College Football Game Picks: Week 4
Week three resulted in one of the most unique-looking AP Top 25 polls we have seen in a long time. Teams such as Oregon, Iowa, Penn State and Cincinnati are all ranked ahead of two of the consensus top four teams heading into the season in Clemson and Ohio State.
We are certainly in for a fun ride the rest of this season, and week four should provide some exciting matchups. Let’s take a look.
No. 16 Arkansas vs No. 7 Texas A&M
The Razorbacks and Aggies are getting set to kick off their SEC schedules with 3-0 records. This will be the first game away from home for both teams this season. The game will take place at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.
This will be Arkansas’ second-ranked matchup of the season after taking down No. 15 Texas two weeks prior. The Razorbacks come into this game rushing for an impressive 282 yards per game, but Texas A&M’s defense has been stout all year long. The Aggies are only giving up 5.7 points per game, and have only surrendered two touchdowns in three games.
Texas A&M junior running back, Isaiah Spiller, has rushed for over 100 yards in two of the Aggies’ three games this season. He will look to continue his success on Saturday afternoon.
Texas A&M has beaten Arkansas nine straight times dating back to 2012. Make it ten.
Prediction: Texas A&M 31, Arkansas 21
No. 18 Wisconsin vs No. 12 Notre Dame
Former Wisconsin quarterback, Jack Coan, is now the signal-caller for Notre Dame. He will have a chance to play his former squad on Saturday in Soldier Field as the Badgers and Fighting Irish get ready to square off in the other AP Top 20 neutral site matchup of the week.
Wisconsin is coming off of a bye week following their 34-7 win over Eastern Michigan two weeks ago. The Badgers’ defense has been amazing like they always are so far this season giving up just 33 rushing yards per game. They held a Penn State team, which is now No. 6 in the country, to zero first-half points and 16 total points for the game.
Notre Dame has looked very vulnerable this season. Their narrow overtime win over Florida State in week one raised many eyebrows. Now that the Seminoles are 0-3 with a loss to Jacksonville State, that narrow win becomes even more worrying. The next week the Fighting Irish were trailing Toledo 29-24 with less than two minutes left. The same Toledo team who just lost 22-6 to Colorado State.
This Notre Dame team just can’t be trusted to perform in such a big game. Wisconsin gets the job done in the first matchup between these two teams since 1964.
Prediction: Wisconsin 29, Notre Dame 16
No. 19 Michigan vs Rutgers
Rutgers is 3-0 and their average margin of victory is 29.7 points. Yes, you read that right. But they run into their first real test when they enter the Big House on Saturday afternoon. Michigan comes in as a 20-point favorite. Greg Schiano seems to have the Scarlet Knights clicking on all cylinders so far this year, do not be surprised if this is a close game in the fourth quarter.
Michigan has won six straight against Rutgers, and they will make it seven. But it will be closer than the experts think.
Prediction: Michigan 35, Rutgers 28
Trevor Grady is a fourth-year majoring in supply chain management. To contact him, email tmg5685@psu.edu.
