College Football Week 4 Predictions: Picking the Winners of Every Saturday Game

Week 4 of the 2011 college football season is upon us, and I guess you can label this "Transition Weekend."

As we move into conference play, we're really going to start getting a good feel for which teams are for real and which teams are overhyped.

So far, the season has pretty much gone according to plan, and with the exception of Oregon and Florida State, the top of the rankings have stayed pretty much intact.

That's about to change, though.

There are a bunch of top-ranked teams that have to be on upset alert this weekend.

So who will fly and who will fall?

Here's a look at my picks for Saturday's games.

The Top 5 Games 

Florida State Seminoles at Clemson Tigers

I’ll freely admit it, I have literally no idea how Florida State is going to respond this week.

But for that matter, I also have no idea whether I should expect a let down out of Clemson or not.

That’s what makes this game so difficult.

The Seminoles just got outplayed on their home field in the biggest statement game of the season and it’s impossible to tell whether they will come out ferocious or flat at Clemson on Saturday.

QB E.J. Manuel is questionable for the game after suffering a bruised shoulder in the loss to Oklahoma and that will certainly play a big factor in how this game unfolds.

What I saw out of Clemson last weekend in the big win over Auburn was explosiveness, and the way you win in college football is with explosive players and the Tigers surely have their share.

If I had to choose two offensive players out of all the players on both rosters, I’d choose Clemson RB Andre Ellington and Clemson WR Sammy Watkins.

While I’m still not sold on QB Tajh Boyd, I do have to say he’s growing on me.

The Florida State defense is no pushover, that’s for sure, but if Ellington and Watkins can get into open space on a regular basis, I’m confident that Clemson can pull out the victory at home.

Pick: Clemson

Prediction: Clemson 31, Florida State 17

Arkansas Razorbacks at Alabama Crimson Tide

Let’s be honest, Alabama’s defense is disgusting.

It’s basically an NFL JV team.

Courtney Upshaw, Mark Barron, Dont’a Hightower, Dre Kirkpatrick, Josh Chapman, Robert Lester and Nico Johnson?

Come on, that’s just not fair to have all of those kids on one defense.

Still, if there’s an offense out there that could give them a run for their money, Arkansas is the one.

The Razorbacks have the best receiver corps in the country with Greg Childs, Joe Adams, Cobi Hamilton and Jarius Wright.

The question is, can the Razorbacks run the ball effectively enough to keep things balanced?

This one’s coming down to the Arkansas offensive line vs. the Alabama defensive line.

Time to man up.

Ronnie Wingo Jr., let’s see what you got!

Pick: Arkansas

Prediction: Arkansas 27, Alabama 16

 

LSU Tigers at West Virginia Mountaineers

Warning: The fact that I graduated from West Virginia last year might affect my judgment for this game just a little bit.

Throughout my four years in Morgantown, I had always wondered what it would be like to see Gameday pay a visit, so it only figures that they would wait until I leave to bring down the crew.

Oh well, I’ll be down there in spirit.

I feel a lot more confident about this game than I did for last year’s affair in Baton Rouge.

Yes, LSU’s defense is mighty impressive and Michael Brockers and Barkevious Mingo scare the you know what out of me.

But QB Jarrett Lee?

Eh, not so impressive.

This is a lot of pressure for a rookie head coach like Dana Holgorsen, though, and that concerns me.

I cant pick against my Mountaineers even if LSU is the bigger, stronger and overall better squad.

Turn those lights on, get the tap flowing and let’s get to it.

It’s Saturday night football in Morgantown, baby!

Pick: West Virginia

Prediction: West Virginia 19, LSU 17

 

Oklahoma State Cowboys at Texas A&M Aggies

I'm torn on this one.

I love Oklahoma State's offensive triple threat of QB Brandon Weeden, WR Justin Blackmon and RB Joseph Randle, but I also had a lot of faith in this Texas A&M team before the start of the season. 

I'll go with the home team for this one because I still don't trust the Oklahoma State defense.

Look for big games out of RB Cyrus Gray and WR Jeff Fuller.

Pick: Texas A&M

Prediction: Texas A&M 30, Oklahoma State 20

Missouri Tigers at Oklahoma Sooners

The spread is only 22 for this one?

Give me a break.

The Sooners have payback on their mind and this one's going to get ugly in a hurry.

