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College Football, Week 4: Let the Games Begin

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Things settled down a little bit last week, though there were some absolutely crazy moments like that deflected App State Hail Mary that somehow still became a touchdown (Sun Belt, Fun Belt).

But you had some great match-ups and more predictable results. However, there are several tough match-ups that the betting odds may not be adequately prepared for. We’re now on Week 4 of college football, and some of the old rivalries are in play while other teams have to go out and continue proving they’ve truly earned their rankings. Here’s a look at the top games of the week.

No. 5 Clemson at No. 21 Wake Forest

This one is very likely a Clemson win, but you shouldn’t be surprised if Wake Forest makes it a tough game. This ACC match-up features the Tigers on a 9-game win streak (now the longest in the nation after the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns lost to Rice last week) (I am bitter about that loss, by the way), and they have beaten Wake Forest 13 straight times. That No. 5 ranking is not for show, either. Clemson boasts a lot of powerful tools. But, Wake Forest has a chance of lighting things up, assuming they can protect their quarterback (something they have struggled with in past meetings with the Tigers).

No. 20 Florida at No. 11 Tennessee

An SEC, ranked-versus-ranked match-up which should just be fun. Tennessee is at home, ranked higher, and is currently enjoying a solid start to the season. They are third in the nation in scoring offense, and Florida… is not. But, Florida is going to be aggressive on both sides of the ball, and if the Vols’ defense doesn’t watch out, Anthony Richardson is going to be a problem. The Gators have always had good luck against Tennessee, winning 16 of their past 17 meetings. Much as I like Billy Napier, though, this one is going to be a challenge for Florida.

Wisconsin at No. 3 Ohio State

The Badgers are 2-1, but their defense has only allowed three touchdowns in as many games. They clearly hope that Washington State was a hiccup rather than the norm, but Ohio State is going to be a tough one. The Buckeyes have a high-powered offense, which will put that Badger defense to the ultimate test. If C.J. Stroud is not under any sort of pressure, then it’s business as usual for Ohio State.

No. 10 Arkansas vs. No. 23 Texas A&M

Sure, you’re an SEC team and you’re No. 10 in the rankings. You’re riding high with a great start to the season, staying undefeated at home. But now you’re on the road, taking on another SEC team, and one that has recovered from a painful loss to App State early in the season. The Razorbacks have their reasons for feeling confident. They are absolutely stellar at sacking the quarterback – 17 sacks so far this season. Of course, when you rush all the time, you can get those numbers… while also sacrificing coverage. They’re last in the nation at defending against the pass, and the Aggies’ defense has allowed only two touchdowns this year. Meanwhile, Devon Achane is a thing that is going to happen. A lot.

Maryland at No. 4 Michigan

It’s quite possible the inflation crisis has hit Michigan’s ranking. No. 4 after beating Colorado State, Hawaii, and Connecticut? Sure. I mean, the Wolverines have put up incredible numbers, but how much do those numbers mean against those opponents? Meanwhile, Maryland is 3-0 and has actually had a schedule. The Wolverines may justify that ranking, but they’re going to have to work for it a bit more this week.

Notre Dame at North Carolina

Okay, Notre Dame. Let’s have a talk. I don’t know what you’re doing, or why you’re doing it. But it’s time to settle down and take this seriously. You’re fighting to break even, and it’s against North Carolina. They’re unbeaten so far, but they scored 98 points in the last two games and still almost lost them, both to Sun Belt teams (Georgia State and App State). The Irish started the year ranked (highly!) and have absolutely collapsed. They are more than likely out of contention for anything remotely comparable to recent years, but they have to prove they are still a team to watch. The Tar Heels, meanwhile, need to find a defense.

The Bottom Line

Mostly, it’s a put-up-or-shut-up week for a lot of teams across the country. We’re starting to get a better idea of what each team brings to the table (except for Michigan because, seriously, what the hell?) and how they’re going to match up against their opponents. Unlike the NFL (damnit Saints), injuries aren’t having too much impact on the games, so we’re seeing most of these teams at their peak (except, again, for Michigan).

