College Football Week 4: 10 Best Games and Predictions

As we conclude the first month of college football we welcome in some key conference battles and some of the last remaining out-of-conference showdowns. Every conference has at least one crucial game taking place that should help shape the conference races. With no definitive Game of the Week expect ABC and ESPN to pop off all Saturday.

Here's a look at my predictions for the week. As usual, please leave a comment for me letting me know what you think. If you disagree, let me hear it.

Last Week: 6-4

San Diego State @ No. 22 Michigan

All eyes will be on Coach Brady Hoke and his 22nd ranked Michigan Wolverines on Saturday, but that won't mean the Aztecs are simply going to roll over. Not by a long shot, actually. I expect a bruising game for both teams. SDSU is led by stud RB Ronnie Hillman, who has put himself on a short list for the Heisman. Toss in the fact that these guys are playing their old head coach and you're looking at a team that should be plenty motivated.

On the opposite sideline to Hillman you have another Heisman hopeful in QB Denard Robinson. It seems like Robinson has been at Michigan forever. He has, but he is finally making the most of his tenure at Michigan and should end on a positive note. The intangibles are in Michigan's corner. The momentum, the home field and even the expectations will ultimately give the Wolverines an important win. I'm not sure it's going to be the type of win the Big House will want to see. Michigan - 26 San Diego State - 24.

Notre Dame @ Pittsburgh

We know the story with Notre Dame. A very talented team on both sides of the ball that can't help but turn the ball over. This week they visit Pitt, in what should be one of the three remaining tough games for the Irish. The Irish have looked good offensively, but still have question marks at the QB position. It looks like Tommy Rees will get the nod, but that doesn't mean Dayne Crist won't see time. WR Michael Floyd has once again been a machine for the Irish—just don't ask him to drive your car.

Pitt comes in as a bit of a question mark themselves. Unlike the Irish though, the Panthers as a whole are a mystery. Before a tough defeat last week to Iowa, Pitt struggled in back-to-back games against Maine and Buffalo. That won't stem well against an Irish team poised to win out this season. The home-field advantage might favor the Irish in this one.

Notre Dame - 34 Pittsburgh - 17. 

No. 10 Oregon @ Arizona

Since starting the season ranked third and suffering a season-opening pummeling at the hands of LSU, the Oregon Ducks have spent the last two weeks virtually unnoticed. Don't mind the idea that the Ducks are still ranked a respectable 10th nationally, these guys are hardly getting a second of air time on ESPN's Gameday. That will change this week when they visit Tucson to face Arizona in their first conference game of the season.

On paper this game shouldn't be close. The Ducks are motivated to get back in the national spotlight and have two studs to get them there. RB LaMichael James will run wild on a defense that has been torched all season. On the contrary, the Wildcats can't seem to catch a break. They will be facing the third top ten team in in as many weeks in this young season. Unfortunately, it will be more of the same this week for the Cats, who have shown no signs of being able to hang with this season's elite.

Oregon - 45 Arizona - 24.

No. 23 USC @ Arizona State

The game of the week in the PAC-12 shouldn't disappoint under the lights in Tempe. The Trojans come in with an eleven game winning streak over the Sun Devils that dates back to 1999. Led by QB Matt Barkley, it looks as if the whole SC team finally put together a complete game against Syracuse. ASU, on the other hand, has had an up-and-down season that has seen several key players go down with injuries. 

I like ASU to feed off of the home crowd early and often. This isn't your older brother's Trojans that used to love playing on the road. These Trojans are still raw and still have depth issues due to the sanctions. The defense has yet to see a quarterback with a pulse. That will change this week as ASU QB Bock Osweiler looks to shred a young USC secondary. In the end, SC will absorb a few blows from the high octane Devils offense. It won't be enough. ASU has too many injuries at key positions. This may not be the SC we are used to, but there are still plenty of 5 stars sprinkled throughout the roster.

USC - 38 Arizona State - 34.

Vanderbilt @ No. 12 South Carolina

If Arkansas and Alabama headline the SEC West this week then this game has to be the marquee matchup in the East. Who would have thought the headliner would include Vanderbilt and South Carolina? I didn't. I especially didn't expect to see Vanderbilt at 3-0. Coach Franklin has the Commodores primed for a positive season for the first time in a long time. The offense has been unspectacular thus far, but has rallied behind a defense that has only allowed 14 points a game. Sprinkle in the idea of the Commodores starting 4-0 and there is plenty motivation in Nashville. 

