CFB Week 7 Preview: Unlikely Games Take Spotlight

Oct 13, 2011

For the second week in a row, there aren’t a lot of marquee matchups on the docket. But unlike last week, as the conference schedules just started to kick in, there are a few compelling clashes taking place in Week 7. They’re just not happening where you traditionally think such showdowns would occur.

Aside from the traditional battle for the Great Lakes state between the Wolverines and Spartans, this week some of the most compelling matchups will come from some of the most unlikely places.

That being said, let’s take a look at ten games to watch in Week 7.

11Michigan (6-0, 2-0) at 23Michigan St. (4-1, 1-0) Noon, ESPN
The sour taste left by the Rich Rodriguez era has nearly left the mouths of Ann Arbor residents, but another loss to the in-state rival Spartans would go a long way towards restoring that acid reflux feel amongst Michigan supporters. MSU has won three straight games in the rivalry - in other words every one from RichRod’s tenure - so if Brady Hoke truly hopes to erase the memories of his predecessor, he needs to make sure his Wolverine squad comes out of East Lansing with a ‘W’.

20Baylor (4-1, 1-1) at 21Texas A&M (3-2, 1-1) Noon, FX
This is one game I’m sure no one outside of Waco and College Station had circled on their calendars prior to the season. But here we are in week 7 and not only is this game meaningful, but it could be one of the more entertaining contests of the weekend. Both teams have high powered offenses that put up a lot of points, and both have already suffered a conference loss, making this a must-win for both schools if they have any hope of winning the Big 12 title.

FSU (2-3, 0-2) at Duke (3-2, 1-0) 3:00, Regional
I know nobody foresaw the Blue Devils having a better record than the Noles at this point in the season. And there is a real chance the reeling Noles could lose for the first time ever to Duke, which is enjoying a resurgence under coach David Cutcliff. Should FSU drop its fourth straight game, and its first in 19 meetings with the Devils, it’s safe to say the honeymoon will be officially over for Jimbo Fisher in Tallahassee.

Ohio State (3-3, 0-2) at 16Illinois (6-0, 2-0) 3:30, ABC/ESPN
I guess you could imagine this being a big game at the beginning of the year – for the Buckeyes. Instead its the upstart Illini, who are 6-0 for the first time since the early 50s, who have more on the line in this Big 10 battle. The last time Illinois knocked off Ohio State, in 2007, the Buckeyes were No. 1 in the nation. Think they might be looking for a little payback, along with coach Luke Fickell’s first marquee win, on Saturday in Champaign?

6Oklahoma State (5-0, 2-0) at Texas (4-1, 1-1) 3:30, ABC/ESPN
What’s the Longhorns’ reward for getting roasted by the Sooners in the Cotton Bowl last week? Getting roasted by the Cowboys at home this week.

19Virginia Tech (5-1, 1-1) at Wake Forest (4-1, 3-0) 6:30, Regional
See Ohio State/Illinois, and substitute the Hokies for the Buckeyes and the Demon Deacons, 3-0 in the ACC for the first time ever, for the surprising Illini.

8Clemson (6-0, 3-0) at Maryland (2-3, 1-1) 7:00ET, ESPNU
Everyone keeps waiting for the Tigers to falter, and it’s easy to believe it will be a conference road game that trips them up. But Dabo’s boys have answered every challenge so far, while the Terps, and their infinite array of hideous uniforms, have been a big dig disappointment in Randy Edsel’s first season in College Park. Clemson QB Tajh Boyd (hip) is questionable for this contest, and his not playing could be the key to a potential upset for Maryland.

Florida (4-2, 2-2) at 24Auburn (4-2, 2-1) 7:00ET, ESPN
Reality slapped the Gators in the face in blowout losses to Bama and LSU the past two weeks, and with QB John Brantley unable to start again this week, this season is going to start looking eerily similar to last year’s 8-5 debacle.

3Oklahoma (5-0, 2-0) at Kansas (2-3, 0-2) 9:15ET ESPN2
The only, and I repeat the only, reason to watch this one is to see if the Sooners will best the 70 points Oklahoma State hung on the hapless Jayhawks last week. I really thought Turner Gill was a better coach than this, but his team has surrendered 40+ points 11 times in his 15 game tenure in Lawrence. Make it an even dozen after this one.

18Arizona St. (5-1, 3-0) at 9Oregon (4-1, 2-0) 10:15ET, ESPN
Okay, so this game lost a bit of its luster when LaMichael James went down with a dislocated elbow last week. But even without their Heisman candidate, the Ducks, who own the 2nd best offense in the country, should give the Sun Devils all they can handle and then some. Oregon has won seven straight in the series, and a loss wouldn’t damage ASU’s PAC-12 title hopes. But if the Devils want to be counted with the big boys in the conference, there would be no better place to start than late Saturday night in Autuzen.