month will hurt the Bulldogs but the emergence of freshman Knowshon Moreno should help.  Georgia will need to get more consistency, though, from QB Matt Stafford and the receivers, especially going up against a Vanderbilt team that shocked the Bulldogs last year with a 24-22 win.

#25 Tennessee Volunteers over Mississippi State Bulldogs
While Tennessee currently sits fifth in the SEC East standings, the Vols can still win the East outright.  After demolishing Georgia last week and returning to the polls, QB Erik Ainge and a resurgent Vols defense should be enough to get by this trap game in Starkville.