CFB Championship Series: Week Three, Week Two, Week One.
As we continue our preview of the 2008 season, let's head into week four and see what big games to look forward as it's a big week in the SEC, and we'll see who can stay undefeated and in the hunt for the national title.
Top 10 Standings after Week Three:
1. Georgia 4-0
2. Southern Cal 2-0
3. Florida 2-0
4. Ohio State 2-1
5. Oklahoma 3-0
6. Missouri 3-0
7. Clemson 3-0
8. Texas 3-0
9. Auburn 3-0
10. LSU 3-0
Key Games in Week Four:
Georgia at Arizona State
After a tough match up on the road against South Carolina, the Bulldogs will travel across the country to face the Sun Devils in a big non-conference showdown.
Georgia will be thoroughly tested in this match up being their second game in a row on the road, and not close to home. This is a rare trip for the Bulldogs outside the southeast and it won't be an easy one. Look for the Dawgs to try and pound Knowshon Moreno and get him going early on the road and then look for Stafford to take his shots deep when he has the chance.
Arizona State on the other hand will be looking for the first big upset of the season in knocking off the favored Bulldogs. The key for the Sun Devils will be keeping Georgia's pass rush away from Rudy Carpenter. Arizona State was not good at this last year, so they must be improved to handle the pressure Georgia will apply.
This could very well be a shootout, much like the LSU-Arizona State game a few years back. Georgia's defense could be the difference as both offenses are equipped to score some points.
Winner: Georgia
Florida at Tennessee
The annual rivalry takes place in Knoxville this year with the Vols looking to avenge a serious beatdown at the hands of the Gators in '07.
The key for Florida will be getting going early on offense and not letting the crowd off 100,000 plus get to into it. There's no doubt the Vols should bring pressure against Tebow to try and mess with the Gators rhythm, unlike last year when the Gators ripped the Vols for 55 points.
Tennessee though will try and test that Florida defense on the ground with Arian Foster and that experienced offensive line. They won't try and make new quarterback Jonathan Crompton do too much if they don't have to.
This looks to be another great rivalry between these two teams and will have a huge impact on the SEC East race and the national title picture should Florida go down in Knoxville.
Winner: Florida
LSU at Auburn
This has quietly become one of the best rivalries in all of college football. The winner of this game is normally the favorite to win the SEC West, and it doesn't look to be any different this year.
LSU will bring a new, inexperienced quarterback on the road into a tough environment for the first time. Look for the Bengal Tigers to try and use that running back by committee led by Keiland Williams, and the very good offensive line to shorten the game and keep the ball away from Auburn.
Auburn meanwhile, looks to avenge a last second loss last year in Baton Rouge. Auburn's new offense will be put to the test by the talented, fast defense of LSU. The key will be whoever Auburn has at quarterback will be playing in their first big game of the season and will be under a lot of pressure, they will need to come through for the Tigers to succeed.
This game is always a barn burner, sometimes quite literally like in 1996 when an old wooden building next to Jordan Hare Stadium caught fire in the middle of the game due to sparks off a grill during tailgating. The margin of victory in this series since 2004 has been one, three, four, and six. Don't expect anything different this time around, and the winner is in the early drivers seat for Atlanta.
Winner: Auburn
Other key games: Boise State at Oregon
Top Heisman Candidates after Week Four:
1. Tim Tebow, QB, Florida
2. Knowshon Moreno, RB, Georgia
3. Chris Wells, RB, Ohio State
4. Pat White, QB, West Virginia
5. Percy Harvin, WR, Florida
6. Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech
Top 10 Standings after Week Four:
1. Georgia 4-0 (beat Arizona State, next week: Alabama)
2. Southern Cal 2-0 (bye, next week: Oregon State)
3. Florida 3-0 (beat Tennessee, next week: Ole Miss)
4. Oklahoma 3-0 (bye, next week: TCU)
5. Ohio State 3-1 (beat Troy, next week: Minnesota)
6. Missouri 4-0 (beat Buffalo, next week: bye)
7. Auburn 4-0 (beat LSU, next week: Tennessee)
8. Clemson 4-0 (beat S.Carolina St., next week: Maryland)
9. Texas 4-0 (beat Rice, next week: bye)
10. Kansas 4-0 (beat Sam Houston St., next week: bye)
Others receiving votes: West Virginia, BYU, LSU, Wisconsin, Texas Tech, Virginia Tech
Read more about college football at my blog, Gridiron Guru.
comments (14) write a comment »
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3 months ago
I went ahead and jumped Oklahoma ahead of Ohio State even though they both won their games.