College Football, Week 3: Keep an Eye on the Sun Belt

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The Sun Belt Conference might be one of the frustrating conferences in college football.

They were responsible for three major upsets last week. Appalachian State had a major upset over Texas A&M – so much an upset that ESPN chose Boone, North Carolina, to be the location of this week’s College Gameday – and shook a lot of things up. Marshall, meanwhile, took advantage of a struggling Notre Dame squad and sent them to the locker room with an embarrassing defeat. Then, Georgia Southern upset Nebraska so badly that they fired coach Scott Frost, buying out his $16 million contract rather than waiting mere weeks when it would be trimmed in half.

But, those aren’t the only three teams to look at. The Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns have the longest win streak in the country, traveling to pick up their 16th win this weekend against Rice. Coastal Carolina routinely makes waves, too. Liberty is no slouch. It’s a conference that does good things, but man they simply can’t break into the big leagues.

Yet.

Here are the top games for the week.

#1 Georgia at South Carolina

It would not be unheard of to see South Carolina make a solid attempt at an upset, but that would require Georgia’s offense to collapse a bit. Not sure that the Gamecocks have the defensive capabilities to pressure Stetson Bennett to the point that he’s off his game. One of the biggest worries for Georgia going into the season this year, though, was their defense, and while they’ve stood up to some challenges already, this may be their biggest test yet.

#2 Alabama vs. Louisiana-Monroe

Alabama needs a dominant performance across the board after last week’s near-loss to Texas. Bryce Young proved he is one of the best (if not the best) quarterbacks in the nation, but the collapse of Alabama’s offensive line under pressure and their defense’s struggles to contain the Longhorns’ offense revealed some weaknesses. That, and the team’s lack of discipline led to the most penalties in the modern era, which is a huge black eye on an otherwise disciplined record under Nick Saban. They are easy to frustrate, and some team will take advantage of that soon.

#12 BYU at #25 Oregon

BYU has had a stellar start to the season while Oregon has been on a slide since their Week 1 loss to Georgia. Now, the Ducks are looking for an upset of their own, and BYU might offer the opportunity. BYU went 5-0 against the Pac-12 last season, but injuries to star receivers Gunner Romney and Puka Nacua have had the team worried. Still, they are both reportedly on the mend and it’s expected we’ll see them play. Oregon, meanwhile, has beaten 29 non-conference visitors in a row. A win in Eugene might just help push BYU into the Top 10, depending on how the rest of the Top 25 slate goes today.

#13 Miami at #24 Texas A&M

The Aggies are looking to make a statement today after being upset by App State last week. Miami comes in 2-0 with wins against teams that really didn’t challenge them. This will be the best test of their No. 13 spot in the Top 25. The Aggies, under Jimbo Fisher, do have a lot of work to do. They couldn’t get anything going offensively last week, and that’s a problem for an SEC that has anti-Alabama ambitions next month. Miami could really use an SEC win, on the road, to really get this season going.

Texas Tech at #16 North Carolina State

Texas Tech upset Houston. They have some momentum. They also have the personnel to do the same here. NC State, meanwhile, started the season with their highest-ever pre-season ranking (No. 12) and found themselves slipping after a narrow win over East Carolina. However, they have Devin Leary at quarterback, and he is certainly capable of making things happen out on the field.

Appalachian State vs. Troy

Sun Belt, Fun Belt, baby. This conference game should be good, because while App State can have stellar non-conference upsets, there is also a different challenge when it comes to conference games. Troy used to be the dominant name in the conference, but App State has been stealing headlines, and other teams have overtaken Troy in recent years. App State is just talented and has the most electric charisma you’ll see in any team right now.

Other Stories Of The Week

SEC action as LSU takes on Mississippi State, Notre Dame hosts a must-win game against the Cal Golden Bears, and Kansas goes out against Houston to prove that they aren’t just a basketball school. There are a lot of great games to keep an eye on today, and the potential for even more upsets. The most exciting game of the week is probably BYU at Oregon, but it’s really hard to limit that label to just one game.