Dark is the sky above. The clouds revealing no love. A gentle breeze fluttering like a dove. This cup of coffee fits like a glove.

It was after 2 AM on the East Coast when the Boise St Broncos etched the final W of the day in beautiful Honolulu turning the final page of Chapter 7 with an easy 28-7 victory. What a day it was. Missouri Kicked off in Amherst at exactly 10:01 AM on their way to an easy 41-3 win, and football would be on for the next 14-15 hours. It was a day full of great matchups and a few standout performances. I’m currently sitting at my bar top Paying the Piper for Shortchanging the Sandman during last night’s brief Slumber at 5:22 on this pitch-black Sunday Morning. Worth it. Yesterday is why I love this sport.

Let’s begin with who is left undefeated after the action.

 Undefeated Teams After Week 7:

• Texas 34-3 over OU (UGA)
• Oregon 32-31 over OH-IO (PUR)
• Miami BYE (UL)
• Indiana BYE (NEB)
• Penn St 33-30 over USC (WIS)
• Pittsburgh 17-15 over CAL (SYR)
• Brigham Young 41-19 over Arizona (OK ST)
• Army 44-10 over UAB (ECU)
• Navy BYE (CHA)
• Liberty 31-24 over FIU (KENN ST)
•   Iowa St 28-16 over WVU (UCF)

We entered the Week with twelve undefeated teams and only lost one due to the Oregon and Ohio St matchup necessarily requiring a loser, which neither team wanted to be. What a game. Two teams that should be in the 12 at the end.

A team that is the outskirts of the playoffs at this point in the season is Mississippi. After beginning the year in the playoff conversation, the team from Oxford now has two losses after playing ugly in a 29-26 OT loss in Baton Rouge. This game was ugly by every since of the word, and the game lasted over 4 hours. I was impressed with a couple of players on both teams, but the two teams themselves played ugly football. After losing to three loss USC in Week 1, LSU still has a playoff chance in front of them at 5-1. Although, I don’t think anyone would give them a chance against the clear-cut top 4 teams in the country. Who are those 4? I’ll get to it. Alabama is not one of them.

Nor is Tennessee. “Crist almighty. It’s like I’m playing Cards with my brothers’ kids or something. You nerve rackin sons of bitches.”- Johnny Tyler in “Tombstone.” I’m out on the Vols. I’m out on Heupel. A weak and broken under coached Gator squad was inside Neyland waiting to be stomped and what did TN do? Played NOT to lose. The Vols won 23-17 in OT. I’m happy they won because I’m close with a few of their most passionate fans…one in particular. He made the 6–7 hour drive to Fayetteville last week to watch that ugly road loss, and above all else, I wanted him to get a W last night. Although, a loss might’ve freed up his time on Saturdays because I’m quite sure that he was done with all football forever if the Vols lost to the flopping Florida Gators at home. Tennessee’s defense does warrant a mention. They are elite. Some absolute bone crushers that remain disciplined on the edge, hit hard on every play, and over the past two weeks have given the offense plenty of chances to run away with the game. I freaking loved watching them last night. The only good part of that game. Having only one loss, the Vols season is still very much in front of them, and for all I know, they could get their Chi together and win the whole damn thing, but personally, I don’t think they have a prayer. They are not even in my top 10 after their last two showings. Nerve rackin sons of bitches. Moving on.

Enough with the negative. Who has one loss and is impressing?

• Georgia obviously. The Dogs take on Texas next Saturday Night, but more on that another day.
• Memphis. Gotta shout out the Hometown Tigers. North Texas on deck.
• Alabama? Nah. Only for about 50 percent of the time. UT next.
• Kansas St is the real reason I wanted to make this list. One of my favorite games from yesterday.

Colorado impressively came back at home against Kansas St to make the fourth quarter ‘must watch.’

