Buckeyes-Irish tops barrage of Top 25 games
Games to watch in college football’s Week 4:
No. 3 Florida State at No. 23 Clemson
Saturday, noon EDT, ABC Spread (BetMGM): Florida State by 2.5
This was a date that both expected ACC contenders had circled from the outset, but the host Tigers now need this win even more after their Week 1 loss at Duke. The Seminoles haven’t beaten Clemson since 2014 but appear to have the team in place this year to end that streak. FSU QB Jordan Travis had an injury scare but finished the game at Boston College a week ago. The Eagles’ near comeback was concerning, but LB Kalen DeLoach and the Seminoles defense should be more dialed in this week. Clemson QB Cade Klubnik has made good use of WR Beaux Collins over the last couple of outings after a night of redzone frustration in the opening loss at Duke. LB Jeremiah Trotter will lead the Tigers defense in its bid to contain Travis.
Prediction: Consider last week’s second-half letdown a needed wake-up call for the Seminoles. Clemson will be ready, but its lack of explosiveness on offense will crop up once again as FSU pulls clear after halftime.
Florida State, 31-17
No. 25 UCLA at No. 10 Utah
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. EDT, Fox Spread: Utah by 4
The Pac-12 farewell tour kicks off in earnest this week with a trio of Top 25 tilts. The Utes and Bruins have staged some entertaining contests in recent seasons, including UCLA’s 42-32 shootout victory last year in Pasadena, California. QB Dante Moore has spread the ball well, but WR J.Michael Sturdivant has emerged as Moore’s most explosive weapon. The status of Utah QB Cam Rising, injured in last season’s Rose Bowl loss, remains uncertain. The Utes have managed thus far with Bryson Barnes and Nate Johnson splitting time, but more firepower might be needed to keep up with the Bruins.
Prediction: Utah’s defense has been the team’s strength during its recent run of success, but the Bruins have been able to solve it better than most in the Pac-12.*
Look for them to get a hard-fought win. UCLA, 34-21
No. 19 Colorado at No. 11 Oregon
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. EDT, ABC Spread: Oregon by 21
We’ll learn over the next two weeks if the remade Buffaloes are immediate Pac-12 contenders or if another season or two is needed. The first of the pivotal pair of games is this one in Eugene, where the Ducks are flying pretty high themselves. Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders will be without WR/CB Travis Hunter for the next few weeks, but WR Xavier Weaver and RB Dylan Edwards are also dangerous in open space. The Ducks counter with veteran QB Bo Nix, who has been pick free through the first three games with eight scoring throws. His arsenal features WR Troy Franklin and RB Bucky Irving.
Prediction: There are points to be had against the Buffs defense, and the Ducks will get more of them.
Oregon, 45-31
No. 16 Ole Miss at No. 12 Alabama
Saturday, 3:30 p.m. EDT, CBS Spread: Alabama by 7
The SEC opener for these West Division contenders carries a sense of urgency for both teams as the visiting Rebels look to take advantage of an apparent ebb in the Crimson Tide’s fortunes. Alabama’s visit to South Florida last week hardly felt like a win to its fans, as both QBs Tyler Buchner and Ty Simpson struggled to ignite the offense. As a result, Jalen Milroe will be back under center, but he’ll need much better protection as LB Khari Coleman and the Ole Miss defense look to force him into the sorts of questionable decisions that got him benched. Rebels QB Jaxson Dart isn’t afraid to take off himself, but he’d probably prefer to let RB Quinshon Judkins do the heavy lifting in the ground game to avoid frequent contact with Deontae Lawson and the rest of Alabama’s hardhitting LB corps.
Prediction: Milroe will provide a spark, including at least one nice deep ball, but his accuracy issues won’t go away overnight. The Rebels will play with more consistency and come away with the “W.”
Mississippi, 28-20
No. 15 Oregon State at No. 24 Washington State
Saturday, 7 p.m. EDT, Fox Spread: Oregon State by 3
The Cougars are arguably more battle tested, having knocked Wisconsin out of the Top 25 and easily dispatched the same Colorado State bunch that took the Buffaloes to double overtime. But the Beavers handled a potentially challenging road trip to San Diego State in their most recent action. The high-powered WSU attack is again under the direction of QB Cameron Ward, whose primary target is WR Lincoln Victor. Meanwhile, former Clemson QB D.J. Uiagalelei is enjoying the change of scenery for the Beavers, getting plenty of help from dynamic RB Damien Martinez.
Prediction: This one should be fun.
We’ll give the nod to the home team in a squeaker.
Washington State, 38-35
No. 4 Ohio State at No. 9 Notre Dame
Saturday, 7:30 p.m. EDT, NBC Spread: Ohio State by 3.5
The headliner of the day and third Top 10 clash of the season finds the Fighting Irish hosting one of their biggest games in recent memory against the Buckeyes seeking a return trip to the College Football Playoff. It’s not an eliminator for either team with plenty of highprofile contests still to come, but it would be a huge feather in the cap for the winner. After a somewhat slow start in the season opener at Indiana, new Buckeyes QB Kyle McCord has improved his comfort level with the offense. Having a talent like WR Marvin Harrison Jr. helps, of course, and Notre Dame S Thomas Harper will likely be needed to help contain him. Fighting Irish QB Sam Hartman has been as good as advertised since transferring in from Wake Forest, delivering 13 TD passes without a pick through four games. But the OSU defense, anchored by LB Tommy Eichenberg, represents his toughest test to date.
Prediction: Hartman’s experience edge and the home-field advantage will make the difference in what should be an instant classic.
Notre Dame, 27-23
No. 22 Iowa at No. 7 Penn State
Saturday, 7:30 p.m. EDT, CBS Spread: Penn State State by 14.5 This is one of two battles of unbeatens in the Big Ten this week with secondranked Michigan hosting a somewhat surprising Rutgers squad. Curious things have been known to happen when these far-flung rivals get together – who can forget the Hawkeyes’ win at PSU in 2004 by the tennis-like score of 6-4? There’s a bit more potential for flashy plays from the Nittany Lions, though QB Drew Allar and WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith were largely held in check in last week’s Big Ten opener at Illinois. Even with the addition of Michigan transfer QB Cade McNamara, the Iowa attack is still averaging just 4.9 yards per play.
Prediction: The formula for the Hawkeyes hasn’t changed – play tough defense and take advantage of turnovers. So long as the Nittany Lions take care of the ball, they’ll do enough.
Penn State, 21-10