Pat’s POV: Week 4 predictions for the College Wire matchups
There are plenty of big games happening around the college football landscape in Week 4.
For the Ohio State Buckeyes, they will host the Wisconsin Badgers in a cross-divisional matchup. The Big Ten East-West matchup could be a sign of things to come as far as the conference championship. There is still a lot of college ball left to play before we have a clear picture.
Other big matchups this week feature the No. 22 Florida Gators taking on the No. 12 Tennessee Vols in Knoxville. This will be the 52nd time they will meet with the Gators winning the last five games.
This week also features a big SEC matchup on a neutral site when the No. 20 Texas A&M Aggies and No. 10 Arkansas Razorbacks collide at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
Last week College Wire regional editor Patrick Conn finished 17-4 with his game picks and is 53-13 overall.
Without further ado, let’s dive into this week’s slate of games with predictions for each matchup.
Maryland Terrapins at No. 4 Michigan Wolverines
Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Last year these two teams met in late November and Michigan throttled Maryland, 59-18. One should expect the Wolverines to do it again.
Prediction: Michigan
For more on Michigan check out Wolverines Wire
Kent State Golden Flashes at No. 1 Georgia Bulldogs
Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Georgia has looked just as dominant this season and Kent State is right in their path. Look for a massive blowout in this game.
Prediction: Georgia
For more on the Bulldogs check out UGA Wire
Central Michigan Chippewas at No. 15 Penn State Nittany Lions
Jake Crandall-USA TODAY Network
Penn State flexed its muscles against the SEC’s Auburn Tigers this past week. The CMU Chippewas likely won’t fare much better.
Prediction: Penn State
For more on Penn State check out Nittany Lions Wire
No. 5 Clemson Tigers at No. 16 Wake Forest Demon Deacons
John David Mercer-USA TODAY Sports
The No. 5 team in the country gets their first true road test as they travel to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, to face the No. 16 Demon Deacons in ACC action. We will soon find out if the defense is up to the task of slowing down Sam Hartman and the Wake Forest offense.
Prediction: Clemson
For more on the Tigers check out Clemson Wire
Missouri Tigers at Auburn Tigers
Jake Crandall-USA TODAY Network
The first of two all-Tiger matchups for Auburn with Missouri and LSU coming to town over the next two weeks. The reports are that starter T.J. Finley is out for at least this game and Robby Ashford is set to make his first collegiate start. It could be a tough task given how poorly they have played in the passing game with six interceptions in three games. Bryan Harsin might be feeling even more heat after this one.
Prediction: Missouri
For more on the Tigers check out Auburn Wire
UCLA Bruins at Colorado Buffaloes
Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports
Speaking of coaches on the hot seat, Karl Dorrell might be one more demoralizing loss away from getting canned in Boulder. JT Shrout and the Buffs offense have to find a way to score and quickly. Last week Minnesota’s Mohamed Ibrahim ran all over their defense and it won’t get any easier with UCLA’s Zach Charbonnet and Keegan Jones rolling into town.
Prediction: UCLA
For more on the home team check out Colorado Buffaloes Wire
Minnesota Golden Gophers at No. 21 Michigan State Spartans
Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
The Spartans’ trip to the Pacific Northwest was one they would like to forget. Michael Penix Jr and the Huskies gave Michigan State all they could handle and more. Payton Thorne and company look to get back on track with a Minnesota team that runs the football very well.
Prediction: Michigan State
For more on Michigan State check out Spartans Wire
Notre Dame Fighting Irish at North Carolina Tar Heels
Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
A battle of teams trending in opposite directions. Notre Dame finally got their first win of the season against California, while North Carolina is 3-0 and coming off their open week. UNC has a potent offensive attack led by QB Drake Maye and the Irish are looking for their identity with a backup quarterback, Drew Pyne.
Prediction: North Carolina
For more on Notre Dame check out Fighting Irish Wire
For more on North Carolina check out Tar Heels Wire
No. 22 Florida Gators at No. 12 Tennessee Volunteers
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Another rivalry game happens this week with Tennessee hosting Florida at Neyland Stadium. The Gators have won five straight but it is the Vols who seems to be the hot team. UT has won its first three games of the season and is looking to make it four before their open week.