South Carolina knows this season is their chance at an SEC title. The clear cream of the crop in the East, South Carolina only has Florida in their way from returning to the SEC title game. RB Marcus Lattimore is the best running back in the country, in my opinion. If QB Stephen Garcia can get his head on straight, the Cocks should be in championship contention. Overall, I don't like Vandy's chances in this one. South Carolina is a very mental team. If they can play within themselves, talent will ultimately prevail. I do like Vandy to finish with a winning record.

South Carolina - 38 Vanderbilt - 21. 

Missouri @ No. 1 Oklahoma

When the 2011 college football schedule was released several months back this game was thought to be a preview of the Big XII championship game. It very well could be, but some of the luster was definitely lost when Missouri was edged by ASU. Mizzou is led by RB Henry Josey who has already piled up 400 yards in three games. Mizzou will need need to rely heavily on Josey, not only to gain yards, but also to control the tempo of the game. 

Likewise, the Sooners will rely on the connection between QB Landry Jones and WR Ryan Broyles. Recently, Broyles has become the leading receiver in OU history; he plans to add to his total this weekend against a team that was shredded by another good passing team in ASU. I expect coach Bob Stoops to have his team motivated as usual and come out and take care of business. At the end of the day Missouri is still quite a few steps behind Oklahoma. It doesn't help that this game is in Norman.

Oklahoma - 56 Missouri 20. 

No. 2 LSU @ No. 16 West Virginia

ESPN's College Gameday will be at West Virginia this weekend for the the showdown between the Moutaineers and LSU. Although this one has been billed as the Game of the Week, I am not convinced it's going to be very close. As talented as LSU is, the most important player on the field Saturday will be WVU QB Geno Smith. Smith is top ten in passing and has led the Mountaineers to a top ten total offense ranking, as well. That's important, especially when you consider the defense he will be facing has been heralded as the country's best.

When the Tigers take the field the pace of the game should slow down a bit, which will favor LSU. QB Jarrett Lee has been consistent in leading the steady LSU offense into battle this season. This year, though, he will face a crowd that is comparable to SEC foes. I'd like Lee to control the ball for the Tigers offensively and keep away from turnovers. Likewise, I'd like Lee to do some nice things for the Mountaineers, as well. The difference will be LSU scoring touchdowns to the Mountaineers kicking field goals.

LSU - 24 West Virginia - 16. 

No. 11 Florida State @ No. 21 Clemson

I'll go ahead and assume Florida State's EJ Manual will start in this one even with his injury. That might not be enough, especially when you consider the location of the game. Toss in the fact that head coach Jimbo Fisher has yet to take the Noles on the road and all clues point to Clemson in this one. To add insult to injury, Clemson RB Andre Ellington is averaging 100 yards a game. 

Emotionally, Florida State has to be a mess after last week's loss to top-ranked Oklahoma. They were minutes away from a program-changing win that would have solidified them as a championship contender. Instead they now have to go on the road to open ACC play at the conference's toughest venue. Not to mention, they have to do this with a loss under their belt. Overall, Clemson is better than we thought.

Clemson - 27 Florida State - 23.

No. 14 Arkansas @ No. 3 Alabama

This week's big SEC matchup takes place in the loaded SEC West as Arkansas visits Alabama. These two teams contributed to a classic last year and look to take aim at another tight bout. Bama, who lost Heisman winner Mark Ingram last year, reloaded with RBs Trent Richardson and Eddie Lacy. In true Nick Saban form, the Tide can once again run and play defense. 

Arkansas, although 3-0, is coming off a sloppy ten point win over Troy. QB Tyler Wilson has struggled at time this season and now faces arguably the best defense in nation. If Arkansas wants to have any chance in this one, Wilson will have to be better than perfect. Ultimately, the Tide are not only more talented, but a lot more experienced at the key positions. The crowd won't have to be a factor.

Alabama - 28 Arkansas - 14. 

No. 7 Oklahoma State @ No. 8 Texas A&M

This week's Game of the Week takes place in Big XII country. The jury is still out on Texas A&M, who has yet to play a team of any significance. OSU got their feet wet with Arizona and have also gone on the road to play a pesky Tulsa team. Both offenses are explosive, with OK State's ranked in the top five in three major offensive categories. The Pokes will turn to big play wideout Justin Blackmon for some much needed energy on the road.

The question in this game will undoubtedly be whether or not the Aggies can slow down OSU? The Pokes are obviously loaded on offense, but if A&M can come up with a few stops early this game will be up for grabs. The tone will need to be set right off the bat. I think A&M, along with the 12th man, will make this very interesting, but from a talent standpoint this game shouldn't be as close as the rankings may suggest. In the end the Cowboys will run away from A&M somewhere towards the beginning of the fourth quarter.

Oklahoma State - 38 Texas A&M - 24.