Pick: Oklahoma

Prediction: Oklahoma 63, Missouri 20

The Rest

 

North Carolina at Georgia Tech

Pick: North Carolina

Prediction: North Carolina 23, Georgia Tech 14

 

San Diego State at Michigan

Pick: San Diego State

Prediction: San Diego State 37, Michigan 28

Florida at Kentucky

Pick: Kentucky

Prediction: Kentucky 28, Florida 17

 

Notre Dame at Pittsburgh

Pick: Notre Dame

Prediction: Notre Dame 38, Pittsburgh 34

Ohio at Rutgers

Pick: Rutgers

Prediction: Rutgers 30, Ohio 24

 

Colorado at Ohio State

Pick: Ohio State

Prediction: Ohio State 23, Colorado 15

Tulane at Duke

Pick: Duke

Prediction: Duke 34, Tulane 13

Toledo at Syracuse

Pick: Toledo

Prediction: Toledo 24, Syracuse 23

 

UAB at East Carolina

Pick: East Carolina

Prediction: East Carolina 48, UAB 27

 

UTEP at South Florida

Pick: South Florida

Prediction: South Florida 45, UTEP 13

 

Western Michigan at Illinois

Pick: Western Michigan

Prediction: Western Michigan 28, Illinois 24

 

Eastern Michigan at Penn State

Pick: Penn State

Prediction: Penn State 52, Eastern Michigan 14

 

Kansas State at Miami

Pick: Miami

Prediction: Miami 35, Kansas State 20

 

Southern Methodist at Memphis

Pick: Southern Methodist

Prediction: Southern Methodist 41, Memphis 23

 

Louisiana-Monroe at Iowa

Pick: Iowa

Prediction: Iowa 37, Louisiana-Monroe 14

 

Temple at Maryland

Pick: Maryland

Prediction: Maryland 37, Temple 31

 

Central Michigan at Michigan State

Pick: Michigan State

Prediction: Michigan State 40 , Central Michigan 10

 

Georgia at Mississippi

Pick: Georgia

Prediction: Georgia 17, Mississippi 14

 

Bowling Green at Miami (Ohio)

Pick: Bowling Green

Prediction: Bowling Green 33, Miami (Ohio) 30

 

Army at Ball State

Pick: Ball State

Prediction: Ball State 29, Army 20

 

Virginia Tech at Marshall

Pick: Virginia Tech

Prediction: Virginia Tech 23, Marshall 21


 

California at Washington

Pick: California

Prediction: California 45, Washington 35

New Mexico State at San Jose State

Pick: New Mexico State

Prediction: New Mexico State 30, San Jose State 17

 

Fresno State at Idaho

Pick: Idaho

Prediction: Idaho 41, Fresno State 38

 

Connecticut at Buffalo

Pick: Connecticut

Prediction: Connecticut 27, Buffalo 6

 

 UCLA at Oregon State

Pick: Oregon State

Prediction: Oregon State 35, UCLA 34

 

Florida Atlantic at Auburn

Pick: Auburn

Prediction: Auburn 59, Florida Atlantic 6

 

Middle Tennessee at Troy

Pick: Troy

Prediction: Troy 37, Middle Tennessee 14

 

Indiana at North Texas

Pick: North Texas

Prediction: North Texas 27, Indiana 21

 

Louisiana-Lafayette at Florida International

Pick: Florida International

Prediction: Florida International 36, Louisiana-Lafayette 23

 

Nevada at Texas Tech

Pick: Texas Tech

Prediction: Texas Tech 49, Nevada 20

Vanderbilt at South Carolina

Pick: South Carolina

Prediction: South Carolina 33, Vanderbilt 3

Louisiana Tech at Mississippi State

Pick: Mississippi State

Prediction: Mississippi State 51, Louisiana Tech 21

 

Rice at Baylor

Pick: Baylor

Prediction: Baylor 45, Rice 30

Southern Miss at Virginia

Pick: Southern Miss

Prediction: Southern Miss 23, Virginia 7

 

Wyoming at Nebraska

Pick: Nebraska

Prediction: Nebraska 37, Wyoming 27

 

Colorado State at Utah State

Pick: Utah State

Prediction: Utah State 39, Colorado State 23

 

Tulsa at Boise State

Pick: Boise State

Prediction: Boise State 52, Tulsa 28

 

Oregon at Arizona

Pick: Oregon

Prediction: Oregon 41, Arizona 31

 

USC at Arizona State

Pick: Arizona State

Prediction: Arizona State 26, USC 21