Week 7 Picks by Thor's Hammer

Parity is a bitch and it is not just on the football field. After picking winners at a 65% clip I have drifted into mediocrity going 4-4 in back-to-back weeks. While I still lead the standings people need to keep in mind we don't even look at the spread, we simply pick the winners. And now for the picks.


Oklahoma 34 - Missouri 24

Missouri is clicking on all cylinders coming off of their blowout win over lowly Nebraska and want to prove that they deserve to be among the nations elite. Too bad they don't. Missouri has lit up Illinois and an average Nebraska team and that is it. Oklahoma has the best offensive line in college football and will play this game the way everyone should against Missouri: run the ball right at them all day long. This does a couple of things. It will wear out Mizzou's D and it will keep Chase Daniel off of the field thus forcing the Tigers to press and try to make too many plays. This will put the Tigers into situations where Bob Stoops and Co. can bring the house and force some TO's. Missouri is still a good team but I just don't think they are in the same class as Oklahoma.


Arkansas 24 - Auburn 21

I am not sold on Auburn's offense, especially at the QB position. Brandon Cox is simply and average QB and it will cost them mightily in this game. Arkansas features the best RB duo in the nation in Darren McFadden and Felix Jones and will pound the rock 50 times a game (unless Houston Nutt finds a way of fucking this up...which is a distinct possibility). Auburn comes into this game banged at some key spots none of which is more important then stud DE Quentin Groves (dislocated toes). Assuming Groves can play, there is no way he will be 100% so look for Arkansas to run the ball right at Groves and make him tackle RunDMC and Jones.


Michigan 27 - Purdue 24

This is a very interesting game. Purdue runs a spread system and we all know how horrible Michigan is against the spread. However, Boilermaker QB Curtis Painter is not a threat to run the football which should help the inept Michigan D. Look for Mike Hart to get his usual 35 carries and 170+ yards and grind out the clock and keep the Purdue offense off of the field. The only way Michigan loses this game is if they put the ball on the ground giving Purdue a short field to work with. But seeing as how Hart never fumbles the ball, this is highly unlikely.


Boston College 31 - Notre Dame 14

Hide your pre-pubescent boys because the Catholics are coming. In a battle for religious supremacy I like the boys from Chestnut Hill to take down ND in a big way. The only way ND doesn't get blown out is if BC lets UCLA coach Karl Dorrel coach this game and turn the ball over 7 times like UCLA did against the Irish. BC QB Matt Ryan is an absolute stud and should shred the Tom Zbikowski (or however the hell you spell it) and the Swiss cheese defense that he leads. Look for this game to be close for a half until BC realizes they can throw the ball 50 times for 500 yards and Chunky Charlie won't be able to do anything about it.


Penn State 17 - Wisconsin 16

This is a bitch of a game to pick because neither team is very good. Penn State has an anemic offense and Wisconsin will be without their best WR which should enable the Nittany Lions to stack the box in order to stop PJ Hill. If Hill is held in check, and I think he will, this should be one of the worst games to watch this college football season. Is it just me or does the Big 11 have at least one game each week that sets back offensive football at least 20 years? With both teams being so horribly average I will always take the home squad but please, I beg of you, watch another game. This one could literally bore you to death.


LSU 27 - Kentucky 20

The Tigers are riding high after their huge win over Florida which is why I have this game being closer than most. I think this will be a slight let down game due to everyone inside of the SEC still taking Kentucky lightly. Look for UK to jump out to a 7 or 10 point lead until reality sets in and LSU hammers them 27-10 after the 3rd quarter. I am not sold on Les Miles as a coach which is why I see this game being closer than it should be. The key match up in this game will be Wildcat Andre Woodson against the ridiculous LSU secondary. If Woodson gets hot this game could be very interesting as he is the best QB in the nation. Too bad he cannot play defense.


Kansas State 20 - Colorado 17

This should be a very competitive game featuring 2 of the best defenses you have never seen. Wildcat Coach Ron Prince has yet to put a productive offense on the field but his defenses are nasty (see the Texas game). Colorado has played well thus far with their only losses coming against Free Shoe and Arizona State (both ranked teams). Dan Hawkins is a very good coach and his offense has looked the part at times this year but it is CU's defense that looks so impressive. Look for this to be a knock down, drag out fight between two hard hitting defenses. I am taking KSU because they are at home and can ill-afford to lose 2 straight conference games at home.


Miami 17 - Georgia Tech 14

This is a very interesting game. Tech (specifically coach Chan Gailey) find themselves in a must-win situation. Having lost to Virginia, Boston College and Maryland the Jackets cannot afford another loss, especially to a team that is not very good. Miami is coming off of a terrible loss to North Carolina and Coach Randy Shannon could use a solid home win. This is the same Miami squad that hammered Texas A&M in the Orange Bowl which leads me to believe that they can pull this one out at home. Look for this to be a classic defensive struggle with Miami making one more play than Tech.