Week 7 picks

Now we are getting into the meat of the Big 12 football season. We will know a lot more about everyone after this week.

Kansas @ Colorado (Kansas by 9.5)
Beav: The Jayhawks have struggled with putting away lesser teams so far this year, and Colorado almost looked like a football team for about 25 minutes of last week's game. The tough part of KU's schedule starts next week. The games against OU and Texas maybe don't look as daunting as they did before the season started, so I think KU might be looking ahead a bit....Just like several of KU's games, this one will be closer than it should. Kansas 34 - Colorado 30
Steve: I have a hard time believing that Kansas will win any game it plays by 9.5 points. Iowa State exposed KU’s defense and offensive line last weekend. Reesing, Briscoe, and Meier are a solid group, but this has upset written all over. I expect CU to rally behind Tyler Hansen because, well, he’s not Cody Hawkins. Colorado 31 – Kansas 28

Missouri @ Oklahoma State (Okie State by 7)
Beav: It will be interesting to see how Mizzou bounces back from their disappointing loss last Thursday. QB Blaine Gabbert has had an extra couple of days to heal, but his bum ankle wasn't the Tigers' biggest problem against the Huskers - Gabbert's inability to find the open man was. I'm still not sold on OSU, but they will be a couple of TDs better than Missouri this week. Oklahoma State 38 – Missouri 21
Steve: This is a very difficult game to pick. Okie State is not the same without the threat of Dez Bryant. It’s hard to judge how a young Mizzou team will respond after the loss to Nebraska. Plus, Blaine Gabbert’s ankle has got to be hurting. I think Mizzou will cover this one, and maybe even win. Missouri 28 – Oklahoma State 24

Baylor @ Iowa State (Iowa State by 2.5)
Beav: I refuse to believe that Robert Griffin is the difference between Baylor being a tough, middle of the pack conference team and being equal to Iowa State. This line is a gift - Iowa State should not be giving points to anyone in the Big XII, period. Baylor 31 - Iowa State 20
Steve: Did the ISU offense find it’s rhythm against Kansas, or is the Kansas defense just that bad. I’m guessing a little bit of both. Baylor has more players than just Robert Griffin, but almost all of them are from the state of Texas. They don’t get weather in Texas like the weather that will be in Ames on Saturday. ISU will barely cover this one. Iowa State 24 – Baylor 21

Texas A&M @ Kansas State (aTm by 5.5)
Beav: Maybe I jumped the gun a bit last week when I picked KSU to beat Texas Tech. Not sure what I was thinking - KSU just isn't good. But luckily for them, neither is aTm. KSU is going to upset somebody in the conference this year. Kansas State 24 – Texas A&M 17
Steve: Nothing like two games this week for the battle of the worst team in the conference (you could also throw Colorado in the mix). I’m predicting there will be about 30K show up to watch this masterpiece. aTm covers, but doesn’t win. Texas A&M 21 – Kansas State 17

Texas Tech @ Nebraska (Nebraska by 10.5)
Beav: Wow - three quarters of ugly football against a mediocre Missouri team has suddenly turned Nebraska into media darlings. This Husker team has shown flashes of being the best NU has had in a decade - and that includes the (highly overrated) 2001 squad - but in order to be a premier team, the offense needs to figure out how to produce in big games. I think NU gets the offense going at home this week, but this line is still way too high. Nebraska 34 - Texas Tech 31
Steve: I have a suspicion Steven “Sticks” Sheffield may be the spark plug Texas Tech needed to rejuvenate their season. Unfortunately for them, they are playing in Lincoln against a very confident Nebraska team. I originally thought this line was way too high, but this will be the first big time defense “Sticks” has faced. Look for him to make a lot of mistakes. Nebraska 42 – Texas Tech 28

Oklahoma vs. Texas (Texas by 3.5)
Beav: Oklahoma's games are tough to pick. Bradford is back and looked sharp last week, but Texas should be able to generate some heat with their D-line, who many think is the best in the country. Stoops & Co. need this win to keep the Sooners season from going completely in the tank, but I think the Horns will be too much. Texas 27 - Oklahoma 21
Steve: I have watched Texas play a few times this year, and let me tell you, that offense is not very good. Take away Jordan Shipley and there are no playmakers at WR or RB. Luckily for Texas, OU is kind of in a funk. Blame it on injuries all you want. Fact is, their offensive line is weak. Texas wins a low scoring, defensive battle. Texas 17 – Oklahoma 13

Virginia Tech @ Georgia Tech (V Tech by 3)
Beav: Both of Virginia Tech's big wins this year were kind of fluky - Nebraska's blown coverage in the final minute and the crazy monsoon storm during the Miami game - so I don't think they are as good as they get credit for. Their defense has shown a tendency to struggle against the run - I think GT takes it to them this week. Georgia Tech 30 - Virginia Tech 20
Steve: Either Tyrod Taylor has improved from one game to the next more than any quarterback in the history of college football, or V Techs opponents the last few games have had terrible defenses. I think it’s more the latter. The Hokies are a good football team, but they will struggle to stop Paul Johnson’s option attack. Georgia Tech 28 – Virginia Tech 27

Iowa @ Wisconsin (Iowa by 2.5)
Beav: During the Iowa-Michigan game last week, I found myself thinking that Iowa actually looked like a good team - then I remembered that they were playing against another Big 10 squad. The Hawkeyes do face another Big 10 defense this week, but Camp Randall is tough place to play and I don't think Iowa's luck lasts much longer. Wisconsin 27 - Iowa 24
Steve: I have been burned by the Hawkeyes this year. I think I have picked against them every game and they are 6-0. This is another one of those unwatchable, boring Big 10 games. Iowa wins this one and stays undefeated, thus Iowa fans will be able to dream of a National Championship game appearance where they get absolutely destroyed by Florida or Alabama, for another week. Iowa 21 – Wisconsin 17

USC @ Notre Dame (USC by 10)
Beav: This game is kind of a win-win for me in that I get to watch either Charlie Weis or Pete Carroll lose. I'm not too impressed with SC this year and I think the Irish should be able to keep it close. USC 27 – Notre Dame 24
Steve: I have never liked Notre Dame, and I have really never liked Charlie Weis. In fact I have wanted Weis to get fired, until I realized that the two are a perfect fit for each other in my world. As long as Chaz is coaching at Notre Dame they will not be very good. Having said all that, unfortunately, I think they will beat USC this weekend because USC has a terrible offense. Notre Dame 28 – USC 21

Last Week
Beav: 6-4
Steve: 7-3

Season
Beav: 33-33
Steve: 30-36