2012 College Football Week 4 Picks: Florida State over Clemson

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Each Monday, WhatIfSports.com's NCAA college football simulation engine will provide you with game predictions for every D-I FBS game that upcoming week. The college football simulation engine generates detailed information for each game including each team's chances of winning (Win%) and the average points scored for both teams. Make sure to share the college football information you gained here with your friends by either checking out our NCAA football widgets on the WhatIf To Go page or clicking on the social networking share bar at the top and bottom of this article.

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The statistical inputs to the thousands of college football simulations are based on rigorous analysis of each team's roster, depth charts and statistically based player rankings. Roster modifications are made in cases of injury or suspension and those players are removed from their team's game simulation for that week.

Game of the Week: Clemson at Florida State

If you count Murray State (outscored 124-51 to-date) and Savannah State (outscored 138-0 to-date) as opponents, Florida State has outscored the opposition 176-3 through the first three weeks. So, the Seminoles lead all of college football in scoring defense, allowing the rare 1.0 point per game.

This week, Jimbo Fisher's team looks to avenge a 35-30 loss at Clemson in 2011.

The running back by committee isn't just for NFL teams as an RBBC has emerged inside Doak Campbell Stadium. Florida State's Chris Thompson and James Wilder have combined for 474 rush yards on 50 carries (9.48 yards per rush). That's pretty good. Quarterback E.J. Manuel has thrown for 525 yards, six touchdowns with only one pick.

Clemson's Week 1, 26-19, win over Auburn would hold a little more weight had "War Eagle" avoided overtime against Louisiana-Monroe (won 31-28) at home last Saturday. The following week, the ACC Tigers allowed Ball State to rack up 27 points, while lighting up their Cardinals defense for 52. So, while the offense is clicking, the defense is still suspect heading into Week 4.

Tajh Boyd, who posted three touchdown passes in the 2011 matchup, has already thrown for over 700 yards with six touchdowns. In the backfield, Andre Ellington has rushed for 328 yards (6.2 yards per rush) and four touchdowns.

We simulated the Tigers and Seminoles 101 times and it's FSU coming out on top 65.3 percent of the time by an average score of 27-22.

