The North Carolina Tar Heels are coming off a brutal 34-3 loss to Virginia Tech in a game that had major implications in the overall outlook for the ACC last week. Fast-forward seven days and now it’s the Tar Heels turn to take a shot at a ranked opponent after falling out of the top-25. Here is a look at the top four ranked teams on upset alert for week seven of the college football season.
#1 Alabama Crimson Tide @ #9 Tennessee Volunteers
Saturday, 3:30 PM ET
The defending national champion Crimson Tide are coming off their fifth double-digit win and sixth straight victory overall to open the season after dismissing Arkansas on the road with a 19-point win last week. The entire college football world is wondering if this Alabama team is actually better than last year’s national champion and they will have another chance to prove it this week at Tennessee. This will be the Tide’s second road game against a top-25 opponent in a row and the Vols should be that much more motivated following their first loss of the season. Tennessee can’t afford to drop two in a row to top SEC opponents so look for them to throw everything they have at Alabama and put the Tide on upset alert.
#3 Clemson Tigers vs. NC State Wolfpack
Saturday, 12:00 PM ET
Clemson followed up its biggest win of the season over Louisville with a 56-10 blowout win over Boston College to solidify their status as the cream of the crop in the ACC. That said, they certainly can’t afford to let their foot off the gas with NC State in town this week. The Wolfpack improved to 4-1 with a 10-3 win in hurricane-like conditions against Notre Dame last week and they are certainly a loose bunch heading in to this game. NC State might not be as talented as Clemson but they could hang around with Deshaun Watson and company if the Tigers take their eye off the ultimate goal this week.
#12 Ole Miss Rebels @ #22 Arkansas Razorbacks
Saturday, 7:00 PM ET
Ole Miss has bounced back from a tough 48-43 loss to Alabama with back-to-back wins over Georgia and Memphis, but they will be on upset alert this week. They have a tough test this week on the road at Arkansas. Interestingly enough, the Razorbacks are also coming off a loss to Alabama, so if they can pull off this upset, they’ll be in similar standing to Ole Miss in the SEC having lost to the Tide and another ranked SEC team.
The Rebels’ schedule is absolutely brutal and the Razorbacks will be looking to make them pay for it. Arkansas is coming off a tough loss to Alabama but they will hope to leave it in the rearview mirror with the opportunity to bounce back in what could be a statement win. The Razorbacks are talented enough to win this game outright at home so look for them to put Ole miss on upset alert this weekend.
#16 Miami Hurricanes vs. North Carolina Tar Heels
Saturday, 3:30 PM ET
The Tar Heels will look to play spoiler this week with a chance to hand Miami its second loss in a row following a close 20-19 loss to Florida State last week. The Hurricanes dropped to No. 16 in the AP Top-25 but that close loss certainly hasn’t put them completely out of the conversation in the ACC championship race. However, a loss to North Carolina would do exactly that, so it’s important for Miami to refocus in another key home game.
Miami is coming off a tough loss to the Seminoles after a missed extra point at the end of the game cost them a chance at the win. What’s interesting is that North Carolina beat Florida State on the road on a last second field goal, while Florida State beat Miami on the road, so that shows that the Tar Heels are more than capable of the upset in this spot.
The Hurricanes have a tough stretch with North Carolina in town this week before back-to-back road games at Virginia Tech and Notre Dame, although the Irish seem to be a pushover this year. They certainly can’t afford to get caught looking ahead when they face a potential upset alert this week.
