Week 4 looks better than Week 3.
After last week featured only two games between ranked opponents, there are three such games this week, including two between teams in the top 15. And both of those games they can be important at the end of time.
Saturday afternoon, No. 12 Utah visits No. 14 Oklahoma State in a matchup that could easily happen again in December in the Big 12 playoffs. Saturday night, No. 6 Tennessee and an explosive offense visits No. 15 Oklahoma in the first SEC game ever in Norman.
Here are the five biggest games of the weekend.
(All times are Eastern and all odds are from BetMGM.)
Time: 8pm Friday | TV: Fox | Line: Nebraska -8.5 | Total: 42.5
Both teams are undefeated to start the season entering Big Ten play. Illinois’ win over Kansas in Week 2 doesn’t look good after the Jayhawks’ loss to UNLV in Week 3, and it remains to be seen if Nebraska’s Week 2 streak will hold. how much Colorado.
However, there are signs of real hope for both groups. Both are giving up less than 10 points per game and the offense has done enough. After catching 13 TDs and 10 interceptions in 2023, Illinois QB Luke Altmyer already has six TD passes and hasn’t stopped. Nebraska freshman Dylan Raiola made his debut against Northern Iowa, but has completed at least 70% of his passes in each of the Huskers’ three games. The first 20 teams can win this.
NC State at No. 21 Clemson
Time: Noon | TV: ABC | Line: Clemson -20.5 | Total: 47
After watching Clemson in Week 1 against Georgia, a line like this would seem incomprehensible. But the Tigers blew out Appalachian State in Week 2 as the offense ramped up in its battle against the Bulldogs. Then they leave in Week 3.
NC State is enduring a rough start to the season. After a second half performance for a Week 1 win over Western Carolina, the Wolfpack were blown out by Tennessee in Week 2 and QB Grayson McCall was injured for the week 3rd running back Louisiana Tech. McCall is out for Saturday’s game and will be replaced by freshman CJ Bailey.
If NC State can pull off the upset — the Wolfpack have won two of their last three games against the Tigers — Miami becomes an even bigger team to beat in the ACC. If Clemson is confident in this, the Tigers will have every right to think they are the Hurricanes’ equal in the conference.
No. 11 USC at No. 18 Michigan
Time: 3:30 pm | TV: CBS | Line: USC -6 | Total: 44.5
This is another line that may have seemed impossible at the start of the season, but USC’s big win over LSU and Michigan’s offensive struggles have made it clear so far that the Trojans are the better team.
Michigan will start Alex Orji at quarterback against the Trojans after Davis Warren started the first three games and threw three interceptions in a Week 3 win over Arkansas State. Orji has seen playing time in each of the first three games but those have mostly been in running positions. He is only six years old. Expect Michigan’s offense to be even more goal oriented. Early attendance will be essential.
Perhaps Michigan’s insistence on running the ball will be a good test for a USC defense that has been surprisingly solid in coordinator D’Anton Lynn’s first season. The Trojans look to be a better tackle center than they have been in years past. QB Miller Moss has completed 73% of his passes in two games while former Mississippi State RB Woody Marks is nearly six yards a carry.
No. 12 Utah in the No. 14 Oklahoma State
Time: 4pm | TV: Fox | Line: Oklahoma State -2.5 | Total: 52.5
After missing Utah’s Week 3 win over Utah State, all signs point to Cameron Rising playing against the Cowboys. The seventh-year QB missed the 38-21 win over the Aggies with a right hand injury he suffered against Baylor. Although the Utes played the Bears in Week 2, this is Utah’s first Big 12 game ever.
Despite the Rising’s comeback, the Cowboys are favored at home. RB Micah Bernard averages 6.7 yards rushing after missing most of 2023 with injury and TE Brant Kuithe looks healthy with eight catches for yards 142 and three touchdowns in three games.
Oklahoma State is still looking to land RB Ollie Gordon. The All-American has rushed 62 times for 216 yards through three games this season. Only 3.5 meters to carry. Seventh-year QB Alan Bowman didn’t impress in the overtime win over Arkansas, but he threw for 396 yards and five touchdowns against Tulsa in Week 3.
It’s important to note that Utah was a 2.5-point favorite heading into Wednesday, but big money went into Oklahoma State blowing the five-point margin and making the Cowboys the favorites. 2.5.
No. 6 Tennessee at No. 15 Oklahoma
Time: 7:30 pm | TV: ABC | Line: Tennessee -7 | Total: 57.5
Former Oklahoma QB and assistant Josh Heupel returns to Norman as head coach of the Volunteers on Saturday night. Heupel finished second in the Heisman voting in 2000 as they recently won the national championship with a 13-0 season. He coached Oklahoma from 2006 until 2014 when he was fired after an 8-5 season.
After coaching at Utah State, Missouri and UCF, Heupel has led the Vols for the past four seasons and will have some tricks up his sleeve for his first game back in Norman as a head coach. After all, it’s the Tennessee team that tried to go 30-0 against Kent State in Week 3.
UT QB Nico Iamaleava has become the early favorite for the Heisman with his play thus far, but Tennessee’s real strength has been its running game. The Volunteers have already rushed for more than 1,000 yards this season as 12 players have at least one rushing attempt.
Oklahoma needs to play a lazy game. Jackson Arnold is just 54-of-86 for 484 yards so far this season. It is less than six meters away. If Oklahoma is going to pull off the upset, Arnold needs to have his best game of the season.
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Other games to watch
Florida at Mississippi State (Noon, ESPN): This game is worth reviewing based on the level of both programs. Billy Napier’s Gators are 1-2 after two home losses and Mississippi State was blown out at home in Week 3 by Toledo. If Florida can’t get a win on Saturday, the questions about Napier’s future will only get worse.
Vanderbilt at No. 7 Missouri (4:15 p.m., SEC Network): Here is a game that had the potential to be in the top five where Vanderbilt was held against Georgia State. Alas, the Panthers scored a late TD and a blowout win over the Commodores in Week 3. Missouri would like to win more comfortably than it did against Boston College, while Vanderbilt needs to show off a win. its at Virginia Tech in Week 1 was not. fluke and that it will be more competitive in the SEC.
No. 8 Miami at South Florida (7 p.m., ESPN): Don’t sleep on the Bulls. Yes, Miami is a 16.5-point favorite, but Alex Golesh’s team won the last bowl and has gone undefeated against Alabama in each of the last two seasons. Miami QB Cam Ward is the current Heisman favorite and will maintain that status with another big game.
Cal at Florida State (7 p.m., ESPN2): Is this the week Florida State finally gets a win? We’re not too sure. Cal is playing solid ball this season and is off to a 3-0 start. The Bears won on the road at Auburn in Week 2 and the Tigers are the better team than the Seminoles at this point.
No. 13 Kansas State at BYU (10:30 p.m., ESPN): We have a great night this week as the Wildcats are 6.5 point favorites over the Cougars. BYU got a 20-point win at Wyoming in Week 3 as the Cowboys had just 217 yards. Kansas State, meanwhile, had one of the most impressive wins of the week with a 31-7 rout of Arizona.
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