Say what you want, but week six of the college football season was the best Saturday of ball that I have watched in at least five years. Any time that Alabama is upset by an unranked opponent is a big deal. But it felt like every single game had meaning and excitement. The Red River Showdown was one for the books, Ole Miss and Arkansas put on an all-time classic, Michigan nearly lost to Nebraska, and BYU finally fell. At no point in the day was there a boring game going. It was an all-time great Saturday, and it only makes me more excited for this week. Here are our top three college football picks for week seven.
No. 19 BYU vs Baylor
Here are two opinions that might be somewhat unpopular. Baylor should be a ranked team and this game should have been the ESPN College Gameday location for this week over Georgia. Baylor has been a pleasant surprise in the Big 12 and they are still alive in the conference hunt for a championship. The Bears are coming off a massive win over West Virginia while BYU is coming off their first loss of the year. If the Bears can pull out a win against a ranked opponent in Waco, they will be in the top 25 again and they will set themselves up for some epic matchups to end the year. This is a Big 12 staple against a future conference foe and I’m all for it. Prediction: Baylor
TCU vs No. 4 Oklahoma
The Sooners are coming off one of the best games we have seen in a very long time in college football. It seemed like the Longhorns were going to run away with that game after the first quarter 28-7 lead, but Oklahoma took Spencer Rattler out, subbed in freshman Caleb Williams, and the rest is history. Now they have the ultimate letdown game on the schedule against a talented TCU squad. There is QB drama in Norman and Lincoln Riley suspended media availability after a student reporter observed Williams getting first-team reps from a nearby public building. There is likely tension in the Sooners locker room, and you have to wonder if their focus is elsewhere. Prediction: Oklahoma (but closer than you think)
No. 11 Kentucky vs No.1 Georgia
It is odd to see “number 1” next to Georgia’s name, but it might be even more bizarre to see “11” next to Kentucky. Well, for football anyway. Someway, somehow the Wildcats are thriving in the SEC this season. They have back-to-back wins over Florida and LSU. Now the ultimate test is taking on an all-time great defense in Athens. Georgia looks unstoppable but Kentucky has already surprised us more than we would have thought possible. Kentucky boasts a very good defense as well and this could be a “first to score 20 wins” kind of contest. Georgia has been tested this season, and they absolutely embarrassed both Arkansas and Auburn. Kentucky will play them tougher, but I am not sold quite yet that a new number one will appear by next week. Prediction: Georgia