With a potentially consequential slate of games on the Week 4 college football schedule today, let’s lock in our final picks for the most important matchups involving ranked teams.
Conference realignment played a heavy role in this Saturday’s games, with new-look games involving teams in the SEC, the Big Ten, and the Big 12.
Percentage predictions are courtesy of College Football Power Index
Clemson: 88%
NC State: 12%
Our pick: Clemson | The Wolfpack’s changeover at QB should be enough for Clemson’s front seven to control the game and give more room for Cade Klubnik to pick up where he left off two weeks ago and put this team back in the ACC title race.
–
USC: 57.5%
Michigan: 42.5%
Our pick: USC | The defending champs have struggled to move the ball efficiently, and even a change to Alex Orji at quarterback may not be enough to match Miller Moss and a potent Trojan passing attack coming off an idle week.
–
LSU: 88.1%
UCLA: 11.9%
Our pick: LSU | UCLA can’t do much offensively, and while it can bring a little pressure up front, it can’t really challenge LSU’s expert pass protection, and the Tigers have the firepower to easily get around the Bruins’ secondary.
–
Louisville: 78.3%
Georgia Tech: 21.7%
Our pick: Louisville | Both these offenses can go punch-for-punch with a battery of agile skill threats, but the Cardinals have a little more to throw at the Ramblin’ Wreck and have home-field advantage in this ACC opener.
–
Oklahoma State: 60.2%
Utah: 39.8%
Our pick: Oklahoma State | Both teams can throw the ball with authority and have receivers who can go the distance, but the injury to Utes quarterback Cameron Rising’s throwing hand gives the Pokes a slight edge.
–
Tennessee: 71.5%
Oklahoma: 28.5%
Our pick: Tennessee | Big Orange has the bodies to dominate against Oklahoma’s suspect offensive line, but the Sooners’ defense will keep it close as Nico Iamaleava makes his first true road start.
–
More college football from SI: Top 25 Rankings | Schedule | Teams
Week 3 of the NFL season has arrived. The New England Patriots and New York Jets have already played, with the Jets securing a 24-3 victory. The rest of the lea
The Oregon State Beavers host the Purdue Boilermakers Saturday night in their second consecutive matchup against a Big Ten opponent at Reser Stadium. The first
Maryland football welcomes Villanova to College Park for its final nonconference game of the regular season. The Terps are fresh off a 27-13 win over Virgini
Clemson defensive lineman Peter Woods will not play in Saturday's game against NC State, the team announced in its Saturday injury report.Woods has 6 total tack