CFB: Week 4 Preview
Week 3 wasn't supposed to be as good as it was. Most people were expecting chalk for the top games, but instead, No. 2 Clemson throttled Lamar Jackson and No. 14 Louisville and Mississippi State blew out No. 10 LSU, while No. 24 Florida defeated No. 23 Tennessee on a buzzer-beater hail mary (!), just hours before No. 4 USC came back to beat Texas in double overtime.
Week 4 has a pair of ranked-vs.-ranked matchups, with No. 16 TCU traveling to No. 6 Oklahoma State, and No. 18 Mississippi State facing No. 12 Georgia. All four of those teams are 3-0 and are looking to remain undefeated. Our College Football Staff, of Charles Post, Chase Zayac, and Chinedum Wejinya, are going to preview this upcoming weekend.
*Maximum of 100 Points*
Top-25 Rankings:
1. Alabama (3-0) - 100 Pts.
2. Clemson (3-0) - 97 Pts.
3. Oklahoma (3-0) - 94 Pts.
4. Penn State (3-0) - 89 Pts.
5. USC (3-0) - 88 Pts.
6. Oklahoma State (3-0) - 85 Pts.
7. Washington (3-0) - 82 Pts.
8. Michigan (3-0) - 81 Pts.
9. Ohio State (2-1) - 74 Pts.
10. Wisconsin (3-0) - 74 Pts.
11. Florida State (0-1) - 69 Pts.
12. Georgia (3-0) - 69 Pts.
13. Virginia Tech (3-0) - 64 Pts.
14. Auburn (2-1) - 58 Pts.
15. Miami (1-0) - 56 Pts.
16. TCU (3-0) - 54 Pts.
17. Washington State (3-0) - 49 Pts.
18. Mississippi State (3-0) - 48 Pts.
19. Louisville (2-1) - 45 Pts.
20. South Florida (3-0) - 45 Pts.
21. LSU (2-1) - 40 Pts.
22. Florida (1-1) - 38 Pts.
23. Utah (3-0) - 35 Pts.
24. Oregon (3-0) - 31 Pts.
25. Texas Tech (2-0) - 11 Pts.
Just Missed the Cut:
26. Wake Forest (3-0) - 9 Pts.
27. Toledo (3-0) - 8 Pts.
28. Tennessee (2-1) - 7 Pts.
29. Kansas State (2-1) - 6 Pts.
30. Stanford (1-2) - 5 Pts.
Charles Post:
Temple @ No. 20 South Florida
Toledo @ No. 15 Miami
No. 8 Michigan @ Purdue
Old Dominion @ No. 13 Virginia Tech
No. 1 Alabama @ Vanderbilt
No. 16 TCU @ No. 6 Oklahoma State
No. 5 USC @ California
No. 18 Mississippi State @ No. 12 Georgia
No. 4 Penn State @ Iowa
No. 7 Washington @ Colorado
Week 3 Record: 7-3.
Overall Record: 25-5.
Chase Zayac:
Temple @ No. 20 South Florida
Toledo @ No. 15 Miami
No. 8 Michigan @ Purdue
Old Dominion @ No. 13 Virginia Tech
No. 1 Alabama @ Vanderbilt
No. 16 TCU @ No. 6 Oklahoma State
No. 5 USC @ California
No. 18 Mississippi State @ No. 12 Georgia
No. 4 Penn State @ Iowa
No. 7 Washington @ Colorado
Week 3 Record: 7-3.
Overall Record: 24-6.
Chinedum Wejinya:
Temple @ No. 20 South Florida
Toledo @ No. 15 Miami
No. 8 Michigan @ Purdue
Old Dominion @ No. 13 Virginia Tech
No. 1 Alabama @ Vanderbilt
No. 16 TCU @ No. 6 Oklahoma State
No. 5 USC @ California
No. 18 Mississippi State @ No. 12 Georgia
No. 4 Penn State @ Iowa
No. 7 Washington @ Colorado
Week 3 Record: 7-3.
Overall Record: 22-8.
1. Now that No. 5 USC got past Texas in a double overtime thriller in Week 3, do you see the Trojans losing at all during the regular season? And if so, to who? And if not, then which team(s) will come close to upsetting Sam Darnold and Co.?
Post: I picked No. 5 USC to reach the College Football Playoff, so I don't think they'll lose more than one game at the maximum. They've already beaten three quality opponents (Western Michigan, Stanford, and Texas), but their schedule still gets a little bit tougher. Road games against Washington State (Sept. 29), Note Dame (Oct. 21), and Colorado (Nov. 11) will give the Trojans some trouble, but I'd still bet on at least an 11-1 year.
Zayac: Yes, USC will lose in the regular season. I predict them losing to both Colorado (Nov. 11) and UCLA (Nov. 18). This is due to the fact that both underdog teams have played well enough to beat the very subpar 2017 USC team.
Wejinya: I don’t see USC losing at all this regular season, but who they will have to look out for is the Washington State Cougars, Utah Utes, and their cross-town rival UCLA Bruins. They face those opponents on Sept. 19, Oct. 14, and Nov. 18, respectively.
2. If the season ended today, who would you have as the Group of Five participant in the New Year's Six's selected bowl game? (South Florida, San Diego State, Boise State, Northern Illinois, Western Michigan, Memphis, or Toledo).
Post: If the season ended today, I'd have to go with No. 20 South Florida because they are undefeated and are currently the highest ranked Group of Five team, which would automatically give them the selection. However, going forward, if Toledo can somehow upset Miami this weekend, they'll be the favorites. The Bulls still have to face Temple, Cincinnati, and Houston, while the Rockets gets both Northern Illinois and Western Michigan at home in the Glass Bowl. Week 4 is huge for Toledo's chances.
Zayac: Memphis - Their offense has looked strong and is capable of winning shootouts against ranked teams.
Wejinya: I Would have South Florida, San Diego St., Memphis, Northern Illinois, and then Boise State.
3. After defeating No. 19 Louisville and starting the season at 3-0 (again), do how feel comfortable saying that the Clemson Tigers are going to win the ACC title - And what team(s) will be there biggest competition going forward?
Post: I feel remotely confident predicting an ACC title for the No. 2 Clemson Tigers, the only reason I'm slightly hesitant is because college football is the hardest sport to predict, in my opinion. But Clemson certainly looks like the best team in the conference, possibly in the nation. I'd say road trips to No. 13 Virginia Tech and NC State will be tough, and No. 11 Florida State is always a game to look out for.
Zayac: I feel comfortable with Clemson winning the ACC due to a very high powered offense, led by QB Kelly Bryant, and a defense that limited Heisman Trophy winner, Lamar Jackson, to just 14 points. I feel their toughest competition going forward is Florida State, despite them losing Deondre Francois, because the 'Noles still have a solid core group of guys.
Wejinya: It seems that the Clemson Tigers will win the ACC, but their toughest competition will be the Florida State Seminoles, even though they don’t have their QB Deondre Francois. Florida State will prepare hard for that game, with the conference potentially on the line.
*Maximum of 20 Points*
Heisman Standings:
1. Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma QB) - 20 Pts.
2. Sam Darnold (USC QB) - 14 Pts.
3. Barkley (Penn State RB) - 13 Pts.
4. Lamar Jackson (Louisville) - 8 Pts.
5. Mason Rudolph (Oklahoma State QB) - 8 Pts.
College Football Playoff Picks:
Photo Credit: College Football Talk, Sports Illustrated, & Temple.