Prediction: Tennessee
For more on Florida check out Gators Wire
For more on Tennessee check out Vols Wire
No. 19 Texas Longhorns at Texas Tech Red Raiders
Aaron E. Martinez / American-Statesman
Last year’s showdown between these two teams was very one-sided. The Longhorns cruised to a 70-35 victory. The last time they met in Lubbock, these two teams combined for 119 points. Can Texas make it five straight wins over Texas Tech?
Prediction: Texas
For more on Texas check out Longhorns Wire
No. 18 Oregon Ducks at Washington State Cougars
Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Former Auburn quarterback Bo Nix made his presence felt in Eugene last Saturday as the Ducks took care of BYU. Nix finished with a career-high three rushing touchdowns and threw for two more as Oregon won 41-20. Washington State comes in 3-0 with a top 25 win over Wisconsin two weeks ago.
Prediction: Oregon
For more on Oregon check out Ducks Wire
No. 10 Arkansas Razorbacks vs No. 20 Texas A&M Aggies
Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
Another Southwest Classic kicks off from AT&T Stadium in Arlington on Saturday. The Razorbacks had a scare against Missouri State before storming back to remain undefeated. The Aggies held off No. 9 Miami with a strong defensive effort. Texas A&M has dominated this series since joining the SEC and Arkansas goes for two in a row.
Prediction: Arkansas
For more on Arkansas check out Razorbacks Wire
For more on Texas A&M check out Aggies Wire
Iowa Hawkeyes at Rutgers Scarlet Knights
Joseph Cress/Iowa City Press-Citizen
The all-time series between Iowa and Rutgers only dates back to 2016. Just two years after Rutgers joined the Big Ten Conference. The Hawkeyes have won both matchups and go for three on Saturday. Provided Iowa’s offense shows up they could very well do it, but I am leaning another way in this one.
Prediction: Rutgers
For more on Iowa check out Hawkeyes Wire
For more on the Scarlet Knights check out Rutgers Wire
New Mexico Lobos at LSU Tigers
Scott Clause-USA TODAY Sports
First-year LSU head coach Brian Kelly got his first SEC win on Saturday over Mississippi State but in Week 4 the Tigers get back to the nonconference slate with New Mexico. The Bayou Bengals shouldn’t have too much to worry about and the backups see plenty of action in the second half.
Prediction: LSU
For more on the Tigers check out LSU Wire
Vanderbilt Commodores at No. 2 Alabama Crimson Tide
Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
After a scare against the Texas Longhorns in Week 2, the No. 2 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide rolled to a 63-7 win over Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday. This week they host Vanderbilt, a team that hasn’t won a game in this series since 1984. The 1993 game was forfeited by the Tide but the Commodores have physically lost 22-straight. Alabama won 59-0 in their last game against Vandy in 2017.
Prediction: Alabama
For more on Alabama check out Roll Tide Wire
Wisconsin Badgers at No. 3 Ohio State Buckeyes
Adam Cairns-USA TODAY Sports
This week will feature the rematch of 2014, 2017, and 2019 Big Ten championship games. Each of those contests went in favor of Ohio State. In fact, Wisconsin hasn’t bested the Buckeyes since 2010 in Madison. This will likely end in defeat for the Badgers.
Prediction: Ohio State
For more on Wisconsin check out Badgers Wire
For more on Ohio State check out Buckeyes Wire
Kansas State Wildcats at No. 6 Oklahoma Sooners
Bryan Terry/The Oklahoman-USA TODAY Network
The Sooners will open Big 12 play against the Wildcats on Saturday. Oklahoma under first-year head coach Brent Venables hasn’t seen much of a challenge this season with three wins by a combined 97 points. Can Kansas State be the one to slow them down a bit?
Prediction: Oklahoma
For more on Oklahoma check out Sooners Wire
No. 7 USC Trojans at Oregon State Beavers
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
It is arguably the first major test for USC as they head to Corvallis to take on the Oregon State Beavers. The Beavers also get their first test after wins over Boise State, Fresno State, and Montana State.
Prediction: USC
For more on USC check out Trojans Wire
Bye Week: Nebraska Cornhuskers
Dylan Widger-USA TODAY Sports
The Nebraska Cornhuskers get a much-needed open week after starting 1-3 in 2022. The second loss came to Georgia Southern and cost head coach Scott Frost his job. The Huskers will take the field again on Oct. 1 when they host Indiana.
