Week 4

Utah vs Texas Tech – Texas Tech is looking to justify their investment of “win now”. They have not won an outright conference title since 1955 and they have won nine or more games since 2009. So far it appears this Red Raider team is competitive and they just might be a contender for the Big 12 title. However beating up on Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Kent State and Oregon State is not exactly a championship resume. This Saturday they will get their first test against an undefeated top-25 opponent. TT lead by QB Behren Morton have piled up a lot of points and are the nation’s highest-scoring team at 58 points per game. The defense has also done well in their cupcake games, but it’s time to see if that revamped defensive line will be able to stop the run and against Utah’s run-heavy offense this will be the perfect opportunity for them to test their metal. Through the first three game this defense has allowed opponents to average a whopping 1.5 yards per carry and 41.3 rushing yards per game, ranking them second in the nation. The offensive line which was also revamped through the transfer portal has only allowed two sacks in their first three games. Utah wants to regain their status as one of the premier teams in the conference and hoping in the nation. Utah’s QB Devon Dampier is a transfer from New Mexico and in his first three games it appears he’s made the right move for himself and for the Utes. As stated Utah’s offense is run-heavy and with Washington State transfer RB Wayshawn Parker there is no indication that they will abandon this philosophy. Under HC Kyle Whittingham Utah has seen great defenses over the last decade and despite them struggling last year, they have show great improvement this year, with their secondary being made up of veterans. Texas Tech loves their Air Raid offense, and they are coming into this game with great confidence. Utah has shown they are not the same team they were last year. Look for this game to be an enjoyable fast paced game, and not for the faint hearted. Utah enters this game as the homefield favorite, which means they have a razor thin edge. The Red Raider’s offense appears to be unstoppable, and the key to the game will be Utah’s defense. Offenses win games, defensives win championships, since this is a game and not a championship, Texas Tech is the pick to win.  

Oklahoma vs Auburn – Auburn has started off 3-0 with their transfer Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold. They had a massive and unexpected win against Baylor. So far though the offense has not been consistent, so they’ve had to rely heavily on their running game which is averaging six yards per carry. In this game that running game has to be dominate to take the pressure off of QB Arnold. The more the Alabama Tigers are able to move the ball with the run the better. It will wear down the OU defense and they will have to rely less on QB Arnold’s arm, and let’s be honest he hasn’t completely been tested yet. AU defense has not exactly set the world on fire. Last week against South Alabama they were not able to get into the backfield very much. Against this OU offense, that defense is going to have to show improvement. The good news is that the Sooner offensive line allows too many plays in the backfield. So, this might be an Auburn advantage. Oklahoma has QB Mateer making all the news, he has been making plays with his feet along with his arm. However, he is not good enough to carry the entire offense on his shoulders, that running game has to step up and so far this season it has not. The good news for OU is that Auburn’s defensive secondary got torched by Baylor and they have not improved since then. So, the Sooner passing game is going to have a field day in Jordan-Hare. OU already has a big win under it’s belt, and that gives them confidence. Auburn’s win over Baylor is not that big of a win but they are entering game with more confidence than they’ve had in many, many years. Auburn is going to play tough for at least two and half quarters but mid-way through the third the game is going to start to slip away from them and Oklahoma is going to walk out of the Ugly Corner of Lower Alabama (UCLA) with a win.

Illinois vs Indiana – This is only the fourth game of the season for each of them, and it seems a little too soon to call this the game of the season for each of them, but it honestly is. Whoever wins this game is looking at a winning season of 10-2. Illinois only has Ohio State and Michigan as tough games on their schedule and Indiana only has Oregon and Penn State where they will be the underdogs. So, this game carries tremendous weight. Illinois has their offense humming like a well-oiled machine. They have not turned the ball over, yet. They are not shooting themselves in the foot with penalties and they are doing the simple basic things with great efficiency, which means they don’t have to take chances to move the ball. The biggest problem so far for the Fighting Illini is that they have not been tested, ok, maybe Duke pushed them a bit but only a little. This  Saturday they will face their first real test with interstate rival Indiana. If they can keep this production level going, they’re going to be a hard team to stop. Indiana, who had a great year last year, appears to be on the same path this year. In their first game against Old Dominion they gave up a couple of long runs, but against Kennesaw Sate and Indiana State they shut those offensives down. Illinois will be a step up in competition. The Hoosiers love to run the ball, as in they LOVE IT! Against Illinois they are going to have to prove that they are good at it as well. What HC Cignettie has done with this team borders on remarkable and it’s given them great confidence. Both quarterbacks are smart, both teams have also benefited from their opponents making mistakes. Illinois likes to capitalize on turnovers but against Indiana they’re not going to get those opportunities, and with the Hoosiers able to run the ball with such efficiency it isn’t looking good for the Illini. Indiana wins.

Short Smokes

Wouldn’t it be funny for tennessee to let Georgia beat them twice and the vols lose to UAB? Yes it would, but it won’t happen

Oregon State and Oregon will have their Civil War this weekend instead of at the end of the season and the Ducks are going to walk away with it.

Florida State will crush Kent State

Ole Miss better be good and ready against Tulane because the Green Wave has beaten the Rebels before, but Ole Miss wins, just barely

 Nebraska will suffer their first loss against Michigan

Arkansas will struggle a bit against Memphis but still win

Wisconsin will be well matched against Maryland for two quarters and then pull away

Clemson is stumbling all over themselves and they’re going to continue against Syracuse but they’ll still win

SMU is going to lose against TCU

Army will roll over North Texas, that K-State game gave them much needed confidence

Purdue might, just might beat Notre Dame….maybe….hopefully

Can North Carolina beat UCF yes, and they will but it’ll be close

NC State stays undefeated against instate Duke

Mississippi State is going to continue to win against Northern Illinois

South Carolina suffered a major setback last week and against Missouri they’re going to suffer another one

Florida has very little chance of beating Miami

It’s a toss up who will win between West Virginia and Kansas

Washington wins the Apple Cup against Washington Sate

Vanderbilt is on a roll and Georgia State is not equipped to stop them

LSU plays cupcake SE Louisiana

Texas is suffering, they have not played well yet, they’ll win against Sam Houston

The late game is worth staying up for, Michigan State takes on USC so drink some coffee, and enjoy, it’ll be a good game, but the Trojans win, barley.