College Football Week 4 Predictions Tex/Tenn, Ole Miss/Fla, Iowa/Mich and much more

College Football Week 4 Predictions 

Week 3 saw big wins by Ole Miss, Louisville, Texas Tech, Kentucky, & West Virginia.

Week 4 features 6 ranked versus ranked matchups along with a few interesting games on the docket. The College Football season is producing week after week.  Whether it’s tv ratings or attendance, the sport is thriving. That’s not to say that multiple items don’t need to be addressed. Instead of a wild offseason, we could settle some of the issues with a skinny bill in Congress. Any salary cap put in a bill should include coaches. Anyway, buckle for another action-packed week in the best regular season of all team sports.

Marquee Matchups

#1 Texas vs. #14 Tennessee: The Longhorns look to build off the win over Ohio State when they travel to Knoxville this Saturday. Tennessee has a true freshman in Faizon Brandon who will get his first real test of his short career. QB Arch Manning has shown plenty of positives but still is a little bit too inconsistent given the talent on the Texas offense. The Vols will look to play ball control as they’re rushing for almost 300 yards per game. Of course, stats this early in the season are very misleading.  Don’t have a great feeling for this marquee matchup, and Texas will need to be good in the redzone.

The Pick: Texas -4.5

#4 Ole Miss vs. #21 Florida: Ole Miss is set up to fail this Saturday facing a classic letdown spot after winning their Super Bowl last week versus LSU. Florida looks the part thus far albeit beating Auburn isn’t a great win but it’s not an easy task to walk out of at Jordan Haire Stadium victorious. Explosive runner Ole Miss RB Kewan Lacy is questionable with a shoulder injury. Florida WR Eric Singleton Jr. ankle injury makes him a game-time decision. This College Football podcast understands the position Ole Miss is in, but a guy like Trinidad Chambliss keeps the Rebels in this one until the end.

The Pick: Ole Miss +3.5

Under The Radar

#17 Iowa vs. #18 Michigan: This Big Ten tilt is a throwback contest full of physicality and brute force. Special teams and turnovers will surely decide the winner in this Midwest slugfest. The under is on the table with a point total of 38. The Wolverines should get credit for winning Week 2 against Oklahoma. That said, Michigan is extremely lucky to be 3-0 from a 2nd chance Hail Mary sneaking by Western Michigan. The early part of last week’s blowout of UTEP, Michigan, looked a bit shaky.  Iowa is always a threat to score a defensive or special teams touchdown.

The Pick: Michigan wins; Iowa +5.5 is the bet. 

#12 USC vs. #20 Oregon: The Ducks and Trojans haven’t played up to the standard of talent on these blue blood rosters.  This west coast wing of the Big Ten squabble should be an old school PAC-12 shootout with the over likely from a 61.5 total point wager. Oregon’s back is against the wall and losing a second game in September would all but end their season.

The Pick: Oregon -3

Saturday Upset Special

Wyoming beats Hawaii as a +3.0 home dog.

Hardcore Barnburners

#19 Missouri vs. #24 Mississippi State: Bulldogs QB Kamario Taylor looks to add to his stellar early resume taking on a ranked Mizzou squad. The Cowbells will be as loud as every when the Tigers come to town. With a name like running back Fluff Bothwell it’s difficult to pick against the home team. The –6.5 is kind of steep.

The Pick: Mississippi State –6.5

Oklahoma State vs. West Virginia: Which Cowboys roster shows up on the road in Morgantown? The OK-State that took an ‘L’ to upstart Tulsa or the one who shocked Oregon? As much as a like Oklahoma State QB Drew Mestemaker, West Virginia QB Michael Hawkins Jr is a good fit in a Rich Rod system.

The Pick: West Virigina –1.5

Against The Spread

Wisconsin +10 versus #13 Penn State

Wake Forest +14.5 versus #16 Louisville

Purdue +27.5 versus #3 Notre Dame

#4 Ole Miss +3.5 versus #21 Florida

Podcast Link: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-rope-a-dope-radio-podcast/id1794655742?i=1000791029981

Quick Hits Recap

-Ole Miss QB Trinidad Chambliss threw for 363 yards and had 3 total touchdowns in a huge 32-24 victory over LSU.

-Louisville defeated SMU 41-31 by forcing 3 turnovers in otherwise back and forth affair.

-West Virginia QB Michael Hawkins Jr. scored 5 touchdowns as the Mountaineers upset Virginia 38-27.

-Texas Tech managed to hold off Houston 28-26 by tackling Cougars QB Conner Weigman on a two-point game tying attempt.

-Alabama QB Keelon Russell put up 376 yards and 4 td’s as the Tide pulled away in the 2nd half to beat FSU 50-36.

-Vanderbilt shocking 35-31 victory on a late touchdown recovery from a play you will never see again by CJ Bailey unbelievably fumbled trying to burn time for a safety.

-Mississippi State came back from a 16-0 deficit to score another road win over South Carolina 41-34. Bulldogs QB Kamario Taylor threw for 4 touchdowns to lead his team to a 3-0 start to the season.

Written by Chris Carlson Host of The College Ball Show available on The Rope A Dope Radio Podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker, I-Heart Radio, Amazon Podcasts, Tunein, Deezer, Podchaser, Castbox  & More! Follow on Twitter @RopeADopeRadio