College Football Week 4
Matchup	Win%	Avg Score
Citadel Bulldogs	5.0	9	Boxscore
@ North Carolina State Wolfpack	95.0	48
East Carolina Pirates	19.8	19	Boxscore
@ North Carolina Tar Heels	80.2	29
Bowling Green Falcons	20.8	17	Boxscore
@ Virginia Tech Hokies	79.2	27
Memphis Tigers	21.8	19	Boxscore
@ Duke Blue Devils	78.2	31
Army Black Knights	25.7	18	Boxscore
@ Wake Forest Demon Deacons	74.3	26
Clemson Tigers	34.7	22	Boxscore
@ Florida State Seminoles	65.3	27
Miami (FL) Hurricanes	35.1	23	Boxscore
@ Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets	64.9	26
Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs	5.0	8	Boxscore
@ Pittsburgh Panthers	95.0	48
Idaho State Bengals	5.0	7	Boxscore
@ Nebraska Cornhuskers	95.0	51
South Dakota Coyotes	5.0	8	Boxscore
@ Northwestern Wildcats	95.0	50
Eastern Michigan Eagles	5.5	12	Boxscore
@ Michigan State Spartans	95.5	29
UAB Blazers	10.9	16	Boxscore
@ Ohio State Buckeyes	89.1	35
Central Michigan Chippewas	17.8	17	Boxscore
@ Iowa Hawkeyes	82.2	29
UTEP Miners	21.8	20	Boxscore
@ Wisconsin Badgers	78.2	31
Temple Owls	45.5	19	Boxscore
@ Penn State Nittany Lions	54.5	21
Louisiana Tech Bulldogs	47.5	23	Boxscore
@ Illinois Fighting Illini	52.5	24
Syracuse Orange	67.3	27	Boxscore
@ Minnesota Golden Gophers	32.7	20
Norfolk State Spartans	5.0	9	Boxscore
@ Ohio Bobcats	95.0	48
Coastal Carolina Chanticleers	5.0	7	Boxscore
@ Toledo Rockets	95.0	44
Massachusetts Minutemen	9.4	12	Boxscore
@ Miami (OH) RedHawks	90.6	30
Kansas Jayhawks	47.0	23	Boxscore
@ Northern Illinois Huskies	53.0	24
Kent State Golden Flashes	54.0	18	Boxscore
@ Buffalo Bulls	46.0	17
Connecticut Huskies	60.4	24	Boxscore
@ Western Michigan Broncos	39.6	21
South Florida Bulls	70.3	29	Boxscore
@ Ball State Cardinals	29.7	21
California Golden Bears	18.8	23	Boxscore
@ USC Trojans	81.2	33
Colorado Buffaloes	26.2	20	Boxscore
@ Washington State Cougars	73.8	28
Arizona Wildcats	33.7	25	Boxscore
@ Oregon Ducks	66.3	31
Oregon State Beavers	45.5	24	Boxscore
@ UCLA Bruins	54.5	25
Utah Utes	54.5	22	Boxscore
@ Arizona State Sun Devils	45.5	21
South Carolina State Bulldogs	5.0	8	Boxscore
@ Texas A&M Aggies	95.0	50
Akron Zips	5.0	12	Boxscore
@ Tennessee Volunteers	95.0	32
Florida Atlantic Owls	5.0	9	Boxscore
@ Alabama Crimson Tide	95.0	39
South Alabama Jaguars	6.4	13	Boxscore
@ Mississippi State Bulldogs	93.6	34
Vanderbilt Commodores	14.9	15	Boxscore
@ Georgia Bulldogs	85.1	30
Kentucky Wildcats	19.8	12	Boxscore
@ Florida Gators	80.2	23
Rutgers Scarlet Knights	35.1	19	Boxscore
@ Arkansas Razorbacks	64.9	25
Missouri Tigers	38.1	19	Boxscore
@ South Carolina Gamecocks	61.9	24
LSU Tigers	85.1	28	Boxscore
@ Auburn Tigers	14.9	16
Northwestern Oklahoma State Rangers	5.0	9	Boxscore
@ Texas-San Antonio Roadrunners	95.0	34
Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks	5.0	7	Boxscore
@ Texas State Bobcats	95.0	34
New Mexico Lobos	33.7	22	Boxscore
@ New Mexico State Aggies	66.3	26
Wyoming Cowboys	76.2	27	Boxscore
@ Idaho Vandals	23.8	16
Virginia Military Keydets	5.0	9	Boxscore
@ Navy Midshipmen	95.0	42
Michigan Wolverines	45.5	23	Boxscore
@ Notre Dame Fighting Irish	54.5	24
Maryland Terrapins	18.8	19	Boxscore
@ West Virginia Mountaineers	81.2	31
Virginia Cavaliers	21.8	22	Boxscore
@ TCU Horned Frogs	78.2	30
Kansas State Wildcats	26.7	21	Boxscore
@ Oklahoma Sooners	73.3	29
Fresno State Bulldogs	47.5	26	Boxscore
@ Tulsa Golden Hurricane	52.5	28
Mississippi Rebels	64.4	23	Boxscore
@ Tulane Green Wave	35.6	18
Marshall Thundering Herd	64.4	28	Boxscore
@ Rice Owls	35.6	24
San Jose State Spartans	33.7	22	Boxscore
@ San Diego State Aztecs	66.3	28
Brigham Young Cougars	40.1	24	Boxscore
@ Boise State Broncos	59.9	26
Air Force Falcons	70.8	26	Boxscore
@ UNLV Rebels	29.2	18
Utah State Aggies	75.2	27	Boxscore
@ Colorado State Rams	24.8	19
Nevada Wolf Pack	76.2	27	Boxscore
@ Hawaii Warriors	23.8	19
Alcorn State Braves	5.0	7	Boxscore
@ Arkansas State Red Wolves	95.0	44
Troy Trojans	42.6	26	Boxscore
@ North Texas Mean Green	57.4	27
Southern Miss Golden Eagles	55.9	22	Boxscore
@ Western Kentucky Hilltoppers	44.1	21
Baylor Bears	57.9	30	Boxscore
@ Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks	42.1	25
Louisville Cardinals	76.2	30	Boxscore
@ FIU Golden Panthers	23.8	20