Week 7 College Review 2017

This weekend was primed for upset weekend and boy did it live up to that. Six ranked teams (including two playoff teams) were beaten by unranked opponents. It all started on Friday when Playoff team Clemson was upset by Syracuse. Clemson never looked like they were into the game and therefor even though they kept the game close you never got the feeling that they were going to win. That was followed up by Cal absolutely embarrassing Washington State. A key to both of these upsets is that they happened at the unranked opponents home.

That was followed on Saturday by Auburn loosing at LSU (Auburn has not beaten LSU in Baton Rouge since 2009), Navy loosing at Memphis (this was Memphis' second win against a ranked opponent this season at home), and Washington loosing to Arizona State in Tempe. The lone ranked team to lose at home was San Diego State who was destroyed by Boise State.

Oklahoma almost joined the list as they saw a 20-0 lead over Texas evaporate but managed to win 29-24.

Memphis, Virginia, and Toledo join the Top 20. As noted above Memphis has now beaten two top 25 teams (UCLA and Navy) at home this year. Navy, Auburn, and Utah fall out of the Top 20. Auburn now has two losses for the season and is all but eliminated from the playoff.

With Washington and Clemson loosing they fall out of the playoffs. Welcome TCU and Miami to the playoffs.

Playoff Team

Alabama (7-0)

Alabama did what it was supposed to do, easily defeat a far inferior team in Arkansas. Maybe Hog fans can take solace that at half they were only down 24-0. They should not. Yes they had a back-up quarterback starting but this game was never close. Alabama scored a rushing touchdown on their very first play. Arkansas, on both sides of the ball, looked like it expected to loose. Alabama is the king of the sandbox until someone can knock them off. No one in the SEC looks able to do that.

Up next: at home against Tennessee

Playoff Team

Penn State (6-0)

Penn State had the week off and got to avoid any possibility for an upset

Up next: at home against #11 Michigan

Playoff Team

TCU (6-0)

TCU easily handled Kansas State 26-6 in a game that was delayed from 11 am to 2 pm and then was delayed against during the game due to storms.

Up next: at home against Kansas

Playoff Team

Miami (5-0)

Miami survived Georgia Tech 25-24 in a game that was actually tailor made for Georgia Tech's power option run game due to the rain. This is the second loss for Georgia Tech this season by one point. Miami's ability to survive these close battles is propelling them to the top this year.

Up next: at home against Syracuse

Rankings

Georgia takes the top spot in the Rankings this week. Unfortunately for Georgia the only way they get into the playoffs is if Alabama looses. That may not happen until the SEC Championship game where an undefeated Alabama would play a potentially undefeated Georgia. The winner is in the playoffs, the loser is out.

1. Georgia (7-0)(up 1): beat Missouri 53-28; up next: Off

2. Wisconsin (6-0)(up 4): beat Purdue 17-9; up next: at home against Maryland

3. Michigan State (5-1)(up 15): beat Minnesota 30-27: at home against Indiana

4. Notre Dame (5-1)(up 12): off; up next: at home against #5 USC

5. USC (6-1)(up 8): beat #18 Utah 28-27; up next: at #4 Notre Dame

6. Oklahoma (5-1)(up 2): beat Texas 29-24; up next: at Kansas State

7. Ohio State (6-1)(up 7): beat Nebraska 56-14; up next: off

8. Oklahoma State (5-1)(up 3): beat Baylor 59-16; up next: at Texas

9. Clemson (6-1)(down from playoff): lost to Syracuse 27-24; up next: off

10. South Florida (6-0)(no move): beat Cincinnati 33-3; up next: at Tulane

11. Michigan (5-1)(down 2): beat Indiana 27-20 (OT); up next: at Penn State

12. Virginia Tech (5-1)(up 3): off; up next: at home against North Carolina

13. North Carolina State (6-1)(up 4): beat Pitt 35-17; up next: off

14. Central Florida (5-0)(up 5): beat ECU 63-21; up next at Navy

15. Washington (6-1)(down from playoff): lost to Arizona State 13-7; up next: off

16. San Diego State (6-1)(down 11): lost to Boise State 31-14; up next: at home against Fresno

17. Washington State (6-1)(down 16): lost to Cal 37-3; up next: at home against Colorado

18. Memphis (5-1)(unranked): beat Navy 30-27; up next: at Houston (Thursday 10/19)

19. Virginia (5-1)(unranked): beat North Carolina 20-14; up next: at home against Boston College

20. Toledo (5-1)(unranked): beat Central Michigan 30-10; up next: at home against Akron

Worst of Week 7

​Nebraska and Arkansas

​Both teams looked lethargic against much better teams. They both looked like they knew they had no shot in beating a better team and did not put much of an effort up against Ohio State and Alabama. This goes straight to coaching. It would not surprise me to see both head coaches gone at the end of the year. With Nebraska on the hunt for a new Athletic Director it seems all but likely that the new AD will fire Riley when he comes in.

Best of Week 7

All of the upsets. It was a great week of football.

Game of the Week

​#5 USC at #4 Notre Dame