College Football Picks Week 4: Sneaky Good Games to Watch – Bleacher Report
Just a few short weeks ago, college football fans were desperate for a fix of their favorite sport. Now, their TVs, phones and tablets are buzzing with all-day Saturday gridiron action. Week 4, however, lacks the typical offerings of traditionally marquee matchups, which makes way for some of the game’s more overlooked contests.
Not sure where to turn you attention? We have done the work for you!
Before you get caught missing out on the weekend’s most surprising stunner, check out the following four games and prepare to be entertained.
Tony Ding/Associated Press
BYU (2-1) at Michigan (2-1)
This contest is a lock for podium placement in the dramatics department.
The Cougars, master thespians so far in 2015, have brought fans along a roller-coaster ride that began with a Hail Mary win against Nebraska. They followed with a late victory against Boise State, only to arrive at a one-point loss at the hands of UCLA.
The Wolverines, inspired by the arrival of head coach Jim Harbaugh, have improved from their demoralizing season debut, winning their last two.
In order for Michigan to secure this victory at home, it will have to rely on its rushing attack, which is averaging 185 yards per game.
BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum will want to keep things moving through the air, where he’s successfully led the team to 310 yards per game on average, but the Wolverines, who have so far limited opponents to only 144 yards per game in that category, should be stout.
They’ll limit BYU’s offensive damage and come away with a W.
Final Score: Michigan 24, BYU 20
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Tennessee (2-1) at Florida (3-0)
While neither the Vols nor the Gators are playing their best ball, their rivalry always makes for some quality football.
Florida has been a team ripe with juxtapositions—a floundering offense paired with a top-shelf defense.
A week removed from narrowly escaping Kentucky in a low-scoring affair, the Gators’ woes will only continue now that quarterback Treon Harris and cornerback Jalen Tabor have been suspended due to drug tests—one which Harris failed, the other which Tabor refused to take, according to Brett McMurphy of ESPN (h/t SI.com).
Fortunately for the Gators, their defense, particularly against the rush (in which they are a top-10 team), has been exceptionally robust.
The Vols, by contrast, have been fairly solid across the board. Their only loss so far came against No. 19 Oklahoma in a 31-24 contest.
When it comes to rivalries, the most unlikely outcome usually manifests itself in reality. Despite missing important pieces, the home team will rally to victory off the back of a defensive score.
Final Score: Florida 20, Tennessee 17
Gerald Herbert/Associated Press
LSU (2-0) at Syracuse (3-0)
The Orange are off to one of their best starts in years, and while their critics may be quick to point out that their undefeated record is the product of playing some fairly average teams, a win adds more than just a number in the left-hand column—it brings confidence.
The No. 8-ranked LSU’s man of the hour Leonard Fournette knows a thing about that as well. Just a week removed from an Internet-shattering performance (a 228-yard, three-touchdown epic), the running back will enter into this contest riding a tremendous wave of momentum.
While he’ll likely be the difference-maker on Saturday afternoon, Syracuse’s rushing defense, third-best in the NCAA thus far, has only allowed 46.7 rushing yards per game. His biggest impact may be providing Tigers quarterback Brandon Harris plenty of passing opportunities.
Try as it might, Syracuse will be unable to slow down the Fournette freight train, and LSU will snap the Orange’s undefeated record.
Final Score: LSU 38, Syracuse 15
Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press
TCU (3-0) at Texas Tech (3-0)
Fans may be hesitant to call this one an under-the-radar game, and for good reason.
At a cursory glance, the No. 3 Horned Frogs facing the unranked Red Raiders looks to be a mismatch, but this matchup has high-octane shootout written all over it.
TCU dropped a whopping 82 points on Tech a season ago, and while that’s unlikely to happen, the two will likely combine for a total well within that neighborhood.
Quarterbacks Trevone Boykin (65-of-99, 985 yards, 10 TD, 3 INT) and Patrick Mahomes (77-of-116, 1,029 yards, 9 TD, 3 INT) are already off to blazing starts. Those impressive yardage totals will only inflate after Saturday when these two signal-callers face little defensive opposition.
Texas Tech falls in the bottom 20 in yards per game allowed, surrendering an average of 492. Meanwhile, the Horned Frogs’ already decimated starting defense will be without yet another player—defensive end Mike Tuaua, who was arrested Monday, according to ESPN.com’s Jake Trotter.
The dynamic aerial assaults sure to be taking place make this one a must-watch, but ultimately, TCU will emerge victorious on the road in overtime.
Final Score: TCU 41, Tech 38 (OT)
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