Welcome to Week Seven of The Lowe Down. Alright folks, we are reaching the halfway point of our lengthy quest to determine who the top team in college football is and at the moment that answer is left for the future to hold. But for now, we can look at the present. No DeLorean. No time travel. No. Dr. Brown. Just the present. And the present gives us a fabulous slate of college football games on the docket for Week Seven. We have yet to see a wild and whacky weekend chock full of upsets, but don’t be surprised to see that happen in this the second weekend of October. Last week’s record was 16-1, bringing the yearly record to 97-21. To the games we go…
My full list of Top 25 and NFL expert picks can be found here: https://www.lindyssports.com/lindys-picks-to-click
Twitter @MattLowe777
Saturday, October 12
No. 12 Oklahoma (5-0, 2-0 Big 12) vs. Texas (3-2, 2-0 Big 12) (Dallas, TX) 11:00 p.m. CT
If this year’s game is anything like the last two (Oklahoma has outscored Texas 118-38) then the Red River Rivalry might be a Red River blowout. The Sooners have won nine of the last 13 meetings in the series, including the last three in a row, and are clearly the better team entering this matchup. Oklahoma quarterback Blake Bell has been everything the Sooners had hoped and more since taking over the starting quarterback role. Bell has completed over 70 percent of his passes for 835 yards and six TDs while running for 175 yards. Bell’s play, along with an improving defense, are two reasons why the Sooners are off to a fast start. And those are two primary reasons why OU will roll over Texas for a third straight season.
The Lowe Down: Oklahoma 57, Texas 20
No. 25 Missouri (5-0, 1-0 SEC) at No. 7 Georgia (4-1, 3-0 SEC) 11:00 p.m. CT
Before the season began, there were no reports of a black cat crossing the Bulldogs bus en route to the showdown with Clemson, nor were there reports that the team had been cast under the spell of an anonymous sorcerer. But entering Week Seven of the college football season, Mark Richt’s club has been put under some kind of wicked yet undetermined injury spell that’s ripped into the team’s depth at two crucial positions, most notably receiver and running back — the team lost breakout WR Justin Scott-Wesley and stud tailback Keith Marshall in the win over Tennessee. With that being said, Georgia still possesses one of the best O-lines and signal-callers in America in Aaron Murray, and Todd Gurley, arguably the team’s top offensive player, could return this week after injuring his ankle in the win over LSU. Squaring off against a high-powered Missouri team, which features a talented QB in its own right in James Franklin, it will be important that Georgia get Gurley back into the lineup. If he’s unable to go, expect the Bulldogs to be in yet another dog fight with so many key offensive performers out.
The Lowe Down: Missouri 34, Georgia 38
No. 14 South Carolina (4-1, 2-1 SEC) at Arkansas (3-3, 0-2 SEC) 11:21 p.m. CT
It’s hard to tell how the Jadeveon Clowney saga is affecting the South Carolina team internally, but, regardless, the Gamecocks are a lot more dangerous defensively when he plays. That will be the case Saturday when South Carolina travels to Fayetteville to take on a Razorback team in dire need of a big win. To do that, Arkansas will have to crank up its ground game behind tailbacks Alex Collins and Jonathan Williams, two of the country’s top rushers, and get some big plays on defense. Last week Collins and Williams had trouble getting on track against Florida’s rugged D, but the two should find the going a little easier this week against South Carolina. The Gamecocks have been vulnerable to good rushing attacks and that could put Steve Spurrier’s team in rough waters come Saturday.
The Lowe Down: South Carolina 30, Arkansas 28
Boston College (3-2, 1-1 ACC) at No. 3 Clemson (5-0, 3-0 ACC) 2:30 p.m. CT
Although Clemson plays one of its biggest games of the year next weekend when Florida State comes to town, it must not sleep on a scrappy Boston College club that features one of the nation’s top runners (Andrew Williams, 768 yards and seven TDs), a veteran quarterback (Chase Rettig) and a talented linebacking corps. If the Tigers get caught looking ahead, the Eagles have the potential to give Dabo Swinney’s team a lot of problems. But in the end, Clemson is just too talented for BC.
The Lowe Down: Boston College 24, Clemson 43
No. 17 Florida (4-1, 3-0 SEC) at No. 10 LSU (5-1, 2-1 SEC) 2:30 p.m. CT
In recent seasons, this has been one of the more physical matchups in the country for the simple fact that both programs take tremendous pride in playing good, sound defense. Although LSU is in somewhat of a rebuilding mode on that side of the ball this year, the Tigers still have the capability to rise up and stymie an opponent. Will that happen this weekend against the resurgent Gators? It could. But LSU will have to rattle Jeff Driskel’s replacement at QB, Tyler Murphy, for that to happen. Murphy has played lights out since taking over for Driskel in the Tennessee game and his teammates seem to have rallied around him. LSU’s offense can score and score in bunches, but it will be challenged by Florida’s No. 2 ranked run defense (65.0 ypg) and No. 4 scoring defense (12.2 ppg) in what should be a great game.
