2017 NCAA Football Week 4 Beating the Spread

Record this year Against the Spread 18-7

TCU at Oklahoma State(-11)

This should be a fun game to watch between two of the best offenses in the Nation. TCU is led by running back Darius Anderson, who has carried the ball 42 times for 262 yards and three touchdowns. The Horned Frogs best chance in this game is to use the running game to keep QB Mason Rudolph off of the field.

The Cowboys are led by Heisman candidate Mason Rudolph who has been sensational through the early part of the season, completing 68 of 94 passes for 1,135 yards with 11 touchdowns.

Prediction: Oklahoma State 56  TCU 35

Michigan at Purdue(-10)

Purdue has been a bottom feeder in the Big Ten for what seems like forever, but there are indications that things could be changing for the Boilermakers. Boilermaker quarterback David Blough has thrown for 597 yards and six touchdowns so far this season.

Michigan has shown a powerful defense to this point, but quarterback Wilton Speight had been rather uneven to say the least and the Wolverines have not looked like world beaters on offense.

Prediction: Michigan 20  Purdue 17

Pittsburgh at Georgia Tech(-7.5)

After two miserable weeks against top ten teams Penn State and Oklahoma State, Pitt doesn’t have much time to catch its collective breath. The Panthers don’t face a ranked team in Georgia Tech this week, but the Yellow Jackets are a formidable foe that won’t be easy for the team in its first conference game. Georgia Tech’s offense makes them a scary game for any team and Pitt is just not very good at this point.

Prediction: Georgia Tech 31  Pitt 16

Penn State at Iowa(+12.5)

Penn State enters this week’s matchup fresh off a 56-0 beatdown of Georgia State. The Nittany Lions boast one of the top offenses in the nation, led by Heisman Trophy candidates quarterback Trace McSorley and running back Saquon Barkley.

As if stopping McSorley and Barkley isn’t enough, defenses have to worry about the likes of tight end Mike Gesicki and wide receivers DaeSean Hamilton, DeAndre Thompkins, Juwan Johnson, and Saeed Blacknall.

The Hawkeyes on the other hand have been less than impressive in there 3-0 start. The Hawkeyes have major questions on the offensive side of the ball and that will be the difference in this game.

Prediction: Penn State 34  Iowa 14

Boston College at Clemson(-34.5)

On paper this looks like a mismatch; on the field it will look that way also.

Prediction: Clemson 48  BC 6

N.C. State at Florida State(-13)

James Blackman, a lean and slender 6-5, 170-pounder, will get his first taste of college football at noon Saturday in Doak Campbell Stadium against NC State (2-1), which features one of the nation’s most imposing defensive line units. The key to this game will be the Florida State offensive line and if they can keep the Freshman QB upright.

Prediction: Florida State 23  N.C. State 17

Florida at Kentucky(+2.5)

Believe it or not this is a big conference matchup for both of these teams which is not uncommon in BASKETBALL! In football it is usually a ho-hum affair dominated by the Gators, but that’s not the case anymore. Look for the Cats to erase all the doubters in this game.

Prediction: Kentucky 27  Florida 20

Washington at Colorado(+10)

Tough game to call as both teams are 3-0, but the quality of competition has not been very good for either. I will go with the Huskies to win the game on the arm of Jake Browning, but the Buffs will cover.

Prediction: Washington 30  Colorado 21

UNLV at Ohio State(+40)

The Rebels will attempt to eat some clock and shorten the game, hoping to keep the game within striking distance. UNLV averages 250.5 yards rushing, which is fourth nationally. But the Rebels will face an Ohio State defense that just limited run-heavy Army to 158 yards below its season average. UNLV, however, can open its running game if quarterback Armani Rogers, who has completed 60 percent of his passes for 413 yards through two games, is again effective.

Prediction: Ohio State 44  UNLV 13

Notre Dame at Michigan State(+4)

Last week the Irish accumulated 515 yards on the ground. The Spartan Defense, however, has only allowed 24 points in the first two games. The Spartans competition has not been exactly tough so far so it’s really hard to gauge exactly how good this team is.

The Irish coach Brian Kelly is under major fire and I don’t think they will be able to throw the ball successfully and if they can’t, they won’t win.

Prediction: Michigan State 20  Notre Dame 17 

Alabama at Vanderbilt(+18.5)

This is not the mismatch it used to be as Vandy has a great defense and Alabama has question to answer about there offense. With that being said I am taking the Tide to win, but I am betting Vandy to cover.

Prediction: Alabama 17  Vanderbilt 16

USC at California(+17)

I look for the Trojans to bounce back in a big way and beat the brakes off the Bears.

Prediction: USC 44  California 17

Oregon at Arizona State(+15)

Arizona State linebacker Koron Crump will not play Saturday in the Pac-12 opener for both the Sun Devils and Oregon, dealing a blow to a defense in need of a spark as it prepares for the country’s No. 2-ranked total offense. The Ducks, led by running back Royce Freeman, appear to be ready to burst back on the national stage.

Prediction: Oregon 37  Arizona State 20

UCLA at Stanford(-7)

I expected more from Stanford this year and so far they have not delivered. UCLA needs this win to be a factor this season, especially after last Saturday’s upset loss at Memphis.

Prediction: Stanford 28  UCLA 24

Mississippi State at Georgia(-3.5)

Maybe the biggest game of the week and I really like Mississippi State in this one.

Prediction: Mississippi State 31  Georgia 17
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