College Football Week 4 Viewer's Guide
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by Nejoshi
Through three weeks of the college football season, there is an evident gap between the sport’s top teams and the rest of the nation. The five schools, USC, LSU, Florida, Oklahoma, and West Virginia, at the top of the polls have clearly distinguished themselves at the top of the rankings and it’s becoming more and more likely that two of those five will take the field for the BCS National Championship Game on January 7.
USC and Florida passed their tests with flying colors a week ago, and get much deserving breathers this week. The Trojans host 2-0 Washington State where they are three touchdown favorites, while the Gators travel to face Ole Miss where they are also three touchdown favorites. #2 LSU, however, must prepare for the surging South Carolina Gamecocks, a program that Steve Spurrier has going in the right direction in only his third year with the school. That match-up looks to be the Game of Week 4 in an otherwise slow week of college football.
Picks for the week’s best games:
#12 South Carolina (3-0) @ #2 LSU (3-0) The Gamecocks were unranked two short weeks ago, but have all of a sudden climbed up to the brink of the top 10. Even though the road win against Georgia is nice, the Bulldogs look like only an average team at bets. The same can’t be said for LSU. The Tigers defense will eat Blake Mitchell and his 1:1 TD/INT ratio alive all night in Death Valley. Mitchell has relied on Kenny McKinley for a majority of the pass offense, but the Tigers top-notch secondary shouldn’t have much trouble shutting him down. The running back duo of Cory Boyd and Mike Davis (averaging 169 yards a game) will have issues coming anywhere near that when the face a defense that has allowed only 90 rushing yards total through three games. LSU rolls at home, waiting for its showdown with Florida in two weeks.
LSU, 23-10
#10 Penn St. (3-0) @ Michigan (1-2) Many are wondering just how good Joe Paterno’s team is after consecutive victories over lightweights Florida International, Notre Dame, and Buffalo. This week offers the Nittany Lions an interesting test against the Wolverines, a team Paterno hasn’t defeated in 11 years. Many believe Michigan found their footing during its 38-0 win over Notre Dame last week, (Penn St. beat the Irish 31-10) but it’s hard to ignore that this team has lost two of three games in the Big House. It’s uncertain whether or not Chad Henne will be able to play in this game; if true freshman Ryan Mallet is forced to start this game, then Lloyd Carr’s club could be in for a long day on Saturday against Paterno’s gritty D.
Penn St., 27-20
#21 Kentucky (3-0) @ Arkansas (1-1) The last time these two teams met, they became embroiled in the longest game in college football history, with Arkansas winning 71-63 in a record tying seven overtimes. Both teams are coming off emotional, gut wrenching performances last week, with the Wildcats coming out on top and Arkansas’s comeback attempt at Alabama falling short. Andre Woodson has become a Heisman candidate and was better than Brian Brohm during the closing moment’s of Kentucky’s uproarious victory against Louisville last week. Expect another big game from Woodson as well as Heisman favorite Darren McFadden, whose put up 199 yards and two scores in last week’s loss. His absence during the closing minutes of that game, however, made much more news than his scintillating performance. This game is tough to call, but the Razorbacks running game should wear out Kentucky’s defense.
Arkansas, 28-24
#22 Georgia (2-1) @ #16 Alabama (3-0) The Crimson Tide blew a 31-10 lead against Arkansas only to score 10 points in the final five minutes to escape with an exhilarating 41-38 win. Nick Saban has already made an impression in Tuscaloosa with an explosive offense that is averaging 465 yards through three games. The Bulldogs, meanwhile, haven’t looked all that great this season and are in need of a spark. Matt Stafford is only completing 58% of his passes, and is still looking for a reliable threat to throw the ball to. The defense has been the team’s strength ever since Mark Richt was brought in to coach this team, and that unit will be on the hot seat Saturday night. Saban’s team just has too much momentum for Georgia to pull off the road victory in this one. But, the game will probably be decided in the final moments.
Alabama, 20-17
Upset Special:
Miami (2-1) over #20 Texas A&M (3-0) Randy Shannon and his team were embarrassed in their first attempt at a ranked Big 12 opponent, falling to OU 51-13 two shorts weeks ago. This time around, however, the Hurricanes get to play their opponent in the Orange Bowl and under the lights of a Thursday night crowd. Sophomore Jorvorskie Lane of Texas A&M has already won for seven touchdowns this season, and is a load to bring down. However, he isn’t the only threat the Aggies have at running back, with Stephen McGee and Mike Goodson forming a solid three headed monster at tailback. With no foreseeable potential upsets, I’m making a reach by picking the Hurricanes to upset A&M tonight, but I think Shannon will have his boys ready to play.
Keep Your Eyes On
Iowa (2-1) @ #9 Wisconsin (3-0) The Badgers have failed to impress yet this season, escaping UNLV with a shaky road win in Week 2, then allowing 31 points to The Citadel last week. Last year, the defense was the undeniable strength, but this season Bret Bielema’s D has been average, allowing over 300 yards a game with over 100 yards rushing, unacceptable figures for what was supposed to be one of the Big 10’s best teams. Iowa’s defense has been stout so far this season, allowing less than 63 yards a game without giving up a touchdown through three games. Kirk Ferentz’s team may not be able to pull of the big upset, but they will make it very close.
Last Week: 4-1
Season: 9-6
