College Football Picks Week 4: Which Teams Will Win Top Conference Clashes?

At long last, the powers of college football are ready to make like Mulan and get down to business in conference play. The rekindling of regional rivalries will make men (i.e. BCS contenders) out of some squads while leaving others only with reflections of disappointment.

Anyway, enough with the gratuitous Disney references. Here's a look at some of the juiciest conference clashes of the weekend.

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

If this is, indeed, the last time Oklahoma State and Texas A&M meet as Big 12 foes, then at least they'll be closing out this rivalry with a bang.

And by "bang," I mean enough offense to bust a digital scoreboard.

The grass at Kyle Field will be torn to shreds as the Cowboys and the Aggies race up and down, piling up chunks of yardage at will as they have against their opponents this season. Both teams tout Heisman Trophy contenders (Brandon Weeden and Justin Blackmon for OK State, Ryan Tannehill and Cyrus Gray for A&M) leading offensive units that can and often do get the job done on the ground and through the air.

With the way these two schools score, the difference between winning and losing in this one may very well come down to which team has the ball last. Should that be the case, give a slight edge to the Aggies, both for their own ability to control tempo with their rushing attack and Weeden's inability to keep the ball out of the opposition's hands (he has six picks already this season).

Prediction: Texas A&M 41, Oklahoma State 34 

No. 14 Arkansas at No. 3 Alabama

Wooooo, Pig Sooey! meets Roll Tide! when Arkansas travels down to Tuscaloosa to take on Alabama this weekend. And by that, I mean, the SEC's top offense will tangle with the top defense in a monumental matchup that will go a long way toward determining who emerges victorious from the wild West division.

The Razorbacks offense, led by Tyler Wilson and his incredible corps of receivers, will have a tough time finding their rhythm against a Crimson Tide defense loaded with NFL-caliber talent.

Especially with this being Wilson's first-career conference road start and all (aww shucks!).

With those two units likely playing to a tie, this game will come down to who wins the battle between the Arkansas defense and the Bama offense. AJ McCarron has emerged as the starting quarterback of choice for the Tide, though he and his teammates will lean heavily on stud running back Trent Richardson to move the ball and keep the Hogs attack on the sidelines.

The lower the score in this game, the better Bama's chances of picking up a big win and continuing their roll to the BCS National Championship.

Prediction: Alabama 21, Arkansas 17 

No. 11 Florida State at No. 21 Clemson

Momentum is a fickle beast in the world of college football. Just ask Florida State and Clemson after Saturday's ACC clash. The Seminoles are on a bit of an emotional slide after succumbing to No. 1 Oklahoma in Tallahassee last weekend. Quarterback EJ Manuel is listed as questionable after spraining his non-throwing shoulder in that game but should be able to play come Saturday, though certainly not without plenty of residual discomfort.

Meanwhile, the Tigers are riding high after ending Auburn's 17-game winning streak. Clemson's Tajh Boyd has been a revelation in Death Valley and will look to victimize a strong but perhaps sullen Seminoles defense on his home turf.

Will FSU, its BCS National Championship hopes and dreams now in doubt, be able to regroup in time to begin the march back to the top of the ACC? Probably not.

Prediction: Clemson 24, Florida State 21 

No. 23 USC at Arizona State

Way out west, USC and Arizona State will re-aggravate their semi-regional animosity on Saturday in (what is for now) a marquee Pac-12 showdown. The Trojans put together their most complete performance of the season in a 38-17 victory over Syracuse last week, thanks in large part to Matt Barkley's five touchdown passes.

As for the Sun Devils, well, they once again fell prey to their own blunderous follies, this time against Illinois. Three turnovers and eight penalties later, Dennis Erickson's squad found itself on the wrong side of a 17-14 defeat.

Can ASU beat 'SC? Of course. The Sun Devils lost by a single point in LA last season and will have the luxury of playing in Tempe this time around.

Unfortunately, a mere change of location won't be enough. Case in point, ASU accumulated 11 penalties for 114 yards while squandering a two-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter against Missouri in Week 2. The Sun Devils were lucky to pull that game out in overtime but won't be so fortunate against a (slightly) more disciplined bunch of Trojans.

Prediction: USC 38, Arizona State 31 

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