Even thought I think Ohio State is the better team, I think Oklahoma will be ahead of them if OU is sitting at 3-0 and OSU is sitting at 3-1.
3 months ago
I see you have Auburn jumping Clemson and Texas that's a big move for the tigers. They might jump Texas but not Clemson.
from 3 months ago
Probably, but with Clemson and Texas both playing patsies, it gives Auburn a great chance to pull off a big win on national TV and make that jump. Even if they don't, they could very well do it the next week if they beat Tennessee.
I'm not even sure why Auburn has to start out behind Clemson anyway when they beat them in a bowl game, but that looks like what will happen.
3 months ago
Dude, Kansas does NOT play Colorado in Week 4 of the season... Kansas plays Sam Houston State :)
from 3 months ago
Thanks for pointing that out. I had Kansas and West Virginia right next to each other, West Virginia plays Colorado. I fixed it.
3 months ago
Soooooo, when is Clemson's choke job starting? Next week, or is it later in the year?
Jokes aside, great article, and I love what you are doing with this season predictions.
If you don't mind, I will give you a Heisman candidate for next week. Ian Johnson, Boise State. Boise will be asain playing well and Johnson will be racking up big yardage
3 months ago
Aside from the fact that Clemson will probably be 2-2 at this point I'm enjoying each one of your articles and look forward to the next one.
from 3 months ago
How will Clemson be 2-2? You must be a Gamecock fan lol. You think they will lose to Alabama, who else? N.C.State?
from 3 months ago
For once, I actually agree with Justin... I will also have Clemson at 4-0, after I write Part 4 of my College Football series tomorrow, Monday, June 30th :)
To be honest with you, I think that the only way Clemson will be 2-2, after Week 4 is... IF Tommy Bowden continues to do what he does best: NOT TAKING GOOD CARE OF HIS OWN BUSINESS :)
3 months ago
I truly think Arizona State / Georgia is the best non-conference game all year outside of Ohio State/USC. ASU has an experienced offense and a pretty good D-Line that might give Stafford some trouble. When the Sun Devils are clicking at home, they're pretty tough to beat. Plus, they have to be feeling good with a four-year starter at quarterback (Rudy).
...Still, I'll go with Georgia.
from 3 months ago
To be honest with you, I am ALMOST ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT that Georgia will SPLIT the 2-game road trip against South Carolina and Arizona State :)
Oh, by the way, I have created my own variation of the College Football series... Here is the link to Part 4 of my series:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/33790-jimson-cuentas-2008-college-football-series-part-4
3 months ago
Georgia might get outcoached at Arizona State. Richt, rarely, rarely, meets his superior on the sideline. Here he meets a two time national championship winning coach who has often shocked the country with his X and O prowess. Quote Tom Osborne" We never had anyone scheme us like Dennis, it was like he knew the plays before we did".
First game outside the Confederacy since 1965. Across time zones. Hostile crowd in the desert. Facing the former San Francisco 49ers coach who has won everywhere he's ever been in college? Tough one for Georgia. But, even if they can't get out of there alive they can stay in the hunt for the automatic BCS birth as it is not a conference game.
3 months ago
These are so much better than Jimson's.
2 months ago
You got it all wrong, ASU will upset UGA in a shootout. UGA does have more talent, but the Sun Devils have the Dennis Erickson factor and DE has the coaching edge in this game. Also, dont forget that ASU was excellent at home last season and only lost to USC, the last time they played a team from the SEC was at home against LSU and they didnt dissapoint in fact they lost on the last play of the game.
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