CU QB Shadeur Sanders threw for 388 yards and 3 TD and completed 34/40 throws. He was erratic at times and cost his team field position on more than 3-4 occasions, but also delivered some beautifully thrown balls to his talent around him. Sanders was without his most talented player for most of the game. WR/DB Travis Hunter remained alert and upbeat with his helmet in hand for the entire second half, but never saw the field. He appeared to injure his shoulder, but I am unsure at this moment. The impressive Colorado QB play was not enough, however.

Kansas St held a 14-7 lead at the break and did enough in the final stages to escape with a 31-28 win. They did so on the back of one impressive player. Junior Running Back DJ Giddens finished the game with 27 touches and 220 scrimmage yards gained. Time after time, he bowled through the half hazard tackle attempts by the Buffaloes and punished defensive backs who looked like they had zero interest in the confrontation. Giddens did have one crucial drop that would’ve resulted in a drive extending first down late in the game, but we are all allowed to make a mistake. A win is a win, and none of his teammates will remember the drop, but DJ probably is thinking about it right now. One player I’d like to mention is Kansas St backup QB Ta’Quon Roberson. In a sudden turn of events, Roberson was called upon to make his first appearance of the season in the second half after starter Avery Johnson needed treatment after collapsing on his own after completing a 33-yard pass. He was favoring his oblique. The UCONN transfer stepped in and let me tell you, looked confident. The 23-year-old remained poised in his limited action. He was only 2/3 for 14 yards, but he most notably was not afraid of the moment. I think it bodes well for a team to have such calm experience backing up the QB. It is something to keep in mind if Avery misses any time. Sophomore WR added 6 catches for 121 yards and 2 TD’s, and Avery Johnson did well as he battled his oblique injury ending the game 15/23 for 224 yards and 2 TD’s.     

Kansas St is tough. They had a difficult time covering #14 WR Shepherd, but this team has moxie. Their only loss happened in front of my eyes in Provo when Brigham punished them by 30, and that Cougar team is 6-0 and 6-0 ATS. WAGON.

Penn St beat Southern Cal and Illinois beat Purdue. Read “Live Thoughts with Whit” from yesterday. The ending of those games were nuts.

Iowa St held firm control in Morgantown the latter 75 percent of the game and soundly won 28-16. Matt Campbell has a disciplined squad that does all the little things well. 6-0 and cruising in the BIG12.

My beautiful bride is awake now and I have the most needed cup of Freedom Roast in front of me.

Boise St Ashton Jeanty ended the game with 34 touches for 237 yards and 3 TD’s. He is doing it every week. Keep rollin Broncos.

A quick look at my PICK results for Week 7.

Week 7 Games

BAMA -21.5 LOSS

WASH +2.5 LOSS

TEXAS -14.5 WIN

CAL +3.5 WIN

PSU -5.5 LOSS

BYU -4.5 WIN

VOLS -15.5 LOSS

OSU -3.5 LOSS

MISS -2.5 LOSS

ISU -3.5 WIN

KSU -4.5 LOSS

Hawaii +21.5 WIN

5-7 for the week

Of course, Old Dominion +1.5 won outright, and that was the one that mattered the most. 6-1 picking Sun Belt games this season.

I’ll preview Week 8 soon and post the Pick Sheet. 9 games on it right now, but I might add a 10^th.

College Football is so much fun to watch. The atmosphere, the raw emotion, the passion, the irregular plays, the future NFL talent displayed, the anger of fans, the irrationality of sports media, all of it. There is still so much to say about yesterday. I encourage you to read my two posts from yesterday to gain insight into the other games that took place.

And finally, I am firmly impressed with only 4 teams right now:

1. Texas
2. Oregon
3. Ohio St
4. Georgia

That’s it. The last half of the Story will tell us if another team merits mention.

Don’t get me wrong, these are not the only 4 that can win the Title, but these are the four that at 6:30AM sitting in my underlit kitchen, I would be ok backing to win it all.

Let’s have a beautiful Sunday. Scott Hanson is on this afternoon to lull me into a slumber during RedZone. My FF is destined to lose this week as Three of my top 4 draft picks are not playing, but who cares? It’s football. Football is fun. Right Coach Boone?

Find the Humor and keep on Movin’

Whit W