The Lowe Down: LSU 24, Florida 17
No. 14 Baylor (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) at Kansas State (2-3, 0-2 Big 12) 2:30 p.m. CT
Alright, this is it. The game in which the Bears really start getting the attention they deserve. The 2:30 time slot on college football Saturdays is the one of the premier times to play, and don’t be surprised to see highlight after highlight of Baylor running over, through and past a rebuilding Wildcat defense if you choose to watch another game. Like I said last week, this Baylor team has a number of NFL prospects on offense and defense and it’s an extremely fun squad to watch. It’s also a very good team with a lot of experience.
The Lowe Down: Baylor 68, Kansas State 27
No. 2 Oregon (5-0, 2-0 Pac-12) at No. 16 Washington (4-1, 1-1 Pac-12) 3:00 p.m. CT
Sooner or later somebody has to give Oregon a game and this might be the spot where it happens. Last weekend Steve Sarkisian’s team hung with Stanford all the way to the final horn by playing hard-nosed football in all three phases of the game. Against the high-scoring Ducks, the Huskies will need that same kind of effort if they want to shock the nation and pull the upset. Washington quarterback Keith Price is a good player who can make things happen with his legs and right arm, but he must avoid mistakes in this game to give the Huskies a chance. Mistakes lead to points against Oregon and one way to beat the Ducks is to avoid them on offense. If Washington plays defense like it’s been doing, it should be alright. Be again, the key for the Huskies will be controlling the clock on offense and avoiding the costly mistakes.
The Lowe Down: Oregon 34, Washington 30
No. 5 Stanford (5-0, 3-0 Pac-12) at Utah (3-2, 0-2 Pac-12) 5:00 p.m. CT
Stanford hung on to beat a good Washington team last week but it must avoid a letdown on the road against an always-tough Utah team at home if it wants to keep its Pac-12 — and national title — hopes alive. The Cardinal relies on the run to set up the play-action for quarterback Kevin Hogan, but it may look to the air more often considering the Utes have been horrible against the pass this season. Stanford has a good vertical passing game and here it will show. But this will be a tighter game than expected.
The Lowe Down: Stanford 30, Utah 23
No. 1 Alabama (5-0, 2-0 SEC) at Kentucky (1-4, 0-2 SEC) 6:00 p.m. CT
Now that Kentucky has settled on the athletic Jalen Whitlow as its quarterback, it should be able to improve on offense. Bottom line: Maxwell Smith was just didn’t make enough plays. When receivers are open, a QB has to hit ‘em. It’s as simple as that. Whitlow is a lot more accurate than Smith, and he can make plays with his feet too. He’s the best fit for the UK offense moving forward. But regardless who’s behind center for the Wildcats, Alabama’s defense is a tough matchup for any team. That will be the case for Kentucky, but it has a better chance for success due to the absence of one of the Crimson Tide’s best players, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, who was suspended for accepting money from an assistant coach. Clinton-Dix should be able to return soon, but his loss is a big blow to Alabama’s defense. Regardless, the Tide rolls.
The Lowe Down: Alabama 38, Kentucky 14
No. 9 Texas A&M (4-1, 1-1 SEC) at Ole Miss (3-2, 1-2 SEC) 7:30 p.m. CT
In a scheduling faux pas, Texas A&M plays at Ole Miss again this season after beating the Rebels by a three ball (30-27) a year ago. So will the result be the same this year as last year? Maybe, but Ole Miss has a chance in this game and here’s why: A) This week it was announced that Texas A&M defensive lineman Kirby Ennis, a senior, was lost for the year due to a knee injury. B) That puts true freshman Isaiah Golden in the starting lineup. C) Ole Miss’ weakness is its offensive line. The last two weeks Alabama and Auburn were able to get pressure on Rebel QB Bo Wallace and force him into some bad decisions. D) Considering the Aggies rank 118th in sacks (four all year), I don’t think they’ll be able to mount enough pass rush to disrupt the Rebels O. Hence points galore and big numbers from Johnny Manziel and Wallace in what should be a thriller.
The Lowe Down: Texas A&M 55, Ole Miss 52
In other Saturday games:
Iowa State 20, No. 20 Texas Tech 45
Pittsburgh 13, No. 24 Virginia Tech 31
Indiana 31, Michigan State 28
Western Carolina 10, Auburn 58
Syracuse 17, NC State 38
Akron 17, No. 23 Northern Illinois 45
Georgia Tech 20, BYU 24
California 14, No. 11 UCLA 55