College Football Week 4 Preview

After three weeks, it looks like Alabama and Ohio State are positioning themselves for a possible showdown in January. Others are also showing quite skill and look to be ready if one or both squads fall. Chief among them is uprising Pac-10 Stanford and non-automatic bid conference teams Boise State and TCU. Until further notice, chalk is looking good early.

Turning to the top 5 games I highlighted, I went 4-1 and now am at 11-4 on the year. Auburn and Clemson traditionally have a heated non-conference rivalry between tiger teams. QB Cam Newton's coming out party continued as he led his team to another victory. Similar excitement was witnessed in Lansing as Michigan State continued their luck against the Fighting Irish in a quarterback duel filled with injuries. Notre Dame showed a lot in defeat and might be on the run to reclaiming some of their glory.

Florida and Texas, two recent national title game participants, continued their quest for answers with new quarterbacks and youth. After two weeks of struggles, they got back in the groove against rivals in their conferences. The "main event" of the week was a nailbiter late as Arizona QB Nick Foles showed that he might the best quarterback in a quarterback heavy conference. He was aided by a great defensive effort from his defense.


Now on to Week 4 with a bunch of big games.

Games featuring top 25 teams/some that might be interesting:

Thursday, September 23
No. 19 Miami (FL) at Pittsburgh: These former Big East rivals are looking to position themselves to be a top national team. Both have shown signs in the last couple years. They have sparks on offense and one should not expect the best defensive game.

Friday, September 24
No. 4 TCU at SMU: SMU had a breakout year last year and could be a decent test for TCU. If TCU struggles here, it could provide an early blip if they want to play for the national title in January.

Saturday, September 25
North Carolina State at Georgia Tech: Georgia Tech's offense is fast and furious and the NC State Wolfpack have the potential to score a lot too. The option run by Tech is exciting to watch and this ACC battle could be interesting.

No. 16 Stanford at Notre Dame: Notre Dame is coming off a tough loss while Stanford led by QB Andrew Luck looks very hot on offense. After the duel in Lansing, Notre Dame will need to duplicate that to possibly knock off Stanford.


And of course, the top 5 games to watch this week.

Top 5:

5) No. 8 Oklahoma at Cincinnati: The Sooners could be poised to reclaim the Big 12 throne now that QB Colt McCoy no longer roams the Texas sidelines. Cincy is looking to replace their quarterback and maintain top status in the Big East without coach Brian Kelly. This one has the potential to be close largely due to the fact that Oklahoma is playing on the road. Top teams face one or two road tests a year and this might be one of those for QB Landry Jones and the rest of the team. However, they will make a couple key plays late to secure the win. PREDICTION: OKLAHOMA

4) No. 22 West Virginia at No. 15 LSU: West Virginia is battling for a chance to go to a BCS bowl game on behalf of the Big East and face possibly one of their biggest challenges in the last few years. Baton Rouge at night is one of the toughest places to play and LSU looked geared up and ready to spread it out and play tough SEC defense. West Virginia does possess a spread option offense that could keep LSU stars like CB Patrick Peterson on their toes at times. Unless West Virginia sets the tone early, it could be a long one. But, it should be somewhat close in the end. PREDICTION: LSU

3) No. 3 Boise State at No. 24 Oregon State: Boise State has been looking to make a statement on the national stage the last few years. They upset Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl a few years back and have knocked off a few top teams along the way. However, they still are asked to prove themselves. Going to Oregon State is another step on the way to respect. The Beavers have the Rodgers brothers who pose problems for defenses and the environment will be hostile. The Broncos possess a balanced squad that can score and stop teams. Expect a statement. PREDICTION: BOISE STATE

2) No. 12 South Carolina at No. 17 Auburn: The undercard matchup in the SEC doubleheader. Auburn under QB Cam Newton looks dangerous at times while Steve Spurrier has provided a spark for the Gamecocks led by a talented quarterback-running back tandem. This one could be a grinder for 30 and come down to a drive or two in the 4th. Newton's athleticism could provide the difference in the end. PREDICTION: AUBURN

1) No.1 Alabama at No. 10 Arkansas: This top ten battle is amplified by the fact that it is a SEC conference battle. Alabama's path to a repeat could face one of its toughest obstacles this week. QB Ryan Mallett is talented enough to dice apart this very good Alabama defense. That battle could decide the game. If Arkansas can slow a Alabama offense that features Heisman Trophy winner, HB Mark Ingram; they could spring the upset even though they are at home. The Tide makes one extra play in the end on defense to win it. PREDICTION: ALABAMA

As the season nears the end of the first month and the BCS rankings are a couple weeks away, some top teams will be on guard for an early trip up that could cost them. Alabama has the most to lose this weekend.